Blue Marsh Questions?

[Deleted]

Obviously I won't be getting out there any longer this season but I am trying to research and think ahead. Wondering if anyone can offer me any advice on catching Smallies in Blue Marsh up in the no-wake area (or Largemouth for that matter). I am not very familiar with the lake as I have only fished it less than a handful of times. Just wondering if anyone is willing to share any advice with me whether it be specific info or just general info. I was on the PA Fish and Boat website and was able to look over the habitat map of the lake and it looks like there could be a few good spots (but I am sure everyone else is hitting those spots as well). I really started enjoying the success of a drop shot at other lakes this season and I am wondering if that could be a good option for that lake? Also; is there a top water bite on the lake; I prefer throwing pencil type walking baits. I plan on spending a lot of time on that lake in 2016 so I am going to try to figure many things by myself but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask those who know the lake well. I understand a good day there may be only 4 or 5 Bass at best and I am fine with that (especially since what I have caught there has been of pretty decent size). I do have SI and DSI on my boat so I am hoping that will help me find structure, baitfish etc. as well. Basically I am looking for a starting point (again; the no-wake area only) so that I can hopefully catch a Bass or two to start building my confidence on the lake. As stated in an earlier post; this lake has basically been my nemesis and I want to get past that. I've been there three times now and I have caught 3 smallies (2 of them at 4 lbs, 1 at 1-1/2 lb) and one Largemouth (which was about 6 inches long). I am used to fishing the much smaller lakes (hopewell and chambers) so this will certainly be something different for me in the upcoming season. But again; any help or hints or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[basser425]

WOW that was a mouthful of questions. The fish don't think wake vs no wake so you should stop that as well. I have caught LG, smallies, catfish, walleye, musky and stripers from one end of that lake to the other. So whatever you do down lake you should be doing in the no wake area. The largemouth relate more to contour, structure and cover... same in all lakes, The smallies in lakes like to roam more than the largemouths and in BM they follow the baitfish around... the primary forage is alewives. In so doing they tend to be more suspended... not always but usually. Spring time and the spawn are not typical... LG spawn on wood or rock cleared of debree, smallies prefer pea sized gravel on points. By summer they both tend to migrate to deeper areas... but again the LG look for structure or cover and the smallies like depth changes. Take each area and break it down into smaller areas and explore that smaller stretch each time out. Go out with the approach to learn the specifics of that area... not to catch fish...the catching will come once you learn the area. For instance.. tomorrow I plan of going out and my "plan" is to explore in inlet to a cove where I think bass might stack up for the winter. I plan of trying dropshop and jigs in a narrow channel leading into this area....the deepest part of that channel. I want to learn if any fish hold in this stretch this time of year.

[basser425]

Follow up: for any lake I go to, including all the electric only lakes...I usually rig up a crankbait rod, worm or creature bait or tube bait, spinnerbait, jig & pig .. I have a rod ready for dropshot. Depending on the time of year I might also have a jerkbait and topwater set up. Colors are usually baitfish and craw colors for moving baits, green, browns for soft baits and jigs. If the water is off color go darker. Let the fish tell you what they want then vary the size and presentation. Cannot tell you how many times I got bit more just by slowing down the retrieve...it works. Topwater works, but by far it is better at night on BM, unless you see the baitfish busting the surface during the day.,

[Deleted]

Basser.....thank you for the reply. I was hoping when I posted these questions you would answer. I always enjoy reading your replies to my posts because I always get something out of them. I am so used to fishing the smaller lakes where you basically circle the lake every time out (and then hit specific deep water spots afterwards). You made very good sense of stating to break BM into sections and learn a section of the lake at a time. I am not used to fishing such "big" water because I have only gone out in the less than 100 acre lakes. Not that I don't enjoy that; but I am ready for more. I'll probably just start at the Sheidy Ramp and slowly work my way out from there (breaking it into sections). There are a couple of spots I have heard about that I will certainly give a try right away but as you stated; I'll break it into sections. I also liked your statement of focus on an area; not on the fish......good stuff. I hear that on a great day at BM you might catch 5 or 6 Bass and on a normal day you may catch 1 or 2 (or zero). I am so used to catching 5-10 bass most outings and even had a several 20+ days in the past few seasons and although I would love to do that at BM as well I am not setting my sights quite that high, haha! It took me a couple of years to really get to know Chambers and Hopewell so I can imagine it may take much longer to fully learn areas of BM; but I am ready for that. It'll be something new for me and I like venturing out into the unknown. I'll still hit the smaller lakes from time to time just to load up on some bass but my devotion will be learning BM and hopefully in a few years I will have the understanding of that lake that you have developed. I'm sure there's a lot left for you to learn about the lake but it sounds like you are well on your way (and your posted picks speak louder than words). I only mention the no-wake are so much because my 14' john boat will not be on the main lake; especially once the warmer weather starts to hit. Not sure my boat could handle the wakes of the much larger boats etc, haha! You also mentioned you are heading out to BM today; I wish you the best of luck and please let me know how you make out.

[basser425]

Update;Thursday was too windy so I went out yesterday, water was 47`, one fish and a few bites...not stacking up the way I thought but I did find a few pieces of cover that I did not know about.