Baitfish Spawn Nite Bite

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Hey boys & girls, its that time of the year as for a few weeks RIGHT NOW on Lake Mac the alewives do their baby making thing in the shallows and predators up to max size follow them in for some feasting. As a 100% shoreline stand jig angler learned that night time is the right time to target some normally unavailable rest of the year chunk walleye, wipers, cats, & large white bass during this limited time bonanza.

Altho #s are down this year possibly related to a 9' water level drop perhaps changing preferred spawn locales still getting a few of the above in nice sizes. Unluckily, in the shallow spawn habitat best catches never had a chance to bite having been accidentally snagged resulting in intense extended battles. Biggest catches so far were in fact mid body snagged 18-20# wiper and 25# channel cat. Haha, rest of the year those catches in inches instead of pounds would be exceptional.

Reason for sharing is if you're not already exploiting this is a best of the year opportunity for targeting big fish from shore. If your jig / lure skills aren't confident the baitfish can be netted right against shoreline and are a guaranteed bite ticket presented live.





S
 
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hookup

Well-known member
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May 22, 2012
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2,698
Location
VA
Was walking on a trail next to a local river this morning and small frogs were everywhere. Betcha they'd catch fish
 

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Update: Man its been a wild ride on the alewife spawn throwing jigs from shoreline at night. Bout done, but so far 47 wallys 10#+ not counting the smaller ones. Bonus a few chunk wipers and occasional serious tug catfish 20-30#.

Some nights the wallys are few or entirely absent so fun size cats up to 10# + decent white bass up to 2# sometimes bigger take up the slack.

Light as possible jig heads with 2/0 Gamakatsu light wire hooks stuck most all of em and never bent out on a fight. As mentioned in previous posts just a few pinned plastics work fine - 3" pearl PB Twitchtail Minnow, 3" pearl PB Ripple Shad, cut in half Gulp chartreuse 5" Sinking Minnow, and this year cut in half 5" pearl silver Yumdinger "Senko" style stick baits. Yah, there are a gazillion other lures that will catch wallys, but I got no use for em.

OK, shared the possibility for those willing to put in the time to R&D.
 

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Always room for improvement, right?

As mentioned, 2/0 light wire Gamis have never bent out on even the most substantial fish fights in my experience but with bigger harder lip specimens particularly cats & wallys they bend out eventually during de-hooking, tho they can be rebent once to continue fishing. Snag bendouts are more severe and the hooks are retired.

Having recently acquired some 2/0 & 3/0 red heavy wire Gami 604s which don't fit any of my molds remembered a Do-it Pro-101 1/8 ball head mold was modified for Gami 2x 1/0 and voila the 2/0 red fit perfect and the 3/0 not quite but could be poured one at a time with a bit of flash. Per Jigger John's genius Boolie propeller jig creation added a #3 nickel prop + 6 - 3mm plastic bead holder collar on the shank & poured a few 2/0s & a single 3/0 for testing early AM today and the 3/0 lasted the entire session intact for 8 cats, 4 wipers, and 2 wallys pinned with Gulp troos and Dinger pearl 1/2 stubs. 4 fish were particularly noteworthy cats 20-30#+ & wally 11# certainly a proper wear & tear test.

Since the unusually extended alewife spawn won't last forever done with this topic, unless something else transpires needing sharing.
 

Hawnjigs

KISS
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
4,226
Location
Ogallala, NE
Thought i was done, but thought it worth mentioning that this AM pre-first light as usual 19 more catches on the same jig head as yesterday including 3 cats 20-40#. Improbably all fish on the same Gulp troos cut 1/2 Sinking Minnow repositioning the hook and biting off the torn insertion point several times. Originally 3" it still got bit shortened and the remaining 1-3/4" stub is still usable.

The Gami 604 3/0 heavy wire jig hook is still good to go after 33 catches and numerous twanged out hard rock snags. No bendout whatsoever and point is still sharp enuf. Would like to test the 604 2/0 version but the 3/0 keeps going & going like that pink bunny banging a drum.

The Gami 2014 light wire is an outstanding hook, but am switching to the 604 for heavy duty apps.
 
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