Muddy Water? Cans or Islands?

Heading out for the first time on new boat, and first time trolling. I've got limited opportunities for this activity, but have acquired all the gear and done extensive "youtube" research in the winter months. Very excited to say the least.

I'm sure the lake has been thrashing with the weather this past week. I was curious if the imagery below of the water clarity would be enough to send me to a different location, or if no impact?

https://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/mo...e.143.250m.jpg

Don't mind jumping around, but want to give myself the best chance! I'm sure this depends on the flavor of the day and where the fish mark, but in general... are Perfect 10s bringing them in or are we looking at depths whereas a bandit or deep husky jerk is more appealing? I realize the dive charts come into play too, but again first time pulling boards and without getting too granular just looking to keep it within my learning curve.

Sounds like I'll sit on 79 and see if anyone is out there tomorrow.

Looks like Stony Point in Michigan has clear water. That would've been my choice today if it weren't for the cold. Decent launch at Sterling State Park and then we usually head out through the little bay and have had luck fishing 20 fow between the two points (Stony Point and whatever the other is). Don't know why it happens but often when the islands are really muddy there is clear water in that small area which can be seen in that satellite image you attached. Downside is needing a Michigan license which isn't cheap this year... I fish inland Michigan lakes too so I end up getting both states every year.

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Originally Posted by Pauken23

Looks like Stony Point in Michigan has clear water. That would've been my choice today if it weren't for the cold. Decent launch at Sterling State Park and then we usually head out through the little bay and have had luck fishing 20 fow between the two points (Stony Point and whatever the other is). Don't know why it happens but often when the islands are really muddy there is clear water in that small area which can be seen in that satellite image you attached. Downside is needing a Michigan license which isn't cheap this year... I fish inland Michigan lakes too so I end up getting both states every year.

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Thank you for the input. I guess I should have noted the boat is in the water at Catawba. Which is why I kind of elected Cans or Islands. I've read a good amount it seems about a wild wings location and more frequently K Can. I was not sure if that mud clarity is just something to avoid entirely or if there's not a big impact.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Cpt. Rookie

Thank you for the input. I guess I should have noted the boat is in the water at Catawba. Which is why I kind of elected Cans or Islands. I've read a good amount it seems about a wild wings location and more frequently K Can. I was not sure if that mud clarity is just something to avoid entirely or if there's not a big impact.

Thanks.

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Funny, I was actually going to note that this doesn't really help those with their boats already in the water. We live in Toledo and prefer launching from Turtle Creek or Catawba but I actually looked at the same satellite photo yesterday and would've gone to Michigan but we cancelled due to cold. With the right colors you can do ok in muddy water but I know many who post here search for the clear water. Mud lines are great if you can locate them. Anyway, hope the bite is decent today for those who are out!

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Originally Posted by Pauken23

Funny, I was actually going to note that this doesn't really help those with their boats already in the water. We live in Toledo and prefer launching from Turtle Creek or Catawba but I actually looked at the same satellite photo yesterday and would've gone to Michigan but we cancelled due to cold. With the right colors you can do ok in muddy water but I know many who post here search for the clear water. Mud lines are great if you can locate them. Anyway, hope the bite is decent today for those who are out!

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Ok...I'll add to my need for basic knowledge...does "too cold" mean the fish shut down when it swings like it has, or because as a human it is not as enjoyable?!

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Originally Posted by Cpt. Rookie

Ok...I'll add to my need for basic knowledge...does "too cold" mean the fish shut down when it swings like it has, or because as a human it is not as enjoyable?!

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Mostly the fish shut down from what I've experienced. Also, with low 30's today the human factor isn't good ether :)

from the sat pic... from your starting point... east side of kellys may have best water color...sure there'll be boats there.

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Originally Posted by fisherman 2

from the sat pic... from your starting point... east side of kellys may have best water color...sure there'll be boats there.

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Haha...agreed on the 30s stinging a bit too much!

Here is an updated picture from today, appears to be clearing up. And would think even better tomorrow. Maybe I will head east of Kellys to start and then cans. But if any reports come in today I'll certainly be curious to hear.

https://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/mo...e.143.250m.jpg

See Capt. Jul's last report pretty informative. A little past for my thoughts but it's a place to start.

Gene

The bite, was an afternoon bite yesterday, from all the reports I heard later in the day yesterday. That would be thanks to the big full moon we are having right now, and the clear skies at night.

The stained, but not muddy, or too clean water, is what you're looking for.

Water temps dropped about 5 degrees overall since last Wednesday, but this sunshine all week will help bring that back up.

fished north north west of west sister yesterday water was not to bad only landed 4 lost one marks were spotty

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Originally Posted by Capt Juls

The bite, was an afternoon bite yesterday, from all the reports I heard later in the day yesterday. That would be thanks to the big full moon we are having right now, and the clear skies at night.

The stained, but not muddy, or too clean water, is what you're looking for.

Water temps dropped about 5 degrees overall since last Wednesday, but this sunshine all week will help bring that back up.

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Hey Juls,

Love your posts. Can you go a little further in depth on the water clarity? I get "stained but not muddy" but also look for really clean water? Thanks!

Think I get it to not look for water that's not too muddy or too clean? Anyway, love your knowledge and would like if you could expand a little on it. Or maybe that knowledge will present itself in your next detailed post.

