Mid lake 6/10

[AR Huzgr]

Put in that prairie Creek today and wanted to do a little experimentation. I was initially targeting walleye with bottom bouncer spinner rigs but using the gulp crawler instead of live worms.  I did try both the full crawler two hook set up at about 1 mile an hour, as well as a slow death hook rig at 0.8 mph. I only had a few hits on it, but not enough to make me a believer just yet. I was marking quite a few fish though which I'm sure was a mix of bass and walleye.  However all the fish on the bottom were pretty tight-lipped. I kept at it longer than I should have however I was playing around with the new Garmin trolling motor and creating routes along contour lines on points, then just let the Garmin follow the route while I did my thing.

TThere was sporadic top water activity all the way till about 9:30. Just some here some there not constant. I managed to catch a fair amount of those spots that way. They were schooled up and you could watch the school chase the caught fish all the way to the boat. Saw one striper in with the spots. Nothing photo worthy just fun size. 

Off the water at 11:00

[retired chem teacher]

FYI   Not sure you are a youtube person, but do a search for Tom Boley.  He is a walleye expert north of you but kind of in my fishing area.  (SD and ND and WI) I have fished all of them ---but fish are fish.   His new go to bait is an Acme google eye search bait.  Watching his videos with him fishing with these is unreal.  I haven't found any yet as most places in my area are sold out.  He has lots of followers on youtube and around here as he does seminars at Sheels and other venues.  I have learned lots from watching his videos.  For what it's worth

[Ron Burgundy]

2 hours ago, retired chem teacher said:

FYI   Not sure you are a youtube person, but do a search for Tom Boley.  He is a walleye expert north of you but kind of in my fishing area.  (SD and ND and WI) I have fished all of them ---but fish are fish.   His new go to bait is an Acme google eye search bait.  Watching his videos with him fishing with these is unreal.  I haven't found any yet as most places in my area are sold out.  He has lots of followers on youtube and around here as he does seminars at Sheels and other venues.  I have learned lots from watching his videos.  For what it's worth

Walleye Nation Death Rig Jig is similar and in stock most places……I haven’t had luck with anything but the real deal , I’ve tried gulp crawlers , Uncle Josh night crawler that Tom pimped last year and caught nothing …I wish the fake stuff would work but it just hasn’t for me . 

[retired chem teacher]

Update on search bait. Lure is made by Kalin  not Acme .. Boley uses a lot of Acme lures but search bait is made by Kalin. Sorry for miss information. My last SD trip I used power bait worms dipped in Spike- it chartreuse garlic on slow death red hook under a bottom bouncer with or without spinner. Worked that time but still like the real thing --Power bait stays on better though

 

[AR Huzgr]

I looked up that kalin search bait.   It reminded me of a lure I bought about 30 yrs ago when I did a one day charter on lake Erie.   The lure was called an Erie dearie.   I still have it I think.  Maybe I should dig it out!

Bottom line, if fish aren't aggressive, real crawler, probably with a simple jig is probably best.  Maybe I should start growing my own crawlers.   

[retired chem teacher]

i have some of the erie dearie too --- never really fished them much ----maybe need to get them out ---agree that real crawlers are the  go to bait .  Looks like Beaver--Table Rock and Bull Shoals are becoming walleye lakes. 

[Ron Burgundy]

I believe Acme owns Kalins.