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Some of us just aren't cut out for monogomy. As much as we might love walleyes
or bass or crappies, we can't commit to a dedicated relationship
with any one species. Sure, everything is fine when the walleyes
are feeling frisky in the spring and fall. They get our undivided,
doting attention. Then we meet a shapely
crappie with mischief in its eyes and forget all about walleyes
for a few weeks. Inevitably, there comes a day when the crappies
move away, leaving us to wallow in self-pity until we spot
a photo in the local newspaper of the most gorgeous bluegill
we've ever seen. Off we go on another courtship. And when
that romance fades, we go crawling back to the walleyes and
rekindle our passion for those gold-flecked beauties. Meanwhile,
we'll flirt with northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth
bass, perch, sauger and maybe even a few catfish. I'm a two-timin'
angler and proud of it. I like to get around as much as
possible on a given day, especially in January when there
are both hard-water and open-water opportunities. Whoever
said you can't have it both ways wasn't trying very hard.
One of my favorite January adventures is a day that includes
both ice fishing and a few hours of open-water river fishing.
I have to admit that I get a few odd looks when I pull into
a parking area at a frozen lake with my Triton 215X in tow.
Those rubber-neckers don't know what they're missing. What
makes such trips both appealing and successful is the timing.
Often, the best bite for crappies is at sunrise and sunset,
while the deep-water bite for walleye and sauger on rivers
like the Mississippi and Missouri is through the middle of
the day. Or, if I want to get in on the shallow-water, big
plastic walleye bite that exists during low-light conditions
(before sunrise and after dark) on the sand flats of the big
rivers, I can pursue bluegill and perch through the ice during
the middle of the day.
The best-case scenario is a two-day escape when you can mix
it up and get in a little of everything.
Organization is a key. When you are ready to hit the ice,
you don't want to be digging through the boat for lures or
scissors. Likewise, when you are ready to launch the boat,
you don't want to sift through your ice-fishing gear to find
a minnow scoop or a couple of hand-warmers.Simplification
is also important. It's hard to cover all the possibilities
and presentations that might work on the river, so narrow
it down to the
basics. For me, that's jigging and slow-trolling. That means
I'll need two jigging rods, two trolling rods, a box of jigs,
a box of plastics, a box of Original Floating Rapalas and
a box of terminal tackle.
All four rods will be rigged with Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon line,
which is important because cold-water walleye and sauger aren't
always aggressive biters, especially in deep water. Sometimes,
all you feel is a subtle "tick" and sometimes when
jigging, they are barely hanging onto the minnow. A highly
sensitive
line coupled with a quality graphite rod helps relay those
signals to the angler My choice of jigs will depend on water
clarity and current velocity. Typically, January brings low,
clear water without much flow. That usually means a quarter-ounce
or 3/8th-ounce Lindy Fuzz-E-Grub jig will work well for vertical
jigging. If there's more current, go to a Jumbo jig that's
more aquadynamic. Tip them with fathead minnows and keep a
stash of stinger hooks handy. Another jigging rod will be
rigged with a Lindy Max-Gap jig head that I will tip with
big plastic, such as 4- or 5-inch ringworms or grubs. If I'm
casting shallow water and wind isn't a major issue, an eighth-ounce
jig is probably enough. If I'm working this combination on
a breakline in current, a slightly larger size is the way
to go. Color selection is an interesting dilemma, and I'm
not sure it's as important in January as boat control and
location. I've seen days in crystal clear water when a black
or blue jig worked for me while lime green or chartreuse
kept one of my boat partners busy at the same time. As far
as trolling goes, think slow. Water temperatures are in the
upper 30s to low 40s, and the fish are lethargic when compared
to summer behavior. Two presentations should cover it - three-way
rigs with stickbaits or three-ways with floating jig heads
tipped with minnows.
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I use my Mercury 9.9 hp kicker motor to inch my Triton
upstream and I rely on my Lowrance 111HD sonar/GPS unit
to define the current breaks, sharp edges in the bottom
contour, transition areas where sand meets rock or sand
meets mud and the tips of wingdams I'll want to fish.
Mid-river humps can be dynamite, as can the edges of scour
holes below dams.This presentation typically requires
a two- to four-ounce pencil sinker
(depending on the current flow) on a 12-inch dropper line
and a Rapala anywhere from the No. 9 size to a No. 11
or No. 13 on a lead of about six feet. I've had success
with all three sizes.If you plan to keep a few fish, it's
a good idea to keep a small cooler in the boat rather
than use the livewells, and always remember to drain the
main outboard and kicker of any water before heading for
home or for your favorite ice fishing hole.When I hit
the ice, I'm usually ready to go for any species. Everything
I need is stored in my sled, including auger, Lowrance
sonar unit, ice scoop, heater, lantern, rod and reel combos,
bait and lures. |
For bluegills, I keep an assortment of micro jigs on hand.
For crappies, I like to use small jigs or small jigging spoons
tipped with minnows on one road while dead-sticking a plain
hook and minnow under a float on another. For perch, an assortment
of jigging spoons will usually do the trick, although there
are times when jigs excel.Bait generally consists of small
minnows, wax worms and mousies.As far as location on a given
lake, other anglers or those who have gone before you usually
provide a good starting point. Once you are able to determine
what depth of water and what type of bottom content they are
fishing, you can look for similar areas elsewhere.Stay mobile,
work the edges in areas where there is a lot of fishing pressure
and trust your sonar unit or flasher. You can't catch what
isn't down there.A good day is one where you return home at
night, clean a few fish and collapse for a well-deserved rest
with a smile on your face. You might even wonder what kind
of day your one-species neighbor enjoyed
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