Patoka bass update as of late June??

[Thermodude]

are you sure youre at the right lake, cause the water has not been low at all...

You gotta be kidding me! Over the las two years this lake as been up and down more than an elevator!! And yes, compaired to better years its still low right now, .......................here is the answer to my orginal question, .....................Chrome Husky jerk fished at around 5ft, in 10 -12ft off of fast dropping banks early while the shad are schooling.

[Embrey]

You gotta be kidding me! Over the las two years this lake as been up and down more than an elevator!! And yes, compaired to better years its still low right now, .......................here is the answer to my orginal question, .....................Chrome Husky jerk fished at around 5ft, in 10 -12ft off of fast dropping banks early while the shad are schooling.

i guess im just not caring what it was last year,cause last year is gone. this year its where it should be so far. so, no im not kidding you

[Thermodude]

i guess im just not caring what it was last year,cause last year is gone. this year its where it should be so far. so, no im not kidding you

Well whats been going on there the last couple years has had a huge impact on the lake as of right now. Low water conditions have changed parts of the lake...........that were once flats, into flats with large amounts of grass and saplings! Dry flats turn into fileds. No matter, Ive fished it the last 4 days and I answered my question.

[Moveon]

Well whats been going on there the last couple years has had a huge impact on the lake as of right now. Low water conditions have changed parts of the lake...........that were once flats, into flats with large amounts of grass and saplings! Dry flats turn into fileds. No matter, Ive fished it the last 4 days and I answered my question.

Well if you were talking about the last four of five years then that makes more sense when you talked about the low water levels affecting the fishing. It takes time to kill off those small trees that grew on those open flats.

Actually though when the lake it down low it helps us fishermen find the fish as the fish have less room to hide and are more concentrated to a small degree.

Glad to see that you found some fish. That's what it's all about. Having some sport and fun out on the lake.

And when you do finally figure out a new lake or an old lake there is a feeling of satisfaction that no other sport can provide except maybe hunting.

[Thermodude]

Well if you were talking about the last four of five years then that makes more sense when you talked about the low water levels affecting the fishing. It takes time to kill off those small trees that grew on those open flats.

Actually though when the lake it down low it helps us fishermen find the fish as the fish have less room to hide and are more concentrated to a small degree.

Glad to see that you found some fish. That's what it's all about. Having some sport and fun out on the lake.

And when you do finally figure out a new lake or an old lake there is a feeling of satisfaction that no other sport can provide except maybe hunting.

Thanks Moveon...........Im looking forward to getting back out there later this week. With more rain in the forcast that should help keep some color in the water and the surface temps cooler. As of yesterday it was 82.4 according to my dial. Most of the other boats that I saw were casting soft baits slow...............the Husky Jerk proved to be the thing for me though. One thing I do want to add, bass were busting the shad balls throughout the morning hours and we tried topwater baits over and over with only two strikes..........that kinda surprised me.

[Moveon]

Thanks Moveon...........Im looking forward to getting back out there later this week. With more rain in the forcast that should help keep some color in the water and the surface temps cooler. As of yesterday it was 82.4 according to my dial. Most of the other boats that I saw were casting soft baits slow...............the Husky Jerk proved to be the thing for me though. One thing I do want to add, bass were busting the shad balls throughout the morning hours and we tried topwater baits over and over with only two strikes..........that kinda surprised me.

I can remember a time down at KY lake in the back of this small quiet cove where bass were busting shad all around my boat. I threw about everything at them that I could think of and didn't get a hit. Some times they are so focused on one type of food that they ignore all other. I would think that bass busting a shad ball would fall prey to a shad looking bait that was falling down though the water column at a slow rate. But you have to watch your line carefully and have a tight line to feel a hit. Some times they can inhale the bait and spit it out so fast that you never knew that you had a bite. This must happen to me a lot unless I fish down wind and have the line tighter by using a heavy weight. But then I can't get the bait to go down slowly like a dying or injured shad might.

I see a lot of shad ball on my side scanning sonar but my screen is hard to see in the sunlight and my eyes are not so good anymore. I can't always see the bass below the shad balls in the SI screen shots. Only later when I bring the SDHC card into the house and put it into my computer and play back some of the images on my computer can I see the fish better. I should have a tent over the top of my boats cockpit to put it in the dark so that I can see the SI screen easier in the dark. I already have a sun shade over the screen and a small umbrella over the cockpit but that's only helps a little bit in bright sunlight.

