I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...

How do you fish saddles between two islands?

Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?

Mad_Angler: "I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...

How do you fish saddles between two islands?

Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?

"

Lots of variables would need to established 1st. Wind speed, water clarity, bottom structure/substrate, water temperature, atmospheric temperature, time of the year... the list goes on.

All these would derive a presentation platform to begin with. Without knowing any of this, I'd start fishing the deep side of the windy saddle, casting different presentation baits to the shallower areas. From there, I'd modify baits and profiles based on outcomes.

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...


How do you fish saddles between two islands?


Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?


"

Lots of variables would need to established 1st. Wind speed, water clarity, bottom structure/substrate, water temperature, atmospheric temperature, time of the year... the list goes on.


All these would derive a presentation platform to begin with. Without knowing any of this, I'd start fishing the deep side of the windy saddle, casting different presentation baits to the shallower areas. From there, I'd modify baits and profiles based on outcomes. "

Okay. I'll try to answer... let's say this is late May trip. Wind speed is fairly constant at about 15 mph. Noon on a sunny day. Air temp is 70F.

Contour troll a crankbait or drift through with a jig and minnow or blaidbait. Watch your sonar as you go through and if you don't see or feel something move on to the next piece of structure. Check out the SW and North points of that bigger island. You can always come back.

Mad_Angler: "

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...



How do you fish saddles between two islands?



Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?



"

Lots of variables would need to established 1st. Wind speed, water clarity, bottom structure/substrate, water temperature, atmospheric temperature, time of the year... the list goes on.



All these would derive a presentation platform to begin with. Without knowing any of this, I'd start fishing the deep side of the windy saddle, casting different presentation baits to the shallower areas. From there, I'd modify baits and profiles based on outcomes. "

Okay. I'll try to answer... let's say this is late May trip. Wind speed is fairly constant at about 15 mph. Noon on a sunny day. Air temp is 70F."

Pending water clarity, I'd start by casting light jigs (1/8 oz) with some type of soft plastic for buoyancy, and have a slow methodical retrieve. May water temps can be cold and you want to stay in the strike zone as long as possible. Once I casted the perimeter of the saddle, I'd drift through the middle vertical jigging and fan casting the shoreline, pending how the vertical jig presentation is working.

As mentioned, too many variable to fully dissect, but that's how I would approach it blind.

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...



How do you fish saddles between two islands?



Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?



"

Lots of variables would need to established 1st. Wind speed, water clarity, bottom structure/substrate, water temperature, atmospheric temperature, time of the year... the list goes on.



All these would derive a presentation platform to begin with. Without knowing any of this, I'd start fishing the deep side of the windy saddle, casting different presentation baits to the shallower areas. From there, I'd modify baits and profiles based on outcomes. "

Okay. I'll try to answer... let's say this is late May trip. Wind speed is fairly constant at about 15 mph. Noon on a sunny day. Air temp is 70F."

Pending water clarity, I'd start by casting light jigs (1/8 oz) with some type of soft plastic for buoyancy, and have a slow methodical retrieve. May water temps can be cold and you want to stay in the strike zone as long as possible. Once I casted the perimeter of the saddle, I'd drift through the middle vertical jigging and fan casting the shoreline, pending how the vertical jig presentation is working.


As mentioned, too many variable to fully dissect, but that's how I would approach it blind."

Unless there is brush or a weed line I'd consider the strike zone the bottom. I wouldn't let my novice fishing friends cast a 1/8oz jig in 10-15fow with a 15mph wind. They would be lucky to get within 5ft of the bottom and it would take forever to fish the area. Don't be afraid to use heavier jigs. You can work more of the the area and much faster. You can always slow down and fine tune if you detect fish around.
Just because a piece of structure looks good doesn't mean there will be fish there. Trust what you see or don't see on your electronics and what you feel on the end of your line. Move if there aren't any fish or bait there, they are somewhere else. Of course a dead spot at noon might turn into the hot spot at dusk. Figuring out all the variables is what makes fishing fun and even the best will have some bad days.

Amarillo Jim and I think alike in some respects and he hit on several of the points I was thinking.

