Thanks for this Matt...the Litchfield Dragon's Fishing had 2 teams qualify to fish Lake Hartwell in late June for the HS National Championship...this video helps us tremendously!
Matt great info. I may have found short cut to finding the better points. What I've noticed is if you find a point where there are two creeks that come together or a sharp direction change in the channel with a steep break the predator fish can pin the herring against, I've caught some 3 and 4 pound spots there. If there's a spot where it comes up and there's a pocket they can corral them in or different steps in the break where it's steep then a flat steep than a flat I've noticed the striped bass at least we'll get on these areas and like I said I've caught some nice spots there too. At least this is what I've seen on Clarks Hill.
Good info. I'm liking the forward sonar technology, not willing to purchase just yet.... looks like an ultrasound pic at this point, hoping future generations of this technology come with better clarity. You tuber Ben Nowak speaks well of this forward real time sonar on Northern/Midwest smallie fisheries...... guessing you'd echo this opinion as well? I understand from a derby perspective how frustrating the herring bite can be. Thanks for the info and keep up the great work.
Thanks Matt, great information as usual. Ive always thought that knowing what the baitfish are doing will help you catch more fish. I have a few comments and questions. The $64k question (maybe more depending on the tournament payout...) is, where do the schools of herring go after they drop their eggs, and do those same schools spawn night after night or is it a one and done deal? What about gizzard and threadfin shad? (For those lakes without herring). Do they do a similar spawn? I'll be using the double fluke rig over the next couple of weeks and will let you know how I did.
The herring wil spawn multiple times as the make there way out to the main lake. After spawning they will head to mainlake areas and roam around the mainlake depths all summer. They will come to the surface over super deep water on sunny days and stay more spread out and deeper on overcast days. As for threadfin aand gizzard shad. They spawn as well when he water is pushing 70 degrees. Threadfin will literallu bump shallow opjects like boats, docks, logs, grass and leave there sticky eggs on them until they hatch. Sometimes you can go in a marina and literally it looks and sounds like its raining because the threadfin are spawning so hard against the boats and docks. Gizzard just lay eggs as they are cruising by and dont necessarily need any targets. Usually a rocky or gravel shoreline or shallow shellbar is what they use.
If it is a moving bait like the Magic Swimmer its 15 lb fluorocarbon on a 7'3" medium heavy action rod with a fast gear ratio reel. For topwater its 15lb monofilament on the same rod and reel.
Thanks for the response 👍
No problem 👍
Great summary. Best practical overview of the blueback spawn ever heard. Thanks!
Wow, thanks!
Thanks for this Matt...the Litchfield Dragon's Fishing had 2 teams qualify to fish Lake Hartwell in late June for the HS National Championship...this video helps us tremendously!
That is awesome!
My kind of info !!!! Question???? Where do tho herring hid during daylight hours. 🤔🤔
Go deeper
Matt great info. I may have found short cut to finding the better points. What I've noticed is if you find a point where there are two creeks that come together or a sharp direction change in the channel with a steep break the predator fish can pin the herring against, I've caught some 3 and 4 pound spots there. If there's a spot where it comes up and there's a pocket they can corral them in or different steps in the break where it's steep then a flat steep than a flat I've noticed the striped bass at least we'll get on these areas and like I said I've caught some nice spots there too. At least this is what I've seen on Clarks Hill.
Great information! Thanks for sharing!
Good info. I'm liking the forward sonar technology, not willing to purchase just yet.... looks like an ultrasound pic at this point, hoping future generations of this technology come with better clarity.
You tuber Ben Nowak speaks well of this forward real time sonar on Northern/Midwest smallie fisheries...... guessing you'd echo this opinion as well?
I understand from a derby perspective how frustrating the herring bite can be. Thanks for the info and keep up the great work.
Thanks! the forward facing sonar is incredibly productive on northern smallmouth
I don’t know why anyone would use that live target , Garmin live scope is leaps and bounds better
Thanks Matt, great information as usual. Ive always thought that knowing what the baitfish are doing will help you catch more fish. I have a few comments and questions.
The $64k question (maybe more depending on the tournament payout...) is, where do the schools of herring go after they drop their eggs, and do those same schools spawn night after night or is it a one and done deal?
What about gizzard and threadfin shad? (For those lakes without herring). Do they do a similar spawn?
I'll be using the double fluke rig over the next couple of weeks and will let you know how I did.
The herring wil spawn multiple times as the make there way out to the main lake. After spawning they will head to mainlake areas and roam around the mainlake depths all summer. They will come to the surface over super deep water on sunny days and stay more spread out and deeper on overcast days. As for threadfin aand gizzard shad. They spawn as well when he water is pushing 70 degrees. Threadfin will literallu bump shallow opjects like boats, docks, logs, grass and leave there sticky eggs on them until they hatch. Sometimes you can go in a marina and literally it looks and sounds like its raining because the threadfin are spawning so hard against the boats and docks. Gizzard just lay eggs as they are cruising by and dont necessarily need any targets. Usually a rocky or gravel shoreline or shallow shellbar is what they use.
What would your rod/reel/line setup be for targeting bass among herring spawn? Thanks for the video Matt
If it is a moving bait like the Magic Swimmer its 15 lb fluorocarbon on a 7'3" medium heavy action rod with a fast gear ratio reel. For topwater its 15lb monofilament on the same rod and reel.
bluebacks spawn all day long. you're thinking of shad. they spawn at night.
thanks for watching