Wonder if / where / when a small painted cork feathered popper would turn on a surface bite for smallies ?
When would this stealth tactic work best ? ???
AND... after you answer that - tell us of another sneaky / obscure / way out of the box idea you used to catch a boat load of smallish on Erie / LSC?
Mojo
Post spawn topwater bite would probably be the best time to try that. Maybe later in the rivers early in the morning when they are up on the shallow flats.
I like bombing them with a heavy Xtreme Bass Tackle tube on the flats. Throw it way up in the air so it crashes down, makes a lot of noise and them whams into the bottom with a thump! Gets their attention!
I've caught them on Zoom Horny Toads on flats.
How bout a worm and a bobber, under a cane pole? Thats how my grandad would have caught them. LOL
Mayfly season is best topwater time on LSC.
Have you ever thought of fly fishing? It is one of the fastest growing tactics going. This old time way of fishing puts a lot of spring fish in the boat! It's not only a lot of fun but sometimes the only way I get fish on a hard bite day. You mite think your going to have to buy a lot of tackle or restock your boat with a lot of $$$ stuff, not true. You can get started for around $200. If you want to just haul a lot of fish onto your boat, get a gill net. If you want a lot of action and fun try fly fishing for smallmouth in the spring.
Quote from: huston on February 05, 2011, 08:12:16 AM
Mayfly season is best topwater time on LSC.
Huston has it right. it is some of the best fishing you will ever do. watching them slurp flies and casting to them is a lot of fun.
My lake gets a flying ant hatch in the fall. It is almost the same. see the splash and cast to them.
Spring better get here quick. i need to go fishing.
I had Mayfly season pegged ... just wondering if folks used lil feathered painted cork poppers next to the reeds or other insectish areas on LSC ...
Another weird tactic ..... ran out of wooly grubs on the flats so I carolina rigged a white fluke. snapping it every so often near the grass .................. ;)
Quote from: Got Fish?? on February 05, 2011, 09:59:31 AM
Have you ever thought of fly fishing? It is one of the fastest growing tactics going. This old time way of fishing puts a lot of spring fish in the boat! It's not only a lot of fun but sometimes the only way I get fish on a hard bite day. You mite think your going to have to buy a lot of tackle or restock your boat with a lot of $$$ stuff, not true. You can get started for around $200. If you want to just haul a lot of fish onto your boat, get a gill net. If you want a lot of action and fun try fly fishing for smallmouth in the spring.
I don't have a lot of particulars but I know someone that guides in the Detroit area and he fly fishes. Sinking flies I believe for them.
If you can find clear water in the fall when they are chasing bait it works pretty good. Have not had good clear water on the south shore the last couple years - but if we ever get it and you have a day with calm or S wind, it is a blast. Better quality fish than the mile roads mayfly fish too.
If I have spinning gear or baitcasting and want to swap a spool, I was thinking of 4 lb mono, or braid with floro on a 7'2" and try to whip that tiny wt out ??? Thinking of one of those converting moments when you see some surfacing and nothing else wants to work...... Your thoughts ?