|
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | This past weekend I experienced a very curious pattern that I have seen rear its head way to often to be a fluke.
Water temps on Pelican are in the very low 40's, wind was howling out of the northwest, everything is set up perfect for the fish to be on the deep breaks heading into the basin but....
All the fish I am contacting are up in 4' of water or LESS. This has been a pretty consistent pattern that I have found over the last several years, and something the bulk of us are not exploring in the latter stages of the season.
I moved several fish fishing this pattern for only 1 hour, and would have loved to continue it but the 41"er I released left me in a bloody mess (man you bleed a lot from teeth slashes when its really cold), probably should have used my Musky Armor Gloves. 
Just a heads up on a very underfished pattern that I have seen work time after time in the later stages of the year. It just might equate in a couple extra fish in the boat for you! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 154
Location: Appleton, WI | Interesting Norm, we had the exact same thing 2 weeks ago. Mostly tried it because the deep break was not happening, 3 fish in about 35 minutes and then it was over!! |
|
| |
|
| Dan Okray and I caught 2 fish over 40" 2 weeks ago with 43 degree surface temps, both fish came off a very shallow breaking shoreline...both were in 4' or less as well...timber seemed to be holding them.... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | Give us some more insight Norm.....Wind pounded shalllows or out of the wind. Rock and sand getting warm (was sun out?). Weeds, dead or green or bare? Was it spot specific and why?
Thanks for sharing!
Cory |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Norm, we've been seeing that as well the past few falls. We have had them eating suckers on a float over the weeds and ripping dawgs in the thickest weeds we could find. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Ahhh, Leave it to Mr. Painter to be the inquisitive one!
Actually these are all questions I have been trying to narrow down to be able to more accurately predict this shallow bite. This weekend the fish were very wind related but I have seen it almost as often when they are not. I nearly always capitalize on these shallow fish in rock areas. I am very inclined to think that there is some kind of baitfish migration that the muskies are following (duh), but I am really struggling to figure out what bait is running up in the shallows in this period. Pelican has no cisco so we can rule that out, and it is so darn shallow it is near impossible to get up there and look around with a camera.
Right now I am happy just to know that this pattern exists, but I am trying very hard to figure out the why's.
Maybe Mr. Worrall can offer some insight on this one......or anyone else for that matter. |
|
| |
|
| the lake we were on has a good population of redhorse...could they move shallow for some reason? also, we found ours in non windy areas...no weeds to speak of...hard bottom, with timber...
I personally think it is a hit and miss pattern...by that you have to check it day in and day out and it probably isn't an all day thing either...either the fish are there, or they're not....
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | This pattern works until the water reaches the mid to low 40's. I have caught fish in 3ft of water twitching baits and running gliders. Wind will increase your chances to hook up. The clear, shallow, calm areas seem to have more followers.
Good tip Norm, this is a good pattern for sure that is very under fished. Finding the inside weedlines and working them stealthy is the key. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | That is a good point. We've noticed the same thing on rivers for years,but I always thought it had to do with fall current related higher o2 levels now in the shallows again, along with the sucker and baitfish runs. Then we started to notice the same thing on the lakes. My buddy and I were just talking about it recently and we both concurred that we noticed a shallow movement/and/or bite during turnover, but also after. I wonder if it is as simple as the shallows should be now fully oxygenated, some forage is always there, and it is ust comfortable for them to be there now. Not to mention, if there is any chance for the fish to warm up at this time, it may be in those shallows..?? I know that the warm water areas in any body, be it springs, discharges, spillways, sewer lines etc. are all draws.. Norm, are you noticing a temp chamge in those shallows up or down, even in tenths?? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | Fish are shallow year round, ever look down an ice hole and see a battlecruiser??? Making an educated guess I bet that spot is loaded with perch, its Pelican man.......no rules just fish:)
|
|
| |
|
| Keep fishing shallow right until the season closes or ice up, the muskies will be there to find baitfish, remaining or dying weeds, or warmer water temps  |
|
| |
|
Posts: 25
| Feeding windows might be short but they will be around.
More than one too you can pretty much be sure of that.
Lots of fun to be had shallow in the right place an at the right time.
: )
But then I don't really know anything, an typing is rusty from five months off, just feeding the fire.
Feet is cold.
