Tough January Fishing

Weekend before last one of my clubs had our first tournament. I went to Lake
Sinclair on Saturday morning and spent the day looking the lake over and trying
to find something. The surface temp at the dam and creeks in that area was 52
and clear. Around the steam plant the water was 66 and stained, and at the
marina it was 60 and stained.

I managed one small 14 inch fish in the clear water near the dam on a
crankbait, and also found some shad and fish under them on a big flat point
near the marina. Camped that night - only 22 degrees - and decided to stay in
the warm water most of the next day. Went there and fished everything I could
think of for five hours, finally landing one keeper on a jig and pig. Fished
the deep fish on the point and got one bite but missed it, the shad and fish
would move when I tried to get on top of them. I did catch two small hybrids
near the steam plant.

At weigh-in 10 of the 16 fishermen did not have anything to weigh. We had 11
keepers, and I finished 4th with one weighing 1.38 pounds.

Went to West Point yesterday to check out the lake for my other club's
tournament Sunday. Spent the day in one clear water creek, trying to find deep
fish to jig. Never spotted a school of shad, they were either real shallow or
down in the underwater timber. There were some loons around so I am sure shad
were in the area.

This creek and two others that join it have several underwater roadbeds that
usually hold fish - nothing. Nothing on points, creek channels, humps or
anything else I looked at. I did jig in some brush in a few places on the lips
of drops, thinking they fish might be buried in it, but no bites. The day was
cold, high near 50, high pressure and bright sun, water temp 46 to 49.

I will go back tomorrow and check out some other areas. If I can't find and
deep fish will spend the day throwing little crankbaits at clay and rocks,
along with a jig and pig. Supposed to cloud up tomorrow and rain all day Sunday
- great fishing weather in Jan! I will camp again tomorrow night - I am
determined to spend more time on lakes before tournaments this year, even if it
freezes me!
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

"RGarri7470" wrote in message
Weekend before last one of my clubs had our first tournament. I went to
Lake
Sinclair on Saturday morning and spent the day looking the lake over and
trying
to find something. The surface temp at the dam and creeks in that area was
52
and clear. Around the steam plant the water was 66 and stained, and at the
marina it was 60 and stained.

I managed one small 14 inch fish in the clear water near the dam on a
crankbait, and also found some shad and fish under them on a big flat
point
near the marina. Camped that night - only 22 degrees - and decided to stay
in
the warm water most of the next day. Went there and fished everything I
could
think of for five hours, finally landing one keeper on a jig and pig.
Fished
the deep fish on the point and got one bite but missed it, the shad and
fish
would move when I tried to get on top of them. I did catch two small
hybrids
near the steam plant.

At weigh-in 10 of the 16 fishermen did not have anything to weigh. We had
11
keepers, and I finished 4th with one weighing 1.38 pounds.

Went to West Point yesterday to check out the lake for my other club's
tournament Sunday. Spent the day in one clear water creek, trying to find
deep
fish to jig. Never spotted a school of shad, they were either real
shallow or
down in the underwater timber. There were some loons around so I am sure
shad
were in the area.

This creek and two others that join it have several underwater roadbeds
that
usually hold fish - nothing. Nothing on points, creek channels, humps or
anything else I looked at. I did jig in some brush in a few places on the
lips
of drops, thinking they fish might be buried in it, but no bites. The day
was
cold, high near 50, high pressure and bright sun, water temp 46 to 49.

I will go back tomorrow and check out some other areas. If I can't find
and
deep fish will spend the day throwing little crankbaits at clay and rocks,
along with a jig and pig. Supposed to cloud up tomorrow and rain all day
Sunday
- great fishing weather in Jan! I will camp again tomorrow night - I am
determined to spend more time on lakes before tournaments this year, even
if it
freezes me!
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com


Ronnie, I fish Sinclair Feb 7th. I sure would like some insight. Anything
you'd like to share?

Shelby Foles, Da Chief
All outgoing e mail virus free via Norton Utilities

Damn right it's tough, I went out to the local lake and my bait just
bounced off the water!

pat

No sympathy here Ron...

....bbbbuuuurrrrr...

Warren

"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
Weekend before last one of my clubs had our first tournament. I went to
Lake
Sinclair on Saturday morning and spent the day looking the lake over and
trying
to find something. The surface temp at the dam and creeks in that area was
52
and clear. Around the steam plant the water was 66 and stained, and at the
marina it was 60 and stained.

