Winnie Fishing 101

[Spurdog]

I'm a westerner, and have a chance to fish Winnebago (and the midwest, for that matter) for the first time next week. Any help with basic lures, presentations, locations would be much appreciated. I've got a map and am not a beginner. I'll be with a guide once, and may try the boat rental route as well. Many thanks in advance, to all you guys (that's cheeseheads, right?) who know what you are doing.

[Lund_Dude]

The "mud" is really hot right now. Get yourself a fishing Hot Spots map and look for the big deep (20') basin. The fish are roaming this basin right now. If you are on the West shore, I would start East of Garlic Reef or off Long Point on the mud. I understand that the area from Stockbridge to Pipe has produced on the east shore. Hot bait for me has been metallic color Hot-N-Tots (chrome/blue/red, black/chrome or black/gold). Other good baits are #7 Shadraps (Firetiger, clown, blue/silver) or DJ Thundersticks (Similar colors to Tots). Run your spread of baits from top to bottom, you will be surprised how many fish will come on a Shadrap 30' behind the boards. My best speed has been 2.0-2.5 MPH. Keep moving til you find an active school, you may not see them on the graph if they are up high.

If you prefer to fish "bait": If you have a bit of wind, slip bobber on the tops of the reefs particularly dawn and dusk. Without wind, vertical jig the deeper edges of the reefs. This pattern has been fading for me recently, resulting in numerous sheephead and whitebass.

Any questions, please ask!

[Spurdog]

Thanks a lot Lund_Dude, that give me more than enough places to start. I won't have any boards or other elaborate trolling gear, but can definitely try the rest of your ideas.