Spinners - Fish catchers
Shown Vibrax Blue Fox |
I have a box of Vibrax spinners within arms reach of my captains chair in my starboard side box so if the opportunity arises I can get them on the lines fast.
One such opportunity is if schooling surface feeding fish like white bass (aka silvers) show up and get into a feeding frenzy. Another opportunity is when smallmouth are crashing minnows as well. How to: I keep four jigging Rapala rods ready to go in my side box. These rods have clips tied to the lure and I will unclip or open the clip (cross locks)then put on a spinner. If I've got four customers I can have four lines being cast quick. I have found over the years that being flexible on the St. Croix River and ready to take advantage of the real time conditions is extremally important. |
Use your eyes to land big fish
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Smallmouth bass and big walleye fight! and fight especially when the water is mid 70's. My tip this week is to stop reeling when you see the fish close to the boat or shore and fight the fish with the rod tip. If you bring the fish too close to the rod tip by reeling in too much line, chances are it will get caught on a motor or the edge of the boat or run and snap the line.
Also Suffix elite 6 is great bass line for smallies on the St. Croix. |
$%*! Happens
One more thing to maintain... |
Well what does Murphy's Law say...
So not happy to be a news breaker here, but yes add one thing to your list to replace over time.... Well yes i trailer much more than most, but I never thought this pin would break. Its the pin that closes and locks the swing tongue on a trailer. Hit the brakes in a normal way at my first stop sign out of my house, and I see in my rearview mirror the boat come all the way and run into my truck gate. Pictured here is the trailer on the pavement. Could've been way worse. My neighbor Mitchell Anderson saw me and stopped, ran home and got me a big bolt to fill the hole in the interim. I jacked up the tongue and then swung the roller down and luckily it all went back straight. My beater truck did get a touch more "personality" though. |
Rigging Rods
Fish with three or four anglers |
When it comes to rigging for walleye, I hate to say it but you and me we miss fish, and some days it takes a lot of skill to catch them.
Not only does it take skill to detect the subtle bite, but knowing when to set the hook is also an acquired skill. Some days even the pros can miss fish, this is when having more than one or two guys in the boat help. Gals, guys, kids all catch fish and the more the merrier. Let me back up, missing fish is an issue when the bite is tough and you then leave an area too soon, yes there are keepers there... One issue though when fishing especially rigging is crossing lines. This is why when I guide a boat full of people, anglers use two of these rods: LSS83MLF. Yes I am on the Pro Staff, but these rods are weapons. www.limitcreek.com/SpinningRods.html Weapons? why These rods are 8'3" and when held out to the side greatly reduce line crossing. Face it the reason you don't take more anglers along is it becomes a big tangle mess a lot, these rods help not tangle. Plus they are extendable - one piece - and break down in a second and fit in a rod locker!! Not only are they utilitarian but when I rig this is the rod I use. it picks up the slack line when mono fishing like a boss. |
Jigging Rap - Versatile
The Jigging rap can be fished many ways |
This is a lure that is very versatile:
It can be Cast: Hopped back Snapped Back Vertical jigged: With a moderate lift and fall like shown by the drawing on the back of the package. Snapped sharply Then you have the amount of lift (or how high you fish off of the bottom). |
You can " mud bug it" Where you kick up the sand and mud.
Then you have the fall or drop time. There are a LOT of variables and hence the versatility. So My tip is this, UNLESS you've got it figured out. Don't do what I see all the boats do and that is both or all three anglers all are doing the exact same thing. Mix it up until the fish tell you. Fish are caught these three ways:
This is how I see what a presentation should be, and the hard part is not all fish do the same thing at the same time. Its all about coming up with a plan that works, then try for a plan that's better, but not perfect. |
The More The Merrier
If you can captain -pack the boat! For more fish. |
Not only do more people most times, most times make for more fun, but you will catch more fish.
The key is the ability to captain your boat in terms of anglers doing what you want in relation to what they want to do as long as it doesn't interfere with you running the boat the way you want. In other words you all need to be on the same page, and somebody should be in charge. Also you'll have someone often the one you don't expect to get "hot!" smack on the fish. Kids often bring the luck, and the fairer sex most definitely does. These gals almost always catch a lot of fish. |
Bring more people and fish on the same page and have more fun and more fish!
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Forage Grows
Shad Grow As the Seasons Moves on |
The Shad that are in the river systems of the St. Croix and Mississippi are very interesting because a very small percentage of them live a whole year and live long enough to spawn.
