Thread: Vanity gold
View Single Post
  #18  
Old 10-16-2018, 09:39 PM
bobalong bobalong is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,130
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Freedom55 View Post
Baits in the Saskatchewan River must be presented at the speed of the river - at the bottom. It follows then that the boat must be travelling at the same speed, a tricky thing to do given that the current speed in the boat zone is somewhat different from that of the strike zone.

Trolling a crank bait should be done while motoring upstream or out in the lake itself, made possible this year by extending the boundary somewhat. We had limited success at the eastern marker buoys with deep divers and line weights.

Take a tip from the stated opinion that there was a run on minnows at the bait shops. The big fish were quite likely jigged up from the bottom with 1/2 oz. or 5/8 oz. jigs from three or two deep pockets in the river channel. Heavy jigs with light wire hooks (and a stinger) were needed to maintain a vertical presentation.

It also stands to reason then that there were upwards of 50 boats gathered at these spots and boat control was critical. Not a lot of room to pull blades at 1.1 mph when all the rest of the gathered fleet were travelling anywhere from 0.2mph to 0.7 mph depending on the outflow from the dam plus the effect of the wind. Not to mention the snow and the freezing temperatures.

Sadly for us, we were only able to land slot fish, some of which were either I/8" too long or 1/4" too short. Plus a few unders and two monster pike.

Experience of a lifetime.

I am sure there were some jigging, but pulling smiley blades and spin-n-glows can be pulled at .2-.7 easily and there were probably some still lindy rigging just with a heavier weight and a single hook or phelps floater.

I caught my biggest an 11.2oz (which isn't really big for there) at Whiterock with a lindy and a phelps floater a few years ago.

I haven't been for a few years but it is a fantastic fishery and a "must do" if you are a walleye hound.
Reply With Quote