Robert, change something.
Lake Lanier and Lake Hartwell have been pretty weak for us this summer. Jeanne and I were both getting frustrated. We were studying, being patient, altering tactics, seeking local advice. All to no avail.
Last week, I said to her that we should try another body of water. We got up at 4am and headed down to West Point Lake (Lagrange, GA). We had one of our best days. We boated 9 keepers (that's a lot of us), missed or lost about a dozen more, had great topwater action all morning. It reinvigorated us.
Today, reality set back in when we tried Lanier and managed one fish (and that only by trolling). The wind was kicking hard, we ran about 20 miles in messy, 2' chop to get to new water. Couldn't find many fish, the fish we found were inactive, and it just plain stunk from a catching perspective.
It takes time to learn this sport. Overlap the steep learning curve with the fact that sometimes, a particular body of water is not producing well for even experienced anglers, and it's easy to get frustrated. You just have to keep trying and keep learning.
Next week, I am going to put the Nitro in the local park pond (about 10-15 acres) and have an electric only day. Average depth is about 3'. I've caught bass there from the shore and in a raft, want to see how I do with my entire arsenal available. Learning, learning, learning.
Some suggestions:
- Try some lures you've never used before, preferably asking around for the best producing lure for other locals
- Try a different body of water
- Troll some live bait while you are casting
- Target a different species (crappie, catfish)
Believe me when I say I feel your pain! Good luck! Hang in there!
