Kim City 1-22-26 Calm before the storm

[Dock-in-it]

I wanted to fish this morning prior to the extreme winter storm and the fishing was really good. Started on the main lake in about 80 FOW with trees and plenty of shad at daylight. I was surrounded by a dozen loons and plenty of gulls and they kept the bait and fish in hyper mode. As the morning progressed the birds moved out and the groups of shad started to fizzle but the bass were still actively feeding until about 9AM. 

Throughout the morning several fish would suspend under the boat and you could catch a few, then that group would get educated and start ignoring any presentation. I liked finding suspended groups about 20-40ft from the boat and these fish would react to a Damiki rig fished above their head.

Caught most of them on these baits (Damiki, Ice jig, 2.8 Keitech) and the 3/8 Damiki was the best producer. Had numerous LM and plenty of K's.

I included a 2D graph picture showing the suspended fish after the shad balls disappear. 

WT 48.6

 

[Dewayne French]

Good job love your insight on that deeper bite. I to have noticed when the loons/gulls are around I seem to catch fish a tad bit "easier" if you call it that. I won't be back over for while as weather and work are going to be in the way. Great pictures ice jig seems hit or miss with my style but when they are on it, it the only way to catchem 2D can still find them I just don't tell people that. 

[Dock-in-it]

I have noticed a few patterns the loons do each morning that help me capitalize on their presence. These comments apply to the afternoon as well.

Right after daylight they will make a bee-line to where they have found shad before (perhaps the previous day). They will scout the area and either feed up or leave if nothing is there. This area might even be a pre/post spawn area.

After feeding, they will vacate the area and leave food on the table for another day. So if you see loons swimming out into the lake, just imagine where they have been (like a pre/post spawn area).

Years ago in March I did a post on this forum pertaining to an afternoon trip. I was driving in the middle of the lake to an area and I pass by a spawning cove with 19 loons swimming out into the lake. I put the brakes on and pulled into the cove and noticed 2 loons had shad trapped from the shore to 10ft out. The lake was high and in the bushes, so casting without getting hung up was an issue, but the catching was unreal.

[jdmidwest]

Interesting observation.  Loons are new visitors to many lakes that I have fished.  I have noted the loons there but never really used them to track bait for fishing.  Just enjoyed seeing them.

Pelicans on the other hand, like the gulls, can predict surface feed and bait balls.  It was a no brainer.