Gm... I’m sorry it took so long to reply... I’ll be glad to Pass along any info... hoping it will be useful in the end.
Maybe it would help to know what kind of fisheries you will be working... such as lakes,rivers or streams... by boat or by bank fishing?
...oops. Correction...a 3-0 stainless steel hook with a 1/4 ounce jig head and of course the 5” silver flake swim bait.
Jakestake83 wrote:
I would take a number 7 split shad rap by Rapala. That lure works for any fish.
The bucktail is truly a great lure! Nice call... but I think I would like to have a 3-0 stainless steel hook with a 5” silver flake swimbait.
Dgarttman wrote:
Yep that is real good
Try cleaning The eyelits with a toothbrush and wiping down the rod. apply an industrial grade silicone spray and let it dry thoroughly before use. Sometimes a 2nd coat for colder and icier conditions will help as well. Let it dry over night. The silicone repels a lot of water reducing ice build up. Nothing will stop the icing completely but prepping your rods with the silicone sure helps when we deal with winter temps...
A last note... walleye were known to have the best eyesight of any freshwater fish. It is now considered by scientists that walleye are second to the saugeye.
According to scientists and biologists walleye have several gold plates in their eyes to take low level light and amplify the light to afford them excellent eyesight. However they found that saugeye have a substantially more gold plates in their eyes than walleye.
Saugeye are you extremely light sensitive. Due to their increased vision they predate in the twilight of the mornings and evenings and at night considerably more than during the day time... that is not to say they aren’t caught during the day but to fish them an hour before and after dawn, an hour before and after sunset, and at night gives you the best opportunity to hook into these wonderful fish!
I hope this helps...
Much of what has been previously posted is very good information. We consistently catch premium fish using swim baits and 5” grubs. When fishing among rock and other cover these swim baits used meticulously with the 1/0 and 2/0 hooks provide great opportunity to “cherry pick” very nice premium fish (20”-25”). The largest saugeye I have caught to date is 26”...using smithwick rogues....
Also a friendly caution... big saugeye and small hooks don’t go well together... I use 1/0 and 2/0 long shanked hooks in 1/8th and 1/16th ounce heads...
Big A wrote:
Seems like some folk just got the knack, don't it ? 😉
Are you familiar with the “tap”? Its my first guess that most of you are very experienced fisherman. That being said it is highly probable that you have not distinguished the tap from deadfalls, rocks, etc.
You can learn the “tap” of a saugeye (which is their trademark strike) by taking your index finger of your strong hand and ever so lightly tap once (ever so lightly) the back of your weak hand. Repeat this a 2nd time by tapping the back of your weak hand twice (ever so lightly). This trains the brain to help you as fisherman to recognize the tap. Repeat this frequently and it will refine your ability to sense and feel this strike...
These fish can tap so lightly they may feel like a very soft crappie tap at times... these taps occur with saugeye that are 6” or 6 pounds... you will only know which it is when you set the hook!
Gm....and wow! I don’t see many who talk about saugeye on this forum...I’m currently in a 5 week statewide Saugeye tournament... lots of premium fish being caught (20-28”) plus many smaller...
Water Conditions and locations are causing us to use a variety of baits right now. I, among others are saugeye fanatics! Lol. Did not want to bore you or other forum readers with too much detail. If you are interested in baits and colors I’ll be glad to share some info..
Good of luck...and tight lines.
I put a new X3 on my tracker 175. Nice quiet trolling. Plenty of thrust at 48 lbs. I have 2 deep cycle batteries wired parallel. Gives me about 13-14 hours of run time...
I read this forum frequently but not exclusively because much of the information I seek is often not discussed here.
That is to say that fish species vary in many states as well as climate conditions and even state regulations.
It may be helpful to create topics by state, which allows us to research information more specifically and easily...
The genetics of different species of fish afford that species the ability to see some or all color ranges depending on the specie. Those genetics vary due to the specie of fish as well as the environmental factors that it lives in.
Many studies have been conducted by scientists to determine what colors fish can see. For example some deep water oceanic fish living in a virtual environment of total darkness have been found to see blues and greens.
Species of trout and salmon for example can see red, blue, and green.
Saugeye have been studied and were found to see colors of orange to red, green and blue.
Reading the scientific data on the specie you are fishing for will provide information that can be used in selecting color patterns...
I am former military and retired civilian law enforcement but most of all a father of 4 of which 3 are daughters.
The best suggestion is for you to have a partner at all times to fish with and you BOTH carry firearms.
The world is full of wonderful things and fishing is one of them! But unfortunately there are people who will cause your fishing trip to be a nightmare or create nightmares for your loved ones if you don’t survive.
Be aware of your surroundings and stay with your partner. After 26 years of wearing the uniform I can assure you that 99% of the time you will be the one that must preserve yourself and your loved ones.
Lastly, consider investing in a boat...it more often than not will remove you from some of the yahoos Lurking around and always have a partner!
God Bless and happy fishing!
teabag09 wrote:
I doubt they are going to stop dropping lake levels in the fall. They do that so they don't have problems in the spring with excess rain or snow. Those lakes collect water from a long way away.
As to how to catch walleyes, stop by a local bait shop and talk to people there or a local bar for a burger and a beer. Mike
I have some experience fishing flood plain lakes. As you were advised previously you have some good questions. Flood plain lakes are generally divided into basins. The flood plain system of management by USACE is primarily concerned with flood control within their respective basins. The sport of fishing is of lesser concern due to their mission priority of water management. As long as there is a need for water management the fall/winter “draw down” of these types of lakes will continue indefinitely. There are many factors to consider when fishing these types of lakes due to the variable conditions of the water. I fish for saugeye in these types of lakes. Walleye and saugeye have many shared characteristics...If you’re interested I would enjoy exchanging information and tactics with you.