We hope you enjoyed time in reflection and gratitude this past weekend! Fishing was good, laughs were often and memories were made!
Walleyes are in summer transitions moving from spring locations to deeper/steeper areas, but don’t leave the shallows just yet. Find walleyes on shallow rock/sand or sand/muddy/weed transitions in 6-15ft of water at low-light and 12-25ft during the day, especially around developing weeds near hard bottom areas. Our go-to presentation has been a jig/minnow combo, but we caught fish on a variety of presentations. Longline trolling Smithwick Perfect 10 or Rattlin’ Floating Rogues in the dark from 1-1.5mph is a fun way to catch walleyes on clear bodies of water. During the day, catch walleyes Lindy jig/minnow combinations (blue/glow or gold 1/8oz or 1/4oz jigs are the go-to). Also working is pitching a lipless crankbait such as a Booyah One Knocker or jig/soft plastic using rip/pause/lift/slow drop retrieves. Don’t be afraid to bring leeches and rig them or pitch a slip float/bobber to pods of fish.
Crappies have been staying in areas adjacent to spawning habit, such a steep breaks, holes and flats in 3-15ft of water. Drive around areas near spawning habitat or sunken wood until you see schools or check shaded areas such as docks/bridges/boat lifts and fish the schools. Two main approaches for early spring crappies are jig/plastic or bobber/minnow presentations. We opted for using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics to catch our fish! We found a large school, anchor-locked on the school, and either vertically jigged them or pitched at the school. Sunfish are near these same areas and will hit a wax worm tipped on a small lead or tungsten jig; slip or attached floats/bobbers will catch fish.
Catch bass and northern pike in bays and inside weed lines in 2-15ft on jig/minnow, soft plastic or wacky worm variations; drop shot techniques for bass are also effective.
Feel free to share your pictures, outdoor adventures, and memories with us, we love to see/hear them!
Good luck, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
