Go small or go home

[muirco]

I was just doing some tackle-tinkering...putting together my gear for a potential trip to Willard next week.  When I picked up my "Mini Crank" lure box I smacked myself in the head as it occurred to me that one potential problem at Willard right now is that the fish are patterning on small stuff...baby shad.

We see it happen every year at Willard.  The newly hatched shad fill the waters and the wiper and walleye bite drops way off.  And every predator we manage to put in the live well is ralphing up these bitty bites.  That's gotta tell us something.  Just like finicky trout on a clear mountain stream or lake, the fish pattern on the most abundant food resource...to the exclusion of almost everything else.  So it helps to "match the hatch"...at least in general size, shape and color.

I haven't had a chance to use any of my small stuff yet this year, but in years past I have done well with the mini cranks...and small spinners and spoons in shad colors.  I know quite a few boaters that have been more successful after they downsized too.

Here is a pic of my mini crank box...including a couple of the small spinners and spoons I keep in it.  I fish them from my float tube mainly by cast and retrieve...usually counting down the sinking models to the bottom before a fast retrieve up through the water column.  With the floating models I often use them as a trailer...on a 3-4 foot leader behind a 1/4 oz. jig on a 12" dropper.  The jig is usually a white twister or shad body.  It provides the weight for longer casts, sinks the little lures faster and adds attraction to the trailing lure behind it.  This rig is great for trolling too.  Or you can add some weight to the line with a snap weight or whatever else you prefer.

The hooks on these small lures are small and wimpy.  So you gotta downsize your tackle a bit...and be sure you have a properly set drag.  Big wipers will hit these small lures and if you are not set up right the hooks will either bend straight or tear out.  Otherwise, enjoy the battle and take your time.

As I mentioned, I mostly fish these things with cast and retrieve.  There are times when bunches of shad are right up against the rocks...with the predators picking off the stragglers on the outside.  I have had some memorable days fishing light tackle and pitching these small goodies right up to the rocks and retrieving out away from the balled up bait.  Wipers and walleyes are the usual targets, but the smallies and kitties like to play small too.  But those big cats sure make a mess of the wimpy hooks.

Thanks! Sounds like a great method! I hope it works for everyone! I need to start heading to higher elevations...heat seems to be my achilles heel and it is hot now. Onto koks for me...?.  Love learning patterns of fish though and really liked your post!