What happens is these fish hatch and of course start very small and then grow as the summer progresses. The shad pictured on the right is from outdoorsman supreme Aaron Otto from August 19 a couple years ago. Right now as the 4th of July approaches the shad are a fraction of this pictured size, but they will steadily increase from now to late August and continue to grow and get bigger as the fall comes blowing in. This is one of the big reasons anglers upsize as the Fish Seasons progress. The forage grows and then dies. This differs greatly from young of the year perch, sunfish or drum. |
Bass Search Lure
Cover ground |
Often fishing lures are intended as search tools. Anglers search in a way that covers a larger area faster.
For walleyes a search lure is a crankbait. Bass have many of these search lures like the one shown here a "grub." Another bass example is a spinnerbait or a buzzbait. Search lures are often called power fishing, its hard to describe the term " power." But I will try... you simply power and fish strongly through an area in an aggressive way. Power here is also understood when its viewed versus the term " finesse," fishing. |
As the water warms its a good time to use search lures.
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Leeches Hooked right catch more fish
Hook from bottom to the top. |
Leeches hooked off of center roll, they are really like an untuned crankbait, to get the most out of many presentations, the little details matter.
The sum of the all little details which an angler does right can be significant. So this diagram... Hook on the black spot. There are two of them, I prefer the intersection center point of the sucker disc and the body. Why? because the fish don't steal them easily, they still do though! Plus the swim action is the same as the dead center sucker hooking position. Should've said this first, but leeches that are rolling and spinning stink at catching fish. A centered hook really helps catch more fish. |
Tip Nov 2021 - Loop Knot
Rapala's Famous Lure needs this knot |
Shown here is a knot tied to an original Rapala Floating Minnow.
Many anglers use quick clips and attach lures this way. Some anglers get spooked by clips as in the clips "spook fish," I don't know about spook, but I do think there are times a clean looking lure with this knots shows a preference to be bit by the fish... I also don't like clips a lot (for diving cranks especially) because, if you have followed this site, you know, I am obsessed with lures running and tracking straight. This is why I use the EZ Tuner I see an additional piece of metal (the clip) in the equation to throw off true tracking to some degree. |
This is also a good knot to tie to jigs that you want to be horizontal. Crappie enthusiasts especially those from down south, like Crappie guides making their living pay attention to these small small details.
My philosophy is if you can gather enough small details in a positive way they add up in a noticeable way. I don't believe one small detail will make or break your catching, but the total detail cumulative certainly does. |
Tip 10-26-2021 Lure Care
Desiccants - To Stop Moisture Accumulation |
Moisture and hooks do not mix well that is if you don't like rust.
For sure the worst thing to do is put away your lures wet, or not allow any rain that lands inside your tackle trays to dry before closing them in storage. I started fighting moisture by putting packs of desiccant inside my crankbait trays. About two years ago I started keeping these little moisture sucking packs in my tackle trays. At home we bought a new TV, and inside the box were six larger packs of desiccant - Instead of thinking TV watching , I thought - lures and tackle boxes! Once you start looking for them these packs of desiccant you'll find them in tons of products. |
Desiccant story - a client about ten years ago, told me this one about his buddy. Again a story told to me..
My clients friend stayed up too late drinking beer, well he got hungry and wanted something salty. He became overly drunken on barley pop, and reached for a quick chow and started eating commercial packed beef jerky, in wolf like fashion he ate it all and ate the desiccant pack too! Sounds funny, but as I was told he then had stomach issues for several years after that. Moral to the story - when you're drinking a lot of beer - look before you eat. |
"The Smoothie"
Best all around rod I've ever used |
I have used and my clients have fished with Limit Creek Rods for over 20 years, I have rods that are just that old and land fish trip after trip.
The best all around rod I have ever used is the Limit Creek lcs69mlf. Its a 6'9" rod that's killer for jigs and livebait rigs for walleye and it catches big river smallies on tube jigs and finesse worms, plus of course many more presentations. |
Organization Equals More Fish
Use Swim Floats to keep lures like Jigging Raps and jigs not tangled and safe from wave chipping |
.I came up with this set up last winter very easy but simple to do HACK.
Take a swimmy - or pool float and a utility knife, cut out the orange float at a 90 degree angle to be then flush with the corner of any plastic lure box. Make sure the length you cut is long by about 3/8" on each side and then the orange swimmy foam is wedged into the sides by pressure alone. I don't glue these in. They've been in the boat and staying in this position for 5 guiding months. I don't see the need for glue. This HACK does a few things: One. Organize and make lures look sharp this brings a bit of confidence to the fishing some how for me. |
Two. This hack keeps lures from bouncing into each other and chipping paint and hook points dulling by rubbing into metal bodies.
