Well, it started today. Fish wouldn't touch a #4 Mepps but I caught 2 limits on a #2 using the technique I described in another thread about casting #2 Mepps instead of trolling. I started at Spillway Hump, and there appeared to be a lot of fish on the graph, but too many boats to figure out what was going on. I cast both #4 and #2 and caught one on a 2. So, I went to the Rock Pile and found a small school on the bottom. I was able to establish that the fish wanted the 2 catching 5 more whites there all on #2. There, fish were in 12 to 15 fow. On to Enchanted Isle Ridge and found fish there in 19 fow. Caught 24 more whites up to 16 inches and had a large fish pull off - ran off line like a large carp, drum or hybrid would. Still catching fish, I left with count at 30. Met Sam (Tffer Ranger 1850) there as I left . I think he and his fishing partner were also using #2 Mepps.

I caught 10 more at Game Warden Hump. 2 at Doll-house Point and 8 more at Merimac Point all in 13 to 15 fow to get me to 50 fish. On the way home I checked but did not stop to fish Key Ranch North (14 t0 15 fow), Key Ranch Drop-off (14 to 15 fow) and the top of Long Ridge (20 fow) and they all showed concentrations of fish like the ones I had been seeing and catching. Fished from 7:15 to 11:30 AM.

Glad you figured them out Dennis. I stuck it out with a #4 and caught a few, but no where near 50. Caught most of mine at sunken island in 12 fow. There were 3 boats trolling there and catching fish pretty good, but looked to be small fish. Hope you got your trolling motor issues figured out. I told my wife we should have followed you around. LOL.

Was good to see you out there and glad you caught some.

Hey Dennis, good to meet you! We sat there and used a #4 and #3 and wore them out. Had 3 hybrids hit. Only one keeper and snagged two cats on top of our sandies we kept for a fish fry.

The mepps technique works awesome! Thanks for your information you post here.

Great catch! To me, that you caught some on #4's, means there were likely some larger shad mixed in with the new hatch, plus you can usually catch a few triggering a reaction strike. The older shad are still around, but more and more the fish will tend toward the new hatch, and you can more of them and faster with the smaller bait..

Awesome post Dennis!

Went out today and started at spillway hump at daylight in 14 fow and tried there for about an hour or so. With not even a bite, moved to Enchanted Isle ridge in 19 fow as Dennis C and Ranger 1850 had posted that was the depth they were catching them in, and almost immediately started catching fish. First fish there was a 19 inch hybrid. We stayed there for about an hour or so catching fish. Not every cast, but enough to keep you there. Caught all the fish there, on # 4 mepps. Bite slowed there , so I had some family with me today that was not able to cast a baitcaster real well , so we went to the sunken island and went to trolling the hell pet combo. Found a large group of fish there and caught about 15 to 20 including throw backs till it got hot and we went in around 10:30

PM sent

Nice fish.

Good thread with valuable info. I fished CC years and years ago and got my first introduction to sandies and hybrid bass. I thought I had snagged a stump but it turned out to be a 10 lb. hybrid. Man, what a fight ! I’m wanting to go back when it gets a little cooler. Thanks Mr Christian, for all you do !

FYI, I've been out twice since Saturday's post and fished areas farther south. The pattern south is still catching fish on deep (22- 28 fow) structures and catching fish with #4's - not even a bite on a 2. Caught a 25 limit of whites on Monday and in less than an hour late yesterday I caught 10 whites and 11 hybrids - all legal to 23 inches.

Wednesday 8/5/2020: Took Reverand Gordon Ferguson out this morning. We fished Mid-lake Hump and Long Ridge West and caught 73: 62 whites, 2 legal hybrids, a short hybrid and 8 cats - one going about 15 lb. All caught on #4 Mepps in 24 to 26 fow.

Gordon with nice white bass


Gordon with big cat


Gordon with about a 20 inch hybrid

Looks like a good outing thanks for the update!