BWCA Do you look elsewhere? Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Fishing Forum
      Do you look elsewhere?     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

PikeChase
member (50)member
  
06/27/2018 03:19PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
This is a debate in our group. If you're on a lake where you know there's big fish and you've found a spot that's producing fish but nothing with good size do you move? Some of group argues that there's probably big fish present you just need to get to them, plus we should stay because we're catching fish. Some of the group argues that you should look elsewhere for the big fish and risk not catching. This is after you've already changed bait size, lures and techniques to entice bigger fish in the initial spot.

What do you do?
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
06/27/2018 04:18PM  
If I’m walleye fishing, I would stay in the general vicinity. I’ve noticed over the years that the fish “generally “ school up with other fish of the same size. You can bet there are larger walleyes lurking in the same area, it’s just a matter of waiting them out or moving around a little to find them or they find you. If I was catching smaller size fish, my first move would be to go deeper, but not stray too far from where I know there are fish.

I approach northerns and lakers differently. They're both crazy, unpredictable eating machines. The big ones can definitely be in with smaller fish. That’s what they want for dinner.
 
carmike
distinguished member(1721)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/27/2018 10:36PM  
Since there appear to be multiple canoes in the group, why not run a little experiment and split up -- letting those who want to chase greener pastures do so, while the contented stay behind?
 
06/27/2018 11:32PM  
I am not saying I am right, but I would move every time. But I am a guy that thinks it can always be better. The search is the fun part.

T
 
06/28/2018 09:41AM  
It depends on what I'm fishing for.

If walleyes and all I'm catching is small fish then I'll move. First move would be to little deeper water or another piece of the structure but I'd stay close. If that doesn't pan out then I'd look to try out some other types of structure to see if large fish are relating to something a little different.

If its pike then it depends on the time of year. Early in the season it seems most fish are shallow and size dispersed relatively evenly. As the summer goes on there will still be smaller fish found shallower but in my experience the larger fish will move deeper. My move would be to a deeper weed edge or if you're already on that deeper weed edge I'd be a bit more patient but maybe start looking deeper over main lake structure.

Smallies I don't tend to sit in one spot and fish much. I keep moving trying to pick the aggressive fish off each piece of structure I pass.
 
PikeChase
member (50)member
  
06/28/2018 10:04AM  
Thank you all for the replies. I'm in the camp that likes to move because I don't enjoy catching hammer handles and 12" walleye that much. I need to get better about searching deeper water nearby instead of leaving entirely for new pastures. This gives us some new ideas and more ammo for the debate.
 
06/28/2018 10:17AM  
If you're catching nothing but 12 inch walleye then I'd for sure make a move. Vary rarely have I been catching dink walleye and had larger fish mixed in. Occasionally you'll pull up something in the 14-15 inch range but my experience indicates thats about the most you can really hope for. If you're catching larger fish the reverse is true, you'll likely not catch any more than a random dink here or there. They really seem to segregate by size.
 
mastertangler
distinguished member(4432)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/28/2018 10:37AM  
Yes, fish generally school by size. Having said that if 12" walleye are thick you can bet a big pike is not so far away.

I am all about the search and having many spots to check. The more spots in your back pocket the more chances you will have. They might not be on your usual spot and going shallower or deeper or a different bottom type might be the ticket. Look for groceries.......if the fish can't make a living they are going to go some place else.

On the other hand ;-) My saltwater experience has been if the fish finder is "lit up" with plenty of fish and they are not biting moving generally yields little in the way of luck. Sometimes they just aren't chewing.
 
carmike
distinguished member(1721)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/28/2018 11:22AM  
mastertangler: "Yes, fish generally school by size. Having said that if 12" walleye are thick you can bet a big pike is not so far away. "


This is the answer.

If there's one thing that's redemptive about catching small walleyes, it's that they are a very good indicator of the presence of a big pike somewhere close. Change to a big spoon, rapala, swimbait, etc., and have some *real* fun. :)
 
barehook
distinguished member (149)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/28/2018 11:25AM  
mastertangler: "Yes, fish generally school by size. Having said that if 12" walleye are thick you can bet a big pike is not so far away.


I am all about the search and having many spots to check. The more spots in your back pocket the more chances you will have. They might not be on your usual spot and going shallower or deeper or a different bottom type might be the ticket. Look for groceries.......if the fish can't make a living they are going to go some place else.


