When do folks typically move away from plastics and onto live bait in Pool 4? I’ve been having good results with them this Spring, but I know they get less effective as the temps rise. Or at least I think I know. I know some people use them year round, but is there a time/temp when it is better to switch to live bait? Thanks!
When do folks typically move away from plastics and onto live bait in Pool 4? I’ve been having good results with them this Spring, but I know they get less effective as the temps rise. Or at least I think I know. I know some people use them year round, but is there a time/temp when it is better to switch to live bait? Thanks!
Currently in the transition now, but for me it’s never to ‘live bait’.
You want to present things faster and more aggressively as water warms, and opposite as water cools. Of course there’s always more than 1 way to skin a cat.
Plastics Now.
Also running Blade Baits, Vibratos, Jigging Raps, ripping spoons on warming trending days, but this week pitching plastics slowly has continued to catch fish. (Cooling trend)
That’ll blend into Spinners and Crankbaits as we reach into mid 50’s.
Continue to try new things, never expect one thing to work.
I think they work year round. In my opinion,(on the water I fish) its more of a fish transition from pre spawn to post spawn that appears to slow the plastic bite, but it kicks right back in when recovery begins. $.02
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jabbinpike wrote:</div>
When do folks typically move away from plastics and onto live bait in Pool 4? I’ve been having good results with them this Spring, but I know they get less effective as the temps rise. Or at least I think I know. I know some people use them year round, but is there a time/temp when it is better to switch to live bait? Thanks!Currently in the transition now, but for me it’s never to ‘live bait’.
You want to present things faster and more aggressively as water warms, and opposite as water cools. Of course there’s always more than 1 way to skin a cat.Plastics Now.
Also running Blade Baits, Vibratos, Jigging Raps, ripping spoons on warming trending days, but this week pitching plastics slowly has continued to catch fish. (Cooling trend)That’ll blend into Spinners and Crankbaits as we reach into mid 50’s.
Continue to try new things, never expect one thing to work.
What are you tipping your spinners with early season?
When the water gets in mid-upper 40’s and higher, so does the aggressive crank bait bite. Unless I’m dragging crawlers for down run eyes with a client, NO LIVE BAIT!
Crazy how the spring goes though. Water temps can be near 50 and all day is a whimpering lame jig bite. Sun goes down and you’ll have eyes in 18fow slamming cranks only a couple feet down. Best time of year in my opinion.
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I use plastics till the water temp get to be around 55 degrees. Than I use cranks all the way till
end of october. Once in a while I drag leaches and crawlers in the summer. Live bait is overrated on the river. My .2cents
55-60 degrees is when I typicay start making my switch
Looking at the long-term forecast, plastics are about done for me. Postspawn is generally #5 shad raps and #5 flicker shads long lined or small husky jerks and original floaters pulled on 3 way rigs in my boat. As water temps near 60 degrees, it is all lead core and the occasional spinner rig tipped with leeches or crawlers(leeches during the second half of May and early June, with crawlers after to fit the bug hatches.) The willow cat bite on wingdams really heats up when the peak of summer hits and flow drops, but I rarely do it as I like to be moving.
I like to think of water that is anywhere from 50-70 as an “open gate” on the river. These temps take fish all over and sometimes scatter them quite a bit, therefore I like tactics that cover water. Temps less than 50 and I’m working plastics or typical spring jigging presentations. With water temperatures much over 70, I’m staying near current with cooler water and away from traffic as much as possible.
Your best bet is when they quit working. Think in terms of 50 degree or better water.
Your best bet is when they quit working. Think in terms of 50 degree or better water.
yep, agreed. I do well on plastics well into May most years but every year is different. Don’t believe there is a magic date. Trial and error is the best way to know. Once they start jumping on crank baits hard the plastic bite slows but does not mean they wont work. Still can be a great tool in the right spots some days.
Cant say I ever switch from plastics on the river. Walleyes eat them year round. Typically around fishing opener Ill start pitching jig/crawler but even then still have plastics on another rod. Summer time its good to have a number of rods rigged up with different baits. Quickly you will learn not all the fish on one spot will want the same bait.
Plastics seem to be the hotter bite at least for me as a avid shore fisherman of pool 2. I’ve fished the watergate area for several years now. It has much more better days than none because of plastics. The couple spots I go to there just have been nothing but plastics doing the trick sprinkled in with leeches in the summer,the biggest fish have come off of tubes to be honest, just crazy how the walleyes are so aggressive attacking them they take’em and run. It’s been just fun at the area lots of untapped fish, it has changed a bit from all the high water but the same spots hold fish all year depending on water level.
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