Skunked at Cooks Bay

[Speeral]

Hey all was at cooks last Sunday and I promised I'd post a report.

My buddy and I we trolled, drop shotted, jigged just about through the tackle box for some pike, LMB, and SMB. We did manage a few perch but nothing of what we were targeting. The wind was from the North and it rained fairly hard the night before. The sonar showed many many many fish but the big guys were all right in the bottom just sitting there. we were fishing in about 10-20 fow. On day when the fishing is that difficult does anyone have any advice or tips to help bring those dug in fish up and out?

 

[FishingNoob]

I haven't fished too many times in the conditions that you mentioned but I found on slow/bad days if I slow down and fish my lure slowly I get more bites. Cheers.

 

[Speeral]

We did try suspending cranks above the weedline fishing them sloe to imitate injured bait fish. I think the weather and north wind just pushed the fish to basically dig in. We did get a few minnows with just their heads left on the hookand the rest of the body just chewed right off.

 

[grubman]

On day when the fishing is that difficult does anyone have any advice or tips to help bring those dug in fish up and out?

DYNAMITE.......LOL.

Were you drifting or using your trolling motor? I would have pulled out the drift sock or anchor and just sit there waiting for the fish to become active and you can really slow down your presentation. Sounds like a cold front moved in and you faced the worst toughest conditions. They can shut down for hours to days.

It’s important to realize that when largemouth bass experience changes in temperature, they may become inactive until their bodies can reach equilibrium at a new temperature. It may take largemouth bass several days to recover from a decline in temperature, whereas they can recuperate from an increase in temperature in only a few hours. Therefore, cold fronts have a greater impact on fishing than warm fronts.

Did you downsize your lures? When bass are dormant they sometimes won't make the effort to chase a big lure. They'd rather have a snack.

However, smaller prey such as aquatic insects typically offer less resistance to capture, take less energy to digest, and are often targeted by largemouth bass when the water cools to around 50° F. Even at this temperature it may take between 4 and 7 days for a largemouth bass to digest a single meal.
Full article: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?topic=14819.0;wap2

Were the weeds dying (fall turnover)? Was the barometric pressure steady?
My indicator of fish activity is panfish, mainly perch. If they are not biting then most likely not much else will. Same with pumpkinseed, bluegills. How they hit is also a indication of the conditions. If panfish hit light then the top feeders, bass pike walleyes, are not active either. Weather effects all fish some more some less. Rock bass(ards) are about the only exception, they hit anytime and are a general nuisance.

No live bait? Worms, you'll go thru alot of them b/c of the panfish. Most of the time I'm out seems like the fish have turned off. We can't always go when the weather is perfect for the fish, we go when we can. The rain the day before and the north wind were working against you. Slow down your presentation, anchor off and stay in the same position and downsize your lures.

Better luck next time.

 

[Speeral]

DYNAMITE.......LOL.

Were you drifting or using your trolling motor? I would have pulled out the drift sock or anchor and just sit there waiting for the fish to become active and you can really slow down your presentation. Sounds like a cold front moved in and you faced the worst toughest conditions. They can shut down for hours to days.

It’s important to realize that when largemouth bass experience changes in temperature, they may become inactive until their bodies can reach equilibrium at a new temperature. It may take largemouth bass several days to recover from a decline in temperature, whereas they can recuperate from an increase in temperature in only a few hours. Therefore, cold fronts have a greater impact on fishing than warm fronts.

Did you downsize your lures? When bass are dormant they sometimes won't make the effort to chase a big lure. They'd rather have a snack.

However, smaller prey such as aquatic insects typically offer less resistance to capture, take less energy to digest, and are often targeted by largemouth bass when the water cools to around 50° F. Even at this temperature it may take between 4 and 7 days for a largemouth bass to digest a single meal.
Full article: http://www.thebassholes.com/bassin-forums/index.php?topic=14819.0;wap2

Were the weeds dying (fall turnover)? Was the barometric pressure steady?
My indicator of fish activity is panfish, mainly perch. If they are not biting then most likely not much else will. Same with pumpkinseed, bluegills. How they hit is also a indication of the conditions. If panfish hit light then the top feeders, bass pike walleyes, are not active either. Weather effects all fish some more some less. Rock bass(ards) are about the only exception, they hit anytime and are a general nuisance.

No live bait? Worms, you'll go thru alot of them b/c of the panfish. Most of the time I'm out seems like the fish have turned off. We can't always go when the weather is perfect for the fish, we go when we can. The rain the day before and the north wind were working against you. Slow down your presentation, anchor off and stay in the same position and downsize your lures.

Better luck next time.

Hi Grubman ,

Dynamite would have been ideal I feel. Ya everything was off on Sunday. It was a great learning experience and the water temp was about 58-60, the weeds in the 10-20 fow range they were healthy and vibrant. I think the cold front really shut the bite down, even the panfish were very quiet. I do appreciate the tips and at least can walk away from the experience with some more knowledge in my pocket!!! The advice from you and noob is always great!!!