Thread: What to do ?

I started fishing a backwater lake ( from the Meramec) last year about the end of March and got into some big slabs next to the bank. So this winter I built a boat ( a 7 foot dingy, row boat ) in order that I might get out there late Feb. I also purchased a portable depth/fish finder for it.

Well got out there today and rowed around looking for structure or the basin. It ended up being about 8 foot deep at the deepest area. With very little to no structure at all. No steep inbankments continueing into the water no channel... nothing ! There is some peers from a bridge overhead on the shallow end ( 2 feet). But caught nothing there,

Now I have caught lots of dinks from the shore and some 12 to 14 inchers this year. But to find this out about the bottom of the lake is mind blowing to me. I could find nothing to focus on so I started just trolling ( Rowing slowly ) aimlessly around the lake. I was set about 3 to 4 feet deep and just using a jig. I did manage to catch 10 or so but was out there alllllll day !

My question is How do you fish a lake like this ?
What should I focus on ?

Now I know they are there but where I dont know.... I would of rather found them on my graph and not got a bite

Thanks, Manny

Well I got there early this morning and started trolling around aimlessly and could not keep up with 3 poles. I set one aside and just used 2. caught them all in around 5 to 6 fow about 3 to 4 feet deep. about 50 fish tottal with four that were a little more than 13 inches.. The rest that I kept were in the 10 to 12 inch range. I cought a lot of 10's but were very skinny, so I thru them back to get a little fatter.

I found that rowing in my row boat is a lot more precise than with a trolling motor I can pause at nibbles or back peddal going with the wind to stay at a constant speed.

I built this boat especially for this lake, as there is no access for my bigger boat. Im set up to tear up a lot of smaller lakes around here that dont allow access for bigger boats.:D

I have since outfitted it with a hummingbird 110 fishing buddy portable fish/depth finder. ( Clamps on ) and a crappie spider rig for off the back.:D

Very interseting setup, i need one of those for some rivers around here..as long as the wind dont get up!!

that is a nice setup. Be careful thought. I have a buddy that built his own boat and was stopped by a conservation officer and told him his boat wasn't United States Coast Guard approved then wrote him some tickets. He was bummed because he could really get that boat into some good places "lil bugger" was his boats name.

Yes I get what your saying.... Funny the guy would say that. The only thing they could get me for is no registration LOL as I built it from plans.

I would then need to get a boat # from the license office as a home made boat. So they can add it to my personel prop. tax.

Ill wait till the day comes.... I already paid tax on all the lumber and marine epoxy... LOL

Nice rig!! Stay off of water with white caps on it and you'll be OKEY DOKEY! I'm with you......fishing the smaller waters with your dingy you should go a long time before you will have to "ante up". What did it cost you to build that boat? P.S.......NO, I'M NOT THE TAX MAN!!

Originally Posted by Il Duckshewterzdad

Nice rig!! Stay off of water with white caps on it and you'll be OKEY DOKEY! I'm with you......fishing the smaller waters with your dingy you should go a long time before you will have to "ante up". What did it cost you to build that boat? P.S.......NO, I'M NOT THE TAX MAN!!

About $40.00 in plywood and $125.00 in Marine epoxy
some misc. 1x2's and some sandpaper.
All together about $325.00 Very fun project. ohhh and free plans off the net.

Heres a couple pics of the progress.

that is a nice setup were did u get your plans on the net

No kiddin Manny - post up man! I'd like to try to build a rig like that. I've built half a dozen layout boats for duck hunting, but that's a neat little pond rig. Any idea what it weighs?

As for fishing - It sounds like you got the fish there - I believe I'd drop me some trees along the edge or sink some brush piles Might need a bigger boat for that tho. Gimme a holler - I got just the rig and I won't tell anyone - I promise. LOL