With Memorial Day passing and school starting to let out, the fish are headed into FULL SUMMER PATTERNS! Top water action will continue to produce fish as long as the Cicada’s are still around. Over the past few weeks, my clients and myself have caught Bass, Crappie, Shell Cracker, Catfish and even several Carp on Pop R’s. Instead of fishing the Pop R with a normal POPPING retrieve, just cast it into a shady area and shake it. If there are any kind of fish present, they will just swim up to it and gently pull it under the surface. Come on out and have fun with it while it lasts!!!!!
BASS- The largemouth are starting to head towards their summer hideouts early this month. Look for the to feed on or around the surface early in the day. They will be chasing Blue Back Herring, Shad and Cicada’s before the sun gets to high. Walking baits like the Paycheck Baits Repo Man and the Boing Lure work great on shallow main lake points. After the surface action slows down, they will move to bridge pilings, boat docks and brush piles to relax for the remainder of the day.
Deep diving crank baits that dive to 15 plus feet will be a good bet. I like the Strike King 6XD in any type of shad pattern. I am also looking forward to throwing the new 10XD, this large crankbait dives to 25 feet on 14lb Flurocarbon. Shakey head plastics like the Power Team Lures 5″ Finicky Tickler and the 7″ Tickler are my favorites. Large Texas Rigged worms also catch their fair share of bucket mouths during the summer months as well. Don’t over look heavy football jigs on rocky points and drop off’s. I throw Arson Jigs Football Jigs in 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ounce sizes depending on the depth of water I am fishing.
CRAPPIE- The Specks have made their move to deep water, bridge pilings and deep brush piles are your best option. Small minnows rigged either on a slip bobber or a jig head will produce fish all summer long.
STRIPER- The striper have made their move to the mid lake area and are willingly taking Cotton Cordell Deep Diving Redfins dressed with a 1/4oz bucktail, DD 22’s and LEC 15’s trolled around the splits area. At first light, you may find them swirling on bait fish. Top water walking baits are a blast to fish in this action, the downside is that they tend to play “VOLLEY BAIT” and miss more than they hook up. I throw a Broken Back Redfin to them and just wake it under the surface. You get the same side to side walking action, just under the surface where they connect with the business part of your bait……….THE HOOKS! Later in the month, jigging spoons will play a major role in catching striper. The Toothache is the best there is for this.
Lake Level- Full Pool
Water Clarity
Down Lake- Clear
Mid lake- Clear
Up Lake- Slight Stain
Water Temps
Down Lake- Low 80’s
Mid Lake- 78-81
Up Lake- 79-83
Chris Craft
CCBASSN Lake Anna Guide Service
www.ccbassnlakeanna.blogspot.com
ccbassn@aol.com
540-894-6195
540-895-5770
540-895-5900 ext5
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