Midwest Finesse Fishing: September 2020

October 05, 2020
By Ned Kehde

This September information to Midwest finesse fishing incorporates 21 logs and 20,544 phrases that describe how, when, and the place Midwest finesse anglers fished.

It options the outings and insights of Rick Allen of Dallas; Tom Bett of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Norman Brown of Lewisville, Texas; Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas; Pat Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas; Invoice Kenny of Corinth, Texas;  Randi Lee Myers of Paw Paw, West Virginia; Travis Myers of Paw Paw, West Virginia; Dave Petro of Lecompton, Kansas; Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas; and John Thomas of Denton, Texas.

As at all times, we’re grateful that Steve Reideler proofread all the logs. He made them extra readable and comprehensible.

Sept. 2

Dave Petro of Lecompton, Kansas, filed a log of the Finesse Information Community about his Sept. 2 outing.

Commercial

Right here is an edited model of his log.

After a two-week hiatus from angling, I made a solo journey to a northeastern Kansas’ U.S. Corps of Engineers’ reservoir.

The climate was clear and considerably cooler than in had been in latest weeks. The low temperature was 66 levels and the excessive temperature was 88 levels. Whereas I used to be afloat, the wind blew from the south and southeast at 3-13 mph. For a lot of the time, it was brisk sufficient to boost a couple of whitecaps. The barometric stress was 29.90 and barely falling.

The water’s floor temperature was 84 levels. The water degree was about 15 inches above regular. The water exhibited one to 2 toes of visibility. The algae bloom that has plagued this reservoir for a lot of the summer time continues unabated, making a foaminess on the floor and floating chunks of algae.

I fished from 11:10 a.m. till 4:10 p.m.

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My focus was to find some new black-bass lairs slightly than plying well-known lairs.

On my final journey to this impoundment, I fished the primary lake-points on the entrance to a secondary feeder-creek arm and its shorelines, the place I caught a number of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.

On Sept. 2, considered one of my major targets one other secondary feeder-creek arm that’s adjoining to the one I plied on my earlier journey and the main-lake shorelines that separate these two feeder creeks.  I additionally dissected six main-lake factors, a number of shorelines inside two medium-sized secondary feeder-creek arms, one 150-yard stretch of a main-lake shoreline, and two 250-yard stretches of two main-lake shorelines.

I used six Midwest finesse rigs.  They have been a Z-Man Fishing Merchandise’ Junebug TRD TicklerZ mounted on a chartreuse 1/20-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, a Z-Man’s coppertreuse TRD TicklerZ mounted on a purple 1/16-ounce Jade’s Jig, a three-inch Z-Man’s The Deal Slim SwimZ mounted on a custom-painted chartreuse 1/16-ounce TT Lures’ NedlockZ jig,  a Z-Man’s molting-craw TRD CrawZ mounted on a custom-painted blue 1/15-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, a Z-Man’s molting-craw TRD HogZ mounted on a custom-painted blue 1/15-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, and a Z-Man’s molting-craw TRD TicklerZ mounted on a custom-painted blue 1/15-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig.

I made the primary forged on a main-lake level. This level didn’t produce any strikes.

I proceeded to dissect this level’s adjoining shoreline, which leads in the direction of the secondary feeder-creek that was my most important goal for the day. This 250-yard stretch of shoreline is rock-laden, and it’s endowed with a shelf of rubble that consists of rocks, boulders, gravel, and sand. Alongside this shelf, I caught one largemouth bass and one smallmouth bass on the Junebug TRD TicklerZ rig. One was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve, and the opposite one was caught on a deadstick presentation. They have been abiding in seven to 9 toes of water and several other yards from the water’s edge.

Alongside the remainder of this 250-yard part of shoreline, I caught two smallmouth bass on the molting-craw TRD CrawZ rig with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. A 3rd strike didn’t hook the fish and the jig was returned to the boat sans the TRD CrawZ physique.

After re-dressing the jig with the molting-craw HogZ, I caught one largemouth bass and two smallmouth bass across the main-lake level on the entrance to the secondary feeder-creek arm. One of many smallmouth bass was abiding round a big boulder that sat in about 12 inches of water, and it was adjoining to a pointy drop off the place the water’s depth dropped rapidly from one foot to about seven toes. This fish hit the TRD HogZ rig on the preliminary drop. The opposite smallmouth bass gave the impression to be suspended in about 4 toes of water, and it was abiding subsequent to a vertical rock that rose about one foot above the floor of the water. It was caught on the TRD HogZ rig with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. The largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the molting-craw TRD TicklerZ rig in 3 ½ toes of water on the tip of this main-lake level.

The shorelines inside this secondary feeder-creek arm didn’t produce any strikes, nor did the opposite main-lake level on the entrance of this feeder-creek arm.

Alongside one other 250-yard stretch of a main-lake shoreline, which is rock-laden, I caught one largemouth bass and two smallmouth bass on the coppertreuse TRD TicklerZ rig. Each of the smallmouth bass have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. The largemouth bass was enticed into placing after I popped the coppertreuse TRD TicklerZ rig free from an underwater rock obstruction.

This 250-yard part of a main-lake shoreline ended on the mouth of one other secondary feeder-creek arm. The primary main-lake level on the entrance to this arm and one of many shorelines inside this arm have been unproductive. Nevertheless, as I dissected these areas, I observed some floor exercise alongside the other shoreline and behind this arm. In that space, I rapidly caught two largemouth bass and one smallmouth bass in 2 ½ toes of water and some yards from the water’s edge. They have been caught on The Deal Slim SwimZ rig with a straight swimming retrieve. This rig additionally caught two freshwater drum and a sauger. All six fish have been caught in about 20 minutes. The floor exercise I noticed was brought on by small black bass foraging upon gizzard shad.

The opposite main-lake level on the entrance to the secondary feeder-creek arm was unproductive.

Nevertheless, alongside a 150-yard part of steep and rocky main-lake shoreline, I caught two largemouth bass on the Slim SwimZ rig.  One was caught on a straight swimming retrieve, and the opposite was caught on the preliminary drop.

Earlier, I observed slightly sample that sort of intrigued me. It occurred 3 times after I popped a rig free after it had develop into snagged on a submerged rock, and a largemouth bass and two freshwater drum engulfed the rig. I made a decision to attempt to emulate that presentation with out getting snagged. I examined this presentation on one other main-lake level on the entrance to a small feeder-creek arm. After casting to the shoreline, I swam and glided the molting-craw TRD TicklerZ rig into deeper water, after which I let it settle to the underside. After I let it lie on the underside for a couple of seconds, I popped the rod tip actual quick and straight up, then I shook the rig gently because the rig settled again to the underside. On my second strive, a fish engulfed the lure because it was settling again, and I landed a smallmouth bass. Recasting towards shoreline, I repeated the identical swim-and-glide retrieve into deeper water and allowed the rig to settle to the underside, and after I popped the rig up and shook it because it settled again to the underside, I used to be rewarded with one other strike and landed a largemouth bass this time. Across the level on the opposite aspect of the mouth of this small feeder-creek arm, I couldn’t get the pop-and-shake (for need of a greater approach to consult with it) approach to work once more. However I did entice a smallmouth bass to engulf the rig on its preliminary drop.

In all, I caught 9 largemouth bass and 9 smallmouth bass in 5 hours. I additionally inadvertently caught three freshwater drum, one sauger, and one large bluegill. I actually was not sad with the outcomes, as a result of I’m certain that if I had spent extra time dissecting this reservoir’s well-known  black-bass lairs –rather than looking for new ones — that my catch would have been significantly better. However on this outing, I used to be delighted to discover a new space that harbors each largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, and I spent a variety of my time completely dissecting this space to be taught its secrets and techniques.  Subsequent time, I believe that I can fish the most effective areas that I found on this outing — in addition to a few of the conventional black-bass areas — and catch extra fish.

Sept. 4

Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his outing on Sept. 4.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, one thing was drastically awry with our black-bass fishing in northeastern Kansas.  Pat Kehde and I struggled on Aug. 31 to catch 4 largemouth bass and 4 smallmouth bass in two hours of fishing at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ group reservoirs. We struggled once more throughout one other two-hour outing on Sept. 2 to catch one smallmouth bass and 7 largemouth bass at one other group reservoir, which has been considered one of our most fruitful reservoirs for the previous 5 years.  We have been so disheartened that we couldn’t muster the wherewithal to compose logs for the Finesse Information Community about these irritating endeavors.  On Sept. 4, Patty correctly elected to not be a part of me for a less-than-mediocre outing at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ state reservoirs.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported on Sept 4 that it was 49 levels at 5:52 a.m. and 85 levels at 4:52 p.m.  The wind was calm at occasions, and when it stirred, it angled out of the northwest, southeast, and east at 3 to 9 mph. The sky was truthful. The barometric stress was 30.11 at 12:52 a.m., 30.15 at 5:52 a.m., 30.22 at 11:52 a.m., and 30.18 at 2:52 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 12:19 a.m. to 2:19 a.m., 12:40 p.m. to 2:40 p.m., and 6:29 a.m. to eight:29 a.m.

The floor temperature ranged from 80 to 81 levels. The water exhibited 5 to seven toes of secchi-stick visibility. The water degree appeared to be about 4 toes beneath its regular degree. Its shallow-water flats are embellished with patches of bushy pondweed and coontail. Its water’s edges have been lined with partially flooded terrestrial vegetation and some patches of partially flooded American water willows.

This outing was not as fruitless as those on Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, however it was removed from being a Midwest finesse bonanza. I fished from 10:55 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. and tangled with 33 largemouth bass and one black crappie.

 Throughout the years, I’ve been chastised as being a dink catcher. I relish catching scores of largemouth bass, and if I can catch 15 to 25 largemouth bass an hour, often one or two of them per hour might be hefty specimens. However on this Sept. 4 outing, 30 of those 33 largemouth bass have been very dinky, and the opposite three weren’t very hefty. And catching simply an hourly common of 10 dinky largemouth bass didn’t erase the disheartening reminiscences of our Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 outings.

One of many 33 largemouth bass was caught on a Z-Man’s watermelon-red Child Goat affixed to a purple 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. 4 of the 33 have been caught on a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ affixed to a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.  Eight have been caught on a Z-Man’s sprayed-grass TRD TicklerZ affixed to a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.  Twenty have been caught on a Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ affixed to a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

Two largemouth bass have been caught round a main-lake level. This level has a 40-degree slope. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, boulders, and submerged foundations of a barn and farm home. One of many largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the TRD HogZ rig in about 4 toes of water. The TRD HogZ rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation caught the opposite largemouth bass in about seven toes of water as I used to be strolling.

I spent the remainder of the outing inside two feeder-creek arms, plying 4 shorelines, a number of secondary factors, a couple of tertiary factors, and an array of shallow-water flats adjoining to those shorelines and factors. The underwater terrains of those areas are endowed with gravel, rocks, and boulders. The slopes of those shorelines, factors, and flats ranged from 15- to 30-degrees. A number of of the flats are graced with submerged creek channels and  artifical brush piles and rock piles.

The areas that have been devoid of considerable patches of submerged bushy pondweed and coontail yielded 4 largemouth bass. They have been caught on the green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation in 4 to eight toes of water.

The opposite 27 largemouth bass have been caught round patches of submerged vegetation in 4 to 10 toes of water. One of many 27 largemouth bass was caught on the Child Goat rig with a swimming presentation in about 5 toes of water. The sprayed-grass TRD TickerZ rig caught eight largemouth bass whereas I used to be strolling and using a swim-glide-and-shake presentation in 4 to 10 toes of water. The TRD HogZ rig caught 18 largemouth bass on both the preliminary drop or a swim-glide-and-subtle-shake presentation in 4 to about eight toes of water.

In closing, it’s fascinating to notice that there have been only a few anglers afloat on the three reservoirs that we fished this week. The truth is, we have been the one boat afloat on Aug. 31. There have been 4 boats afloat on Sept. 2. And there have been three boats and one kayak on the water on Sept. 4. It’s fairly a distinction to the chaos that we endured in March, April, and Might. Maybe, the sorry black-bass fishing that’s presently plaguing our reservoirs in northeastern Kansas this summer time has provoked this decline.

Sept. 4

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 4 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The start of September was moist because the remnants of hurricane Laura dumped 5 to seven inches of rain on the countryside of north-central Texas on September 1 and a pair of, however it additionally helped drop the daytime excessive temperatures from 106 levels on Aug. 31 to 83 levels on September 2.

On September 4, native thermometers recorded the morning low temperature at 71 levels and the afternoon excessive temperature reached 93 levels. The barometric stress measured 30.11 at midday and 30.07 at 3:00 p.m. The wind angled out of the southeast, east, and northeast at 5 to eight.

