Opener tactics

[Ihateriversnags]

Hey everyone,

With opener just 6 days 7 hours 45 minutes and 3..2..1.. seconds away I'm wondering what each of you will do for the official fishing opener. With the spawn apparantly delayed and the fish acting as such, what tactics will you use to get into some hogs? Myself, I will be fishing down on Crystal lake in Otter tail county. Going to try out the senko, perhaps a jig and pig and if that doesn't work well we will throw everything at them and see what works.

[river rat316]

I think the warm temps and the full moon this next week, is gonna push them to spawn right on opener!! Should be fun, I might have to head to a local lake and check out the greenies myself!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Im going to agree, the spawn should be in full effect come opener.

Ill have to motor around a bit to get a feel for conditions but Ill probably be targeting inside weedlines or the first break off spawning areas. Probably be throwing soft jerkbaits, carolina rigged lizards, and a jig/pig.

[bgreen82]

we were out on demontreville and jane for northern opener and when the pike werent biting we sat back and started tossing angle worms for sunfish. we hit about 5 largemouth from 2-5 lbs. on the worms in 4-6 ft. just before the break. might head back out to do the same along with some other tactics. if anyone knows of any other good bass lakes in the east metro, you can let me know. i dont have a great idea of where they are and the dnr lakefinder reports doesnt really poll bass that well. thanks and good fishin'

[Redline]

I'll be fishing in the Brainerd lakes area for the opener. I'll be on the Whitefish Chain which usually warms up slower then some other lakes in the area so I think the bass might be on the beds. What tactics would you guys use during the spawn, or maybe just after the spawn?

[Ihateriversnags]

Just wondering everyone, Does your tactics vary much with the weather as it's supposed to be....Heavy winds and darn near 90 degrees. Saturday for Otter Tail county it's supposed to be 89 and winds from 18-26 with gusts up to 34. I think my boat will take a beating just long enough for me to get to the "Calm" side of the lake. Just wondering if I should FIND the waves or avoid them

[CASTnBLAST]

Snags the boat will handle it IF you can .I see you plan on hittin Crytal,I'd definitley boat into Rush and give that a try too.Good Luck!

[Ihateriversnags]

I ended up hitting the rushes and fishing the inside weedline on the north east bay of crystal. Throwin Gulp black 6 inch lizzards and slammed the fish. My partner and I pulled at least 12 fish per half hour and that doesn't include the rock bass and "bigger than hand size" sunfish that were inhaling that lizzard. Overall through the weekend we caught well over 80 fish ranging from smallmouth, largemouth, pike (just hammerhandles though)rock bass, and huge bluegill. Very successful opener.

(C&= hit the water today with 3 foot waves on our side of the lake. Got trimmed out and skipped effectively across most of the waves until I hit the wake of a bayliner cuddy. Launched the whole rig out of the water twice Slowed a little after that but still had a great time. I am slowly getting the hang of this boat. Saw one ALMOST like yours today. actually followed him into the bay and he launched a few times. For a second I thought it was you but his was a single bubble of the same color. WOW what a ride.