• First fish of 2004.  Largest came on spinnerbaits, while the other came on a 6" brown lizard

• water had a slight green tinge, with clarity to about 5 feet or so.  Saw lots of small fish hovering around boat docks, and had lots of fish follow the spinnerbait to the boat, but not strike

• 1 fish in about 6 hours of fishing

• 1 13" fish

• Black med-deep diving crankbait in a black and silver shad pattern

• First bass came before dawn on a black clacker buzz bait - caught by my partner

• Weather became very windy as a cold front started to blow in

• Caught fish on a windy point in about 8 feet of water, near 20-30 feet drop

• Expected more bites given the transitional weather conditions

• 2 fish in about 3 hours of fishing

• 1 great fish, 20", 4.3lbs. and a keeper 12" fish

• Big bass caught on deep diving firetiger crankbait, keeper caught with Senko

• Big bass caught in 15 feet of water by paralleling deep mid-creek structure; click here for pic and more details...

• Little guy caught on a Senko in about 3 feet of water, in grass

• Water level remains very high at Hoover

• Cold front fishing

• 8 fish in about 10 hours of fishing

• All fish were about 12" or short

• Most fish caught on a small firetiger crankbait

• One or 2 fish caught on a Senko

• Heavy fog in the AM

• No action on jigs, which was surprising

• Presence of HUGE schools of baitfish in the middle of the lake in about 30 feet of water; how do I target bass feeding on these?

• Where were the larger fish?

• Learned about a new productive spot from an experienced fisherman; pitch jigs on the pontoon boats....

Stained

• 8 fish in about 5 1/2 hours of fishing

• 3 keepers averaging 12-14 inches, including 1 nice smallmouth

• 4 short fish averaging 8-12 inches

• 1 small saugeye

• All fish caught on a small, firetiger crank that runs between 3 and 5 feet

• Good northern breeze got fish going on main lake points near deeper water

• Nice to see a smallie - first one I've seen at Hoover since the spring

• No other baits drew strikes

• Water level was down again...surface cover continues to decline

• Need to try to find some larger fish!  Must be in deeper water, since shallow cover has declined with the water level drop

• Try deep cranking, drop shot, and Carolina more aggressively next time in river channel drop offs

• Fished Hoover several times this week, with this day being the most productive - other days averaged only 1-3 fish, with a  visit from Mr. Stinky...

Stained (Shallow)

• 1 short bass in nearly 10 hours of fishing

• The one lone bass, a 5" smallmouth was caught on a crankbait

• Nothing that worked before was effective on this trip

• All key baits tried, but failed

• Weather was good, overcast at first, becoming sunny in the early afternoon

• AM water was cooler than I'd seen it in a while, which might have turned off the spinnerbait bite.  Morning temps were right around 60 degrees...

• Spoke with angler that had caught 3 fish, all on small Texas rigged worms.  Maybe I should have tried finesse tactics...but I did pitch a jig and black worm for a good portion of the day...

• Tried Carolina rigged plastic worms, with no success.  Kept getting hung up on the bottom.

Stained (Shallow)

• 4 bass total in 4 hours of fishing

• 3 keepers averaging 12-14 inches

• 1 short fish 11"

• All bass caught  on spinnerbaits in 3-5 feet of water

• All fish caught on rock and riprap points on a chartreuse and white spinnerbait, near deep water and/or creek channels

Stained (Shallow)

• 5 bass total in 4 hours of late day fishing

• 3 keepers averaging 12-14 inches

• 2 short fish 11"

• 1 small Saugeye

• All bass caught  on spinnerbaits in 3-5 feet of water

• Saugeye caught on a small, Japanese, firetiger crankbait

• Weather was rainy, with thunderstorms early in the trip

• Flipped and pitched a jig in shallow and shallow near deep water, with no action whatsoever

• Spinnerbaits productive in shallow areas near deep water, where shad or fry are present

• Crankbaits were not productive

• Shad and fry were EVERYWHERE, in HUGE schools.  In some areas, they where hard to avoid with each cast

Stained (Shallow)

• 2 keeper largemouth in 3 hours of late day fishing

• Both fish caught on a chartreuse and white spinnerbait in about 4 feet of water at the base of a bluff bank, near a creek channel

• Flipped and pitched a jig in shallow and shallow near deep water, with no action whatsoever

• Crankbaits were not productive

• Shad and fry were EVERYWHERE!

