? regarding clear lakes

[htr2133]

How do you fish really clear lakes, especially when the fish are less than 10 ft deep? I was at Holiday Lake State Park yesterday and man that water is clear. There are some really good lay downs in the lake that I would love to fish and the WT is right for shallower fishing these days. Casting laydowns is difficult bc I get hung so much. I would like to verticle jig them but the water is so clear I don't think the fish will stay as my boat approaches. Just wondering how you guys approach really clear water especially when the fish are not real deep?

[bc1448]

I have fished Holliday Lake only once and when you say clear I know you mean CLEAR LOL... If I were going to vertical jig on that lake I would use my anchor to hold my boat away from the laydowns as to not spook the fish and use a 12-14 foot crappie rod to jig the brush. If that is not an option for you then I was consider using a cork to try and keep your bait just above the snags. I feel the same holds true at Smith Mountain when the crappie get really shallow. Hope this helps...

Do you ever titeline on Holliday? And do you catch any good Yellow Perch when you do? Like I said in the other thread I love fish different water!

Blake

[Percidae_Papermouth]

minnow/slipbobber, Trolling motor into the wind toward the structure, that way when your taking the fish off the boat moves away from the tree, not to spook em, thats how i would attack it.

[CrappiePappy]

I'd use a weedless jighead & shad or bluegill colored plastics in the 1/16oz / 1.5" variety. I'd stay as far away from the tree as possible, but still within casting distance. I might also consider using clear mono, over my normal hi-vis, if it was still possible to see the line under the prevailing conditions. But, I still would not go below 4lb test.

I rarely ever encounter a situation where the wind is blowing away from the object I'm casting to ... so anchoring or tying off to the nearest standing tree (within reach) would be preferrable to constantly running the TM.

If the wind is blowing towards or across the downed trees ... I'd consider a very small float, BB sinker, #4 hook & a minner ... casting to where the wind would blow the rig towards the tree.

I'd also consider fishing it when the water over the tree was in the shade. Also of note, is the fact that a little wind ripple wave action is preferrable to a slick water surface, as is a overcast sky.

... cp

[Corker]

I rarely ever encounter a situation where the wind is blowing away from the object I'm casting to...a little wind ripple wave action is preferrable to a slick water surface, as is a overcast sky.

+1 +1

[HeyCharlie]

old saying -" If you aint getting hung up, you aint catching fish" Sounds strage but I tell the guys reel the bait where its "just about hung up"

[crappiefarmer]

I'd try to stay at least 50 feet away from cover and cast a slip bobber rig just past the cover and slowly work the bait back over the cover with Your rod.CF

[The Mountain Man]

I fish Holiday a lot and catch much more crappie in open water than on the laydowns there. But when I'm fishing them I use a slider head with a Kalins grub. We should get together there, I'll show you a couple spots.

[hawg chaser]

i fish at holiday a lot when i am not fishing buggs. i can usually troll up to fish slow and pick the one out that i want to catch all you need are white tubes and crappie boogers. tight line with fair sucess but long linning is your best option...just ask kenny a

[hawg chaser]

if u need spots let me know there are certain laydowns, rock piles, and humps that work