Water temps and bait fish have been the keys the past couple outings. The cooler temps. at night can really put a damper on the next days fishing but a slow presentation can put a few in the boat. Tuesday I decided to leave the trolling rods at home and concentrate on jigging and rigging. The past few outings found the trolling bite a little off anyways.
Use your electronics to mark either fish or bait. the 1st photo is typical of what I am seeing. Good numbers of eyes, smallies, perch, and white bass all can be found in the same area. The key water temp for me is 65 degree’s if it is below that, I slow my presentation way down. Higher than 65 and fish seem to become more mobile.
Pitching jigs and livebait rigging produced some fine action the past couple of days. Depths ranging from 8 to 15 ft and close to drop off were the most productive. Hair jigs tipped with jumbo leeches and Nuckle Ball jigs tipped with plastic both produced fish. For plastic, black and white ring worms, Berkley Power Baits, and Berkley Gulp all worked well. The second photo is a pair taken on Berkley black shad’s.
Some good gills can still be taken on slip bobber rigs. Crappies can be caught off points using spinners. A good bite is shaping up for the weekend, get the family out for some fun and I will see you on the water, Don
Thursday update- With the water temps closing back in on 70 degrees, the pike bite is really hot. Trolling cranks in 8 to 10ft at 1.7mph.
Hot color- with any luck I will be out of town before Stillakid2 finds out that I revealed his favorite color! Sorry “Kid”.