fishguy

The easiest way to catch big fish at Braunig this time of year is to fish with live bait, near the bottom in 12-16 feet of water.
First use a cast net to catch some shad or small sunfish, or tilapia. the best size is about 3-4 inches long. Shad need to be kept in a live well or they will die. Sunfish or Tilapia will stay alive in a 5 gallon bucket for quite a while.
Use a good flexible rod like an ugly stick with a ambassador 6500 reel or equivilent. Minimum 12 pound line, up to 20 is ok but will have a lot of resistance and if the wind is blowing,it can be hard to keep near the bottom.
On the end of your line put a 1/2 oz egg sinker, and a swivel, then about a
18inch, 20 pound leader and then a 2/0 Kahle hook. Hook your bait right through the front of his eye socket. Drifting is fun and productive, the weight takes the bait down near the bottom and as you drift, the bait will follow and swim along. Everytime he struggles, its like ringing the dinner bell.
Leave the dock at Braunig and drive around to the far side of the jetty, and go toward the power plant. When you get to 16 feet of water stop and lower your lines to the bottom and then back up about a foot. Work the area toward the right but don't go to far from the power plant because it gets real shallow. Hold on to your rods or keep them in a good holder because the reds are averaging ten to 12 pounds. They will take a lot of line but don't horse them in. They will break you off if you do. Just play em and enjoy the fight, in and out for 5-10 minutes. Its all open water with very few hangups so let the fish run and keep your drag light.
If you don't have a boat you can rent one there. Any thing that floats will work for this kind of fishing, which is best from 6:30 am-11:00 am.
You can also troll crankbaits up and down the jetty early but there are lot of snags. Go to the far side again and don't drop your line till you get to the
3rd light pole. Then fish as close to the rocks as you can.
You can fish to the right of the spill way on the dam for a long stretch but the depth contours go in and out and its hard to stay at a certain depth.
If you want to go all out and fish with down riggers, just get a couple of manual down riggers, some #13 Tony Acetta spoons , Gold Or Silver, lower them down 11 or 12 feet and take off. Along the dam. and any where on the far side of the jetty is good. If you can't get a boat, the only way to fish is with a surf rod at dead tree point. There are some big fish caught there but you have to be patient. If you go on a Saturday, I'm in the big white boat,"Sumthin Fishy" be sure & say hi! Good luck!