|
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | Okay our yearly trip to Ontario is about a month away. The pressure/excitement is mounting! We're working on a guide. In your guys opinion, what are 4 lures that are a must have, and any specific techniques would be appreciated!! Where should I be targeting the fish? I know we have experienced a bit of a lake turnover last 2 years, and it's been brutal, but those fish still have to eat! Any suggestions? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7092
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | If i had ONLY 4....
-10" Jake, Tennessee Shad
-Jointed or Straight Depthraider in Perch
-Mag Black/Orange Dawg
-heavy spanky bait in black/smoke blades. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | smoke/christmas tree … spanky
tennessee shad grandma
jointed orange-belly perch raider
medusa … one that works
hope they are chasing blades, pray they are hitting medusas, survive if they are hitting grandmas and hope you never have to hook up the jointed raider
be sure to bring a shallow invader … but, fix it first …. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 162
Location: Chicago, IL | Hard to beat a mag black or black/org dawg... Ten inch phantoms in walleye or perch should see some water too. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| I have fished Eagle for the last 8-10 yrs. and going to say darker colors work better for us.
Having said that we have had more Musky's grab our Walleye's/Perch, so you might want to take a couple in those colors. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | I don't have any blades , but I will def pick up some of the mentioned. How do you fish them? Everything I've heard about blades is burning them during the summer months.
The past 2 years we have concentrated most of our efforts shallow, with no luck. I was thinking about concentrating on secondary structures in the 10-20ft range this year. Any thoughts? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | depends on what you are on … the reefs on eagle are complex and crowding them is not a good idea … there are so many spines and fingers that you really need to know. my suggestion is to map first and fish second … my boat is usually in 20+ feet of water as a general rule when fishing most of the reef complexes there. instead of thinking of it in terms of break lines think of it as a big iceberg because it's basically an underground mountain and the fish relate to it top to bottom.
key in on wind … know what the wind was doing the 3 days prior so you can pick spots that are fed by it … fish move around and slide up and down constantly and are usually right where they are supposed to be.
keep the weeds honest, fish the rock walls … and fish some sand in case they are using it to warm up …
good luck, wish i was going that week …
finally, based on what i'm reading you really should try to hire a guide for at least the first two days of your trip …
Edited by jonnysled 8/21/2014 11:15 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | jonnysled - 8/21/2014 11:11 AM
depends on what you are on … the reefs on eagle are complex and crowding them is not a good idea … there are so many spines and fingers that you really need to know. my suggestion is to map first and fish second … my boat is usually in 20+ feet of water as a general rule when fishing most of the reef complexes there. instead of thinking of it in terms of break lines think of it as a big iceberg because it's basically an underground mountain and the fish relate to it top to bottom.
key in on wind …
I agree Sled, we really should take a guide, and I'm working on that. It's tough finding someone reputable that will freelance or isn't tied to a specific lodge. Any suggestions? We stay on the north eastern part of eagle if that helps. Thanks for the info too! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Cal Ritchie … he is absolutely fantastic and i think he both free-lances and operates out of a couple of lodges. there is another thread on here with a lot of suggestions. i'll pm you the last number i had for him, but i haven't talked to him in a year or so. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 458
| jonnysled - 8/21/2014 1:14 PM
Cal Ritchie … he is absolutely fantastic and i think he both free-lances and operates out of a couple of lodges. there is another thread on here with a lot of suggestions. i'll pm you the last number i had for him, but i haven't talked to him in a year or so.
Cal Ritchie is awesome and if you can not reach him please pm me. I would bring a dbl 10 spanky with a black skirt and Martian green blades. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 309
| Get some Jr. Double Cowgirls or similar. My favorites up there are black/black, red/red and black/orange, and I've never burned them. Get some Depth Raiders and some Dawgs. You don't need much else. Start with the blades.
You are spot-on about the secondary structures in 15-20' of water that time of year, but if you come across some green cabbage in 8'+ of water, give it some attention. Play the wind, too. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | I'm having real trouble finding a 10" jake or 9" grandma in TN shad, any suggestions on where to look? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | We got Cal Ritchie!!!!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 17
| Glad to hear it,You won't be disappointed and money well spent. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Natureboy - 8/23/2014 4:33 PM
I'm having real trouble finding a 10" jake or 9" grandma in TN shad, any suggestions on where to look?
there is one with a little light blue on the cheek and orange near the gil (don't remember the name of the color), but generally look for a natural light green one. i wonder if they discontinued the color called specifically "tennessee shad". |
|
| |
|
Posts: 379
Location: Thief River Falls MN | Spanky baits site shows the 9" Tennesse Shad holo pattern as available |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | jonnysled - 8/26/2014 5:02 PM
Natureboy - 8/23/2014 4:33 PM
I'm having real trouble finding a 10" jake or 9" grandma in TN shad, any suggestions on where to look?
there is one with a little light blue on the cheek and orange near the gil (don't remember the name of the color ), but generally look for a natural light green one. i wonder if they discontinued the color called specifically "tennessee shad". |
|
| |
|
Posts: 240
Location: Illinois | Thanks guys! I will definitely check out both those sites. Trying to nail down a few last items. |
|
| |
Eagle lake 1st week in October