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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
The warmth of Spring is here and, now more then ever, hopefully to stay. Throughout the last few months Tim Dorholt, Jeff Sundin, Jason Green and I have been working on a promotional paper for the area and it has finally arrived. The paper is called UPNORTH and is a free publication intended to promote the 1000 Grand Lakes Area. You can find the paper in many of the area businesses. I want to thank all of the companies that have became part of this first publication and hope all of those that read it like what they see. So, with more of the open water showing itself each day here, the more opportunities we have to get out and enjoy the quality fishing that is offered here. Those first open-water panfish are a must. Many of the smaller lakes are real close to being fishable. From here until opening day, chasing those panfish can make for some exciting fishing. If you're interested in fishing those Red Lake slabs, I have found the best bite on first water to happen about 5-to-7 days after ice out. If we get a stretch of time where there is very little wind, look for those crappies to stage on the East shore of Winnie, mainly in front of the Tamarack River. Most of the fish will move up to the 3-5 foot break making them an easy target and catch. This week I want to touch base with another important piece of equipment that may get overshadowed by those shiner minnows. This week let's talk plastic. What? Plastic. Yep, it is probably the most under-fished bait in this area, yet on some days it can be the best bait out there. The plastic baits in the fishing industry today are absolutely amazing, from the look to the feel and action. Technology, for a lack of words, has hit the plastic and if you're an avid angler one needs to really think about using them more. What plastic baits are best? Early season walleyes on most days are feeding heavily on baitfish, so by matching your presentation to the size and color of the baitfish will get you started. But what brand? There are numerous brands out there, but using a simple 3-4 inch twister-tail style bait like the new Lindy Thumpin Grub, will work good year-round, but especially great on those early, cold-water walleyes. The keys to plastic fishing are speed, jig size, and confidence. By downsizing the jig, it allows that bait to swim, float, or hang in that strikezone or fishzone. The main problem that comes with fishing plastics is the speed that many anglers offer the bait. Most anglers try to fish plastic baits like live bait. Yes, sometimes it works, but others it won't. Fish the plastics slow. Anchoring up and casting on main points, drops, corners, most times will work. Casting and retrieving in that shallow water can be deadly. Then it is down to confidence. If you just try them once a year and strikeout, likely it will be the last time you use them. When the bite is heavy, one can gain confidence quickly, and at times when the fish slow or seem to have a negative attitude towards those minnows, many times this is when the plastics pay off. The switch from live bait to plastic happens for a reason, like when the bite is off, and this is when a small change like fishing plastics will make a huge difference. Making small changes, especially for walleyes, whether its depth, jig size, speed, or plastics can and likely will be the difference each day to whether your outing is successful or not. So, if you're heading out this coming season and want another opportunity to have an edge on those elusive walleyes, get some plastic Lindy Thumpin Grubs and add them to your tackle box of tricks. See ya out there,
Sean Colter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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