Hawnjigs
KISS
During the first 5 years since moving to Nebraska noteworthy catches were few, far between, and right place right time sheer luck. The past 3 years tho thru leaps of faith R & D implementation catches have been extraordinary relative to the limitations of the available resource. Rather than continue to intrude on other poster's topics piecemeal, notably Spoonminnow, I'll attempt to share the system here on its own.
1. Follow the food - baitfish like alewives and shad which spawn at shoreline edges
2. Predators appear to be most actively feeding on them at night
3. Walleye appear to prefer rocky shoreline & bottom habitat, + wipers, white bass, & catfish
4. Shallow edges adjacent to deeper drop offs seem ideal.
5. Explore! Walk shoreline daytime to locate areas conducive to the above, then return at night.
6. Find your own spots unaffected by crowds & harvest.
7. Don't shine lights in the water, presentations should be in darkness.
As for lures, most anything will get bit, for me 3" boot and straight tail plastics on light as possible jig heads are a ticket, tho larger and heavier would likely get bit as well or who knows maybe even better. Since my target fish are in sometimes very shallow water adjacent to shoreline long casts are unnecessary and retrieves need to avoid snagging bottom. With an abundance of natural forage present my presentations attempt to look different emulating slower moving injured baitfish.
Results speak for themselves, so far this month since the alewife spawn commenced on June 3 have C&R 64 walleye many Master Angler class 8#+. Plus bycatch of wipers some MA 8#+ & white bass average 1-1/2#. Bit early for warmer water preference catfish which will soon be (hopefully) abundant up to 20#+.
Not sure if the system would work for other areas other species, but one seed planting inspiration was the late big trout master Merton Leeper in Colorado who authored several books emphasizing night fishing . Another major inspiration was the former editor of In-Fisherman Doug Stange who wrote articles on walleye jigging wading at night.
Would like to mention that rocky shoreline was an adaptation pursuant to my area of opportunity, the above mentioned did not exclude other shoreline types.
1. Follow the food - baitfish like alewives and shad which spawn at shoreline edges
2. Predators appear to be most actively feeding on them at night
3. Walleye appear to prefer rocky shoreline & bottom habitat, + wipers, white bass, & catfish
4. Shallow edges adjacent to deeper drop offs seem ideal.
5. Explore! Walk shoreline daytime to locate areas conducive to the above, then return at night.
6. Find your own spots unaffected by crowds & harvest.
7. Don't shine lights in the water, presentations should be in darkness.
As for lures, most anything will get bit, for me 3" boot and straight tail plastics on light as possible jig heads are a ticket, tho larger and heavier would likely get bit as well or who knows maybe even better. Since my target fish are in sometimes very shallow water adjacent to shoreline long casts are unnecessary and retrieves need to avoid snagging bottom. With an abundance of natural forage present my presentations attempt to look different emulating slower moving injured baitfish.
Results speak for themselves, so far this month since the alewife spawn commenced on June 3 have C&R 64 walleye many Master Angler class 8#+. Plus bycatch of wipers some MA 8#+ & white bass average 1-1/2#. Bit early for warmer water preference catfish which will soon be (hopefully) abundant up to 20#+.
Not sure if the system would work for other areas other species, but one seed planting inspiration was the late big trout master Merton Leeper in Colorado who authored several books emphasizing night fishing . Another major inspiration was the former editor of In-Fisherman Doug Stange who wrote articles on walleye jigging wading at night.
Would like to mention that rocky shoreline was an adaptation pursuant to my area of opportunity, the above mentioned did not exclude other shoreline types.
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