Question about Bass fishing on Hay Bay

mountainministries · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:59 pm **Posts:** 304

Hey guys,

What a great summer it's been, I hope that everyone is having a good summer fishing wise. Anyways, I have grown up fishing East Lake and am used to catching 1-2 lb fish there. Nothing huge, but on a good day catching your limit in an hour is easy. However this year fishing only Hay Bay I am finding that the fish are much larger, but the fishing is much slower. A good day for me now has a 3 lb average, but I am lucky to get one bass an hour. Is this normal? Just wondering if maybe my fishing methods need improvement.

I live @ 1201 South Shore if anyone would like to come and educate me. Right now I usually fish in the Ram Island area, throwing anything from cranks, to jigs and senko's. Anywhere from 2-10 feet deep.

So if I am doing something wrong I'd love some general tips. I have heard of guys catching 30 + bass in an outing and know that that's possible on East lake, but doubting it on Hay Bay. Am I missing something?

beaner · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:12 pm **Posts:** 96

if your not using braided fishing line start there, sure sounds like you got all you need to be filling the boat

mountainministries · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:59 pm **Posts:** 304

Well I use braid, so I guess I just stink. Oh well, I guess after a few more years of living here I may be able to put a pattern together. Out of curiosity do you guys fish the green stained water in Hay Bay, or stick to the clearer water? I've tried both area's but at times the clear water seems to be too choked out with weeds, I spend more time cleaning off the bow mount than fishing.

mountainministries · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:59 pm **Posts:** 304

Are there any guides that specialize in Hay Bay bass fishing?

Fred Fisher · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 4:48 pm

I would sugest you talk to David Delcloo AkA Superdad. He fishes Hay Bay a fare bit and could give you some pointers for sure.

MattClapp · **Joined:** Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:03 pm **Posts:** 210

Its been an off year for everyone.

Living on the lake gives you an advantage. If the 'same old' isn't working, leave it on the dock and force yourself to try something different.

mountainministries · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:59 pm **Posts:** 304

Well, I have a 16 ft princecraft starfish dlx if anyone wants to come out sometime and exchange tips and locations with me I'd love to have you along.

My boat fishes 2 people comfortably.

TheDL · **Joined:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:13 am **Posts:** 435

My limited experience with Hay Bay bass fishing has yielded similar results - people say it's a great bass fishery, but I do much better on walleye in there than bass. There's so much water, it can be difficult to dial them in. I'd say keep plugging away untill you find a pattern, ruling out areas and presentations untill you find a reliable bite - then wait a week and start the process over again :lol:

Moses · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:03 pm

Fishing on the Bay this year is the polar opposite from last year. Doesnt' seem to matter what your fishing for, they just aren't hitting.

Last year we fished Hay Bay 2-3 times a week, and pretty much each and every time it was a barn-burner!!. Pulling out 2.5's to 4lb bass with ease. If the bass happen to be sluggish that day the pike where always there. Some night the water would just BOIL with pike.

This year however you need to put in many hours to scratch out a limit if you can even get a limit. Plus the size of the fish aren't there either.

So like MattClap says, if Old school ain't workin' try something new. My buddies and I have taken it apon our selves to limit the spinner use and to start working different lures in different conditions. Change the lure, change the color, change the presentation and speed, its fun to try news things and when you hit one that works it very rewarding.

Good luck!

Also from what I've been hearing, lakes a little further north are producing well. So maybe trying new water may yield a better fishing day. That's what we are trying tomorrow morn!

Walleye 9 · **Joined:** Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:05 pm **Posts:** 1985

May sound strange, but I'm glad to hear it's an off year for everybody. (thought it was just me lol) Spent 3 days fishing Quinte 2 weeks ago. 4 hours morning, 4 hours evening. Walleye/Bass. Only managed a 2 pound largemouth, and a 3 pound smallie with 2 people in the boat. After I couldn't find a walleye if my life depended on it, I switched to bass. Most of my bass time was focused on the Napanee River (where I usually do good) for bass, but couldn't seem to get anything going. One evening seemed to start off alright as I had about 8-10 hits, but only managed to net 1. People I talked to in the park where I was staying, all came up empty handed.
Apperently the week before we arrived, the locals were having no problem landing 10-20 bass/outing. (1-3 pounds)
Anyhow, as the old saying goes...A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work!!!!!
Good Luck out there!!!

Lar · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2012 4:04 am

It's the same everywhere, on the inland lakes as well.
Tourney weights and limits are even hard to get, a true test to your salt.
Doesn't matter whether your using braid, mono or flurocarbon or combinations of either. Find clearer water, greener weeds and try the drops and even the deeper flats, and definately find the bait fish schools and boils, seagulls will help you find those at times.
Sounds as though you have the gear so just keep floggin', biting or not they're there and finding the right pattern and presentation they want for that day make take changing up a bit, be creative with what you have.

mountainministries · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:59 pm **Posts:** 304

Well, I decided to head out to a new body of water and try to regain some of my confidence. I think that at times your confidence in your ability to catch fish is your greatest asset, when you begin to doubt yourself you seem to fish poorly. Anyways I headed to Beaver Lake for a couple of hours and boated about 10 bass in a few hours. Nothing large enough to take a picture of, but the fishing was good enough that I was able to rediscover my belief in myself.

Thanks to all of you who have agreed that the fishing is poor in Hay Bay, it gives me the desire to keep on trying. On a positive note, though the catches are down there, the size was waaayyy up in comparison to Beaver Lake. Most of the bass I have caught on Hay Bay are in the mid to high 3's. There also seems to be an abundance of baitfish there, maybe that could explain the lock jaw on the fish. Or maybe it could be the fact that the water is way down.

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Question about Bass fishing on Hay Bay

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