Dragonfly Lures

September 19, 2007

The up and down water temperatures are putting the fish in their seasonal funk. Just six days separated surface temps in the upper 50s back now to the mid-60s.

The sucker bite for muskie was just beginning with the advance of the much colder weather. That's fallen off a bit now but it's still a good idea to "soak a sucker" while you're casting. These fish got a taste of live bait for a bit and a lively 11-13" sucker may draw some large attention to the boat. Drop them just off the bottom outside of the weeds in 8-12 feet of water and cast Burts, Jakes, 7" Cranes and Depthraiders outside and just over the weedlines. Pull out the plastics arsenal now and start chucking Swim'n Joes, Suzi Suckers, Fluttertails, Bulldawgs or Live Action lures over the depths, humps and cribs. On cloudy days with a slight chop on the water work those Pacemakers, Hellhounds, Docs, Suick's, Eddie's or any number of noisy topwaters. The fish have been active lately.

We're hearing from a number of vacationers about how bad the fishing is and, when quizzed about what they're doing, they're drifting with the winds. But those winds have been over 10 mph and it's too fast a presentation. Walleye especially don't want to see a minnow or crawler whizzing by at warp factor two. Boat control is everything in the late summer and don't be afraid to anchor if you mark fish on the electronics. Nightcrawlers and leeches are still working, either jigged or with slip bobbers in depths to 20-plus feet. Target sand or gravel flats and if there are rocks around even better. On cloudier days with a slight chop on the water get closer to the deepest weeds you can find and drop XL fatheads or walleye suckers down there. The bonus is larger perch and bass.

Speaker of bass, smallies will frequent the same deep areas as the walleye and presentations can be the same as well. Mid-sized crankbaits zipped along rock piles or riprap are triggering strikes. Largemouth remain much shallower, near weeds, reeds and structure and Torpedoes, spinnerbaits, Timberdoodles or plastic worms on a swim head jig are reportedly productive.

Panfishing has been a little tougher because these little guys are being chased all over right now by toothy critters. Target weed edges from 6-12 feet with half a crawler, leech or minnow for perch. Bluegill will be tighter to the weeds and using a longer rod, try dropping live bait or small plastics like Gulp! or Power Baits into the small holes. Crappie remain suspended and mobile in and around structure. Small minnows, tubes or Cubbies are pulling fish.

Finally, the northern pike keep hitting everything. Sizes seem to have fallen off a bit but the numbers keep climbing. Spinners, small surface lures and chubs are all effective in the broadleaf weeds. Bigger fish seem to park in the deeper vegetation so check those clear lakes first.

This time of year begins all the turnover discussion and it's not there yet. It's not a big thing if you know what to do and that's target some of those smaller waters that don't turn over because they're not deep enough. If a lake system has current, it also won't turn. When water temperatures reach a constant 55-degrees, that's the trigger. With the present weather pattern predicted, it will be a little while yet.

That's it for now, good luck on the water.

Mike
www.guideschoiceproshop.com
715-477-2248

September 26, 2007

The colors are brilliant and that just makes the fishing better. So does an even weather pattern, for a change. The winds should be dying off to breezes more, making boat control easier. But remember, the wind can sometimes put you on fish by forcing location decisions you made not have made otherwise! It pays to be flexible.

Water temperatures are reaching that transition point. Below 60-degrees is definitely time to "soak a sucker" for muskie and we recommend the 11-to-13 inch variety. The reason? The bigger bait doesn't necessarily mean bigger fish. All that does is put more space between the trebles on your quickstrike rigs and that can spell M-I-S-S. Besides, with the smaller bait that fish, if it does take it, will be back to feed again. It doesn't happen when you're fishing some huge sucker. This time of year you'll be working areas 8-15 feet deep. Using a dipsy sinker to keep the bait down, run those suckers about a foot off the bottom. Then, cast twitch or crank baits, mid-sized plastics (Storm, Suzy's, Bull Dawgs, Live Action, Swim'n Joe's, etc) and vary the retrieves. Oddly enough, work the cloudy days with topwaters and jerk baits. The books may say it's not time but the muskie don't read that well. It's been a very active pattern and a lot of the fish are still hitting at boatside so keep the figure eights going. For a change up during the bright days, work (jig) the bigger plastics and Fuzzy Duzzits in and around the deep holes.

Walleye are deep over sand flats, near transition areas of sand to rock or gravel and taking crawlers, larger minnows or small suckers and falling prey to jigging spoons like a Sonar, even a Cleo or Swedish Pimple. A lot of nice fish are being taken lately. Low light periods still find them around the greenest cabbage and coontail when a jig and minnow is still preferred.

