What is your favorite presentation for each fish you fish for?
What is your most productive presentation for each fish you fish for?

I know many of the answers will be the same for both questions.

But you might say my favorite way to fish for smallmouth is popping a surface lure (Magnum torpedo, Lucky 13, Super Pop-R ) - but my most productive presentation is working a soft plastic jerk bait ( ZMAN ShadZ) slightly below the surface.

For Smallmouth Bass,
I like to use a Heddon Super Spook Jr and use the “walk the dog” retrieve.

Also a PopR with a pop and rest, pop and rest retrieve.

Another is a #3 Mepps spinner in white and black with a silver spinner. I use a steady retrieve back to me.

Savage Voyageur: "For Smallmouth Bass,
I like to use a Heddon Super Spook Jr and use the “walk the dog” retrieve.


Also a PopR with a pop and rest, pop and rest retrieve.


Another is a #3 Mepps spinner in white and black with a silver spinner. I use a steady retrieve back to me.


"

So what would you consider to be your most productive presentation?

My favorite and most productive way to present a lure to a walleye in Quetico is a fake black leech (gulp) on 1/8 oz black jig head with yellow eye. It's fun once you find a school of them and all you have to do is it get the lure close to the bottom of the lake, maybe jig it a few times and you feel that little tick on the end of the line and you pause for a second, make sure there isn't any slack and then set the hook. ( Then eating them 30 minutes later :))

QueticoMike: "

Savage Voyageur: "For Smallmouth Bass,
I like to use a Heddon Super Spook Jr and use the “walk the dog” retrieve.



Also a PopR with a pop and rest, pop and rest retrieve.



Another is a #3 Mepps spinner in white and black with a silver spinner. I use a steady retrieve back to me.



"

So what would you consider to be your most productive presentation?
"

That would be the Heddon Super Spook Jr in Florida Bass color. I actually get mad on the second cast if I don’t get a hit on it. This is in the first week of June on most years. I think one of two things why this is. One is they have been on their beds protecting the young and now they are hungry. Or two is the walking the dog zig zap motion really makes them mad thinking it is a predator. Maybe they think by it doing the zig zag motion the bait is injured and they think it’s easy prey. Anyway I have the walk the dog retrieve perfected. It just comes natural to me, I don’t even look sometimes because I get in a rhythm.

It used to be an orange F13 Rapala for smallmouth, but If you catch a thousand bass, you'll blind one or two with those nine hooks. I tried barbless and removing the middle hooks, but the big ones are much harder to land. So, now it's just the TGO method. You can drift along and witness the world and hook big bass with a single barbless hook. I don't lose them much with a leech on a barbless hook. Plus, when you hook a fish eight or ten feet down, you really feel their weight.

Similar thinking with pike. I don't like perforating them, so a spinnerbait. They're also much easier to release.

Jigging for walleye. Like Mike, I like that tick. I set the hook and a fish is always there, but sometimes that tick was so light that I can't even recall it. My arms react even though my brain can't remember it.

I troll for trout. I have jigged for them, but trolling for trout is a nice break from casting or drifting.

Walleye- my most productive method is drifting or slow trolling with a jig and leech in the BWCA . In Quetico it is the same method, but I use a variety of twister tails. My favorite method once I find the fish is anchoring and throwing out a slip bobber. I will use a plain hook, or a jig tipped with a leech, minnow, or crawler.... depending on time of year.
Lake trout- drifting or trolling with tube jig or regular jigs and double white twister tails. I guess this is my most productive also.
Crappie- Northland gypsy jig in white or pink tipped with a minnow . I love to anchor and slip bobber if possible. If not drifting or trolling works, but not quite as productive for me.
Smallmouth- do not fish for them, but have caught hundreds fishing for Walleye.
Northerns- very seldom fish for them, but when I do I use a #4 or #5 Mepps spinner.


I

Savage Voyageur: "For Smallmouth Bass,
I like to use a Heddon Super Spook Jr and use the “walk the dog” retrieve.


Also a PopR with a pop and rest, pop and rest retrieve.


