Learning New Stuff

[rps]

A retired gentleman (and he IS a gentleman) here at Holiday Island was kind enough to go out with me Tuesday afternoon. He normally fishes from his pontoon and almost exclusively uses either bottom bouncers with crawlers or a C rig with soft plastic hand pours. I have seen him bring in any number of large walleye, including both a 12 and a 14.5 pound fish.

He showed me his methods for using bottom bouncers and he showed me how he ties his harnesses. Neither is what you read in "how to" articles. He uses a lighter bouncer (3/4 to 1 ounce in 20 to 30 feet of water) and a longer line (60 to 90 feet). He spreads the arms of his bouncer to 100 degrees. His rigs feature 3 floats and a size 1, light wire worm hook. He Texas rigs the crawler on the single hook.

The combination amazed me. I hung up far less than past experiences, despite the fact we fished flats with brush and trees.

No big fish on this trip but we managed a respectable four keepers in 3 hours. We also caught 3 short walleye and two or three spots.

The fish were on a timbered edge where the flat rolled from 20 feet to 26 feet. 30 to 80 feet farther out the flat then rolled into the channel.

[Bill Babler]

Would it be possible to see a pic. of that rig? Don't want to "Spill all the Beans," but am not asking for locations or tecniques, only to view the harness. Don't really understand the 100% bend out on the bottom bouncer.

Also how close are you allowing your floats to slide toward the baited hook? are they pegged back away, or right up against the hook. If you are allowing the floats to be near the hook, is there a color preference? ie charturse?

Also, I noticed you did not mention any spinners on the trailer.

I would have thought that you would have caught a ton of K's with this tecnique, fishing at that depth.

Very interesting.

If that is to much info, I understand.

Thanks Bill

[rps]

Here is a bad picture of the rig.

Note the bobber stop that keeps the beads from pushing down on the worm he threads up and over the eye. He buries the hook point in the worm, not Texposed.

When I said 100 degrees, I meant he spreads the bottom bouncer more open than right angle, if that makes any sense.

As for spotted bass, he told me he can hardly fish some locations for walleye because of all the bass. His example locations were flats with humps and dips between Eagle Rock and Big M.

[Bill Babler]

Thank you very much, that rig, looks pretty much as I thought it would. I understand the alignment of the bouncer also. Just a thought here. Have you all ever inflated the crawlers as we do for trout on taney? Gives them a bit more of a bouyancy lift.

I also wonder about the Gill's driving you crazy. Is that a problem, or does the movement trolling the bait, keep the bluegills at bay?

Also those are fantastic results for a late afternoon. I wonder if the fish are getting into position better later in the day, or if those results can be had early? I am just going to guess that was an exceptional afternoon.

Sometimes on dropshot bass, early is not better, especially if there is cloud cover, as the fish can be anywhere in the water column.

RPS, this is very nice of you to share this type of hard earned information. It is cutting edge for Table Rock Lake.

That is what makes this one of the best how-to fishing forums in the country.

We here express our many thanks not only to you but a big hardy "Thank You" to your very knowledgeable fishing associate.

Good Luck Bill

[Jason Essary]

RPS, even thou I prop wont ever try the tech. Thanks for all the great info.

[rps]

Went out at noon today by myself. I did not fish the spots my teacher of yesterday showed me, but I used rigs I tied like his. I caught five spots (one keeper), 3 walleye (one keeper) and three assorted perch. Although I tried three different types of area, the fish producers were humps and bumps near roll offs into the channel.

The frustrating part is learning the timing to set the hook. I missed several other bites I believe were not perch. The key seems to be letting the rod load a bit before you sweep.

[Martin]

Randy, you are on a roll.....Great info !!

[glennL]

This is great. Thank you for sharing. I have learned so much from this Forum and this is the most exciting idea, yet it is so simple, while dealing with the strtcture challenges related to TR.

I have believed for some time (and have occassionally caught some big walleye)that TR is a big secret walleye factory. This type of system is going to open up "the deep" fish of TR. Thanks again.

[powerdive]

rps, when bottom bouncing we use long, limber, soft-tipped rods with mainline braid. We allow the weight to tick bottom from time to time, running our harnesses mostly just off the bottom. You get to where you can tell right away which species is taking your bait--bluegills tend to machine-gun it, bass/drum pop it fairly hard and quick, and walleyes usually suck it in slow and easy, often with a gentle steady pull like it's hanging on a weed. We wait out the walleyes until the rod tip loads up--the tough part is that it can take a painfully long time, say 30 to 60 seconds if they're not active. The key is to not jump the gun or mess with the rod during the bite--leave it in the holder and let the soft tip do its thing. When the fish are inactive, "nursing" the bite with light pressure like that will often get them to commit.

[fishofexcellence]

Chuck likes his Walleye,spends a lot of time in the heat this time of year to get them. Has helped me out a few times. Got me trying to talk my clients into letting the spring females go to lay their eggs. Makes it better every year.