2
O
JAMES NIGGEMEYER | 29 LB 9 OZ (14)
By Curtis Niedermier
PHOTO BY ROB MATSUURA
nce he ruled out the grass bite, Niggemeyer dialed in a topwater pat-
tern in the north-central part of the lake and the Crystal Springs area.
He tried topwaters that sported treble hooks, but the hooks fouled too
often on bits of grass and other detritus. A 1/4-ounce buzzbait with a green-
pumpkin toad trailer was more efficient for burning the banks and drew bites
from a better class of fish.
On day two, Niggemeyer caught a “bonus fish” that surfaced to chase shad
while he was idling across a pocket. Without dropping his trolling motor or
removing his PFD, he landed a Strike King Sexy Dawg on the money.
Despite the fast start, Niggemeyer only landed four keepers. Another slow
morning on day three forced him to fish mostly new water the final afternoon,
which produced a limit and secured his runner-up finish.
44
FISHING TO FIND
THEM
Niggemeyer’s best spots
were points, pockets and
straightaways directly off the
main feeder creeks. The deep-
er he worked into secondary
creeks and arteries, the fewer
fish Niggemeyer found.
“As much as I thought
there was a pattern, you real-
ly had to fish to establish
whether or not there was
going to be any fish in an
area,” he adds.
Seeing “life” – bluegills,
baby bass, pickerel, gar, min-
nows – was the best telltale
sign that he’d found a produc-
tive area.
FlWFISHING.COm I Fall 2018