Another is a #3 Mepps spinner in white and black with a silver spinner. I use a steady retrieve back to me.


"

one particular night on indiana lake I was casting a Heddon Super Spook Jr from camp and could not believe for whatever reason the bass would not leave it alone! All the bass I caught were on the small side but they were really swarming it.

My favorite lure....
for bass is a hula popper
for walleye is jig and leech/worm
for pike is a spoon

My most productive lure....
for bass are texas rigged worms and zulus
for walleye is rapala shadow rap
for pike is any crankbait

walllee: "Walleye- my most productive method is drifting or slow trolling with a jig and leech in the BWCA . In Quetico it is the same method, but I use a variety of twister tails. My favorite method once I find the fish is anchoring and throwing out a slip bobber. I will use a plain hook, or a jig tipped with a leech, minnow, or crawler.... depending on time of year.
Lake trout- drifting or trolling with tube jig or regular jigs and double white twister tails. I guess this is my most productive also.
Crappie- Northland gypsy jig in white or pink tipped with a minnow . I love to anchor and slip bobber if possible. If not drifting or trolling works, but not quite as productive for me.
Smallmouth- do not fish for them, but have caught hundreds fishing for Walleye.
Northerns- very seldom fish for them, but when I do I use a #4 or #5 Mepps spinner.



I"

I forgot about slip bobbers! They are fun. I especially like casting one into broiling current and watching it dart here and there, carried by current, before it slowly disappears, taken by a fish.

Mepps are also fun. Only one treble and they're easy to cast.

Favorite is burning spinnerbaits for smallmouth early in the year. The best situation for that is warming water for fish to move in and then a cold front to push them to the deeper edge. Most hits come right after the lure hits the water.

Most productive for me especially on clear water lakes is a 3/32 Black marabou jig. Walleyes and smallmouth can not resist it. The retrieve has to be just right but it’s deadly. I have tried to teach others the retrieve with minimal success. I can usually outfish them 10 to 1 or more.

Most productive for smallmouth in stained water I like an orange or pink x rap.

My favorite presentation and the most productive is whatever is working best that day.
But in a perfect world I would catch smallies, pike and muskies on topwaters, walleyes on crawler harnesses and Lakers vertically jigging spoons every day.

What I find fun about fishing is the diversity. I will purposely try something new even if I know I can slay them on tried and true.

I don't really have a favorite. One day I'm in the mood for top water. Another day I like to jig and another day I like to troll. Conditions and time of year dictate what works best. June top water is a very different critter than August top water.

I will say that there are a few ways that really stand out for catching big fish.

I have caught literally hundreds of pike over 40" on dead baits. That is hands down the most productive way to catch big ones.
Walleyes I would have a tough time putting my finger on one method that has produced the most big fish. I think the key for them is more location and timing than presentation.
Muskies...... definitely big cranks for big fish.
Bass?? I think maybe a jig&plastic would come out on top.
As far as trout go...... I have caught the bulk of my bigger fish through the ice and those came on either tubes or swim baits.

When the water starts getting to the low 60s, sneaky pete fly that you cast near shore and let sit. The twitchy rubber legs are tough for smallies to resist. Large streamers for pike.

Salmo Hornet crank bait for lake trout slowly trolling around a lake

Mnpat: "Favorite is burning spinnerbaits for smallmouth early in the year. The best situation for that is warming water for fish to move in and then a cold front to push them to the deeper edge. Most hits come right after the lure hits the water.


Most productive for me especially on clear water lakes is a 3/32 Black marabou jig. Walleyes and smallmouth can not resist it. The retrieve has to be just right but it’s deadly. I have tried to teach others the retrieve with minimal success. I can usually outfish them 10 to 1 or more.


Most productive for smallmouth in stained water I like an orange or pink x rap.
"

I have never hooked a single smallmouth on a spinnerbait and I cast them for pike.

I agree, I catch incidental smallies and walleyes on spinnerbaits.....I even caught a carp on one once but I rarely fish one for smallies.
Most of the incidental smallies I get on the spinnerbaits are very small for whatever reason???

