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UTDOOR CONNECTION
JULY 2016 ESTHERVILLE NEWS Find this publication online at www.esthervillenews.net under ʻSectionsʼ
STORIES, ADVICE AND INFORMATION FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
Catch the wind, ride the waves
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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IT’S TIME FOR SUMMERTIME BLUEGILLS
I
t’s summer, and it’s hot! Yet, the days of summer also mean great bluegill fishing! For me, that means the gin clear waters of West Okoboji. Yes, I know West Okoboji is a tourist desti‐ nation, but it is also home to some of the finest bluegill fishing around. Since late May and through the month of June, most of the action was around the many docks that line the entire lake. They are some of the greatest structure, because 95 percent of them are wood post and wood plank docks with wood cross braces. As we move into the months of July and August, all of the bays will hold weedlines that run anywhere from 14‐25 and even 30+ feet in depth. These weedy areas occur in all of the bays, and they are perfect bluegill habitat! However, you will sometimes have to fight off the little 4‐6 inch fish to catch the big‐ ger bluegills. Search mode To me, this is a huge key
STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
for success. If I don’t know the lake very well, I will first check with a local baitshop and get as much information as I can about general areas for finding bluegills and also study a lake map looking for deeper weedbeds. Often times, I will go on search mode with my Humminbird 998C using both down view and side‐ view just to see what these weeds look like. Now sometimes, these fish will be right in the weed. Lakes with good water clarity will often have weeds that often grow to the surface. So, I will look for pockets and openings when I can put my bait. Sometimes, if the bluegills aren’t biting in these areas, I will move
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along and look for bluegills suspended away from the deep end of the weeds. If I can find them, they are often some of the bigger fish. However, you might have to move to keep with them! When I fish an area, I don’t sit in one spot for very long. My Humminbird will let me know if the fish are there. If not, I will move along the area until I find aggressive fish. Each time I get into the bluegills, I mark the spot on my locator. Over the years, I have found that there are several spots that hold fish year after year. As a result, I have a lot of waypoints that I can go to. Using the anchor Years ago, I gave up using an anchor. Pulling up a huge ball of weeds attached to the anchor was no fun. Even with an electric anchor there were times that I had to help pull the anchor up. It’s definitely a backbreaking job. So, I now use a Minnkota Terrova I‐Pilot as my trolling motor and also as my anchor. Now, it does shift a little bit and won’t hold me in one exact spot, but deploying and raising the Terrova is a much easier task than raising and low‐ ering a big anchor. The difference between no fish, small fish and big fish can be only a few feet when you’re fishing these weeds. It’s really easy for me to bump the boat along, using my Hummimbird as a guide. Lures and baits Some anglers will use a slip bobber rig with either a plain hook or a tiny jig (1/64 to 1/80‐ounce) tipped with a Belgian worm (red worm, leaf
Authorʼs grandchildren enjoy chasing West Okoboji bluegills. From left are five-year-old Sadee; 13-year-old Maddysen and 16-year-old Hunter.
Photos by Steve Weisman
worm), a silver wiggler or wax worm– in that order. For this presentation, set the bobber to match the weeds depth, trying to be about two feet either above the weeds or off the bottom when fishing the deep weed edges. One other bait that can be dynamite is a leech. The leech seems to trigger the bigger gills and helps keep the little ones away. Plus, bonus fish (small‐ mouth bass, largemouth bass and walleyes) love leeches, too. Two years ago, my son and I were fishing West Okoboji, and he caught a 26” walleye on a slip bobber and a plain hook. When he set the hook, he looked at me and said, “This is no bluegill!” A few minutes later it was picture time and the ‘eye was safely back in the water. The slip bobber allows us to fish a lot of area because you can anchor up wind of the weedbed and then cast with the
wind. We can also cast on all sides of the boat. Many times using the fancast method, we will find one spot that seems to hold bigger bluegills. It’s then pretty simple to hone in on that spot where the bigger fish are located. A slip bobber bouncing in the waves often will trig‐ ger a fish. The other option is straightlining right over the side. This is my favorite method, because I love to feel the bite. Nothing can beat that strike. One tiny jig I have found works well is Clam’s tungsten Dingle Drop jig. The tungsten helps it get down to the bottom more quickly, and you can also feel it better. I have found a Shuck’s Jigger Minnow works real‐ ly well. Everybody has his or her favorite color, but I really like the green/gold color and purple/silver on West Okoboji. It’s really pretty simple. Just fish this right over the side of
the boat without a bobber and give the gills a jiggle, jiggle, jiggle presentation. Not long ago my five‐year‐ old granddaughter, Sadee did her best to keep grandpa busy unhooking bluegills and rebaiting her hook. What is most enjoyable for me is that all three of my grandchildren enjoy fishing for bluegills and straightlining over the side of the pontoon! And for grandpa it’s a special treat when all three take the time to be with grand‐ pa chasing bluegills on West Okoboji for a couple of hours. In addition to the fishing and catching, the time is filled with lots of laughter, good natured ribbing and, of course, stories to share. When it’s all said and done, nothing beats the thunk of a bite and the feisty battle with a 9‐inch bluegill. Except, of course, for the meal that comes after the fishing!
