The Dynamics Of Hot Water Discharge Lakes

Casting Approaches: When casting and retrieving light jigs along steep sections of riprap, the boat often floats over 25 feet. A cast should drop the jig into about 8 feet of water. A second before it reaches bottom, the retrieve begins with a slow swimming action so the jig eases down the sloping riprap, what Charlie Brewer called a “do-nothing” retrieve.

At times, anglers have found that delicately twitching the rod tip as the jig slowly glides entices more strikes than a pure “do-nothing” motif. Some anglers like to make the jig occasionally ricochet off a boulder as it glides down the riprap. Moreover, it’s common for a bass to pick up a jig that’s snagged in rocks as the angler shakes and banjos the line to free it.

At other times, bass hold along the bottom edge of the riprap, where it meets the floor of the reservoir. Some of these edges are in about 30 feet of water. When bass are bottom-oriented, a 3/16- to 3/8-ounce green-pumpkin jig and chunk has proven effective. Cast so the jig plummets directly into 25 feet of water. Employ a slow bottom-bouncing and dragging retrieve, allowing the jig to eventually hop from the riprap to the floor of the reservoir. At times, bass occupy a fairly large swath of the reservoir’s floor immediately adjacent to the riprap edge. In that situation, it may be essential to hop and drag the jig several yards beyond the edge of the riprap. This retrieve imitates crayfish, key prey for Coffey’s bass.

Vertical Approaches: The most fruitful tactic for bass holding along the deep edge of riprap has been a vertical presentation of a jig, rather than casting and retrieving. Vertical-fishing a 1/8-ounce grayish-silver, black, or olive marabou jig has been the most productive lure. When the wind becomes testy, switch to a 1/4-ounce jig.

When anglers fish vertically along a steep drop, they typically opt for 1/4-ounce and heavier jigs. But anglers at Coffey consistently catch more smallmouths by vertically fishing a lighter jig, suggesting that bass are feeding on small invertebrates.

The vertical presentation is accomplished by moving the boat into the wind with the trolling motor at a snail’s pace. As the boat moves, monitor sonar to keep the boat moving along the base of the riprap, which allows the jig to follow that edge. At times, the unit marks bass; at other times, they hold so flush to the bottom that sonar cannot distinguish them.

Some days, bass prefer a vertically presented jig gliding slowly along the bottom. At other times, they prefer it shaking and twitching; occasionally they want it to drop off the edge of the rocks onto the reservoir basin.

Even in water around 45°F, smallmouth periodically hold along riprap as shallow as 6 feet. When they’re in 6 to 12 feet of cold water, casting and slowly retrieving either a 1/32-ounce or a 1/16-ounce marabou jig has worked well. A 1/32-ounce or 1/16-ounce Gopher Mushroom Jig Head with a 3-inch YUM Dinger or half of a Strike King Zero also is an effective combo.