I fished Fontana last week Wednesday to Friday. I had not been on the lake in several years and was limited to a 12 ft jon boat. I think this ultimately helped because I was forced to slow down and not run all over the lake.
We caught a number of largemouth, smallmouth, spots, walleye, and bream.
Most of the bass were in creeks right near running water or in the creek channel midway back in coves. We also caught bass near the bank off rocky structure, especially where big rocks met small rocks or where wooden structure was present. We saw literally thousands of 5-8 inch bass cruising around points. Funny to watch those little guys stir up trouble. We realeased all the bass to fight another day. The largest was a 3.5 lb largmouth. Most were 1.5 to 2 lb fish.
The walleye were in smaller creek channels in about 8 to 10 feet of water all the way to banks on major creek channels. Most walleye were on red clay banks with rock right close by. They were eating nightcrawlers on jig heads and minnows. The walleye bite is very subtle and feels like a bream stealing your bait. You have to time the hook set perfectly or you will loose it. I found that I could feel the little "tick" on the line, give some slack, count to five, then put slight pressure on the line. If I felt any pressure on the other end I would set the hook. If you set it too soon you will miss them and loose your bait. If you wait too long they are gone. Tricky but fun. All the walleye were 18-20 inch fish. I kept 2 to eat for supper one evening, but the rest we put back.
I fished near Panther Creek one day and on the Tuck the others, mainly from Forney Creek to Noland Creek.
We caught a number of largemouth, smallmouth, spots, walleye, and bream.
Most of the bass were in creeks right near running water or in the creek channel midway back in coves. We also caught bass near the bank off rocky structure, especially where big rocks met small rocks or where wooden structure was present. We saw literally thousands of 5-8 inch bass cruising around points. Funny to watch those little guys stir up trouble. We realeased all the bass to fight another day. The largest was a 3.5 lb largmouth. Most were 1.5 to 2 lb fish.
The walleye were in smaller creek channels in about 8 to 10 feet of water all the way to banks on major creek channels. Most walleye were on red clay banks with rock right close by. They were eating nightcrawlers on jig heads and minnows. The walleye bite is very subtle and feels like a bream stealing your bait. You have to time the hook set perfectly or you will loose it. I found that I could feel the little "tick" on the line, give some slack, count to five, then put slight pressure on the line. If I felt any pressure on the other end I would set the hook. If you set it too soon you will miss them and loose your bait. If you wait too long they are gone. Tricky but fun. All the walleye were 18-20 inch fish. I kept 2 to eat for supper one evening, but the rest we put back.
I fished near Panther Creek one day and on the Tuck the others, mainly from Forney Creek to Noland Creek.