WATCH FOR POPCORN
Although it’ s a slightly different pattern than the shallow-cover program Bolton describes here, a topwater bait thrown on shallow flats and secondary points in the mornings and evenings can account for some fun outings this time of year. Young shad can be found in expansive schools in these areas, and during low-light periods they’ ll flip out of the water. Kentucky Lake locals call it“ popcorn.” If you see it, grab a popper or a walking stick bait and sling it out there quickly.
Bolton’ s favorite targets are docks and stake beds, which are man-made fish attractors usually comprised of dozens of wooden stakes or PVC pipes. Stake beds litter many of the flats in the backs of Kentucky Lake’ s pockets and creeks. Laydowns, stumps and other hard cover that’ s still in the water should be on an angler’ s checklist too.
Dialing In
According to Bolton, some creeks are better than others when it comes to this pattern.
“ The hardest thing to find on Kentucky Lake is the shallow cover on the flats,” says Bolton.“ There are some that really have it, and some that don’ t. Nowadays, it seems more people put out deep cover than they do shallow cover. Crappie guys used to put more shallow cover out.”
Much of the cover Bolton fishes is visible from the surface – sometimes from afar, but other times not. Spending some time trolling around on a flat can reveal stake beds that are just barely under the surface. Submerged shoreline brush piles on steeper banks are also great targets if you can find them, as are the remains of stumps whose tops are under the surface.
“ I target a lot of the bigger creeks that have a bigger resident population of bass,” Bolton adds.“ It seems to me the smaller pockets don’ t have as many fish. I also look for a creek that has good flow.”
Creeks with larger channels in the back and more flow typically have more color in the water, and Bolton believes stained water is better for shallow fishing.
“ The fish are more likely to stay up there in the stained water than the clear water,” he says.
When you’ re searching for the young shad, they’ re usually not tough to spot. They can often be seen from above, hovering around the cover. On sunny days, their sides reflect the light, making them easier to spot.
Another sign that you’ ve found a good bait-laden spot is when the shad spray out of the water after being startled by a lure retrieved through the school or an attacking bass.
What to Throw
Bolton prefers to use moving baits that he can fish through the cover. Matching the hatch for size and color is a smart move.
He favors a 3 / 8-ounce Accent spinnerbait with willow-leaf blades and a Rapala DT 4 crankbait around stake beds. He throws swim jigs and ChatterBaits on docks.
“ I throw a buzzbait some, and some little poppers, but I throw a small spinnerbait a lot,” Bolton says.“ You want something that mimics those baitfish. If you don’ t get a bite, something like a good old Zoom Mag II, a 7 1 / 2-inch worm, is a great bait to fish shallow in the summer. Another thing I’ ll do sometimes is flip a pearl white [ Zoom ] Speed Craw. It looks like a shad. I can make the bait scatter when I throw it in there. A little swimbait would work too.
“ Generally, when you make a cast, if you see those minnows rain or spray off of the cover, that’ s always a good sign. If you see that, a lot of times if you stay back you can catch multiple bass off a piece of cover.”
Rapala X-Rap Pop pearl white Zoom UV Speed Craw
3 / 8-ounce Accent spinnerbait with willow-leaf blades
Rapala DT 4 crankbait
7 1 / 2-inch Zoom Mag II worm
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