I believed I might sneak in a brief afternoon tour to one of many U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ hill-land reservoirs in north-central Texas earlier than it grew to become too chaotic with Labor Day weekend revelers and boat visitors.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the fishing could be common. It additionally famous that the most effective fishing would happen between 12:26 a.m. and a pair of:26 a.m., 6:36 a.m. and eight:36 a.m., and 12:47 p.m. to 2:47 a.m. I fished from midday to three:00 p.m.

The numerous rainfall that fell earlier within the week didn’t seem to have affected the water situations at this reservoir. The water degree was solely 0.22 of a foot above regular. The water exhibited about two toes of visibility. The floor temperature ranged from 83 to 85 levels.

I spent these three hours concentrating on two deep-water lairs that have been enhanced with shade and important concentrations of threadfin shad. The primary locale was a collection of 5 floating tractor-tire reefs, and the second was comprised of two rows of twenty-two concrete bridge assist columns beneath two adjoining bridges. These two areas are located within the reservoir’s southwest tributary arm. The underwater terrain on this a part of the reservoir consists of purple clay, pea-gravel, rocks, and boulders.

The 5 tractor-tire reefs are located on the mouth of two giant marinas. They fluctuate in dimension from about 25 to 75 yards in size. Whereas I used to be dissecting them, the boat floated in water as deep as 34 toes and as shallow as 17 toes. The water was clear sufficient for me to see quite a few colleges of threadfin shad meandering round and thru the openings of the tires, and infrequently a black bass would all of the sudden seem and snatch one of many shad from the floor of the water close to one of many tires. These 5 reefs surrendered a complete of six largemouth bass and two noticed bass. They have been suspended about eight toes beneath the floor alongside the shady aspect of the reef. They have been allured by a Z-Man’s blue metal Finesse ShadZ rigged on a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead that was employed with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve.

From these tire reefs, I moved about 1 1/2 miles westward and concentrated my efforts across the sides of twenty-two concrete assist columns that have been shaded from the solar by the bridges. One of many bridges is a railroad-trestle bridge; the opposite one is an interstate-highway bridge. The depth of the water encircling these bridges is as shallow as 12 toes and as deep as 42 toes. These assist columns yielded 11 largemouth bass and one white bass. These fish have been suspended 5 to eight toes beneath the floor and have been near the edges of the columns. They have been caught on a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig.

The columns that have been drenched with daylight have been fruitless.

In closing, I caught 17 largemouth bass, two noticed bass, and one white bass in three hours.

I employed 9 Midwest finesse choices, and the Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ matched with a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead was the one efficient rig. The swim-glide-and-shake was the one efficient presentation.

Sept 4.

Travis and Randi Lee Myers of Paw Paw, West Virginia, filed a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about their Sept. 4 outing.

Right here is an edited model of their outing.

After returning residence from my day by day work duties at roughly 4:45 p.m., I requested my spouse if she want to go lip a couple of fish. By the point I acquired out of my day by day uniform and headed to the storage, my spouse had some rods within the UTV and was able to depart. I checked the jigs and tied new knots, and we have been able to go.

After a 25-minute UTV journey by way of the woods, we stepped into the water.

The air temperature was a refreshing 76 levels with zero humidity.

Due to some huge all-day rains that included a hail storm, the water was greater than it had been in latest weeks. It was operating at 208 cubic toes per second. Regardless that the readability was a bit stained, there was six toes of visibility at a few of the deeper locales.

The flat that we elected to fish is 100 yards lengthy and fifty yards throughout. On the weak aspect of the river, it’s a foot deep. Within the center, it’s two toes. On the sturdy aspect, it has a depth of roughly three toes, which doesn’t appear very deep, however the fringe of this sturdy aspect is shaded all day lengthy, and there are a collection of about 9 depressions alongside the underside which might be deep sufficient to consolidate some fish. These depressions are a couple of foot deeper than the encompassing water.

I let my spouse take the lead, letting her make the primary casts into seemingly holding spots as we fished your complete 100 yards. We stood in two toes of water and made casts that have been barely upstream of the depressions, which allowed the present to maneuver our choices into these seemingly holding spots.

The underside consists of pebbles and small rocks that we may simply really feel by way of our rod suggestions ever so typically till throwing slack into our line to facilitate a no-feel presentation.

My spouse lipped 11 smallmouth bass and inadvertently inveigled 12 inexperienced sunfish, three bluegill and one largemouth. All of them have been caught on the preliminary drop of a Z-Man’s mudbug TRD Craw affixed to a purple 1/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

I lipped 10 smallmouth bass and inadvertently caught 16 inexperienced sunfish, two rock bass and three fallfish. All of my fish have been caught on a three-week-old and well-worn Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD MinnowZ rigged on a purple 1/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead with a whole deadstick-and-slight-shake presentation.

We fished for one hour and 47 minutes.

Whereas unhooking our smallmouth bass, we noticed crayfish in 9 of their throats. Two others had what appeared to be two juvenile bluegill, and two smallmouth bass had shiners protruding from their throats. As anybody who has ever fished with me may attest, I take a look at such issues with each fish I lip. Sadly, I typically overlook to report these observations in my logs.

As at all times, our jigs’ barbs have been eliminated.  And each of us liberally utilized our personalized Professional-Remedy Tremendous Gel to our rigs after each fish that we unhooked.

Sept. 5

Travis Myers of Paw Paw, West Virginia, filed a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his Sept. 5 outing.

Right here is an edited model of his outing.

I awoke sooner than I cared to on a vacation weekend. I ready a hearty breakfast and loaded my car with the naked requirements for a morning wade on one other physique of water that’s at least 4 zip-codes away.

My purpose was to be on the water early to keep away from encountering anybody at a neighborhood boat ramp.

I noticed nobody throughout my two hours on the water and was residence earlier than what I might guess was not something I cared to expertise.

I select this spot as a result of it’s what I name “a protracted summertime conveyor belt of meals.” It’s roughly 75 yards and 75 yards broad.

I stood in water that was lower than knee deep and made casts into three and 4 toes of water that had seen floor present, which was diverted right here and there by giant boulders that protrude above the water’s floor. The underside consists of those giant boulders and grapefruit-sized rock.

The setting for a river smallmouth-bass angler is pretty rudimentary. My casts have been made up and throughout the seen present, and I let my providing transfer out and in of present seams. At anyplace that I noticed bubbles on the floor transferring up river towards the present, I might let my providing deadstick longer than I in any other case did. I picked aside this stretch of river by making underhand pitches to inside inches of the water’s edge. I used to be standing greater than three-quarters of the way in which throughout the river; subsequently, I used to be fishing 1 / 4 of it.

I had two rods rigged.

I lipped 11 smallmouth bass on a Z-Man’s mudbug TRD TubeZ with an inserted 1/20-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, which has a few of the lead of the top eliminated. 

I lipped 18 smallmouth bass  and inadvertently caught three rock bass on a 2 ½-inch Z-Man’s filth ZinkerZ affixed to  a purple 1/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

Sept. 6

Travis and Randi Lee Myers of Paw Paw, West Virginia, filed a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about their Sept. 6 outing.

Right here is an edited model of their outing.

If anybody has ever learn any of my reviews prior to now when submitting them a number of occasions weekly, they may have learn of my mentioning “When you’re in it, you’re in it.”  Or in different phrases, one had higher have their geese in a row by having loads of water, fireplace beginning provides within the fall, and a change of garments whereas floating. Right this moment was an ideal instance of simply what I referenced so fairly often.

The river’s circulate had diminished tremendously from our Friday outing. It was operating at 130 cubic toes per second. And it was clearer. The water temperature was 71 levels.

There was not a cloud within the sky. The air temperature was 78 levels with no humidity.

It was at roughly 11:30 a.m. when my spouse requested me if I wished to go catch a couple of. I may see that she wished to fish greater than I did. However 39 minutes later, we have been getting into the river that we dwell on.

In years previous, I referred to “The August gap.” For miles on both sides of it, it’s the deepest spot on the river. However it’s not a wintering gap that fish consolidate within the cold-water months,  however it has sufficient depth to carry some fish that search shelter in August throughout the daytime, after which throughout the night time, they wander throughout the very prolonged two-foot-deep flat above it to feed.  In the course of the seven years since we have been transplanted right here from upstate New York, this spot accounted for some very wholesome smallmouth-bass specimens, measuring greater than 20 inches, and my largest was a 22 ¼-incher. This gap is the dimensions of a tennis courtroom. One aspect of it’s lined by shade all day. And there’s a giant gathering of downed red-oak bushes, which have been deposited there throughout the yr of the historic floods of 2018.

From the place my spouse and I parked the UT, we waded into place as I let her make the primary casts into the August gap. The preliminary drop of her providing was intercepted by a wholesome smallmouth bass. On the subsequent forged, she caught  a largemouth bass. After she unhooked the seventh fish, I requested if she minded if I casted. She agreed, however I let her have at it, and I sat on a big boulder and simply watched. After she loved 23 varied catches alongside this stretch, she yelled up “Trav able to go down ?” I used to be.

I caught as much as her as she was across the bend, working a collection of riffles, and unhooking a wholesome rock bass.

We fished this collection of shallow riffles from the weak aspect, casting into the center of a collection of riffles which might be 3 1/2 toes deep proper smack dab in the midst of the river. We labored this trench by first strolling to the very finish of it and fishing our method again up it for 100 yards. I fished behind my spouse as she was regularly unhooking fish. From what I may discern her fish have been intercepting her providing because it tumbled alongside on this trench. The underside substrate of this stretch will eat up a pack of jigs in as many casts if the drift just isn’t correctly executed with the correct amount of ElaZtech and lead. I noticed her get hung solely as soon as, and he or she adroitly executed the bow-and-arrow maneuver to get it free from the substrate. I lipped a couple of behind her, fishing the well-used water, however they weren’t as hefty as hers. Each three to 5 minutes, she would maintain one up or I might hear “Trav good one.”

In mop up obligation I managed to catch 9 smallmouth bass, seven rock bass, and an enormous inexperienced sunfish. I threw a shortened Z-Man’s pumpkin Finesse WormZ with a personalized tail on a purple 1/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

After I caught up with my spouse, I requested what the whole harm was. She stated 33 smallmouth bass, about 14 inexperienced sunfish, one rock bass,  and one fallfish. I checked out her and stated “nicely accomplished.” All of her fish have been caught on a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ affixed to a purple 1/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

We had roughly 30 yards to get across the bend to the August gap. The lip of its tail out is the place one higher know what they’re doing as there are miles to the closest takeout with steep cliffs on both sides that resembles a scene out of the film Deliverance.

On our first preliminary steps as we have been on our method again to our UTV,  we heard very frantic yelling. Yelling by somebody that was in misery.

My spouse and I started operating up river. As we rounded the bend there have been a bunch of kayakers that have been yelling hysterically. It was obvious from a distance that one member of the celebration was both useless or had suffered a large coronary heart assault. Sadly, in my day job I see each and or worse weekly. To make a protracted story quick, I checked for vitals, calmed the scene, and 35 minutes later the person was being boarded and medically evacuated by way of helicopter from behind our residence to a close-by hospital.

Fairly a day on the river.

We fished simply over 2 1/2 hours.

Sept. 8

Ned and Pat Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about their outing on Sept. 8.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 66 levels at 12:53 a.m., 55 levels at 8:53 a.m., and 56 levels at 12:53 p.m. The sky fluctuated from being principally cloudy to overcast to drizzling to misting. The wind angled out of the north and northeast at 12 to 23 mph. The barometric stress was 29.82 at 12:53 a.m., 29.94 at 5:53 a.m., 30.02 at 11:53 a.m., and 30.02 at 12:53 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 3:21 a.m. to five:21 a.m., 3:44 p.m. to five:44 p.m., and 9:33 a.m. to 11:33 a.m.

Patty Kehde and I fished at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ many group reservoirs from 10:09 a.m. till we acquired drizzled and blown off the water at 12:25 p.m.

The water degree appeared to be regular.  The water exhibited 4 to about eight toes of secchi-stick visibility. The floor temperature fluctuated from 78 to 79 levels.

