General Overview
The lake surface temps soared to 67 mid lake and 70 range at the dam. Everything is coming off of the spawn with this recent full moon cycle. That means the bite will slowly get better the longer the month goes. Post spawn fish are a little goofy then build appetite as they rebalance. Some reabsorb eggs if conditions didn’t allow them to drop. It’s time to focus on a “summer pattern”.
Stripers – This fish may show a flicker on shallow lines as the shad spawn is peaking but focus most of your attention at 15′- 20′ this month. Water temperature most likely will climb to upper 75 – 77 by month’s end creating a thermocline that can be seen on fish finders as a dirty looking thin line on your screen. Focus on the depth you see the thermocline, again 15′ – 20′ is typical in June. Live bait, Preferably Alewife/shad, should be fished slowly moving with the trolling motor about .5 mph. Concentrate on channel swings, progressively more around standing timber as temps progress. 70′ of water near original river channel usually lends tree tops at 25′ avg. The tops are your friend when the sun peaks the ridge.
Musky-This is a great month for this fishing to ramp up. Go trolling with gas motor at about 3 mph. Focus 12′ – 18′. All traditional musky lures are capable of reaching that depth. The Musky fishing community can argue like fly fisherman on specifics but a big, fast moving bait passing them in the range where they are living will force a “reaction” bite. Stay on the edge of last years weed lines on the flats in that 12′ – 18′ foot range. Lowering the lake 10′ over the winter didnt hurt the bounce back of these deeper weeds that were never dry ground over the winter. Target mid lake south toward Weavers Bridge. Run the flats. They love the shade of the weedline and can be caught mid day when everything else isnt feeding….reaction bites!
Lake Trout – These fish are moving down to a ceiling of 30′ and deeper. 30′ – 40′ is pretty productive trolling inside tree lines. If you are up to dropping a live bait, youll find large fish at 60′ that will work with you and for the thrill of it, give these deep ones some attention as deep as 116′ in the old river bottom. See picture of sonar from this past weekend below.
Bass – Post spawn bass will go to separate locations. Some will pull out to main lake points to set up for summer and others move shallow into weed beds. As the water continues to warm next month, the mid depths that 90% of fisherman target become vacant….the fish will be buried in weeds that produce oxygen as well as shallow wind blown shorelines with oxygen. The rest go deep to cooler stable environments. On Raystown, you can make an imaginary line somewhere between mile marker 12 and 15. Make a decision to go south of 15 to the river end targeting Largemouths while “garbage fishing” wood, weeds and other shallow water cover. Dirty water from boat waves and rain will have them very tight to cover and even tight against high walls but shallow. From mid lake north to the dam you’ll focus on smallmouths in clear water. Much deeper. Follow the thermocline depths. June is about the 20′ range. The entire lake shows topwater potential at that AM window at daylight. Fish shallow crankbaits around structure and along high walls when water is dirty. Jigs work well thrown tight to cover. If you find great shallow weeds, bust out a scum frog. For the smallmouths down lake, get out on the deep break lines. Focus on 18′ – 20′. Use traditional Carolina rigs and drop shot tactics.
Crappies – The spawn is over and they go deep as well. It can be and is difficult to fish 1/32 Oz. Jigs and fathead minnows at the deeper depths. They can be very difficult over the summer. However, try a green light and learn the undiscovered world of night crappie fishing. Concentrate on bridge piers, marina slips, and deep heavy structure….the light brings them right under your boat. Learn something new!
