Lake level is 1071.33 (.33 feet above full pool) with water temps running from 52-55 degrees depending on where you are on the lake. The water is clear on the main lake going to stained/very stained in backs of major southern creeks and then stained to muddy from River Forks area north up both river arms. It’s that time of the year to put away the downlines for a couple of months and time to break out your Capt Mack’s Perfect Planer Boards and get ready to fish your herring and small to medium gizzard shad much higher in the water column. As the water warms, the bait will begin to relate more to the upper 10-15’ of the water column vs. the 10-15’ closer to the bottom. Planer board set ups are Okuma Coldwater 153 or 203 line counter reels, 15-20# mono or braid main line, attached to medium action rods like Capt Mack’s Okuma Live Bait rod. The main line is tied to a quality High Seas Mighty Mini crane swivel with a bead above the swivel to prevent the board from sliding down the line to the hook and knocking off the fish. Attach 5-6’ of 12-14# Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon to a #2-3/0 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle hook depending on the size of the bait you are using. Late winter and early spring put your bait 30-60 feet back, attach the board to your line with the rear pig tail clip, attach line to the pinch clip, and let out another 60-70’ of line. The board will pull out to the side of the boat and allow you to repeat this process with 30-35’ of line out after attaching the second board. Repeat this process on the other side of the boat and then put two flat lines back 50-75 feet straight behind the boat. Pull these six rods at 1-1.2 mph where ever you are seeing concentrations of bait on your Humminbird Helix or Solix graph in the backs of the creeks, over secondary creek points, or open water creek and river channels. If the herring shortage continues this month, don’t fret as the Capt Mack U-Rig and Mini Mack bite will continue to catch lots of fish during March. The Mini Macks can be trolled behind the bigger Perfect Planer boards while using your Minn Kota Instinct or Ulterra at .8-1.2 mph anywhere you would be pulling bait behind boards or on free lines. The U-Rigs being trolled while using the big motor at 2.5-3 mph will also be effective in the same areas. All of these techniques will allow you to cover a lot of water which will be the ticket in March as the fish will be moving around the lake a lot looking for food. Continue to look for the birds that are diving on bait that has been forced to the surface. If you are only looking for big fish try pulling a large herring or large shad very close to sandy or rocky banks on sunny afternoons. This water will warm quicker than other areas which will attract the bait and the big fish will be looking for a big meal as they begin getting ready for the spawn that will begin in late March thru late April. Also keep a 3/8oz Capt Mack’s Chipmunk, a small Chug Bug, a Gunfish, or Top Dog walking plug tied on for surfacing schooling fish that will become more active thru out the month.
This Lent season many will have made a commitment to fast from food, drink, social media, or some other indulgence. If you have, make it about God and not yourself. Use that time to focus on his love and grace for sending his son to die for our sins. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6
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