Skunked...

[turn_in_poachers]

Was out fishing with a buddy of mine on South Center. He was prefishing for a tournament and I just tagged along. It was hot that day, almost 90, no wind, clear blue skies. We couldnt find fish to save our lives. Fished deep with t-rigged plastics. Shallow with senkos. Crankin flats. Managed about 2 dinky bass less than 12 inches. Spent the rest of the time fishing the slop with no success. How would you go about fishing a lake like this? The water was milk chocolate brown with weeds floating everywhere. Where would you begin to look for fish? Docks were out of the question because all of them are pretty shallow, not even 2 feet. All I got that day was a 10 incher and some raccoon eyes. Skunked!!!

[Crankbait_Guy]

I found, that on really flat hot days like that, he best bite can be late morning and day. Seems like bluegills will really school up and suspend high over deeper water, 30+', on days like that. Topwater can be great in those situations, or just running a medium diving crank off the weed edge on a really sharp break.

That's what I've foud to be effective, but who knows? Sometimes fishing is just bad, and there's nothing you can do but get hot, burnt and skunked

[Deitz Dittrich]

TIP- If your not fishing docks because they are in 2 feet of water or less.. then you are missing a ton of fish!

[EBass]

Agree with the Deitz, especially on that dark water. But I've had poor sucess recently so I couldn't tell ya. I'm going to try shallow tonight then go slow and deep. Carolina Rigs off deep weed edges. Bait fish are everywhere and bugs are hatching. But the big bass are out there. (trying to stay positive) We'll see what happens tonight. I'm going to Tonka though.

[st.crioxfishin]

I totally agree. Especially with the darker water the fish will be more apt to be shallow. Bass will live in 6 inches of water at times so I'd say give those docks a try.

Certainly try the ones that have no other cover around them and the dock is the only piece of cover in an area. I find those to be the best. Don't forget the first dock off a point either!

[turn_in_poachers]

I was just a guest on the boat, so I went where he took me. I always thought, hot midday, go deep. Spent most of the time fishing 9-13 feet of water. We tried a couple of docks and got nothing, so we neglected the rest. We did have a lot of baitfish pecking at our plastics. Ive never been on South Center before, and I did bring up hitting the docks. But my buddy's won a couple of tournaments on that lake before so I just went with his instincts. thanks for tips guys. Next time I gotta go with my instincts.

[mamohr686]

In murky water try something with flash and noise. When I prefish a lake like that I will burn fast with a spinnerbait or a lipless crankbait to find active fish. This time of year close to post-spawn patterns I've found lots of fish shallow, but the bigger fish have come on the break lines outside of spawning flats and bays.

[tripper]

turn, I was out with my son and two grandsons the day you posted. The day was in the 90's with a slight breeze, the lake was cystal clear. The lm bass we kept ranged from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 lbs. The one smallie was just over 4lbs. Three of the bass were taken on the good old purpel worm and the rest were taken on about 3" rapalas. All were taken in 1 to 3ft. of open water or along weed lines. In the open water we found them laying along side big rocks or sumerged trees.

[turn_in_poachers]

Really? Wow, you guys did great. Im more of a shallow bass fisherman myself, but like I said, I was a guest on the boat and Im not about to tell him where to go and stuff. I always thought on hot sunny days, go deep. But next time for sure Im trying shallow. Thanks tripper.

[lunker651]

Throwing something with noise is the best for murky water. buzzbait would be my #1 and spinner would be my #2. Fish the buzz in early and late in the day. The spinner is usually an all day bait for me. Usually these two baits will almost do the tricks in bringing the lunkers to bite. Try putting on a trailor of some kind too. It has always work for me in murky waters.