fishing story

[Slowtroller]

I went looking for crappie. Caught some shorts. After pulling up a crappie with a catfish holding on to it I switched to cats. Had a good time fighting cats on crappie gear. Had two snap offs and caught 4 ranging from 2 to 6 lbs. Good time. If all else fails drop a worm to the bottom in 24 fow.

[Kramr]

If life gives you lemons make lemonade! 

[Dutch]

This is not a fishing story since I haven't been either.  This is an otter story.  Last fall I was at Bait Masters waiting to make a purchase.  The guy in front of me was buying a license.  I asked him if he were getting a deer tag.  He told me no it was a trapping license.  He said he was going after otter.  I ask him if there were enough to trap as I have only seen 2 on the main lake.  He said that in the winter of 2015 he trapped 67 of them.  So I guess there are more than we think.  As for mink I saw 5 on the point by the boat docks in Hawker the last time I was in there.

[Hammer time]

Very interesting, have seen numerous mink but yet to incounter any otter. 

[bassfisher]

Went with my two buddies to the Rock on Saturday one is a professional FLW angler and we did pretty well and of course I used my ned rig

[lmt out]

Thanks for the stories it definitely helped.  I may get to go Wednesday afternoon if there isn't any storms around.

[dan hufferd]

In Feb' I saw a family of otters at R' Bluff near dark. Really cool !

[oodlesiggy]

On 9/11/2016 at 5:24 PM, MOPanfisher said:

Do the wallys move up shallow again in the fall?  Wondering if I fish from the bank near the dam at dark his fall if there is much chance of catching any.  Guess I don't have much to lose but a few hours of time.

In my experience walleyes are deep during the day, and move shallow at night especially when the moon is close to full. Find a nice shallow flat with deeper water close by. Throw shallow cranks like a smithwick, shadow rap, reef runners, etc. I have caught quite a few in less than 5ft of water at night on jerkbaits. Shadow raps have worked best for me. Small subtle jerks with at least a 3 second pause, work them slow!!! 

[Kramr]

5 hours ago, oodlesiggy said:

In my experience walleyes are deep during the day, and move shallow at night especially when the moon is close to full. Find a nice shallow flat with deeper water close by. Throw shallow cranks like a smithwick, shadow rap, reef runners, etc. I have caught quite a few in less than 5ft of water at night on jerkbaits. Shadow raps have worked best for me. Small subtle jerks with at least a 3 second pause, work them slow!!! 

Does this work year-round or is it more of a spring kind of thing? And by night is it after dark or before dawn.

[oodlesiggy]

Kramr, yes this works in the spring (spawn) until end of April and depending on the weather when we start having cool nights in August and September. I have caught them in December in single digit temps at night on jerkbaits. The moon seems to be the factor, I've had no luck when it's dark and better when the moon is rising rather than when it's high in the sky. I usually head out just before the moon rises or right before dark.