06-03-2008, 01:48 AM
I sympathize on the long drives and the muddy approaches..Of course in the lower basin you get a lot of trash.
I had a 12 ft fiberglass boat when I first got to Vegas.....Got muddy more than once.
Looking for smallmouth...they move around, but Saturday I found some on shallow slick rock flat points. At right near the shore line to 15 ft out. Smacking shad in the shallows...They were hiding in any shady depression in the rock point or just off the edges. I was fishing in full sun. So hard mud banks might be good to try. Look for the veins of rock or calcite deposits.
On the sonar I see weedbeds as deep as 30 ft. Lots at 20 to 15 ft.
Otherwise, for smallmouth, I am targeting more gently sloping points - less than 45 degrees and trying to cover several points on a bank. Thing about smallies I've found is, right now if one is around he usually bites on the first well placed presentation. The little ones fight harder than the bigger cousins.
Those locations I mentioned around Black Island had largemouth on them last week. They seem to be on steeper banks and fish down to 30 ft. for larger ones. With a stealthy approach I was catching them right at the water line. If conditions are safe enough go around to the south side of Black Island. Some good spots there.
If you have a high clearance 4x4, Boathouse Cove Road might be good to explore. I haven't been near shore there, so you have to go look at the hike from the road's end. A little quieter and somewhat protected from the SW winds - at least you will get blown back to shore.
Been deadsticking plastic when it is slick and crankbaits when it is windy. Wonder about swimming a jig. Or dragging a slipshot and worm. I'll sometimes swim a grub. I saw some bluegill in the shallows at the launch ramps last week so bluegill patterns baits may be the ticket. Overall, the smallies are still regurgitating crawdads into the livewell..
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I had a 12 ft fiberglass boat when I first got to Vegas.....Got muddy more than once.
Looking for smallmouth...they move around, but Saturday I found some on shallow slick rock flat points. At right near the shore line to 15 ft out. Smacking shad in the shallows...They were hiding in any shady depression in the rock point or just off the edges. I was fishing in full sun. So hard mud banks might be good to try. Look for the veins of rock or calcite deposits.
On the sonar I see weedbeds as deep as 30 ft. Lots at 20 to 15 ft.
Otherwise, for smallmouth, I am targeting more gently sloping points - less than 45 degrees and trying to cover several points on a bank. Thing about smallies I've found is, right now if one is around he usually bites on the first well placed presentation. The little ones fight harder than the bigger cousins.
Those locations I mentioned around Black Island had largemouth on them last week. They seem to be on steeper banks and fish down to 30 ft. for larger ones. With a stealthy approach I was catching them right at the water line. If conditions are safe enough go around to the south side of Black Island. Some good spots there.
If you have a high clearance 4x4, Boathouse Cove Road might be good to explore. I haven't been near shore there, so you have to go look at the hike from the road's end. A little quieter and somewhat protected from the SW winds - at least you will get blown back to shore.
Been deadsticking plastic when it is slick and crankbaits when it is windy. Wonder about swimming a jig. Or dragging a slipshot and worm. I'll sometimes swim a grub. I saw some bluegill in the shallows at the launch ramps last week so bluegill patterns baits may be the ticket. Overall, the smallies are still regurgitating crawdads into the livewell..
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