Water Down Temperature Up

Water Down Temperature Up

Dec 16, 2018

The temperature was a balmy mid-60's today, with bright sunlight and blue skies. This was in stark contrast to the recent cold fronts, storms and rain we've seen over the last week. On a day like this, it's a requirement to get up and go to the lake!

Lake Murray is still low from the Sixth Season Winter draw-down, and should remain so for some time. I expect it won't be back to full pool until summer.

Sadly, I fear this bodes ill for the coming season's shore fishing. 

All the food items normally part of the shore environment are dried up... the nymphs, clams, various invertebrates, crustaceans - all are gone. 

Normal breeding and recruitment areas are high and dry, too.

I expect this may have the effect of pushing the fish further out from shore, and keeping them there, at least until the near-shore aquatic environment is re-established. 

It'll probably take a season or two to settle back.  

With the water down, though, access to areas otherwise underwater is possible. All sorts of things are revealed this way. For example, in the foto above, the cut channels seen in the center of the little cove were unknown to me until today.

Snapping turtle remains
I may go back and retrieve this. It's macabre, but cleaned up, it would make a neat "trophy."

This marker broke loose, drifted ashore while the water was still up... and now it's high and dry

The Tandem Worm/Fluke Rig

This rigging method uses dual lures to simulate a small "school" of baitfish.
It can be highly productive when the bass are active, plus it can often be used to stimulate inactive fish to strike. Once you see it in the water, you will immediate recognize why it can be so effective at drawing fish.

Looking carefully at the photo, you will see a swivel tied to the end of the main line and a 14-inch leader with a lure attached to that. In this case, its a Strike King KVD, Shim-E-Stick in "Baby Bass" color.  The heavy, Senko-style worm provides good casting weight.

Just above that swivel, you will note another swivel with an 8-inch leader and another lure, in this case a yellow/gold worm.

That second swivel is NOT tied to the main line; it is threaded on above the first swivel. 

This allows the short leader and lure to move freely up/down the main line, but its held well above the point lure, down there on the longer leader.

There may be a little bit of twisting of the two leaders, at times. But, it is minimal, thanks to the swivels, and it comes out when you cast the lures. 

Once, in the water, just a little action applied to this rig will result in each lure veering, zig-zagging, and jumping in different directions. A series of short, rapid jerks makes the lures look a mini-school of baitfish. 
It's really and amazing thing to see.

- I let it sink to the bottom, then lift the rod tip high. This makes the lures leap up from the bottom, then I "pop" and "snap" the rod tip so the pair zip and dart back and forth. Then I hold the rod still and let the pair glide back down and repeat.

- Or, I might start moving the lures just after the cast, with the rod held high. This way they stay near the surface, like swimming prey.

This and much more about soft baits can be found here:

http://www.stickmarsh.com/articles/article145.shtml

Sigma 3035S Reel
Im starting to like this thing more and more....

Shimano Spinning Rod.

6'6" Medium Action
This came to me when I inherited all my dads fishing gear.
I like it enough that I'm looking for another

The Waters Edge Clean-Up Plunder (top center, clockwise)

Trailer Tail-light 

Massive wad of fishing line

Skeletal cellphone remains

Lipless rankbait

Pickup cap from spincast reel

LED disc light

Various boat fittings (dead sonar transducer, motor skeg, clamp whatsis)

Gatorade bottle

The disc light and lipless crankbait.

Both are cleaned up, working, and back in action.

Thanks for reading and,

Tight Lines,

David

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