Three. This hack keeps 80% of the bait up and off of the bottom of the box in the event of rain where if you forget to wipe down any moisture in effect it presents rust on the lures. |
Colored Line - Tip For August 2021
Suffix line is very strong- the orange is an angling aid |
If you like to watch your line for bites or see it move with river flow or simply know where all the lines are when fishing multiple lines with many guests colored lines sure help out in this regard.
Normally with clear line one needs to hold the rod tip in such a way it catches the sun, so you can see the line, this works but when its cloudy, pretty tough to do. Worried about spooking the fish? Not in a river, still worried? Then tie on a clear leader. I do that a lot. |
End of July 2021 The Right Time and Spot
At The Right Time - Jerkbaits |
Anglers essentially have two options to catch fish, meaning "lures" are either one- live bait like minnows or worms, etc. or two - artificial and manufactured.
I do not know anyone that regardless of circumstances that prefers bait over artificial all the time. Ok, where are you going with this Turk? Bait is something that is a necessity, but there are times that straight out lures work very well. Times, there are times. I won't leave you hanging there, its pretty straight forward when the use lures its when the action is HOT! Lures work. Some of my absolute favorite lures when the time is right are "Jerkbaits." |
Jerkbaits are much more a style of fishing than a lure. Meaning the top lure shown the classic and all time slayer original Rapala black n white, is a jerkbait when fish like one - a jerkbait. The lower lure is a Husky Jerk. Jerkbait are snapped down and retrieved and paused and snapped and retrieved in a form of cadence that seeks to search to provoke strikes! Tip - when the action is hot and fish are in depths shallow enough for them to come up and hit - Jerkbaits like the ones on my rods get the job done. |
Summer time - High Action
Rapala Jointed Shad Rap |
A important part of fishing is fishing the conditions of the seasons as the fish seasons change.
Right now in the Hot Summer as you are certainly aware the water temps are the highest of the year every year. This year is an exceptionally hoty year. As the water temperatures rise or fall the action and sizes of lures change to matches these fish seasons as the seasons change. I stay on top of the fish seasons religiously. |
So right now in the Hot Summer season a bait I have used a lot for the last ten years is the JSR - jointed shad rap, this lure when trolled fast has incredible action and a ton of movement.
Its been a great bait for me and my guests. A plus of using Rapala's is they have the highest quality controls and are tuned out of the box. Snags, unhooking from nets, pulling too hard right or left when tying knots are all examples of how lures over time can become out of tune though. |
June 26Tune baits in a pool or docksideThis tip is a continuation from last weeks
I have taken the time to tune ALL my crankbaits, in the pool or dockside. When you do this and you tune all your baits, you will see very soon two things: 1. How tricky they are to tune. 2. Baits that are actually fish slayers or junk! The needle nose is just is not very precise, and "over tuning" happens. Once tuned and they just slightly run off, then they just need a kiss, by the EZ tuner. This is done in the boat while fishing, and this "kiss" or just a slight bump of a tune is when over tuning happens when a needle nose is used.. I've done it, while trolling, over tuned and ruined some of my best baits with a needle nose. |
Over tuning means just like it sounds, you applied too much pressure, and now the baits runs off the other way.
These pliers i talk about the EZ have a spring loaded tension jaw that you literally dial in the amount of pressure to be applied. When you situate the long jaw and the short jaw properly the long jaw is on the side of the bill and the the short nose jaw is on the line tie. Then squeeze the plier handles and the short jaw pops open with a click. The click lets you know you applied a set amount of pressure. |
Next - test the bait to see if the applied pressure brought the bait into "tune."
If not then turn the knob a half turn to the right, which now will apply more pressure. Apply another tune attempt. Often one or two tunes will bring it right back into alignment. Small baits like shad raps and hornets and flicker shads are so touchy to tune your baits without ruining them via a needle nose, you need the EZ. If you over tune the bait, what you have done is started to create play or a wiggle where the line tie is molded into the bill. Now one of your favorite cranks ruined by over tuning. Lastly the EZ tuner applies only a set amount of pressure that is completely adjustable and measured by you. |
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Fishing Lure Color Guide Based On Clarity And Light
The Ambient Light Determines A Finish/ Choice
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The Water Clarity Determines A Color Scheme Choice
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1. Clear water-Bright Light
Lets do some "rule" interpretation!"
