Jordanelle, again...

[trollboy8]

My dad and I are heading to Jordanelle again this Saturday. Any new tips for the now, slightly colder, lake? Would really like to get any lingering bass or some perchies. Ideas?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I've had a couple of recent reports. First, the trout are mostly out in the open water and not around the shoreline as much. However, there are some fish being taken by bank tanglers on both "bottle baits" and lures...especially early and late in the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Both bass and perch are going deep, in the cooling water. You can still find some smallies in under 30 feet of water, but many are already out in 50 feet or more. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Perch are also moving into their winter mode. They seem to have scooted out of the shallower spots in Rock Cliff and are now out in at least 30 feet of water and going deeper. One report suggested fishing along the north bank of the Rock Cliff arm, starting outside the buoy line, in the brushy areas. That is one of the better areas after ice covers the lake too, so that may be a main wintering spot.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As usual, one of the keys to finding fish is to find their food. Both trout and perch are feeding heavily on the tiny perch fry from this year. They are only about an inch and a half long and many of the fish are full of them. They are going deep and holing up in underwater brushpiles so that is a key to finding other fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fly flingers are still getting a few trout near the top at the Provo River inlet. There are some nice browns showing up for hardware fans too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you can get on the water after a day of calm weather you should be able to get into something. Sonar is going to be invaluable now that the fish are deeper. Otherwise you will either be just washing lures or donating them to the brush.[/#0000ff]
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[trollboy8]

Thanks TD. As I reported last week, the trout are definitly out in open water, but were also feeding shallow along the banks. I still need to figure out drop shotting. I think, after your very helpful tips and some tips from others here, that I get the basic ideas, but have yet to get even a nibble. If using senkos on a drop shot rig at jordanelle, what size senko, color, and size of hook would you use this time of year? Thanks again for all the help.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]My personal opinion is that Senkos are at their best fished weightless, in shallow water next to shore. Their unique weight and action makes them ideal for a shallow water no-weight bait.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]For drop shotting, use almost any tube or grub, hooked through the nose with an octopus style hook...in smaller sizes...maybe 2 or 4. And, use smaller stuff than you would when the fish are more active and aggressive. The largest tube I would use might be a 3", with 2" or 2 1/2" being even better. White is always good, but so is the "rainbow" or minnow color stuff. Chartreuse can also be good in deeper colder water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Maniac curl tail grubs have been quite effective this year...in white, pearl or clear sparkle. If you aren't getting bit on "naked" plastic, add a piece of crawler.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also, vary the height of your plastic above the weight. Sometimes it needs to be close to the bottom. Other times you will do better two or three feet up. Just be sure to use enough weight to help you maintain contact with the bottom and "touch" with what is going on. You need to be able to detect the sometimes light bites. After that you just need to experiment with different shivvers and shakes to find out what the fish respond to.[/#0000ff]
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