Strip-Ons/Spinner Minnow On Millie

  • dan-larson
    Cedar, Min-E-So-Ta
    Posts: 1482
    #1286631

    I know stickbaits and cranks are #1 after dark in the fall on Mille Lacs. But considering what those baits are made to mimic (Baitfish), it leaves me wondering as I sit here at work if strip-ons or even large snelled blades pulled weightless, tipped with suckers, redtails, creek chubs, etc. might be a viable option for nights when the bite is tough.

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    #321966

    When the bite is tuff, I’ll downsize the crank and slow down. If it’s really tuff, I’ll anchor up on key spots and bobber fish.

    I’ve never tolled live bait rigs after dark. I have added a piece of crawler to the belly hook of a crank however….

    -J.

    Steve Root
    South St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 5623
    #321984

    I have an old book written in the early 30’s by Ray Bergman, a famous fisherman and writer of his time. In the chapter he wrote on walleye fishing he suggests slow trolling at night with what he calls a June Bug spinner or a Susquehanna spinner. Both of these consisted of a wire trace with an inline blade and a large single hook. He suggests baiting it with Crawlers or a minnow, and keeping it near the bottom.

    This is quite a book. It’s amazing how many “new” techniques were used 60 years ago!

    Rootski

    DeeZee
    Champlin, Mn
    Posts: 2128
    #322019

    Dan,

    I have pulled big suckers late in the fall at night for walleyes on a central Minnesota lake where I grew up. That used to be our mainstay before we gained confidence of the crankbaits and plastics.

    For Mille Lacs the last couple years during the day, we have been longlining large sucker minnows weightless on a 3/0 or 4/0 worm hook real slow along the weed edges. Obviously gave way to some nice pike but the walleyes took them just as hard as the pike!

    Thanks fo the reminder Dan!

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