4/11 - 4/13 Report

[bodywarrior]

Arrived at 7:30 Saturday and caught small 5 inch baits in back of creek and had lines in up near 52 at 8:30 or so.   Caught two keepers 26" and 20" by 11am and nothing the rest of the day or evening.  Got out early Sunday lines in at first light and could not buy a bite.  Fished main lake opposite side from main points due to great marks and caught two in the evening 28" and 22".  Yesterday lines in same spot and got a 29" early. Had to leave at 2pm to go home and only caught a channel cat as my second fish.   All fish hit the lines with 1/4 oz swivel sinkers used opposed to freeline or 1/2 oz. 

Wish I knew how to get the bigger shad baits.  I threw and threw the net in the back of a creek yesterday and finally got two 8" or so only two get one hung up and the other disappeared. Any tips? How do they look on sonar?

Thanks,

Mark

[mwardncsu]

In the shallow backs of the creeks (5' or less), you're likely not to even mark them. In deeper waters (10-15') you'll typically see them schooled up - larger gizzards make decent individual arches vs. the tiny baits being more a cloud of color....

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2015 12:29:54 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Arrived at 7:30 Saturday and caught small 5 inch baits in back of creek and had lines in up near 52 at 8:30 or so.   Caught two keepers 26" and 20" by 11am and nothing the rest of the day or evening.  Got out early Sunday lines in at first light and could not buy a bite.  Fished main lake opposite side from main points due to great marks and caught two in the evening 28" and 22".  Yesterday lines in same spot and got a 29" early. Had to leave at 2pm to go home and only caught a channel cat as my second fish.   All fish hit the lines with 1/4 oz swivel sinkers used opposed to freeline or 1/2 oz. 

Wish I knew how to get the bigger shad baits.  I threw and threw the net in the back of a creek yesterday and finally got two 8" or so only two get one hung up and the other disappeared. Any tips? How do they look on sonar?

Thanks,

Mark

I can always tell the difference between big and small bait based on separation on down scan (bottom right corner of pic below)....



As shown above, on traditional sonar, the big bait looks like decent fish. On down scan, they look like specks. Sometimes I call it a bush of cauliflower.

I have also noticed that on my front transducer, I will see quick up and down archs representing fast moving bait.

With all of the above, a great way to catch gizzards is by seeing them pip on the surface. When you see this...as catsnstripers says, "Turn off your sonar and throw at the pips!" You will get em for sure this way. However, if they are schooled deeper, sonar still rules!

[bodywarrior]

Thanks, I will keep trying.  Are they usually close to the bank or beside docks or in the middle at that depth?  Where do you have the best success catching multiples?  Like where would you try first in the Indian creeks for example?

I appreciate the help.

Mark

[mwardncsu]

Apr 14, 2015 14:14:01 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Are they usually close to the bank or beside docks or in the middle at that depth? 

Yes.



Seriously - sometimes they are shallow - and I mean as shallow as a foot. Other times they are schooled up deep - you can get multiple shallow and deep - just depends where they are. Shallow you might be able to see them schooled up (dark matter in the water), or see some water movement from them.....

You build up a good set of shoulders chasing gizzards - throw and throw an throw and throw......

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2015 15:14:25 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

Apr 14, 2015 14:14:01 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Are they usually close to the bank or beside docks or in the middle at that depth? 

Yes.



Seriously - sometimes they are shallow - and I mean as shallow as a foot. Other times they are schooled up deep - you can get multiple shallow and deep - just depends where they are. Shallow you might be able to see them schooled up (dark matter in the water), or see some water movement from them.....

You build up a good set of shoulders chasing gizzards - throw and throw an throw and throw......

And your hands turn into those hands your grandpa had cause he heated his home with wood that he chopped with an ax.

[mwardncsu]

Apr 14, 2015 15:28:07 GMT -5 Yam said:

And your hands turn into those hands your grandpa had cause he heated his home with wood that he chopped with an ax.

