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My buddy and I caught these last Friday on Herrington lake trolling. Our first time on the lake but it won't be the last, we're planning on going again this Wednesday. We're going in the late afternoon, early evening, to see if we do better. These are all white bass, no hybrids. Any tips on where to fish, what bait to use, etc.? We used night crawlers on a crawler harness with a gold spinner blade.
We went out again on Wednesday and nearly got skunked! I only caught one, my buddy, zero. They were breaking the surface everywhere but wouldn't touch a thing we threw at them. Guess next time we'll have to try live minnows.
Sometimes it be like that, on Herrington. They get a jones for one specific size of Shad, and they won't touch nothing bigger or smaller. A lot of times, too, when they are breaking everywhere ... they're so scattered that it's hard to get a bait in front of one, before they dive and move. I'm referring to casting to them, though. Never did much trolling for White Bass, at Herrington.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Red
If the Shad they're after are "tiny" (1" or less) ... try 1/32oz Roadrunners, No Name Lure, Micro Spoon, or white wet fly -- and a split shot or two/three, up the line a couple of feet (for casting or trolling). Or tie on a deep diving crankbait, like a Hot-n-Tot, and tie a leader to the front hook eye (about 12-18" long) and put a jig or one of the previously mentioned baits on the end of the leader (strictly for trolling)
If the Shad are "small" (1-2" long) ... try 1/16oz Roadrunner, smallest Kastmaster or Johnson Silver Minnow Spoon, or 1/16oz jig on a popping float or topwater popper bait (8-12" leader)--- again, mostly for casting to the "jumps". Equivilant sized jigs (or these same baits) can be trolled (with split shots or behind crankbaits).
If the Shad are "big" (2-3" long) ... Pop-R's, small Silver Buddy's, 1/8oz Roadrunners, Kastmaster's, small crankbaits, Tiny Torpedo's, Zara Puppy's, and other baits similar to these, will work.
Having a minnow hanging over the side (while casting), may get you a strike or two, as well ... but, I'd have the rod(s) in rod holders ;) --- sometimes White Bass will nibble on a minnow, like a small Crappie/Bluegill -- and sometimes they'll slam it :p
These are just some "suggestions" ... based on my experiences/success with White Bass at Herrington and Taylorsville. I leave the treble hooks on any topwater/diving crankbaits used, since it is possible to catch Largemouth Bass, Hybrid Stripers, or even larger White Bass on these (rather than the smaller bait trailing).
What area of the lake are you fishing ?? I've had my best luck out in front of Red Gate Creek, and around the Cane Run Creek area.
If you've got a 5gal bucket, aerator pump, and a 1/4" mesh cast net ... you may want to try and net some of the Shad, and use them. If the Shad are in the 1-2" length range ... you could also drop them down next to some of the standing trees, about 10-15ft deep, for Crappie. (even around some of the private docks, is a good place to drift around ... though you may want to fish a little shallower around them).
Thanks for the report, keep 'em coming !!
.... luck2ya ... cp :cool:
How is the crappie fishing at Herrington Lake? Was wondering if fishing around some of the docks might work. . I know most of the lake is deep.
Are there any areas with lake levels around the 20-25 foot range, maybe some standing timber?
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Going Monday so I needed to get this back on top of the page. Thanks!
Herrington is a great lake for Crappie ... esp in the Spring. Summertime is usually nightfishing time, under your own lights ... or around private docks with lights. Don't worry about what depth of water you're in ... just try and figure out what depth the Crappie are suspended at.Quote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
Last time I was there, a few weeks ago, I took a buddy & his wife for some nighttime Bass wormin (her first night trip, first Bass fishing trip, and first time baitcaster use :p ) I noticed that, around some of the "close to the water" dock lights, the Shad were circling under them. They were pretty small, for this time of year. There were the usual Bluegill, smacking bugs on the surface ... a few small Bass, rushing in and snatching a Shad every now & then ... and what looked like some nice sized Crappie, coming from underneath the circling school of Shad, and getting their fair share. And this light is hanging over water > 20ft deep (could be 40-80ft deep, or more, I don't remember)
I always remember fishing at night on Herrington, back when I was young and going there with my grandparents ... that we rarely fished deeper than 12ft (usually 8-12ft) - under a two burner Coleman gas Lantern.
Seeing as how the Shad are still quite small ... I'd consider using small minnows ... and I wouldn't rule out using a 1/32 or 1/64oz marabou jig (casting the shadows, just outside the light, or Vertical Casting right thru the circling Shad). I don't guarantee any results ;) but that's what I'd be doing, if I could be there. Wish I could go with you, but unfortunately I have to work Monday nights.
.... luck2ya ... cp :cool:
Crappiepappy: Thanks for the good advise! Not much on night fishing, but may have to give it a try. May also try to fish some of the shaded side of docks during the day.
Now sure of the name of the creek but we put in at Coffey's Cove Marina, went left up to the mouth of a creek by the campgrounds. This is where we saw so many.Quote:
What area of the lake are you fishing ?? I've had my best luck out in front of Red Gate Creek, and around the Cane Run Creek area.
Question, another friend told me that these are hybrids and not white bass, he claims that white bass do not have the prominate stripes. Anyone know?
Thanks.
