New to open water…NEED HELP!!

I need help. I have been hard water fishing for about 20 years, but never open water, until this past weekend. I build rods as a hobby and finally built a 6.5 ft rod. I am hooked (pun intended). We have a cabin on a crystal clear lake in Wisconsin and this past weekend, caught some smaller northerns and a couple sunnies. I do know that people target bass on the lake as well. Where do I begin with lures? I have my go-tos for ice fishing, but I have ZERO idea where to begin for open water.

Mainly target Bass and panfish, but there are also a small amount of walleye and northerns. There are three connected lakes, and one of the lakes is a bit more murky and that is where the walleye are.

I am starting on a rod for my wife, and am going to build a UL rod for myself as well, so would like to know a starting point. I get the “try a ton and see”, as I have probably $500 in ice jigs and spoons, but only use like 5-10 of them. It would be nice to have a “starting point” where I can go to a store and spend $100 or so and have a good starting point to target these species.

So again, I NEED HELP!! Where do I begin? Colors? Spinbaits? Spoons? I am beyond lost.

A day late, but happy fathers day to all the fathers out there!

For Bass start with shallow crankbaits like square bills 1.5-2.5 size and spinnerbaits mostly black, white and chartreuse will work. Lots of others will say plastic worms and jigs if you want to slow down and fish them. Panfish is almost the same as winter in my opinion just go with colored hooks and flu flu style hair jigs under slip bobbers works. Walleye you could PM me if you want and we could go on for hours but jig heads 1/8-3/8 in all colors but red/black and chartreuse are my go to’s tipped with a minnow,leech or worms. Also drag lindy rigs or all colors and lengths, but start simple don’t need gaudy rigs. Do some internet research, most will recommend Tom Boley’s youtube. Good Luck!

For bass ( At least for the summer pattern that we are in now ) I would always have these three rigs tied on and ready:

1. Jigworm – Probably my #1 go to bait for most of the summer months. either a 1/8 or 3/16 oz jighead ( Depending on wind and water depth you are fishing )and a 7″ power worm will catch a ton of bass. Throw it over weedflats or along weedlines and your will catch bass
2. Dropshot – Takes a little to get use to fishing but catches a ton of fish ( Just watch a few youtube videos to learn how to rig it ) When fish are relating to the outside weededge of deeper weedlines you cant beat the dropshot.
3. A texas rigged worm. When those fish are not over the top of the weeds or out roaming off the weed edge this is what you will want. It allows you to cast just inside those weededges where the jigworm or dropshot would get hung up. When its bright midday often those fish tuck just inside the weededge and you need to get a bait in there to catch them.

If you learn these 3 setups you will catch plenty of bass for the next 8 or so weeks for sure.

I see your located in the Saint cloud area. if you would like to jump in the boat with me some evening or possibly on a weekend – Just send me a private message and we will make it happen.

I think most of my fishing is casting shorelines for bass/northern with white spinnerbaits. The loose $1 ones with the plastic tube guarding the barb seem to work as well as the $7 ones.

If nothing is happening I might try a spoon. The perch colored ones seem to work well.

If it is super weedy I use a bullshot, hook, and plastic worm with the hook end hidden in the worm so it’s weed free.

tindall wrote:

I think most of my fishing is casting shorelines for bass/northern with white spinnerbaits. The loose $1 ones with the plastic tube guarding the barb seem to work as well as the $7 ones.

The problem with the el cheapos is that they’re made of steel and one or two pike ruin it beyond use. Once the frame is bent, they don’t run true anymore. The terminator series has a titanium frame so it doesn’t bend. I’ve found them to be much more durable than steel.

Once again X2 what Gimruis said. I do buy and fish a lot of the cheaper Spinnerbaits in the fall when we catch a ton of pike mixed in with the bass. but I throw mostly a little more expensive once the rest of the season. If you think a Pike will ruin a spinnerbait you shoud see what the catfish do to them. One cat and you will spend some time trying to bend them back into fishable shape.

tindall wrote:

I think most of my fishing is casting shorelines for bass/northern with white spinnerbaits. The loose $1 ones with the plastic tube guarding the barb seem to work as well as the $7 ones.

By the way – Where are you still finding $1 spinnerbaits? Even the cheap ones I find these days are $2-3.

