Heading To Lake Istokpoga Next Weekend 2024

Backlash123 reply :

Heading out to Lake Istokpoga next weekend, anyone been out there lately? How's the fishing been? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

gar-tracker reply :

Great Lake, we are so blessed to live by some of the best fisheries in the world.

As to advice, look at the cover and water situation carefully calculate the position of the sun, check the baramator, temperature, wind, tatse the water for salinity, bring every lure you own...........

Then go pitch black and blue jigs in the reeds.

FishinDaddy reply :

Or you could chunk a toad in the pads for a little while, then go pitch blue and black jigs in the reeds.

Backlash123 reply :

On 4/19/2014 at 6:57 PM, gar-tracker said:

Great Lake, we are so blessed to live by some of the best fisheries in the world.

As to advice, look at the cover and water situation carefully calculate the position of the sun, check the baramator, temperature, wind, tatse the water for salinity, bring every lure you own...........

Then go pitch black and blue jigs in the reeds.

LOL. Sounds like a plan. I was planning on throwing frogs, some swimbaits, and pitching, nothing crazy. Do you guys add anything to the jigs, or just the jig by itself? What weight do you guys use, 1/2 oz or more?

Thanks!

gar-tracker reply :

I trail it with either a Large Zoom Chunk, or one of those creature deals, Otter, Why Not, type bait whatever. I use an off brand get them in bulk on E Bay. Its just a piece of plastic.

At times the Candy Store has them in bulk nice blue and pumkinish two tones.

FishinDaddy reply :

I use a 1/2 oz with any type of creature bait. You just need the bulk. For more weedless I will t-rig a baby paca craw with a punch skirt.

Mike L reply :

Black/Blue 1/2oz jig with paca craw trailer if front, middle and behind any and every reed line are you find.

The throw a skinny dipper color matching the water, in front and through any and every reed line you find.

Go home and pass out.

Mike

Backlash123 reply :

Thanks for the advise guys. I'm all geared up and counting the hours till departure. I'll report back.

Pz3 reply :

I was slaughtering pickeral there today. Only got one bass but the 8pickeral made up for it lol.

Bigguns were hitting top water but they didnt seem to like my skitter walks, devil horses, or speed worms.

Backlash123 reply :

Well, looks like I have everything ready to go, now I just can't wait for Thursday to get here! So far the forecast is no rain and hot, let's see what the weekend brings. I've read and seen lots of pics of some real monsters coming out of there, hopefully I'll get into some decent fish.

Mike L reply :

Depending where you put in Id hit Arbuckle on the North end, Big Island in the middle, and Bumble Bee farther south.

The go home and pass out.

Good Luck

Mike

0119 reply :

I was there a month ago and considering the wind, the fishing was good. Not one lure produced except EZ Swimmers in new shad color.

FishinDaddy reply :

They are pulling water so you should have current in both Arbuckle and Josephine creeks.

http://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/plots/isthp.pdf

The water level is extremely critical in Istokpoga, for both fishing and safety.

Backlash123 reply :

Quick question for the group. For your Pitchin setup, do you straight braid to the hook, or do you use a fluorocarbon leader. I've been using straight braid, but was thinking of using a piece of 30lb fluoro.

Thoughts?

geo g reply :

The water on Poga has been very dirty resently from all the wind. Fishing has been tough resently because of it. If it settles down and clears up a litttle it could be exceptional because it was like that before the big blow. I would hit the north end. Gambler Big E-Z were hot, good luck.

FishinDaddy reply :

NO FLUORO. 65 lb Braid only. 4/0 superline EWG hook and peg the weight if you are punching t-rig.

Mike L reply :

On 4/23/2014 at 8:07 AM, FishinDaddy said:
NO FLUORO. 65 lb Braid only. 4/0 superline EWG hook and peg the weight if you are punching t-rig.

Agree, No leader if you're punching.

Mike

Gotfishyfingers? reply :

Check out Big Island in the middle of the lake (northeast side of it ), or the North east side of the lake. I was there a few weeks ago and those areas were producing. There is also a nice size lily pad field on the North end you should fish.

0119 reply :

Backlash, I always run a 20 or 30lb. mono leader. Just have to for all the snook in my sweetwater. I still would, it's just a confidence thing. I find untangling heavy mono from a brush easier than braid. It just slides where braid saws in. Keeps me from having to go into the fish to rescue by bait.

Backlash123 reply :

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm loving this forum. I've only used straight braid up to now, but been seeing some guys using a mono/fluorocarbon leader. I'll give it a go with both setups and see if theres a difference on the bite. Sounds like the north or North east side is the place to be. I'm going to try frogs early in the morning/late afternoon, then switch over to the pitch. Leaving tomorrow morning, returning on Sunday, wish me luck! Hopefully I can post up some nice fish...

Mike L reply :

Good Luck

Let us know how you did

Mike

Pz3 reply :

I hope you do well. Rather proud to live near this lake. I still call east toho home though

Backlash123 reply :

Well got back last night from the weekend trip to Istokpoga. Did well, I ended up with my PB at 7.22, and took 2nd place overall in our club tournament. I ended up catching all of my fish in the NW corner of the lake (I believe it's called Windy Point). Found a small section of lily pads approximately 50 yards long which held the fish. Most of the lake was pretty muddy, but this area had the cleanest water I can find. Caught all the fish on a 1oz Black/Blue jig, with a Kinky Beaver Okeechobee Craw trailer.

I lost two nice fish which tangled me up in the pads, my wife lost 1 nice fish which spit the jig after a few jumps. Had a great time, with some great people, on a great lake. Life is good. Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions, it's greatly appreciated.

Here's a picture with my biggest fish.

Gotfishyfingers? reply :

Nice fish!! Glad everyone's info paid off for you!

salmicropterus reply :

Ditto on what Fishing Daddy said. I monitor water levels pretty much daily and they have been pulling water and the Lake has dropped about 6" in the last several weeks. Be very careful running into creeks like Arbuckle and the one that runs into Henderson (forgot the name) as they all have a hump in front of them

piscicidal reply :

Great job, Backlash!

BBD reply :

Nice job, but how were you fishing that jig? Were you swimming it, or flipping it? Also, how many fish did you catch entirely?

Backlash123 reply :

Thanks guys. I was flipping it. The fish were on the outside edge of the pads. I only caught two fish on cat tails, the rest were on lily pads. I ended up landing 5 fish, and lost 3, the first one I lost was at least 7 lbs as well.

gar-tracker reply :

Nice fish, good idea to pitch those jigs.

13757

Heading To Lake Istokpoga Next Weekend 2024

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