• Decided to throw spinnerbaits after having no luck with slow moving baits; presence of fry and shad very compelling

• Both fish caught in the last 30 minutes of fishing, near 5:00 PM.

• Water level was down about 5-7 feet from late spring levels

• 1 16" largemouth in 5 hours of late day fishing

• 1 5" bass caught on a 3 inch crankbait (poor guy)

• Keeper was caught flipping a jig in about 5 feet of water near heavy current, on a very windy bank

• Dink caught on a Japanese-made minnow crank in a bass pattern

• Threw spinnerbaits and Senko with no success

• Threw a PopR with no strikes; did get a short strike on a white fluke fished weightless, and a short strike on a spinnerbait

• Water temps remain under 80 degrees due to unusually mild summer.

• Water level was fairly high, relatively speaking

• Should have concentrated more aggressively on area where keeper was caught

• End of weekend fishing in the evening probably meant fish had been pressured all weekend

• Weather was partly cloudy, with medium to high winds, and temps in the mid to low 70's.

• TONS of fry and baitfish were observed in the water in all spots (Why would they bite my lure at all, I don't know); A HUGE school of 3-4" fish was observed feeding on the surface in about 20 feet of water, in the main channel.  Tossed a spinnerbait there just for the hell of it.  Bumped some fish, but no strikes.

• Very heavy cover in deeper water did not produce on this trip

• Need to try drop shot and Carolina Rigging on next trip

• 1 13" largemouth in 5 hours of late day fishing

• Caught fish on a black/blue jig in 2 feet of water; fish was in  cover near wood and bushes on a main-lake hump near mid-lake

• Threw Senko, Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, and Crankbaits on main-lake points with no success

• Water is down even further from last trip (about 5 feet)

• Fishing pressure low

• Weather clear and warm, with light to moderate wind

• No action at all in outer parts of creeks

• Lots of fry visible in all areas of the lake

• 1 fish caught had a sore on its left flank, but was otherwise healthy

• No missed fish or short strikes

Mr. Stinky was in the boat!!!

• Missed 1 short fish on a firetiger crank

• Pitched black and chartreuse jig into heavy cover in mid-lake coves, with no success (got one hard strike in heavy cover that took most of my trailer, though...)

• Chartreuse Spinnerbaits (even Colorado and Okalahoma blades were ineffective

• Failure of battery charger over night killed fishing at 11:00 AM, after only 5 hours; 1 trolling motor bank rendered useless...

• Very high winds make fishing difficult; muddy water made things even worse

• Banks were very shallow...trolling motor needed to be raised significantly; was constantly running into bottom within 10-20 feet of the bank; made precise casting difficult

• Initial pattern of trying main-lake points within distance of the creek channel was a bust; east side of lake was deserted

• Launched right behind a 20 boat tournament; saw guys catch 2 LM's on light spinning gear, flippin' long green (weightless?) lizards into 2-3 feet of water on WEST side of lake

• Should have moved north near dam where water was clearer, near where tournament fish are released, and in a no-wake zone...

• Need to explore shallow areas of lake in the south...but depths are no more than 5 feet

• SAW MASSIVE protected lily pads at mid-lake on the north east side in a shallow bay.  Need to try pitching and flipping jigs and lizards there next time

• Lessons - Stay north, fish slow, try lizards, get out before 6:00 AM (got lost on my way to the lake), explore road bed on West side, try lily pads on east side

• 8 total fish total in 10  hours of fishing...5 keepers, 2 short fish (less than 12"), and one 17" walleye

• 1 17" 2.5 lb largemouth

• 4 keeper largemouth 12-14"

• 2 short largemouth

• 1 Walleye on a shallow running firetiger crankbait in 5 feet of water, in a creek

• 3 bass caught on Senko, including biggest fish, 1 keeper, and 1 short fish, all mid-day

• 3 bass caught on Spinnerbaits, all keepers, 2 early, 1 late

• 1 short fish caught on small crankbait late

• Jig was not productive at all...

• Lake level was down from last trip

• Lots of fishing pressure, 1 50 boat tournament on the water, and several club tourneys

• Lots of pleasure boat traffic at mid-day

• Mid-lake points were most productive

• High winds after 9:00 PM made Senko fishing difficult, but with partly cloudy skies, made spinnerbait productive later in the day, as well as in the AM

• Flipping and Pitching Jig was not productive at all

• Bass all hit and fought hard (thought at least one might have been a smallie

• All fish caught on or near main-lake points and cover

• 3-7 feet of water seemed to be the right depth

• No missed fish...lip landed largest fish (Big improvement over last miss...)