Or these....

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2015 15:34:41 GMT -5 mwardncsu said:

LOL... Throw until your hands bleed!

[bodywarrior]

Yeah I noticed, my hands were clinging / hanging up on my wife's nighties after throwing the net for three days so I had to borrow some lotion (for my hands only).  I still heat my home on wood and I did split it by hand most of my life.  That is why my back is shot now as a grandpa and it got awful stiff driving home after all that throwing.  I think I have the idea now.  I am actually starting to enjoy catching bait and know I will when I am more successful.  Thanks for the help!

What kind of salt and how much salt and baking soda in the bait tank?  

[Brian]

I use 3 cups in my 40 gallon tank of water softener salt from lowes. Make sure it doesn't have cleaners or anything added. Just salt.

I'm not a expert though, hopefully the master baiters here will chime in with more details.

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2015 16:42:46 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Yeah I noticed, my hands were clinging / hanging up on my wife's nighties after throwing the net for three days so I had to borrow some lotion (for my hands only).  I still heat my home on wood and I did split it by hand most of my life.  That is why my back is shot now as a grandpa and it got awful stiff driving home after all that throwing.  I think I have the idea now.  I am actually starting to enjoy catching bait and know I will when I am more successful.  Thanks for the help!

What kind of salt and how much salt and baking soda in the bait tank?  

I use 4 cups of Lowe's water softener salt (blue bag) in my 35 gallon sbtII.

I now use my hands rather than my nails to scratch my wife's back.

And... Catching bait is the best part of striper fishing for me. It turned a fat beer guzzling croaker fisherman into a fat guy who thinks he's in good shape and doesn't have time to drink a beer.

[striperjohn]

Apr 14, 2015 16:42:46 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Yeah I noticed, my hands were clinging / hanging up on my wife's nighties after throwing the net for three days so I had to borrow some lotion (for my hands only).  I still heat my home on wood and I did split it by hand most of my life.  That is why my back is shot now as a grandpa and it got awful stiff driving home after all that throwing.  I think I have the idea now.  I am actually starting to enjoy catching bait and know I will when I am more successful.  Thanks for the help!

What kind of salt and how much salt and baking soda in the bait tank?  

Bodywarrior once the season starts I throw my net 15 times a day just to get these old muscles ready. Good exercise and makes it easier on you when you need it.

[HookedUP]

Apr 14, 2015 14:14:01 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Thanks, I will keep trying.  Are they usually close to the bank or beside docks or in the middle at that depth?  Where do you have the best success catching multiples?  Like where would you try first in the Indian creeks for example?

I appreciate the help.

Mark

Here is another tip for catching Big Gizzards. I pick up alot on concrete boat ramps this time of year. I beleive they are eating the algae off the concrete. JMO. Something to look for when out catching bait

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2015 18:17:09 GMT -5 HookedUP said:

Apr 14, 2015 14:14:01 GMT -5 bodywarrior said:

Thanks, I will keep trying.  Are they usually close to the bank or beside docks or in the middle at that depth?  Where do you have the best success catching multiples?  Like where would you try first in the Indian creeks for example?

I appreciate the help.

Mark

Here is another tip for catching Big Gizzards. I pick up alot on concrete boat ramps this time of year. I beleive they are eating the algae off the concrete. JMO. Something to look for when out catching bait

Makes total sense. I'm all over that next time out.

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2015 20:03:39 GMT -5 Yam said:

Apr 16, 2015 18:17:09 GMT -5 HookedUP said:

Here is another tip for catching Big Gizzards. I pick up alot on concrete boat ramps this time of year. I beleive they are eating the algae off the concrete. JMO. Something to look for when out catching bait

Makes total sense. I'm all over that next time out. Yesterday I picked up a big mossy log and figured it was crappy time. Nope... The gizzard came with this wood. Key... Mossy.