Current lure selection

So you’re telling me for fishing wingdams or riprap crankbaits just don’t come into play right now?

I tried really hard last week to make that bite happen and got nothing they really want jigs and plastic.

If I was looking to get bit using something other than a jig/plastic, (or jig/minnow if you prefer) I would be throwing a stick bait during the cold water period instead of a crank bait.

Not that crank baits won’t produce, but in my experience, in water colder than 40 degrees or so, stick baits have far, far out produced crank baits.

In late, late fall, winter & really early spring when water temps are below 40 degrees, my primary choice of lure is either a stick bait or jig & plastic.

are nightcrawlers effective at all this time of year, or is live bait limited to mainly fatheads for attracting walleyes?

My preference for live bait at this time of the year would be a large fathead, red or black tail chub.
A night crawler might put a walleye in the boat here and there but it certainly isn’t going to consistently out fish other baits.

For night fishing, its unlikely that I would be using any live bait at all.

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are nightcrawlers effective at all this time of year, or is live bait limited to mainly fatheads for attracting walleyes?

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We catch walleye/sauger steadily all year around on jigs+ crawler. Everyone around us is fishing minnows, becasue we all know you HAVE to fish minnows in the winter, and we are just slaying the fish on worms. Every single year worms have outproduced minnows/plastics for us year around.

thanks joel and b bk, Ill be sure to look into the chubs, and thats for the info on crawlers. On the Croix dragging/jiggling fatheads is what worked for me once it got cold. Are suspending husky jerks useful at this time of year?

If you guys are looking for a line on night crawlers, Everts will fill your bill.

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Are suspending husky jerks useful at this time of year?

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Yes. They can be very good baits at this time of the year.

I might add that when night fishing at this time of the year, I’m not all that interested in catching small walleyes & saugers. Not that I mind when they show up on the end of my line but thats not what we’re targeting.

I’m well aware that some people like to use night crawlers during cold water periods. I have used them and much prefer a minnow over a night crawler the majority of the time and as I said above, when night fishing, its unlikely we will even bring along live bait.

But that’s fishing and other people have their own preference.

thank you fleetfarm and your every other month rapala sales, I have husky jerks up the wazoo. Does the version matter, or are jointed jerks just as effective as the regular variety?

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So you’re telling me for fishing wingdams or riprap crankbaits just don’t come into play right now?

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There are some situations where I’ll toss cranks over jig/plastics this time of year. Most often in cases where every jig pitched gets snagged. Tossing a crank up in those same areas and getting bit over snagged is a no brainer. But if I can get those fish on a jig, its the way to go. Just one hook in the fish over trebbles at night is easier on the fish and easier to get back fishing.

-J.

Don’t overlook hard baits that can be fished like a jig either. Blades, or rattling baits like this Rippin’ Rap are effective as well, particularly at night when vibration is key to helping the fish find your offering!