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
Okoboji Blue Water Festival set BY STEVE WEISMAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
It is hard to believe that the 4th of July weekend has come and gone. Each community in the area did its best to provide people with lots of wholesome activities for the entire fam‐ ily. Highlight for so many of us were the fireworks dis‐ plays! One thing that often gets pushed to the back with all of the “fun” activi‐ ties is what this holiday really means. The 4th of July is Independence Day, the fed‐ eral holiday commemorat‐ ing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It is our country’s national day where we Americans cele‐ brate the freedoms we so often take for granted. For 240 years, Americans have enjoyed a freedom that others in the world can only dream of having. We have lots of naysayers and there are constant complaints, but there is no other place I would rather live. As a people we really need to rekindle the patri‐ otism and pride for our country’s rich heritage, our laws, our society and our people! One thing as I grow older is the realization of just how fast a year can go by. It seems that just a few days ago we observed Memorial Day, now the 4th of July is over and here we are heading to Labor Day. Before we get there, how‐ ever, the Iowa Great Lakes is going to have the oppor‐ tunity to join together for another celebration…this one on Saturday, Aug. 13. Okoboji Blue Water Festival This one centers around something extremely important for all of us who
Boz Scaggs will be the headliner at the Okoboji Blue Water Festival on Saturday, Aug. 13. Photo submitted
care about the Iowa Great Lakes: clean water! The Okoboji Blue Water Festival will be a daylong celebra‐ tion to raise public aware‐ ness of water quality issues in the Iowa Great Lakes and across the state. Clean water is the theme, and this entire day is all about protecting and enhancing the water quality of our lakes, rivers and wetlands. Thanks to the leadership of Greg Drees and an incredible list of donors and volunteers, everything is free, right down to the headliner, Boz Scaggs! It is an opportunity for really valuable family time and a wonderful way to help our
youngsters see what stew‐ ardship is all about! Let’s see what’s going to be hap‐ pening: n 10 a.m. Chalkstock – kids and adult sidewalk chalk art (with awards) hosted by Kurio Kastle and Creative Spirits. n 10 a.m. (throughout the day) Mural Painting for Kids hosted by the Pearson Lakes Art Center: “Together We Can Preserve.” Five‐part series. n 10 a.m. (throughout the day) face painting, banner art and t‐shirt painting n 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Water Quality Exhibitors. As many as 30 organizations and businesses staffing clean
water‐themed display booths. n 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Water Sports in a Clean Water Environment. Okoboji Expedition Company will be lakeside with standup pad‐ dleboards, kayaks and water bikes. n 1 p.m. Fishing Clinic with guide John Grosvenor. “Slip Bobber Techniques That Will Make a Difference” n 2 p.m. Fishing Clinic with guide Doug Burns. “The Basics: a Workshop for Kids of all Ages.” Casting practice following clinic on a nearby dock n 2 p.m. Nature Class with the Dickinson County Nature Center. Education program entitled “The Pollinators.” n 3 p.m. Fishing Clinic with guide John Campbell. “Walleye Tips for Late Summer and Early Fall on the Iowa Great Lakes” n 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Panel Discussion on Water Quality moderated by Joe McGovern, President of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. *Chuck Gipp, Director of Iowa Department of Natural Resources *Bill Stowe, Director of Des Moines Water Works *Keith Schilling, Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences, U. of Iowa *Susan Heathcote, Iowa Environmental Council *Sean McMahon, Director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance *Larry James, Jr., Co‐Chair of Iowa Soil & Water Future Task Force n 7 p.m. The Claudettes n 9 p.m. Boz Scaggs For more information, check out the Okoboji Blue Water Festival website: http://www.okobojibluewa‐ terfestival.com.