Here’s a walleye that couldn’t resist a double 8 in-line buck tail

Mnpat
I would love to hear your retrieve method. I plan on taking several marabou jigs with me this spring. I had a lot of success with them on crappies this fall in illinois

Pike - most productive is a red rad dog spinnerbait with flame blade (2 oz. muskie-size spinnerbait). It's pike crack. Some places, like Rainy Lake, I have to use a different lure because too many pike are mangling it. Best for big pike is a 3.5 oz. slow-rolled rad dog, or a weighted 9" suick.

Smallmouth and muskies - favorite is topwater. Seeing the bulge of a big muskie chasing a topwater, and then seeing its back come out of the water like a shark, is about as good as muskie fishing gets. Too bad their aim is substantially poorer than a smallmouth's.

Walleye - whatever gets me a couple quickly so I have enough for supper and then go back to fishing for pike, bass, or muskies. ;-)

Lake trout - favorite, and most productive, is trolling at a very easy paddling speed. I'm indifferent as to which lure/depth control method I use. That being said, if they're really shallow, a giant Heddon Tadpolly is pretty good.

Lotw: "I agree, I catch incidental smallies and walleyes on spinnerbaits.....I even caught a carp on one once but I rarely fish one for smallies.
Most of the incidental smallies I get on the spinnerbaits are very small for whatever reason???

Here’s a walleye that couldn’t resist a double 8 in-line buck tail
"

Is that a spinnerbait or an inline spinner?

Lotw: "I will say that there are a few ways that really stand out for catching big fish.


I have caught literally hundreds of pike over 40" on dead baits. That is hands down the most productive way to catch big ones.
Walleyes I would have a tough time putting my finger on one method that has produced the most big fish. I think the key for them is more location and timing than presentation.
Muskies...... definitely big cranks for big fish.
Bass?? I think maybe a jig&plastic would come out on top.
As far as trout go...... I have caught the bulk of my bigger fish through the ice and those came on either tubes or swim baits. "

The question wasn't really about the most productive for big fish, but just most productive for a number of fish. Not sure if that changes any of your answers or not? Thanks for your input!

Lotw: "I agree, I catch incidental smallies and walleyes on spinnerbaits.....I even caught a carp on one once but I rarely fish one for smallies.
Most of the incidental smallies I get on the spinnerbaits are very small for whatever reason???

Here’s a walleye that couldn’t resist a double 8 in-line buck tail
"

I have caught a lot of nice smallmouth on the 3/8oz BooYah double willow blade chartreuse spinner bait over the years. Great search bait for big smallmouth.

QueticoMike: "

Lotw: "I will say that there are a few ways that really stand out for catching big fish.



I have caught literally hundreds of pike over 40" on dead baits. That is hands down the most productive way to catch big ones.
Walleyes I would have a tough time putting my finger on one method that has produced the most big fish. I think the key for them is more location and timing than presentation.
Muskies...... definitely big cranks for big fish.
Bass?? I think maybe a jig&plastic would come out on top.
As far as trout go...... I have caught the bulk of my bigger fish through the ice and those came on either tubes or swim baits. "

The question wasn't really about the most productive for big fish, but just most productive for a number of fish. Not sure if that changes any of your answers or not? Thanks for your input!"

Too many variables, give me a date and I'll tell you what the most productive presentation is.
If its wide open like that its gonna have to be a jig simply because its so versatile.

I love a shad rap for searching for bass or walleyes, not quite as fast as a spinnerbait but very versatile.

I don't target pike too often, but when I do my favorite presentation is working a bullfrog colored Lucky 13 on the surface. My most productive presentation to catch pike is to have any lure in the water. It would be hard for me to come up with a lure that a pike has not wanted to eat. I would think trolling a size 13 or bigger original floating Rapala in a black and silver color would be the most productive lure actually.

Mnpat: "Favorite is burning spinnerbaits for smallmouth early in the year. The best situation for that is warming water for fish to move in and then a cold front to push them to the deeper edge. Most hits come right after the lure hits the water.


