Fishing tips requested

[Streffpilot]

Hello, is is my first season doing a little bit of fishing. A couple of buddies and I are going camping last weekend in August, and plan to fish whitewater lake in wisconsin. The dnr website says panfish, bass and walleye are there. I'm looking for tips on the following areas:

1. Catching fish in the probable hot weather that we will most likely to see.
2. Bait for good sized panfish. (Don't want to catch 50 dinks before catching 1 keeper)
3. Cooking tips for panfish, bass, and walleye. (Will be cooking over a campfire )
4. Anything I don't know to ask.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Fishing tips requested

posted twice please delete.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Fishing tips requested

If you use live bait the little ones come with the big ones. Nightcrawler sections or large red worms will get you the most action. The bigger pan fish tend to react and hit it quickly; the little ones nibble suck the bait off the hook. A teasing retrieve and a stop will often induce the bigger fish to hit. A number 6 Kahle will catch more fish than most other hooks but should be avoided when small bass are present as they swallow it.

I boneless filet everything with scales and remove the skin and I don't scale them first. For camping you might want to scale and cook it all. 50% flour and 50% fine meal with salt and pepper make a great Southern breading. Beer and flour makes a good batter.

BEER BATTER:

One 12-ounce bottle beer
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Fishing tips requested

^^ Check the beer to make sure it's not flat, through the whole process.^^

 

[colbyt]

Re: Fishing tips requested

^^ Check the beer to make sure it's not flat, through the whole process.^^

Yep it's a lot like making a fruit cake. You have to check the bourbon before you soak your nuts. Repeated sampling will result in no cake.

 

[Streffpilot]

Re: Fishing tips requested

Lol. But that's assuming I actually catch the fish, which I'm looking for tips on.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Fishing tips requested

Nightcrawlers, leaches, crappie minnows or fathead minnows would be the live bait I would look for, Ask at the baitshop they should be willing to point you in the right direction,..

More often than not I look for changes in the weedline, Inside or outside corners in particular,...And look for something "different" meaning a different kind of weed other than what is dominant,.....

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Fishing tips requested

Have none of y'all ever used "feeder" crickets for panfish? They're the absolute best bait for big bull bluegills and red ear sunfish.

If they don't sell them in the bait shops you frequent you can buy them in pet stores.

I use a #8 long shank hook about 2' down from a bobber with 1/16 oz. split shot 6" up from the hook. If you've never used the brown feeder crickets for pan fish give them a try, you'll be amazed at how quickly they get hit.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Fishing tips requested

The walleyes will generally be on the bottom, near or next to structure, rocky points, sandbars, drop offs.
They will be in the deeper water in the day, 15-25'.

They will move into shallower water in the late evening and nighttime, anywhere from 4-10' deep, again these will be adjacent to the deeper water they were in during the heat of the day.
They will feed more aggressively in the evening, 8-11 pm, and in the morning, 5-7 am.

Get a bunch of 1/8 ounce, or 3/16 ounce jigs. Maybe a 1/4 ounce jig if in deeper water.
Use 6-8# test line.
Hook a 2-3" fathead minnow to the jig and and slowly drag it over the drop offs and structure.

Or use a half a night crawler.

Sometimes the jig has to literally be dragging on the bottom.
Other times, it is best to keep it 4-12" above the bottom.

Keep your drag set really loose. You should be able to make the drag slip and pull line off the reel be just pinching it in your fingers and giving it a gentle pull.

When a walleye nibbles, lower your rod tip and let the line go slack for 2 seconds. Then slowly reel the line tight and feel if there is any weight on the line. If so, slowly and steadily raise the rod and start reeling.


If there are crappies in the lake, the nicer ones will be schooled up and suspended in the deeper water, 8-14' down from the surface. Hard to find the school, as they move around the lake, but worth it.

Again minnows, either on a small jig, or a jig under a slip bobber.

Here is a link to the dnr lake map.
Print it out and tape the two halves together.


http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/maps/DNR/0816800a.pdf

With the map, you won't need a fish finder on that lake, but it won't hurt to have one.

Now go get that glass boat on the water and catch a fish.