FISHING TIPS

  River fisheries continue to be lower-class smallmouth destinations to lakes and boat anglers. And that’s okay. More unpressured, unexploited, big fish are available in rivers than there are in inland lakes, but the challenge however is timing of their seasonal migrations.

  The main challenges we receive from cold fronts are the less than ideal and unmotivating fishing conditions they bring; Cold overnight temperatures, cloudless, bluebird, bright skies with humid-less crisp air that accompanies the high pressure that rides the frontal system’s backside. Spring cold fronts come frequently and often, as they usually follow thunderstorms, rain

   If you want to learn about a new type of forage connection, then here’s a good one for you….. Back in October, many lakes received their annual walleye stockings. Many stockings succeed, others do not. As my anglers and I launched that morning, we found several carcasses of deceased extended growth fingerling walleyes

  The greatest challenge for many late-season anglers, and those first-timers who try, is their inabilities of identifying likely wintering areas (and locating them), and poor usage with electronics.

  Prior to turnover, paddletails and swimbaits dominate. When this bite peaks, the boat goes through 2 or more packages of tails per day.

  As water temperatures gradually cool, the lakes eventually turn over, and smallmouths slide deeper to the point of wintering, the tackle box closes. As these events simultaneously occur, my boat’s tackle selection lessens each week – and the majority of gear and tackle I’ve carried up to this point will no longer be needed.