Jump to content

Trying to improve on Balsam this year


Raycaster

Recommended Posts

Will be up on Balsam first 2 weeks of August and hoping to improve from past years. This is kind of a greedy post as we do well but there is always room for improvement and new techniques etc.

Every year we try to improve are success and have settled in to throwing spinners and crankbaits in Southbay and Ant Island.

Just wondering what the regular's use for bait etc. and what they target. Truthfully we don't target any species as we always end up with a usual equal number of PIKE/BASS and WALLEYE while occasionally stumbling into a musky.

Not really a dropshot or trolling guy but wondering if that would work in the weedbeds?

I have ventured towards Coboconk and the provincial park and Mitchel Lake but always end up heading back with less success.

 

Any pointers appreciated as I wouldn't mind trying some different techniques and locations.

Thx. ahead.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Working South Bay slow (1-1.5mph)  with a worm harness will get you eyes and the incidental musky; depending which way the wind is blowing the bait will stack up in saddles drop-offs.  If you have a graph you can see eyes hugging bottom.  I've done well for pike/musky burning safety pin style spinner baits from the middle of the canal towards shore/islands through Mitchell, chartreuse and white and I usually tie on a stinger hook.  The weeds get thick but they bury themselves and explode through the veg at times.  Remember to figure 8, some of those ski's really like to follow or just appear from under the boat.  Funny enough, my biggest eye from Balsam (29incher) came from trolling a jointed believer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Big Thank you for all the suggestions.

Just back and Balsam provided a lot of fish again this year.

Due to my slow pontoon 30hp I really can't roam too far so basically South and West Bay provided for the fish fry(s).

Lots of pike/walleye/bass in South Bay and the last few days West Bay gave a few 30"+ pike.

South Bay gave up a few 24"+ walleye and a 4lbs bass.

The weather seemed to really make a difference as the bite would shut off completely for 48hrs and then resume huge.

Had 1 musky follow in South Bay and 1 musky follow in West Bay. (both laughing at my figure-8)

Again, thx for the members tips and special thx to Hank for 24/7 support!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recent Topics

    Popular Topics

    Upcoming Events


×
×
  • Create New...