hotntot
03-02-2002, 08:05 PM
My wife and daughter will be with me on Winnibioshish for opener.I don't think they have the feel for jigging. Am I stupid to go out to deeper water (Away from the crowds) and pull cranks? Or do you guys have a better idea? Thank You.
HOT-N-TOT
Brushpile
03-03-2002, 08:00 PM
One of my favorite things to do is troll on the shallow side of a pack of boats or on the top of a break that everyone is fishing. IMHO boat pressure moves fish shallow also. The shallower a fish is the more active it is.
I love to beat the riggers at their own game.
Have a buddy that has great success with cranks on Mille Lacs every year for the opener. So I don't think it is too early for cranks either.
The way that the Walleyes run on opener is along the north shore.
As the season progresses late in the year, the walleyes migrate through Winni - into Cut Foot Sioux, and on into the inner little lakes. In the spring - the process is reversed.
In general during opening week - the Walleyes are migrating out of the little lakes into Cut Foot Sioux, and out through the gap - into Winni. Once in winni - they spread out along bowens flats, and work their way down the north shore.
A very effective presentation for these fish - is the use of a jig and a minnow, as you mentioned.
However, many many fish are caught on Lindy rigs in the typical 7-15 feet of water.
Also, if you anchor on some of the rock piles and shallower humps, especially on a windy day - a slip bobber works wonderfully well. This reminds me of a few years ago on Winni - on a fairly windy day. A father had gotten his boat on a key spot on a rock pile on the north shore and anchored very well on this particular spot.
He was fishing with a lady, who I assume was his wife, and three girls ranging in age from about 6 to about 16.
As many other boats came drifting by, working a jig and a minnow - most folks getting hung up on the rocks, these folks continued to boat walleye after walleye. Many of the fish were caught by the girls.
Also, along the north shore - the first and 2nd breakline at 6 and 14 feet are ideal migration routes for the walleys. There are several trolling runs - at these depths along the north shore that are in excess of three miles each. Many many many fish are caught early in the season running shad raps, floating rapalas, bomber long a's and other typical walleye crank baits.
No, you don't have to use a jig and a minnow to catch fish in the spring.
For example - in South Dakota - at Chamberlin during the first couple weeks of the year - there are probably many more nice fish caught on cranks - than all of the jig and minnow fish - caught at this time. Just because the water is cold, doesn't mean that the walleyes don't smack crankbaits well.
-
If you haven't tried using it before - rig up your trolling rods, with fireline, or other non stretch line. It is amazing how much more productive you will be. The lures run deeper for the same amount of line out - and you will be able to instantly tell, if you get a bite, if you snag a lure, or get hung up. Tie a snap loop on the end of the fire line, and start trolling.
p.s.
If it is windy - and you want calm weather - and if you aren't staying on Cut Foot - pull your boat - and trail over to Cut Foot. lots of fish in Cut Foot at this time of the year - and you can always find a spot out of the wind to fish.
Also, if you get blown off the lake - or if the crowds are too much on opener - there are lots of smaller lakes like Squaw, Ball and other smaller and more sheltered lakes that give you lots of opportunities to catch fish.
If you don't care necessarily - to catch walleyes - in all of these lakes - there are excellent Crappie, Sunfish, as well as northerns to be caught.
Take care and enjoy
REW
HEY REW I DIDNT KNOW IF YOUD MIND BUT I WAS TAKING NOTES.
NICK
reddog
03-06-2002, 09:42 PM
REW. You stated: "For example - in South Dakota - at Chamberlin during the first couple weeks of the year - there are probably many more nice fish caught on cranks - than all of the jig and minnow fish - caught at this time. Just because the water is cold, doesn't mean that the walleyes don't smack crankbaits well."
Are you talking about January 1st thru the 14th?