I managed one small 14 inch fish in the clear water near the dam on a
crankbait, and also found some shad and fish under them on a big flat
point
near the marina. Camped that night - only 22 degrees - and decided to stay
in
the warm water most of the next day. Went there and fished everything I
could
think of for five hours, finally landing one keeper on a jig and pig.
Fished
the deep fish on the point and got one bite but missed it, the shad and
fish
would move when I tried to get on top of them. I did catch two small
hybrids
near the steam plant.

At weigh-in 10 of the 16 fishermen did not have anything to weigh. We had
11
keepers, and I finished 4th with one weighing 1.38 pounds.

Went to West Point yesterday to check out the lake for my other club's
tournament Sunday. Spent the day in one clear water creek, trying to find
deep
fish to jig. Never spotted a school of shad, they were either real
shallow or
down in the underwater timber. There were some loons around so I am sure
shad
were in the area.

This creek and two others that join it have several underwater roadbeds
that
usually hold fish - nothing. Nothing on points, creek channels, humps or
anything else I looked at. I did jig in some brush in a few places on the
lips
of drops, thinking they fish might be buried in it, but no bites. The day
was
cold, high near 50, high pressure and bright sun, water temp 46 to 49.

I will go back tomorrow and check out some other areas. If I can't find
and
deep fish will spend the day throwing little crankbaits at clay and rocks,
along with a jig and pig. Supposed to cloud up tomorrow and rain all day
Sunday
- great fishing weather in Jan! I will camp again tomorrow night - I am
determined to spend more time on lakes before tournaments this year, even
if it
freezes me!
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Went January ice fishing up here and did well!
Caught 4 dozen cubes & 5 3lb blocks of the stuff! Heh Heh!
"go-bassn" wrote in message
...
No sympathy here Ron...

...bbbbuuuurrrrr...

Warren

"RGarri7470" wrote in message
...
Weekend before last one of my clubs had our first tournament. I went to
Lake
Sinclair on Saturday morning and spent the day looking the lake over and
trying
to find something. The surface temp at the dam and creeks in that area
was
52
and clear. Around the steam plant the water was 66 and stained, and at
the
marina it was 60 and stained.

I managed one small 14 inch fish in the clear water near the dam on a
crankbait, and also found some shad and fish under them on a big flat
point
near the marina. Camped that night - only 22 degrees - and decided to
stay
in
the warm water most of the next day. Went there and fished everything I
could
think of for five hours, finally landing one keeper on a jig and pig.
Fished
the deep fish on the point and got one bite but missed it, the shad and
fish
would move when I tried to get on top of them. I did catch two small
hybrids
near the steam plant.

At weigh-in 10 of the 16 fishermen did not have anything to weigh. We
had
11
keepers, and I finished 4th with one weighing 1.38 pounds.

Went to West Point yesterday to check out the lake for my other club's
tournament Sunday. Spent the day in one clear water creek, trying to
find
deep
fish to jig. Never spotted a school of shad, they were either real
shallow or
down in the underwater timber. There were some loons around so I am sure
shad
were in the area.

This creek and two others that join it have several underwater roadbeds
that
usually hold fish - nothing. Nothing on points, creek channels, humps
or
anything else I looked at. I did jig in some brush in a few places on
the
lips
of drops, thinking they fish might be buried in it, but no bites. The
day
was
cold, high near 50, high pressure and bright sun, water temp 46 to 49.

I will go back tomorrow and check out some other areas. If I can't find
and
deep fish will spend the day throwing little crankbaits at clay and
rocks,
along with a jig and pig. Supposed to cloud up tomorrow and rain all day
Sunday
- great fishing weather in Jan! I will camp again tomorrow night - I am
determined to spend more time on lakes before tournaments this year,
even
if it
freezes me!
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Ronnie, I fish Sinclair Feb 7th. I sure would like some insight. Anything
you'd like to share?


The guy that won our tournament said he caught his four keepers on #5 shadraps
- one on the riprap at Little River and the other three near the dam. Another
Griffin club fished there the next weekend and their tournament was won on
Carolina rigs in Rooty Creek.

With all the rain and cold weather I would still look at Beaverdam Creek real
hard, but the water in Island and Rocky Creeks should be more clear. Little
crankbaits there should work.
Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com