Pool 5 Bass & Multi Species

With the amazing weather we’ve been having in November, I have had the itch real bad to get out one last time in 2009 to tangle with some bass. Today, I was able to get out on pool 5 with fellow IDO Staffer John Stears. I have gone on several trips with John before and every time is an enjoyable time! John and I started the day targeting main channel wing dams and other rock structures searching for smallmouth. Within a few casts John got the day started with a nice 2.5 lb. fish on a Northland Mimic Minnow, shortly after I hooked up with another fish in this size range on the Mimic Minnow.

John made several key comments throughout the day about this wingdam being a good place for a pike or walleye and like a magician waving his wand that species would bite. This hefty pike measured in at 36″ and also fell to the Mimic Minnow. Between us both we boated four big pike, including one that was bigger than the pictured one, but declined the photo opportunity with John.

Besides catching smallmouth, pike and walleye on the Northland Mimic Minnow, we also used Smithwick Rogues. Using various retrieves and seeing how the bass reacted was key to being successful. Here is a fat Mississippi River smallmouth that hit my jerkbait. I was using the new Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon today and it is amazing! This double structured formula has increased knot and tensile strength. Even with the cold temperatures this line casted smooth.

As I mentioned above, John was good at calling his shots today. Here is John with a beautiful walleye that fell to the Northland Mimic Minnow. Besides targeting the main channel for smallmouth, we also went looking for some largemouth. Those fish were more reluctant to bite and difficult to locate, but we did get several to commit to the jerkbait. The largemouth were holding near areas that had deeper word and slight current.

The big key to our success today was fishing slow and covering as much water as we could. Within several casts we would know if there were fish on the spot.

I want to thank John again for a great day on the water!