12-17 Report

[kjackson]

Launched a bit late at Prairie Creek and followed some top secret info on where the fish were.

However, the bait I was expecting to find was absent or scattered except for one clump near the marina. Landed two spots, and then went to chasing whites near Beaver Shores. Again--all the bait I could see was scattered in small schools and usually in water at least 30 deep--which seemed to be where I marked the most fish. Cause and effect, perhaps?

Put the gear down on the downriver side of the bridge where I started seeing fish, and doubled on whites almost immediately. However, circling back did no good, and after some time trying to find biters, I worked the channel edge. Caught one small striper doing that.

Didn't see F&F's stripers busting bait on the surface but did see gulls resting in midchannel.

When I went under the bridge, I noticed a bass boat out in the main channel in deeper water. I thought about checking out what he was doing but didn't want to crowd him.

I also got to test one of Strike King's new walleye baits--the Banana Shad. With 150 feet of line out, it will dig the bottom at 30 at 2.3 mph. Kick up the speed, and it will run deeper. This lure in "violet alewife" caught all the fish but one today. The Flicker Shad, even with two ounces in front, didn't score.

Water temp was 49 degrees. When the occasional snowflake turned into rain, I decided I had somewhere else to be.

[rps]

Launched a bit late at Prairie Creek and followed some top secret info on where the fish were.

However, the bait I was expecting to find was absent or scattered except for one clump near the marina. Landed two spots, and then went to chasing whites near Beaver Shores. Again--all the bait I could see was scattered in small schools and usually in water at least 30 deep--which seemed to be where I marked the most fish. Cause and effect, perhaps?

Put the gear down on the downriver side of the bridge where I started seeing fish, and doubled on whites almost immediately. However, circling back did no good, and after some time trying to find biters, I worked the channel edge. Caught one small striper doing that.

Didn't see F&F's stripers busting bait on the surface but did see gulls resting in midchannel.

When I went under the bridge, I noticed a bass boat out in the main channel in deeper water. I thought about checking out what he was doing but didn't want to crowd him.

I also got to test one of Strike King's new walleye baits--the Banana Shad. With 150 feet of line out, it will dig the bottom at 30 at 2.3 mph. Kick up the speed, and it will run deeper. This lure in "violet alewife" caught all the fish but one today. The Flicker Shad, even with two ounces in front, didn't score.

Water temp was 49 degrees. When the occasional snowflake turned into rain, I decided I had somewhere else to be.

That is an impressive depth for that length of line. I assume braid? What action? Tight wiggle or search or tail waggle?

[Feathers and Fins]

I wish I had your number I would have called you in to them. But you were several miles away from where I was. Still sounds like you got a few.

[J-Doc]

I think the fish are used to seeing Flickers. As much as some people keep dredging the lake with them......uh hhmmmmm...... Lol

[kjackson]

That is an impressive depth for that length of line. I assume braid? What action? Tight wiggle or search or tail waggle?

The line was Berkley Pro Grade 10-pound fluoro...The action is wide--much the same as a Rapala Tail Dancer. It has surprised me how much spots like this style of lure. I'm going to try casting it once I get back on bass. However, I think that casting it will be a trial.

At one point, while I kicked the motor up to cover ground a bit faster--to 3.4 mph--it was ticking somewhere around 35 feet deep. The other two "walleye crankbaits" by Strike King look similar to others on the market, but they look like they'll run deeper. I didn't get to play with them today but will soon just to see what they'll do.

[Blll]

Wow! 30'+ with the banana shad. Are you using extra weights? I've been looking at them for awhile but Strike King only rates them at 15'-20'. What's your secret?

[kjackson]

No secret and no weights, Bill--just 150 feet of 10-pound fluoro and 2.3 mph (as slow as my 50hp will go). A few times I kicked the speed up over deeper water--about 3.0 to 3.2-- and "felt" like I was hitting 35 feet. But it would take a bit of testing to really say that.

One thing I noticed about all three of Strike King's deep-running walleye baits: While the shapes are similar to other popular crankbaits, the bills are larger. To me, a larger diving surface means a deeper dive if everything is working well.