Largemouth Bass with a bonus Yellow Perch

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Clopper Lake in Seneca Creek State Park

For the past month I have been fishing Clopper Lake both from the kayak and from the shoreline. I've been having success with Rattlin Rapala's and small spinnerbaits like the 1/8th ounce Stanley Wedge Plus. Earlier in this time frame the Rattlin Rap was better for catching numbers of Largemouth Bass. Then about a week ago a lot of bait fish appeared in the shallows along the shoreline of the lake. Once those bait fish appeared it seemed the spinnerbait became a better option. The spinnerbait also seems to be producing better fish as a couple of solid 2 pounders and a 3 pounder turned up this past weekend.

With the weather being so inconsistent it has been hard to pattern the fish. I've had bass chase a spinnerbait into a foot of water on the same day that I caught bass in 5-6 feet of water bumping the bottom with a crankbait. They have been both in the coves and on flats just off the main lake. The water temperature on Sunday was 55-57 degrees. I think if we can get a warming trend going they will all move up shallow and ready to eat.

I also managed to hook a bonus Yellow Perch on a Rattlin Rap. I don't catch a lot of perch tossing bass lures but this one was easily the largest that I have ever held my my hand. Big enough to "lip" like a bass. For a moment I considered taking this one home for dinner but since she is well on her way to becoming a real trophy I decided to let her go after snapping the picture.