Early Season Northerns

[Maximum12]

Quick question:

In deeper lakes in the spring, before the weed growth has come up far enough to form a distinct "weedline", where are the northerns? From my experience, it seems like the little guys are up shallow ~ are the bigger northerns deep? Scattered? Related to structure like walleyes? Above the "stubble" of weed flats just coming up?

I tend to stick to shallow, quick-warming lakes early on because I can pattern them, & haven't learned to do so on deeper bodies of water yet. I'd like to!

Thanks!

[Esoxmn]

I would think the larger fish are just off the structure or the developing weedlines. As the water warms they will head deeper.

[muskieboy46]

I went to a shallow lake yesterday for awhile and couldnt find the pike. I tried rapalas and spinner baits. I was trolling in about 10ft. I blamed it on the front but should i be using different baits or a different technique? thanks

[cheektowaga]

Fished a northern MN small lake past two days and did well in an area transitioning to shallow yet holding last years thick weeds in 8-10 fow. Nothing huge, biggest was a fat 31 incher, majority were in the 3 - 4.5 pound range. Contstant action and a lot of fun.

[Esoxmn]

Another thing to look for is current, Fish near river/creek inlets. In some waters the larger fish like to hold in these areas.

[Maximum12]

Thanks, I'll try some 8-10 foot trolling & try off some structure as well.

Muskieboy, in my shallow home lake, I found all the pike in five feet of water or less, within a short cast of shore, mostly among the skeletons of last year's weeds. Nothing out deeper. Lake bottoms out at 15 feet.

[muskieboy46]

what lures work best when fishing shallow and close to shore? thanks for the tip on fishing shallow.

muskieboy

[jackfish]

I've been guiding clients all week and doing very well in shallow bays that have cane reeds. None are green yet. The cane weeds are dead brown and broken. There are no other weeds for cover and these bays warm the quickest. We are also seeing more baitfish in these areas. It's tough to fish in this stuff but experiment. You can't be a big baby about your boat either. It's going to get dirty and weed are going to wrap around stuff. I have my favorite baits and it has taken me a long time to figure them out. Just try it and you can find the baits that work. Be confident, if the fish aren't on the weedline edge or in deeper water they have to be in the slop using it for cover. For 8 days straight we have been clobbering big northerns doing this so give it a try.

Jackfish

[Maximum12]

muskieboy, I've had an unusual run of luck with larger northerns (at least for me!) in shallow lakes the past week from shore, caught a 30 incher & lost two others in that range close to shore. All in two small, shallow lakes. I'm going to get out the boat this weekend to continue the chase.

I'll echo the above, shallow bays with last years dead weeds in both cases. Ripping a lure through the weeds or buzzing over them have both produced strikes.

I've caught fish on other baits, but all three of these bigger fish hit a white spinnerbait with a little three-inch Powerbait trailer to create some additional action.

[cheektowaga]

Read me like a book Max.

Had a lot of success last week working similar shallow bays with last year's thick weedy areas, with that same white spinner. Caught a dozen last time out, biggest was 31" most were in the 3 pound class. Tons of fun and even lost some.

Too bad bass is open now, chasing those slimers was a lot of fun. But now, it's back to the quest for that 23" fat-faced bass!