Fishin The Ranch With Dave Kochis

August 18, 2002...

The fish are definitely in the weeds. If you're there when "they come out to play", what a treat. However, chances are you won't be that lucky so you're going to have to entice them to come out. Unfortunately the "big boys" are embedded so deep in the weeds you won't be able to get close enough to get them but there are plenty of 3's and 4's available in reachable locations.

I target all the isolated "off shore" weed clumps scattered throughout the lake that I can get my boat to. I have not had nearly as much luck fishing shore line weeds. I work these off shore areas over and over again.

During any time of the day, I work these off shore areas over with 3 lures. I'll work a Pop-R around and as close to these clumps as I can. And I'll throw a Senko right into the middle of these clumps as well as thoroughly work the edges. And I'll rip a suspending jerk bait as close to these clumps as possible. As you patiently do this, sooner or later you'll start to catch fish. Some days it's the Pop-R while other days it's the Senko or Rip bait. This last Wednesday it was both the Pop-R and the Senko. The fish will tell you what they want.

Watch what's going on. Look for the fish showing themselves. When you see a fish move, throw a Senko to it as fast as you can. Chances are they'll eat it. When the Dragon Flies show up, the bite usually improves significantly. They normally show up around 10:00 AM. I often just cruise around on my trolling motor looking for fish movement. When I see it, I target that area.

As the sun gets higher in the blue bird sky, throw a Snag-Proof scum frog in the nastiest scumiest stuff you can find. Throw it as far back into the stuff as you can. Orange or white frogs have been good colors for me. Use a heavy action rod and at least 50# braid line. When that fish hits, set the hook as hard as you can and reel like crazy to be able to get the fish up and out of the stuff. Half the fun is seeing if you can dig the fish out of the deep weeds. Last week I had one hit 3 feet from the boat. He hit so hard he splashed water and crude all over me as well as scaring me to death. So slowly work it back all the way to the boat. You never know where they are.

Another thing that works on occasion and is worth trying is to work the Pop-R and jerk bait in the deep water in the middle of the lake. If they are out "playing", you'll have a ball.

So bottomline, rig four rods: Pop-R (green), Senko (watermelon), Suspending rip bait (Flash Minnow) and a Snag Proof frog. And work all the off-shore weed clumps you can find. It will be slow but you catch them.