Mad Angler you seem challenged? Thats OK......I studied your topo map and there is a whole lots going on at that lake. I think I might feel a bit challenged as well ;-)

What I lack in fishing smarts, however, is generally made up in perseverance and confidence. First things first for me when I get on new water. I generally like to focus on a depth that I think the fish might be at and then pull out a lure which runs at that depth and I will troll around. I will follow that depth around every bay, point and island all while keeping an eye on my depth finder. I will note rubbly bottom, bait, etc. for clues. A caught fish is always helpful as well! I like the challenge of figuring stuff out.

No bites after several hours? I might try deeper or shallower etc. There is nothing quite like actually covering ground while looking at a depth finder and looking around at the shoreline. Little by little you get clues, hunches or just a gut feeling.

I will spend at least one full day trolling around. In the midst of my run if a particular shoreline "feels" right and I have a nice gentle wind to push me along efficiently I might break out a casting lure for an hour but it will be incorporated into my trolling run.

Then that evening the mental notes can be compared and tossed around. If I have bait and noted some point with a good break I might be there the next day at first light. Otherwise day 2 might be spent drifting a lindy rig in areas I liked from the previous day.

Have a plan.........but that plan needs to be knowledge focused. And that knowledge can be gleaned trolling and watching a depth finder for a day. A good fisherman IMO should also be a good troller as well, It pays to be well rounded.

If there isn't heavy weed growth I like to sit on top of the saddle and cast jig out from there. You can work from deep in shallow and up the contour of the saddle.

If you're fishing mid day odds are better that they'll be out in the deeper water near the saddle so you can start there and work your way up toward the top.

mastertangler: "...
Mad Angler you seem challenged? Thats OK......I studied your topo map and there is a whole lots going on at that lake. I think I might feel a bit challenged as well ;-)

..."

I am a bit challenged here... I hear that saddles can be great. I often see them and think about fishing them. But I just don't know how...

Do I drift through them (using a drift sock if needed) and vertical jig?

Do I anchor upwind of the saddle and cast towards shallow water?

Do I anchor downwind of the saddle and cast towards shallow water?

Do I anchor right on the top of the saddle and cast towards deep water?


And then, what should I cast? jigs? slip bobbers? TGO? Rapalas? Zulu's?


It seems that maybe simpler is best. Drift through the gap while dragging a TGO leech while using a drift sock if needed to slow my drift speed and get my leech to the bottom...

Much needs be considered Mad Angler. It is not so simple as "fishing a saddle" and bingo. Saddles can be surprisingly good, or surprisingly bad. And that can all be in the same day on the same saddle. Usually what makes a saddle good is current flow. Wind driven waves compress and funnel water through increasing in speed as it is forced through (hey, more physics!).

But "why are the fish there" is the question that needs be asked. They are there to eat......so if the bait is present then the fish set up shop. No bait, no groceries, no fish.

So, are the baitfish schools going to be mid lake in may? Are they going to be pushed and funneled through that natural ambush spot? Perhaps not.......maybe that saddle which looks so good on paper is good in july and not so much in May.

But they are always worth a look. Big pike like to set up shop in saddles as well and they rule the roost. Your walleye should be near the bottom in the current flow. Try it all, drift a leech or a jig right down the middle and cast a rapala along the shallower edges. I like drifting through and then trolling back up to start another drift. Always have a trolling lure out on fish days when you are fishing.........wether you are traveling to set up another drift or just going to another spot........your making the trip anyway why not have something out?

If you dig on the spot but nothing happens come back later. Timing can be everything when fishing a saddle. The fish will travel from a sanctuary to a feeding area when conditions are correct. If it is a deep saddle they might even decide to take up residence permanently if the bottom is to their liking.

Saddles are not the "be all-end all" and I have fished plenty of them that held zippo. Water temps might play a bigger factor than anything else that time of year. Go where the food is and you will find the fish. Are the dace spawning? If so where? You can bet the predators won't be far away.

OK I’ll bite. In May I would not bother fishing a 30’ deep main lake saddle. Forget all the whoha about water clarity, wind speed, etc.... The Walleye will not be deeper than 15’ at that time and they will be closer to warmer water and spawning areas not main lake basin saddles. That pic is of a late June through August spot IMO. The key to catching more fish is finding more fish and that means eliminating 90% of the lake for that time of year. Paddle on.

