Tonight the fish were alittle more fussy but a quick change in presentation and rod action started putting that bend in the rod that we all enjoy.
I started out with my usual medium light rod and plastics yet no takers. I knew the fish were there. Ever have that gut feeling? Well I did tonight so I changed to a ultra light action St. Croix rod and with the small size bobbers I have been using this year along with 4 lb line and a piece of nightcrawler from HOF I soon was into the fish.
Again the fish were relating to alittle weed growth and there was alittle wood in the area too. They had moved slightly but still are in the general area they were in last week which is shallow water. I’m talking only 2-3ft of water mostly.
I had a quick bite off so I’m guessing one of those ”toothy critters” [northerns] that Jake likes to try catch moved in but I was still able to pull a few more fish from the same area so I’m guessing he didn’t stay around too long. I have a couple of new areas I want to try on the next trip and maybe try some trolling for whitebass as that is always fun.
May your rod always have a bend in it.
Thanks, Bill
Bill if I may pick your brain for a second I have a question. I noticed in this report and you last report that you use a medium light when casting your plastics. Is there a reason you dont throw the plastics on and UL. or do you just like the feel of the medium light while working the plastics. I am always looking for an edge in my fishing and wonder if I am missing anything. I use my 6’6” fast action UL for all my panfish. My next rod I want to get will be st. croix ML, that why I ask the question so when I get it if they is an advantage to using the ML with plastics I can give it a try. Hope I make sense I dotn have a way with the typed words lol.
Tight Lines
jason
Nice gills Bill, man I bet they will be good eating
nice fish Bill!!!
I have been thinking about doing more fishing at lake zumbro this year. I have only fished it a couple of times with not much luck. 
I guess I need to find someone to show me some good fishing spots……..hint….hint. Thanks for the report!!! 
Troy Pike
Hey Jason. I have been starting out with the medium light rod to get a feel for the area. Reason being is that there have been alot of bite offs the last two years from northerns. Also even catfish and carp will hit alot of different lures on the Zumbro. So lately I have started with a heavier action rod [med. light] and if something bigger would be in there I’ll have a better chance of landing it. I like the light action and ultra light action St. Croix rods for panfish. I use both the Avids and Premiers in 6 ft and 6 1/2 ft for fishing. Great rods.
When fishing the plastics about 75% of the hits will come right away when the lure is casted to a spot with a bobber. I will work it back to the boat with a stop and go method. If no takers then I like to work the area over with live bait before switching to a different area. On just about any other body of water I will usually start with the light action rod. Lake Zumbro is a wider deeper area of water on the Zumbro River so there are alot of different fish species in there. It even has muskies. With only one bite off on the last two trips I will probably save the medium light action rod for the whitebass trolling and casting and start with the light action rod. 
Thanks, Bill
ps. I will usually take four rods with me with each rigged up with different lures. Three will have different plastics on them and one set up for live bait. The plastics are usually Mini-Mites, tube, and the third rod will have either a paddletail or a different tube or Mini-Mite colored plastic on it. I like to experment and you never know which one they will prefer.
Troy, try the areas where there are some weeds along with some wood. There doesn’t have to be alot of either. Just enough to attrack the fish. The small bays will have that type of cover. They bays with rock on the shoreline are ”not” the bays I’m using right now. Shallow water and alittle weed growth and a few sticks are all that seems to be needed right now. I’m fishing 2-4 feet of water. Hope this helps.
Thanks, Bill
Thanks for the info Bill. I wrote a thank you reply a few days ago but must have forgot to submit it as it isnt here. I know how it is fishing those good multi species waters. You are right about those st. croix rods being great. I think for panfishing they are even more important than some other kinds of fishing because of the light bites and the bow the wind can put in your line using such a small lure. This is especially true I believe for the way I fish because I very very rarely ever put a bobber on. I always cast and work my bait back to the boat and I know for a fact that the st. croix avid helps me put more fish in the boat working this technique. I can usally feel a crappie hit even when the wind has a big bow in my line. Though watching the line is important too.