CJ WATER TEMPS AND FISHING THREAD!

[downtime]

Went out this morning to try out the new Lowrance and spent most of the time marking weigh points but did get a line wet. (1 dink) water was 72-75.5 deg marked a lot of fish and saw a really nice eye caught out a ways from the marina.

[CrappieDreamer]

Last night was slow. Caught 4 nice crappie, one good sized bass, and a number of gills. Weather started looking bad, but rain stopped and was very nice the rest of the evening. Not many people out. Those that were out weren't catching much.

[CrappieDreamer]

Tonight was even slower. One 12" crappie and a few small gills. Tried lots of different colors.

[Lauer79]

Does anyone know how the Tournament went this weekend, I was out Saturday when it started, saw boats searching the lake most of the morning. didn't see much going into the boats. I was out for 12 hours searching the lake. couldn't get any crappie to bite anything but a live minnow. very slow day. was fishing about 15 to 20 feet deep brought home (7) 11" 2 decent channel cats and 1 12" white bass. not a bad day buy very slow bite.

[INTIMIDATOR]

Everyone has to remember that the normal summer pattern is not in play right now...the water temps throughout the lake are PERFECT for all fish...it has been a long while since CJ has been 70 to 72 degrees in the middle of July...the fish can move from the very North end all the way to the far South. They can stay shallow all day or sit at the bottom in 50 feet of water...THEY ARE SPREAD OUT ENJOYING THIS COOL WET SUMMER. Fresh Oxygenated water has been pumping in so the entire lake is habitable. Fry have grown and food is plentiful.
This means you cannot just offer your bait or lure in a typical way, you have to make it easier and better looking than all the other food swimming around...you also can't just hit the old summer haunts and expect fish to be there...now is the time for fishing "out of the box"...so what if you try something and it doesn't work, keep trying new areas and techniques. This is how you grow as a fisherman, and this will help you if this type of pattern happens again!

Lobster lures fished slow and erratic will be a good bet, loud erratic lures, big thumping blades, erratic swimming techniques with swimmers....if they are not actively hunting, then you have to slow way down and vertical jig, bobber fish lures, or use super slow varied retrieves. My best guess, is that natural colors have come into play with all the craws, insects, and fry to eat, along with all the regular shad and baitfish.

You also have to remember that this weather has allowed the lake to grow...insects are everywhere, worms are being continuously being flooded in, lower Spring catch rates have resulted in exceptional spawns...the lake is FULL of food and fish are gorging because the weather and temps are perfect for them.
Now you get to see how good of a fisherman that you are, and what things you need to work on!

[ssouthard]

Hi fished tonight drifting bottom bouncers with worm harnesses. No eyes but I caught 6 huge crappies. Go figure

[CrappieDreamer]

How big were the crappie? Don't you know it's illegal to catch them on a walleye harness? I hope you at least threw them back :-)

[ssouthard]

crappies were 11-12 inchers, huge Between Marina and the camper beach, I think I am gonna have to jig for walleye, the suspended eyes are full of bait fish, The deep walleyes have an over abundance of food. Which color Keitech swim bait is working? I released al 6 of them. Also had boater try to drive between my planner board and my boat, The humminbird side scan sonar is screaming at me with fish.

[impdog]

Spider rigged today pushing minnows on gnats 14ft. deep in 16ft of water between marina and the point, caught 19 a few decent ones but a lot of dinks, marked a lot of shad and fish all the way, moved down toward spillway and not nearly the same but they are pulling the water out hard now or they were this mornen, but it was fun and a beautiful day!

[INTIMIDATOR]

Spider rigged today pushing minnows on gnats 14ft. deep in 16ft of water between marina and the point, caught 19 a few decent ones but a lot of dinks, marked a lot of shad and fish all the way, moved down toward spillway and not nearly the same but they are pulling the water out hard now or they were this mornen, but it was fun and a beautiful day!

Remember....when they are pulling a lot of water, it creates a current....Crappie move away from it if they are full, or they will find current blocks to ambush prey if they are hunting. Walleye and Smallies are in hog heaven with that current. They are using the top gates which will do funny things in the South end...you can see what's going on sometimes when the wind is calm from Croft Rd or on the dam face....CJ is a non-typical res, in that the old creek beds energize when water moves!