Most productive for me especially on clear water lakes is a 3/32 Black marabou jig. Walleyes and smallmouth can not resist it. The retrieve has to be just right but it’s deadly. I have tried to teach others the retrieve with minimal success. I can usually outfish them 10 to 1 or more.


Most productive for smallmouth in stained water I like an orange or pink x rap.
"

I'm curious about your hair jig retrieve. What mistakes do you see people making who can't master it? Any tips you can pass along?

Spookmeister: "

Mnpat: "Favorite is burning spinnerbaits for smallmouth early in the year. The best situation for that is warming water for fish to move in and then a cold front to push them to the deeper edge. Most hits come right after the lure hits the water.



Most productive for me especially on clear water lakes is a 3/32 Black marabou jig. Walleyes and smallmouth can not resist it. The retrieve has to be just right but it’s deadly. I have tried to teach others the retrieve with minimal success. I can usually outfish them 10 to 1 or more.



Most productive for smallmouth in stained water I like an orange or pink x rap.
"

I'm curious about your hair jig retrieve. What mistakes do you see people making who can't master it? Any tips you can pass along?"

Can't speak for Mnpat, but for inexperienced fisherman I would say use yellow line to watch and go with heavier jigs. 1/4 or 3/8 for shallower waters and calmer conditions and 1/2 for windy and/or deeper water. If you have too much slack in your line it doesn't matter what you are using because you won't know the fish is there.

My favorite way to catch a musky is figure eighting. If a walleye hits with a tick, a musky hits like Dick Butkus when you have a mere 18 inches of line to absorb the shock. Plus, the fish is right there. You can see it, tripling the thrill. And it often goes airborne right by the canoe, splashing you. The best time.

For hair jigs I use 8 fireline to 8 flouroleader on a 7’ medium light rod. Reel must have a large spool. Other lines and rods don’t work, yes that means no braided line. It’s not smooth it won’t cast well. Cast the lure as far as you can. Reel very slowly with no twitches. Move it as slowly as possible without contacting the bottom. Cast directly into or with the wind only. I only use 3/32 size and I will fish them up to 20 feet deep no problem. In clear water the smallies will come up a long ways to hit it.
I use them often on Mille lacs. I can usually get 50 fish before the jig is no good. I go through at least one every day there. It took three months to get my last order so I’m not the only one using them. Out of all the fish caught I have never seen a fish hooked anywhere but on the top lip ever.

On rivers for smallmouth It’s usually the most productive lure all year.

I fish for lake trout the least up in the northwoods, would be most interested to hear more about any productive presentations for these fish. Thanks for sharing!

QueticoMike: "I fish for lake trout the least up in the northwoods, would be most interested to hear more about any productive presentations for these fish. Thanks for sharing!"

If the weather allows it I have had my best success vertical jigging. Much more productive than trolling. Points adjacent to bays are best. I think wolf packs of lakers corral baitfish here. Someone asked me recently about bait..... Other than early spring shore fishing on dead bait I rarely if ever use bait. Trout love artificials.

I will fish a swim bait, tube jig or spoon. Electronics will dramatically help here! My favorite swim bait isn't made anymore and I'm running low. Bondys work great but I don't bring heavy enough tackle into canoe country to fish them.....I'm hoping they will produce a smaller size.

I troll for them when traveling from camp to camp or when exploring an area. Do better in the Spring with trolling. Usually I look for suspended fish first. Cranks 10-30 ft down over open water. If the suspended bight doesn't seem to be producing I'll contour troll 30-40ft deep. I deem a sonar essential if you really want to be successful for LT. Once you find a suspended school you can literally real in as many as you want with a vertical presentation. Very fun! However, I catch most of my LT within 3-4 ft of bottom. Once I find LT in an area, either by trolling or just spotting them on sonar, I'll find the optimal holding depth and work the whole area.

QueticoMike: "I fish for lake trout the least up in the northwoods, would be most interested to hear more about any productive presentations for these fish. Thanks for sharing!"

