Posts: 1,020
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
1
Cousin and I are headed to Jordanelle tomorrow. We have one goal: We each want to catch ONE smallmouth bass. Doesn't even matter how big it is.
If you were a rookie Jordanelle Bass Fisherman...which I am...how would you go about catching a fish?
We will be in a boat of course, and have assortments of spinner baits, buzzbaits, senkos, etc.
I've never tried drop shotting...is that where it's at now?[fishin]
Please help! Thanks!
Randy
[signature]
I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.
Posts: 215
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2006
Reputation:
0
Throw in a #297 4" senko rigged weedless and just let it sit. When it starts to swim away, that means a fish has eaten it. Set the hook like you are trying to rip the bumper off of an 18 wheeler.
#297 is Green Pumpkin.
Another great bait is the Maniac salt stick in Changeable Craw color.
[signature]
Posts: 2,504
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
1
Senkos are fairly easy to fish, as has been explained. Historically, the greens like the 297 or 912 senko have worked well, and you should do OK with them, but this year in particular, brighter colors like lemon/pumpkin laminate, maniac changable craw with CHARTREUSE tail and near dark, chartreuse/shad (white) laminate have been off the charts. You probably could also get a few by rigging up your Strawberry tube jig rig and jigging to fish you see on the bottom or suspended. (Just like at the 'Berry) Use either a green/watermelon or a chartreuse color.
I suppose drop shotting is "where it is at" in some quarters, but the fishing has been pretty good up there for those of us using other methods as well.
[signature]
Posts: 672
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation:
0
If you get there early enough throw a topwater popper or buzzbait right up against the shore and pull it into deeper water. I also have been doing very well on a 4" Maniac paddle tail. I like the changeable craw with either chartreuse or orange tail. The roboworm of the same size that is a dark green and chartreuse laminate has been very good also. A side note on drop-shotting; as was mentioned, let it sit still or just slightly twitch it. When you get a hit or when it starts swimming off I have a much better catch ratio if I just reel hard for five or ten cranks instead of trying to set the hook. This could just be me however. Don't be afraid to try a nightcrawler, they like them too.
[signature]
Posts: 302
Threads: 8
Joined: Jan 2007
Reputation:
0
Texas rig a 4 to 6 inch plastic worm, throw the worm onto the shore and real it into the water very slowly popping it once or twice. That has been money for me this past year, especially early in the morning. Hopefully, you have an electric bow mount trolling motor. If not, don't be afraid to keep on moving down the shore real slow.
Posts: 370
Threads: 20
Joined: Dec 2007
Reputation:
4
With all due respect to Jordanelle, I'd go instead to Rockport.......not as big of fish, but fewer snags, fewer tuna boat waves, and more cooperative smallies. Plus, some NICE perch as a bonus.
[signature]
Posts: 1,020
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
1
Thanks everyone for the tips and suggestions...we went, we fished, we had success.
We launched around 7:00 or so, and was off the lake by noon.
We ended up with 3 Smallmouths, 2 Chubs, 4 Rainbow trouts and 1 Perch. Pretty good for a couple of rookies playing with bass lures...
Little was the key. We had lots of followers, bumpers and chasers when we used the big stuff, but couldn't catch anything. We finally downsized and started catching a few fish. Boat control is everything, and we didn't have it. We had to anchor if we wanted to stay put, and you can't always anchor at that lake. Electric trolling motor (or flippers if you tube...) would have probably helped. We got frustrated a lot due to lack of the boat control and finally left when the wind came up bad enough that we didn't want to fight it anymore.
We accomplished our goal. Arron caught his first ever Smallie at Jordanelle, and I caught 2 myself.
Thanks again for the tips and pointers...we tried everything mentioned.
Pictures are on Arrons new camera..not sure if he has the stuff to download them or not.
Randy
[signature]
I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.
Posts: 19
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2008
Reputation:
0
Yeah, thank you for all the suggestions it was a good day out on the water!
[signature]
Posts: 194
Threads: 0
Joined: Aug 2005
Reputation:
0
Hey NeatO'scousin, you guys should have used the Black Beetle, I hear it works great for those cutts at the Berry, might work well for smallie's too.
[signature]