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Originally Posted by Pauken23

Hey Juls,

Love your posts. Can you go a little further in depth on the water clarity? I get "stained but not muddy" but also look for really clean water? Thanks!

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If your boat has an outboard motor, look at your cavitation plate when you set down someplace. If you can see your cavitation plate, but the prop is "just visible", then you're in perfect water clarity conditions. If you cannot see your cavitation plate, then it's to "muddy". If you can clearly see your prop, then it's too clean. When you're in that "too clean" water, look at the difference in water temperature compared to the stained. It's much lower.
Come summer time, that too clean water will be fishable. Right now though, they prefer to stay in the warmer waters.

That's been my experience over the years anyway....;)

Thx Juls!!!!

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Originally Posted by Pauken23

Thx Juls!!!!

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Thanks for all the input. I am sorry to report I nailed zero fish today. Tough going. Was surprised to see the lake was kicking up some pretty good waves out of N - NE, 4+ easy. I was learning the new boat and systems and attempting to execute line management - which again is entirely new to this fly fishermen. So expectations were low. I think next time simply having some of my mates join to man boat while rigging everything out will help a ton.

I was around Kellys. Did a loop on west side mainly due to calmer waters to get stuff situated, then around south and poked around east, but ultimately didn't have time to get to where I wanted further NE. I attempted to attached here what all went out. I tried to follow comments gathered in other posts regarding line distance.

For example, the perfect 10 - I tried 30 feet/1 oz/30 feet and clipped to board and then let out 100 or so feet. I played around with this some. Other times not using weight and letting out more line. These bandits I was in the 100 - 125 feet out range, then attached board. Generally in 25-30' of water, but also never certain if I should have been closer to shore or further out. Do I get Precision Trolling app for these?

Now I fully expect this approach, either choice of lure or distances to generate some questions here...so by all means fire away!

Start your bandits higher early. I would be letting out 50 then the board right now. And move them down if they are not hitting.

its been years since I've pulled cranks, looking at possibly reverting back to it for early season walleyes, I do have a fortune investing in walleye divers, thundersticks, power divers,reef runners,hot in tots,Mann's stretch15's, 20's and 30's but, no bandits.

I look at the bandits and they all look like a small reversion of the thundersticks I used to religiously run. My question is, has the lake feeding paradigm changed that much that would gravitate to the absolute necessity of having to go spend all that much more money on these bandits to maximize my efforts?

I'm with you I used to fish the lake in the 90's I went last year and used my old lures and caught walleyes on them they still worked. I'm coming back up in a few weeks with some of the newer ones and see if they are any better I live in sc and pull crank baits for strippers.

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Originally Posted by limitlypps

its been years since I've pulled cranks, looking at possibly reverting back to it for early season walleyes, I do have a fortune investing in walleye divers, thundersticks, power divers,reef runners,hot in tots,Mann's stretch15's, 20's and 30's but, no bandits.

I look at the bandits and they all look like a small reversion of the thundersticks I used to religiously run. My question is, has the lake feeding paradigm changed that much that would gravitate to the absolute necessity of having to go spend all that much more money on these bandits to maximize my efforts?

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No, you don't have to go spend all that money to catch fish - you can absolutely use what you've already got. Those lures will absolutely catch fish!

Here's the deal, the reason a lot of guys are buying Bandits right now - they're the hot bait, the popular bait, whatever, so a lot of guys are running them. If your time on the water is limited, a lot of guys find it a better use of what little time they get on the lake, to run what has already been established as a program in the fishing reports (location, bait, color and leads) as opposed to going out and trying to reinvent the wheel so to speak, establishing their own program with what existing baits they have.

If someone says they crushed them on DJ's Ibfrozen bandits, at whatever reef, at 1.8 mph and 45 foot leads, and I have 8 hours on Saturday to spend on the lake for a few weeks, I'm going to pick up a couple of those Ibfrozens to try to best capitalize on my time on the water by running what has already been established - if it means buying a few baits, well, I'll do it because my time is limited. Why reinvent the wheel? If I had more time to be on the lake than I'd probably be more inclined to try to make something work with what's already on the boat.

Obviously you can have 2 different lures in the strike zone and the swim pattern of those baits will make the difference between a good day and a bad day, but I don't have a theory on that. Maybe someone else will chime in with some theory on swim pattern vs water temp/clarity/etc.

Bandits do flat out catch a LOT of fish obviously. I see them in the net frequently ;)

I'll always digress to the same scenario in Lake Whitehall Mi. salmon fishing, not trying to toot my own horn, I had myriads of captains, respecting me, not glouting over my salmon catching prowess, as to how I was out performing them? I absolutely killed the the salmon in respect to there take. I felt like an out cast until after 4 years they finally respected my prowess as an outsider.Its helping every fisherman not trying to be invinsible in the process showing off a pig azz cooler of walleyes.We are here trying to help everyone out to enshrine a beautiful take to there freezers. I had a different approach to the locals. fwiw...

Those old thundersticks will catch just as many fish as the bandits. Don't hesitate on using the old lures. They have worked just fine for me this year.

I have a few old Shad Raps that do just fine. The secret is get them away from the boat. The motor will scare the eyes to the sides when running thru a school.