Fishing Report 4-13-2012

Friday the 13th.

Well the main news is that less people have been fishing, and less fish are being caught. The cooler weather has made the bite tougher than it has been. Water temps are back in the low 50's in most areas, although you may find some warmer water in protected bays or the smaller lakes.

Technique hasn't changed much, but depth has. Fish are still relating to shallow green weeds in dark bottom bays, but some fish have pulled back out to deeper water. I'd start shallow, and if you can't find active or big enough fish, move out to the next break, even as deep as 12 FOW.

Crappies will bite minnows suspended above them, but the best way to bait them right now is to use a much smaller aberdeen hook, and hook your minnow through the tail. Over the years I have found this to be a much better way to present a minnow to finicky fish, and I am continually surprised how many people fail to consider the use this little trick. If the bite is really tough...two waxworms on a very small hook can produce some bites. As always, fish tight to cover and keep the bait above the fish.

Bluegills are still using the weeds, but keepers have been harder to come by. I'd stay away from the bigger water and focus on small bays, or the smaller lakes. Areas with dark bottoms or reeds will concentrate fish.

Weather looks to be a bit unstable, so expect conditions to change over the weekend. Warm weather will probably turn the fish back on.

Questions...comments or concerns...email me.

Wisconsin DNR Conservation Congress Results

Are now posted. Check them out at this link.

A great tip

On rod transport from FLW Pro Scott Suggs


I agree with him, wish I would have thought of this before.

Hook and Look TV Show Season Five Episode 2

Finally caught the episode on dock fishing. I hope the whole episode ends up on line some day as it was that informative, especially for people in our area, where fishing docks/pontoons is a key strategy for bass fishing.

Here's a screen shot I took from the online preview:

 

I think this shot is telling. And much of the conclusions Kim and Danny Stricker make based on the observations reflect my own experience.

Look at the shadow, and the position of the bass in this picture. there is a defined ambush line along both sides of the pontoon above. Notice also the fish is towards the shoreline, rather than the back of the boat. This is a critical observation, one the hosts noted themselves.

When fishing docks/pontoons, I believe many people (and I'm guilty of this from time to time as well) fish around the outside edges of the piers. But if you look at this picture, the fish is in the center-back of the boat. You may be missing lots of fish by not fishing the sides, rather than just underneath the boats and docks. 

One other observation the show made that I thought was very interesting: In most, but not every case, there was only one larger bass under a pontoon or dock. If you think about your own experience, how often do you catch more than one fish off any particular dock on our lakes? I know of a couple docks that are usually multiple fish holders, but when I think about the docks I routinely catch fish off of, it is usually just one fish.

All food for thought.

Cheers,
CT