05/29/13 In the last week we have more and more found the walleyes receptive to taking the whole bait. I say would since opener the “short strike”, not to be confused with the thousands of 14” walleyes in the river right now, was the most common bite you would get, where the walleye would take the bait and avoid the hook. Now I am seeing a more aggressive bite where they have the hook in their mouth much earlier when you get bit.
I figure that the days are getting long and even though the water temp won’t really budge it is in the low 60’s and the fish are just plain getting more aggressive.
As a sign of normality in a spring where the lilacs and the tulips are flowering at the same time, I am happy to see the sheephead going on their late may early June RAMpage. You know the sheeps are often hated, but they are a native specie, and at the very least keep you on your toes. At least at this point in time these drum are not shallowing the hook. I admit that is when they become irritating.
Smallmouth bass. The bronze back bashers opened last Saturday along with the muskies. Both species have been quiet overall. Not really surprised by the slow Muskie bite as it is high cool water. It is strange to me on a day when we go through 6 dozen nightcrawlers and land one smallmouth while walleye fishing – folks that is not normal.
Walleye depths have been all over the board. I have seen on two occasions within the last week how the wind sucked the eyes up shallow and 8 feet deep was where we tagged some good white tips. Otherwise it has been a 14 to 24 foot depth on average. Livebait – crawlers, leeches, and minnows, though as the water warms I will use less minnows personally. Rigging on a sliding sinker Lindy style is my main set up right now. With a decent to good livebait bite I am not trolling, though late last week trolling did well on Thursday and Friday. I have no doubt that if I pulled my Rapala crankbaits through my rigging spots we would bring some nice eyes to the net. Bright colors bright days dark or neutral colors on clouds, firetiger actually covers both these bases very well.
The river has crested and is falling the current level as of this report is 681.4. The water is very clean with minimal debris. The river level projection shows that the water is on the drop despite the rains. Water temperature is 61 degrees.
The first two pics are notable as Jim Wernimonts fish was a true trophy, and the next Pic is Troy with a PB. ALL fish released.
