Ideas for this situation

[stratosjoe]

160 acre lake in Il. deep end (dam) 60' shallow end 6' moss and lilys. Ledges thru out 8'to18' 8'to25', water temp 84-88 slightly stained. stumps pretty much thru out down to 18'. Thermocline approx 22' ABSOLUTLY TON'S of shad from 3-6" schooling on surface in circles the size of a small house.

I have used buzzbaits in the eve-morn. used carolina rigs and shaky head on the ledges. used spinnerbaits in the shallows. crankbaits from minus one's to dd22's banging ledges. went down in size to a grub, nothing. I did get a 5#3 on a carolina rig in the bright sun with a salt and pepper 4" straight tail worm. I have used Jitterbugs at night as well the new toads in the lilys I have fished this lake for 4 years and caught tons of Bass.They are still there I see them with my Lowrance trouble is the shad, they are thick. It is a private fishing club and I have the lake to myself most of the time even years ago when the fishing was great. I am tapped out any suggestions would be welcomed. Stratosjoe

[Cobra190]

I am by no means a top notch angler, only your basic weekend warrior wanna be, but I will offer my thoughts. It sounds as though with that many shad the bass just may not be hungry. I would limit my lure selection to only those that would cause a reaction strike. For example, I would bottom bounce or rip a silver buddy off the bottom and repeat the process in areas that appear to or should be holding fish. Work the area over with repeated casts and see if you can annoy them enough to make them strike. That would be my thoughts, I'm sure others will offer theirs. Good Luck and I hope you figure it out.

[stratosjoe]

Thanks Cobra I am a silver buddy freak love them at Dale Hollow as well in Illinois in the fall and winter. i have never used them in the summer but I will try that tonight. they would mimic a dying shad. Good Idea I will let you know thanks again Joe

[fishbum]

Thanks Cobra I am a silver buddy freak love them at Dale Hollow as well in Illinois in the fall and winter. i have never used them in the summer but I will try that tonight. they would mimic a dying shad. Good Idea I will let you know thanks again Joe

You might also try using a DD6 or something like that and cast at angles to the schooling shad. Work the bait down and then treat it like it is a surface plug.. twitch it and jerk it and make it act like an injured fish. The school will shy away from it and the bass should key on the injured lure..

[Roostertail]

Jig on the sides of the moss.

[MsgMills]

Big 1 oz pegged sinker-Texas rigged creature bait or 10" worm plugged down thru the moss. Then I'd try some sort of Frog or even a water dog bait on top of the moss......But the idea of the DD6 would be next and then a big 10" worm for the deep ledges.....

[stratosjoe]

Thanks to all some real good ideas. It is supposed to be almost 100 heat index today so maybe tommorow I will get a chance to try these Ideas I will report results . I appreciate the input sorry to have to put it on the Ky site but the Illinois site is and always has been DEAD....

[riverrat12]

Or add Hybrid, wait 3 years and have a great fishery for both spieces.lol

[Stevens]

i like to following the baitfish IF you see some bass busting them around occasionally. In that situation heavy spoons ripped thru the school and under them work really well. and so do crankbaits that get down around the depth they are suspending. if thats not doin try really slowin down and flippin that heavy grass, especially if that grass has a quick exit to deep water.

[stratosjoe]

Well first off thanks to everyone who responded. I finally broke the spell and stuck a couple nice fish last night, not as nice as l have caught but both5 + lbs. The large worm out in the pads worked . Used 80 lb braid, 3/4oz worm weight 5/0 wide gap with a 10" black and blue Culprit. Man we were all wore out from horsin them out of the pads they are tough. I have fished the edges and caught fish but using a push pole and raising tm and big motor about 30'-100' back in the lily pads was a new experiance. I got a kick out of the comments from other club members like what are you doing picking weeds out of the water garden. or one youger guy asks what you cultivating back in there.

once again this site is great for ideas and everything else thanks Joe G