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Does anyone have much success fishing these lakes in the summer? Is there any off shore structure to fish or do you just mainly fish points? I've never had much luck fishing them in the summer months. Is there still a good shallow bite this time of year? Is up river better than main lake? Help me out here. What are some tips and techniques that you use for these lakes in the summer. I would rather fish during the day than night. Thanks in advance for any help you offer.
I mainly fish Rough and Nolin during the summer (hot) months because both lakes have very defined thermalclines and I always fiish water above the thermalcline. Right now at Rough its about 18-20 feet and at Nolin its about 20-22 feet. I generally fish the points at creek entrances; sharp bends close to the creek entrance, inside of creeks where it shallows up to less then the thermalcline(but not necessarily all the way to the back); and flats nexts to creek or river bends.
I fished Rough last Thursday and here is what I said about it in another post: "Being post frontal, I didn't expect to catch much so I thought I would explore a place I haven't been to in several years, Tules Creek. About 7 O'clock, I put in at the North Fork Ramp and hardly got on plane before I was there. It was cloudy early but I still stayed on what would be the shaded side of the creek. Fished several places with several different lure. Caught three that were between two and three pounds and three more that put together wouldn't come up to a pound. A lot of fun anyhow. Each was caught in a different place and on either a jig or a 10" worm--nothing on a crankbait, spinnerbaiit, buzzbait, etc. They apperently wanted something big and slow moving."
I have found that during the summer the two most productive ways to fish are VERY FAST with small baits and VERY SLOW with big baits. I especially like to find a flat next to a creek channel bend or a river bend and burn a Rattle Trap accross it OR fish the shallow parts of the creeks with a big tubes, jig and pigs, or a 10" worms, all of which I fish very slowly. That being said, I will still try many different baits during the day,l sometimes they work and sometimes they don't..
I hiope this helps but keep in mind that I get skunked very frequently so I may not be the best person to give advice, just trying to tell you what works for me WHEN IT WORKS. :)
I fish Nolin fairly often and will state from talking to several others that the bight above Wax has been excellent but they are reporting catching a lot of fish to get a few keepers. Many are caught on buzz baits and creature baits texas rigged. That info is from what buddies are telling me.
Most of my fishing occurs from Briar Creek to Wax and I have had a difficult time pattering fish this year, but have caught several on Buzz Baits, Crank Baits, and Plastics. For several years, my go to bait has been a jig, but I have struggled with this bait on Nolin this year! I have also had trouble locating bunches of fish in crappie beds this year! Therefore, it has been a run and gun technique picking up fish on many types of structure. Bluffs, points ect.
Thanks guys. I just get tired of beating the banks and points in the summer months at these lakes. Maybe there is some off shore structure out there but I just haven't found it.
If you can, visit some of the lakes during the winter when lake levels are at the lowest. You will be amazed at all the structure that is off of the banks. Take some pictures of the structure you find, along with a picture of your lake map with that spot marked so you won't forget where its at when the water is up. Look for stumps,rock piles,humps,ditches,etc. You can learn alot about the lakes around here if try that. Just be careful when boating when our lakes are at winter pool it can be dangerous if your not familiar with them. I know this won't help now,but maybe it will help for next summer.