Within the center parts of this reservoir, we fished alongside two quick segments of a shoreline and throughout components of two shallow-water flats inside one small feeder-creek arm, the place we caught one smallmouth bass and three largemouth bass. The shoreline has a 25-degree slope. Its water edge is embellished with a couple of patches of American water willows, American pondweeds, a number of docks, a few laydowns, and two boat ramps. The underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and some boulders which might be sometimes clothed with patches of coontail. The smallmouth bass was caught on a concrete boat ramp in about seven toes of water on a Z-Man’s PB&J Finesse TRD affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead with a dragging presentation. One largemouth bass was hooked on a Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on the preliminary drop in about 4 toes of water between the within fringe of a patch of coontail and the skin fringe of a patch of American water willows. One largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the PB&J Finesse TRD rig round a patch of coontail and a nook of a dock. One largemouth bass was caught on the PB&J Finesse TRD rig with a swim-and-glide presentation round patches of coontail in about 5 toes of water.

Round a main-lake level and alongside about three-quarters of a mile of a main-lake shoreline, we caught three smallmouth bass and 32 largemouth bass.

It was too windy, misty, and drizzly for us to maintain an correct account of how and the place we caught every of the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. So, the next phrases are based mostly on our greatest recollections of what transpired.

The boat was tethered to a wind or drift inventory your complete time that we fished this space, which stretches from the center area of the reservoir nicely into its higher area. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and scores of boulders. The shoreline has a 25- to 80-degree slope. The water’s edge is endowed with occasional patches of American water willows and quite a few laydowns and overhanging bushes. It’s graced with a number of tertiary factors, which yielded 4 of the 32 largemouth bass that we caught. Many of the flatter parts of the shoreline are bejeweled with important patches of coontail, and these flatter areas are as small as a tennis courtroom to as giant as a half of a soccer discipline. The flatter areas have been extra fruitful than the steeper areas.

Across the main-lake level, we caught two largemouth bass on the PB&J HogZ rig with a swim-and-glide presentation in about seven toes of water and subsequent to patches of coontail.

Alongside the shoreline, we caught 30 largemouth bass and three smallmouth bass.

One of many 30 largemouth bass was caught on a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on the preliminary drop in about 5 toes of water underneath an overhanging tree.

We caught three of the 30 largemouth bass on a barely shortened four-inch Z-Man’s Junebug Finesse WormZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Two have been caught on the preliminary drop adjoining to overhanging bushes in about 4 toes of water. The opposite one was caught on a swim-and-glide presentation in about 5 toes of water.

One smallmouth bass and 4 largemouth bass have been caught on a Z-Man’s Junebug Finesse ShadZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead in 4 to 6 toes of water. Two of those six have been caught on the preliminary drop of this rig, and 4 have been caught on a swim-and-glide presentation. 4 have been caught round patches of coontail.

We caught two smallmouth bass and 22 largemouth bass on both the PB&J Finesse TRD rig or the PB&J TRD HogZ rig.  Most of them have been caught in three to 6 toes of water on both the preliminary drop of those rigs or on a swim-and-glide presentation. A couple of have been caught on a drag-and-slight-deadstick presentation in about 5 toes of water.

Throughout a coontail-adorned flat inside a medium-size feeder-creek arm within the higher half of the reservoir, we caught one smallmouth bass and 5 largemouth bass. One largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the PB&J Finesse TRD rig in about six toes of water round a patch of coontail. One smallmouth bass was caught of the Junebug Finesse ShadZ rig on a swim-and-glide presentation round a patch of coontail in about six toes of water. The Finesse ShadZ rig caught a largemouth bass on the preliminary drop in about six toes of water on high of a patch of coontail. Three largemouth bass have been caught on the PB&J TRD HogZ with a swim-and-glide presentation in about six toes of water round patches of coontail.

In sum, we caught an hourly common of 18 black bass. Our only rigs have been the Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead and Z-Man’s PB&J Finesse TRD affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. We caught the 5 smallmouth bass and 40 largemouth bass on quite a lot of shows.

Sept. 10

Tom Bett of Oshkosk, Wisconsin, filed a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his Sept. 10 outing.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

Sept. 10 arrived in jap Wisconsin with the identical climate situations that we’ve got noticed for the previous two days: file low temperatures, precipitation, and protracted north and northeast winds. Due to these situations, I delayed my launch time by a number of hours. But, after I arrived on the touchdown simply earlier than 10:00 a.m., the air temperature had warmed to solely 48 levels, and the intermittent light-rain showers, which have been pushed by a north wind at 10 to fifteen mph, made it really feel a lot cooler. I stayed bundled up all day beneath full rain gear. Upon my return to the touchdown in the midst of the afternoon, the air temperature had warmed to solely 58 levels.

The lake’s floor temperature had crashed from the mid-sixties every week in the past to 56 levels. Due to the heavy cloud cowl, I noticed no diurnal heating. The water readability has been enhancing, because the blue-green algae blooms dissipate with the sturdy winds and cooler temperatures. The secchi disk exhibited 2.8 to three.7 toes of visibility. The submerged vegetation has not begun to dissipate but, and I estimated this yr’s crop is round 95-percent intact. The water degree was throughout the management band for this date, and due to the latest precipitation, the river inflows have been rising to 4,000 cubic toes per second by way of Oshkosh.

My plans for the day was to evaluate the progress of the autumn transition, which happens throughout the Winnebago system every autumn. Because the size of daylight wanes and the temperatures cool, the submerged aquatic vegetation turns into senescent for the winter. That is analogous to the deciduous bushes dropping their leaves every autumn. When this occurs in our waterways, it mandates main shifts within the areas for the predators and their prey. I very a lot get pleasure from this time of the yr.

The primary a part of my script was to look at hard-cover lairs for agglomerations of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The system incorporates a mess of artifical channels and harbors, and the vast majority of them are protected by break partitions product of riprap. The black bass usually don’t exhibit pelagic behaviors, and these riprap websites develop into ambush factors for them because the forage fish lose their cowl within the submerged vegetation.

The second a part of my script was to ply a couple of first-rate backwater and marshy areas to find out if the shallow-water largemouth bass have been beginning to abide within the cuts and ditches.

The day performed out like the story of two cities. Arduous-cover areas have been productive, whereas my backwater bash was a complete bust. In all, I dealt with 27 smallmouth bass, six largemouth bass, three walleye, two white bass, and one freshwater drum throughout 4.1 hours of casting time. This finally offered a black-bass catch charge of eight per hour, making it a contact above common for my degree of fishing on this technique. I additionally spent one hour with out making a forged, and I spent this time doing a little sonar scanning to guage the forage fish density at some further areas. My log indicated I fished at 18 totally different websites, with 12 producing not less than one fish and 6 offering me nothing.

On the hard-cover areas, I fished the Z-Man’s The Deal TRD TicklerZ mounted on a chartreuse 1/10-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig. I briefly examined a Z-Man’s black/blue TRD CrawZ rigged on a black 1/10-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig and a Z-Man’s yoga-pants Finesse TRD rigged on a black 1/10-ounce Z Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, however I discovered these darkish hues didn’t excite the fish on this present day.

When within the backwaters and marsh cuts, I flipped a conditioned Z-Man green-pumpkin-goby ZinkerZ mounted on a green-pumpkin 1/16-ounce Berkley’s Fusion 19 weedless wacky jig.

My first cease of the day was at a submerged line of riprap, which is definitely a washed-out shoreline that’s now offset from the financial institution by about 20 yards. This construction sits on a sand flat close to the primary river channel, with water depths of three to 4 ½ toes on the skin and fewer than three toes and closely vegetated with pondweeds alongside the within edge. I began on the upwind finish and allowed the boat to float parallel to the riprap. On my second forged with the TRD TicklerZ rig, I caught a 17 ½-inch largemouth bass that raced up and grabbed the lure as I used to be about to carry it from the water (typically it’s higher to be fortunate than good). In the course of the subsequent eight minutes, I extracted two smallmouth bass from open pockets within the pondweeds that have been situated on the within fringe of the riprap. One got here on a drag-and-pause retrieve within the small opening, and the opposite got here as I snapped the road to free the lure from a snag on a rock. I took this as an excellent signal, pondering that it was an honest begin for the primary 10 minutes.

The second cease was on a break wall level that drops into about six toes of water. This website has been improved by the proprietor inside the previous few years, and because it was rebuilt, not all the rocks have been relocated. I name it a thumb, and it protrudes perpendicular to the brand new axis of the purpose. It has a depth of about two toes. After I was utilizing a sluggish swim-and-glide retrieve on the fourth forged, my rig loaded up as I handed the tip of this thumb. The outcome was a thick 22-inch walleye. I proceeded across the level at a sluggish troll pace, casting into the rocks, and pausing the retrieves because the rig cleared the shallow zone. Just one smallmouth bass was keen to take the TRD TicklerZ rig throughout a two-second pause on the base of the rocks.

At this level within the morning and 20 minutes of fishing, I used to be glad the fish have been accessible, however I used to be involved the fish density per website was going to put on me down.

Website quantity three was a protracted rock level again in a bay and nicely off the river circulate. In 10 minutes, I had just one extra smallmouth bass to point out for the trouble. This fish got here on the preliminary drop of the TRD TicklerZ in in all probability two toes of water or much less and close to the water’s edge.

My considerations about fish density saved constructing. And on the subsequent 4 areas, I added solely three smallmouth bass and one other respectable walleye to the log sheet. All have been taken on the TRD TicklerZ rig utilizing drag-and-pause retrieves throughout the rocks in three to seven toes of water.

I made a decision to discover some backwater locales for largemouth bass. So, I ran a couple of mile into a big shallow and closely vegetated bay to discover some cuts and ditches. This proved to be my poorest choice of the day. I consumed 1 1/2 hours of flipping a wacky-rigged ZinkerZ in delicious-looking pockets and not using a chew at 4 areas inside about one-half mile of one another.

Satisfied the weed-oriented largemouth bass weren’t prepared for me but this autumn, I returned to my hard-cover sample decided to spend the remainder of my day looking for a big pod of fish.

Issues didn’t begin any in a different way for me at first. I fished a collection of 4 quick wing dams, garnering two zeroes and three smallmouth bass from the opposite two.

I believed if I may discover the fish, the TRD TicklerZ rig I used to be utilizing would take them. So, I used to be dedicated to press on. This mandated a big run down the lake and into one other main tributary river.

My first cease within the different river was on the head of an island. This website offers about the identical kind of habitat because the others possessed: a rock financial institution, a sand backside, and beds of pondweeds. With 10 minutes invested, just one extra smallmouth bass was added to the log sheet by utilizing the TRD TicklerZ with a drag and pause retrieve.

The subsequent cease was a extra sizeable size of riprap with a deep channel swing flowing alongside it.  In about quarter-hour, I fished a couple of 150-yard part of it that was graced with deep water and present, which yielded a walleye and three smallmouth bass. My sonar display screen was repeatedly exhibiting a stable shade from the highest to the underside of the water column, revealing that this location hosted a tremendously dense accumulation of bait fish. Though my catch charge was not nice, I like seeing considerable forage, and I used to be decided to press on.

My second to final cease is considered one of my seasonal favorites. This can be a delicate line of riprap that touches the sting of the river channel. It’s embellished with rocks and a clam mattress in 4 to six ½ toes of water. It is also the final man-made enchancment within the decrease river. The financial institution downstream from this line of riprap is undeveloped and closely vegetated. My second forged was rewarded with a pleasant smallmouth bass as I popped the TRD TicklerZ rig off a rock and let it settle to the river mattress. I believed right here we go once more, however was useless mistaken: the sought-after pod of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass was lurking right here. Inside 25 minutes, I boated seven smallmouth bass, six heavy largemouth bass, and shook off a couple of white bass. The big fish have been very lazy and wouldn’t contact the lure if it was transferring. My solely recourse was to permit the lure to decide on backside, drag it a foot, pause for not less than three seconds, after which repeat. All strikes weren’t felt. The road would merely tighten and transfer slowly in a non-current pushed route. Lastly, I had discovered some enjoyable, and I by no means took the boat off Spot Lock till I made a decision I had the spot worn out.

My final cease on this present day was one other quick wing dam that has a serious eddy and 10-foot-deep washout gap on its tip. Once more, the fish on this spot have been lazy, and they’d not take the lure if it was off backside and transferring. In 20 minutes, the TRD TicklerZ rig caught 4 smallmouth bass and two 15- to 17-inch white bass. The chew on this location was what I name paced, which signifies that fish have been routinely circulating by way of the eddy slightly than holding on any particular piece of canopy. Thus, my catch charge was averaging about one fish each 4 minutes.

Because the clock hit the highest of the hour, I made a decision it had been an excellent day — given the lower than stunning climate situations — and I put up the rod for the run residence.