[SteveM4A1]

I can remember a time down at KY lake in the back of this small quiet cove where bass were busting shad all around my boat. I threw about everything at them that I could think of and didn't get a hit. Some times they are so focused on one type of food that they ignore all other. I would think that bass busting a shad ball would fall prey to a shad looking bait that was falling down though the water column at a slow rate. But you have to watch your line carefully and have a tight line to feel a hit. Some times they can inhale the bait and spit it out so fast that you never knew that you had a bite. This must happen to me a lot unless I fish down wind and have the line tighter by using a heavy weight. But then I can't get the bait to go down slowly like a dying or injured shad might.

I see a lot of shad ball on my side scanning sonar but my screen is hard to see in the sunlight and my eyes are not so good anymore. I can't always see the bass below the shad balls in the SI screen shots. Only later when I bring the SDHC card into the house and put it into my computer and play back some of the images on my computer can I see the fish better. I should have a tent over the top of my boats cockpit to put it in the dark so that I can see the SI screen easier in the dark. I already have a sun shade over the screen and a small umbrella over the cockpit but that's only helps a little bit in bright sunlight.

Do you have the non-LED backlit Humminbird? The new ones are supposed to not have this problem..also, even though I am sure you already do, you can try tilting it at a better angle out of the sunlight.

[Moveon]

Do you have the non-LED backlit Humminbird? The new ones are supposed to not have this problem..also, even though I am sure you already do, you can try tilting it at a better angle out of the sunlight.

Yea I have the older unit. I got mine back in 2010 I think. The umbrella helps a bit. I think my problem is mostly my eyes. I can take my glasses off and get close to the screen and see a little bit better.

I wish I had one of the newer LED backlit units. I'd like to see how they work in the daylight.

I have the 2" Ball type stand that hold the unit in place and I can easily adjust the angle. Thanks I give that a try and see if it helps.

Some time I turn the boat at a different angle to the sun just to get the umbrella shad to fall over the screen. But while trolling and trying to avoid other boats and other fishermen it's somethings not possible to get the shade from the umbrella to fall directly on the screen.

Changing the Screen color on the SI from blue to amber helps me to see the screen better. I prefer the amber color as it's easier on my eyes.

[Embrey]

Thanks Moveon...........Im looking forward to getting back out there later this week. With more rain in the forcast that should help keep some color in the water and the surface temps cooler. As of yesterday it was 82.4 according to my dial. Most of the other boats that I saw were casting soft baits slow...............the Husky Jerk proved to be the thing for me though. One thing I do want to add, bass were busting the shad balls throughout the morning hours and we tried topwater baits over and over with only two strikes..........that kinda surprised me.

that bite doesnt work this week. tune in next week for an even different bite...its patoka

[Thermodude]

that bite doesnt work this week. tune in next week for an even different bite...its patoka

sure it does..................as of last night all is well!

[SteveM4A1]

Yea I have the older unit. I got mine back in 2010 I think. The umbrella helps a bit. I think my problem is mostly my eyes. I can take my glasses off and get close to the screen and see a little bit better.

I wish I had one of the newer LED backlit units. I'd like to see how they work in the daylight.

I have the 2" Ball type stand that hold the unit in place and I can easily adjust the angle. Thanks I give that a try and see if it helps.

Some time I turn the boat at a different angle to the sun just to get the umbrella shad to fall over the screen. But while trolling and trying to avoid other boats and other fishermen it's somethings not possible to get the shade from the umbrella to fall directly on the screen.

Changing the Screen color on the SI from blue to amber helps me to see the screen better. I prefer the amber color as it's easier on my eyes.

You could just buy an 1198 and you won't have that problem

[Moveon]

You could just buy an 1198 and you won't have that problem

I've been looking for a battery operated screen that would plug into the 898 and allow me to see the data better. But they might cost as much as the 1198.

When I got my 898 I didn't know that they made the 898 at the time. I thought that the price had suddenly dropped on the 1198 and I was the luckiest guy in the world. Then it dawned on me that this was not the bigger model and that's why it cost 1/2 of what the bigger screen model cost. Drats! Still it was too good of a price for me to refuse so I jumped on the 898 right then and three. I should have waited another two or three years right? But hey I waited for about 3 years after these first came out before I finally made the leap to get me one.

But I've seen the bigger screen in operation and it's much better. And I can only imagine the quality of the new LED Back lighted 1198 screens. My friend has an 1198 and I've used it a few times while fishing with him. I Like the submarine sounds that it has.