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Member
Posts: 97
Location: Rochester, MN | Was able to put in a few hours on Sunday. Fished from 10am til 2pm. Started out checking a wingdam and some rip rap shoreline spots but abandoned those spots quickly. Didnt give them much of a chance because I couldnt wait to get into some of my favorite sloughs and do some leadcore trolling. This has been my goto summer technique for numbers the last couple of years.
Went through quite a few cranks til I found what was working and the top two producers without a doubt were the wally diver in red/black stripe and the chrome/blue back/red nose baby thunderstick. The typical slough Im working has has lots of depth changes and humps and bends and also some wood. The countour changes or humps are where these fish like to hold where they can ambush prey. The depths the fish are holding in vary from 10 feet down to about 16. Boy would I like to use handline gear here! I just dont have the rig to do it these days. For now I will just have to use lead. The current is swift enough where you can drift with bait at a nice clip but these fish as usual want cranks!
Trolling speed has typically been between 2.7 and 3 mph. Water temp was 77 degrees and flow about 38,000 cfs. Trolling both upstream and downstream was equally effective at catching walleyes. Todays best fish was a healthy 20 inch walleye. Caught 8 eyes total. Wish I could show pictures but I fish alone usually so Its difficult to take photos.
While trolling downstream I was able to dig bottom and catch fish just using the transom mounted electric motor. Just letting the crankbait tickle the bottom. I had never tried that before but to my surprise it was quite effective. I was also surprised how far down I can get that little baby thunderstick to do its magic. The fish really seem to like that bait. Must be all that shiny chrome or something. Another hot crank has been the shad rap rs #4 in black and gold. I have caught lots of fish on that crankbait the last couple of years on the lead. It was a nice weather day and it was nice to find a few hours to get out and fish the home water considering all the driving I have to do on the weekends between La Crosse and Appleton.
Until next time!
Steve Hougom |
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Member
Posts: 1188
Location: Chicago IL. | Nice job buddy. You got me getting the jitters to be out again. Going to be in the area on the weekend of sept 11-12 . Let me know if your going to be around. We could get out for a few hours.
John Mannerino #473 |
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Member
Posts: 105
| Hougie,
Was out last friday on the river and fished the back channels. Boated about 20 leagals, largest 24". Caught about half on willow cats and the other half casting cranks and trolling cranking. Best color was black and gold with orange belley, Rapala's new shad rap.
Been catching just a tone of fish lately, nothing big, but when you putting numbers in the boat, that is fun in itself.
Tom |
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