It is getting close ... But has it been too cold?

[Dahitman44]

With the opener just a couple days away I was going to check with you guys to see what some of the tactics you will be using with the late ice-out, cool temps and slow to no run of shiners?

It will be fun to hear how people are going to combat this.

I am going to look for some shiners if I can find them and fish Ottertail (a good opener lake) slow in very shallow water. Near the river too if they are there.

How about you guys?

[reinhard1]

while shiners are a great bait, there is nothing wrong with fatheads when the bite is on. minnows and crawlers will be the key this opener as far as live bait in my opinion. i actualy dont use shiners much, fatheads more often when i do use minnows. but slowly trolling with a crawler harness this time of the year and a jig and half crawler i use more than any live bait this time of the year. i use a clip on foam type round bobber and jig/crawler minnow rig in the shallow stained snaggy water in my favorite walley lakes up north. i keep the jig a foot to 2 feet off the bottom and slowly reel it in, in a stop go motion. good luck.

[Dahitman44]

Crawlers huh?

Wow I have not run into very many people that use crawlers this time of the year.

I thought they were best only after the shiner run in early summer?