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Walleyes in a snap
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
BY JASON MITCHELL
T
rolling patterns that cover water and break down big loca‐ tions with crankbaits often seem to dominate the wall‐ eye scene come mid sum‐ mer. As fish pull out over deep contours or basins and in some cases suspend over open water, nothing beats a crankbait for elimi‐ nating water. Part of what makes trolling crankbaits so effec‐ tive as we move towards the heart of the summer is that a crankbait is the fastest presentation you have. With speeds that can range from two to over three miles per hour, you can simply cover more water. Once the water warms up beyond 70 degrees, you can often get away with faster trolling speeds that surpass two miles per hour and my rec‐ ommendation is to troll as fast as the fish will let you get away with because catching fish is often simply just eliminating water (you eliminate more water when you can troll faster) and running a lure in front of as many fish as possible. Over the past ten years, one hot trend on so many inland lakes and even some reservoirs has been running smaller hard vibration lures like Salmo Hornets behind lead core line. Over the past five years, we have also seen another trend gain some serious momen‐ tum and that is using big snap weights. In fact, using snap weights as large as four or five ounces that get out quickly and fish closer
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
to the boat is actually start‐ ing to replace lead core which has been a staple for walleye anglers. Now snap weights have been part of the walleye trolling routine for quite some time but many of the old snap weight methods mirrored the Great Lakes origins. That is clips with varying weights that ranged from ½ ounce to four ounce sizes where anglers employed a 50/50 rule where the lead to either the crankbait or spin‐ ner harness was always the same (50 feet) and anglers changed the snap weight size to vary the running depths as anglers typically ran several lines out to the sides of the boat with inline planer boards. With off shore trolling roots from Great Lakes fish‐ eries, this snap weight trolling method has mor‐ phed into something com‐ pletely different as you move west. Four to five ounce snap weights are often fished six to ten feet in front of the lure and these heavy weights can often be fished right below the boat. The set up time with this heavier system is so dramatically quick. There is no waiting. The speed of set up is one of the greatest advantages over traditional lead core. Because of the tighter and closer proximity to the boat combined with this much quicker deployment time, we can often have an easier time of following tight outside and inside cuts as we follow a con‐ tour. The snap weight is
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never far from the trans‐ ducer. While snap weights will lift and fall as boat speed changes, the lift and fall of such a heavy snap weight is not as dramatic as what you would find on smaller snap weights or lead core. Big waves or out‐ side and inside curves will cause the lure and snap weight to surge and stall but speed will do little to adjust to changes in run‐ ning depth. Because of these charac‐ teristics, these heavier snap weight systems shine whenever you need to fol‐ low a specific depth range that is beyond twenty feet of water where the boat has to follow the contour. Because of the speed of deployment, anglers can often fish tighter areas than where you would typi‐ cally dare to use lead core. Fishing these magnum snap weights can some‐ times feel more like bottom bouncer and spinner pre‐ sentations than traditional trolling. Drop the snap weight down to the bot‐ tom and reel up until the snap weight isn’t touching the bottom and the crank bait is running clean and free. Sometimes referred to as a “poor man’s down rig‐ ger,” you can effectively use snap weights to effi‐ ciently fish down to sixty feet of water pretty easily. You are essentially putting cranks right behind and below the boat and can deploy extremely quickly. Another advantage to using snap weights is the
The author believes snap weights are an incredibly simple tool for getting lures much deeper in the water column while enabling an angler to closely follow structure and sharp break lines. Photo submitted
simple efficiency where you are fishing closer to the boat and don’t have as much line to reel up when catching a fish. If you can reel a fish up on fifty feet of
line, you will lose fewer fish than if you have to reel up a fish on a hundred feet of line. Typically, extremely clear water like you find on the
Great Lakes fisheries or bodies of water with zebra mussels require much longer leaders between the lure and the snap weight Turn to PANFISH, Page 7
