Had a little time to experiment this morning on Stillhouse and actually focus on fishing after an unusual “run” of sonar session requests lately. I went prepared for jigging and deadsticking, and used both tactics to boat this this morning. The fish I caught earlier (didn’t head out until 8:30a after a breeze came up) went for a more aggressive presentation and were shallower. The fish I caught later (still prior to noon) were suspended, sluggish, and definitely preferred the deadstick tactic.
If you’re not familiar with deadsticking, I wrote an article for the Killeen Daily Herald this past Sunday here: http://kdhnews.com/sports/fishing/bob-maindelle-deadsticking-a-sound-technique-for-dead-of-winter/article_b64e1e4e-a9db-11e4-b6d2-175c82ce6684.html
This screenshot was taken in 37 feet of water this morning. Notice the elongated fish signatures in the middle of the screen. These are very, very slow moving white bass that stayed in the slender area covered by the StructureScan transducer for an extended period of time. I simply reeled up to them, held my bait nice and still over a single fish signature (usually the highest one), and watched my rod tip and felt for a strike — that’s deadsticking.
White bass weren’t the only species responding to deadsticking. This largemouth grabbed my presentation after I held my lure still just inches off the bottom after seeing its solo signature on sonar.
If past years are any indicator, this approach will hold up for another 2-3 weeks, and longer if we get any more protracted cold weather.
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TODAY’S CONDITIONS/NOTES:
Start Time: 8:30a
End Time: 12:00 Noon
Air Temp. @ Trip’s Start: 38F
Water Surface Temp: 51F
Wind Speed & Direction: SSW6-8
Sky Conditions: Light grey, complete coverage.
Other: GT=0
AREAS FISHED WITH SUCCESS:
**Area 1301/190
**Area 1201
**Area 1306
Bob Maindelle
Owner, Holding the Line Guide Service
254.368.7411 (call or text)
Salado, TX
www.HoldingTheLineGuideService.com