clear water

[hampster]

Any advice on fishing clear water lakes, other than to fish them at low light conditions. What sort of depths do you fish during daylight hours? Other topics to consider, how much does motor noise affect the fish? Seems like many people on clear water lakes use trolling motors. I am used to cloudier conditions and we get by trolling in 8 ft. Any comments or suggestions?

[stick]

Oftentimes, walleyes will suspend in "deep nowhere" and many times, it will be at the same depth as somewhat nearby structure. A day-bite and even calm sunny days can provide great catches. In these conditions, trolling stickbaits (and/or spinners) can be very effective especially with trolling boards to get the lures away from the boat. You will want to fish "away" from the boat since the fish seem to spread out due to the clear water.

I hope this helps.

[hampster]

Thanks Stick! That does help and explains why when I graphed the lake I saw several areas where large fish were suspending in 40+ feet of water off of structure about 2 hours before sundown. I assume they move in shallow after dark and/or suspend over schools of baitfish in the deeper water during the midday. If a person doesn't have boards or has never used them, could you long-line them with spinners or shad raps, etc.? Thanks and any other advice is very welcome.

[stick]

You're right on! It is nice get them back a good amount, though. One book that is fantastic is "Precision Trolling" that shows depth curves for most of the popular rap-style lures. It will allow you to know, for instance, how deep your lure will be with XXX feet of line back. When you see fish suspended as you said you did, try to pick a bait (stickbait, spinners with snap weights, etc.) that will end up being trolled slightly above the fish.

[Fisher Dave]

Hamster...

Very long line trolling will work if your lure is in the strike range. Boards are usually better, but longlining will work.