Live bait under a bobber is hard to beat for ANY species really. As water warms up, it sure is fun topwater for the bass. Frogs or floating rapalas work great. Otherwise twister tails and a jig is very effective casting for panfish and bass. I’d be focusing on weedlines right now and even tighter into shore. Get colors that pop…..chartreuse or orange to name a few. Keep an eye out for “fishing garage sales” you can really score on nice stuff for dirt cheap!

I appreciate all the input. Any brands, models, colors, etc?

For Walleye jigs I like the Kailins brand Google eye’s, also the mooneye’s are good. KVD square bills, as mentioned the Terminator spinnerbaits. Lindy’s it really does not matter. Plastics I think it does not matter Berkley Powerbait seems good. I’m sure the Bass guy’s will chime in with there go to’s.

piersm2 wrote:

I appreciate all the input. Any brands, models, colors, etc?

Pretty hard to beat a wacky rig for a soft plastic bass presentation. Simple, easy, and really can’t be presented the wrong way either.

Taking a look at some spinnerbait, what size do you go with?

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gim wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tindall wrote:</div>
I think most of my fishing is casting shorelines for bass/northern with white spinnerbaits. The loose $1 ones with the plastic tube guarding the barb seem to work as well as the $7 ones.

The problem with the el cheapos is that they’re made of steel and one or two pike ruin it beyond use. Once the frame is bent, they don’t run true anymore. The terminator series has a titanium frame so it doesn’t bend. I’ve found them to be much more durable than steel.

A little off topic, but where are you finding the original titanium Terminators (not stainless)? They don’t seem to be being made any more. I’m glad I bought a quite a few when Gander Mt was going out of business. I love those spinnerbaits, but I have two complaints. I’ve lost more blades off of them because of the split rings failing compared to any other spinnerbaits. And while the skirts are nice, they seem to fall apart more easily for some reason.

piersm2 wrote:

Taking a look at some spinnerbait, what size do you go with?

I throw 3/8 oz. about 80% od the time. The other 20% is a 1/2 oz. I only use the 1/2 when its really windy or I want to slow roll then and fish them much deeper.

blank wrote:

A little off topic, but where are you finding the original titanium Terminators (not stainless)? They don’t seem to be being made any more.

You know, someone else asked me that too about a month ago. I haven’t bought any for a couple years now but like you, I stocked up when I last found them. Perhaps with some digging you could still find an online retailer with some stock.

Senko worms in watermelon with red fleck, or Mepps in-line spinner Aglias red and white dressed with the hair on the treble

fishthumper wrote:

Once again X2 what Gimruis said. I do buy and fish a lot of the cheaper Spinnerbaits in the fall when we catch a ton of <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>pike mixed in with the bass. but I throw mostly a little more expensive once the rest of the season. If you think a <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Pike will ruin a spinnerbait you shoud see what the catfish do to them. One cat and you will spend some time trying to bend them back into fishable shape.

or dogfish!

eyeguy507 wrote:

Live bait under a bobber is hard to beat for ANY species really.

I was going to suggest this. Back when most of us were kids, just beginning…this was how we learned.

As a beginner, whether child or adult…this is a great way to start off.

And in a few short years, you’ll have eventually spent over a $1,000 on new lures.

fishthumper wrote:

I see your located in the Saint cloud area. if you would like to jump in the boat with me some evening or possibly on a weekend – Just send me a private message and we will make it happen.

Nice offer there fishthumper.

fishthumper wrote:

By the way – Where are you still finding $1 spinnerbaits? Even the cheap ones I find these days are $2-3.

I don’t really keep track – I just buy them from a rack/bin whenever they are $1 to $1.50. Yea they can bend a bit with the right fish, but you can usually bend them back and that’s why I always buy a few. I’ve had enough break off that it is way more economical to get the cheap ones. I have had several where I was replacing skirts on them so I don’t think they are as flimsy as people might say they are.

Ned Rigs,wacky worming,spinner baits,texas rig worms and tubes,swim jigs.I think as far as spinner bait weight that depends on your rod.If your using a med spinning rod i’d go with a 1\4 ounce,med\hvy 3\8.

reverend wrote:

or dogfish!

I was gonna say that. Bowfin will destroy anything, but they’re fun to catch!