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[mjm6]

Fish are stacked from 6 to 12 feet on mile roads.
Water temp was 52 deg Friday at 10:00 AM.
The stained water and wind did not seem to bother the fish.

About 8 boats out both Thursday and Friday.

Lots of perch a around -- Lakeside selling a ton of minnows.
Black Gulp worm has been scoring for Walleye -- 14 - 20 feet in the river off the Roostertail.

Since C&R season is not open yet and I cant really fish -- would think about using crankbaits fished reaaaaal slow and drop shot with the new Lk St Clair Craw (this bait is as good and probably better than Canadian Mist).

Females are no more than 100 - 150 yards away from the males -- a ton of small fish are available up close to shore.

With the strong South wind yesterday (Friday) there was a very strong mud line about 2 miles off shore - looked like a Piccasso painting.

good luck and good fishing
Mike Mc.



(no less than one six pounder Fri!)

[fiker]

This brings up several questions.

Let's say I'm fishing in 6-12 fow and it's 52 degrees.  What kind of crank bait would I use? 
I've read that in colder water, baits that don't wobble much are the ticket.  In warmer, they are better.

My question on bait choice is;  what type of crank could be fished slowly, and not wobble much?  Seems like lipless cranks would have to be pulled too quickly. Or is my research wrong?

How deep would I target?  Would I want them to come up for it, or put it at their level?

I've often used suspending jerk baits in these conditions, and played with the cadence. 

What to you think?

[Cheetam]

This brings up several questions.

Let's say I'm fishing in 6-12 fow and it's 52 degrees.  What kind of crank bait would I use? 
I've read that in colder water, baits that don't wobble much are the ticket.  In warmer, they are better.

My question on bait choice is;  what type of crank could be fished slowly, and not wobble much?  Seems like lipless cranks would have to be pulled too quickly. Or is my research wrong?

How deep would I target?  Would I want them to come up for it, or put it at their level?

I've often used suspending jerk baits in these conditions, and played with the cadence. 

What to you think?

Rick, some flat baits you could look at would include: Bandit Flat Maxx, Bomber Model A or Flat A or 8A, Rapala Flat or Shad Rap.  There are plenty others,  but those are some decent ones.  One thing I've found is that just because it has been said that flat baits with a tighter wiggle are best in colder water, don't be afraid to throw a fat, wide-wobbling bait (and vice versa when the water gets warmer).  I've caught plenty of big fish bumping stumps in 50 degree water throwing a Mann's Baby Minus or RC 1.5.

[Lightningboy]

I think tight vs. wide wobble is something you need to feel out each day.  But I would say that smallies seem to like a slightly tighter action than largemouth; seen lots of exceptions though.

More important to me is contact.  Whether its bottom contact, or contacting the cover like weeds, making contact causes an action change that triggers bites. 

Jerkbaits don't do much on a straight retrieve.  But start popping that bait & throw in some pauses and you've got a fish catching trigger.  Cranks making contact simulate those action changes and trigger hits.

Reconsider the rattle baits.  Choose a model that will allow you to make contact with bottom, or with weed tops.  The LV 500 is awesome for cold water & depths to about 8 feet.  It has a great forehead design for digging bottom.  Make a long cast, let it sink to bottom, and start bulldozing.  Adjust your speed to just maintain contact.  Throw in a momentary pause when you hit a hard object like a rock, it's a great trigger.

I have a hard time NOT tying on a rattle bait all year...

[Cheetam]

Just reread my post...not all the baits I listed are flat baits (the Model A and 8A).  I meant to say some flat baits and others with a tight wiggle...my bad 

[Got Fish??]

  Clown color works on jerkbates/ ISG ST Clair dream tub/ Wayne's ST Clair craw is what I would use.

[Revtro]

Ditto on the rattle baits.  I've had good success with them in cold water.  BTW- St. Clair  is quite a bit warmer now.  Yesterday it was 65.