Structure at hagg

[catchinalldafish]

Hey i would like to get into some nice smallies at hagg this year. I tried last year with some success but none like the lake is known for. Any suggestions? Where can i find good cover on the lake, Logs, stumps, and brush piles? I appriciate the help.

[bucketmouth]

Go out there right now while the water is low and drive around the lake. You will find that looking over the lake at this time of year is to your advantage because a lot of structure is revealed. Make notes on where rock piles, stump piles, points with character and other forms of cover are at. Then fish them when the lake opens and the water is higher.

Better yet, if you have a hand held GPS, walk out to the structure and mark the waypoint. Return in your boat when the water is covering that structure.

Hagg can be tough at times. Early in the spring one can fish it hard without ever getting a bite. Since fish will be concentrated early in the spring finding them is the key. There are some bruisers out there, but they can be few and far between.

Higher numbers can be caught as the water warms. By june, the smallies can sometimes be easy to catch. Throw plastics Texas rigged, Carolina Rigged, or drop shotted. Try top water baits first thing in the morning. But once the sun hits the water, switch back to plastics or deep and medium running crank baits.

Good luck. Do a search on this forum, there has been a lot of disscussion about Hagg and it's fickle ways.

[catchinalldafish]

hey thanks for the help, what kind of topwater? or does it matter

[bucketmouth]

When over grassy areas, try a buzz bait. Over points and wood, try a zara spook, creek chub or an minnow imitating rapala. Other top waters to consider are the "Bomber long A", "Pop-r", "Skitter pops", "Hula poppers", "Tiny Torpedo", Lucky Strike "Sammy", Excalibur "spitin Image" and Cotton Cordell "Red Fin". Try some of these. Should do the trick! :smile:

[shalom]

Ditto to what Bucketmouth said . Even if you have a GPS take a camera for pictures.Be sure and take lots of pictures .Make sure you take pictures from a distance and gets some of the shore line with something that will be above the hight water level. Close ups of the stucture looking toward the high water level with something that you can recognized later . It will look so much different when the water is up.Iv;e been there when the water is up and would not believe that i was at the same place.Good luck and let us know how you do.

[bassfishingnw]

When does HAGG open up for fishing??

[sportsman]

I agree with bucketmouth. Borrow your Dad's GPS and since you only have your driving permit you will have to take your Dad along.

[catchinalldafish]

I heard the lake opens up on feb 28...but trout fishing usually doesnt start till april or so if i remember right so i dont know if that goes for bass fishing to or just trout...ill try to find out for sure and let u know

[skeet]

Im pretty sure hagg opens on feb 28th for all fish. They should have been stocking trout since the 1st of the year.

[bucketmouth]

Hagg Lake is open this year for fishing starting Feb 28th and running through Nov 21st.

[Sublime]

Oooh, I've gotta try it out more often now that I live in Mcminnville~

[bucketmouth]

There is a trout derby sponsored by Bi Mart on March 6th at Hagg Lake. The Lake receives 18,000 stocked trout on March 1st. Looks like it might be fun.