In sum, the day confirmed me that the season has progressed into the autumn transition interval, however it’s not but far alongside. The system seems to have considerable forage this yr. This excites me as a result of the sport fish transitioning from their upriver summer time habitats could typically maintain on prime foraging websites nicely into October, offering a seasonal bounty for anglers who’re keen to seek out methods to entertain overfed and really lazy predators. Even when the climate situations have been lower than ideally suited, my finesse strategies allowed me to get pleasure from a productive day on the lake. I do loads of cranking, jerking, and different energy techniques, however I’m completely bought on the virtues of the Midwest finesse strategies to generate each good high quality and excessive quantity of bites.

Sept. 11

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 11 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

Norman Brown of Lewisville, Texas, and I fished from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at a difficult U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ hill-land reservoir in north-central Texas.

In line with In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar, the fishing could be poor, and it was. It additionally famous that the most effective fishing would happen from 5:57 a.m. to 7:57 a.m., 11:44 a.m. to 1:44 p.m., and 6:24 p.m. to eight:24 p.m.

Space thermometers recorded the morning low temperature at 62 levels and the afternoon excessive temperature reached 79 levels. The sky was principally overcast with a couple of temporary spells of sunshine. The barometric stress measured 30.15 at 11:00 a.m. and 30.03 at 4:00 p.m. The wind quartered out of the north-by-northwest at 5 to 10 mph.

The water’s floor temperature ranged from 79 to 81 levels. The water degree was 1.18 toes above regular. The water was stained greater than regular from latest rains and exhibited 12 inches of readability at finest.

The black bass chew at this reservoir has been poor for months on finish, however we have been hoping that the latest drop within the water temperature, coupled with the shorter daytime, would provoke the black bass to group up and start their annual fall migration into the backs of the feeder-creeks arms.  Sadly, our hopes didn’t materialize. As a substitute, we failed miserably to find any giant aggregations of black bass, and our greatest efforts may muster solely 10 largemouth bass, 2 noticed bass, and one bluegill in 5 hours. It took us nearly an hour to elicit our first strike of the day.

To begin off, we searched for big concentrations of black bass and threadfin shad inside a big feeder-creek arm on the north finish of the reservoir. This creek arm has steep shorelines. Its underwater terrain consists of purple clay, pea-gravel, hand-size rocks, and an abundance of submerged boulders of all sizes and styles. We discovered important concentrations of threadfin shad solely within the decrease finish and on the mouth of this creek arm, and there was nearly no black bass to be discovered round these concentrations of shad. We dissected various secondary factors, rocky shorelines, and a few rock-laden bluffs, however we caught just one noticed bass on this creek arm. It was caught within the decrease finish of the creek arm in eight toes of water alongside a steep and rocky shoreline. It was coaxed into placing a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ matched with a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Professional-V Finesse jig.

We additionally investigated one other giant feeder-creek arm on the south finish of the reservoir. It additionally entertained giant concentrations of threadfin shad however only a few black bass.  A small cove close to the mouth of this creek arm yielded one largemouth bass. It was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation with the green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ rig in 4 toes of water from a flat shoreline that consisted of purple clay, pea gravel, and partially flooded terrestrial vegetation lining its water’s edge. The rest of the creek arm was fruitless.

Because the afternoon unfolded, we found that our best areas have been rock- and boulder-laden main-lake factors and a main-lake island. The principle-lake factors have been situated within the northern part of the reservoir. The island is located within the midsection of the impoundment.

We caught 4 largemouth bass from the island.  They have been caught in three to seven toes of water round submerged stumps and laydowns blended with pea-gravel and fist-size rocks. Three have been caught on a gentle do-nothing retrieve with a three-inch Z-Man’s green-pumpkin Slim SwimZ rigged on a chartreuse 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. The opposite one was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ rigged on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce OG Mushroom Jighead.

In three to 10 toes of water alongside a collection of 12 steep and rocky main-lake factors, we struggled to catch 5 largemouth bass and one noticed bass. All of those bass have been scattered and lots of yards aside from one another. They have been all caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ combos.

In brief, we found that the threadfin shad have begun migrating into the feeder-creek arms however not the black bass. Primary-lake lairs have been extra productive than these within the feeder-creek arms.

Sept. 12

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 12 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

After a lackluster outing on Sept. 11 at a perplexing U.S. Corps of Engineers’ reservoir in north-central Texas, John Thomas of Denton and I fished from 7:41 a.m. to 11:41 a.m. at a state reservoir situated within the rural countryside of north-central Texas.

Once we arrived on the boat ramp parking zone, we have been stunned to see that it was chock-full of tow automobiles and boat trailers. We additionally observed that the overflow parking zone was crammed full as nicely, and automobiles with boat trailers have been relegated to parking alongside a grassy shoulder of a close-by gravel upkeep highway. We later discovered from a few anglers that there have been no bass tournaments in progress; it was simply weekend anglers getting out and about.

In line with In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar, the fishing would probably be poor once more prefer it was on Sept. 11, and the most effective fishing would happen from 12:37 a.m. to 2:37 a.m., 6:51 a.m. to eight:51 a.m., and seven:18 p.m. to 9:18 p.m.

It was sunny on Sept. 12. The morning low temperature was 61 levels. The afternoon excessive temperature was 87 levels. The barometric stress measured 29.99 at 7:00 a.m. and 29.98 at midday. The wind was principally gentle and variable, and at occasions, it was calm.

The vast majority of this reservoir’s shorelines are rock- and boulder-laden. A number of the shorelines are adorned with flooded buck brush, stickups, overhanging bushes, and laydowns. Its underwater terrain consists of principally purple clay, gravel, rocks and boulders. There are some flourishing patches of hydrilla, American pondweed, and American water willows within the center part and south finish of the reservoir.

Relying on the place we have been fishing, the water exhibited between 1 1/2 to 2 toes of visibility. The floor temperature ranged from 78 to 81 levels. The water degree was 1.70 toes low.

We spent 4 hours on the east aspect of the reservoir plying the perimeter of a main-lake island, an offshore hump, 4 riprap-covered jetties, and one main-lake shoreline.

The island that we investigated is situated within the southeast finish of the reservoir. We shared it with two different anglers in a ship. Its shorelines are flat and considerably rocky and festooned with a steady wall of partially-flooded terrestrial vegetation. The east aspect of the island has some patches of American pondweed in 5 to eight toes of water, and there’s a small stand of flooded timber on its south finish.

This island yielded 4 largemouth bass and three noticed bass. These bass have been caught from the north finish of the island. They have been related to the skin edges of the flooded terrestrial vegetation that’s interlaced with some submerged boulders in three to 5 toes of water. Three have been enticed with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation with a Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rigged on a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Three extra have been induced into placing a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ rigged on a blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. One was tempted by a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a 3 1/2-inch Z-Man’s green-pumpkin Trick ShotZ mounted on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

From the island, we moved a couple of mile and half northward, the place we dissected a rocky main-lake shoreline. This shoreline is comparatively flat and adorned with giant submerged boulders and some partially-flooded bushes and stickups. There’s additionally a long-submerged ledge that parallels this shoreline about 20 to 30 yards out from the water’s edge. This ledge is roofed with about three toes of water and rapidly descends into 20-plus toes of water. We shared this spot with one other angler.

We targeting the deep-water aspect of the submerged ledge, and we caught six noticed bass and 4 largemouth bass that have been extracted from eight to 12 toes of water. 5 of those black bass have been caught on the two 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ rig with a gentle swimming retrieve. Three have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig. Two have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation with a Z-Man’s PB&J Finesse TRD connected to a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

After that, we probed the riprap that covers two main-lake jetties about half of a mile north of the main-lake shoreline that we simply fished. The primary jetty relinquished 4 largemouth bass, two noticed bass, and one freshwater drum. The second jetty was fruitless.

4 of those black bass and the freshwater drum have been allured by the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig and a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. The opposite two bass have been fooled by a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the PB&J Finesse TRD combo. All of those fish have been abiding in eight to 17 toes of water and about 10 to fifteen toes from the water’s edge.

We then travelled a couple of mile westward and fished round a submerged main-lake hump. This hump is situated within the center part of the impoundment. It’s lined with three to 10 toes of water. It’s about 35 yards lengthy and is encircled with greater than 20 toes of water. There’s a giant patch of submerged boulders on its northern finish, and these boulders yielded 5 largemouth bass and two noticed bass. All of them have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig.

We then meandered northward one other mile and a half, the place we fished alongside two extra riprap-covered jetties and a rocky main-lake level that’s located simply south of those two jetties, however we didn’t cross paths with any black bass at these two locales.

In conclusion, the fishing was significantly better than the In-Fisherman’s solunar desk had indicated. We relished tussling with 30 black bass, which consisted of 17 largemouth bass and 13 noticed bass. We additionally caught one freshwater drum by happenstance.

All the areas we fished have been entertaining good concentrations of small one- to two-inch threadfin shad.

We employed a complete of 9 Midwest finesse rigs, and 4 of them have been productive. The 2 only ones have been the two 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ and the Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ combos.

A gradual swimming retrieve was utilized with the two 1/2-inch Slim SwimZ rig, and a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve was the simplest presentation with the Finesse ShadZ combo.

Sept. 14

Dave Petro of Lecompton, Kansas, filed a log of the Finesse Information Community about his Sept. 14 outing.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

I returned to the identical U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ reservoir in northeastern Kansas that I fished on Sept. 2.  On that journey, I caught solely 18 black bass in 5 hours of tolerating poor water situations, which have been induced by a big algae bloom and breezy climate situations.

On Sept. 14, I discovered all the things to be vastly improved.

In the course of the week of Sept. 5-12, northeastern Kansas had a spell of cool and wet climate. Since then, our in a single day lows have been within the low 50s and day by day highs have been within the 60s and low 70s.

On Sept. 14, after an in a single day low of fifty levels, the afternoon excessive was 81. Whereas I used to be afloat, the wind blew from the northeast, east, and southeast at 5 to 10 mph. The sky was clear and sunny. The barometric stress was 30.31 and slowly falling.

The water situations have improved considerably. The algae bloom that has plagued this impoundment for a lot of the summer time appears to be lastly waning. The foaminess on the water’s floor and the clumps of floating algae that I had famous on my earlier outing are gone. Whereas the water remains to be stained inexperienced, it seems to be a more healthy and extra clear inexperienced than it had been beforehand. The water readability different from 18 to 24 inches. The water degree was 1.37 toes above regular.

On this journey, I fished for five 1/2 hours, from 1:00 p.m. to six:30 p.m. My objective was to go to a few of my best black-bass lairs and catch as many fish as I may.  I used 5 Midwest finesse rigs on this journey. They have been a Z-Man’s Junebug TRD TicklerZ mounted on a chartreuse 1/20-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse Shroom jig, a Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ mounted on a hand-painted blue 1/15-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, a shortened Z-Man’s coppertreuse  Hula StickZ on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Jade’s Jig, a Z-Man’s molting-craw Hula StickZ  on a 1/15-ounce hand-painted blue Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig, and a three-inch Z-Man’s The Deal Slim SwimZ on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce TT Lures’ Nedlock jig.

I dissected 4 main-lake factors, a 200-yard part of rocky main-lake shoreline, and the shorelines inside a medium-sized feeder-creek arm.

Round a rocky and steep main-lake level on the entrance to the feeder-creek arm, I caught two largemouth bass.  One was enticed to strike the Junebug TRD TicklerZ rig on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. The second hit the PB&J TRD HogZ rig on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve.  These two fish have been referring to shoreline cowl whereas the boat floated in 10-12 toes of water.

Alongside a piece of a rocky shoreline halfway contained in the feeder-creek arm, I caught a largemouth bass on the coppertreuse Hula StickZ rig with a deadstick presentation in seven toes of water. This fish was about 5 yards away from the water’s edge. I continued to dissect that shoreline for one more 250 yards with out receiving any strikes.  Nevertheless, about three quarters of the way in which into the feeder-creek arm, the rocks that adorned the shoreline gave approach to filth and clay, and this shoreline is steep. The place this transition occurred, I caught one other largemouth bass on a quick retrieve of the coppertreuse Hula StickZ as I used to be reeling it in on the finish of a retrieve. I observed that there was some intermittent floor exercise from gizzard shad on a close-by shallow-water flat, and there was a largemouth bass chasing them of the floor. I traded the Hula StickZ rig for The Deal Slim SwimZ rig and commenced casting throughout the shallow-water flat the place I used to be seeing the floor exercise. In the course of the subsequent 25 minutes, I caught 5 largemouth bass on the Slim SwimZ rig utilizing a straight swimming retrieve.

