Center Hill ...Perplexing

[TomD]

Its been too long since I got out on the lake, the last time was a day on Indian Creek and I didn't do too well then either but I thought I'd give it a shot.
I put in at Pucket landing, water was down quite a bit. My intent was to find some emergent grass. What I need to learn to do is how to catch a fish in water deeper than 4 feet. I spent most of the day exploring shore line working my way around to Raglands and back to the coves near the landing.
If I believe my fishfinder schools of something were hanging anywhere from from 40' to 60' down and IF they were fish I couldn't entice them. There seem to be large schools of fish (fishfinder images) but I couldn't come up with a bite. I wasn't using live bait but that's my next plan.

The $64K question: When the fish are hangin deep whats your plan?

[MNfisher]

I don't know much about Center Hill, but I know it's common to pull nice spots from 30-50 ft of water in the summer!

[TNBronzeback]

ive had decent luck with flashy jigging spoons down deep. my deep water experience is mostly salmon on the great lakes and what works for them up there, but last i checked, Kings werent too prevalent in Center Hill. LOL...but none the less, i would think it would be dark that deep so some flashy spoons of all varying sizes (KVD Sexy Spoon is a large jigging spoon that he whoops on the bass with) then maybe some rattling spoons or jig heads with rattles just for that little added "come get me" factor. It could be anything down that deep from Catfish, Bass, Walleyes, or panfish but even all those would hit anything that looked natural to them. Deep water/deep suspended fish can be very frustrating fishing, if all else fails, get ya a big ole jumbo treble hook and "vertical jig" right thru the school! LOL, just kidding, i dont condone that.
live bait might be a good ticket though.

[TomD]

Originally Posted by TNBronzeback

ive had decent luck with flashy jigging spoons down deep..

Thanks guys I'm sure not calling it quits (lol).

I try to make it up to my in-laws around the 4th every year, they live in the U.P. on Lake Superior. We troll with down-riggers and big weights and BIG flashy spoons for lake trout though with the drift nets and the commercial fishing a good day is almost a thing of the past. Most of our catches are below 200' and even down at 400'.
I really enjoy the lack of pleasure boats tearing up the water on Cordell Hull and Center Hill (at least during the week, I stay off the water on the weekends). Monday I saw 2 pontoon boats and a small John and a single pleasure boater easing along. Why I almost felt lonesome (lol).
I going with the flashy spoons and going deep and will leave the shallows alone for a day and see what happens.




the land in the back ground is beautiful Porcupine Mountain we're about a mile off shore maybe a little more.

I just need to make a point of fishing deep for a while and Center Hill should become a favorite.

[SLU01]

Great pics, I also stay off the lakes during the week from about memorial day thru labor day . Are those Mac Jac's on the back of your boat ?

[jad2t]

Originally Posted by TomD

What I need to learn to do is how to catch a fish in water deeper than 4 feet.

I feel your pain as I've been struggling with this every summer since I've been bass fishing. Finally I'm trying to figure it out and I have been catching some larger sized bass in deeper water but it's random since I don't have electronics..... up until now

My depthfinder arrived this week and I should get the mounting hardware today from HOOK1. If all goes as planned I'll have that baby on the yak before I hit the water Saturday and I'll be trying to learn the same thing you are. I bought a highly detailed topo map of JPP showing submerged creek beds, ponds, humps, bridges, sharp drop-offs, etc. All the deep places I can expect to find fish this time of year. When I start getting the hang of it, along with my fishing reports I'll post pics of the depth finder images that led to me finding fish to help you and anyone else out. Good luck!

[commdd]

hey jad2t i have been looking for decent lakes maps, if you don't mind where did you find it and what brand? thanks in advance. regards

[TomD]

Originally Posted by commdd

hey jad2t i have been looking for decent lakes maps, if you don't mind where did you find it and what brand? thanks in advance. regards

Try Wally World. They have a rack of some pretty good maps of JPP and other locals waters, Look back in the sporting goods, Im going there today and will look and see if they still have them. I'll post back later.

Im back and they have them on the counter in sporting goods at $7.96 JPP,OH,Tims,Center Hill, I think they are pretty good references I bought mine years ago I dont know if the new ones have been revised. I doubt it.

[TomD]

Originally Posted by SLU01

Great pics, I also stay off the lakes during the week from about memorial day thru labor day . Are those Mac Jac's on the back of your boat ?

If I remember correctly they are Jacs. My father-in-law changed his out for some electric rigs I dont recall what kind and he gave me his old ones.

[todrut]

I got a whole book of maps for lakes / rivers in TN for 21.00 and a specific map (hot maps) for 8.00 at walmart last week.

[TomD]

These are both good I use the one on the left for the lakes and the one on the right to pick out feeder creeks. Any good book store