Look at the three blades above. See the shine? All three are shiny so they are all good on sunny days. But now water color. Lets think of water color, and look at the lures. Of the three which should you pick in clear water? The lightest most natural, like a minnow is the silver. The gold and copper blades are subtle colored true, but darker is better in darker water. |
2. Clear Water-Low Light
Next, look at these three blades. See how they all seem to have a dull or flat appearance?
Turks Test Q#1 T or F: You should use the silver blade above on a sunny day? |
3. Dark Water-Bright Light
These ProScale Blades are popular.
Turks Test Q#2 You are fishing and you are doing very well during a fine sunny day catching fish on the Perch Shad. You notice the sun clouds over to overcast. Now you stopped catching fish. What blade would you choose if you had all 18 to pick from? |
4. Dark Water-Low LightOrange-Yellow-Red
Chartreuse
Shown above are two VMC jig heads with wicked realistic eyes. The hooks are sharp as anything too.
Sometimes its not easy to see where the lure color choice rules lands for fishings, but look closely and I think you will get a feel for it. This last question should really tie the idea in. Turks Test Q#3 and #4 1. Clear water-Bright Light 2. Clear Water-Low Light 3. Dark Water-Bright Light 4. Dark Water-Low Light #3 Which class 1.-4. does the top jig land in? #4 Which class 1.-4. does the bottom jig land in? Test A's below |
Look below at these 12 Shad Raps for more of a feel. Where's my Firetiger you ask? Some lures are bright enough and dark enough to cover all four classes. The trick is and there is always a catch.. Some days they really really want a set color aligned with the ambient light and water clarity rules I have put forth here.
So there are lure colors that will always put some fish in the box, but sometimes there is a lot better lure to use!
1. Clear water-Bright Light
The bottom silver and black is here as it is natural and it has extra shine. It could be argued its class 2 as well, as the sides are pretty grey.
All these are open to interpretation. |
2. Clear Water-Low Light
The middle crank color is here because it is flat and not glossy or shiny, though it is somewhat bright.
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3. Dark Water-Bright Light
All these cranks are dark but are bright or have shine
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4. Dark Water-Low Light
The top crank is almost more bright than dark, but it is mostly dark. Black is also a good choice here (not shown).
Answers 1. False 2. Gold Shad 3. Class 4 4. Class 3 |
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Tip of the WeekSecchi DiskLower the disk into the water when it becomes unseen measure the distance from the string in the water surface to the disk.
This is how you read the water clarity in lakes. River measurements use a tube, however for my purposes I use this and go with the flow and keep the string vertical then the reading is accurate for me. Water clarity is one of THE largest conditions to understand in fishing not only a river but anywhere in the world! |
Ice and logs can wreck your transducer
River IceThere are big sheets of ice and small pieces floating down the river, and some of the chunks are crystal clear and dense. These are very hard on transducers.
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Level transducerHere is a pic of a level transducer. The mounting bracket on the boat receives the transducer brace. These two pieces are joined by a bolt and nut.
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Popped up transducerHere is a pic of the transducer after I got back from a trip. The transducer popped up a few clicks upon impact of something, likely ice. Here is the tip. Make sure that the bolt is not overly tightened and so rigid the transducer wont move upon impact. You want some give these transducer are tough, but they need to move slightly upon impact.
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Piece It Together Like A Pro! Walleye
Tip of the Week |
I will once again teach my original course called Piece It Together Like A Pro! Walleye. The course explains how fish move seasonally, weekly, and daily based on the environmental conditions that exist. I focus heavily on river conditions, but a lake angler will gain much from this as well.
The 80 page manual, including charts and diagrams, is free with the course. This is a professional level course based on theories proven out over 20 years of continued fast water field experience and analysis. |
Announcing dates for this 4-day class:
Cabela’s Woodbury Feb. 26, 28, March 5 & 7 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm Course fee & Sign Up required Contact me with any questions. I am excited to teach this brand new class! |
You will learn how to take facts and turn them into clues as to where the fish are and how to pattern them. The 80 page manual, including charts and diagrams, is free with the course. This is a professional level course taught with theories proven by 20 years of continued analysis, from fishing high pressured bodies of water where catches are not guaranteed.
I have had inquires about this already and so if your are interested please contact me. The class size will not be overly large and it will be a fun atmosphere. It needs to be a three or four night class from say 6-8pm starting in late January, and somewhere in the east metro. Maybe an all day class on a Saturday. Not sure. The cost is similar to a half day guide trip, and will be some of the best money you ever spend on your fishing. |
