Baitfish pods/clouds and how Walleyes relate..

[Nodak7mm]

Say I am fishing a resivoir, dragging cranks thru and around baitfish clouds I am marking on my LCD. Not really marking any arcs/fish (maybe 1 or 2 small arcs) and not really getting hit on the cranks? The dang skipjacks are there tho, which I percieve to be the smaller arcs I see

Do I stick around the bait clouds even if I am not marking fish? Drop electric and toodle around taking a stealthy look? Try a different tactic? Just because I mark baitfish, does that necessarly mean there are predators around? This kicked my butt twice this summer (both hot consecutive days in July) and I would like to figure this out?

Thanks..

Rod

[bountyhunters]

when I find pods of bait I jig under them .either blade bait .or a jig minnie. I belive the eyes lay low and pick off the weak minnies/

[Dave Q]

also how do you stay on a pod when trolling or know which way they are moving.

[Sunshine]

If you are on the pod and they are moving, Put in a gps coordinated each time you feel that you are on top of the major school. You'll see their movement by seeing what direction your icons are heading.

If you come back the next day and they are not where you left them, make a sweeping circle around the area searching for them first on your graph before you fish. The size of the starting circle depends on:

size of water
experience
gut feelings
observation (like seagulls in the area)

If you do not make contact on the first sweep enlarge your search area. Having your plotter lines (trail lines) on during this process helps significantly.

Finding the holey pod of baitfish does not always guarantee a catching frenzy. I'm surprised that some of the Erie strollers didn't get on here and give up their secrets. Their technique is trying to catch the game fish coming and going from those huge schools of baitfish. Get the ones that are hungry and on their way or dropped off and are getting hungry again. Your targeted fish in the pod may be so focused that they ignore your offering unless it's perfect. As someone indicated earlier this perfect presentation may be showing an injured or dying presentation.

I hope this helps.

[orchard frank]

Speeding up sometimes (often) works for me, if there are walleyes present. I don't worry too much about seeing walleyes on the graph, assume they are around somewhere, may be higher than the pods. As mentioned, loop around hitting the pod and surrounding water, lots of turns, and I always figure that if it is a big bunch of bait, they are shiney, use same type lures. 3.0 is not too fast at times. Good Luck

[Nodak7mm]

Sunshine, Bountyhunter & Orchard Frank, -- Thanks!

I was hoping like Sunshine said, a few more Erie guys would cave and cough up a few ideas, heck I am fishing 1500 miles west of Erie. I wouldn't tell anyone. ;-)

However, I think I got the answer I was looking for. And that is, dont worry about seeing the predator fish. I was marking big pods last summer (assuming they were smelt as that is the forage base on that water) and couldnt "mark" any fish. Made a couple of passes and could only pick up a few skipjacks. Did not mark fish the way I had hoped or catch any. So I moved on. Big let down as I got all excited thinking here we go, Fish On!!

In short, when I find those Pods again, I should keep working them and around them, right? Chances are the walleyes are there..

Thanks,

Rod

[bountyhunters]

you got the idea right. they are there you just got to intice them a little.