On the other hand ;-) My saltwater experience has been if the fish finder is "lit up" with plenty of fish and they are not biting moving generally yields little in the way of luck. Sometimes they just aren't chewing. "


I agree re schooling by size, but with a question. Have you (or anyone else) gotten into a school of lunkers? (let's say over 27 inches). Another way to ask it would be to say, 'does the 'schooling by size' idea only apply (in your experience) up to a certain size?
 
rpike
distinguished member (181)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/28/2018 11:26AM  
If you are catching dinky pike, moving deeper is a good strategy. Don't worry too much about weeds. The really big pike are going to deeper, cooler water when the water warms up. Deep reefs and rock points that run out into deep water are terrific. Big lures cast over a long rock point on a cloudy day = big pike. Trolling big lures fast over reefs that top out in 15-30' is great. Open water that is "fenced in" by a few of those deep reefs can be magical. Troll a big crankbait 10-15' down (over 50+') and get ready to rumble.
 
mastertangler
distinguished member(4432)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/28/2018 12:10PM  
barehook: "
mastertangler: "Yes, fish generally school by size. Having said that if 12" walleye are thick you can bet a big pike is not so far away.



I am all about the search and having many spots to check. The more spots in your back pocket the more chances you will have. They might not be on your usual spot and going shallower or deeper or a different bottom type might be the ticket. Look for groceries.......if the fish can't make a living they are going to go some place else.



On the other hand ;-) My saltwater experience has been if the fish finder is "lit up" with plenty of fish and they are not biting moving generally yields little in the way of luck. Sometimes they just aren't chewing. "



I agree re schooling by size, but with a question. Have you (or anyone else) gotten into a school of lunkers? (let's say over 27 inches). Another way to ask it would be to say, 'does the 'schooling by size' idea only apply (in your experience) up to a certain size? "


"School of Lunkers"?

I never really have and 4 or 5 big ones was tops. That doesn't mean there weren't more it just meant I wasn't good enough to get them to bite.

I have heard mixed results on big fish schooling together......4 or 5 in a group seems like what I have heard. On the other hand I have also heard of guys slaying big ones off a "spot". Stu's Conmee reef comes to mind.

My experience on Basswood is walleye tend to school more by depth. Smaller fish shallower and bigger ones deeper. It can get very specific. At 25ft we have a hard time catching "eater" size fish and eventually a 26" walleye hits the pan. Sometimes a mans gotta do what a mans gotta do.
 
06/28/2018 02:48PM  
timatkn: "I am not saying I am right, but I would move every time. But I am a guy that thinks it can always be better. The search is the fun part.
T"

Green, green, it's green they say,
On the far side of the hill.
Green, green, I'm going away,
To where the grass is greener still.

Well I told my mama on the day I was born
Don't you cry when you see I'm gone
You know there ain't no walleye gonna settle me down
I just gotta be traveling' on
 
06/28/2018 05:30PM  
barehook: "
mastertangler: "Yes, fish generally school by size. Having said that if 12" walleye are thick you can bet a big pike is not so far away.



I am all about the search and having many spots to check. The more spots in your back pocket the more chances you will have. They might not be on your usual spot and going shallower or deeper or a different bottom type might be the ticket. Look for groceries.......if the fish can't make a living they are going to go some place else.



On the other hand ;-) My saltwater experience has been if the fish finder is "lit up" with plenty of fish and they are not biting moving generally yields little in the way of luck. Sometimes they just aren't chewing. "



I agree re schooling by size, but with a question. Have you (or anyone else) gotten into a school of lunkers? (let's say over 27 inches). Another way to ask it would be to say, 'does the 'schooling by size' idea only apply (in your experience) up to a certain size? "


Back in the days where this was legal tournament walleye fisherman used spotter planes on Lake Erie. They could see the schools of walleyes and would pick out the schools with bigger fish and report back to the fisherman where to go. I've heard of tournament fisherman leaving fish because all they caught were 4-5 pounders and that school was too small. Personally on Mille Lacs yes I have got into schools where you catch 10-20 fish all 26-28 inches. Canoe fishing in Quetico I have only got into schools of 25-26 inch fish. I am not a great fisherman so this doesn't happen often for me---but I keep searching...

T
 
07/01/2018 08:30PM  
Jeriatric: "
timatkn: "I am not saying I am right, but I would move every time. But I am a guy that thinks it can always be better. The search is the fun part.
T"

Green, green, it's green they say,
On the far side of the hill.
Green, green, I'm going away,
To where the grass is greener still.

Well I told my mama on the day I was born
Don't you cry when you see I'm gone
You know there ain't no walleye gonna settle me down
I just gotta be traveling' on"
LOVE IT !
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Fishing Sponsor:
La Tourells