I have talked to people in the bait shop that told me they weren’t catching many fish. Many of them were on vacation and expressed they wanted to bring fish back home. Of course, they heard the old “YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LAST WEEK” saying. Is that statement true? Sometimes YES, IT IS. There are reasons why anglers are catching larger fish while others are not.

Weather can be a big factor for ALL anglers and knowing how weather affects fishing can be crucial. Weather affects water temperatures and wind can be a factor as can the sun and rain. Fish sense the change in the barometric pressure and this can influence their behavior. If the weather has been stable, the location of fish can be more predictable. Fish are less active under high pressure. Low pressure (approaching storm) can increase activity. Then a quick drop in pressure can really increase activity.

Another reason some might be catching fish while others are not can be basic knowledge of fishing. That is one of the biggest reasons I started ALLNORTHWOOD.COM. My fishing page is mostly dedicated to new anglers or folks that only fish a few times a year. This is also why we try to keep different techniques and information basic.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard ” WE’VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 30 YEARS AND KNOW THIS WATER”. Then after two days, ask if I could give them a few ideas on where to fish. Based on what I’ve caught or what other anglers have told me; I try to give people spots to fish and what bait to use. I have been told many times, that I shouldn’t tell people where to fish. Well, most of those folks are here for a week and want to take fish with them so they can have a fish fry when they get back home.

Well, a little homework before anglers’ head to a certain lake can really help. For one, the lake they are fishing could be the problem, not the person. I have written before, the DNR has a rating for each species of fish in each lake, PRESENT, COMMON and ABUNDANT. Say a person wants to catch large Bass but didn’t know Bass were only rated as present, meaning there is a low number of bass in that lake. Or they wanted to fish for a trophy Walleye, the lake that is rated as common might be their best bet. If that lake is rated as abundant for Walleye, this could mean there is a large number of Walleyes per acre, so stunting probably took place and the odds of catching a trophy Walleye are slim to none.

When it comes to finding fish, the biggest thing to remember is, BIG FISH EAT LITTLE FISH. Find bait fish and you will find predator’s chowing. Another thing is understanding the seasonal movement (SPRING, SUMMER & FALL) and locations of fish. The spots that held fish in the spring, won’t hold those fish in the middle of the summer. Why? Fish follow bait fish and first year fish which move to summer locations. In the spring, there are spawning patterns to take into consideration. When the true summer and lake temperature rise, old timers always told me (FISH THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT), meaning fish will be deeper. Then come fall, bait fish will head back to the shallow waters and the game fish will follow.

So, knowing the lake you are fishing, location and presentation can make a difference between catching fish or not catching fish. Maybe people are fishing the right week but just have to make a few adjustments to catch fish and then tell others, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LAST WEEK. Fishing techniques also make a huge difference, and I will cover those topics in the coming weeks.

PLEASE RELEASE WALLEYE OVER 24 INCHES. THESE BIG GIRLS PRODUCE MORE EGGS AND LARGER FISH IN THE FUTURE.