I am on the learning curve now...been doing some homework and now can set up for Carolina rigging as well as Texas-they say you can't miss with those set ups. Went back out to Success Sunday early morning. Got my line in at about 0530 using Carolina rigged Margarita Mutilators- set it up by the book using a 1/4oz weight and a #1 offset hook. After last week, seeing how low the lake was, I just decided to fish from the shore. My first six casts brought in four fish. I was just 100yds south of the marina. After the fourth fish though the sun broke over the horizon and the bite just stopped. By noon the lake was buzzing with Sea Doo's and power boats and I hadn't had a bite on anything since 0600 anyway. Saw some big boys jumping after bait. If they are after bait they must be catchable- but on what? I tried two kinds of Senkos, two Rapala's, a lipless Pop-R, and a big spinner but once the bite ended- it was over. The only thing I caught was bottom with the Carolina and Texas rigged worms. After loosing about my eleventeenth set-up I switched to strait Senkos on #1 hooks. I'm thinking that next week I'll try fishing at night and see what happens. Any suggestions? Must be a lot of beginners reading this board cause they read it but don't respond. Maybe we aint using the right kind of bait fer em.

Get that float tube and put a depth(fish) finder on it. Those fish are holding off shore on the structure. There's some high spots about 100 yards straight off the bank from where you were fishing. There's also some off the dam. The ones off the dam might be sticking out by now. But the fish will hang around those things in about 2'-15' of water depending on the time of day. Also around that island off Lure Point can be good. Just stick with. There's a lot of fish in that lake.

the jumping fish might have been carp.

I had a day at Cachuma where the fish were stacked up in a small part of the lake and they were busting shad. It's kind of the same sitituation. Tons of shad, tons of fish and they wouldn't eat anything, not the dropshot not a small ripbait, not the Senko, not blades. I finally in a desperation move pulled out some 3 inch Big Hammers that I use for Halibut fishing and on the first cast I stuck a fish. In the next hour I filled out my limit, It was Weird! So you might want to give that a try, i think the swimbait has a natural look to it and is also something that they hadn't seen before and they just jumped on it. Let us know if it works.

Brian #2

I've read about success with saltwater swimbaits, unfortunately I don't have any and don't know where I can get any around here-at least not this weekend. I've got some new plastic I'm going to try(Gator Dogs, Gator Pups and lizards in various colors), plus I'm going to fish earlier. I don't think these fish are much on the bite in the heat of the day as there isn't much cover in the lake. Then again I'm just a knucklehead beginner so what do I know.

I know you can pick up the Hammers at TackleWarehouse.com You might want to check um out...the greatest part is they are totally simple to use, I pretty much just cast and wind. Good luck with the other bait you picked up and let us know how they work because I am always looking for a way to get those pesky bass to bite.

Brian #2

Don't you need a weighted head/hook for those things? What size and brand do you use?

These are my favorite swimbait heads of choice:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage-HHSSH.html
I've had good success with LMB on rainbow, halloween, and white colors of swimbaits.

Also, I noticed on your senkos you're using #1 hooks, I suggest using 3/0 to 5/0 EWG's for most applications. Good luck!

Those are the same Jig Heads that I use for the Big Hammers. Or I will use a 1/4 oz darter head on the 3 inch swimbait, it doesnt seem to make much of a difference. As for colors I would suggest trying Wookie Wacker or Prizm Shad, I have had the most luck with those two baits. Good Luck

Brian #2

Rockstar!!!! You got a good thing going with that Carolina Rig, my suggestion would be a) try a variety of baits w/ the Carolina rig, give a big bodied bait, like a brushhog a try, and be PATIENT!!!!
As far as Swimbaits go, that info Brian #2 gave you is prime, 3" Big Hammers could catch fish in a bathtub, try using different combos of a swimbait/lead-head, until you find something you feel comfortable with, I like the 3" on a 1/4 oz. Fishco head, it has a really sharp hook, and for some reason their heads seem to bubble really good, and honestly I use most of favorite salt-water colors for freshwater too.
As for the Senkos, I would also try a bigger hook.
Give a tail spin, or even a good ol' Little George a try on the busting fish. Hope this helps!
Dane