Caught 20 bass on Saturday 7/6. Fished from 6:00 to 11:30. Started shallow on reeds and pepper grass with white swim jigs, frog and rattle trap which netted us over a dozen fish up to 4lbs. Bite ended around 8:00. Moved to the rocks on the damn and caught a few on green pumpkin shakey heads. Caught a few more at the end of the visible rocks at intake also on shakey heads with 1 around 4lbs.
Spent too much time chasing bait early in the morning could have had better numbers, seemed like there were some large schools of gar on the main lake points.
Similar experience for us on Friday (July 5) on Fayette. Started the morning on the grass beds north of Hog's Point but topwater action was not to be had as the wind was up. Threw rattletraps through the grass for awhile with no luck and decided to move deep as the sun continued to climb.
Compared to recent trips out to Fayette, we graphed a lot of fish on pond dams and secondary points at 15'-17', but couldn't get them to commit (a few pickup and drops on C-Rig/drop-shot, but nothing aggressive). The main lake points and roadbeds seemed to hold few fish relative to summers past... not sure why. Also was hoping to see some schools busting shad and kept my eyes open all day in the open water, but no luck. About the only surface activity was the occasional gar. Wind made for a good chop, so possibly kept me from seeing any blowups, or perhaps just not quite time yet....
We ran to the dam around 13:00 and finally found them (again at 15'-17") and the feed was on. Picked up quite a few 2-3 lb'rs with a 5 thrown in on C-Rig and drop-shot (all watermelon seed or red trick worm).
The heat finally took it's toll by 15:00 and we headed for the house!
"The hours a man spends while fishing are not deducted from those of his lifespan."- Unknown Author
What I have noticed about Fayette in the last few trips is if the wind is not blowing, the deeper fish are not biting. Once the early morning shallow bite ends, there is a lull till about noon before the deeper fish fire, that is if the wind blows. Last trip got ran off the lake at 1:30 by a thunderstorm but had a good early shallow bite in the grass, belly weighted flukes.
Exact story for us July 4. Until 8:00am it was nonstop on reed edges with spinner bait and chatter bait. Caught 3-4 after 8:00 on rattle traps a little deeper on grass edge. Didnt get a bite after that. Graphed multiple deep water spots that usually hold fish. Some small schools but not a bite. Didnt see any big schools of shad either like I always see at fayette. The shad were very scattered on points and road beds which might have something to do with those fish not eating. Had to leave at 11:00.
Tough out there yesterday for me. Seems the deep point fish have all but disappeared. I caught a few, but probably the worst numbers day for me on the lake this year, 16.
I did see one guy who every time I have been to the lake, is there, catch 4 pretty quick on a spot close to where I was fishing. Not sure what it was but it was off-shore, not anything obvious. I did notice most of the baitfish out off -shore were suspended in the 10-15 ft. Range, I suspect a lot of the bass might be too.
Been hammering them deep since June. Averaging 50 fish best 5 worst day was 24 best day was 32. They are there just not on the visible stuff that gets pounded.
Been hammering them deep since June. Averaging 50 fish best 5 worst day was 24 best day was 32. They are there just not on the visible stuff that gets pounded.
great information gents, thanks for the update.