PADDLE SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK

I admit it, I'm a hopeless fish fanatic. My shrink (I'M KIDDING) calls it obsessive compulsive something or other disorder.  

In canoe country most of my time is centered around walleye fishing, especially those of the larger variety. I can usually stumble up on a few good northerns while I'm at it although my last 2 trips have been sadly lacking in the big pike dept. For years I have always carried 2 rods. This handles 90% of my needs but there are many times when I want to throw a big lure.

I have started bringing a big stick in as well now to throw Super shad raps, strike pros buster jerk   (You need to Login or Register
and musky mayhems in line spinners which all require a beefy rod and a good baitcaster to cast for more than 15 minutes without wearing you out. With the right equipment throwing these oversized lures can be fun and productive. My last trip I only used my big outfit for about 3 hours but mostly because other styles of fishing were producing well for me.

One thing I have noticed in canoe country is that these fish are not the least bit hesitant about crashing a big lure. Most people would consider the super shad rap as a pike and musky lure but I have caught plenty of nice walleyes on it as well. I have also caught several 4lb smallys on topwater musky baits while trying for pike in canoe country. I personally believe there are many times when a big fish will eat nothing less than a big lure but that's just my opinion.

Now comes the hard part. I suggest you go quality equipment if you pursue this route. You'll be tossing big lures and the last thing you want is a heavy set-up. I use a Loomis musky rod and a shimano curado coupled with 20lb line. This is a light set-up with great balance and handles the big stuff with ease. If I can swing a trip the right time of year I can see using this set up for days instead of hours.

Well hopefully I have furrowed a few brows. Fishing is about having fun and tossing these big lures around can be a hoot with the right equipment.  

Yep--big fish like big lures. Not always the case but often true.

T

this method can prove to be effective, however i believe that its effectiveness is limited to the very active fish. the active fish will hit whatever and the larger baits provide a more stimulating target. i personally prefer using smaller rigs because i feel you get a higher strike rate. your 'average' size may be smaller than with large baits, but that is because of the higher quantity of fish. my largest fish have come on the smallest baits.

there really is no magic formula. it comes down to having a lure in the right place at the right time. sometimes this comes from using smaller baits worked slowly over a certain area and sometime it comes from burning lots of water with larger baits, its a lot about luck.

Jax,
As usual you make many good points. Drop something small that looks good to eat on their nose with light line in clear water and usually they will suck it in.

I can't help but wonder though if a big fish is going to make a habit of tracking down a tiny snack that doesn't land on their nose. Certainly smaller fish will because the pay-off is still there.

There is also much to be said for the vibration that a big lure gives off coming through the water. Big in-line spinners and spoons and wobbling cranks all leave a vibration profile that is more easily felt by a fishes lateral line. They don't really have to even see it before they start an investigation.....As in "what the heck is THAT"!

Lastly I'll leave you with the best example I can think of where a bigger lure can make a difference. This doesn't prove anything, just something to consider.

I was fishing for walleye one morning below Kennebas falls for Walleye. I was throwing the big fat rap (which they have discontinued :'( ) and bouncing bottom with it. I probably tried a few other things I can't remember but that will usually get them if they want to chew. After about 45 minutes without any action I decided to press on and tied on a super shad rap which I was going to troll through Kawanipi. Before I shoved off I thought I might as well make a few casts with the big lure into the falls. First cast was a 6 lb walleye. 3rd cast was a 4lber. A few minutes later the lure stopped dead and I thought I was hung. I gave slack hoping the current would drift it back out of the rocks. When that didn't work I pulled. I was very surprised when it pulled back. I missed that fish. I left shortly after that because Kawanipi was calm and I was a noob and wanted to get across before the wind picked up.

I remember muttering to myself, "wow, these fish want it big" and I never forgot that lesson. Just another option I suppose.

I have a definition for luck....."Time and chance". You are right to point out that fishing is indeed often about luck.

They discontinued Fat Raps? Say it ain't so! I said it before, lures are made to catch fishermen....

A good fisherman makes his own luck. Smaller lures are fine in Spring. Come August, big is good but boxes to hold the variations and the equipment to properly present seems like overkill when all you want is a meal. But ya if big is what you're after....

It really hurts to loose a $7 lure - especially when (poof) you know it was bit off. So you paddle the shorelines looking for it....

When I was a little tike I was looking in my fathers tackle box and I ask, “ Dad which lure catches the most fish”.  With out a pause my dad said the one that is in the water.

There was a study a while back on walleyes. The preferred size of minnows for 17 inch walleyes was 6-7 inches. What does a 30 inch walleye prefer? Now who uses a 6 inch long or longer lure for walleyes? Probably only the pros for the most part--I go bigger than most, but not that big  :)

Fish want to expend the least amount of energy to get the most amount of energy. Bigger lures allow that. Catching/chasing a bunch of little bait fish is too much effort for too little reward. BUT as a previous poster noted this probably holds true more for actively feeding fish. If you are trying to get those inactive fish--slow and small will work because you are just sitting it in front of them trying to entice them when they really aren't on the feed bag.

That's why I love fishing no set rules---when you think you know everything--then you get skunked ;D


T

I believe in bigger crankbaits this time of year anyways. A couple of years ago I caught what felt like the normal 3 - 4 lbs northern. As I was playing it to the boat, all of the sudden it felt like a monster fish. I could hardly make any headway with it. After a bit, all of the sudden it was back to the 4 pounder. I got it into the boat and something had inhaled it to just behind the gills. Some pretty impressive teeth marks. The biggest I've caught out of our lake is 10 pounds... I wonder though if there is something bigger in there...