CATCH MORE FISH RIGHT NOW
By Bob Jensen

Anglers are always looking for ways to be more successful fish catchers. There are a number of things we can do throughout the year to fool more fish. Some fishing methods are better in the spring, some are better in the summer, others are better in the fall. Following are some ideas that will help you catch more fish right now.

The Number One thing an angler can do to catch more fish regardless of time of year is to be flexible. Depending on where you will be fishing, the fish right now are getting ready to spawn, they could be spawning, or they could be finishing that process. The stage of spawning that the fish are in will determine where they are and how hungry they will be.

Keep in mind that different species of fish spawn at different times. This is Mother Nature’s way of keeping order in the fish world. When the northern pike are ending their spawning season, the walleyes are getting ready to start. As the walleyes are spawning, the panfish are getting ready to move into their spawning areas, and so on. What this means is that although one specie of fish might not be interested in eating, another might be.

The fish that have been done spawning for a few days will be the easiest to catch, as they will be hungry after going through the rigors of spawning. Hungry fish are easier to catch than fish that aren’t hungry. If the fish are hungry and we put a bait in front of them, oftentimes they will bite.

With that in mind, it is important to try different areas until the fish are found. Start out looking for them near the areas where they spawned. For northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish, that would be near the bays they used for spawning. For walleyes, look near shoreline areas that have small rocks or rubble and current.

If northern pike or largemouth bass are the quarry, try searching for them with a spinnerbait. A Pro-Model Reed-Runner is favored by many anglers. In stained water go with a brighter blade, in clear water try a more subtle colored blade.

Panfish and walleyes will be susceptible to jigs. A Gypsi or Fire-fly jig tipped with a Gulp! maggot will be a good bet for the panfish, while a Mimic Minnow jig with a three-inch Power Grub or Gulp! minnow grub will be good for walleyes.

As the water warms and the farther away from the spawning ritual the fish get, the more aggressive they will become. Larger, faster moving lures will become more productive. The fish will also start to inhabit a wider variety of areas. They will be wherever their food is. If you can convince them that your lure is food, you’re going to get bit, and that’s why we go fishing.

For more fish-catching information, visit fishingthemidwest.com