CC 4-16

[Hammer time]

So true I tend to mostly fish for stagers once the crowds arrive. Those fish are overlooked and not pressured. Have been fishing the lake since 81 and have learned to avoid the bank and concentrate on fish with different baits that many never use. Has really helped my results over the years

[Sac River Jim]

one the things i was trying to teach in my posts the last few weeks before the crowds hit was to help develope a pattern and not focus on a single area. i'll give out a few community holes and explain what i used and how deep i caught them because those areas get slammed hard no matter what. the key to using this forum is to take all the information and put the pieces of the puzzle together. once you develope a pattern you can go find other less crowded areas of the lake with similar features and catch our little speckled friend. another trick of the trade is when you get moved in on or followed around lead them to a couple sour holes and i garuntee they will quit following you hahaha!!!!!!

[Sac River Jim]

another trick of the trade is you dont have to waste time and gas looking for other areas pull up the MDC fish attractor map find and area you would like to scout then zoom in on it and you can see the features of the banks. a good topographical map of the lake is a very helpful tool too. i posted a topic in the general fishing discussion forum by Ike Iconnelly on the very subject. its a very good read.

[Cya_gonefishin]

I think a lot of people don't realize how many fish can be holding in a staging area. They pass by and catch a couple and keep working up the bank. If I catch 1 or 2 in a certain type of location I will really work it over good expecting there to be a good school of fish close by. I have several spots I feel like are holding fish since last week but I haven't made it to them cause I have got a limit in one spot without leaving it both times I went out this week. I haven't caught a single short fish either.

2-3 weeks ago I was getting my rear kicked because I was anticipating their arrival to some of these locations a little early.

[waterpossum]

Put in at 8 and had to park in the overflow parking, word is out on the crappie bite. More boats out today than on this past weekend. Fished off the beating path and found em in 4-6 fow caught 2 nice limits with my son all on road runner very light bite, had to be a line watcher. Caught many by just seeing line switch. Also had 2 nice walleye. Great day on the water with my son. Tight lines.

I put in at the north ramp at Mutton. I totally agree, I have never seen that many boats out on a Thursday. It's understandable though with the fishing this good. The creel survey guy out checking should have a lot of good data for a report. This probably was the best walleye day that I have had. I caught 14 nothing big, but a limit. All released fish were over 14" but under 15". Most fish came on a roadrunner with a Bobby Garland swimming minnow. Used a Wally Marshall 9' moderate action pole fishing gravel banks. The fish all were in the 8'-10' depth on the bottom so I mostly tried to parallel that depth. I usually use a 6' or 6 1/2 St.Croix rod, but found at least yesterday the 9 foot rod gave me more bait control and I was able to watch the line better since some of the bites were lite.