• 1 short fish total in 4 hours of fishing...

• Lone fish caught on a spinnerbait in first 10 minutes of fishing

• Nothing else worked, including Senko, Jig, Crankbait

• Lake level was down about a foot at least from last trip 2 days ago

• Tried to go deep to adjust, but did not come prepared for finesse tactics (no Carolina or drop shot rigs)

• Worked bluff banks with a jig in response, without luck

• Need to find a place to receive lake level information on Hoover

• Fishing pressure relatively low...

• 4 fish total, 4 keepers in 10 hours of fishing...

• 3 keeper largemouth averaging  13", on spinnerbaits early

• 1 keeper largemouth on a jig in heavy weeds

• No missed fish

• Spinnerbaits worked well early in creek mouths and main lake points and on wood

• Action was slow on jig after sun was fully up

• No luck with Senko

• No luck with crankbait

• Alum was a muddy mess from pleasure craft by 2:00 PM.  Need to hit all non-"no-wake" areas before 9:00 AM

• All fish caught south of the Cheshire road bridge

• Productive areas from prior trips were not as effective as hoped

• In the afternoons and late mornings, fish are in DEEP WEEDS and HEAVY COVER.  Caught my best LM  by probing matted vegetation in a small cove with a jig

• Big run was not productive (again!)

• Surprisingly light fishing pressure...maybe they all were fishing limited HP lakes due to onslaught of pleasure craft  later in the day...

• 6 fish total, 4 keepers in 10 hours of fishing...

• 3 keeper largemouth averaging  13", all on spinnerbaits early

• 1 Keeper smallmouth 13" on spinnerbait early

• 2 short fish averaging 10", one on spinnerbait, one on a Senko

• Missed 4 fish, including a 3lb LM on a jig when I tried to swing him into the boat prematurely...

• Spinnerbaits worked well early on Creek mouths and main lake points

• Action was slow on jig and Senko after sun was fully up

• No luck on topwater early

• Be sure that drag on reel is set a bit softer for spinnerbait fishing; remember - tight for jigs, looser for spinnerbaits and cranks

• SET THE HOOK, ONCE, HARD!!!!!

• Start to land fish properly instead of swinging in.  Would have had a limit of keepers if I had not messed that one up...

• Bright, blue, sunny skies all day, low 80's, no humidity

• Moderate to light winds...

• Found some great heavy cover at mid-lake where LM was lost.  Need to return...

• 2 fish total, 2 keepers in 3-4 hours of fishing...

• 1 17" 2 3/4 lbs Largemouth

• 1 12" Largemouth

• Both keepers caught on a Senko in 2 feet of water

• Missed one fish on a jig off a bush in 4 feet of water

• Saw a guy (Kevin Carpenter) catch a 19" 4lb plus LM on 4 Lb test.  Amazing landing!!!!  Caught on a jig and minnow off a submerged tree in about 10 feet of water

• Switched to a Senko from a jig after fishing with the jig in heavy cover for most of the fishing trip with little success

• Senko provided most of the action.  Got the LM on a flat near grass in about 2 feet of water

• Got the smaller fish on wood in about 2 feet of water

• Missed the jig fish due to an improperly set drag

South, Clear -Stained

• 6 fish total, 4 keepers, 2 dinks

• 1 18" 3lb Largemouth (see pics here!)

• 1 15 1/2 inch Largemouth

• 1 15 inch Smallmouth

• 1 13 1/2 inch Largemouth

• 2 dinks

• 1 missed dink on a spinnerbait late!

• Caught big LM on a black and blue jig in 2 feet of water, near wood roots

• Smallie came off rocks early on Spinnerbait

• 15 1/2 smallie came on Jig late

• Got one dink each on a spinnerbait and jig

• Surprised at productivity, since a major cold front came through day before

• Caught 3 pounder after losing him initially on a pitch to the left side of a root ball; came back 10 minutes later and got him on the right side!

• 3 pounder had a sore on his tail...spawn scarring?

• Smallie was caught in 2 feet of water on a spinnerbait in open water, over a submerged rocky point.  Got him on the second cast of the day at about 6:15 AM!

• 15 1/2" LM caught in 2-5 feet of water late

• One dink was caught flipping to a tiny break in very heavy cover...right where he should have been !

• Very heavy boat traffic, and hit by 2 scattered heavy rain storms

Mr. Stinky was in the boat!!!

