Dead Lake Question

[iwatkins]

Okay, the lake is not dead but it might as well be. I went to Jordan Lake, NC where I usually go and my goal was to fish for crappy. Usually I submerge a light which attracts bait fish.. etc.. and then I can catch crappie. However, last night there were NO fish to be found... NOT EVEN bait fish.

I put my light in the water in some submerged stumps... nothing.
Went to the bridge pilons..... nothing
Went to the boat dock and did the same... not a SINGLE bait fish.

It was a beautiful day last night clear skies... about 70 something degrees at night.. but unlike any other night.. we didn't see signs of any fish. The only fish I caught were with my cast net when we first arrived..

Has anyone experienced a situation like this.. when all the fish including the bait fish seem to disappear? How do you find fish in a situation like this? I tried a few coves, points, fallen trees... but there were no fish to be found..

I know they are in there.. I just need to learn how to find them.

[Crappie Reaper]

Were you fishing an area fairly shallow? Surface temps may still be too high in that area to be comfortable for the fish. They could be a bit deeper.

[iwatkins]

Thinking back.. the water around the bridge pilons was about 25 feet. And usually crappy could be found there. However, in the other spots... it wasn't deep.

[Crappie Reaper]

I've hung lights many times and not caught fish. Any baitfish you did attract could have been below the surface a bit. Try slow trolling some steep points in about 16'-20' of water. Use minnows if you like, hooked through the eyes. Start in the 10'-12' depth area. Make a pass, then adjust one shallower, and the other deeper. Make another pass. You will eventually catch a Crappie, and that should give you the depth they are holding. Depending on where you are located, the Crappie could be from 1' - 16' deep. But, you can bet, there are some in the 8'-12' range right now.

[Tarpon]

Alotta times when nightfishing i hardly ever see bait, but when i pull the ligths up the go crazy jumping all over the place.