Spring river eyes

[ibwhnt]

Just tryen to find out what others find to be the best bait. Casting plugs or live bait, what have you been using scoot or should I say Cuz. I'll let you know when the pigs start hitting, I'd like to take you out since we missed them last year. Kolby is fishing the Cats Incredible with me this year and he can't wait to get on the river.

[Scoot]

Hey Cuz,

This time of year I've primarily used three types of rigs- slip rig 2-3 foot snell (either a floater or a straight hook), jig, and crank.
It's minnow time on the Red so I use both large fatheads and/or mid-sized suckers. One trick that I've found to be really helpful is a single hook stinger rig, particularly when I'm using a sucker. This helps the hook-up rate given the longer bait.
I'll probably use a jig and minnow 3/4 of the time now- not because I think it'll outfish the other presentations 3/4 of the time, but because it's my favorite way to fish.
One tip- using a floating jighead vs. a straight hook may seem like a small thing, but I've found large differences in productivity with one vs. the other on some days. I've not figured out a patern for which one will work on any given day, but I mix it up to see what works better when I'm on the water.
I've used cranks the least on the Red, but Backwater Eddy insists that they are a hot ticket quite often. That's enough for me to concede that they are effective. I have caught some fish using cranks, just not a lot because I'm too **** cheap to lose $6.00 cranks very often!
Hope to see you on the water soon,
Scoot

[ibwhnt]

I know what you mean about losing cranks. I was down that a couple of weeks ago and I lost two in the rocks. I worked and works the second one but couldn't get it, so I broke it of. After that I put on a jig, after casing and working the for about ten minutes guess what I seen float up to the surface. Yup a crank, I worked and worked to hook up but never got it before it slipped under the ice down stream. AAAAHHHH three ways and floaters from here on out. Good luck let me know when you get into them I will do the same.

[Guest]

Don't aim for the middle of the river with cranks from shore, your just asking for it then.

Cranks work best in areas where the walleye are hunting and not holding tight. This time of year they try to avoid strong currents and most often hang tight to shore or structure near shore.

Faster the flow the tighter to shore they go. You will loose less by casting parallel to shore, and catch more fish. If and when you do hand up reel up to the snag and try pulling it free from the opposite side of the lure travel. Most will come free if you work them from a different direction and avoid jerking them into the snag you found.

Don't expect to keep many cranks for your box if you choose 6-8 pound test for casting in tough areas. Use FireLine (10/30 or 8-15) and you will retrieve more crank baits. The walleye and pike won't care what color the line is; they see the plug not the line.

Slow and easy & never pull into a snag, always pull away from them. Same deal with jigs, the center of the river is too darn fast in cold water, keep them close.

These tips will save you time, cash, and produce more fish.

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Backwater Eddy..><,sUMo,>

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