Willard Tues. May 28

[obifishkenobi]

I was out there yesterday, too, with a buddy.  Very slow for us, trolling crankbaits behind boards.  Tried SR 7s, a deep Reef Runner, Thunderstick Jr's, etc.  The Island, SW corner, then headed to Freeway Bay.  I felt a little off, as the deeper water (99.63% of full pool) and marking fish just off the bottom and not being able to get down to them.  Maybe I should have taken my downriggers.

I used to bottom bounce in my old tiller steer Alumacraft Magnum 165, but haven't done so since 2005 when I bought my Hewescraft.  No bow mount electric.  Also, my Lowrance LCX 111c HD, now 18 years old, was reading the water temp at 18F, and got up to 29F later.  I ordered a new transducer.  I think I can bottom bounch using the drift socks I use for kokanee, but wasn't set up to do it yesterday.

We called it about 2:30, having trolled north from Freeway Bay to Eagle Beach.  When I reeled in my inside rod, it had a nice walleye on it.  Have no idea where it hit as I had forgotten to put the clicker on and back off the drag.  As I said, kind of an off day for us.  Better next time.

There is no need to go slow bottom bouncing this time of year you can troll them with your cranks I’m currently going 1.7-2.1 mph and will speed up to over 2.5 as the water warms. Just set them back 125+ feet and they will be near the bottom making contact on the turns. I catch as many if not more than the guys creeping along at .5-1mph. Give it a try you may be surprised.