What's Hot: Rock Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Catfish, Sheepshead, and Carp
What's Not: Large and Smallmouth Bass, Bluegills, and Perch
Early Tactics for River Panfish: To my surprise no one was fishing at my dad and my favorite panfish spot located on the tan rock lock wall as we pulled into the small, crowed parking lot. The river was slowly flowing along on our Holy Saturday trip to the Princeton Locks. The rods that we pulled out of our car were equipped with slip bobbers, and for bait we brought along small fathead minnows and crawlers.
Usually by the time we arrive at the locks (around noon) our favorite "nook" is already taken by another fellow river fisherman, but today they must have been fishing somewhere else. Well, I baited my hook, cast out to a metal pole along the shoreline where a lot fish hang out and started the day off reeling in a chunky 8 1/2" black crappie. Not too bad. Next cast, same as last time though now a rock bass had traded places with the crappie. It wasn't long either until my dad got his first rock bass, and that was how our afternoon turned out. 5 rock bass each and a crappie. (We didn't keep any) We saw some other people reel in small panfish and a sheepshead.
Also by the end of the day we were both strong believers in a new system of fishing: slip bobbering!! As you may already know, slip bobbering is a bobber that slides up and down your line, and the desired depth is marked with a rubber bobber stop. The best part about this is that, if you want to fish at, let's say 10 feet or more, no problem, just adjust the bobber stop accordingly. This allows a quick and easy system of depth control.
Me with one of the rock bass. Note: VERY cheesy smile! :-)
This one is with the crappie. The pole that I caught them near is behind me. Again, cheesy smile!Website Release: For those that haven't already checked this site out, go to http://www.wolfrivercam.com/ for some great underwater camera footage that is running LIVE!!!
Catfish on the Main River: ZZZZT! ZZZZT! ZZZZT! That was the sound that I heard as a nice channel cat started peeling line off of the clicker reel. Capt'n Dave and I were sitting on his pier, tending the fire when we were alerted by the sound. I think we were both in half disbelief, but when I started reeling, a fighting form of life was attached to the other end!!! The fight began. He put up quite a fight, and I was awe struck as we pulled in the first fish of 2009 from the main river. The bait...blood bait soaked on a sponge with a treble hook through the middle. Otherwise known as a basic catfish rig. I'd like to thank Dave once again for letting me reel in this fish and for a lasting memory. Below is a picture of the 22" cat:
Me and Capt'n Dave posing with the 22" channel cat caught on stinky bait.Bait Shop Tour '09: Starting next issue, I am going to be touring local bait shops across Wisconsin and giving a write up. Some of them will be small, and some will be large like Cabelas. The first one will be the Original Live Bait Shop in Princeton, WI. Look for it in the next issue.
It's Electric!: Most of you have seen Capt'n Dave's dock right? Well for those who haven't, it's one of the craftiest around. Complete with a wood stove, electricity, cassette player, card table, and soon to have a TV!! This dock has it all. Below are some sample pictures of "The Dock".
This is what an average night on Dave's dock looks like.
This shows one of the three lights that are currently on his dock.
How does Dave manage to get to his dock every day? In style of course...he takes his golf cart. I got lucky this time and hitched a ride!Happy Easter!! Make sure to catch the next issue, and as always, Tight Lines!
