Big Blues

Hey guys/gals. We usually do very good on noodle jugs with cut shad, just not huge fish. I want to target the big guys. What�s the best rig for this using shad? Do I want to fish straight down anchored up or cast up on to the drop off, or neither? Whole shad or cut, or whole shad sliced open to release juices? Any tips would be great. Catching tons of fish on jugs is fun, but I want to start hitting the big guys. I�ve caught some big fish in the past but want to target the big guys only. We fish Granger Lake.
Thanks guys/gals!!!

No trophy hunters on here?

I think it�s a timing thing. Trophy season for big blues is winter. Hard to find big ones this time of year.

Do they go deep or where do they go to?

Lots of trophy hunters on here but not too many that jug. It�s really the wrong time of year for trophy fish. The bigguns are heading to spawn. We start catching em more regularly starting in October. When i do catch one this time of year it�s usually a small isolated hump or ledge in 25-35 ft and they are usually with hybrids when we get one.

Ok thank you. We�ll be fishing with rods also. I got one Santee rig setup and one Carolina rig setup. Guess we�ll try the humps in front of the damn when I get sonar back. We�re going to hit some points and one gradual drop off I know of tomorrow. Used to live on Granger seven to eight years ago, I remember a few spots, hopefully I�ll find some shad.

I live in Alabama and fish the Tennessee River. My advice wouldn't help you much on Texas lakes.

Texas lakes and waters in general are very different from other states, I also am a texas fisherman and target trophy cats only on rod n reel. But as was said earlier the winter months are best for the lakes. This time of year the lake water temp is very high (Conroe was 84 to 85) last weekend and (lake Houston was 86 to 87 couple weeks ago). These temperatures can cause a very dramatic THERMOCLINE in the water depth scale. Your big fish will no longer be in deep waters for there is no oxygen unless we get a large amount of rainfall or water coming in. We have a lot of tagged trophy cats as well on many bodies of water in texas which you can find on TXTCA online.

Remember if its over 10 let it swim!! CPR our Texas Trophy Cats

Also, I know the post asks about blues, but weve failed to mention that this is the time of year that some trophy flathead cats can be taken on live bait at night. If you want big cats this time of year flatheads are probably the species to target.

Thank you!!
I�ve never caught one perch in Granger, not sure what I would use.

If you can get your hands on some bullheads, small carp, sunfish, even drum under a lb will work. Worst case scenario I would find a bait shop that sells goldfish.

I�ll be throwing my cast net in the morning, see what I can get. I�m on fixed income. Once I get some more cash I�ll have my sonar, battery and green light back out, catch all the baitfish I need with my light at nighttime.

I don't know anything about Granger lake, but I do know that big blue cats can be targeted and caught this time of year because we have done it.

Find the deepest submerged timber in the lake and look for the fish suspended about 20' down. Spotlock directly over the tree, drop half of a 10" gizzard shad down to the suspended fish and hang on!

Lots of flooded timber on granger buts it�s only 12 ft deep. Only deep area is by the damn, lots of humps out there, that�s about it.

Thanks Flat-Cat, maybe I�ll find me one. Love the website!!

Well I only landed one three pound blue on shad using a Santee rig, which I don�t like, it kept getting all tangled up on the end. Fishing off a flat in about fifteen feet. Nice morning on the water though, we really enjoyed it.

My cousin and I have fished Granger for years. There are not many big blues left. About 5 years ago a bunch of large blues were taken out on juglines and the lake is not big enough to handle pressure like that. Seems like it is coming back slowly. The big ones need to be released especially in a small lake like Granger.

Don�t know why people want to keep the big guys, plenty of little eaters in that lake.

Guys I agree. I've seen lots of photos in the past few years of 30+ lb blues pulled out of Granger. I think a slot on cats on this lake for about 10 years would help.

Where are all the perch on this lake? Never seen a lake that didn't have a lot of perch or bluegill in it.

I�ve never caught one perch from the lake. Tommy Tidwell told me there�s only a few in there. Better chance up the river for them I guess.