Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Good day all, This weekend I will be heading up to a lake that hold Pike and Walleye. It is a shallow lake, maybe averaging 14 feet deep with weeds everywhere stopping just a few feet from the surface. In the past, I've targeted walleyes in these conditions with a small jig and white or chartruse twister tail, dropping them in pockets. I've had successes, but they were minimal. I bought some gulp leaches this past winter and will giver a go with that. Just curious, any other presentations, methods that can help me pull in some pickereyes in these conditions during primetime (morning/evening) and midday? Any help would be much appreciated and tested thoroughly. Thank you in advance, reefrunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 I would think crankbaits would get the call also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 spinner baits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecmilley Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 sounds like your on the right track poking pockets, but if there is a couple feet of water above the weeds try surface plugs such as x-raps or rogues deep cranks on the edges of weeds adjacent to the deeper water, slip float minnow always works or dragging a worm harness. Good luck and post some pics monday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greencoachdog Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 It's fun to fool the fish with artificials, but it can be a hard thing to do on lakes with fishing pressure... especially for fish of substancial size. I'm a firm believer that live bait will catch more and bigger fish most of the time on lakes with fishing pressure. I personally like minnows because they're a "cleaner" bait than worms to handle. Live Leeches are another clean bait and very effective for Wall-ice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 All good suggestions. They are in the weeds and ripping jigs can get them out. However, thats tough day of fishing. One other thing to think about is night trolling with floating stick baits (large Rapalas #11 and #13). Trolling just outside the weed beds and even trolling right over the top but you have to do things to make the Rapala stay up like use cheap heavy line #20-#30 test or use a round plastic bobber about 7-10 feet ahead of the Rapala. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will try most of 'em. Trolling and cranks are tough because of the heavy weed cover throughout the lake. Seems like as soon as you get the lure out there it's covered already. Billy Bob makes a good point,I got some suspending tape that I might make use of. No where to get live bait on this lake besides digging up some worms. Maybe put out the minnow trap overnight. As for spinnerbaits, never caught a walleye on one because the pike get to 'em first. You guys rock, reefrunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greencoachdog Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Speaking of spinners in weedy lakes, I'm going to be trying these on the West Arm next month: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...s&noImage=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Those look nice Coach! I just picked me up some roostertails upon your inspiring posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Bob Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Speaking of spinners in weedy lakes, I'm going to be trying these on the West Arm next month: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...s&noImage=0 What that rig is, is basically a weight forward spinner that has been used in Ohio waters of Lake Erie for about 20 years now, a Erie Dearie spinner. It's tipped with a balled up nightcrawler and casted to suspended walleyes in 40 feet and less of water. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt bruce Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 You can get the little spinner baits, I think mister twister makes one and make your jig a little more weedless , but on the bog in about the same condishions we have good success ripping the jigs thu the weeds ,like was said its a hard days fishing but all my large eyes from the bog have come this way. Night fishing around docks and any open areas allso will pay off as these fish tend to leave their weed homes to feed only in the night on these shallow lakes . good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Thanks Capt'n. I've had those hard days fishing pockets. Tough to detect hits in heavy cover. Alot of good ideas here which I shall employ tonite. Funny you should mention docks, last year my buddy was texas riggin' a worm, midday, around docks for buckets and pulled out a respectable 3 pound eye. Fluked it, but ya never know until you try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 ....I'd would definitely try ripping shallow running, suspending stick baits (husky jerks) over the weed tops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gone_fishin Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 i wouldn't expect there to be a whole lot of weed growth yet, it's still early and temperatures have not been very high. even on scugog it isn't too bad yet. i would think suspending jerkbaits along the weedlines would be good right now. good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 RF one of the easy ways to find walleye in a weed choked lake is the find the deepest weed free water and then work back into the weeds. Find the weedline and work up and down the edges. Fish should be off the spawn now and setting back up on the closest weedlines. I fish this method in the spring and it has paid off on many different bodies of water. You can fish parallel to the weedline with jigs, minnow baits and spinners. The brighter the day the closer you need to get into the weeds. My fav is casting jigs into the weed edges and working back out into cleaner water. A small 4" Berley Power worm has been a good bait for me on a 3/16th oz jig head. When you work a stretch and get a few bites, you can anchor off the weedline and fish a little slower. You'll also run into some good schools of panfish doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Just awsome guys. Thanks so much. All these tips, honestly, I hope I can repay in some form. Until then...look for a report...and team 9 taking the lead...lol. OK now I'm getting ahead of myself. Thanks a bunch, will let y'all know how it goes. reefrunner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fang Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Oh you're on Team 9??? What was posted above does not work please disregard! Have a good trip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted May 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Oh you're on Team 9??? What was posted above does not work please disregard! Have a good trip Ha Ha ha ha. Thanks Fang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosebunk Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Slowly troll a medium to small Johnson weedless spoon tipped with a 3 inch plastic grub right through those weeds. Same could be done with a 3 way rig, minnow hooked onto a weedguarded hook, and just go super slow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linweir Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Joint rapala (float) minnow baits work well on Bog (both lake and river). Caught 5 pder there, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted May 23, 2008 Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 Im with gone fishin, the weeds arent going to be up as high as they should be yet. The cranks and jigs will likely be your best bet. If you saw the eyes I get out of the kawartha's on small spinner baits, you'd be tryin them Trust me, they eyes love em, and they're easy to fish. Sinker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greencoachdog Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 Here's one of the Terminator inline spinners with a 5" twin tail salty shad on it instead of the curly tail grub that comes with it. I plan to use it for Pike during the day and Wall-ice in the early morning and evenings. Should slip through the weeds nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now