FB
Edited by FartBoy 10/24/2006 3:45 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 720
| Hi All,
Just got back from Canada on Sunday and we caught 13 fish from Sunday to Weds. of last week the temps were in the low to mid 30's and the water temps were starting at 45 degrees on Sunday with sunny skies and litlle wind. Monday brought rain/snow/wind and a beautiful 48" fish on a weedbed that shallowed out at 4' and the deep side was at 9'. One thing I want to mention though in here is when landing this fish we had some green weeds on a couple of the hooks. The tops of the weeds were brown and looked dead but when you dug down in the bed there were some green weeds yet. That weed pattern paid off the rest of the week and as the weather got worse meaning wetter/snow/ windy and colder. Also the water temps dropped a full two degrees from Sunday to Friday. We never saw the sun again after Sunday afternoon.
We did catch fish over deep water also with the a huge fish being hooked off a deep point (note to self remember Kleenex for boat tears are cold on face once big fish is lost). But like you said Norm I thought it was strange to see such nice fish in so shallow with that cold of water and no warming sun. On Tuesday we boated a 47" on the same weed pattern but these weed were a tad deeper with the shallow side at 7' foot and they ran out to about 14'. The rest of the fish that week ran from 36" to 44" and one of the prettiest tigers I've ever seen and that fish was 41".
Finally, the bait of choice for the week were the following Cobbs countdowns, Phantom 8", Reef digger by Big Fork and I would not believe this one had I not done it a Viper. It was just one of those lets see if this would work moments and it did a 38" fish on a Viper with 44 degree water temps on a snowy windy day in October in Canada. I'm smiling as I type this because I still can't believe it. It makes me feel like I stoled the Hope Diamond and got away with it. Goes to show you that its not always about the big ones. What fun!!
Dave |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Hey Norm,
I've been under the weather for a little more than a week, but am back at it, I hope.
The fish are following perch. I use the same pattern on Pelican at dusk to smack around the big 'eyes, weeds and rock, in about 4'.
Give me a call this afternoon on my cell! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | Great post Norm!!!
This pattern is legit. Way easier to predict on smaller lakes(600 acres or less). I have had a much harder time with it on Pelican but if Norm says he has it he has it. I have had great success during years when turnover happens very fast. The years when turnover seems to keep happening for a few weeks your shallow window timeframe is not very big. The key for me is fishing lakes that do not have many rocks in them. Surface temps of 40-45 are prime time!!! Most of these lakes have a large basin that has sand shoreline with a fairly steep drop. They may have more than one large weedy bay. The key is to select the largest bay(feeding flat) that the lake offers. On a smaller lake it is easier to narrow down. The fish are way shallow feeding on perch and suckers. Once the water temps drop the bait move out to the basin and so do the skis. The point is that it does not matter if the weeds are dead or if the bottom is sand or muck. The lake has turned. The water is full of oxygen and the fish are there. Have fun!!!
MR |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | Hey Mike.... are you saying those fish are waaaaaaay up on the flat under those conditions? If so... you gotta SHOW ME this the next time we get out.
I may be missing out on that shallow pattern. I have noticed a difference between catching the fish on top of the breakline vs. at the foot of the breakline.... but rarely do I go waaaaaay up onto the shallow flats at this time of year.
Better yet... in my opinion.... is to look for a subtle ledge or shelf that is deeper than the shallow flat... but shallower than the foot of the breakline. Some people may refer to this as a "spine".... but for me a spine is longer than it is wide.... thus I call them a shelf. A feeding shelf if you will. In the summer months these are great "secondary" spots.... but post-turnover they become my PRIMARY targets.
So many patterns..... so little time. |
|
| |
|
| yes, I've seen the same thing and the pattern appears stronger this year. Seems best in the afternoon with some sun. very shallow rubble reefs fish are usually right up on top - or shallow sand/weed transition lines. Closer to deep wtere seems to help - backs of bays/flats distant from deep water usually not good. When I'm not finding fish deep I always check this and it's put fish in the boat for me.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 333
Location: menasha wi 54952 | Yes J........waaaaaaay up in there. 4' of water is the deepest. It can vary from lake to lake. A super fast turn not a long drawn out one is the key. For me this has been a non-cisco based smaller lake pattern. Usually the weekends around Halloween are perfect. Although this year we seem to be ahead of schedule temp wise. Im thinking my first weekend in November adventure will be too late:-)
MR |
|
| |
