Corpusfishing.com

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

on the year anniversary of my first big trout, i decided that I would try for another this morning. It was GLASS out there. Hit up a couple of deep holes, no monsters, lots of dinks, strung 4 keepers (16, 17, 18, 19). All caught on soft plastics slow in ~5 ft deep water. Still trying to figure out the magic of the corky, I think my technique needs tweaking.

Spent a good chunk of the morning looking for tails of reds, covered tons of ground. Didn't see any reds but I did see ~10-15 slot sized drum tailing, most of them were solo or in pairs. I love eating drum, and they are fun to catch, but I don't have the patience to target them specifically using bait because I mainly like to just jump in my yak spur of the moment and go. But when I see them tailing, I will certainly give them a shot. I have a full arsenal of pretty much every category of lure that's commonly used around here. I would like to hook up with these drum, but here is the situation. I need some expert opinions on what to do:

Depth is 1 foot, maybe a little more, little less. The bottom is silty/sand, but there is a thick layer of dead grass over it and all around. The surface of the water is littered with floating grass too. Tried a 1/8 ounce jighead with 3 diff colors of gulp shrimp as well as new penny gulp crab dropped right in its face - did nothing, either spooked em or they ignored it completely. Casting well beyond them and bringing it them just got me botched up with weeds because of the conditions. DOA shrimp gave me the same problem. With how thick the dead grass was on the bottom and the surface, its hard to imagine any weighted lure not getting fouled, even with a weedless setup. What would some of you veterans throw in this situation? I have caught reds in the same situation using the lures above, but these drum are pretty stubborn. Same thing happened to me 2 days ago. Maybe just throw in the towel and say not today?

I always try to learn something each trip out there, whether its learning where fish are in certain weather patterns, or how to fish a new lure, how to beat certain tough conditions, etc, but today I was just a little stumped...
_________________
...if my boss ever finds this forum I'll be unemployed...

AcousTennis · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 13 Sep 2010 Posts: 1319

When they are like this they usually wont even hit dead shrimp....freelined gulp crab would be my choice
and with the corky try a slow steady retrieve while moving the rod tip up and down slowly

redfisheringman · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:03 pm Post subject:

i have had success with fresh dead shrimp on an 1/8 oz jighead barely twitched just in front of the drum... sounds funky but has produced for me!

ironmanstan · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:03 pm Post subject:

square hooks... Very Happy

_________________
I LIKE MINE FRIED.

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

RPool · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject:

Do you have a fly rod? If so, I'll tie you a couple of good drum patterns that you can put right on their nose.

ironmanstan · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject:

Alot of the times that I have found drum tailing nothing I threw would change their minds from noodling to hitting a shrimp or whatever. Its like they have a one track mind during that time. I love drum too it's good eats.
_________________
I LIKE MINE FRIED.

Permit · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:18 pm Post subject:

X2 on what Rusty said.
_________________
CONSERVATION IS KEY

BALZTOWAL · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:22 pm Post subject:

What we do is use a clear bobber- tie your hook at the appropriate depth use dead shrimp or gulp and let it sit in front of them, the cork will gather the grass but also allow you to know exactly where your bait is. Once they smell your bait and have ahold of it you will know because they will shiver or shake because of the excitement of food.

ltorna1 · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 17 Apr 2009 Posts: 3240

no fly rod yet, but balztowal thats an interesting idea. Going to try it this weekend if I see the dumdums again. Might just have to pack a little shrimp in fridge and bring it with just in case... Might downsize the hook too, try to leave as little visible as possible.
_________________
...if my boss ever finds this forum I'll be unemployed...

Fishbrains · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject:

You could try a jighead with a fishbite on it.

bullshark · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject:

Cast net or foul hook Very Happy

_________________
Thanks
Bruce Simons

sheepdog · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:25 pm Post subject:

I found a big school a few months back and tried everything in my flybox. I only caught two in about half an hour. the 2 I caught seemed to be reflexive strikes more than anything else. They sure are fun on an 8wt flyrod though

Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3973

greenhornet2 · Flour Bluffian in training Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 448

I had similar situation in deeper water which I know they are more skiddish in the skinnier stuff. I downsized my lure and jighead and threw right on top of them and convinced a few. Unlike a red which I will throw past then work to it, they seemed to like it right on top of 'em.