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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Help stop aquatic hitchhikers DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reminding boaters and anglers to check for unwanted hitchhikers on their boats and equipment this sum‐ mer to help protect Iowa lakes and streams. Aquatic hitchhikers are invasive species – everything from zebra mus‐ sels to Eurasian watermilfoil ‐ that are transported from one waterbody to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and other equipment used in the water. “Boaters and anglers can uninten‐ tionally transport aquatic hitchhikers if they do not take the proper precau‐ tions to prevent their spread,” said Kim Bogenschutz, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. When brought to another lake or stream, aquatic invasive species often grow quickly and spread rapidly due to lack of natural controls. They can create serious problems for Iowa waters by reducing native species and making lakes and rivers unusable by boaters, anglers and swimmers. “The best way to control the nega‐
Zebra mussels tive impacts of aquatic invasive species in Iowa is to prevent their spread to new waterbodies,” Bogenschutz said. Boaters and anglers need to clean, drain and dry their boat and equipment after each time on the water. n CLEAN any plants, animals, or mud from your boat and equipment before leaving a waterbody. n DRAIN water from all equipment (motor, live well, bilge, transom well) before leaving a waterbody. n DRY anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers,
equipment, boots, clothing, dogs). Before transporting to another water‐ body either: Spray your boat and trail‐ er with hot, high‐pressure water; or Dry your boat and equipment for at least 5 days. n Never release plants, fish, or ani‐ mals into a water body unless they came out of that water body and empty unwanted bait in the trash. These steps are not only sugges‐ tions; they are law. It is illegal to pos‐ sess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species or any aquatic plants on water‐related equipment in Iowa. The fine for violating this law is $500. Signs are posted at public accesses to remind boaters to stop aquatic hitch‐ hikers and to identify infested waters. Boaters must also drain all water from boats and equipment before leaving a water access and must keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport. It is also illegal to introduce any live fish, except for hooked bait, into public waters. More information about aquatic invasive species and a list of infested waters can be found in the 2016 Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet.
2016 NAWCA small grants announced ST PAUL — Pheasants Forever was recently awarded 10 North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) small grants to conserve wetlands and associated grasslands in Minnesota and Iowa. Pheasants Forever and its partners will employ this round of NAWCA funding to restore, enhance, or protect habitat on 4,536 acres vital to upland birds and waterfowl, with all acquired acres open to public hunting and recreation. “NAWCA grants bring vital wildlife habitat enhancement dollars to the Prairie Pothole Region to implement wetlands and grasslands in partnership with private landowners and public land managers,” stated Matt Holland, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s director of grant development. “More conservation gets done when partners at the state and local levels are work‐ ing efficiently to match NAWCA fund‐ ing dollar‐for‐dollar. In this case, NAWCA funds are helping to deliver
objectives of both the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan and the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture Implementation Plan.” Of the 10 grants, here is the one awarded in Iowa: Project: Iowa Prairie Potholes Grassland Enhancement III Location: Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth & Wright Counties, Iowa Grant: $75,000 / Matching funds: $75,000 / Acres: 1,431.5 enhanced The purpose of this grant request is to accelerate the enhancement of native, local ecotype tallgrass prairie on state‐owned Wildlife Management Areas within the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa. The goal of this proj‐ ect is to assist in the enhancement of 1,000 acres of tallgrass prairie and cre‐ ate 431.5 new acres of tallgrass prairie nesting cover. By enhancing large blocks of nesting cover in the Prairie
Pothole Region, ecological function is restored to the landscape and all grassland bird species benefit from quality nesting cover. About NAWCA Grants The North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989 provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed part‐ nerships to carry out wetlands conser‐ vation projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands‐associated migratory birds and other wildlife. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Bird Habitat Conservation is responsible for facilitating the Act’s Grants Program. In the past two decades, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act has funded 2,553 projects totaling $1.4 billion in grants. More than 5,000 part‐ ners have contributed another $2.9 bil‐ lion in matching funds to affect 30.7 million acres of habitat.
