Bass continue to be good working jerkbaits along the weed edges. The go-to rig is a Missouri minnow on a No. 4 hook with a small split shot, suspended under an adjustable bobber until the right depth is found. Fishing activity has gone from a dead stop to something of a crawl in the month since Ian clobbered our coastlines. The saltwater picture is coming into focus, with some exceptional highlights.
The action slowed around noon, but Brzuszkiewicz got a call from Howie that he was nailing a good school just outside of the pack. At that point, Paul had 39 and Brzuszkiewicz was gaining on him with 31, but he joined Howie and Helene for better action. The new spot was loaded with fish, and they were hungry, but soon the wind picked up and Howie ran out of battery power and live minnows and left.
Captain’s Log: We Thought We Were Good Anglers, Until We Watched A Bald Eagle
If you survive the shock of a surprise attack and manage to jam that hook solidly into that bony mouth, then you can raise the rod, settle in, and catch the breath you lost during the explosion. When a striped bass attacks a topwater fly, you often see a boil or a swirl before the toilet flushes. Snakeheads will track a foam frog and wake the surface for 10 feet before committing. Smallmouth bass often ghost up under a popper before sipping it, and even though largemouths can take down a hair bug without giving themselves away, it’s not the same kind of surface hit that you get from a northern. When they rise to the occasion, you’re usually treated to an air show.
Chris Trzaska of Buffalo caught this rainbow trout off the Bird Island Pier. “We could let our bush hooks soak overnight, but there’s a chance some yahoos will get on the water early and steal our fish.” Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Phil Schuman at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said some steelhead in the river, which is very low and clear, better by Berrien Springs. All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.
No giants, but a lot of really solid, healthy fish on the fall feed. Biggest one attached, guessing it was maybe 17 inches or so but FAT. As soon as I got there, hooked into a nice walleye in a shallow flat from shore. Would have been more than happy if I didn’t catch anything else all weekend, but within the next hour I pulled off the ol’ Fox River trifecta— a walleye, a nice smallmouth, & a musky. Most the time, slow-sink or intermediate-sink fly lines are what you need for pike, but pairing them with topwater flies doesn’t really work.
Area lakes-the best fishing of the fall is going on right now. Specks, as they’re popularly known, are Lake Trafford’s mainstay fishery. And the 1,500 acre Immokalee lake is unusual in that its specks can be found year ’round.
Karen Evarts at the Boat Doctors in Olcott reports that king salmon action improved following the northeast wind earlier this week, especially off the piers and in the harbor at night. Very few fish have been sighted at Burt Dam, probably because of the lower water and flow. Casting glow spoons off the piers and from small boats will produce a few salmon. J13 Rapalas also will work trolling in the harbor at Olcott. Ron Bierstine with Oak Orchard Tackle reports that a good number of kings staged and boiling in the lower and mid-river spots on the Oak.
Lake Erie is pretty riled up from recent winds and rain, so it may take a few days for things to settle down. Spinning rods are not just good for bass fishing, they’re lifesavers when the fishing gets tough. Most bass anglers may have a love affair with baitcasting rods and reels, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a tournament angler who doesn’t have at least one spinning rod ready on the deck. Weightless worms, drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs and many other light lures that are known to fill a limit require the use of spinning gear. This is the time of year when you have a chance of catching a personal-best walleye, smallmouth bass, muskellunge, lake trout , salmon , trout and other species.
The problem is they’ll get such a head of steam at the last second, even if they fully engulf the fly, they’re barreling right at you. This instantly throws slack into your line, and if you’re not quick to recover it and set, there’s a good chance the fly will get spit. Even with the wind, Bob Johnson found some smallmouth bass on the Kankakee River. We have had to deal with lots and lots of wind up here in the county for basically the past 2 weeks.With that said, the reports have been limited, but this is what we’ve been hearing. Steelhead fishing is under way in most rivers, with Mag Lips & Flatfish working best. Spawn off the piers is producing both Steelhead & White Fish.
He was drifting his harness outfitted with gold blades and red and gold beads in the current in 30 feet of water on a three-way rig. Boaters are picking up salmon in Devil’s Hole and some trout are starting to hit along Artpark, reports Lisa Drabczyk with Creek Road Bait and Tackle. If you catch a lake trout, remember that the season is closed until Dec. 1. Kwikfish, MagLips, beads, egg sacs and minnows should catch trout. Some perch are being caught around Lewiston, but that is starting to slow.
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