Cane poling for walleyes? Open water ice fishing in July? What else would you call filling a limit with eater ‘eyes in less than four feet of water on a sunny morning?
Conventional wisdom says walleyes cruise shallow water in running sloughs of the Mississippi all summer long. Vertical jigging with light jigs and light line over the gunnel will catch fish. But REALLY catching fish means getting the bait away from the boat and targeting ambush points where the wayward walleyes move to find easy pickings–like directly below snags or the trailing edge of a sandbar dropping into slightly deeper water. ESPECIALLY the spot on the spot where slack water meets fast water at the end of the snag–or the ‘corner’ of a sand bar’s lower edge where two current converge.
This tactic will also work on waters like the lower Wisconsin river and edges of cane beds like you’ll find on the upper lakes of the Winnebago chain.
Walleyes in shallow water under bright sky are wary! A canepole enables a completely vertical presentation without drag on the line from current.
A smaller bait profile- a medium leech or a half nightcrawler-seems to work better than a "mouthful" of bait…and if you get a gal that’s too big to hold, just drop the pole in the river and follow it until the fish tires out! Grandpa was a genius. And when it comes to catching shallow water ‘eyes in mid-summer Grandpa’s technology is cutting edge!
Ted,
Thanks for reminding us that simple can be brilliant.
Great report Ted.
We use the cane poles on the shallow waters of the St. Croix also. What a blast. Unlike what gramdpa used to use. We prefer the new telescoping cane poles. A 12′ pole with the same amount of line on works great.
I can remember being about 8 years old over on pool 13 of the Miss and having a big ol’ bass bite the worm on my cane pole. Started yelling for Dad, who came running down the hill, grabbed the pole and saw the critter was just too much for the tackle so he THREW THE POLE IN THE WATER!! Of course, i started whining. The ol’ guy told me to go get in the rowboat. We followed the pole around the slough for awhile until Dad figured the bass was tired, then he just hoisted her in. Of course, this is back before catch and release was in vogue. The bass was maybe five pounds, maybe just three. But anyway, it was a horse…and a valuable lesson on having a contingency plan ready to go. suspect this wasn’t the first time the ol’ guy used a cane pole as a giant bobber!
I love your stories Ted. Can’t wait to get out fishing again. Water is down in the Fort area so you can launch at all places at Blackhawk but still NO WAKE which should be lifted soon. Just have to figure out whats biting. Haven’t fish my stomping grounds for some time now.