Islands area Smallmouth? (out of Channel Grove)

[Bggeary]

I've always done well with a salt and pepper skirt tube all around kellys 3/8 oz jig anywhere around the island really. Just find rocks. I'm in bass haven. I'll stop by and see you weekend Dan. Do any salmon fishing?

[Lyman1]

I've always done well with a salt and pepper skirt tube all around kellys 3/8 oz jig anywhere around the island really. Just find rocks. I'm in bass haven. I'll stop by and see you weekend Dan. Do any salmon fishing?

Hi, what is your technique with this type of jig fishing for smallmouth? Do you put any bait on the hook? I would love to try and catch some smallmouth out there.

thanks!

[Bggeary]

Well, in north bay of kellys we would hit the east end get on the drops and bounce them on the bottom. The airport at kellys get on either side of the point and do the same thing. Find rocks and depth change. No bait, but I spose you could tip with minnows???

[West Basin]

Here’s a little smallmouth info from scuba diving around the Islands, from right near shore to some of the wrecks in deeper water. I’ve seen nice size smallmouth in 6 foot of water right up along the shoreline in the rocks, middle of a calm sunny day in late July. I’ve also seen them in the deeper water hanging around structure such as boulders and wrecks during the same conditions. Usually I’d be cruising along at one depth, looking for anchors and whatever else while watching for fish. I’d see a stray smally or two, then I’d get to a place and there would be a group of them. Swim past that area and it goes back to singles here and there. So if you catch one, chances are there are others there or very close by.

Here are three areas to hit that most people ignore. After about 7pm the lake boat traffic drops of to almost nill. Fish the rocky reef area south of South Bass in the straight between SB and Catawba (see a chart). Too many boats during the morning and afternoon so it doesn’t get much fishing pressure. Also along the south shore of Kelleys within 200 yards of shore, 10-15 foot depths, from Downtown west. Be careful as there are old cribs and other bottom structure (including an old boat boiler) in there, but there are smallies in there. Next for deeper water in traditional August walleye waters try a few miles east of the airport. There is a big boulder field out there with car size boulders, 25-30 feet deep. Find that area and fish around the boulders. Not marked on charts. Again, I almost always found smallmouth in groups so if you catch one, fish that area hard before you move on.

[pimplepounder]

Thanks for the info West Basin,

I am sure that once you get to see the lake from a fish eye view, you have a new perspective of how many fish there really are down there and what kinda of fish they are. Electronics while nice, do not tell quite as much as a first hand visual.

You sparked my interests on the boulder field you referred to I wouldn't mind knowing a little more about this area. There is a lot of water out that way..

Again Thanks,

Kent