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| Time to practice glassy water takeoffs and landings |
The weather has been, well, too nice. I hate to wish for rain on fisherman's vacations, however it has been several weeks since we have received a good ole dousing.
The lack of rain has resulted in water levels dropping somewhat throughout the park. Nothing drastic, but they keep creeping lower and lower due to evaporation and out flowing rapids. The lower water has allowed guests to navigate the Cocos lake rapids much more effectively.
Fishing
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| SW Lake walleyes were loving the echotail |
Wind is always a key element to note when searching for fish. Having a dominant wind for a week of fishing is terrific. Focus on hot spots that fall on the windy shorelines. Yes, it may be a bit more difficult to hold a boat but the dividends will be great.
The typical summer patterns are now in full effect on the majority of the lakes. Walleye are now beginning to hang on windblown rocky points and shorelines in about 10-15 ft of water. Rock reefs and humps in the middle of the lake will hold plenty of fish this time of year. However, don't limit your hunt to just the rocks, after chatting with West and Burnt today, they were slaying walleye on the edges of weeds. Jigging with 3/8 oz head and 3-4" white, pink, yellow, pumkinseed and flouro orange tails have all yielded great results. Worm harnesses are also great rigs. My personal favorite technique this time of year to locate schools is trolling a Shad Rap #5 or #7 along a 12 ft break, then turning around and jigging once I get a strike.
Other hot walleye lures include: echotail blade baits, flicker shads, tube jigs.
Pike have been blowing up on top water baits. Central, West, Cocos reported lots and lots of action fishing the surface in the late afternoons. Zara Spooks, Dancing Raiders, Giant Jack pots and Top Raiders are all great baits in my book.
The edges of weeds are a primary focus for trophy fish. The best lure to navigate the weeds is the Johnson Silver Minnow. The weedless action will result in a lot less down time pulling grass from your bait. Remember the twister tail trailer! Thats is a must. The tail makes the bait 100% more effective. Bucktails are also great bait to jockey around and blast through thicker weeds. Burn them as soon as they touch the water.
On sunny calm days I'll often postpone my pike hunting until after 5 o'clock. Still, glassy days will result in a lot of follows from big fish and a little light distortion from a setting sun is just enough to encourage a bite. However, after about 9:30 pm the bite will completely shut down.
Other hot lures for pike this week: five of diamonds, delong killer eel, doctor spoon.
Good luck on the water everyone!
-Nathan
www.bighookcamps.com
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