Walleye for saturday

[Westlakedrive]

This may or may not make a lot of sense because a lot of people are targeting different waters and have different access to boats and different types of water etc. However any philosophy about what might work better at this time of year.
After a delayed water warm up (ice was out a couple weeks longer than last year) then a quick warm up followed by cooler weather. Cool days followed by cooler nights tonight. Water temps cannot be that warm. For instance no sign of some of the later spawing species in local creek. Personally I think its likely to be just a plain jig and minnow maybe a crawler. Less crank baits for sure as it seems fish would be less likely to pursue a trolled bait. Maybe some spoons tipped with a minnow? Will likely try some new gulp minnows maybe trap some fresh.

[Crooked Dave]

Trolling cranks will still be a good bet in the shallows after midnight tonight. Speed will be a big variable, and if the water is extremely cold, keeping it down around .8 to 1.3 mph should still produce. Daytime, as fish move back into deeper water, the jig/minnow combo will be tried by many, but I think you would be pleasently surpirzed on walleyes and cranks this time of year. Tight Lines

[Steven Arend]

Trolling cranks will still be a good bet in the shallows after midnight tonight. Speed will be a big variable, and if the water is extremely cold, keeping it down around .8 to 1.3 mph should still produce. Daytime, as fish move back into deeper water, the jig/minnow combo will be tried by many, but I think you would be pleasently surpirzed on walleyes and cranks this time of year. Tight Lines

I will have to Second the Cranks.

This time of year walleye will be slow and sluggish. You need to get that quick snatch reaction. Running cranks is a good way to get that. Trolling shallows in the morning or at night is night a bad plan but don't leave out that 50'+ waters fishing in the top 15' with cranks. That 50'-70' has been a great producer for me at this time of year.

Tight Lines and see you on the waters

Steve

[walleye express]

For years my cranckbait theory was along the same lines you mentioned. Just seemed to cold for cranks to be effective in the early spring/late fall. But after about four episodes of watching Al Linder and friends catch walleye on three way rigs and Rapalas right after ice-out a few years back, my own theory changed. I will stick with my thoughts, that live bait (fished slow) right in the face of negative or cold front fish is the most effective, but reaction bites from cranks can still get it done best in certain cases. Good luck tomorrow. :grouphug:

[STEINFISHSKI]

After last night I've been part (including other crewmembers catches) of putting 100+ walleye in the boat for this year so far, all on crankbaits, casted or trolled, and all before the opener. (both before the closer and after, where legal:) ) Stickbaits in shallow and deep diver models to be exact. Just about every color, size and model have been used with speeds of 1.0-1.7 mph. Best for me locally in west Michigan has been the HJ12-14 and DHJ12 Rapala Husky Jerks. But I'm a trolling guy at heart. I use the Precision Trolling Guide, along with leadcore, planer boards, and limited use of snap weights to put the lures right above the fish marked with great success. Give it a try this spring, winter or fall in the cold water and you'll be hooked.

[scottyhoover]

It's hard to work today with all this talk going on!

[STEINFISHSKI]

It's even harder "trying" to work today after pulling an all nighter last night pulling into the house at 4:30am this morning:dizzy:. I'm on the RED eye staying awake only for the caffiene and sudafed I keep pumping in to keep me going. But it was worth it. I think I'll even take tomorrow off.:o

[Gone Coastal]

Hey, it's always worth it to go fishing fish or not. My pet peeve is guys that whine when the body count is low. Congratulations on a successful season so far.
Pat :fish:

[flatsman]

What do you guys think of a crawler harness at night this time of year? I will be fishing a small tributary to the tib and saginaw rivers. :confused:

[grizzly]

It's been 6 years since last taking live bait for the opener on the tibb. One day while jigging a log came floating buy that had several cranks hanging on the log. Caught the log and both the lures were the same. Both had teeth marks on the baits. I have been using the same baits for the last 6 years. Toss them 30 feet behind the boat kicker in gear and catch fish. Add a little super juice to them baits and your in business. Oh yeah no mono baby, spiderwire all the way.

Hope everyone stays safe on the river and bay.
Grizzly

[Flyfisher]

I'm on the RED eye staying awake only for the caffiene and sudafed I keep pumping in to keep me going. But it was worth it.

Hair of the dog kept me going this afternoon...got all the rods re-spooled and leaders tied up...Mr Pike, here we come!!! Thanks again, Tim, I'll PM you a link to the photos once they are downloaded. Time to finally get some sleep...night all!

[Westlakedrive]

Agree with everyone. Cranks you can cover more territory with to help find the fish. However if you know where the fish are and they are concentrated then maybe jigs are better. Most guys I know seem to only troll. Antother way would be to start out with faster more agressive methods for catching fish such as trolling cranks and if you havent caught anything trolling for a few hours try something different.