Angler in need of some help

[wakina]

It is probably best if you were to scrap the trolling idea. That method would force you to venture to far offshore for safety reasons. I would limit myself to jig fishing for the males either on the inner reef complex or between them and the safety of shore. In fact I would limit myself to no further out than the firing range can line to start, you may not have to go that far who knows what the fish will be doing.

Hair jig sizes would be 5/8 oz and 3/4 oz wt. in purple, John Deere Green and black. If you would need a 1oz. wt it would most likely be to rough to fish effectively. Minnows can be of some help on certain days and I always take some along as i feel it is better to have them along and not need them than to need them and not have them along. They can be kept in a zip lock freezer bag and kept cool in your lunch box. Dead does not seem to matter as you are imparting the movement with your jigging motion and they die rather quickly anyhow.

The idea is that you would want to keep contact with the bottom and bounce your jig off the bottom. The type of presentation can change from day to day and even within the same day. You can try to jig almost straight down snap your rod up and let the jig free fall back to the bottom, use a short slow lift and let it free fall back to the bottom, cast out aways and allow the the jig time to make contact with the bottom then hop it back so the jig hits bottom each hop. The fish are most generally felt on the uplift while starting a new hop or up and down jig motion. Be ready to set the hook with the feeling of any added pressure/weight while lifting or hopping the jig.

If you decide to fish the bay or the river you must be aware that rain will alter the clarity of the water, In the river it will also alter the current to the point that you may not be able to fish effectively, and could even become dangerous. These are all things that you should consider when choosing your desired fishing area. Any rain in the Fort Wayne Indiana area can and will alter river conditions in the better fishing spots on the Maumee River closer to the lake.

On the big lake any kind of a north wind over 10 mph may be unacceptable for you to fish. You would probably be moving to fast to be fishing effectively.

There are 2 bait stores close to the Turtle Creek and Wild Wings Launches. One is the Happy Hooker and the other a little further to the east is Dreamcatcher Baits. Both are located on the south berm of St. Rt. 2.

[bevardjesse]

thank you so much wakina for the info. very much appreciated.

[wakina]

Forgot to add that the earlier you can get on the water the better your chances. There will most likely be a long line at Happy Hookers so the DreamCatcher bait store might be the better choice! It will be a Zoo out there on the water if it is a nice sunny calm spring weekend day. I have seen it so full it would remind you of Walmart parking lot on black Friday. Watch out for the irresponsible discourteous boaters the jig bite seems to draw them, there will be some real jerks out there.