What to use

[BassProAddict]

This is an admitted knock off of the cool "What would you throw" thread.Deitz, if you think this should be merged, please go ahead and do so.

Describe a spot as best as you can and wait for the answers as to what people would throw in that type of place,spot or hole.One word or lure would do.You could even say what you throw that gets or doesn't get bites.

I'll start:

1.Undercut bank, depth about 8 feet.Muddy/clayish water but clears up as you go deeper.LOTS of underwater vegetation outside the brown water line.Clearance between top of grass and water surface 3 feet.

A: Jerkbait,curly tail(red or junebug) or deadringer

[Slyster]

The boat is only 30 feet from shore.. yet the depth has plunged to 25+ feet. Very steep drop off starts perhaps 10 feet from shore with fairly thick weeds just on the 10' ledge. Must go down at a 45'+ angle. I always graphed many fish suspending in the depths but never caught anything.

[CarlWBL]

Sly,

Cast parallel with break with different diving cranks as the boat moves to deeper water. DT7, 10, 16

Dropshot maybe with longer tag line, 24-36"

I know a place real similar on one of my favorite lakes, I'm curious as to what others have to say...

[BigGrassBass]

Crankbaits and spinnerbaits would be my choice. I'd also look for any subtle changes in the drop such as a small point or even a ditch of sorts. Anything different will hold fish, no matter how small.

[Slyster]

 Originally Posted By: CarlWBL

Sly,

Cast parallel with break with different diving cranks as the boat moves to deeper water. DT7, 10, 16

Dropshot maybe with longer tag line, 24-36"

I know a place real similar on one of my favorite lakes, I'm curious as to what others have to say...

I'll give it a try!

You thinking of WBL? If so you probably are thinking of the same area!

[BassProAddict]

Would any if you consider throwing a heavy colorado spinner until it reaches bottom and do a steep diagonal retrieve?

[CarlWBL]

Sly,

I've caught a couple nice 2-3 lbers in that area pitching a wacky senko at the edge of that weedline and around a close dock. That dropoff is fairly steep...I'm almost wondering if maybe we are marking a bunch of suspended crappies in that location sometimes...

[BassProAddict]

Scenario:

Blazing hot skies, no wind, water falling and clearing up.

Question:

Do you go deeper water (as instincts would lead us) or go to shores,banks or coves?

My answer:

I go to channels and points.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Water falling.. in MN?

Fishing Lakes and fishing Resivoirs are totally different. I have no clue how to fish river systems that have rising and falling waters.

I have no clue what I would do with falling waters... Evaporation has never been a huge factor in how I fish.,

[BassProAddict]

Deitz, it's a scenario I've been watching a lot about on numerous bass DVD's.Falling water, rising water, current etc...

[Deitz Dittrich]

BPA- I understand that. I too have watched all the vids and read all the books that tell you that.

But the truth of the fact is, our water doesnt do that. We have very few true impoundments in MN, and even the ones we do, do fluctuate like the one down south do.

Part of the reason there are so few anglers except VanDam and Moyana on the pro tours is because our fishing is sooooooo different. Its a totally different ball game,

If you want to be successful up here, learn to fish the weeds, and the seasonal migrations of the fish. Which unfortuantly is totally different from down south or any book or video I have ever watched or read.

I hope somebody backs me on this, so I dont feel stupid.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

No, you're definatley right deitz.

I guess lots of resevoirs have daily and seasonal draw downs which creates current and fluctuating water levels and this in turn gets the fish feeding (or not). From what Ive read in high and rising water fish the shallow water. When you have high dropping water in can be tuff, fish are likely suspended or on long tappering points with deep water nearby. The only time or place I could see using this information in MN would be a river system during a flood but even then its not the same.

[Central Bassman]

I agree with both of you that fishing is different. But i think learning to fish weeds and fish them with confident will help you a lot if you do decide to fish tournaments out of Minnesota. A lot of guys on tour seem to hate fishing Florida, Well when i think of bass fishing in Florida i don't think about deep water rock humps or brush pills, I think about flipping grass or fishing some type of grass. Fishing a rock pile isn't really hard, but fishing grass can be really frustrating to someone who has never fished it before. Just something i thought about

[TonkaBass]

Good point. I feel that most anglers in mn focus on fishing weedlines. This is because they are so easy to fish. I do agree strongly with Deitz though in that weeds are the most important thing that a Minnesota angler can learn to fish. Find the thickest healthiest weeds and probe them!

[mr walleye]

 Originally Posted By: Slyster

The boat is only 30 feet from shore.. yet the depth has plunged to 25+ feet. Very steep drop off starts perhaps 10 feet from shore with fairly thick weeds just on the 10' ledge. Must go down at a 45'+ angle. I always graphed many fish suspending in the depths but never caught anything.

1/8oz jig with 2" white GULP MINNOW GRUB count it down and work it back its small enough for crappies and larger fish will slam it.

[BassProAddict]

New scenario...

Various hydrilla patches with clearwater alleys separating each.Clear day little wind.

Question, do you go IN THE HYDRILLA or along the alleys?

My answer:

Along the alleys and THEN go in the hydrilla.

[Deitz Dittrich]

BPA- your going to start hating me, and I don't want that. I'm just trying to give you information. As far as I know. I am not aware of any lake in MN that has Hydrilla. Hydrilla is a weed that grows in the south and can get very very thick. It can be very difficult to fish as well. I have fished it a few times on trips to Florida.

Here in MN our main weeds are Milfoil, both Northern and Eurasion. Coontail, Canada Waterseed, a couple different variations of loosetrife, and a few Curly podweed variations as well.

But if we take your senario and just call them weed clumps. Early in the season I too would fish the alleys or open areas...But as the season went longer into it, I would probe those patches first. Once July hits, they are more than likely in the thick stuff and you will have to go in and get them. Some of the smaller bass will be onthe edge, but the bigger fish will be holed up in it.

[BassProAddict]

It's all good Deitz.I travel a whole lot for work and work has me right now where "Southern rules" apply.Work brings me to MN too...which is the best part of work for me:)

[Central Bassman]

What is your job Bass??

[BassProAddict]

Factory engineering/maintenance.I do instrumentation work and training and go up to Eden Prairie annually.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ahhh, BPA, that makes a little more sence... I always thought you were from MN... That Hydrilla can be a beast to fish. Its very hard on line, somewhat sharp and very thick. I had my best luck with traps over the top of it!

[BassProAddict]

Well I guess you could say I'm a frequent fisher in MN...for the summer that is

I've fished Croix,Medicine,Chisago,Calhoun (is there even anything alive there???) and this lake of desperation in Taft Park where a native caught carp and a good sized bass while I got skunked!

[BassProAddict]

Huge overhangs..."eternally dark" shaded zone with sunken branches guarding the entrance.Do you go up, over and beyond the branches to get in the "eternally dark" zone? Or do you go in front of the branches only?

What lure? What weight? What color?

My answer:

I go as close to the front of the branches not reaching the dark zone but use a big worm or tube with dark colors (black or black blue)

What would you guys use?

[jermisch]

I would try to skip a senko in there. If there are branches gaurding, accuracy and luck would get me in there. I would fish heavier line and ready to cross their eyes and pull them out as quickly as they bit.

[Neighbor_guy]

That would be a place for the dock skipping set up. Skip the branches and get as deep as you can. Hoase em out after that.