Well the time has finally came to get back out on the boat. It seems like it has been forever since I’ve been in the boat with this cold and forever lasting winter. With temps predicted to hit 40 degrees on Tuesday I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get back in the boat. What we were greeted with far exceeded my expectations going into the day!
I expected the mid day bite to be very slow due to the clear and cold water. What we found, much to my surprise was a fair amount of fish willing to bite! It took some fine tuning and location changes to get it dialed in but persistence paid off!
Presentation is key in cold and clear water like we have now. What we found to be the biggest key was to work your lure of choice SLOW. Given the water temperatures are still in the mid to high 30’s that comes as no surprise. Whether you are working blades, plastics, or meat they wanted very little jigging motion and just barely drifting with the current.
I have been asked the question many times of “How do you put so many big fish in the boat in a year?” The simple answer is time on the water. But there is more to it than that, although nothing can replace it.
One of the biggest factors is putting yourself in the correct frame of mind for the day. Very rarely will you go out and catch 30, 40 or 50 fish in a day and catch big ones while doing that. More times than not you have to make a choice of targeting big fish or numbers of fish as they will be in different locations. It can be very frustrating at times but all it takes is one bite and it can make your whole day. Patience and persistence will pay off if you put your time in!
I’m looking forward to what this spring is going to bring us once again. As the old saying goes, the only guarantee on the river is it’s always changing! In the mean time play the weather and get out when you can as the bite is only going to improve from here and more and more “fish of a lifetime” will start to show up, up and down the river system.
I look forward to seeing old and new faces on the river this coming spring!
Don’t forget about the upcoming Freeze Your Butt tourney that will kick off this years fishing and tourney season once again on March 1st! Hope to see you all there!
Tight lines to all!!!!
Looks like a great day on the water Eric. Looking forward to getting back up to P4. 23 more days until I get my annual week of decompression.
great job Eric !!
It’s good to see some open water reports again..
Altough I have some serious work to do on the ice yet this year and I’m not in to big of a hurry to wish the ice away..
Good job guys! I should have played hooky yesterday….
-J.
Great report Eric! I wish I would have called in sick this week..
Great job, always wanted to fish there.
Nice fish! I agree very much on the state of mind.
Nice fish Eric!
Those pictures are definitely making me want to get out in a boat on some open water.
Hi Eric, nice report! I am a pool 4 rookie. But I am trying to learn more. Can you explain more about your decision to look for big fish or numbers? Is it technique or does it come down to spots that will hold bigger or smaller fish? What should a rookie look for out there? Thanks.
Nice report…your method and mindset is right on….
AMEN! Winter has long overstayed its welcome!
Great looking Walleyes Eric
Jack
It usually comes down to location. More times than not that will be away from crowds, and usually means shallower water. When I say shallow water Im generally talking 14′ or less.
Other than at peak spawning time more than likely if your catching smaller fish (12″-18″) the larger fish will not be mixed in with them.
Of course there is always exceptions to every rule and the same goes for this. With that said, it holds pretty true most of the time.
29 days for me John…
Its been a long winter!!! Eric, nice work as usual! Love to see CPR on those big Maternity Eyes alive and well on P-4 after a tough winter season.
Great Report Eric
Nice
Great Read see you have not lost your touch