I'd figure-eight those islands with a spinner and leech. Start in 5 - 6 feet and work my way deeper. Then I would try to stay where fish are. Don't overthink it. Find 'em, catch 'em.

I would troll or drift/jig from the "D" in "wind" southeast towards the island that is south of the saddle :)

lundojam: "I'd figure-eight those islands with a spinner and leech. Start in 5 - 6 feet and work my way deeper. Then I would try to stay where fish are. Don't overthink it. Find 'em, catch 'em."

i would also add jig with a twistertail and an 1/8oz lighter is better for the slower drop in may but go heavy if needed(windy) and saddles between islands are not always that productive as lundo stated work around the islands edges,,, and a lot of points just drop off but some go into saddles or a basin's and those spots can be productive. in clear water lakes, like the BW has 25'-30' can be the ticket, after the spawn.

Drift sock would be essential to slow presentation if the wind is up. I would jig with live bait first trying to hit both edges if that doesn't work I'd try right down the gut. If still no luck go to jig and plastics. If still no luck I'd search elsewhere. Patience is not one of my good traits.

AmarilloJim: "Contour troll a crankbait or drift through with a jig and minnow or blaidbait. Watch your sonar as you go through and if you don't see or feel something move on to the next piece of structure. Check out the SW and North points of that bigger island. You can always come back."

I'd agree with this approach by Amarillojim mostly because I tend to fish solo. In a 15mph blowing wind, I wouldn't stand a chance of holding a position or being able to maneuver much. I'd probably paddle into the wind to get over the saddle and then drop a jig and minnow presentation and drift backwards. Then, I would fish the leeward side of the island until the wind dies down a bit which would allow a more careful exploration of the windward side by trolling a rap or lindy presentation. I'm guessing on that last bit.

AmarilloJim: "

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "

WalleyeHunter24: "

Mad_Angler: "I originally posted this in Sirlips great "walleye 101" but I thought I would post it on it's own...




How do you fish saddles between two islands?




Consider this lake with these islands a good wind from the SW. How would you fish this saddle?




"

Lots of variables would need to established 1st. Wind speed, water clarity, bottom structure/substrate, water temperature, atmospheric temperature, time of the year... the list goes on.




All these would derive a presentation platform to begin with. Without knowing any of this, I'd start fishing the deep side of the windy saddle, casting different presentation baits to the shallower areas. From there, I'd modify baits and profiles based on outcomes. "

Okay. I'll try to answer... let's say this is late May trip. Wind speed is fairly constant at about 15 mph. Noon on a sunny day. Air temp is 70F."

Pending water clarity, I'd start by casting light jigs (1/8 oz) with some type of soft plastic for buoyancy, and have a slow methodical retrieve. May water temps can be cold and you want to stay in the strike zone as long as possible. Once I casted the perimeter of the saddle, I'd drift through the middle vertical jigging and fan casting the shoreline, pending how the vertical jig presentation is working.



As mentioned, too many variable to fully dissect, but that's how I would approach it blind."

Unless there is brush or a weed line I'd consider the strike zone the bottom. I wouldn't let my novice fishing friends cast a 1/8oz jig in 10-15fow with a 15mph wind. They would be lucky to get within 5ft of the bottom and it would take forever to fish the area. Don't be afraid to use heavier jigs. You can work more of the the area and much faster. You can always slow down and fine tune if you detect fish around.
Just because a piece of structure looks good doesn't mean there will be fish there. Trust what you see or don't see on your electronics and what you feel on the end of your line. Move if there aren't any fish or bait there, they are somewhere else. Of course a dead spot at noon might turn into the hot spot at dusk. Figuring out all the variables is what makes fishing fun and even the best will have some bad days."

All valid points above and I am aligned. Novice fisherman wouldn't address the things I mentioned or have the experience to approach those scenarios and apply the methodology. Comes down to using what works best for you and your experience level, eliminating water, and trying different things.

Good luck to all this season!