After I left this flat, I started to dissect this feeder-creek arm’s different shoreline. This shoreline is endowed with two small coves and 4 secondary factors. This shoreline’s terrain consists of filth, clay, and small rocks, and different parts are utterly lined with rocks. I didn’t obtain any strikes alongside this shoreline till I reached a secondary level on the mouth of one of many small coves. I caught one largemouth on the purpose with the Slim SwimZ rig with a straight swimming retrieve in 2 ½ toes of water. On the shallow flat behind this cove, I caught three largemouth bass on the Slim SwimZ rig in three toes of water. These fish have been caught by casting in the direction of the again of the flat the place there have been a couple of useless stalks of terrestrial vegetation protruding of the water. All three of those largemouth bass gave the impression to be referring to these sticks. The alternative shoreline and level main out of this small cove have been unproductive, as was a brief part of the feeder-creek arm’s shoreline.

Upon reaching the second cove, I dissected the secondary level at its entrance and each shorelines inside this cove. I didn’t obtain any strikes in these areas. Nevertheless, across the different secondary level and its adjoining shorelines, I caught 4 largemouth bass on the Slim SwimZ rig with a straight swimming retrieve in two to 6 toes of water.

The shoreline of the feeder-creek arm adjoining to the secondary level turns into adorned with rocks and boulders of all sizes. It additionally has a concrete boat ramp, which consists of a dock and quick sections of riprap. As a result of the underwater terrain was changing into steeper, deeper, and rockier, I made a decision that my outcomes could be higher by fishing slower and deeper, so I picked up the coppertreuse Hula StickZ rig and commenced to dissect the riprap and boat ramp. On one of many concrete parts of the ramp, I caught the primary smallmouth bass of the day on the Hula StickZ rig on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve in about 4 toes of water. A forged alongside the aspect of the dock produced a largemouth bass with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve parallel to the aspect of the dock. On the riprap subsequent to the boat ramp, a largemouth was enticed into placing the Hula StickZ rig on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve in seven toes of water.

After leaving the world of the boat ramp, I started plying a protracted part of a steep and really rocky shoreline that technically is a part of the feeder-creek arm, however may be construed as a main-lake shoreline. It’s adorned with rocks and small to giant boulders. A submerged creek channel swings in subsequent to the shoreline so the water turns into very deep near the water’s edge. Alongside this part, the boat floated in 9 to twenty toes of water, and I caught three smallmouth bass on the coppertreuse Hula StickZ rig. One hit on the preliminary drop, and the opposite two hit on a swim glide and shake retrieve.

On the main-lake level on the finish of this lengthy shoreline, I caught one largemouth on the coppertreuse Hula StickZ rig with a swim glide and shake retrieve in 14 toes of water.  I additionally caught two largemouth bass and one smallmouth bass on this level with the molting-craw Hula StickZ rig. One in all these largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the rig in 5 toes of water. The opposite largemouth and the smallmouth have been caught on a deadstick presentation as I used to be strolling alongside the shoreline instantly adjoining to the purpose in about seven toes of water and 5 to seven yards from the shoreline. I additionally hooked a really hefty smallmouth bass on a deadstick presentation on the tip of the purpose. Sadly, I didn’t land this fish as a result of it managed to dislodge the hook when it acrobatically cleared the water for the sixth time throughout the fierce donnybrook.

Alongside a 200-yard lengthy part of rocky main-lake shoreline, I used to be capable of entice strikes from two largemouth bass and one smallmouth. All three fish have been referring to shoreline cowl whereas the boat floated in seven to 10 toes of water. The smallmouth bass and one largemouth bass hit the molting-craw Hula StickZ rig on the preliminary drop. The opposite largemouth bass hit the Hula StickZ rig on a brief swim-glide-and-shake retrieve.

On a flat rocky main-lake level on the finish of this main-lake shoreline, I caught 5 largemouth bass and 5 smallmouth bass on the molting-craw Hula StickZ rig.  A few these fish struck on the preliminary drop of the rig. Others have been caught whereas I used to be strolling and deadsticking the rig. However most have been caught as I used to be casting and executing the swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. One forged produced a large strike on the preliminary drop. What adopted was an intense championship prizefight that lasted the higher a part of 10 minutes. For an excellent a part of that point, I may solely watch because the fish pulled many yards of line off of my reel towards the drag. I lastly gained the higher hand, regained the road, and at last acquired the fish into my touchdown web. It was a brute of a largemouth bass that measured 22 inches and weighed six kilos on my digital scale. I really feel very lucky to have landed it with my six-pound-test line.

On the finish of the outing, my counter confirmed that I had caught a complete of 41 black bass: 30 largemouth bass and 11 smallmouth bass.  I additionally caught 4 inexperienced sunfish, one freshwater drum, and one channel catfish. This tremendously improved outcome I take as a sign that the summer time doldrums at the moment are a factor of the previous, and I can stay up for having fun with productive fall fishing within the coming weeks.

Sept. 15

Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his outing on Sept. 15.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 52 levels at 6:52 a.m. and 82 levels at 3:52 p.m. The sky fluctuated from being foggy, misty, and truthful. The wind fluctuated from being calm to angling out of the south and southeast at 3 to 7 mph. The barometric stress was 30.26 at 12:52 a.m., 30.23 at 5:52 a.m., 30.23 at 11:52 a.m., and 30.14 at 2:52 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 9:13 a.m. to 11:13 a.m., 9:41 p.m. to 11:41 p.m., and a pair of:59 a.m. to 4:59 a.m.

Patty Kehde has been my solely fishing accomplice since March and the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. However she severely reduce her left hand final week and might be unable to fish for every week or two.

Subsequently, I fished with out her at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ many state reservoirs from 11:51 a.m. till 2:21 p.m.

The water degree appeared to be about 4 toes beneath its regular degree. The water exhibited 5 to about seven toes of secchi-stick visibility. The floor temperature fluctuated from 73 to 75 levels.

The black bass fishing on the group, state, and federal reservoirs in northeastern Kansas hasn’t been as fruitful throughout the previous three years because it was from 2009 by way of 2017. And that fruitlessness occurred once more of Sept 15. Upon arriving on the boat ramp, I crossed paths with a veteran Midwest finesse angler who reported that he had fished from 7:00 a.m. to about 11:15 a.m., and he struggled to catch eight largemouth bass. One other finesse angler complained that the largemouth bass fishing was dreadful. Two energy anglers echoed the moans and groans of the 2 finesse anglers.

I started my outing by plying a main-lake level and quick parts of its adjoining shorelines. And I didn’t elicit a strike.

I spent the subsequent two hours and quarter-hour making an attempt to completely dissect an assortment of coontail patches that embellish the large shallow-water flats within the backends of two of the reservoir’s major feeder-creek arms. I tangled with 29 largemouth bass and elicited 5 strikes that I didn’t hook.

The majority of those largemouth bass have been caught in seven to 10 toes of water round patches of coontail. The patches in 4 to 5 toes of water yielded six of the 29 largemouth bass. Three adjoining patches that lie alongside the skin fringe of considered one of these huge flats yielded 17 of the 29 largemouth bass, and these patches are hardly ever fished by different anglers.

Ten of the 29 largemouth bass have been caught on a Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. They have been caught on both the preliminary drop of the rig or a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

Seven have been caught on a Z-Man’s sprayed-grass TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/20-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse Shroom Jig on both the preliminary drop or a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

5 have been caught on a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin Finesse ShadZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on both the preliminary drop or a swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

4 have been caught on a Z-Man’s PB&J Hula StickZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

Three have been caught on a Z-Man’s The Deal Child Goat affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on a sluggish and straight swimming presentation.

I didn’t elicit a strike on a barely shortened four-inch Z-Man’s PB&J Finesse WormZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

I hardly ever work with six Midwest finesse rigs throughout a 2 ½-hour outing. However all through this outing, I used to be repeatedly dissecting a number of of those patches of coontail, and I believed it was a approach to create a contact of versatility to my shows to the largemouth bass that have been abiding round these patches. My hourly catch charge was a tad greater than 11 largemouth bass per hour.

Sept. 16

Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his outing on Sept. 16.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 56 levels at 6:52 a.m. and 83 levels at 1:52 p.m. The sky fluctuated from being foggy, misty, truthful, affected by a couple of clouds, and partly cloudy. The wind fluctuated from being calm to angling out of the southwest, southeast, north, and northwest at 3 to five mph. The barometric stress was 30.08 at 12:52 a.m., 30.06 at 5:52 a.m., 30.10 at 11:52 a.m., and 30.05 at 3:52 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 10:03 a.m. to 12:03 p.m., 10:31 p.m. to 12:31 a.m., and three:50 a.m. to five:50 a.m.

I used to be afloat at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ group reservoirs from 1:00 p.m. to three:29 p.m.

The water degree at this reservoir was regular.  The floor temperature ranged from 75 to 77 levels. The secchi-stick measured one to a few toes of visibility. The water was by a big algae bloom, which created a brownish-green ring across the total hull of the boat, and this ring was tough to take away.

Not too long ago, this reservoir’s managers utilized a heavy utility of aquatic herbicide to kill patches of Eurasian milfoil. Some biologists have found throughout the years that important algal blooms are sometimes a byproduct of the killing of aquatic vegetation with herbicides. What’s extra, these herbicides at occasions have been discovered to adversely have an effect on the fish populations in a reservoir. Additionally it is fascinating to notice that 21 mature bushes have been by accident killed alongside considered one of this reservoir’s shorelines by an utility of a floor sterilizer, which is a herbicide, and it’s thought that a few of that poison seeped into the reservoir.

Additionally it is sorry to notice that since this most up-to-date utility of aquatic herbicide, a number of patches of American water willows alongside one shoreline have been practically destroyed.

After the reservoir’s managers started making use of aquatic herbicides throughout the previous decade, Midwest finesse anglers’ catch charges at this reservoir have decreased measurably. Some anglers concern that the bottom sterilizer and different terrestrial herbicides that the managers have used alongside the shorelines and the dam may also have affected the fish inhabitants.

Within the eyes of a number of Midwest finesse anglers, this reservoir has develop into a sorry-looking website.

It has been a long-standing custom for us to fish this reservoir on Sept. 16. However due to all of its woes, this outing was lower than a half-hearted one for me. I believed that it might be unlikely that I may catch 20 largemouth bass. Subsequently, I made a decision to both fish for two ½ hours or till I hooked 20 of them. To my shock. I caught 20 largemouth bass in two hours and 29 minutes. And I additionally caught one black crappie, one channel catfish, and one redear sunfish.

As a result of all the offshore patches of submerged aquatic vegetation have been eradicated, I spent your complete 149 minutes fishing alongside parts of six shorelines inside three main feeder-creek arms.

The six shorelines that I fished are located from midway to 80 % of the way in which contained in the three feeder-creek arms.

They possess a 25- to 50-degree slope. The underwater terrains encompass gravel, rocks, boulders, and silt. Parts of the water’s edges of those shorelines are lined with patches of American water willows, a couple of stumps, some laydowns, some docks, and several other overhanging bushes. There have been quite a few colleges of gizzard shad meandering throughout shallow-water flats and alongside the shorelines contained in the feeder-creek arms.

One largemouth bass was caught round a stump. 5 have been caught round laydowns. One largemouth was caught round a shallow pile of rocks and boulders. And 13 have been caught across the outdoors edges of the patches of American water willows.

One largemouth bass was caught on a Z-Man’s Junebug TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation round a stump in about 5 toes of water.

Three largemouth bass have been caught on a Z-Man’s coppertreuse TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on the preliminary drop adjoining to the skin edges of patches of American water willows in about 4 toes of water.

Sixteen of the largemouth bass have been caught on a Z-Man’s pearl TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead on both the preliminary drop or a swim-glide-and-shake presentation. One was caught on a pile of rocks and boulders in about three toes of water. 5 have been caught round laydowns in three to 6 toes of water. And 10 have been caught alongside the skin edges of patches of American water willows in about 4 toes of water.

Sept. 16

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 16 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

From 12:07 p.m. to 4:13 p.m., Norman Brown of Lewisville and I performed a day jaunt at considered one of a number of U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ hill-land reservoirs in north-central Texas.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen between 3:37 a.m. and 5:57 a.m., 10:10 a.m. and 1:10 p.m., and 10:38 p.m. to 1:38 a.m.

In line with The Climate Underground, the morning low temperature was 70 levels and the afternoon excessive temperature was 88 levels. The excessive humidity was terrible, and it made the air really feel heavy. The barometric stress measured 30.01 at midday and 29.93 at 4:00 p.m. A gentle-mannered wind quartered out of the north and northwest at 5 to eight mph.

The water degree was about half of a foot above regular. The water exhibited about two toes of visibility. The floor temperature ranged from 85 to 87 levels.

