Done using livebait for spring walleyes!

  • tedpeck
    Genoa Wi
    Posts: 267
    #1246045

    After a long period of profoundly deep thought I’ve sworn off livebait for pre-spawn walleye fishing to test a theory:

    1. Because of cold-blooded metabolism active feeding windows in cold water are minimal
    2. A reflexive strike should have a higher percentage of effectiveness than the short periods when walleyes really feel like feeding in cold water.
    3. If the strike is reflexive the importance of scent is minimal
    4. If a minnow is impaled on the hook with a less than natural presentation, any feeding appeal is minimized
    5. Why go to livebait after a monster cold front? The barometer has already squeezed the walleye’s bladder so much that it doesn’t feel like eating, provoking a strike with a finesse presentation should be more effective.

    SO FAR this spring I’ve played even or a little better when fishing with others using livebait. I typically don’t fish when guiding, but some clients want to see if the theory works, insisting that i try plastics or hair while they jig or rig with bait…with the understanding that any fish I catch while guiding go back in the river. Might have to stop this…twice clients have gotten cheesed when eaters were tossed back in that would have filled out their limits and we came in short.
    Preliminary research tells me plastics/hair are every bit as good as minnows. Just like using blade baits, throwing plastic or hair is a matter of FAITH..and if you REALLY BELIEVE in what you’re doing you’ll fish harder and catch more fish.
    I BELIEVE in those Lindy Munchies and Ringworms.
    I BELIEVE in the B-Fish-N ringees and super-dos.
    I KNOW NOT HAVING THE LIVEBAIT CRUTCH IS MAKING ME A BETTER ANGLER!!! (Those of you who have shared the boat with me know this doesn’t take much to accomplish!)
    Maybe I’m getting flaky, like those guys who use only dry flies for trout that wouldn’t be caught dead with ‘garden hackle’
    Really not trying to prove anything–to myself or anybody else. Just trying to gain more insight into the way walleyes operate.
    Just thought I would think out loud in this forum. Does anybody else out there hear fish voices in their dreams???

    gunflint
    gunflint trail, mn
    Posts: 100
    #351555

    I wish you well in your quest. I too swore off live bait in the spring of 2003. I lasted about 2 weeks.

    When you figure out away to get those fish out of your dreams let me know.

    james_walleye
    rochester, mn
    Posts: 325
    #351558

    I had the same thoughts until about 3 weeks ago. We went too Red Wing for the first time ever with no live bait. We caught zero and the only fish we saw being caught anywhere were by people slowly pulling lindys up river with minnows. I wont make that mistake again.

    amwatson
    Holmen,WI
    Posts: 5130
    #351561

    I have also swore off live bait this spring. I may not catch as many as the guy using live bait, but that is okay with me. It seems I catch better sized fish with plastics. I am addicted to the BfishN line of tackle and will continue to use it until the walleye make the switch to live bait. So until then, no more wasting money on minnows.

    fishahollik
    South Range, WI
    Posts: 1776
    #351563

    I aplaud your efforts to quit. I quit many years ago. I rarely get skunked. (actually never been skunked, just ran out of time) I have used minows only one day in last 3 years. I do however use live bait in the summer. (crawlers/leeches/willow cats).

    chris-tuckner
    Hastings/Isle MN
    Posts: 12318
    #351565

    Every fish I have posted up with a picture this year came on plastic. Go with what you are confident in using!
    Tuck

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    #351570

    I have never used live bait on pool 4 in five years of spring fishing there. People fishing with me have but they have not really done any better on legal fish. They have caught more undersized eyes and Sauger.
    With the knowledge I have gained through this website and fishing with guys like James, Jarrad, etc…. I have CPRed more really big Walleyes on plastics in the past couple years than in the previous 25yrs fishing the Upper Great Lakes and Midwest with conventional live bait methods.
    Although the upper Mississippi(IMHO), is one of the best walleye fisheries in North America. That doesn’t hurt the odds!

    rmartin
    United States
    Posts: 1434
    #351579

    Quote:


    5. Why go to livebait after a monster cold front? The barometer has already squeezed the walleye’s bladder so much that it doesn’t feel like eating, provoking a strike with a finesse presentation should be more effective.


    If I remember correctly, 33 feet of water = 1 atmosphere of pressure or 30 inches of mercury in a barometer so a walleye only needs to move up or down a couple of feet to conteract virtually anything mother nature throws at us in the way of pressure changes.

    It has been well over 5 years of no meat on the hook for me. I still catch a lot of fish on twister tails, but have had some success on ringworms and superdoos so thanks to this site for enlarging my options.

    derek_johnston
    On the water- Minnesota
    Posts: 5022
    #351580

    I’m trying to quit myself. I’ve tried the leech patch and crawler patch but the cravings are still there. My doctor now has me on 20mg of Minnowban..

