2008

[complac3ncy]

First off, I'll apologize in advance that this is not a fishing report  . I know a lot of people, including myself, are waiting for some solid reports but I figured i'd state that now.

I have been just right outside of Omaha now for almost 2 years and have just now gotten back into freshwater fishing. Before I went active duty I fished all over Florida where i'm originally from but am finding the waters here of Nebraska just a little different. I think the fish are diffrent here in what I guess are mostly old sand pits turned into resevoirs and artificial lakes, then back home in 100% natural environments. I did do some shore fishing last year and got a chance to try some diffrent baits, but now I have a boat so it's game on. It seemed shore fishing last year (mostly summer time) that alot of the same baits I used back in FL worked well here. Deep cranks and plastic ribbontail time worms worked best for me. In the spawn periods we'd use jig/pigs, senko's and suspending twitch baits mostly.

I didn't get a chance to do too much fishing in the pre spawn or regular spawn but that is what I would like to hit this year and am curious what some traditional tactics/scenarios are for these bass. How they are still alive after sitting in such cold water for so long is beyond me, but I really don't know what to throw at em, my best assessment says probably a slow approach. Outside of retail stores, the locals haven't been too much help here  , most of them say something along the lines of "cork a minnah and crack a beer".

[Bassthumb]

First things first, I don't fish too much in NE other than Walnut Creek or Prairie View, but spent a lot of time on the Iowa and NW MO lakes (big ponds).

Pre-spawn around these parts (for me) is a crank-fest.  Generally, I use balsa baits that dive 2-6' in either a natural or chartreuse color.  Jerk baits also work pretty good.  and of course, the lipless (trap) is also pretty good.  I have never had any luck with a topwater, until the water temps breaks 64 or so.  Also, in the staging phases, a jig/plastic/finesse bite can be productive on points and secondary points, and on early grasslines and/or travel routes.

Never have tried any sight fishing around here so I can't remark on that. 

I'm am sure, Skipper will chime in here too, he can tell you more about the jig/plastic bite since he doesn't own any crank baits...LoL.

[Skipper (ripnlips)]

Sounds like you are Active duty so stop by the Outdoor Recreation office and ask for me. My name is Rod and I will be glad to tell you anything you want to know about this area!!

[zamguy]

One of the baits I have had pretty good success with in this region early spring is a wiggle wart in the red crawfish pattern.  I have caught fish in cold water from 45 up on this bait, and they SLAM it.  Use a medium slow retrieve in water that is 6-14 ft deep and you may be surprised.  Good luck!!

[Fishin247365]

I usually fish kansas lakes. The few NRD and state lakes I fish are Swan Creek north of Fairbury, Stagecoach, Red Willow out by McCook just to name a few. Kansas lakes/reservoirs Pony Creek, Banner Creek, Clinton, Cedar Bluff, LaCygne, Norton, Milford, Hillsdale, and Wilson. If you ever need any advice or info on past sucesses at any of these lakes drop me a PM and I'll fill you in! Worth noting, its my opinion Nebraska waters really seem to be affected by fronts more so the further south you travel. Any type of drastic change in the weather from one day to the next can really change things. So what kind of boat will you be floating around in?

[complac3ncy]

It's a 97' quantum 170XD, made by bayliner, it's no longer in production but it's a solid boat. Actually is the first boat i've ever owned and it has been great to me thus far. It's a fish/ski setup which can fish 2 people in the front and back easily but it's nice for when my wife wants to ski!
17' fiberglass hull, 120hp merc, minn kota AP, hummingbird ff (as soon as I can install it!).....above all it gets me where the fish are ya know.
Anyways i'm Joe, and maybe we will cross paths!

[Futurebassmaster]

If you are looking to fish around omaha(walnut creek is best), get some Storm wiggle warts(crawdad colors) for pre-spawn...I normally start fishing them in about 40-45 degree water.. you can fish them all the way to the spawn.  Fish them slow..bang them off rocks, trees, brush piles, whatever cover you can find.  Then when the spawn starts to hit I normally change to a senko, tube, or spinnerbait.  Around Omaha, the grass will start taking over a lot of the lakes when it starts getting to the spawn.. cast up behind it, or pitch into the holes in the grass mats.  Right before, and into spawn, you can bring a spinnerbait along the weed line and catch bass, or throw and reel it through laydown trees.  If you aren't used to spinnerbaits, don't just use a steady retreive all the time.  Change it up, jerk it some, let it fall after you hit a limb.  When it changes to summer, the grass will still be around and you will be able to punch through it with a heavy weighted tube, or brush hog..great time to use the braided line and catch some fun bass.  Also throw topwater frogs over the grass mats, one of my favorites.  Find some brush piles also and use a tube, brush hog, or jig.. greens seem to work best..green pumpkin, green pumpkin red flake..
If you see me on the lake come say hi..I'll be in a 21ft red ranger.. just look for the young guy in it

Jake Dillon

[complac3ncy]

Thanks for the advice Jake, starting to see alot of similarity in the artificial bait advice coming from the fisherman around here. Walnut creek seems to be extremely popular....almost to the point that it seems pretty pressured?
Been hearing alot of good things about the brush hogs, both punched through weed holes and on deep brush piles carolina rigged, I may have to try these types of presentation.

As far as spinnerbaits go, what type of blades/blade combinations do you like? As well as skirt colors? I haven't fished many spinnerbaits as the area in florida that i'm from wasn't very productive at all with spinnerbaits for some reason, but that is something i'd like to get into here.

[Futurebassmaster]

Sorry that I didn't see the post until today!  I like to use the chartreuse/white color spinner baits most of the time.  Sometimes I will use some green tented with white..but mostly Char/white.  Most of the time I will use a double willow leaf blade(one gold, one silver)..If you want to slow the bait down try some colorado blades.  Again I like to stay with the combination of gold and silver.  For early spring.. I like to throw this... http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=bybw10617  That is my favorite.  Until you want to spend for the War Eagle spinner baits.  But to be honest, I have had just as good of luck on the Booyah as I have the War Eagle..Just depends on conditions.  I like the War Eagles more in the summer/fall for some reason..I have had better luck with them then.

You can have a TON of fun with spinner baits.  You just need to figure out how to throw them right for the right time... just vary your speeds/retrieval.  Like I said, speed it up, slow it down, jerk it, let it fall after it hits a limb..you'll know if they hit it   Normally it is a good whack.  Also, don't just throw it without hitting anything with it.. Hit the tops of grass, or hit some trees, or reel it through the rocks...get that bait moving and looking injured. 

This spring, once the water thaws, if you'd like to get out sometime, send me a PM and I will give you my number.