BentStraight

I live on crystal clear Nichols Lake in East Milton and I regularily feed the fish at my dock (bluegill and redhorse suckers which in turn attract bass and pickerel) and I have been observing their behavior or the past few weeks with these cold snaps and then sunny days. When the cold snap comes they move down into the deep water at the center of the lake. Then when the cold wind stops blowing and the sun comes out they start getting active in the late afternoon and foraging for foodmoving farther up in the shallow water as the day goes on. I have been surprised to see several LARGE bluegill that I normally only see during spawning time. I also have seen large bass behaving the same way and the chain pickerel are very active right now. Thursday afternoon (7th) the temp hit 62 degrees and the fish were very active.

surfstryker

When it warms up a little I may need to come give it a try, Mike.

jim t

Thanks... I've tried to find a pattern on the pond on the golf course in the winter, but with little results. The ponds are all connected by a series of ditches. The bigger ponds are mud bottom, the smaller ponds are full of weeds but they're all about 6 foot deep or so.

I'll try it if we ever warm up...

Jim

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BentStraight

Nichols Lake has an creek bed channel down the middle of the lake that runs 14'-20' deep and a lot of weed coverthat doesn't thin out till the water get's 6 feet deep or so, the fish hide in it. The bottom is covered with seepage springs, especially around the roots of the old tree trunks that are long the old creek bed channel, I suspect the water is more regulated there to a warmer tempature. Before the dam was built back in the 60's the area was what they call a "steephead ravine". There is a constant flow at the lake drain which becomes Nichols Creek and flows down to join the Yellow River.

A Recent Cold Morning



Hand feeding the bluegills



Underwater view of my floating dock



Big Bass waiting under my dock for an ambush!



The trusty Rapala minnow produces a Nichols Lake Bluegill

Dylan

Those are awesome pictures!:bowdown

jim t

TRULY GREAT PICS!!!

Jim

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fisheye48

your hardcore to wear a tanktop with these temps oke great fish and pics :clap

FireTiger

Great Pics! I love the underwater shots.

collinscraft2

That'ssome awesome pictures. That big bass waiting is to cool!!

AV8TR

That's one fine bluegill. Great underwater picture!