    B-fish-N ringies work well for me on Mille lacs smallies..

    jhalfen
    Posts: 4179
    #351589

    I’ve been trying really really hard to not touch a minnow this spring. 4 trips so far and no minnows yet. I still end up buying them from Steve at Everts, but sooner or later he’s just going to hand back an empty minnow bucket and tell me that I really don’t need them. Every fish that has come to the boat so far this spring has been on a superdoo, a ringie, or a paddletail. I have to say that I am impressed with the average size of our fish this spring compared to past years’ minnow-caught fish. Better walleye-to-sauger ratio as well.

    mossydan
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    Posts: 7727
    #351593

    I use minnows on a jig for 4 reasons, adding extra scent, slowing the fall of the jig, i can fish slower and control my jig better over structure. Although im a bait fisherman i used to fish with a guy that at times he’d throw out on the break and just let his jig and twister lay on the limestone bottom and he caught walleyes. I really do believe my odds around here are better with eigther minnows or nightcrawlers on jig but to tell the truth ive never fished just straight jigs without minnows except for crappies.

    jld
    Holmen
    Posts: 813
    #351623

    I have to say that I have seen the light on plastics as well. Having spent most of my life fishing the lakes of northern WI we always had minnows or crawlers in the boat. The last few times out I decided to really try the plastics and by using a few of the tips listed on this site and the success I encountered I have a lot of confidence in my ability to catch fish without live bait now. I am also amazed at the aggressive hits the ringworms produce. I will probably still continue to buy a scoop of minnows but I will start with the plastics before I dip my hand in that bucket of chilly water.

    Eric Rehberg
    Eau Claire, WI
    Posts: 3071
    #351629

    every fish that i have caught in the last 5 years have either been on hard baits (cranks) or plastics (ringies). i have not fished with any live bait on the miss. it is all about the confidence game. if you know your bait will catch fish then you try even harder and make it catch fish. I also do not think i have ever been skunked while fishing the miss.

    Just my .02

    Walleye Fool

    Fishing Machine
    Lansing, Ia
    Posts: 810
    #351642

    I’ve always fished live bait. And then last fall when it turned cold and nasty I decided to leave the minnows in the bucket after about freezing my hands off feeding the fish. They were just snatching the minnows as soon as you dropped it in the water. Enough was enough. Got my plastics out and was able to catch nearly everyone that hit my hook. Jigs and plastics for me from now on. Summer time might be different.

    GEEMAN
    Fort Atkinson , WI
    Posts: 281
    #351676

    I hav’nt had any luck on plain plastics localy yet this spring. In mid Feb that’s all I was using on the Wisconsin river and doing quite well. I’ll continue the jig and minnow dance localy for another week or so but once the water warms up some then it will be plastics and cranks for me until next late winter/spring. It’s a confidence thing with me going with the jig/minnow routine this time of year. So far my biggest fish is a 26″ walleye I caught Monday on a jig and minnow. Hard for me to give up the same old same old when you get into fish like that.

    gonefishing
    Lacrosse Wi
    Posts: 495
    #351677

    I’m still working on it. I was only converted to a walleye seeker last year or is it two already? Well anyway I’ve been fishing ringworms and using twister tails and have some paddle tails but I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet. Have had the most luck on a twister tail on a hair jig. I know as soon as I start catching fish the confidence level will go up and that will be all it takes. Just like fishing that favorite lure all the time. But the minnows are still with me and I’ve turned to them when I couldn’t catch a fish.

    krisko
    Durand, WI
    Posts: 1364
    #351681

    I went out yesterday and used plastics. I was using ringworms and paddle tails. I caught just 2 small sauger. Everyone I saw catching fish was using minnows. I also talked with a couple of guys who said they were having problems catching them on plastics in the afternoon and early evening. I personally don’t use much live bait in the spring, but I wished I had it yesterday.

    jeff-patrick
    Fort Atkinson, WI
    Posts: 2128
    #351683

    oh no, spilling your guts again. buddy

    tedpeck
    Genoa Wi
    Posts: 267
    #351684

    Thanks much for your input, guys! I think we’re on to something–bigger fish! The challenge for me is on smaller rivers with fewer fish, like the Rock in south central Wisconsin.
    Another benefit of going plastic is fewer frozen fingers from forgetting the minnow dip net…not to mention the cost of styrofoam minnow buckets….I’ve got about 11,000 of ’em in the garage, most with busted lids, to give to a good home.
    Just did my radio show for WJVL-janesville, wi.–on plastics and having FAITH that they work. If you BELIEVE in this presentation, you tend to concentrate more. Thru FAITH all things are possible…which makes the prospect of whackin’ ‘eyes after Easter sunrise service doubly sweet!!!

    fishman1
    Dubuque, Iowa
    Posts: 1030
    #351703

    I haven’t used live bait in the cold weather months for over a dozen years. I actually believe I do better using plastics. One huge advantage of plastics is when you have a hit but cannot get a hook set you can just keep on fishing instead of having to reel up to check you bait. The more time you keep your offering in the zome the more fish you will catch.

