northerns in the shallows

i’ve been hearing alot about northerns eing up in the shallows right now. i was out fishing all weekend for bass and got into a few smallies here and there. But where do i go to find lots of northerns this time of year. i would have thought that i would have stumbled on at least a few fishing shallow bays.

does anyone know if behind the hospital is good right now for bass or pike.

kevin

If you are looking for big gators try the bay under the I-90 bridge up by the dam. Go all the way to the back and work your way out. They will spawn in there this time of the year. I’ve caught all my nice gators in bays and shallow slow running sloughs in about 3-6 ft. It is never a guarantee to find northerns in every shallow bay. There are other things to consider. ie. current, bottom structure, food…just to name a few. If you can get your boat into Mink Slough, I would try that too.
As far as the pit behind the Hosp. that can be great for Bass and Walleye. Most people this time of the year will fish slow for bass using carolina rigs, mojo rigs, and some hard baits like rogues and traps. A lot of it depends on the trending that JC spoke of in a different thread, and water conditions. I hope this helps.

Look for bays with warmer water. The northerns are getting ready to spawn so the will be moving up into there spawning areas throw baits like #4 #5 mepps bucktail in line spinner spinner baits bigger bass tubes like white 4 inch and bigger and also jerk baits or take live bait approarch and use live suckers and shiners also jerkbaits hopully this will help

The northerns are done spawning. They spawn at ice out, with much of the prespawn taking place under the ice in the back bays. If I remember right, they will usually spawn when the temperature hits right around 40.

Many reports of nice Pike on the shore side of Desbach Dam. They are there every year about this time from the wall to the
shore.

same thing on pool 5, but they are starting to get pretty pressured

I was out fishing the black river, and the mississippi around lacrosse on sunday, we picked up a few northerns on spinners, inline and safety spin..casting shallow bays, ahhh…..spring is here!

Northerns we just thick yesterday on the west shoreline by the Dam. Lot’s caught on the Clements Fishing Barge. Mel got a ten #er and I got a cookie cutter at about 12:45. Both were snagged and both had hooks in their mouth from bite offs.

northerns were also thick along the rock shoreline from the landing up to the warm water discharge at genoa. was bit off three times and landed three snakes while trying to fish for smallmouth.

I have to say that this larger Northern reappearence is exciting to me. There was a time not to many years ago that I fished for northern some part of almost every trip out and sometimes exclusively for weeks at a time. I have been concerned about numbers of larger pike over the past few years, but the slop last fall and what we have seen this spring has put those worries to rest. Add that to the bullheads, perch and bluegill’s big comebacks and I’m so excited I could pop.