Norman and I spent about 3 1/2 hours within the shade probing a complete of 57 concrete bridge assist columns beneath 4 giant bridges. The opposite 45 minutes was used to make a fast seek for threadfin shad and black bass inside two feeder-creek arms and alongside parts of two floating tractor-tire reefs on the mouth of a marina.

Three of the bridges are situated within the reservoir’s southwest tributary arm and the fourth one is located within the northwest finish of the impoundment.

This reservoir’s underwater terrain consists of purple clay, pea-gravel, rocks, and boulders. There isn’t a aquatic vegetation on this impoundment.

We caught 18 largemouth bass and one noticed bass across the 57 bridge assist columns. A number of the columns are surrounded by 12 to 24 toes of water. The others are encircled with 32 to 41 toes of water. Most of them had attracted good numbers of threadfin shad.

These 19 black bass have been suspended about 5 to eight toes beneath the floor of the water and have been in shut proximity to the edges of the columns. The corners of the square- and rectangular-shaped columns have been rather more productive than spherical ones.

Fifteen largemouth bass have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rigged on a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Three largemouth bass have been caught on a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s blue-steel Slim SwimZ affixed on an unpainted generic 3/32-ounce ball-head finesse jig and a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. The one noticed bass was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin TRD TicklerZ rigged on  a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Eagle Claw Professional-V Finesse jig.

The 2 floating tractor-tire reefs on the mouth of a big marina weren’t as fruitful as they have been on Sept. 4, once they yielded six largemouth bass and two noticed bass. This time, they relinquished three largemouth bass. These two reefs float in 19 to 37 toes of water. These three largemouth bass have been suspended about 5 toes beneath the floor and have been about 5 to 10 toes away from the tires. Two largemouth bass have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Slim SwimZ rig. One largemouth bass was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s The Deal TRD TicklerZ connected to a black 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

In closing, we caught 21 largemouth bass and one noticed bass throughout this four-hour and 13- minute endeavor, which we take into account an above-average outing for this reservoir. We additionally caught two white bass and one channel catfish accidentally.

We didn’t find any important concentrations of threadfin shad and black bass within the two feeder-creek arms.  All of those fish have been caught from main-lake lairs.

Sept. 17

Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his outing on Sept. 17.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 60 levels at 6:53 a.m. and 73 levels at 1:53 p.m. The sky was truthful. The wind angled out of the north and northeast at 7 to 12 mph. The barometric stress was 30.12 at 12:53 a.m., 30.13 at 5:53 a.m., 30.19 at 11:53 a.m., and 30.16 at 2:53 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 11.22 a.m. to 1:22 p.m., 11:48 p.m. to 1:48 a.m., and 5:35 a.m. to 7:53 a.m.

I fished at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ group reservoirs from 11:49 a.m. to 2:01 p.m.

The water degree at this reservoir was regular. The floor temperature ranged from 73 to 74 levels. The secchi-stick measured about 1 1/2 to barely greater than three toes of visibility, and the most effective visibility was within the neighborhood of the dam.  Vital patches of coontail cowl the underwater terrains throughout a few of this reservoir’s shallow-water flats and alongside the shallow-water areas adjoining to a few of its shorelines.

Currently, as I’ve develop into an 80-year-old angler and a member of the Geriatric Fishing Community, I’ve established a reasonably common behavior of fishing for not more than 2 ½ hours. And at reservoirs just like the one which I fished throughout this outing, which is usually a very tough venue, I often fish till I catch 20 largemouth bass, and if I’m fortunate, I can accomplish that activity in lower than 2 ½ hours.

Throughout this outing, I caught 20 largemouth bass in two hours and 12 minutes.

Right here is how these 132 minutes unfolded.

I spent about 5 minutes on the cellphone conversing with my spouse.

I additionally spent a while speaking with Luke Kowalewski, who’s the Kansas Division of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism’s fisheries biologist that manages this reservoir. He and a colleague have been getting ready to conduct an electro-shocking survey on this reservoir. Throughout our dialog, he startled me by revealing that 54 % of the group, federal, and state reservoirs that KDWPT examined have been with the largemouth bass virus, and we fish at a big variety of these reservoirs.

In the course of the 122 minutes, after I was fishing slightly than listening and speaking, I caught one largemouth bass on a Z-Man’s Junebug TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. I caught 4 largemouth bass on a barely shortened four-inch Z-Man’s Junebug Finesse WormZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Six largemouth bass have been caught on a Z-Man’s pearl TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. A Z-Man’s PB&J TRD HogZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead caught 9 largemouth bass.

Within the higher half of the reservoir, I caught two largemouth bass alongside a really quick stretch of a main-lake shoreline that’s adjoining to a main-lake level. This shoreline has a couple of 35-degree slope. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and a few important boulders, and there are patches of coontail masking a few of that terrain. The water’s edge is lined with American water willows and two docks. These largemouth bass have been caught on the pearl TRD TicklerZ rig with a drag-and-shake presentation in six to seven toes of water.

I didn’t garner a strike whereas I fished throughout a big and shallow-water flat within the higher half of this reservoir. This flat is adorned with untold numbers of coontail patches and an array of duckweed that covers the floor.

Round a main-lake level within the higher half of the reservoir, I didn’t elicit a strike.

Alongside a couple of 200-yard stretch of a shoreline within the higher half of this reservoir, which I shared with two different anglers, I caught seven largemouth bass. This shoreline has a 25- to 50-degree slope. The water’s edge is lined with some patches of American water willows, three docks, two concrete retaining partitions, a couple of overhanging bushes, and a few laydowns. The underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, and there are patches of coontail masking the shallow-water parts of a few of this terrain.

5 largemouth bass have been caught alongside one of many steeper parts of this shoreline.  They have been caught in about seven toes of water and about seven toes from the water’s edge. A patch of American water willows that’s intertwined with some coontail graces the water’s edge. One largemouth bass was caught on the Junebug TRD TicklerZ rig with a drag-and-shake presentation. 4 largemouth bass have been caught on the pearl TRD TicklerZ rig with a drag-and-shake retrieve.

Two of the seven largemouth bass have been caught alongside the skin edges of the patches of coontail in about 4 toes of water, they usually have been caught on the preliminary drop of the Finesse WormZ rig. One was about 15 toes from the water’s edge, and the second one was about 25 toes from the water’s edge.

Within the decrease half of the reservoir, one largemouth bass was caught on an offshore pile of boulders and rocks.  It was caught on the Finesse WormZ rig in about 4 toes of water as I used to be strolling and using a drag-and-shake presentation.

Alongside an offshore ledge within the decrease half of the reservoir, I caught one largemouth bass. This ledge’s underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, and segments of it are adorned with some skimpy patches of coontail. A number of the boulders are humongous. This largemouth bass was caught on the Finesse WormZ rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation round a patch of coontail in about 5 toes of water.

I caught 9 largemouth bass alongside the dam. It has a 50- to 70-degree slope.  Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders.  The water’s edge is embellished with American water willows and several other sorts of emergent vegetation. There are additionally some scattered patches of coontail gracing the skin edges of a few of the patches of American water willows. These 9 largemouth bass have been caught on the TRD HogZ rig. Two have been caught on the preliminary drop of the rig in about 5 toes of water. The others have been caught on a really sluggish swim-and-glide presentation in 5 to seven toes of water.

Sept. 18

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 18 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

Rick Allen of Dallas and I fished from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at a state reservoir situated in an ex-urban space of north-central Texas. It’s the identical state reservoir that John Thomas of Denton and I fished on Sept. 12, after we caught a complete of 30 largemouth and noticed bass throughout that four-hour tour.

The morning low temperature was 70 levels on Sept. 18. The afternoon excessive was 86 levels. The barometric stress measured 30.10 at 8:00 a.m. and 30.12 at midday. The wind quartered out of the northeast at 5 to 10 mph till 10:43 a.m., then it was calm. It was sunny, however the sky was hazy with a slight smoky-grey tint. Rick and I speculated that the haze may need been the results of smoke that was blown down from the large California forest fires by the higher atmospheric jet stream, however we couldn’t affirm our suspicions.

In line with In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar, the most effective fishing would happen from 5:47 a.m. to 7:47 a.m., 11:34 a.m. to 1:34 p.m., and midday to 2:00 p.m. It additionally indicated that the fishing could be common.

As I famous in my Sept. 12 log, this impoundment’s submerged terrain consists of principally purple clay, gravel, rocks and boulders. Moreover the gravel, rocks and boulders, the overwhelming majority of its shorelines are graced with laydowns, stickups, flooded buck brush, and overhanging bushes. There are some giant patches of hydrilla, American pondweed, and American water willows within the midsection and decrease finish of the reservoir.

The water readability different from 2 1/2 to a few toes of visibility. The water’s floor temperature ranged from 79 to 80 levels. The water degree was 1.39 toes beneath regular.

We centered our attentions on the perimeter of a main-lake island, an offshore hump, a rocky main-lake ledge, and two steep and rocky shorelines inside two main feeder-creek arms.

We started the outing at an island that’s located within the southeast finish of the reservoir. Its shoreline is comparatively flat and considerably rocky. Its shallow-water areas are cluttered with submerged boulders and rocks, partially-flooded terrestrial vegetation, patches of American pondweed, and a small stand of flooded timber on its south finish.

This island relinquished a mixture of 21 largemouth bass and noticed bass. Most of those bass have been caught from the north and east aspect of the island. A lot of them have been related to the skin edges of the flooded terrestrial vegetation that’s interlaced with some submerged boulders in three to 5 toes of water. A couple of of them have been referring to the skin edges of the patches of American pondweed in 5 to eight toes of water.

Fourteen of them have been caught on a gentle swimming retrieve with a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ matched with a blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. 5 have been drawn to a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with a Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ that was connected to a blue 1/16-ounce OG Mushroom Jighead. One was caught on a Z-Man’s The Deal TRD TicklerZ rigged on a black 1/16-ounce OG Mushroom Jighead and a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. One was caught on a sluggish drag-shake-and-pause presentation with a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s white-lightning ZinkerZ that was nostril hooked on a 3/16-ounce drop-shot rig, and it was the one bass the drop-shot rig would produce throughout this outing.

A few mile and half north of the island, we probed a submerged main-lake ledge. This ledge is comparatively flat and is adorned with giant boulders, a couple of partially-flooded bushes, and a few stickups. This ledge is about 50-yards lengthy, and it’s located about 20 to 30 yards from the water’s edge. This ledge is roofed with about three toes of water, and it rapidly plunges into 20 and extra toes of water.

The deep-water aspect of this ledge yielded a blended bag of 5 largemouth bass, three noticed bass, and two hybrid noticed bass that have been abiding in six to 17 toes of water. Seven of those 10 black bass have been caught on the two 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ rig and a gentle swimming retrieve. Three have been caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig. Two of the largemouth bass have been caught concurrently as they have been chasing small threadfin shad alongside the floor of the water in 17 toes of water.

A few mile west of the submerged main-lake ledge is a main-lake hump. This hump is situated within the midsection of the impoundment. It’s about 35 yards lengthy and is encircled with 20-plus toes of water. It’s lined with three to 10 toes of water. There’s a giant cluster of submerged boulders that lies on the north finish of the hump. This hump yielded 5 largemouth bass and two noticed bass on Sept. 12, however it surrendered just one giant bluegill this time. It was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig.

We then looked for threadfin shad and black bass round two riprap-laden jetties on the northeast finish of the reservoir. Once we didn’t find any shad or black bass there, we left with out making a single forged.

We completed this outing inside two main feeder-creeks on the northwest finish of the reservoir.

Contained in the mouth of the primary creek arm, we dissected a couple of 100-yard stretch of a rocky shoreline. This shoreline has a 45- to 50-degree incline. Its water’s edge is adorned with quite a few giant rocks and boulders. This shoreline yielded a mix of 10 largemouth bass and noticed bass, and a big bluegill. They have been caught in three to eight toes of water and have been referring to the deep-water sides of the bigger submerged boulders. Six black bass have been caught on a 2 1/4-inch tail part of a Z-Man’s green-pumpkin-orange FattyZ that was rigged on a blue Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Three have been caught on a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s watermelon ZinkerZ that was mounted on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. One was caught on a 1/16-ounce chartreuse Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead dressed with a Z-Man’s coppertreuse Finesse TRD.  These three combos have been employed with a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

Simply contained in the mouth of the second feeder-creek arm, we plied a 50-yard stretch of a steep and rocky shoreline. In our eyes, this shoreline gave the impression to be equivalent to the shoreline we fished within the first creek arm. This shoreline was additionally pretty productive. It relinquished a mix of seven largemouth and noticed bass that have been related to the deep-water sides of a number of giant submerged boulders in 5 to eight toes of water. 4 of them engulfed a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s California-craw ZinkerZ that was rigged on a chartreuse 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. Three have been tempted by the two 1/2-inch watermelon ZinkerZ rig. Each of those rigs have been utilized with a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake retrieve.

