Bidding goodbye to March/2008 was tough to do! I don't remember a March where so many big fish had their pics taken and released! What a month! These fish are in extrodinary shape this spring. This day after April 1st found me and another River Fool pushing off the launch at Evert's after the end of a work day that felt like it would never get here! Our goal for the day was to hone our rusty skills as they related to pitching blades. With the River providing us some nice current seams as of late, blades become an increasingly popular go to bait for Jami and I. Sand flats as Eric Rehberg mentioned provide a very happy hunting ground for Spring walleye. Current seams adjacent to these flats act as magnets for staging females.
Jami with a 26" HORSE!
We found fish to be both shallow and deeper along the breaks this evening. Fishing blades allows you to transition from deep to shallow very quickly to find active fish. Check EVERY area around your boat! Two of our largest fish came right off the edge of the boat tonight. Jami had one between 27-28" come unbuttoned before I could net it...(Sorry!!!!) The 27" shown here came in water so shallow it caused Jami to remark "What the heck was that???" The fish hit so hard and shallow it came out of the water as it hit the blade bait! That fish came on a B-Fish-N Tackle 1/4 ounce "Mud Puppy" blade from Evert's. Dean had turned me on to that bait last year. It still is a go to bait for me when it is cloudy. The "Purple Voodoo" Ringer from Evert's was the hot Ringie of the day for me, while Jami keyed on the "Incognito" Ringer.
Jami with another dandy Blade fish.
Jami decided he wanted to catch a fish on a hair jig that he happened to make. His wish came true within a couple of casts! He popped a nice eater fish up on the sand flat as he worked it toward the boat with a slight drag of the bottom and an ever so slight twitch to his 6'6" St. Croix Legend Elite rod. I also connected with a few fish using one of "Bucktail Wayne's" Perch colored hair jigs in 1/8 ounce. (Dean has the best selection of the highest quality hair jigs anywhere!) We have not been tipping our hair jigs. They come into their own when you are trying to hold a tight area and are trying to work it meticulously. You want the jig to swim naturally along the bottom. Sometimes a little subtle hop can provoke a strike.
This is a Purple Voodoo Ringer fish.
Speaking of hops...I have been instituting this little technique when working my ringies along flats and points as well. I still try to maintain contact with my jigs or blades while doing this as most bites happen on the drop back. For this reason, I have to again hype the St. Croix Legend Elite rods. The sensitivity is second to none for this kind of fishing. Do yourself a favor, take Dean up on his offer to test drive one. With the Government Stimulus Package money coming...Ummmm...well I think you get the drift...Ha!
You can actually count the amount of vibrations per rod tip twitch! I kid you not! Once the twitch of the tip has been done, be sure to drop the lure back on a tight line. This is critical when fishing this way as again, most strikes occur at the drop back. You need to use the current to your advantage to do this. My best advice is to quarter the current when you cast so that the current keeps the blade or ringie supported during the drop. Keeping the line tight will put more fish in your boat! ANY outcropping along the shoreline will create a current seam. You can find them for miles down river from the dam. You do not have to be stacked boat to boat to be on fish. Branch out...hit and run. Search out some spots that may soon become your new favorite! It sure was fun seeing some new faces out there, and even some of the old favori...well let's just say some old faces! LOL!
So long March!
Here is to a great start to April!!!!
Tuck
Nice fish Chris and great report. We hit that spot a while after you guys had left and picked up a few more nice fish there. Didnt matter what we had on as long as it had some purple in it the fish would hit it.
James, I do believe that is the one...Ritter called it a Mud Puppy...so the name stuck! Erick, your boy Ritter caught a large carp right in the "Exit" hole. Boy! Did he have a tussle on his hands!
all three big fish I got last weekend all camo on the voodoo and camo Everts ringie as well...that extra tail I believe does help quite a bit to make them neutral fish active
Tuckner you better net them fish before Ritter and I start talkin smack about ya again too
No need to PM...the fish came from 3 feet to 12 feet of water. That is why I mentioned to fish all around the boat when you are pitching an area. The bigger fish were 50/50 shallow and deep. I am using Suffix Seige and Mustad 6 pound Hi-Vis for pitching/jigging/dragging ringies and hair jigs. I am using 10/2 Fireline Crystal for pitching blades.
Looks like you had another good trip down the river! I have had a number of invites to fish out of Everts!! I just might have to make a spring trip b4 my open water season begins
Quote: Excellent report Tuck! Good to see you and Ritter out on the water again!
I see you caught some fish at dark. Are there better times of the day when the bigger fish are hitting?
Those fish were all caught at dusk or earlier. Flash at dusk makes it look a lot darker than it is...(You can ask Mike W. He was right next to us.) We do get a few fish after dark, but the action slows dramatically, and the size goes down. The best times for big fish are dusk and dawn but if you are on large pods of fish, they can come all day long. With work and all, it is just hard for me to get out during the day. Now rumor has it Dustin will be putting up some pics that should make you drool here shortly...all daytime fish.
Hello April on the River!!!!
Re: Hello April on the River!!!!
I haven't had any luck on the blades this Spring so far; but I do give them a shot every time.
The only bad part is I got be in the boat with a Mono Red Headed Freak. 
Boy! Did he have a tussle on his hands! 
If they only knew the quality of fish they have caught this year. 
