By
Water Temp: 62-68 F 
Fishing results are very steady at
Jeffery
Miller with "big mouth - bass"
Striped bass are the most commonly caught fish. Many schools have congregated
in the main channel and are very susceptible to anchovy bait fished from 15 to
40 feet deep. Graph the walls, chum the spot when a school is scanned and then
present a third of an anchovy on a weightless hook or weighted jighead. Schools
may feature the 4-pound adults or one- pound, plankton eating, young stripers.
Both are very aggressive while in casting range. If the school moves they may
be relocated by graphing or by trolling in the vicinity with a lipless vibrator
lure.
It is just as likely to catch stripers while plugging the shoreline for bass.
That is my favorite way to fish now. Use crankbaits and plastic grubs and tubes
to fish the shallow edges where water is warmer. Just react to each fish
species as they are encountered. A school of stripers will often follow a
hooked fish to the boat. Then all anglers can cast to the trailing fish and
catch many in short order. If bass are hooked then cast to the brush or
structure where the first was caught to find more. Bass travel in groups and
are usually caught in bunches. Bluegill and crappie will be clustered around a
brushy area. Use smaller plastic baits (safety pin spinners) to probe the
branches and recesses of thick brush to find panfish. Finally, walleye are
hungry and getting more active during the day with increasing water
temperatures. They hit crankbaits and plastic. The chance of catching walleye
is greater if a piece of live worm is attached to the plastic offering. Again
fish specifically for walleye when one is hooked.
Trolling is a very effective tool used to locate fish. Troll a Wallydiver, rattletrap, jerk bait or other shallow running
bait in 10-20 feet of water next to brush or shore. Hook a fish then
concentrate on that spot until f
ish quit hitting. When the action is over, troll
again to find another hotspot.
Boat activity is increasing with warmer weather. Boat wakes hitting the
shoreline make a mudline in normally clear water. Boat use peaks midmorning and
mid afternoon. Look for floating mud at the busiest boating times. Predator
fish line up under the shade of floating mud where low light conditions are
conducive to feeding opportunities. Troll or cast to the small mudlines to find
active fish.
May is the best time of year to catch a wide variety of fish. Use your favorite
lure or technique. You will catch fish and have a great time.
Brandon Fife with his first striper.