new open water resolution...

[fishinfey8]

...use as little live bait as possible this year. I've come to the conclusion that live bait sucks to take care of, and it can get pricey if you buy it every trip out. Especially if you buy more than one type.

That in mind, what type of artificials do you use during the early spring when there seems to be a jig/minnow bite taking place? Is it too early to pull/cast crankbaits on opener? Also, is it too early to troll spinner/gulp worm combo? When it comes to early spring and fall I would have no clue on how to catch eyes w/ out live bait. Thanks...

[james_walleye]

I'll tell you what you got to try, trapping your own minnows. I love fishing with the bait i've caught.

[fishinfey8]

Great idea...but I do already. I just don't like hauling a minnow bucket, and the other maintenence that comes with it. I know what you mean though you know it's legit when it comes from the local lake you fish!

Any ideas on artificials and cranks that would be effective in early spring and/or late fall? Does anyone fish with swimbaits?

[goblueM]

i like berkely powerbait walleye formula, and Gulp is good as well

pretty much any time you use a jig and minnow you could substitute gulp or a grub or something

cranks like the shad rap are good pretty much all year long, though they are certainly better in some situations than others

[james_walleye]

I used to do alot of casting raps and jigs/twisters to current areas in the spring and the fall. It was great because it was mostly from shore, although it was at night. During the day you can cast the same lures to windswept areas. I will usually cast a shallow running shad rap. If its a real shallow current area (less than 4 feet) at night i would crawl a big jointed rap.

[thedeadsea]

Shad raps, shallow shad raps, and original and jointed raps do very well early season if the fish are in that depth zone.

[jwmiller33]

does anybody ever use blade baits? i fish pool 2 a lot and one time before i was going out last fall i was talking with this guy at joe's who has been guiding on the river for the past 3 decades and he swore by blade baits for late fall and early spring on pool 2... he said its ideal because the eyes hammer em and you never have to take your gloves off to put bait on. anyways, when i was there, he told me which ones were his favorite/go to and i bought a couple of them and am excited to use them here in the next week or two on pool 2

[Tim_Anderson]

I use 4" ringworms early in the season on lighter jig heads, usually 1/4 but sometimes a little more or less depending on conditions.I think their smaller profile makes them pretty attractive to fish in early season. In many cases, whoever is using plastic will often outfish others who are using live bait. Ironically, I just wrote an article on this subject which will hopefully be published soon.

I also use small cranks - stick type baits or those with shallow diving lips - in the early season. A #5 shad rap is a good example. Small profile, and works great in about 7 feet of water or less. A great presentation is to go shallow in the evening or after dark and troll quietly with your electric up on the shallow flats.

It took me a long time to give up on the live bait. I used to tinker with artificials a little here and there, but at some point, with a little prodding from others that had gone on before me, I found that I had to really commit to them in order to have enough success to be confident with them. And confidence is key when using plastics. Once I had it, they became my "go to" walleye AND multi-species bait for that matter, no doubt about it.

[nofishfisherman]

Beetle spins have worked well for me. When I want to pitch jigs I use a lot of Sassy Shad (white and black pearl). My biggest walleye from pool 2 have all come on a jig and sassy shad.

[rattleL]

Like the others said its a confidence thing. I have found that when the fish are biting they will hit a plastic just as well as live minnow. I really love the 4-5 inch power grubs as they offer a bulked up presentation. Husky jerk-baits are my go to shallow lure early in the season as well as the shallow diving shad raps in number five.