All instructed, we relished catching and releasing a blended bag of 48 largemouth bass, noticed bass, and hybrid noticed bass in 4 1/2 hours. We additionally caught two giant bluegills whereas we have been looking for black bass.

We employed a complete of 9 Midwest finesse rigs, and all of them have been productive. The best ones have been the two 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ, the Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ, and the two 1/4-inch tail part of a green-pumpkin-orange FattyZ.

The two 1/2-inch pearl Slim SwimZ rig was employed with a regular swimming retrieve. The blue-steel Finesse ShadZ and the two 1/4-inch FattyZ rigs have been used with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve.

Sept. 19

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 18 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

Invoice Kenny of Corinth, Texas, joined me for a morning outing at a perplexing U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ hill-land reservoir in north-central Texas. Invoice is an elementary faculty trainer and doesn’t get many alternatives to fish. He lately grew to become considering Midwest finesse techniques, and this was Invoice’s first Midwest finesse endeavor.

I’ve not fished at this reservoir since Aug. 4, when Rick Allen of Dallas and I struggled to catch eight largemouth bass in three hours. And when Invoice and I arrived on the boat ramp on Sept. 19, we have been stunned to see that the boat-ramp parking zone was nearly crammed to the brim with tow automobiles and boat trailers. (I had hoped that with the opening of searching season in north-central Texas on Sept. 1, many of those anglers could be within the surrounding countryside searching mourning doves within the corn fields and pastures lined with sunflowers as an alternative of fishing at this fashionable reservoir. I used to be tremendously mistaken.)

Space thermometers reported that it was 65 levels at 6:00 a.m. and 83 levels at 5:00 p.m. The situations of the sky fluctuated from being overcast to clear. Once we launched the boat at 7:00 a.m., an irksome wind was blowing out of the southeast at 15 to twenty mph. Once we trailered the boat at 11:45 a.m., the wind had calmed down considerably and was angling out of the east at 5 mph. The barometric stress was 30.14 at 7:00 a.m. and 30.17 at 11:00 a.m.

The perfect fishing, based on In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar, would happen between 12:28 a.m. to 2:28 a.m., 6:41 a.m. to eight:41 a.m., and 12:54 p.m. to 2:54 p.m. It additionally indicated that the fishing would probably be common. To our delight, the fishing was above common.

Invoice and I fished from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The water degree was a couple of inches above regular.  The floor temperature was 80 levels. The water exhibited about two toes of visibility.

To begin, we have been compelled to hunt safety from the wind and white-capped waves, so we instantly moved inside a close-by feeder-creek arm on the south finish of the west tributary arm. So did fairly a couple of different anglers, and we have been relegated to fishing behind a number of of them.

Despite the extreme angler stress and boat visitors inside this creek arm, we managed to catch six largemouth bass and two noticed bass. We caught 4 of the largemouth bass and the 2 noticed bass in two to a few toes of water on high of a protracted and curvy clay and pea-gravel ledge on the east aspect of the creek arm. We shared this ledge with eight different anglers. This ledge is roofed with three to 5 toes of water, and it rapidly drops off into 17 to 24 toes of water. It’s lined with chunk rock, giant boulders, a number of patches of American pondweed, some patches of flooded stickups, and a few giant tractor tires that had damaged unfastened from a close-by floating tractor-tire reef and washed ashore. These black bass have been scattered right here and there, they usually have been caught on a gentle swimming retrieve with a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ that was affixed on a blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

Whereas we have been fishing behind one other 5 anglers, Invoice caught one largemouth bass in 5 toes of water from the aspect of an previous red-clay and gravel stock-pond dam. This dam is situated on the south finish of the creek arm. He caught it on a gentle swimming retrieve with the two 1/2-inch pearl Slim SwimZ rig. I wielded a Z-Man’s blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rigged on a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. I manipulated it with a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve, however I used to be unable to generate any strikes with it across the stock-pond dam.

We determined to maneuver to the northwest finish of the creek arm to get away from the opposite anglers. We dissected a small floating tractor-tire reef that floats in 20 toes of water, a 20-yard section of a steep and rocky shoreline adjoining to the tractor-tire reef, a big concrete boat ramp with thick patches of American pondweed bordering both sides of the ramp, a number of concrete assist pillars beneath two giant concrete piers, and about 40 yards of a clay and pea-gravel shoreline, however we didn’t find any largemouth or noticed bass at these spots.

We caught one largemouth bass from a small 10-yard stretch of a riprap-covered shoreline that’s adjoining to the massive concrete piers. It was abiding close to the riprap in three toes of water and engulfed a Z-Man’s pearl TRD TicklerZ that was matched with a blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. This rig was applied with a sluggish swim-glide-and-shake presentation.

From that feeder-creek arm, we determined to maneuver throughout to the north aspect of the tributary arm to a big main-lake level and its adjoining main-lake flat. This level and flat are lined with thinning patches of flooded stickups. Their underwater terrains encompass principally purple clay and pea-gravel. There are some burgeoning patches of hydrilla masking a big portion of the shallow-water areas on the east finish of the flat, and the remnants of a number of concrete constructing foundations that lie on the west finish of the flat.

The purpose was taking the brunt of the wind and waves, which hindered our casts and retrieves, and we didn’t elicit any strikes there.

We then fished throughout the adjoining main-lake flat because the wind propelled our boat, and we caught one largemouth bass in 5 toes of water. This bass was related to the skin edge of a big patch of hydrilla, and it was caught on a swimming retrieve with the two 1/2-inch pearl Slim SwimZ. We didn’t cross paths with every other bass on this flat.

After that, we moved inside a minor feeder-creek arm that’s situated on the west finish of the main-lake flat that we simply fished. It offered us, and 7 different anglers, some shelter from the wind and waves.

This feeder-creek arm is adorned with thick stands of flooded timber, a couple of patches of American pondweed, some clusters of flooded stickups, and a few giant laydowns. Its submerged terrain is comparatively flat and composed of purple clay, pea-gravel, stumps, chunk rock, and some boulders. We fished behind a number of of the opposite anglers, however we may muster solely two freshwater drum from a flat gravel shoreline on the northwest finish of the creek arm. Each of them have been caught in lower than 10 toes of water on a swim-glide-and-shake retrieve with the blue-steel Finesse ShadZ rig.

From that creek arm, we traveled about two miles to the west the place we spent the final hour of this outing plying a small red-clay-and-pea-gravel flat simply inside the doorway of one other minor feeder-creek arm. We shared this creek arm with 5 different anglers.

This flat is about 50 yards lengthy and is roofed with two to eight toes of water. The shallow-water areas close to the water’s edge are affected by chunk rock and some submerged boulders. This flat was our most fruitful spot of the morning, and we have been relieved that we didn’t must share this portion of the creek arm with the opposite anglers. This small flat yielded 17 largemouth bass and one noticed bass. They have been caught in lower than 5 toes of water across the submerged chunk rock on the two 1/2-inch pearl Slim SwimZ rig and a swimming retrieve. We tried a few different Midwest finesse rigs as nicely, however we have been unable to elicit any strikes with them.

In conclusion, the wind and tough water decided the place we fished for a lot of the morning. We fished for 4 hours, and most of that point was spent fishing inside three feeder-creek arms that offered respectable shelter from the wind. And by the point this foray got here to an finish, our counter had tallied 24 largemouth bass, three noticed bass, and two freshwater drum.

We caught 26 of those 27 black bass on a gentle swimming retrieve with the two 1/2-inch pearl Slim SwimZ rig. One was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation with the pearl TRD TicklerZ combo.

It was a splendid begin for Invoice and his Midwest finesse endeavors.

Sept. 20

Brandon Marlow of LaFollette, Tennessee, filed a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his Sept. 20 outing.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

Jason Marlow and I fished in a feeder-creek arm of a highland reservoir in jap Tennessee from 3:05 p.m. to six:30 p.m.

The air temperature after we arrived on the reservoir was 71 levels. It was a bluebird sky. The wind was out of the south at 5 to 10 mph. The lake degree was 5.19 toes beneath its full pool. There was seven to 10 toes of visibility. The floor temperature was 80 levels.

The In-Fisherman solunar calendar stated the most effective occasions to fish have been between 1:15 a.m. to three:15 a.m.  and 1:43 p.m. to three:43 p.m.

In our three-hour and 25-minute journey, we managed to catch 11 smallmouth bass, seven largemouth bass and one bluegill.

To maintain from having to battle the barrage of pontoon and wake boats which have saved us off the water for the previous couple of months, we stayed throughout the confines of the cove the place we launched the boat.

This cove supplied quite a lot of cowl from laydowns to floating docks. It’s adorned with a few secondary factors, which is the place we began.

We caught three smallmouth bass on the steeper aspect of the primary level we fished. Two have been caught on a Z-Man’s PB&J Hula StickZ reduce right down to roughly three inches lengthy, and it was affixed to a green-pumpkin 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig. The third one was caught on the Z-Man’s watermelon-red Child Goat affixed to a green-pumpkin 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig. All three have been caught with a deadstick presentation in 10 to fifteen toes of water on what gave the impression to be a boulder or giant rock pile.

We continued alongside the shoreline in the direction of the mouth of this cove, fishing the laydowns and floating docks and catching eight smallmouth bass and 5 largemouth bass. Across the seven docks that we fished alongside this stretch, 5 of them produced a largemouth bass. The shoreline is lined with riprap, and the largemouth bass have been sitting in lower than 5 toes of water on the shaded aspect of the walkways resulting in the docks. 4 have been caught on the Child Goat rig, and one was caught on a Z-Man’s hot-snakes Finesse TRD affixed to a purple 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig.  Seven of the smallmouth bass have been caught round laydowns in 10 toes of water on a Z-Man’s PB&J Finesse TRD affixed to a green-pumpkin 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig. One smallmouth bass was caught on the Child Goat rig with a vertical presentation with the help of Garmin’s Panoptix LiveScope.

Our two largest fish, which have been largemouth bass, and the bluegill have been caught across the mouth of the cove, the place the boat visitors had created mud traces. They have been caught in eight toes of water on a Z-Man’s The Deal Child Goat affixed to a green-pumpkin 1/16-ounce mushroom-style jig by bumping the underside with a sluggish and regular retrieve.

Sept. 23

Ned and Patty Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about their outing on Sept. 23.

Right here is an edited model of their log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 61 levels at 12:53 a.m. and 76 levels at 1:53 p.m. The sky fluctuated from being partly cloudy to overcast to principally cloudy. The wind angled out of the south and southeast at 3 to eight mph. The barometric stress was 30.07 at 12:53 a.m., 30.06 at 5:53 a.m., 30.07 at 11:53 a.m., and 30.02 at 2:53 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 4:21 a.m. to six:21 a.m., 4:50 p.m. to six:50 p.m., and 10:36 a.m. to 12:36 p.m.

Patty and I fished at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ group reservoirs from 11:36 a.m. to 1:36 p.m.

The water degree at this reservoir was regular. The floor temperature was 72 levels.  We spent your complete two hours within the higher half of the reservoir, the place the secchi-stick measured 2 ½ to 4 toes of visibility. Vital patches of coontail cowl the underwater terrains throughout a few of this reservoir’s shallow-water flats and alongside the shallow-water areas adjoining to a few of its shorelines, and a few of these patches of coontail have been our most fruitful lairs.

Alongside a couple of 250-yard stretch of a main-lake shoreline, we caught two smallmouth bass and 14 largemouth bass. This shoreline has a 20- to 50-degree slope. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders.

Parts of its water’s edge are adorned with lily pads, patches of American water willows, laydowns, and overhanging bushes. The 2 smallmouth bass have been caught on the preliminary drop of a Z-Man’s mudbug Finesse TRD affixed to a light-blue or baby-blue 1/16-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead in about 4 toes of water across the outdoors edges of meager patches of coontail and American water willows. Three of the largemouth bass have been caught round laydowns on our mudbug Finesse TRD rigs with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation in about 4 toes of water. One largemouth bass was caught on the mudbug Finesse TRD rig round a patch of coontail and an overhanging tree in about 4 toes of water with a swimming presentation. Ten of the largemouth bass have been caught round patches of coontail in 4 to 5 of water on our mudbug Finesse TRD rigs on both the preliminary drop or a swim-and-shake presentation.

