Bandit's

Hey there! I'm new to this site,an was looking for some input . I was fishing out there the end of last week an did well when the weather,or I should say wind would allowed me to fish. I was wandering if the bandits would still be productive the beginning of June? What about bomber 24a's or storm jr's . I didn't want to get my fingers dirty with worm guts Lol! I plan on spending a week there in early June. I call it gods country. Alot of you guys and girls are blessed to live so close to walleye machine like erie. I caught most of my fish near mouse, mostly on the stock bandit's . Humble bee did the most damage for me then the black headed wonder bread was runner up 60' back , 1.3-1.5 .Any information would be truly appreciated. I have been reading this site for a few months now,an would like to thank everyone for the shared imfo. I was beginning to wonder about the human race in my area. This site is very enlightening. THANKS again!

they should be but at that time of year spoons killer bees and even little Rippers works best for me I am new to the bandits but I'm sure they will do just as well good luck

Thanks ! Dave What are killer bees? Haven't heard of them. I have some spoons stingers the smallest ones. How do you pull your spoons?, I hear copper back, been trying my own harrnesses for a while.

I don't know what killer bees are, but I can tell you how we run stinger spoons (the small ones). Mostly behind Tru-Trips or Dipseys on a 6 ft leader. Spoons and single Colorado or double willow blade harnesses are usually our go-to baits in Late May. I think the biggest concern about early June is the mayfly hatch. When that happens, everything seems to get messed up. Guess there's just too much food in the system for walleye to bother chasing other baits. But I'm like you Frank, I am not blessed to live within an hour or two of Erie. It's a 5 hr drive for me and I only get there 3 or 4 times each year. Spend the week before Memorial Day each year out of Turtle Creek. Looking forward to in this year!

I think they are talking about a Bagley lure that resembles a Wiggle Wart.

https://bagleybait.com/balsa-lures/killr-b/

scorpion Stinger spoons and I usually pull them with 40 jet divers and yes the killer bees are from Bagley and it does resemble a Wiggle Wart,but the only problem with spoons is it attracts a lot of junk fish too that's why I like running though slightly bigger baits

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Originally Posted by Davids4768

scorpion Stinger spoons and I usually pull them with 40 jet divers and yes the killer bees are from Bagley and it does resemble a Wiggle Wart,but the only problem with spoons is it attracts a lot of junk fish too that's why I like running though slightly bigger baits

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Try the next size up in the Stinger spoons it cuts down on the number of white perch and smaller white bass.

Thanks for all the info! Now that you said that where bagleys,im sure I have a few in my bass tackle, I thought I remembered the name but wasn't sure there's so much stuff out there I tend to forget the older baits. I also have jets but I have the trip Z's ,. I never seen the tt until I was out there last week browsing through a local tackle store while waiting for the wind to lay, are they better than the trip z ? Also what about color choice in the jets? I have a 6hr. Run to get to heaven. Well I was sprouting wings on the way home LOL!

Good luck on your trip Brody! Rip some lips for me!

WHITE/CLEAR and black work for me

Also what about color choice in the jets?

I have all of the colors in the TT-40 divers and have found that the color has little effect on catching fish. It may make a difference in the clearer waters in the central basin though but does not seem to bother the fish in the western basin maybe due to the murky water.

I think we are going have to run bigger spoons and crankbaits this year. 2014 was a pretty good hatch and remember catching quite a few 8" walleye while perch fishing last fall those fish will probably be about 12-14" now. So the bigger baits may cut down on how many short Walleyes you catch

Thanks guys! I have a good supply of bigger spoons also, stingers,yeck zippers,dream weaver slims. Your help will save me valued time. I have 20 jets but the area's im going to fish is only in the 30' range or a little more, my dive chart says I can get 30, if I have to, if not i got lead. Keep reading reviews above paint chipping off spoons so i gave them a couple extra topcoats

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Originally Posted by wakina

Also what about color choice in the jets?

I have all of the colors in the TT-40 divers and have found that the color has little effect on catching fish. It may make a difference in the clearer waters in the central basin though but does not seem to bother the fish in the western basin maybe due to the murky water.

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I must agree with Wakina. I too have several of just about every color TT and pay no attention when we are replacing them on the rods while fishing. When I set everything up on shore I usually grab all "smoke" color... but that is just because they all match.

One thing I want to mention in regards to the different divers (you asked about TripZ's) is that the TT seemd to be the most common among guys on the radio (if you listen to it). This is important to know even if you are not using TTs.

You see, when SaraJ Charters are talking to one another and you know what they are using that is working, then you can duplicate it. If SaraJ says, "We can't keep our rods in the water 65 back on the inside" then you have to know a few things. 1- What diver they are using and where it is in the water column at 65 back 2- They are trolling from a 34' CAT and their inside lines are 10' off the water. Let's hypothetically say that they are using a Leur Jensen Diver with a custom trip system and an added 1/2oz weight (just hypothetical). Then I can figure out what depth they are fishing and I may need to be 90-100 back on a 40TT.

Maybe Pooh Bear Charters uses 50 TT. He isn't going to say that on the radio and announce his program. However, if you listen and one of his buddies on the water asks, "What leads?" he may respond "50 back."

Let's compare:
50 Back on a 50 TT = 30' Deep

It takes 75' Back on a 40 TT to get 30'
It takes 125' Back on a 30TT to get 30'
On a TripZ 30 it takes 200' Back to get 30' or 190' Back on a TripZ 40

If you are running TripZ 30's 200 yards back on my boat, I would spend all day untangling lines because I run 6-8 rods out each side and people don't wait long enough to reel in and wind up across multiple lines.

For me, I want shorter leads out on all of my rods. I do run the 40TT because of their size and the commonality of them. You can run tadpoles or any kind of weight or diver system you want. As long as you know the dive chart for what you are using, and then have a dive chart for whatever anyone else is using when giving hot spot info, then you are fine.

I can ask about 30 different boats "What are you leads?" and they respond, and I know that they are using 40TT, and I know what depth they are catching at and can instantly duplicate... Of course, this is considering that I have my reels calibrated and my line counter is accurate, and so is theirs!

-Matt

Thanks Matt, I understand what you are saying, same as trolling different brands of cranks, I have a small boat an would only be running 3 rods per side,an have run long leeds for browns,in the gin clear water of Ontario. For me I got the jets to target 25 to 10 ' zone. I will do clip on's to target deeper fish . I have the pro edition bible, but will get TT curve charts so I can get a grip on depth compared to what I'm use .Might be able to get them on precision app. I See from reading this site that most people in your area troll short leeds. I'm doing a week in early June Thanks again!

Remember the days when fishing was fishing, not all science, geometry, and physics-based. I understand with cost of trips,gas, equipment fish need to be caught to break even and make the clients happy and coming back.

Just amazing how much walleye fishing has changed over the last 25 years from when I was a little boy, and it was erie dearies and papa dragging a bottom bouncer.

The thrill of the chase