Cachuma Reeds, what are you fishing?

[TopGrJim]

I see guys on boats up in the reeds right now at Cachuma. I am not sure what and how they are fishing though. I am not seeing a lot of fish on the flats and its too murky to sight fish so my curiousity is up! Any ideas? I don't fish tourneys so come on, give it up!! LOL!

[fishinman]

there looking for bed fish!!!

[Ray L.]

The water should be clearer around those areas because the reeds act like a filter to clean the water.

[Kelly Ripa]

Hey Jim,

You and I know you can't sight fish in any way, shape, or form at Cachuma right now but the guys are looking for and not finding bed fish along those tullie edges. Here is the trick for finding some of the better fish. Isolated tullies! For an unknown reason the fish are NOT relating to wood so it must have something to do with food or bottom composition. The fish you are catching on walls etc. { if they were like what I was catching } are last years spawn and are all under 12 inches. If you want to catch anything of size with the water up like this you'll have to breakdown and fish a reaction bait. This will overcome the water color or high water that has made the bigger fish EXTREMELY tough to find. If you are going to fish the worm etc. on the flats A. Blind cast and B. fish deeper. Remember they raised the water on those fish so the beds are deeper than you'd ever guess. I was fishing a jig out in 20+ last week and got a bite but luckily I was asleep at the switch and just let it lay there and the fish came back to eat it. That's actually wrong the fish never left I just had my jig on a bed. Break out a blade...Good pick would be a Ravenge chart/white 1/2 oz. tandem with a chrome willow. Drop the trolling motor and start chucking and winding in all that beautiful fog you've got in the morning. Likely starting area would be big Cachuma as it is a microcosim of the whole lake which means you won't have to move around much and you'll bump into a fish. Try to slow down the retrieve. I have found the little fish are in the upper colum of water and the better seem to be more offshore and less bank orientated than we fishermen think they should be. There is a tournament there next weekend so there will be plenty of boats out this weekend just don't look to the reports pages for help as they can ill afford to spill the beans. Oxblood color is still king and it doesn't matter who makes them as long as you've got a quality bait out there you'll get bit. I had to re-order my senkos from three weeks ago as they ate three packs on the last trip!

[Ray L.]

KELLY A JIG..........WOW I am suprised at you every now and then.

[Kelly Ripa]

peanut butter and jelly....I just couldn't pick up my dropshot

[Ray L.]

That is funny

[Ray L.]

Have fun at Clear Lake.....

[SRV]

I'm fishing that tournament next week, and I need a decent finish to make the fish-off. Was there yesterday, and flipped for 5 hours and caught a double limit of 2 lb smallies. Not a keeper Black in the bunch! While fun, 10 pounds won't get it done. And if that bite goes away, I'm toast. I may not be able to get back before the event to put your theory to the test. Two weeks ago at our club tourney, there were some big fish caught shallow, it seems to be changing FAST!!

Steve

[TopGrJim]

Appreciate the responses. I had made it overly complicated. Didn't think bed fishing was likely with the visibility so poor and later in year.

Yes Kelly, most fish I have been catching were 11 inches. Better fish were on the wall with a jig. Looks like I am rained out this weekend. Probably get out mid to late next week and will be going deeper for sure.

[mark poulson]

*NM*