We didn’t elicit a strike alongside a shoreline and throughout a large shallow-water flat behind a medium-size feeder-creek arm.

We caught one largemouth bass round a main-lake level.  Its water’s edge is graced with patches of American water willows and laydowns. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, that are sometimes clothed with patches of coontail. The largemouth bass was caught on the mudbug Finesse TRD rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation round a patch of coontail in about six toes of water.

Round a tertiary level alongside a main-lake shoreline, we caught one largemouth bass on the mudbug Finesse TRD rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation in about six toes of water close to the skin fringe of a patch of American water willows. The underwater terrain of this level consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, that are embellished with a couple of meager patches of coontail.  It has a 45-degree slope.

Round a flat main-lake level and alongside considered one of its adjoining shorelines, we caught two largemouth bass. This level and shoreline have a 15- to 20-degree slope. The underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and silt, and lots of yards of this terrain is endowed with patches of coontail. The water’s edge is adorned with patches of American water willows, and there’s a quick section that possesses an overhanging tree and a few minor laydowns. One of many largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the mudbug Finesse TRD rig underneath an overhanging tree in about three toes of water. The opposite largemouth bass was caught alongside the skin fringe of a patch of American water willows on the preliminary drop of the mudbug Finesse TRD rig in about two toes of water.

We ended the outing by plying a number of giant patches of coontail and several other patches of American water willows and American pondweeds that embellish a main-lake shoreline and level. The shoreline and level have a 25-degree slope. Their underwater terrains encompass gravel and rocks, and they’re sometimes endowed with a boulder. We caught eight largemouth bass throughout and across the patches of coontail on both the preliminary drop or a swim-glide-and-shake presentation of our mudbug Finesse TRD rigs in water as shallow as three toes and as deep as eight toes. We caught one largemouth bass on the preliminary drop of the mudbug Finesse TRD rig alongside the skin fringe of a patch of American water willows in about 2 ½ toes of water.

In complete, we caught 27 largemouth bass and two smallmouth bass. A catch charge of 14 ½ black bass an hour just isn’t a stellar Midwest finesse outing. However we’re within the midst of a dreadful spell of black bass fishing in northeastern Kansas that commenced in 2018, and anytime that we will catch 14 ½ black bass an hour these days, we describe it as a surprisingly fruitful endeavor. And all 29 of them have been caught on our mudbug Finesse TRD rigs.

What’s extra, it was considerably extra fruitful than my outing to a U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ reservoir in northeastern Kansas on Sept. 22, which was so disappointing that I elected to not spend time composing a log about it.  However briefly, I fished that reservoir for two ½ hours and struggled mightily to catch two largemouth bass and 9 tiny smallmouth bass. The spotlight of that outing revolved round tangling with 11 hefty and spunky freshwater drum.  One other spotlight was that every one however two of these fish have been caught on the mudbug Finesse TRD rig. I had by no means used that hue earlier than. However throughout a phone dialog with Clyde Holscher of Topeka, Kansas, on the morning of Sept. 22, he alerted me to the effectiveness of the mudbug hue, and he was on the mark.

Sept. 24

Ned Kehde of Lawrence, Kansas, posted a go browsing the Finesse Information Community about his outing on Sept. 24.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

The Nationwide Climate Service reported that it was 54 levels at 6:53 a.m. and 80 levels at 2:53 p.m. The sky was truthful. The wind angled out of the south and southwest at 3 to 22 mph. The barometric stress was 29.77 at 12:53 a.m., 29.94 at 5:53 a.m., 29.95 at 11:53 a.m., and 29.89 at 2:53 p.m.

In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar indicated that the most effective fishing would happen from 5:20 a.m. to 7:20 a.m., 5:48 p.m. to 7:48 p.m., and 11:10 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.

I fished at considered one of northeastern Kansas’ group reservoirs from 12:16 p.m. to three:16 p.m.

The water degree at this reservoir was regular.  The floor temperature ranged from 71 to 73 levels. The secchi-stick measured about 1 1/2 to barely greater than three toes of visibility, and the most effective visibility was within the neighborhood of the dam. Vital patches of coontail cowl the underwater terrains throughout a few of this reservoir’s shallow-water flats and alongside the shallow-water areas adjoining to a few of its shorelines.

The black-bass fishing on the group, state, and federal reservoirs in northeastern Kansas is changing into as making an attempt because the black-bass fishing that Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, and his colleagues have endured for years on finish. This sorry state of affairs in northeastern Kansas started in 2018.

Earlier than this demise commenced, we loved a goodly variety of fruitful outings at this group reservoir. As an illustration,) Glenn Younger, who’s the nationwide gross sales supervisor for Z-Man Fishing Merchandise and I caught 101 largemouth bass at this reservoir on Might 25, 2011, whereas we contended with a twister warning and a large thunderstorm.  And throughout the first 17 years of this century, there have been scores of outings after I and a Midwest finesse colleague tangled with 46 to 76 largemouth bass in 4 hours.

This reservoir was once generally known as a lunker haven. Again within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties, a couple of space anglers grew to become bucket-biologists, they usually transplanted a big variety of lunker-sized largemouth bass from Hillsdale Lake, Kansas, and La Cygne Lake, Kansas, into this group reservoir.

However these days, it’s a whale of a battle to catch 10 largemouth bass an hour at this reservoir, and because the introduction of the largemouth bass virus in 2010, the lunker-size largemouth bass usually are not as plentiful as they was once.

My Sept. 24 outing displays how tough the largemouth bass fishing has develop into at this reservoir. I caught 18 largemouth bass in three hours. 5 of them have been minor lunkers, which implies they weren’t the proverbial five-pounders; they appeared as in the event that they weighed from 3 ½ to 4 kilos. After all, I’m a numbers hunter, not a lunker hunter, and I might have a lot most popular catching 101 one- to 1 1/2-pound largemouth bass instead of these 5 minor lunkers.

Right here is how this three-hour outing unfolded.

In the course of the first 38 minutes, I caught 10 largemouth bass. I mistakenly thought that I used to be on a roll to catch not less than 30 largemouth bass in two hours, however throughout the subsequent two hours and 22 minutes, I caught 9 largemouth bass.

I caught 17 of them on a Z-Man’s mudbug Finesse TRD affixed to a baby- or light-blue Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. (In yesterday’s log, I mistakenly labeled the Z-Man’s mudbug Finesse TRD as a Z-Man’s muddog Finesse TRD.) One largemouth bass was caught on a Z-Man’s pearl TRD TicklerZ affixed to a baby- or light-blue Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead.

Eleven of the largemouth bass have been caught alongside the dam on the Finesse TRD rig. It has a 50- to 70-degree slope. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders.  The water’s edge is embellished with American water willows and several other sorts of emergent vegetation. There are additionally some scattered patches of coontail gracing the skin edges of a few of the patches of American water willows. 4 largemouth bass have been caught on the preliminary drop of the rig in about 5 toes of water. The others have been caught on a sluggish swim-glide-and-subtle-shake presentation in six to seven toes of water. They have been about 5 to eight toes from the water’s edge.

Alongside a couple of 200-yard stretch of a shoreline within the higher half of this reservoir, I caught one largemouth bass This shoreline has a 25- to 50-degree slope. The water’s edge is lined with some patches of American water willows, three docks, two concrete retaining partitions, a couple of overhanging bushes, and a few laydowns. The underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders. There are patches of coontail masking the shallow-water parts of a few of this terrain, and a few patches of coontail are additionally intertwined with a few of the outdoors edges of the patches of American water willows alongside the steeper sections. Blankets of duckweed cowl a few of the patches of coontail.  The largemouth bass was caught on the preliminary drop of the TRD TicklerZ rig adjoining to a patch of American water willows and a patch of coontail in about six toes of water.

Alongside a couple of 50-yard stretch of one other shoreline within the higher half of this reservoir, I caught 4 largemouth bass. This shoreline has a couple of 25-degree slope.  Its underwater terrain consists of gravel and rocks. A lot of this terrain is embellished with patches of coontail.  Seven docks litter this shoreline. These largemouth bass have been caught on the Finesse TRD rig in about six to seven toes of water close to the skin edges of the coontail patches and about 25 toes from the water’s edge. Three of them have been caught on a drag-and-shake presentation, and the 4 one was caught on a deadstick presentation.

One largemouth bass was caught alongside a 100-yard stretch of a shoreline within the center parts of this reservoir. The shoreline has a 45-degree slope. Its underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, that are embellished with occasional patches of coontail. The water’s edge is endowed with a couple of patches of American water willows and 10 docks. This largemouth bass was caught on the Finesse TRD rig with a drag-and-shake presentation in 9 toes of water and about 20 toes from the water’s edge.

Alongside an offshore ledge within the decrease half of the reservoir, I caught one largemouth bass. This ledge’s underwater terrain consists of gravel, rocks, and boulders, and segments of it are adorned with some skimpy patches of coontail. A number of the boulders are humongous. This largemouth bass was caught on the Finesse TRD rig with a swim-glide-and-shake presentation round a patch of coontail in about 5 toes of water.

Sept. 30

Steve Reideler of Denton, Texas, posted this log about his Sept. 30 outing on the Finesse Information Community.

Right here is an edited model of his log.

From 11:30 a.m. to three:30 p.m., John Thomas of Denton and I performed a day tour at a preferred however difficult U.S. Military Corps of Engineers’ hill-land reservoir in north-central Texas.

This reservoir has been fairly stingy surrendering its largemouth bass and noticed bass in 2020. The final time this reservoir surrendered 30 or extra black bass in an outing was on Oct. 22, 2019, when John Thomas and I caught a mix of 33 largemouth and noticed bass in 5 hours.

Sept. 30 was a heat and sunny fall day. Space thermometers reported that it was 52 levels at 6:00 a.m. and 93 levels at 5:00 p.m. There was not a cloud in sight. The wind was principally delicate mannered and quartered out of the south and southeast at 5 to 10 mph. The barometric stress measured 30.04 at 11:00 a.m. and 29.97 at 3:00 p.m.

In line with In-Fisherman’s solunar calendar, essentially the most profitable fishing durations would happen from 3:51 a.m. to five:51 a.m., 10:01 a.m. to 12:01 p.m., and 10:22 p.m. to 12:22 a.m. It additionally indicated that the fishing would probably be common. To our shock, the fishing was stellar by north-central Texas’ requirements.

The water degree was a couple of inches beneath regular.  The floor temperature was 75 levels. The water exhibited about two toes of visibility.

Now that fall has arrived and the water temperature has dropped into the mid-70s, we opted to pay attention our efforts looking for important colleges of threadfin shad, largemouth bass, and noticed bass inside two feeder-creek arms and two giant bays which might be situated within the decrease and center sections of this reservoir. We didn’t catch 33 black bass as we did on Oct. 22, 2019, however we did catch 32 black bass, which consisted of 29 largemouth bass and three noticed bass. We additionally caught one white bass and one freshwater drum.

Thirty-one of those 32 black bass have been caught offshore in three to seven toes of water alongside the sides of shallow-water flats the place they rapidly drop into 10 or extra toes of water. One largemouth was caught in eight toes of water subsequent to a clay-and-gravel wall of a stock-tank dam that has a 60-degree gradient.

The stock-tank dam wall is situated on the mouth of one of many two feeder-creeks.  The flats are located within the center and higher sections of the 2 bays and feeder-creek arms.

The flats are lined with three to seven toes of water. Their submerged terrains have been related and encompass purple clay, pea-gravel, and flat rocks which might be related in dimension to a dinner plate. They have been additionally adorned with patches of flooded stickups, American pondweed, and hydrilla. We discovered giant concentrations of threadfin shad meandering round and throughout these flats. We additionally found a couple of small pods of shad close to the stock-tank-dam wall.

We caught 30 of those 32 black bass on a gentle swimming retrieve with a 2 1/2-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ affixed to a blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. One largemouth was caught on a gentle swimming retrieve with a three-inch Z-Man’s pearl Slim SwimZ rigged on a blue 3/32-ounce Z-Man’s OG Mushroom Jighead. And one largemouth was caught on a swim-glide-and-shake presentation with a Z-Man’s white-lightning Finesse TRD rigged on a blue 1/15-ounce Z-Man’s Finesse ShroomZ jig.

Moreover the sides of the shallow-water flats, we additionally dissected a few main-lake factors on the entrance to those bays and creek arms, and 13 rocky secondary factors and tertiary factors within the again or higher areas of those bays and creek arms. We discovered some small aggregations of threadfin shad round a few of the secondary factors, however we didn’t cross paths with any black bass round these shad or factors.