Since this will be my first fall attempt at extensively fishing Pepin and up river in my own boat, I thought I would share what has and what has not worked for me. It is still technically summer but it won’t be long and hopefully us that fish it can share some info as the season goes on.
Anyway I launched out of Hok-si-la in the morning and planned on hitting up a spring spot up first since it’s on the way to Maiden rock which was my destination, and it was a complete bust. That basically killed 2 hours so I got out of there in search of some areas with more current. It was flat calm out there and water temp was 73.
Upon my arrival I set up in 15′ of water and put out a spinner, minnow and bottom bouncer and pulled it along and got into a handful of shorts both eyes and sauger. Was not too impressed but it was a start so I motored back up a ways and pitched the rip rap with a few different plastics. I finally connect on 2 nice thick 18-20 inch white tips near a sandy point. It was around noon and I guess I was a bit surprised they were up in less than 3 feet of water but happy non the less. I thought I hooked into another dandy but when I got it where I could see it, it took off like a torpedo so I knew what it was. The pike proceeded to leap once and it was fun for about 20 seconds until the inevitable happened.
Packed up and went back to Frontenac area and picked up my PB drum off the top of a point. Probably went around 5-6lbs? Pulled a spinner a little deeper down river just down from the landing and had a lot of marks but that was a bust as well so I decided on a final drift down from long point and ended up with a few crappie and well, more drum.
Overall pretty ok day. Still too dam hot out there but I can’t catch them on my couch. I think live bait rigging is still going to produce more fish until the temps take a dive but it won’t be long. Not much of a troller but there were some guys pullling cranks….never saw the nets out. I’m planning on going up river next few days and try the head of the lake this time. Good luck if you’re out there!
September 8, 2018 at 10:28 am
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