Red
Not really sure where Coffey's Cove Marina is ... I do most of my fishing between Sunset Marina & Mcketchnie Creek (mid lake towards dam).Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Red
The shad I saw circling under the light, with the Crappie coming up, was at Kamp Kennedy (light was on the far left back boat slip dock - if you're on the lake and looking at Kamp Kennedy)
Yes to what you friend says ... they do appear to be Hybrids. Not so much the "prominant" stripes, that says so ... but the broken sections in the stripes (especially the lower band of stripes) would indicate that they are Hybrids. Both Hybrids and White Bass are pretty common in Herrington. The lake used to be world renowned for the Spring White Bass run ... but, that was decades ago. They tried Stripers, but they didn't survive long enough to be of much benefit (water gets too warm) ... so they put in Hybrids. Biggest one I've heard come from there ... weighed 14lbs.
If you hear any of the locals talking about "high birds" around Herrington ... they're probably not talking Dove shooting :p .... they're referring to the Hybrid Striped Bass.
I do know that they like to use the big Kastmasters (w/bucktail on hook) and the largest Rooster Tails, when fishing for Hybrids. They track them down with their electronics, back off and cast .... allowing the bait to fall to the bottom, then retrieving them at a fairly fast pace. They like for the bait to come by or thru the school at an angle (about a 45-60deg angle).
.... cp :cool:
crappiepappy - Thanks for all the great info! We'll be going up again soon and I'll let you know how we make out. I'll be sure and try some of your methods. ☺ BTW, the shad we saw are the tinnie ones, about an inch long.
Thanks again.
Red
I guess the Gizzard Shad must have spawned late this year. I'm used to seeing them that small at Taylorsville, during the Summer ... just not at Herrington.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big_Red
Do keep us informed of any trips to Herrington, and how you do.
... cp :cool:
Didn't make it to Herrington after all. Daughter wanted to go fishing so I took her to T-ville for the morning. Very slow day at the ville. As in ---no fish! Water temp 80-81 with some mid 70's in the main lake areas. Good day to be on the water though. Cool, and light breeze. "Good to have your 14 y/o still wanting to go fishing with the old man".
Did you cast jigs to blowdowns, for Crappie ? (early AM, shaded banks)Quote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
Did you troll a crankbait/jig trailing, for Hybrids/White Bass ? (mid morning to mid afternoon)
Did you see any surface "jumps" activity ? Did you see any Shad schools on the surface ?
That water temp shouldn't have made too much difference. It's not really all that high, for this time of year.
And you're right about your daughter ;) ... but, what's more amazing to me, is that ANY 14 y/o girl would want to go fishing :eek: :p Sounds like she comes from good stock :D
... luck2ya ... cp :cool:
Shes' just a good kid. Her Momma did the hard part about raising her. She gets her good looks after me though! LOL! We dipped minnows around standing timber in about 25' of water, fished jigs over brush piles in 25-30 ft of water and cast jigs to what trees we could find. Didn't try for whites or hybrids and saw very few jumps. Shad were working surface in areas. We put in at V.B and the shad are usually thick enough to walk on but they were far and few in between down that way. Guess I may have to try some night fishing under the lights. I've been told by Crappie 52 they are biting pretty well.
cp, Will do, hopefully we're headed up there again tomorrow, they're predicting thunder storms.Quote:
Do keep us informed of any trips to Herrington, and how you do.
Red
I haven't been to T-ville this year, yet. Thinking about trying it this weekend (Sat AM) but no definite plans ... more of a wait and see/watch the weather channel/get a wild hair kind of situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
I don't usually fish the VB end much ... except during Spring, occasionally. Mostly fish a few blowdowns I know about ... and any new ones I see/find. I usually only troll for the Hybrids/White Bass if the Crappie quit on me ... or once it starts getting hot (midday) and I haven't had my string stretched, much :D I could care less about their size, since I'm C&R'ng them.
I know what you're talking about ... about being able to walk on them (Shad) up in the "river" end (Van Buren area) ... but, I've mostly seen that later on in the year. Never did catch much, in that area, when they were doing that, either. T-ville's creeks are not so much "running water" creeks (inflow), as they are water filled valleys ... so the Shad migrate "upriver" in the Fall. They're mostly too big for most Crappie, by then ... running around the 4" length range or more ... but, I bet they'd make good Catfish bait. They'd sure be easy to net up :D being that thick.
.... cp :cool:
Do you have any idea why they are keeping the water levels down this year? Lake has been around 1/2 foot above winter pool most of the summer.
If so ... Summer Pool and Winter Pool are only two feet of water apart. The lake is a flood control lake, but not a power generating one, so the water levels are determined by how much rain comes down in the drainage area surrounding the lake. We haven't had much rain in that area, so the lake levels are just a reflection of that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Downwind
Use this chart to keep track of current conditions :
http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/wc/reports/lkreport.html
And check this chart for past conditions :
http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/wc/res...plots/tvl.html
Looking at the past several months levels, it shows that the lake has only been below normal levels (for the time frame) during the late Spring to Summer (now) period ... again, most likely due to the ongoing drought conditions.
The Salt River is not a heavy flow waterway, under normal conditions .... and the dam outflow is only running at a trickle. All it would take, to put the water level up into the shoreline trees ... would be a 1" rain, in one day, over the drainage basin area.
(you can get to the second chart, by clicking on the blue number under "Today's Pool Feet" - for Taylorsville Lake's current water level. Just thought I'd mention this, so you don't have to store both chart addresses)
.... cp :cool:
Caught a few more today, 8, but we really had to work for them. Caught them trolling as before using a spinner/crawler harness. Wouldn't touch anything else, tried a small deep diving plug w/jig trailer, we even tried a float, no luck. Didn't try minnows, we had to go out of our way to get them so we decided to wait for another day to try them.
These did run a little bigger than the first ones we caught but still no big uns! 15" was the biggest (2), but boy they are scrappers! Didn't see as many jumps today as we did the last time either, just a few singles here and there.