Hardy Dam Tips

[Fishmael]

I was wondering if anyone has any tips they can share for fishing Hardy?  I have lived in the area most my life and have been there many times, but never to really focus on fishing.  However, since I recently got a boat, I am planning to head up there soon.  I am not looking for specific spots, but more general patterns that consistently work there.  Do you catch them on the main body of water or up the creeks?  What types of lures are the most consistent?  Shallow or deep?  You know, that kind of general info to at least point me in the right direction.  Any help you could lend would be much appreciated. 

Thanks again,
Fishmael.

[Genie]

Wait until Spring

[thedude]

Wait until Spring

best advice you can get!

i'd start up in the river.... moving water tends to be cooler and the river fish don't overreact to the weather as much. Try tubes or cranks near wood and rock. in the spring just tie on a jerkbait and have fun.

[fasttrack]

The others are right about the great spring fishing.

Everytime I think I am starting to figure out Hardy during the summer, I get humbled and start over again. I heard the last club tourney (I didn't fish it myself) a couple weeks ago was won with over 18lbs, Second had over 16lbs, then it dropped way off. Get this: they both fished topwater frogs over weeds and caught mixed bags of LM and SM. Never heard that one before up there! Soft plastic jerkbaits (Flukes) can be good around any shoreline cover. My buddy did decent with both flukes and a spinnerbait on subtle points in the coves on that last tourney. Your favorite topwater bait may be worth trying over weedbeds or along shoreline cover. I tend to know the up-river portion better than down by the dam, but I think you could fish anywhere there and find fish. LOTS of pike around to keep your day interesting too. Good luck!

[Bender]

I went there a couple of times last week, but that was my first time there. It is deep! and the breaks are fast, you will go from 6' to 30' to 60' to 100' in a hurry but there are a few flats off points that I would like to try more. I fished a lot of different types of places when I went out by myself with limited success but it seemed like some fish were suspending out off the points while others were in the limited weed beds on the flats.

[Fishmael]

Hey, thanks for all the info.  It seems like a place with a lot of potential but many challenges in figuring it out.  Sounds like fun!  I like to catch good smallies, so if I can figure it out, it might become my favorite local fishing hole.  Thanks again for the tips.