The local reports (central Ohio) say the Bass are moving shallow as winter comes on. Any suggestions for flies, techniques, &/or depths would be welcome - thanks - Rick.
Imitate baitfish. Crayfish are aestivating by now and are not available. Best baitfish to imitate are the plankton feeding gizzard shad that are so common in our buckeye waters. Use a Simple Shad or a similar deep bodied baitfish. You can also use a crease fly or marm for topwater.
Long casts, stacatto retrieves and cover water. Bass are moving and chasing at this time of the year. Its time for aggressive fishing. No taking apart of cover one stick at a time. Hit the log with big streamer once on each side and once across the deep break. If you don’t get anything, move on.
This is a good time of the year to use a fly behind a spinner, too. Anything that pushes water and has a sonic signature. Marabou muddlers are a good choice - white with lots of sparkle and a natural or cream head and skirt.
Use an intermediate or even a slow sinking line. Leaders should be short (about 6 to 8 feet) and abruptly tapered to allow precise control of the fly. Use a non-slip mono loop knot to attach the fly to the tippet. Tippet should be flourocarbon and about 8lb test to 12lb test.
Good luck and let us know how you do. I’ll be out on Cowan tomorrow puttin these techniques to use.
Joe C.
- The bass are moving into shallow water in central oklahoma also. We had a good morning this AM.
We caught all of the fish on a crayfish fly. Two of the bass were in the 7lb + range the remaning were better than 4lb. Were have also had some really good crappie days recently,and a couple of weeks ago the cats were on the prowl(all on crayfish flies.)
We were out early this Am because of forecast higher winds as it warmed up. It was cold enough this morning that i didn’t think the Bass would move, but the first bass was the biggest. The last bass on a different pond was a close second. The ponds we have access to are at least 4.5 feet low.
What are your water temperatures in Oklahoma? In Ohio we are likley facing condition in October that are similar to what Oklahoma will face in late November in terms of water temp. Aestivation is unique to the spp of crayfish and is governed by water temps more than photoperiod. Right now the water temps at Lake Cowen and/or in the local rivers is in the upper 50’s at peak and in the mid 50’s at daybreak.
Autumn is noted for jump fishing pretty much across the nation (Lake Fork gave up some fine largemouth on topwater for me last year in November).
Joe C.
8)we don’t carry a thermometer,but i agree with your accessment. Three weeks ago the big bass were roaming eating small 3-5’’ crappie that seem to hang out over deeper water near the surface in one paticular lake. One morning we saw 3 big bass widely seperated in area and time
take crappie and heard 3 more which left large rings. All of our top water and near top water were futile simply because the bass would gulp a crappie and be gone. We did catch one dandy near shore. We finally focused on the catfish which were in shallow water at that time andeager.
Today the bass were in shallow water near stumps etc.
This AM the air was 40 degrees
The temp of lake Arcadia in central OK was reported as 66 this week.
Dan