04/04/2000
- Article
Scouting
the Old River Bed
By Turk Gierke
For
most walleye, northern, and bass fishermen, April is a month of
getting out the figurative can of WD40 and spraying the bottom of
the old tackle box and wiping that rust out.
Inland fishing opener is still a half dozen weeks away, and
so while dreaming of open water tight lines, the natural thing
happens. Hooks get sharpened, dull looking and stained spinner
blades get a polishing, the bottom of the boat gets vacuumed, crusty
dried leeches hidden down by the gas tank or in the crevice of the
live well door are pried off with the help of a putty knife. Distant fishing trips are dreamed of, and plans are
solidified as to who’ll bring the tent or the firewood for opening
day’s fishing/camping trips.
There
are some devoted game fishermen that go gonzo from mid April on for
crappies, sunnies, and perch. Of course there is the open water down
on the Mississippi border water that flows year round, and supports
great game fishing, but for most a trip on ol’ man river doesn’t
seem to interest them. In
my neck of the woods, white bass or silvers as they are also known-
support a small following on the St. Croix River. Granted these
anglers are diehards that are pursuing panfish and river fish with
zeal, but for the majority of the anglers out there, this time of
year really comes down to a fishing waiting period, and “the
opener” is the only fishing notion that gets their juices flowing.
After
realizing you have just changed the lower unit gear lube twice since
the beginning of March, and if cleanliness is next to godliness then
that tackle box and fishing vest-come retirement-is on a one way
trip through the pearly gates.
There is nothing left to do but wait...
Before
you resign your weekends to watching fishing shows, I have a big tip
that is relevant this year to help your fish success.
Combine the shortage of snowfall, the lack of summer and fall
rains, and it equals lake and river levels that are as low as they
have been in maybe ten years. On
rivers, normally this is a time of high water spring melts and fast
current that masks much of the terrain with moving waters.
This year however, rock piles, sandbars, and downed trees are
more exposed than they have been in a long while.
All
the currently exposed structure gives you an idea of what is really
out there, not only does it reveal fish holding locations for
shallow water walleye fishing, or bass holding wood, it gives you a
better mental picture of what it all is like down there under water.
Visualizing the body of water that you are fishing is a huge
key to understanding exactly how to present a bait when working a
spot on a spot. Knowing
where shallow water structure is saves both lures and props.
Not all rock piles are marked that is a fact, and a little
more visual information will save a few crankbaits and jigs, as well
as time.
This
exposed structure will not only be on rivers but on lakes as well.
If there is a lake you fish but normally do not from mid
August on, you’ll be surprised how low it probably is right now.
In mid Minnesota and western Wisconsin the rain has been scare from
late summer 1999 till now, and I’ll bet you’ll get a better
mental picture of that body of water by viewing exposed structure.
Many
times fishing wood can be frustrating because of the constant snags,
with low water levels more of the wood can be seen, therefore alleys
of safe snag free casting can be viewed, creating less down time,
less lost lures and more fish.
When
the old spring once over has come to a halt and you’ve been
pleasantly surprised by finding that trusty needle-nose pliers and
the extra boat keys that you had know idea where they were.
Another surprise is likely waiting on that favorite body of
water; maybe it will be your next favorite fishing hole.
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