P4 Report

Wanted to put this in the Mississippi River section, but it would not let me.

Fished four hours yesterday going in at Pepin harbor. It was a nice nite. Worked on getting used to the down riggers. Did learn they are not a lot of fun if you have to run them from your knees in a small boat.

But, they did produce. We were marking lots of small fish, mostly out in 25+ feet, suspended. I used the 50hz ‘ducer and it worked well. Not as nice as paper, but sufficient.

Haven’t started using the charting capability yet, but the GPS is finding my position. I need to convert my Lakemaster to MMC, I believe to run on the X-15. Wish that I could shift over and use the X-17 on the smaller boat, just for kicks.

I dragged sticks only. The only pattern that produced was fire tiger, 3X.

I did learn that the smaller walleyes will not break even a single rubber band. Don’t know how to solve that… Guess that you just have to check your lines routinely.

I switched to larger sticks after that and caught one 18″ sauger and a 22″ sauger. Normally, I’d have eaten those fish, but it was late and I did not feel like cooking, so they were released.

On a side note, my neighbor produced several (4) 3-5# pike casting to the shallows with bladed hair baits. 7-9pm. nothing bigger, but eventually he will hit one…

Have you tried just pulling lead core? Seems a little more hassle free than messing with down riggers on the lake

Have used lead core a long time ago and I do prefer DRs to them.

They are not so bad once you get used to them and I CAN stack 2-3 lines per rigger, which makes a difference when fishing WI side.

What size bands are you using? A single number 16 band should break, at least I would think.

i was using 16s (i believe), but the fish were very small, i.e. 3/4 pound. I’ll probably have to size down for these fish…

Sure do like the electrics. my first. had all manuals while guiding on michigan…

Im on the same side as (Sauger) i have been down there the last 2 days and produced lots of saugers with lead on the same depth you were in. good luck.

hey, there’s nothing wrong with lead. i used it a long time.

but, when i’ve got nine lines to keep track of, i like DRs…