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ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
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GLEON buoy collecting West Okoboji data BY STEVE WEISMAN
marked the buoy location. The public data is displayed in American units while researchers Since 2015 West Lake Okoboji has been home to a hydrological receive the data in metric values. buoy installed and monitored by For Apple and Android phones there is an app called “Wqdata the Iowa Lakeside Laboratories with the purpose to collect West LIVE”. At night the buoy is marked by a Okoboji data that will be helpful for improving water quality. Each yellow flashing light. The DNR hazard buoys use a white flashing 10 minutes the buoy reports by radio the air and water tempera‐ light. The buoy will be removed this ture in increments to the bottom, fall prior to ice‐up. relative humidity, barometric Funds to sponsor the GLEON pressure, wind speed, wind direc‐ buoy came from the Okoboji tion in degrees and rainfall. Foundation, Okoboji Protective Known by its acronym GLEON, Association, Dickinson County the buoy is part of the Global Clean Water Alliance, Friends of Lake Ecology Observation Lakeside Lab, State Hygienic Lab, Network. It is located just south University of Iowa Office of west of Pillsbury Point. Research and Economic The data being measured can Development, Iowa Lakeside Lab be viewed online at www.wqdatalive.com/public/470 Regents Resource Center, Iowa Department of Natural Check out up to date water conditions on West Okoboji with data provided by the GLEON buoy. In order to view the data, place By Steve Weisman Resources, and Danbom your cursor on the green dot Engineering. OUTDOOR EDITOR
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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
STEWARDSHIP TIP: Dog Days BY BEN LEAL RECYCLED FISH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
The Greeks used the term “dog days” to refer to the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose just before the sun. The ancients sacrificed a brown dog at the beginning of the dog days to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that the star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather. Dog days were popularly believed to be an evil time when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, and dogs grew mad. As summer enters the hot months of July and August, we, in the Northern Hemisphere, are in the middle of our dog days. These days have important consequences for aquatic life. Oxygen solubility decreases when water temperature increases. Water that is 90° F can only hold 7.4 mg/L diluted oxygen (DO) at saturation; water that is 45° F can hold 11.9 mg/L DO. This physical phenomenon puts a fish in jeopardy; at higher water temperatures, a fishʼs metabolic rate and demand for oxygen increases. Itʼs not just the warm water temperatures, though. Muggy, overcast, dog days can also deplete dissolved oxygen. During cloudy weather, the intensity of light reaching the water surface is diminished. This can result in a decrease in oxygen production from photo-
synthesis. Since oxygen consumption remains unchanged, a body of water can have a net loss of oxygen over a 24-hour period. Whether from increased water temperatures or decreased photosynthesis lack of dissolved oxygen in water can result in fish kills. Why itʼs important to the fish: As water temperatures rise, the environment for fish becomes precarious. Monitor your favorite fishing hole for signs of oxygen depletion; Fish swimming at or near the surface gulping air. Fish suddenly stop feeding. A rapid change in water color to brown, black or gray signifying loss of an algal bloom. A putrid odor arising from the water. An extended period of hot cloudy weather. When you see signs such as these, It is best to give the fish a break and set the fishing pole aside. When the dog days set in, itʼs time to lie around like a lazy dog. As anglers setting the fishing pole down for a spell can be difficult at best…but the kiddoʼs will certainly appreciate the fact that they might be able to take a dip in a cool pool while Mom and Dad watch on enjoying a break for summerʼs hectic business. Stewardship goes well beyond what we do on the water…staying off the water, at times, is just as important. Tight lines all!
