need some advice

[stratosjoe]

wanting to come south for some smallmouth fishing.I have always went to Dale (which I Love) but thought I would try someplace new. Was wondering about Laurel River lake. Anyone fish it for smallies in Nov-dec -Jan. advice would be appreciated I can help if someone coming north for smallmouth st clair mi or wisc. . thanks Joe

[sweetwater]

With Dale being so close no one from around here goes to Pickwick (except us), but they should. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/...th_record.html and don't forget this one http://www.nooga.com/153435/possible...-and-released/

[Bassky]

i would try Cumberland, Green or Laurel lakes. Laurel might be the best now.

[Benjo]

wanting to come south for some smallmouth fishing.I have always went to Dale (which I Love) but thought I would try someplace new. Was wondering about Laurel River lake. Anyone fish it for smallies in Nov-dec -Jan. advice would be appreciated I can help if someone coming north for smallmouth st clair mi or wisc. . thanks Joe

Folks I grew up in a subdivision called Lakeside estates off of 312 bridge (my parents still live there). Concerning smallmouth in Laurel - yes they are in there, BUT ITS NOT EASY!!! The water is clear as can be and early spring (when it's really cold) is the best time to go. Laurel is a tough lake to fish, but if you are serious about trying it let me know!

check out the link below ---
http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/u...ke-219829.aspx

[ls1chris]

I fish laurel about every weekend as i live about 20 mins away and if you are coming that far down to fish i would recommend not coming to laurel .it is Decent lake very scenic but honestly to me the fishery is not that outstanding to me anyway.


Dont get me wrong they are some nice fish in the lake but it is very hard to catch them for a few reasons.one the lake is Extremely deep a average depth of around 40-50ft with spots well into the hundreds .The sheer pressure it sees from anglers is astonishing for such a small lake .And 3rd you will get almost no information on this lake from anyone.I have fished this lake since i was a kid and maybe only a handful of people will provide any information.You get information such as i caught them deep or in clear water.Well the entire lake is deep and clear lol.I have never seen fisherman guard information as much as anyone who fishes laurel .I would much prefer dale hollow or any lakes in Tennessee over laurel if giving the choice


But from my experiance the cooler months and overcast days seem to be the best for smallies on laurel ,Light line,shakey head,grubs,jig and minnow have been what i caught them. on biggest being close to 5 a few weeks ago cranking a small flat.Sorry for the bad pic sun was killing my eyes,got a good pic of her and turned her loose

[TimE]

I fish laurel about every weekend as i live about 20 mins away and if you are coming that far down to fish i would recommend not coming to laurel .it is Decent lake very scenic but honestly to me the fishery is not that outstanding to me anyway.


Dont get me wrong they are some nice fish in the lake but it is very hard to catch them for a few reasons.one the lake is Extremely deep a average depth of around 40-50ft with spots well into the hundreds .The sheer pressure it sees from anglers is astonishing for such a small lake .And 3rd you will get almost no information on this lake from anyone.I have fished this lake since i was a kid and maybe only a handful of people will provide any information.You get information such as i caught them deep or in clear water.Well the entire lake is deep and clear lol.I have never seen fisherman guard information as much as anyone who fishes laurel .I would much prefer dale hollow or any lakes in Tennessee over laurel if giving the choice


But from my experiance the cooler months and overcast days seem to be the best for smallies on laurel ,Light line,shakey head,grubs,jig and minnow have been what i caught them. on biggest being close to 5 a few weeks ago cranking a small flat.Sorry for the bad pic sun was killing my eyes,got a good pic of her and turned her loose

Nice fish! You ever try trout colored swimbaits there?

[ls1chris]

I have tried a few diff swim baits i really love to throw them but have had limited success on them never threw a hard swim bait.Mainly Berkly hollow belly,Basstrix,and yum in the 4-5inch range.A few fish on them but not enough to have confidence in them.But this year has been strange at laurel for me,This time of year 3-4 years back they was Giant schools of shad being pounded by bass.Now they are very very small school and very little activity.

[Benjo]

I have tried a few diff swim baits i really love to throw them but have had limited success on them never threw a hard swim bait.Mainly Berkly hollow belly,Basstrix,and yum in the 4-5inch range.A few fish on them but not enough to have confidence in them.But this year has been strange at laurel for me,This time of year 3-4 years back they was Giant schools of shad being pounded by bass.Now they are very very small school and very little activity.

I have to say AMEN! I've had decent luck with walleye ,but the bass fishing hasn't been very good. Concerning the swim baits - I couldn't agree with you more! I have had terrible luck with them on Laurel except for one - Zoom pearl white flukes. I have had decent luck with them.

All in all I have to agree with Chris, I would avoid Laurel if you are pursuing bass -(this is coming from someone who has lived 1 mile from a boat ramp on Laurel the majority of my life). Now if you were wanting to go walleye fishing - thats a different story! Laurel has always been good to me when it comes to walleye!

[Benjo]

Nice fish! You ever try trout colored swimbaits there?

You know! I've wondered that myself! (I've had trout on a line and had walleye absolutely rip them up as I'm reeling them in).

[ls1chris]

Yes the bass fishing has been sort of a down hill this year Compared to past years,and many agree with it.Laurel does have some good walleye but i have never fished for them although the same day i caught that small mouth my father caught about a 3 pounder on a texas rig worm .Many good size Eyes come out of the lake.I have heard many people talk about the poor fishing ever since they introduced alewifes into the lake.I am not sure how that would effect them but i have heard this numerous times

[Benjo]

Yes the bass fishing has been sort of a down hill this year Compared to past years,and many agree with it.Laurel does have some good walleye but i have never fished for them although the same day i caught that small mouth my father caught about a 3 pounder on a texas rig worm .Many good size Eyes come out of the lake.I have heard many people talk about the poor fishing ever since they introduced alewifes into the lake.I am not sure how that would effect them but i have heard this numerous times

I have read some articles about alewifes (like the few I'm posting). I'm not a biologist, but you can find all sorts of articles conspcerning alewifes ---- and very few of them are positive. Below are just a few I've read Like the environmental group that sued the state of Maine, etc..... If you have the time the second article from the fishermans voice magazine which states that there were numerous complaints from the local guides regarding a significant reduction in the smallmouth bass population. I think we both can agree from our experiences over the past few years that there is probably some truth to this theory!

http://www.pressherald.com/news/new-...012-10-16.html

http://www.fishermensvoice.com/archi...bitatvote.html

[ls1chris]

Benjo that is a good article you posted.And from both of our experiences and others that leads one to highly suspect the alewifes.That could count for the smaller schools of Threadfin and Gizzard shad i have been seeing the past 2 years.Im sure if the lake had larger fish such as Striper that could keep them in check it would be no problem.But since this lake does not and the Rapid growth rate of the alewife you know they have to be eating the eggs and fresh fry of the bass population


I remember year's ago going up in covers or channels and School's Of gizzard and threadfins would stretch from one end to the other and look like Boiling water where they flipping.

And i know i have gotten better as a fisherman over the last 8 years so it is not for lack of knowledge or trying .They have been days where i literally fished from the marina to the 312 dam throwing everything and only caught 3-5 fish with perhaps 1 or 2 being keeper size and i am not the only one that has done this