New sidescan on a lake this past weekend revealed numerous single(fish), bass I think in the trees in the 12-15 foot range in 20-25 feet of water along a winding creek channel. I watched several boats work the area and they did not catch a fish either.

What would be your bait or technique to trigger them to bite?

Chris

Well, you could try with a jig/worm/whatever and hope they "react" to it on the way down. You could try with an appropriate depth crankbait and pause/twitch it when you think it's in the strike zone. I think my 1st choice would be a deep suspending jerkbait...tuned to where it barely floats back up.....and a good lure retriever, of course.

Bruce,

I fished a suspended jerkbait for the first time and tried to suspend it where I thought would be close to the strike zone. I don't have confidence with this bait yet. I also tried to count a rattletrap down and swim by them.

Would you use a dropshot in this instance and fish directly over them?

I'm not that great of a fisherman so I would go somewhere else like a secondary point and fish for pre/post spawn fish

If the jig wouldn't get em going I would have jiggled a wacky rig or spoon in their face for a while.

I would peg a 1/4 tx rig powerworm and let if fall down the tree top. Slow fall nice action in the tail. Works wonders.

FMJ,

I totally forgot about a spoon> I had some silver and chartruse ones in the boat. Your technique would be to lower and hold it or jig it up and down?

I tried a jig with a pork rind, and large colorado spinner bait using a hopping action>

Thanks for the replies, I know these are tough fish to catch but every trip I try to fish a new technique when I find fish in places I dont normally fish.

Ban_D,

I was thinking reaction bite with my presentations. Slow presentation is hard to detect a strike in that depth of water. Are you feeling the bite or watching your line for a twitch? How hard do they hit that bait.

Mann's +30, DD22 or Bomber Fat Free Crankbaits on a slow retrieve. When you hit a limb pause and slowly work it over. If that doesn't work then get up on top of the trees and pitch a 1/4-3/8 jig with big trailer to slow the fall rate. A Lake Fork spoon can be made weedless/treeless by replacing the treble with a 5/0 Owners with an old plastic worm threaded on T-rig style.

Good suggestions above Jig, tail spinner or spoon rigged weedless, drop shot

Might also try casting out a spinner bait or bladed swim jig and let it just fall/spiral down next to the tree.

I have a good rod, reel,and line so I feel the bite if it's a good bite. Been working at Whitney and squaw in deep trees no problem. A lot of times on the fall they hit it and take off. Sometimes it will just fall and they will barley pick it up and carry it off. If you want a reaction strike peg a 3/4 oz weight and add a ten inch power worm to help slow it down a bit. Those worms falling through treetops cause more of a reaction strike tha. You think.

I will try all the suggestions and hints provided. Man it is frustrating to see all these fish that I would not normally fish for but now I know they are there.

I would imagine these fish are primarily shad feeders. Shad colored crankbaits or soft plastics to imitate the forage. Water color is relatively clear for this time of year.

What is your favorite color or colors in this situation?

+1 on a Pumpkin Seed Power Worm on the deep trees.

Either find a crank that will run thru the strike zone, or start heaving the A rig. It was tailor made for suspended fish.

A lot of great suggestions so far. The only thing I can think to add is that I've had moderate success with a wacky rigged tornado and other floating plastics for an extra slow fall.. Similar to the idea of a rubber skirted jig providing a slower fall that most use in cold water and/or tough conditions with lethargic fish. Timing is a factor. I hope this helps!