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Fishing flooded timber is an overlooked structure that more
fishermen should look for in the spring and early summer.
There are three ways you can fish flooded timber. One is Carolina
Rigging over and around the wood. Another is by working live
bait over, around, and through the trees. The third method
is to use a Thill Slip Float over the top of the flooded timber.
You will need a good BottomLine depth finder with a large
picture, to not only see what is directly below the boat but
also what you have past over. You will also need it to mark
where you caught that last fish and on what side of the log,
so you can come back and fish your way out. Or better yet,
just allow yourself an easy escape route by following the
plotter to the point where you entered the flooded timber.
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Lindy Little Joe
No
Snagg Rig
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The Lindy No-Snagg Carolina Rig slip sinker also adds
a new dimension to your fishing harness. I will put a
Lindy No-Snagg on my line and then attach a short leader
of lighter line, maybe 6 or 8 lb. test Berkley XL or Sensation
line. The Lindy No-Snagg acts as a brush detector and
keeps my jig out of the snags. If you do snag bottom,
give the line some slack, and then give a sharp tight
line yank which will pull it free. Of if you feel a tug
on the line, set the hook on a fish. The method is easy,
just simply drop your rod next to a log and wait until
your Lindy No-Snagg touches a limb or brush. If by chance
it touches nothing allow it to drop all the way to the
bottom, walleyes like to hang on the edge of the timber
also. Unlike the more familiar and traditional bobber
that snaps in place and is held stationary on the line,
the Thill Float has a hollowed out tip for ease of line
attachment. The stopper is a rubber snubber, rubber band,
pretied knot, or a spring device that is placed on the
line at the desired depth. The stopper can be reeled onto
the spool and does not interfere with casting or retrieving.
A split shot a foot above a small hook completes the outfit.
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Thill
Center slider float
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Changing depths is a simple matter of sliding the float
stop up or down the desired distance. Probably the most
effective and useful slip bobber that I use is the Thill
Float. These floats are pencil designed, but for use in
shallow, windy, or over the top of a gravel bar you can't
beat them for performance. I like to attach a 1/16 or
1/32 ounce Timb'r Rock jig to the end of the line instead
of a plain hook. The Timb'r Rock jig allows you to present
live bait or plastic in all kinds of cover without fear
of snags. Due to its unique "weight centered" design,
it lands upright every time. The patented seven strand
wire guard protects the hook point from hang-ups. I like
the color that a jig head adds, plus I need to add a little
extra weight to pull the line down to the preset depth
when using a jig head. If you use this slip bobber method,
it will enable you to jig your bait vertically without
positioning yourself over the top of the structure. With
little or no wind you'll have action on the bobber. |
This can easily be achieved by sweeping the rod about a foot
at a time. It might seem simple, and it is, but the results
will astound you. When the walleye inhales your bait and your
bobber slides slowly underwater, remember the following tips:
Take all the slack out of your line without putting pressure
on the fish. When you're ready to feel the fish reel as quickly
as possible putting pressure on the fish. At the same time
"set the hook", lift the rod tip towards the sky and this
will penetrate the bony roof of the walleyes mouth. Thill
Floats may be one of the most simple yet efficient and effective
ways to present bait that there is. They can be fished at
any depth, with a variety of bait, and on most equipment.
Although the Thill Float can be used effectively on walleyes
throughout the season, anglers will encounter the most action
during the spring. Shortly after ice-out, male walleyes in
the 1 to 3 pound range will move into shallow spawning areas.
The best spawning sites are large sloping shallow bars with
a bottom composition of gravel. The aggressive male walleyes
will hold over these areas for a month or more and feed aggressively
during, before and after spawning.
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Lindy Timb'r
Rock
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The larger walleyes are most always females, and although
they can be taken during the pre spawn period, they are
virtually impossible to take while spawning and reluctant
to bite for a two-week period following the rigors of
procreation. Probably the best method, or my favorite
is, to timb'r doodle them with a jig. The No-Snagg Veg-E-Jig
from Lindy is without a doubt the best way to fish timber.
This jig allows you to penetrate the toughest brush pile
on the water without getting hung up. The front eyelet
position and the slender profile allows the Veg-E-Jig
to slip through all weed vegetation and timber without
all the frustrations of snags. Like the Timb'r Rock jig
it also has the seven strand wire guard that protects
the hook from snags, but this jig has the super strong,
ultra sharp Gamakatsu hook and that makes for an awesome
live bait delivery system. By dipping your bait into various
spots in the flooded timber you will find that many walleyes
are present and willing to bite. Hey for more information
about a super way to catch walleyes in early summer patterns
drop me a line at, www.walleyeinfo.com. Hope to see you
on the water real soon! |
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