Lake Holcombe Fishing Reports

[tgruenke]

I'm heading back up to my parents house up there. This summer we have done decent with just getting some fish in the boat but nothing spectacular. Two weeks ago we got one walleye in the boat by fishing the channel. Does anyone know any other good tips to have more success. We where jigging with half of night crawlers.

Thanks for the help

[Cooter]

I haven't fished for walleyes on Holcombe much but jiggin the channels with crawlers sounds like a good plan. Could have been an off day(s). I'd bring some leeches along, they can certainly have a preference for leeches/crawlers on just about any given day - go figure. Might be worthwhile to mark some cribs and give them a try. Wish I was of more help, good luck and let us know how your trip goes.

[Fat Guy Powell]

Don't overlook the possibility of trolling cranks, as this can also be very effective on Holcombe. With so many ups and downs in the lake, any place is a good place to start. There are some pig walleyes in Holcombe, too, good luck!

[tgruenke]

What cranks would you suggest?

Thanks

[Cooter]

Don't know if there is a preference on Holcombe for a certain crank, but you can't go wrong with say either shad raps or flicker shads. Don't be afraid to try up shallow around weeds early or late in the day with shallower running cranks.

[Fat Guy Powell]

You can always start with a #7 JSR Firetiger. Universal walleye killer.

[tgruenke]

Do you need to weight it, or will it dive to a good depth on its own?

Thanks

[Cooter]

You should be fine with just the lure. Keep an eye on the depth and you'll get a good feel for how deep you can get it depending on line diameter, amount of line out, boat speed, rod held high/low, etc.

[shiltsy]

Good luck tgruenke. I'm headed there this weekend and fished it about a month ago as well. I sure haven't been able to figure out a pattern on this lake.

I'm going to try some of the ideas above and see what I can shake up this weekend... wave if you see an all blue Skeeter running around aimlessly.

[tgruenke]

I agree that there isn't a great pattern. I see people just sitting in front of my parents house in about 6 feet of water catching fish, but that they are also in the channels. All I know is that it beats sitting in an office.

Good luck.

[tgruenke]

Shiltsy did you have any luck? I caught a 13 inch walleye in the channel on the north end of the lake with a leech and jig. My dad missed a bigger one on a slip bobber and minnow. We than headed up towards where the jump comes in and caught a decent small mouth on a DTfat 1 and I later caught a nice northern. Would like to here if you had any success.

[tgruenke]

My parents bought a piece of property by where the Jump River comes in. We hope to be able to find some fish this winter. Does anybody have some tips or good locations to try for walleyes and crappies?

Thanks

[Cooter]

Hmmmm, I've never punched a hole in Holcombe before. I would guess the crappies would be in deep river channels - wonder if vman has fished it, he might have some good info for you.

[Cooter]

tgruenke - I would guess if you set tip ups out early and late in the day up by the Jump you'd score walleyes, especially if you know where some weeds are. They move pretty shallow to feed at low light. Its a pretty consistent pattern on Wissota and the two are similar bodies of water. And if you like jigging you can get them out a bit deeper as they move their way in - I like to put a pair of tip ups in shallow weeds and move out to around 8 ft of water and jig with raps or the soft storm baits. Its usually a fairly brief but fast period of action. Once dark I put the jig rod away and put in the third tip up.

[tgruenke]

Thanks for the tips. Now we just need some cold weather so we can get out there.

[tgruenke]

Any one have an update on Ice Conditions on Holcombe?

[Cooter]

No but they're fishing everywhere around here except the rivers or current areas - thinking of heading up there this weekend?

[tgruenke]

We are going to give it a try this weekend. My parents are on a protected bay so we'll try there for perch or crappies.

[Cooter]

Good luck and post a report! I'll be on the ice Saturday somewhere in the EC area.

[tgruenke]

We fished in a shallow bay on Saturday no luck. A few guys set up between 2-5 and caught two walleye coming in. Both where using jigging raps. On saturday morning we set up for about an hour off of lions park. Saw something on the Vexilar but no takers. Sounds like it was slow for most people.

[tgruenke]

Any tips for this weekend. I am heading out again this weekend.

[Cooter]

Sorry, haven't heard anything about Holcombe lately.

[tgruenke]

I think this year I'm going to have a slip bobber as one option for catching walleyes during the opener. I was thinking to just use crawlers but do you think I would have any luck with leeches or do you think the water will be too cold still.

[Cooter]

I like leeches and minnows under a bobber and usually use crawlers on jigs or a lindy/split shot rig.

[tgruenke]

Thanks. Good luck this weekend if you go out.