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Made it down to the heated docks for the first time. We fished for a couple of hours and didn't manage to catch anything. Did see 2 bluegill, 2 crappie, and 2 white bass caught while we were down there though. Will make it back down there before winters out.
Does it cost anything to fish those heated docks at Marion?
No it's free. I don't know much about it. They have a website for marion county state lake that has more information on it.
Marion County Park and Lake
I tried it last week, and plan to head back tomorrow. There is no charge to use the dock. They keep it at about 50 degrees (needed a coat to be comfortable), but much warmer than it was outside. Here is a picture I took (looking South). The guy in the picture was fishing for Blue Gill.
That looks like a really nice place to be when its cold outside! I may have to give that a try this winter!
I'm hearing about banana jigs at the heated dock I've been 3 times no banana jigs yet and never caught anything got any insight it's an hour and a half trip every time and to not catch anything ehhh
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Went last tues was definitely fishing not catching. Caught 5 fish in 4 hours. Had fun though! The banana jigs can be purchased at the little b aitshop on the lake. I tipped mine with a crappie nibble donno if that helped. Very light no traditional thump just line movement.
So is the banana jig the trick there? I'm looking to definitely go again what time did you arrive skinner?
Actually looking for any Marion advice I love the dock and me and my dad will be going back very soon but just wanna make our next trip a possible dinner trip lol
yes banana jigs is the answer/ almost like ice fishing they hit so light. usual drop a minnow on one pole and jig with another. smaller the bait the better seems there.
I don't think I have found the trick yet but would agree with ragner bout tactic to start out. I couldn't find minnows anywhere or I would have prob picked some up. I was there from like 1to 5 but the locals seem pretty honest and they were saying like 5am to 10am is best. I dont expect must out of it when I go to places like this just got to do something outdoor related this time of year because I get stir crazy!
Well skinner me and my dad are talking about possibly going up this coming weekend and hitting it early would be nice to have some conversation let me know if you can get out anyone for that matter
Thanks for the invite but donno if I will be going back anytime soon am hoping for some open water on lakes that are more local to me in the near future.
Since Thanksgiving, I have been to the dock about 30 times........I have tried all times of day and night. I wasn't having any luck at all until I reloaded my reel with 2 lb test line, and started using a smaller jig (like the banana jig or similar). The best time seems to be in the morning (6 - 10). They do not hit hard at all...more like something bumping your line. Last week I caught a few one day, while 2 other guys did much better (1 guy caught 10, and the other 17). I will keep plugging away at it, and may get the hang of it as time goes on, but I do think that there is a trick to it (one that I haven't mastered yet). I will going back to Marion tomorrow for a few days, and will be trying again.
Did you happen to be there Saturday corvette
No, the last time I was there was last Thursday evening (1/16). The day that the guys caught the most was on Wednesday morning, so I was there at 6:00 am on Thursday, and caught 2 between 6 and 10am. I went back that evening at about 6:00 and didn't catch anything in the 4 hours I was there.
I would like to be catching more, but it is still fun. I have a house there, and I shop full of woodworking equipment, but it is just too cold to work in the shop......so I spend my time at the dock. I am looking forward to Spring, and fishing from my boat.
Got any leads on a cheap boat running
BT, kinda scarey handle. If u winter fish any, u need to invest in an ice tip indicator, fits in the the tip eyelet, is spring loaded, not expensive, worth the monies. No doubt when fish even looks at it. Look at droptinejoes posts as he had a picture of it on his ice rods. Just remembered, called strike indicators.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bombthreat
Couldn't find his post but your talking about the ice attachment that goes at the end of your pole for increased sensitivity ?
Yes sir.
Nice
Bomb. If eldorado is icced up I will go saturday. How early you looking at?
Don't know thinking cheney this weekend text me if ya want 3165182632 names josh
caught 1 today early but nothing else. saw a few more caught but it was very slow
Bassnbro what we're you using out there?
banana jig mostly
I'm going tomorrow where you using light gear ice rod ice indicators ect ect?
What's time frame where you there sorry for all the questions just tryin to get a feel for tomorrow
i was there at 6 this morning, using ultra lite rod and reel combo with 2 pound line and spring bobber. the fish i caught hit the banana jig in a chartreuse color from what i gathered the black and red had been the go to color but i didn't have any of those, didn't seem to matter cause those that did and was using wasn't having much luck either. hope this helps and tomorrow is better
Thank you I got black chartreuse and orange 3 flavors for em lol and a little crappie nibble. Hey question on these banana jigs do do you just run em like they come or do they use a blacks skirt like normal jigs never used bananas
well it was my first time as well but the ones i was using and the one i saw being used are to small for a skirt, they are really small. the addition of the nibble also produced a fish or two. the way it was being fished was drop to the bottom and slowly retrieved, they either hit on the fall or the retrieve, also some jigging was done. the slow retrieve also produced a small saugar. i don't know what the best time is to be there but i heard some one had caught 17 at 2:30 in the morning but by the time i got there no one had any and i come in and get one then nothing else. i tried everything i could and left at around 9:00 and headed over to the broken bridge and got nothing there but i did see some guys catch some small white bass, they released 2 crappie.
bassnbro is right just drop the jig all the way to the bottom and reel really REALLY slow. If you are using a spring indicator watch for it to bend ever so slighty and set the hook. Otherwise watch the tip of your pole and if it moves down in any amount and you feel a really light dead-weight feel set the hook. Blue/Green and Black/Red or Black/Orange are the go to colors, they have all 3 in 1/64 and 1/32 size at the lake office. I use mostly 1/64 oz. Try the 4 corners inside of the dock first, have had better luck in the corners this year. If the banana jigs aren't seeming to workout switch to a little 1/64 or 1/32 oz. hair jig or maribou and pitch it out, wait 5-10 seconds, and retrieve slowly. No particular color seems to do better than another for those, even though I did see gray work really well one day. I've used chartreuse and red and caught fish on both.
Sorry for the long reply, just thought I'd help out a little too. Good luck!
No reply is to long lol you could right a novel and I'd clap at the end
I was there Friday for 4 hours and only 2 fish caught. Really slow there right now
Hoes marion anyone been out this week they bitting at all or is it still slow ?
I was there yesterday from about 8am until about 1pm.....caught 3 small fish (was there the day before with similar results). There was another guy there that said he got there at 3 in the morning, and caught fish from about 4 to 7am. I just can't get my butt up and around to be there that early. He was using a double jig set up.....second jig about a foot above the other. I will try it again next week. I have ordered some spring tips for my rods.....I think I may be missing some due to the light bump they make when they take the jig in their mouth. I have tried every color, and haven't found any particular one that is better than the other. Some guys have used minnows, and I haven't seen anything caught with them so far.
I was there Sunday Morning and it was horribly slow. I was there at 4am and caught a little largemouth right of the bat then one other small crappie and that was it. It was slow for everyone.
Corvette, once you use a spring bobber, you will be amazed at what you have probably been missing. Sometimes that spring will just barely move. I just watch my bobber pretty much the entire time. Good luck!
Do they have spring bobbers at the bait store there by the dock?
They do I believe if not hit zeiners
They did stock them (spring bobbers) at the bait shop at the lake, but are currently out of stock, and not sure when they will get more.