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JORDAN LAKE
Impounded 1928
By Reed Montgomery
Water Temperature: Mid-70's
Lake Level: Full Pool
By
June the bass in this lake will be settled into a summertime pattern.
Until then, for the next couple of weeks, finding bass that are in the post
spawn mode and getting bit consistently, can be challenging for most anglers.
It happens every year at this time. Your catching bass in shallow water, for
weeks at a time, all of a sudden all the best spots you thought you knew held
bass, are producing nothing but a few small males and your getting very few
quality bites. Its known as,"The post spawn blues." But there is a
cure.
Deeper water.
Most anglers visiting Jordan Lake, know dozens of spots that are usually near
the bank or in some very shallow water. These spots produce quality catches
on almost every outing. That's why the anglers continue to return to these
well known fishing holes. But at times, especially during late spring to
early summer, the bass go on a diet. Or so it seems. You would think they are
not even eating!
You throw every lure thats produced for the last 3-4 weeks in hopes of
continued success. Like previous trips, even when they don't bite, most
anglers continue to pound the same banks, with the same lures, in hopes of
just catching something. But on Jordan Lake there are catchable bass during
these times. Slowing down, fishing an area more thoroughly, and probing
deeper in shallow cover, or fishing offshore structure in deeper water, is
the ticket to finding bass, biting bass, if you approach them right.
Crankbaits
seem to be tailor made for these tough times. Not just deep divers
either. If Jordan Lake's spotted bass and largemouth's have spent the last
month in and around an area loaded with flat, skinny water in the 1-3 foot
range, then water "just a little deeper" will suffice until they
fatten up
and regain their strength. For not all bass go deep during these times.
Crankbaits that run from 3 to 5 feet deep will catch bass that are relating
to subtle drops in these areas. Some bass are suspending and very susceptible
to shallow running crankbaits, rattletraps and jerkbaits, all that run in the
2-4 foot zone.
Other bass, hugging the lakes bottom or holding tight to cover, such as
stumps, rocks or weedlines, can be enticed to strike by fishing crankbaits,
meant to run deeper, in these mid range depths. These deep divers, dig up the
lakes bottom and careen off objects when retrieved. This results in
triggering some awesome, rod jarring "reflex" strikes from some big
bass,
bass that strike lures "right in their face" out of instinct or
reflex.
To make this tactic even more productive, when a few bass are caught fishing
away from the bank, seine the area with slower moving, bottom bumping lures
such as worms, lizards, crayfish imitations and even very small finesse
lures. Look for other areas of the lake, very similar to the one you've
found, and chances are, you will discover other bass. Bass that other anglers
have missed, during these tough times labeled, " The post spawn
blues."
Reed Montgomery
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" Radio Talk Show
WJOX 690 AM
1805 28 Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35218
Phone (205) 787-5133
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and Stripers"
Website: www.fishingalabama.com |