Bass are now deeper, especially the largemouth. The shallow structure bite is about over with the fish moving to greener, denser weeds in deeper water. That depth is relative to the lake but averages 8-12 feet. Weedless worms and spoons are finding these fish just outside the edges. Smallies are still quite deep and if you locate even a subtle hump or rock pile on the bottom, fish it. A whole crawler is still the best bet but Gulp, PowerBait and Bucher Finesse worms are working, too.

Panfish are still hiding in the weeds. Small plastics on a jig or a mid-sized minnow are pulling bluegill and perch in waters to 10 feet. Crappie are scattered, suspended and small fatheads, tubes or the Powerbait grubs are productive.

The northern pike's menu consists of suckers or chubs. A swimming jig head or tube jig rigged with these and pulled around the weeds are turning fish. Weedless Daredevles tipped with a plastic trailer can be attractive.

The stable weather will improve you odds if you prepare in advance with a map or cruising the various Websites for up-to-date fishing info.

That's it for now, good luck on the water!

Mike
www.guideschoiceproshop.com
715-477-2248

October 4, 2007

Overall fishing in the Eagle River area is an A. The mild weather has kept water temperatures in the 60-degree range, even on the Chain and that's keeping the fish extremely active. Add the remaining color on the trees and it's a great time outdoors.

The proof is in the muskie fishing where topwaters and jerkbaits are still taking quality fish in waters under eight feet deep. Some fish are even being taken in water as skinny as two feet! Virtually any noisy or vibrating bait is productive. Topraiders, Suick's, Double Cowgirls, Smity's, Hellhounds and the list goes on. Suckers are hit and miss with the temps but some success is being reported outside the weeds in depths averaging 10 feet. Also working are the Mepps Musky Killer Sassy Shad, shallow Suzy Sucker, uptown Bull Dawgs and smaller crankbaits.

Walleye fishing is excellent. Walleye suckers, XL fatheads or Sonar-type lures vertically jigged in deep water with a hard bottom is the key location. Rig a crawler on a slip bobber for added action. Low light times are still finding the weed edges productive and zipping a Minnow Rap,a #10 or #12 Husky Jerk are finding fish. The fatheads will work, too jigged outside the weeds.

Northern Pike remain in and around the vicinity of weeds, specifically the broadleaf varieties. Spinnerbaits, chubs or small suckers are all working.

The bass fishing is still hot as the largemouth remain close to structure and/or weeds in shallower water. Yamamoto plastics, tube jigs, weedless spoons tossed into the shadows on bright days in these areas are still putting the net on quality fish. Smallies remain much deeper and if there are weedbeds around all the better. Crawlers or active plastics on a jig are preferred.

Panfishing is just as warm with perch roaming around reeds and grass. Leaf worms or small minnows are the choice baits. Bluegill are still hanging in the thicker stuff in depths to eight feet with much the same presentation as the perch. Crappie remain suspended over open water and mobile. Check the cribs, stumps or other structure for these fish and use small fatheads, Cubbies or tube jigs. Small Twister Tails on a jig are also hitting fish.

Have a great weekend.enjoy Cranberryfest here in ER and good luck on the water!

Mike
www.guideschoiceproshop.com
715-477-2248

October 7, 2007

Mother Nature has jolted us out of the summer-like temperatures and returned to fall. The massive front setting up the cooler weather will have an effect but as it evens out, the fishing will rapidly improve.

Expect surface temperatures to drop rapidly and finally trigger turnover. Until then, still stay on the shallow side for muskie. If you use suckers, keep them in the eight-to-12 foot range outside the weed edges. Keep casting the jerks and twitch baits as well as mid-sized plastics and figure eight every retrieve. As the water cools the live bait bite will improve dramatically. As it does, begin tossing crankbaits and gliders.

Walleye for the most part remain deep but target areas of sand grass in addition to the rocky bottoms. Small suckers, XL fatheads and crawlers remain the bait choices. Don't bother with leeches anymore as they stay gobbed up on the hook in the colder water.

The bass are moving more with largemouth going into deeper, grassy areas. This could be up to 15 foot depths. Start shallow in and around structure with the plastics and crankbaits you have been using then move deeper if not contacting fish. The smallies are still deep over hard-bottomed areas. Crawlers are best or if you can sink a quick running crankbait down there, it opens up more options.

Northerns haven't moved out of the weeds all season. Small bucktails, spinnerbaits, weedless jigs tipped with a chub or small sucker are all producing fish.

Panfishing has picked up a bit with perch still around reeds with crawler pieces or small minnows. Crappie can be found in depths to 10 feet around drowned wood or sub-surface, broadleaf weeds. Tube jigs or small plastics worked back to the boat can be used while watching a slip bobber or two with small minnows. Bluegills are hiding around stringy weeds so don't overlook milfoil. While it can be difficult to navigate through some of this stuff, the fish are feeding on crawler pieces and the more "natural" artificial plastics like Gulp or PowerBait.

That's it for now, good luck on the water!
Mike
www.guideschoiceproshop.com
715-477-2248