Opening Day Tatics

  • derek_johnston
    On the water- Minnesota
    Posts: 5022
    May 23, 2007 at 2:08 am #1287817

    What is going to be your opening day tactics? Water temps are in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s. Bugs just hatched and water is semi clear.

    Plastics? Cranks?

    Bob Carlson
    Mille Lacs Lake (eastside), Mn.
    Posts: 2936
    May 23, 2007 at 2:41 am #574024

    Plastics!

    B-Fish-N-Tackle K-grubs in the gold shine color!!!

    jeremy-liebig
    mpls
    Posts: 1455
    May 23, 2007 at 2:54 am #574026

    What the heck are you Walter guys doing talkin’bout basses?

    nick
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 4977
    May 23, 2007 at 3:32 am #574033

    Quote:

    What the heck are you Walter guys doing talkin’bout basses?

    Small mouth are a loophole to avoid bass fishing shame. Small mouth fishermen are ok

    corey-studer
    Posts: 423
    May 23, 2007 at 11:52 am #574076

    Senko! Senko! Senko! Then cast a Salmo! (boxer or #8 floating Perch)

    spider_island
    Posts: 16
    May 23, 2007 at 5:09 pm #574221

    I’m sure we’ll see a few boats hovering over beds with slip bobbers and leeches. I’ll stick with the pre-spawn cruisers on jerks and grubs.

    Bob Carlson
    Mille Lacs Lake (eastside), Mn.
    Posts: 2936
    May 23, 2007 at 9:38 pm #574319

    I would hope that people don’t live bait fish them…..

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    May 23, 2007 at 11:43 pm #574356

    Quote:

    I would hope that people don’t live bait fish them…..

    They do…

    One reason I will not fish Mille Lacs on opening weekend. I can not watch that anymore.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    May 23, 2007 at 11:48 pm #574358

    Plastics would be my choice. I can’t be up there for a few weeks but my choice then will be plastics unless James fills me in on his Mepps secrets by then.

    Or do senkos work better James?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    May 24, 2007 at 12:28 am #574376

    You just named two effective baits I don’t care to fish with… lol I’ll fish them when necessary but reserve the right to whine a little in the process.

    spider_island
    Posts: 16
    May 24, 2007 at 12:49 am #574382

    I hear ya, Slider. I can’t stand to watch the leech fisherman go after spawning smallies. I fish smallie lakes around Hayward where you can watch boats practically get in line from dawn to dusk to take turns catching the same smallies on the same beds with a bobber and leech. Those fish must get caught 20-30 times before heading out of the bay.

    That said, I’m no angel. I’ve gut-hooked plenty of smallies on Senkos during the summer. Sometimes you can’t stick those fish fast enough when they inhale Senko candy. My plan is to try wacky rigging with circle hooks this year – if I can get my Lund on the lake. I’ve got to release more of those pigs so I can break the state record in the next year or two.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    May 24, 2007 at 12:57 am #574384

    Quote:

    My plan is to try wacky rigging with circle hooks this year


    That works great, I bring a novice now and then to chase smallies with me and it is great because I tell them to watch their line and when it moves just to start reeling. The next thing you know they are hooting and hollering

    fish_any_time
    Champlin, MN
    Posts: 2097
    May 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm #574477

    Quote:

    I tell them to watch their line and when it moves just to start reeling

    Slider, Do you fish with a hi-vis line or plain mono. I was considering using hi-vis for that exact reason but am unsure if these fish are line shy.

    spider_island
    Posts: 16
    May 24, 2007 at 2:00 pm #574524

    I tried Fireline Crystal this spring on a clear lake – tied directly to a hook and Senko. No bass while my buddies caught them with Senkos tied to mono. I switched back to 8lb Silver Thread and immediately started catching them. That Berkley stuff should be called “Fireline Pearl” – don’t believe the ads about it disappearing under water. I’ll just use it for rigging walleys or with flouro leaders for smallies.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    May 25, 2007 at 12:22 am #574784

    Quote:

    Slider, Do you fish with a hi-vis line or plain mono. I was considering using hi-vis for that exact reason but am unsure if these fish are line shy.

    I use either Maxina Ultragreen, Tactan, or McCoy’s Mean Green. All mono but easy to see for me.

    robstenger
    Northern Twin Cities, MN
    Posts: 11374
    May 25, 2007 at 3:12 pm #574965

    Quote:

    All mono but easy to see for me.

    Even at your age?????

    I should be the last one giving you crap about your vision being bad.

    micah-witham
    Richfield
    Posts: 604
    May 25, 2007 at 8:59 pm #575061

    does anyone know how the bug hatch effects the smallies? we plan on fishing on the south end with plastics and topwater. never fished it on opener so i’m curious what people think.
    micah

    bucky12pt
    Isle Mn
    Posts: 953
    May 25, 2007 at 10:23 pm #575074

    I’ll be sticking to x raps and huskys to start with and once I locate a couple then down to jigs and worms.

    If we get a North wind and water temps are around 60 top water could be hot.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    May 26, 2007 at 3:04 am #575113

    Quote:

    does anyone know how the bug hatch effects the smallies?


    They shut down completely, just stay home

    I have never really seen much change. Sometimes you catch them, sometimes you don’t. If you can find them they will bite.

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