Texas Transplant
Well-Known Member
Well, I ventured down and fished the SC Federation tournament this weekend on the Hill (Clark Hill/Thurmond). Drew a good partner, who had us on fish. Trouble is, I somewhat shot myself in the foot.
I was told starting out that he'd be C-rigging some areas, but I had planned to start with a jerkbait and/or a trap. I did that until he put 2 in the boat. Then I switched to a jig, using it slowly, just barely hopping it along. Got it really hung up on something, and had to cut. So then I just took out a pre-rigged C-rig, tied it on and went to c-rigging. Mistake, that it took me 30 minutes to realize.
The problem was that my jig rod had fireline on it. Fairly heavy fireline. First good bite, and I snapped off my leader. Second bite, happened again. Then the third bite, I felt like I must have ripped it out of his mouth. Then 'ol dummy' realized that I was getting no stretch at all with the fireline, and really screwing myself. I then re-rigged with a standard mono setup.
Guess what - caught fish! Managed to get two in the boat. Missed 3 more. Once not paying attention close enough, the second time, I had the fish on the way to the boat, but he spit the hook. Didn't get a good enough hook set, as the hook was just barely through the worm. Third fish, hit it good, but just couldn't get a hook up.
Partner managed a limit (around 11.5 lbs), and couldn't ever really cull up. He put about 8 or 9 in the boat all together. He used a 6" worm, I was using a 4" Zoom finesse worm, in green pumpkin. He was using a similar color.
We fished the Soap creek area, not too far in from the main channel of the lake. Key was finding secondary points within the creek, that had gravel/rock structure around. Second key was fishing very, very slow. I mean very slow. We were just simply dragging the worms. We saw any number of boats also fishing our 'spots', but never took a fish.
I didn't stay for the entire weighin, but best weights were around 11-12 lbs. Two nice 6lb'ers were on the board.
Talked to several others that were also staying at Hickory Knob state park (very nice place), and they all had said they were not getting many bites. Water temps in the mid to lower 50's.
Neither or us got any bites on crankbaits, traps or jerkbaits, all day long. Heading to Lake Keowee (near Clemson) this weekend for a two day club tourney. Guys weekend away. Fishing and NCAA basketball!
Tex
I was told starting out that he'd be C-rigging some areas, but I had planned to start with a jerkbait and/or a trap. I did that until he put 2 in the boat. Then I switched to a jig, using it slowly, just barely hopping it along. Got it really hung up on something, and had to cut. So then I just took out a pre-rigged C-rig, tied it on and went to c-rigging. Mistake, that it took me 30 minutes to realize.
The problem was that my jig rod had fireline on it. Fairly heavy fireline. First good bite, and I snapped off my leader. Second bite, happened again. Then the third bite, I felt like I must have ripped it out of his mouth. Then 'ol dummy' realized that I was getting no stretch at all with the fireline, and really screwing myself. I then re-rigged with a standard mono setup.
Guess what - caught fish! Managed to get two in the boat. Missed 3 more. Once not paying attention close enough, the second time, I had the fish on the way to the boat, but he spit the hook. Didn't get a good enough hook set, as the hook was just barely through the worm. Third fish, hit it good, but just couldn't get a hook up.
Partner managed a limit (around 11.5 lbs), and couldn't ever really cull up. He put about 8 or 9 in the boat all together. He used a 6" worm, I was using a 4" Zoom finesse worm, in green pumpkin. He was using a similar color.
We fished the Soap creek area, not too far in from the main channel of the lake. Key was finding secondary points within the creek, that had gravel/rock structure around. Second key was fishing very, very slow. I mean very slow. We were just simply dragging the worms. We saw any number of boats also fishing our 'spots', but never took a fish.
I didn't stay for the entire weighin, but best weights were around 11-12 lbs. Two nice 6lb'ers were on the board.
Talked to several others that were also staying at Hickory Knob state park (very nice place), and they all had said they were not getting many bites. Water temps in the mid to lower 50's.
Neither or us got any bites on crankbaits, traps or jerkbaits, all day long. Heading to Lake Keowee (near Clemson) this weekend for a two day club tourney. Guys weekend away. Fishing and NCAA basketball!
Tex