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PANFISH, Continued from Page 4 but most inland waters will suffice with a lead that is the length of the rod. Seven to ten feet of line will work and the shorter lead between weight and lure sure makes netting fish easier with‐ out having to remove the snap weight. Most anglers will use a ten or fourteen pound braid for the main line for the added sensitivity. Even with the snap weight, you can still usually tell if the lure is fouled or out of tune. Line count‐ er reels are necessary paired up with a trolling rod like the Jason Mitchell Pro Walleye Series Great Lakes 8’6” Trolling Rod (JM861GLMH) which is a great all purpose trolling rod for running boards, snap weights and lead core with a retail price of less than sixty bucks. Of course with your trolling spread, you can mix up some snap weights with lead core, wire, Dipsy Divers or flat lines. Most inline planer boards will han‐ dle up to three ounces of lead depend‐ ing on the amount of line, speed and height of the waves. In my opinion, snap weights really begin to shine in July and August when the water warms up as the pendulum action you get with changes in speed often seems to trig‐
ger fish. Often noticed that lead core would often shine on the “off” days where as snap weights would kick in when the fish are on. In states where multiple rods can be used, anglers often run smaller shad profiled baits off snap weights while long lining deep divers further out the back of the boat to stagger the lures. One of the most impressive deep diving crankbaits on the scene right now for long lining in deep water is the Salmo Free Diver. This particular lure will reach about forty feet of water without adding weight and has a loud rattle. Because of the exceptional dive curve of this particular lure, the Free Diver is a nice compliment to snap weights to sneak an extra line or two behind the boat. This summer, make sure to incorpo‐ rate snap weights into your walleye‐ trolling arsenal. Snap weights have a way of simplifying trolling in that you drop a heavy weight behind the boat and reel up the lure off the bottom. A simple and effective way to get your favorite lures into the zone in front of fish.
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
8
Live-bait rigs for more summer fish Bob Jensen with a nice smallmouth taken early morning on a live-bait rig. Photo submitted
BY BOB JENSEN FISHING THE MIDWEST FISHING TEAM
To see the newest episodes of Fishing the Midwest TV, visit
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From now until autumn, one of the most pro‐ ductive ways to catch fish is with a live‐bait rig. Live‐bait rigs are simple set‐ups, but they’re so effective so much of the time. Whether you’re after walleyes or crappies or smallmouth bass, pretty much anywhere in the Midwest, when nothing else will get the fish to open their mouth, live bait will. There are lots of things we can do to make our live bait presentation more appealing to fish: Following are some of those things. We can present live bait to fish several differ‐ ent ways. We can suspend it below a slip‐bob‐ ber, we can attach it to spinner rigs or jigs, or we can present it on a traditional live‐bait rig: Just a snell and a sinker. For now, that’s we we’ll talk about: Good old rod in your hand, feed line when you get a bite, set the hook and catch the fish. And when you do it right, you’ll catch lots of ‘em. More and more, anglers who are serious or at least a little bit serious about rigging will have a good number of rigs tied in advance. We’ll tie them of different snell lengths, differ‐ ent line weights, we’ll have them with differ‐ ent hook colors, and we’ll even have some with beads on the line right ahead of the hook. The bead adds just a little bit of attraction. Storing these rigs has been made so much easier with the creation of the RigRap. RigRaps are small containers that we store our rigs in. We mark the container with the perti‐ nent information about the rig inside, then put the RigRap in its own container. We can quick‐ ly find the rig that we want, and quickly get it tied onto our line. Lighter, less visible line is what we use for
snells when fishing clear water. Six pound test Assassin fluorocarbon is a good choice in clear water: You will rarely need to go lighter. Eight or ten pound test is about as heavy as we’ll go. Tie up snells of several lengths. In some clear bodies of water anglers use eight or ten foot snells. Not often, but sometimes. In stained water snell length will usually be shorter, maybe just twenty inches. Not often, but sometimes. Usually, a forty inch snell will be about right. Experiment with hook color. Northland’s Super‐Glo Attractor Hooks come in several colors, and there are times when the fish, par‐ ticularly walleyes, will prefer one color to another. Use a smaller hook, say a #4 or #6 with leeches or crawlers, and a larger hook, maybe a #2, with minnows. For a different look, replace the hook with a Gum‐Drop Floater. The Gum‐Drop provides a larger profile and will keep your bait up off the bottom a bit. You can fish live‐bait rigs behind bottom‐ bouncers and traditional slip sinkers, but the Rock‐Runner Slip Bouncer is a really slick sinker system. You put a small sleeve on your line above the swivel that the rig is attached to. The sleeve slides on your line, so you can feed the fish some line, but the sleeve also allows you to change sinker weight without cutting and retying. The Rock‐Runner Slip Bouncer is very snag resistant also. As you get more into live‐bait rigging, you’ll develop little tricks that at times will pay big dividends. The key is though, give live‐bait rigs a shot next time the walleyes or smallmouth or crappies are finicky. When nothing else is working, oftentimes live bait will.