For trout some lakes have similiar patterns and some don’t. Right after ice out I look for bays that max out around 40 feet deep away from any deep water. Your looking for warm water. Islands, reefs and points in these areas fished with spoons. You want a hot sunny day to warm the water up. Good fishing is afternoon with best late evening. Cast right to shore as the fish will warm up on very shallow rock or right on the first break. Right where you can’t see the bottom with your sunglasses is the spot. On some lakes the majority of the trout in the lake will pile into a small area. A very good time to catch a lot of nice fish.

As you move into June and 60 degree water the fish will be moving out towards the deeper water. Look for fish Suspended in areas between the shallower bay and deeper areas of the lake. You should be able to mark them on your electronics. I like trolling something that dives 10 to 15 feet deep around this time.

Into July I don’t bother with the trout. Deep fish and warm water is not a great time to catch them. Vertical jigging is a better option later in the year. The water temps up there will allow trout to stay pretty shallow year round. They don’t all go to the deepest part of the lake.

What are the make, size and color of spoons that are most productive for lake trout fishing?

Does anybody use large ( 4 to 6 " ) white or pearl colored tubes for lake trout?

My favorite spoon is lil Cleo, maybe up to 1 1/4 oz, blue/ chrome

Yes I have fished with 6” tubes but not often, 4” is what I use, I like to use a rattle jig. Since I started fishing with the swim baits I use a lot less tubes.

QueticoMike: "Does anybody use large ( 4 to 6 " ) white or pearl colored tubes for lake trout? "

These are what I use 99% of the time. I am convinced that big lakers spend 99% of their time on the bottom of the lake, and don’t want to spend energy chasing after a meal. Yes, I understand there are exceptions to this thought! I probably use 4 “ most of the time, but have used bigger. I fish them slow, and do not jig them that aggressively in most situations. I will still tip them with a piece of Cisco or smelt if available, and where it’s legal.

walllee: "

QueticoMike: "Does anybody use large ( 4 to 6 " ) white or pearl colored tubes for lake trout? "

These are what I use 99% of the time. I am convinced that big lakers spend 99% of their time on the bottom of the lake, and don’t want to spend energy chasing after a meal. Yes, I understand there are exceptions to this thought! I probably use 4 “ most of the time, but have used bigger. I fish them slow, and do not jig them that aggressively in most situations. I will still tip them with a piece of Cisco or smelt if available, and where it’s legal."

That's an interesting idea. I usually drag a big 5" spoon or a yellowbird dr. spoon (295 size) for trout. I'll alternate that with deep diving taildancers in purple/white, tiger or perch.

Walleye - jig and plastic
Smallie - 1/8oz swim jigs or small spinnerbaits
Panfish - jig and plastic
Northerns - spinnerbaits, swim jigs, or any bait not on a wire leader. =)

eOar: "Walleye - jig and plastic
Smallie - 1/8oz swim jigs or small spinnerbaits
Panfish - jig and plastic
Northerns - spinnerbaits, swim jigs, or any bait not on a wire leader. =)
"

Are these your favorite or most productive or both?

QueticoMike: "

eOar: "Walleye - jig and plastic
Smallie - 1/8oz swim jigs or small spinnerbaits
Panfish - jig and plastic
Northerns - spinnerbaits, swim jigs, or any bait not on a wire leader. =)
"

Are these your favorite or most productive or both?


"

Mostly my favorite, but that is somewhat due to the fact that my tripping partners never want to go early in the season. Lack of live bait on these summer trips is another factor. I always have a jig and curly tail on one rod when targeting walleyes. 1/8oz gold head and chartreuse tail has been good.

On my June VNP trip I will start with a Zulu for smallies, and probably a spinner rig & leech or crawler for walleyes.

QueticoMike: "What are the make, size and color of spoons that are most productive for lake trout fishing?"

I like red eye wobblers in blue chrome. krocodile spoons in silver with the prism tape at least 3/4 oz. Make sure your rod has a fast tip. I like medium light rods for trout as the soft tip helps with hookups.