    Eyehunter

    fishiowa
    NW, IA
    Posts: 52
    #351773

    I have not used live bait in the pre-spawn for many years. Mister Twisters have always worked well for me. Green, white or black have been the best producers for me.

    Steve Hix
    Dysart, Iowa
    Posts: 1135
    #351849

    After I drive 4 hours to get to the fishin’ hole I am going to use every trick I know to catch em’. We always pack along some of Steve’s minnows. Sometimes we don’t use them, sometimes we do. If thats the ticket that day, so be it. People should be careful using words like never.

    Pig-hunter
    Southern Minnesota
    Posts: 600
    #351888

    When fishing rivers, I don’t use live bait all that often either. I still have it in the boat though and my fishing partner is generally a meat dragger. If he is really smoking me, then I will switch but otherwise, I stick to plastics. There are times when live bait will outproduce though, so I always keep some around.
    In lakes, I haven’t quite mustered up the confidence to go with plastics first… yet.

    tedpeck
    Genoa Wi
    Posts: 267
    #351572

    And plastic doesn’t die in the minnow bucket!

    nick
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 4977
    #352167

    Suprising for me, I had a day out there with plastics, it seemed we had better quality fish than others, and we seemed to catch more than others, that being said I spent yesterday on the river and we only had 2 fish, 1 small eye, and small sauger, 1 on plastic one one jig and minnow, it seems more people were catching fish on jig and minnow than plastic. Who knows, I’ll stick to plastic, but I think I need to bring a scoop of minnow in case.

    tedpeck
    Genoa Wi
    Posts: 267
    #352818

    Thanks for all the input! I’m gonna incorporate it into an article appearing in next Sunday’s Janseville Gazette..

    GEEMAN
    Fort Atkinson , WI
    Posts: 281
    #352835

    So far this spring I have had zero luck on plastics. I’m a BIG believer in them and as I posted earlier plastics and cranks will be all I use soon. In the last 2 weeks my buddy and I have landed ( Not kept ) close to 60 ( maybe more ) keepers on a jig and minnow. Fish from 15 1/4 to 26″ on from what the boards say is a tough to non existant bite. Also , we’ve caught more keepers than undersized fish too. I’d say 15 of the total fish were 20″ + as well. Somehow I can’t argue with results like that.
    I believe %110 of you guys who are using plastics with great success are telling the truth. Guess I’ll chalk it up to lack of experience ( or confidence ) on my part when it comes to spring plastics.
    I’ve been fishing the crowd with MANY guys fishing plastic. I’ll tell you what , I’ve out fished them at least 3 to 1 in keeper fish. Some days more than that.

    I have my ideas why I’m doing well and the plastic guys are not and if true there should’nt be any drop off in fish caught betwen plastics/jig minnow. I am going to try plastics the next few times out and test those theories. No matter what though , I’ll probably always have minnows in the boat fishing late winter/early spring.

    drewsdad
    Crosby, MN
    Posts: 3138
    #352837

    Hey Ted!
    At what water temp do you (or others) put away the plastics? I’m guessing its somewhere in the 50’s. Or do some folks keep fishing them year round? Thanks for the answers!

    dd

    Mike W
    MN/Anoka/Ham lake
    Posts: 13294
    #352844

    The abillity to quickly change colors and styles of lure you are presenting is one big advantage of fishing plastics. Haveing a box with lots of different styles and colors of plastics is great for matching what the fish want. It seems like most guys that fish minnows just buy say 1 scoop of fatheads. Thats what you are stuck with for the day. Not much abillity to change size, or color or style of minnow. Being able to quickly change these factors is one place where plastics seem to have the upper hand.

    Size of the plastic bait is another thing I like about them. Walleyes have no problem smacking a 4″ to 5″ bait. Buying minnows of this size for every trip would put a big dent in most of our pocket books. Im also sick of tending to minnows and replaceing minnow buckets.

    Minnows do still get a little bit of time in my boat now and again. Mostly during the summer months while bottom fishing the holes on the upper croix. Leaving a plastic sitting on bottom just seems to be the wrong presentation. But even while bottom rigging with one pole the other most likely have a ringie on it pitching to structure or surface feeding fish.

    To each there own but the bucket full of plastics is a major bait for me now adays.

    GEEMAN
    Fort Atkinson , WI
    Posts: 281
    #352845

    Drewsdad , Personaly , I don’t much pay attention to water temps. I let the fish tell me what to use and when. Soon for me I’ll put the minnows away and fish ( cast ) nothing but plastic and cranks until next spring.
    In mid Feb I was casting plastic on the Wisconsin river and doing pretty good. Localy though I hav’nt had any luck at all with plastic yet. With these warmer air temps those fish will turn onto casted plastic/cranks shortly. When they do I’ll fish plastic/cranks until the river ices over again. Last year that was in early December. Basicaly there were only 3 months I did’nt fish open water ( rivers )last year without plastic and that was because of ice.

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