• Missed one nice fish on a spinnerbait early in about 2 feet of water, off wood, near deep water

• Only fish caught in party was on a small spinnerbait on wood early

• Lost fish on spinnerbait when fish struck a back-handed cast, and was in poor/unfamiliar position to make hookset

• Need to focus on getting into position for a hookset on every cast

• Moving to jigs in heavy cover during mid-day was not productive

• Topwater not on early

• 4 fish total, 2 keepers, 2 dinks

• Missed 2 "better than keeper" fish due to poor hooksets

• 1 keeper on Senko on a rocky bank with cover

• 1 Keeper on Jig and craw in heavy cover

• 2 keeper fish lost flippin' and pitchin'  jig and craw in very heavy cover near deep water

• 1 dink on Senko, the other on jig in heavy cover

• Need to be sure to get proper hooksets when flippin' and pitchin'.

• Need to think "how will I set the hook" for each pitch or flip in advance; especially if it will require pulling a fish up over a log

• Had a short strike on topwater early

• Fish are on heavy, heavy cover on bright, hot sunny days

• Topwater not effective yet, but did not try too aggressively

• Partner got best fish on jig and craw in heavy cover; his other fish came on a small, finesse worm

• 1 keeper fish, 16 1/2 inches

• Missed a dink on a quick release

• Got the keeper on a 1 ounce, large white Ledge Buster spinnerbait helicopered down next to a deep ledge

• Got 3 short strikes on Jitterbug.  Need to find a smaller jitterbug...

• Bass moved deeper due to improvement in water clarity, and due to falling water levels

• No rain for the past several days and warm weather has resulted in evaporation and draw down for water supply

• Fish were likely holding off deep structure and cover.  Should have fished deeper more of the time, rather than throwing jigs and Senkos for most of the time

• Lost the Ledge Buster.  Need to replace!  A great deep bait option...for summer doldrums

• Boat traffic changed the clear water to stained on windy points.  Need to fish those hard next time due to increased cover, reduced light penetration, and presence of silt that could be stirring baitfish feeding...

Mr. Stinky was in the boat!!!

• Threw Senkos on the rocks like pre-spawn, and guess what, it didn't work!

• Threw a white soft jerkbait which generated some interest, but no fish

• Threw all kinds of jigs, with no success

• No luck with Carolina rigged Senkos, which were productive last time

• Didn't factor in seasonal change with the water color - should have been throwing white and translucent jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits and made the bass look up to feed

• Shad and fry were plentiful, and the smallies were busting the surface like last time

• Needed to work the weed, docks, and other heavy cover more aggressively

• Didn't throw crankbait enough.  Need to move away from the tactics I enjoy to what will work

• Weather was sunny and warm most of the day

• 11 Total Bass caught and released unharmed, 8 Keepers, 3 Dinks

• 3 in the 15-16" Range

• 5 in the 12-15" Range

• 3 dinks under 12 inches

• Missed one on a spinnerbait

• Broke line on a Senko hookset (first time that happened)

• 4 fish on spinnerbaits at dawn, 3 keepers, 1 dink

• 3 fish on Jigs, including 2 of the larger ones

• 4 fish on Senko including 1 of the larger ones, and 2 of the 3 dinks

• Spinnerbaits hammered hard

• First Bass boat on the lake at sunrise (5:15 AM approximately)

• Weather sunny, clear, low humidity

• Second day after cold front came through

• Spinnerbait fish all came in first 30-40 minutes in same location, then turned off

• All but 2 Senko and jig bites were subtle and hard to detect

• Surprised at spinnerbait productivity due to cold front

• 2 bass had been caught and released recently due to fresh mouth wounds

• Another angler reported catching a near 5lb LM on soft craw (live bait) on the same bank where 3 of my fish where caught

• 5 total bass caught and released unharmed, 4 keepers, 1 miss

• 1 2.5lb 17" smallie

• 1 keeper smallie

• 2 keeper largemouth

• 1 dink largemouth

• Miss was likely a 1.5lb smallie who got off a spinnerbait when he jumped

• Spinnerbaits early

• Senko late

• No luck with Cranks or Jig

• Senko inhaled and bites hard to detect

• Spinnerbaits hammered hard by smallies

• Creek arms more stained than main lake

• Lots of fry south, less north

• First appearance of smallies in south of lake

• Water level high in LOW and overall

• Calm wind early, light to moderate wind from the west late

• Significant warm-up from last outing; temps were low 60's on last trip