Friday, September 01, 2017

Fluorocarbon is denser

Walleye anglers quickly realize that a fluorocarbon leader is nothing like monofilament. Although it may look similar on a spool, it's make up is much different.
Fluorocarbon is denser than monofilament; has less stretch; and obtains a near suspending property in the water, versus floating. This permits baits to be more easily located in different parts of the water column. And mere inches matter when it comes to catching fickle fish.
This means a crawler, leech or minnow fished on a live-bait rig can be fished with more precision.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Lake Winnibigoshish:

 The northern pike has stayed steady throughout the lake in 8 to 12 feet. Walleyes are being caught in the weeds on the lake’s east side and in 16 to 18 feet on Center Bar. Anglers are having walleye success using spinners and crawlers. Jumbo perch are being produced on Sugar Bar in 12 to 15 feet and off Sugar Point in 12 to 18 feet.

Friday, August 25, 2017

Mississippi River Pool 16


Tailwater stage at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad-Cities 7.39 feet and has risen slightly the past few days. Flood stage is 15 feet. Channel catfish - Good: Use nightcrawlers, stink bait or chicken livers above brush piles in the sloughs of the Andalusia Islands. Also try around the mouth of Sunset Marina in Rock Island. Largemouth bass - Fair: Try fishing with plastics around brush piles and logs in the Andalusia Island complex. White crappie - Fair: Use minnows or plastics around brush piles in the Andalusia Island complex. Also try in the Andalusia Harbor. Walleye - No report: Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast crankbaits or troll three-way rigs with nightcrawlers.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Angostura Reservoir:

Walleye bite has slowed considerably though “right spot, right time” will still produce some fish. Lindy rigs and crawlers trolled in 12-20 feet of water are working bet. A few catches of nice sized northern pike have been made lately. And the bluegill bite is currently ablaze with nightcrawlers the bait of choice.

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Chautauqua Lake


The combination of new moon and Eclipse turned the muskies on this week. Mike Sperry with Chautauqua Reel Outdoors reported some good musky fishing in the morning on Monday, taking three fish. The largest was taken on a Leo jerk bait in 14 feet of water off the weed line – a fish that stretched 48 inches. One friend caught two muskies in the morning, another had three. Walleye action continues to be consistent around the lake, but especially up north in the deeper water (25-30 foot depths). Downriggers and lead core line are both working. Hot-N-Tots, Shad Raps and Flicker Shad baits are all working. Worm harnesses will also work, but it’s tough to keep the perch off the line – they are everywhere.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids area: Most of the area lakes and the Mississippi River below Grand Rapids have been seeing great smallmouth bass fishing. The Northern pike bite has been consistent on area lakes and should improve as water temperatures cool. Walleye fishing has been good with rigs and crawlers doing well on offshore structures.

Monday, August 21, 2017

walleyes are the goal

If walleyes are the goal, pay close attention to sonar for the presence of baitfish. Unlike bass there usually won’t be any surface activity with walleyes, but locating the walleye’s food is just as important to catching them as it is to white bass or largemouth bass.
Something like the Raymarine Dragonfly 7 provides a very detailed picture of the bottom and reveals if baitfish are present or not. The Dragonfly 7 is a lot of sonar for not too much money.
This time of year, if there isn’t much for baitfish when fishing for walleyes, fishing doesn’t usually happen in that spot.
However, if the wind is blowing onto a point or shallow water structure, there might be fish feeding in the shallow.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Niagara River


Walleye and bass are still cooperating throughout the system, with bass at the top of the list. Some 5-pound class bronzebacks have been caught. Mike Dulmes of Wisconsin was fishing with Capt. Jake Joseph on Sunday and his biggest was a 5 pounder caught on a shiner. This is the time of year when some fat walleyes show up for the Greater Niagara Fish Odyssey Derby, which runs August 19-27. Worm harnesses or a Yellow Sally fly, spinner and a worm rig are both effective. Joseph noted that the walleye bite picked back up in the past week. A few salmon have been sighted already in the lower river, but it’s still a month off before the regular run should be starting up. In the upper Niagara River, some feisty bass have been reeled in on crabs and shiners. Tubes will also work. Strawberry Island is always a good bet, as is the head of the river. Some big largemouth are also available in the right spots. The Erie Canal is still producing some nice pike and bass as well.