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
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018 I FLWFISHING . COM 31