On the lakes I fish early season the trout have bellies absolutely full of hellgrammites. I have found multiple lakes with the same thing. I think that’s one of the reasons they are so shallow. It’s hard to believe they would still eat a spoon with such full bellies. On other nearby lakes on the same trip I have caught them 20’ down over 80’ of water.

As far as tubes I like 4” white Berkley tube. In the winter especially now until ice out I like to hang one about 5 to 10 feet below the ice. I caught most of my fish on ice last year that way. In the spring I’ll fish them in the same areas as spoons if the fish are less active.

Presentation presentation....too clinical. When you pick up a 4 inch grub and put it on a 1/8 ounce jigheads, what are you thinking? Let’s look at this from my view....On an 8-12 foot deep boulder flat, very sparse vegetation, a loose group of SMB spook craws from the rock crevices....an organized effort? I dunno. What tool(lure) would mimic those craws as they jump and dart a few feet...and then settle into another crevice. What tool, what action, mimics this moment?

And while we want to be technical, with our line specifications and our r fast tips and sidescan....it really boils down to this: “How observant are you? Did you notice the loons? They are here....because?? Minnows. Did you notice the wind slowing? Clouds parting?

The lure jockeys that can tie a half-anchor-swizzle-stick knot...in the dark, have got nothing over on the observant angler. Look before casting....read the moment.

QueticoMike: "What is your favorite presentation for each fish you fish for?
What is your most productive presentation for each fish you fish for?

I know many of the answers will be the same for both questions.

But you might say my favorite way to fish for smallmouth is popping a surface lure (Magnum torpedo, Lucky 13, Super Pop-R ) - but my most productive presentation is working a soft plastic jerk bait ( ZMAN ShadZ) slightly below the surface.


"

i have been using a similar setup myself since i was a kid and my brother and I got our mom to let us buy some Banjo minnows


hands down most productive way to fish for us is soft plastic jerk minnow for me, worm for the soulwife. unweighted on a kahle style hook or similar for me.. octopus or similar for wife (usually)

Lotw: "I agree, I catch incidental smallies and walleyes on spinnerbaits.....I even caught a carp on one once but I rarely fish one for smallies.
Most of the incidental smallies I get on the spinnerbaits are very small for whatever reason???

Here’s a walleye that couldn’t resist a double 8 in-line buck tail
"

For whatever reason, I never throw enough " blue" when I'm out on the water. Even when the conditions call for it, I tend to gravitate to the go-to colors of black/gold, perch or tiger perch. I'll have to tie up some of these spinners with the deer hair I have on hand and give them a shot. What's the body/abdomen of that spinner?

Favorite for smallmouth (what I'm the best at) -far and away, it's gotta be a dark tube jig. Brown with gold fleck, brown with black fleck, brown, very dark blue or black with a medium blue tail is really good slow-fished when the water is still cold and the fish are still in a negative feeding mood.

Pike: Size 5 Mepps inline spinner when they're hot, or a 9" slug-go in whatever forage color you guess they're feeding on.

Walleye: I don't know. I suck at 'em. Crawler and a baitholder hook(?) ;)

I know the jig and curly-tail grub didn't make the cut, but it's my favorite MULTISPECIES lure to work. Something about the fact that a 4-5" curly-tail grub flapping around the dropoffs and weed edges just turns me on (and just about anything that swims!) When I go to canoe country, I'm usually targeting (ALL FISH, regardless of species), so I fish this a lot. I fish a lot of live bait up there, too.

HighnDry: "For whatever reason, I never throw enough 'blue' when I'm out on the water. Even when the conditions call for it, I tend to gravitate to the go-to colors of black/gold, perch or tiger perch. "

me too, for whatever reason i avoid using blue most the time. one year someone gave me advice about a particular lake i was going to. mixed in with advice was 'blue was our best color' . while on that lake we found the same to be true. side by side comparison of the same lure, blue, produced best on that lake. (sorry, digressed from topic "presentation")