Yesterday afternoon was sunny with light winds - a very nice day to be out on the water. I read where folks complain about the calm weather negatively affecting fishing, but I have never experienced that. Calm days are always welcome except on really hot summer days, when a light breeze is ideal. Anyway, I headed north yesterday to see if fish were on favorite structures up there - Spillway Hump, the Rock Pile and Enchanted Isle Ridge. Spillway was loaded, with fish on the SE, SW and NE fingers. I caught all I wanted at each spot before moving on to check the Rock Pile. The fish were big - 13 to 16 inch whites. Of course I used a Mepps #4, and casting away and working bait back to boat worked best whether in 14 fow or 20 fow. I show sonar shots of SW (20 fow) and NE (14 fow) showing fish along the bottom.

I didn't find any at the Rock Pile but the west and south slopes of Enchanted Isle Ridge were loaded. Also, very big whites here. I didn't catch any under 13 fow with most 15 to 16 inches - fat females. I took a screen shot of these also. I was out from 1:20 to 3:20 and quit with 52 whites and a 17 inch hybrid. Note: My screen times are still on daylight savings.

SW finger of Spillway Hump


NE finger of Spillway Hump


West slope of Enchanted Isle Ridge

Nice report Dennis! I love the way you present your stuff. Haven't been on CC in a 3 or 4 years and have had family in that area since the early 70's. Thanks for the very detailed...details!

Mr. Dennis,

As always, a very nice detailed post. Your willingness to share is amazing - and much appreciated! Look forward to meeting you.

Ken

I applaud your willingness to share too. I struggle with knowing how much to share. I found out recently by posting a contour map of where I was finding white bass and the next week had three boats on the hundred yard sweet spot to where I couldn’t even look at it much less fish it. I don’t think I personally am willing to share my locations based on this experience. Have you not had spots overrun with ppl after sharing such location details?

RespectTheFish: This absolutely has not been a problem. Only occasionally do I approach a spot to fish and find someone there. I think it is for a couple of reasons. One, on Cedar Creek Lake there are so many good structures, I usually mention several in my reports (My goal on each trip out is not to catch the most fish but to find and catch fish in as many places as I have time to check on any outing). So, when someone is on a targeted spot and there's not enough room for me, I will either move on to the next spot I was going to try or ease up the the boat, cut the motor and ask how they are doing. If they are not having any luck and I just came from a spot with fish, I will tell them about it. If they are doing well, I will wish them continued good fishing and move on, unless they invite me to stay.

Second, I do most of my fishing during the week when the lake is not crowded. So, there is just not much contention for any one spot. Also, many of the structures are large with room for multiple boats. I always stay beyond casting distance if I fish where other boats are already present. Also, if I can see that someone is trolling a structure, I have learned to watch them for a few minutes to see their trolling path and make sure I don't spot-lock in the middle of it. It helps if trollers will put out markers to show the extent of their trolling area, but they don't always do it - so I have to wait and watch for a few minutes.

Third, I promote a fishing technique - the Mepps method. So, if I can befriend folks and they will invite me to fish along side them, I will demo how to catch fish with a Mepps. So, I see someone already at the spot I was going to fish as potentially a good thing, i.e. I can help someone learn a better way.

Finally, I see everyone on the lake as someone who loves fishing - like me. Likely, most don't get to fish as much as I do being retired. So, I try to be a good neighbor and be helpful to them any way I can. For example, a friend and I were at A-frame one day and catching a fish every cast. Slowly a boat pulls near from the deep water side and keeping a proper distance away they start fishing. Well, we were on a drop-off and the slope is where the fish were. They were out in deep, non productive water. So, we invited them to come take out spot explaining the structure pattern to them. They were extremely grateful, and we went on to the next structure we were going to try. Being able to help someone always adds to a positive fishing experience.

Yea Dennis , you are correct about sharing and helping as many people as possible , If I'm catching fish an another angler approaches , I will always invite them over and show them what baits I'm using. Being retired myself , I fish during the week . My favorite times are when I can take the grand kids and their friends , now that is fun . Helping people , sharing , making memories , there will alway be another spot and another day !!!!!!! Take Care

4000 acre FPH is A LOT different than Cedar Creek. You can see the whole lake from the ramp parking lot at Phantom

honey hole: Yes, for a lake that small I would think you have to be more discreet. Even in a larger lake with only a few good structures, you have to be a little more careful about sharing exactly where you caught fish. That's one reason I retired on a big lake - more elbow room. Still, when you are on the lake and encounter somebody already on "your" spot, it's always better to be kind and helpful rather than irritated and angry- because you will end up having a better fishing experience.

Thursday Dec 5: I ventured out today in the 15 mph of higher winds from the SW. I thought I could go to the west side and fish the A-frame or Key Ranch Drop-off, but the wind and waves were just too much. So, I opted instead for protected water at the dam . I found fish on Dam Hump West of Pole. Fished there from 1:30 to 4:30 and ended up with 35 fish: 21 whites, 5 legal hybrids to 23 inches, 4 short hybrids, 2 cats , 2 keeper yellow bass and a LMB. Even close to the dam the wind go so high that my iPilot would not stay spot locked. So, I had to anchor. Fortunately it held. I had a few more fish on but they pulled off. Technique was like dead-sticking - fish straight down to the bottom (18 -26 fow) and lift Mepps up and down while thumping the boat with my feet (I am going to buy a thumper this year).

Good morning Dennis. What size line are you generally throwing that Mepps on? At Lake Travis, and most of the hill country lakes, they are very rocky. Have you tried your method on these kind of lakes? I live on Travis and have not chased after sandies, but I know this lake has both sand bass and stripers, so when the LMB are being hard headed, I'd like to give them a shot! Thanks again!

I use 10 or 12 lb fluorocarbon line. I have fished Lake LBJ and Eagle Mountain and they are rocky, and I've had no trouble with rocks cutting the line.

Saturday Dec 7: Another beautiful fishing day with sunshine and light or no winds, so I had to get out. I left dock at 11 AM. After checking Drew's Humps and Long Ridge, I found a good concentration at Long Ridge West in 20 fow. Caught about 25 there before moving on to check out Key Ranch Drop-off, Found two schools of fish there right on the drop-off in 12 to 16 fow and caught about 25 more. Then went to check out Key Ranch North and found the largest concentration there in 12 to 15 fow. I stopped fishing at 3:20 PM after fish count was 91: 80 whites, 2 legal hybrids, 6 short hybrids, 2 keeper yellow bass and a cat. One of the hybrids was 25 1/2 inches and heavy with eggs - biggest I've caught in months. 95 % of the whites were 13 to 16 inches. All fish caught using #4 silver Mepps fished straight down in 20 fow and casting out and working back to boat along the bottom in 12 to 16 fow.

Saturday Dec 14: Like last Saturday the weather was sunny and calm, but the fishing was off. I was out from 10 AM to 3:30 PM and could only manage 35 countable fish. The fish were hard to find and when I did find them, they didn't stay put. In addition, they seemed reluctant to bite. I wonder if the full moon allowed them to feed at night and kept them from being very hungry most of the day. I caught a few at each of Key Ranch Drop-off, Key Ranch North and Spillway Hump. Had a couple of legal hybrids, a couple of 17 inch hybrids and a cat. The rest were whites. All caught on #4 silver Mepps.

Saturday Nov 14: Like last Saturday
Hey Dennis, don't want you you miss Christmas. It's December! 😁😁😁
Always appreciate your reports!!!

Thanks for the catch, Scotty. I edited both posts and put in right month.