I'm Stocked and Ready!

[PUDLOFBLOOD]

Just got stocked with smile blades and stack beeds. Been catching a few already but seems the jigging bite has been better off rocky points. I have a feeling as soon as the shad spawn the blades will work better. Any tips for early season eyes? Water temp here in Kansas is averaging 73 degree now.
Puble

[Horshak]

Don't overlook the transitions from rock to mud off those points. Crawler harnesses should work for you at that water temp. Throw our different sizes and colors of Smile blades and put them above the fish and let the fish tell you what color and size. Conduct some S turns and they will also tell you what speed they want them at. Good Luck and please let us know how you do.

[PUDLOFBLOOD]

Hey thanks for the reply! You suggest I get the crawler harnesses off the bottom by lighter weight or just real up a little more. I usually have a 1 to 1.5 oz pencil bouncer ahead of a 5-6 ft vanish leader tipped with a red gam. hook (sorry can't spell that one) couple of beads, usually a little float then a couple more beeds then the smiley blade. Turquoise sparkle or scale have seem to be the best. I feel it mimics a crappie in color. I usually use a 1.1 blade but just bought some .08 smaller ones. That might be better with the new shad spawn. I love doing the s turves like you suggested. Going up and off the ledges and points. I will find that rock mud transition, thanks for the tip.
Pudle

[Horshak]

Sounds like you are using bottom bouncers. I will run either inline weights or snap on bell sinkers depending how deep I fish. However, If fishing in say 22 FOW, I will let out one harness with a split shot about 120 feet back to cover the top of the water column, one with a 3/4 oz or 1/2 oz inline weight run about 40 feet back and one I will let hit bottom with a 3/4 oz bell sinker and feed a little more until i am about 1' off the bottom. This covers the entire water column. Hope this helps.

[PUDLOFBLOOD]

Great ideas! I've got some snap weights so I will use them on one rod. May start with the 50/50 rule. I can't beleive I haven't thought of that. This gives me some more ideas! Thanks man. I'll be out Sunday so I'll report next week. Usually in our Kansas lakes we catch them in 20 fow or less. Last year I hammered them in 3-5 fow running 1 to 2mph with the bouncers right under the boat. We also have sauger here which tend to hangout a little shallower than the eyes but you never know. Appreciate all the help. Anyother ideas would be appreciated. Oh how big a split shot running at around 1mph?
Puble

[Horshak]

When fishing shallow, 5 - 10 FOW, I use a #2 split shot (pea size) anywhere from 35 to 45 feet back. Looking forward to your report.

[PUDLOFBLOOD]

Not much to report. Wind,Wind, Windy! Started early off a little hump and flat drifting jigs. Only a few little ones. Dragged some good points and banks out of the wind and got only one 17 inch sauger. Jigged again and caught 5 more nice eyes just shy of 18 nothing over. Then had boat trouble. Dam! Barely got it back to the ramp. Wonder how much this ones gonna cost me. I'll keep trying!
Pudle

[Horshak]

Sorry to hear about your boat troubles. Hope it isn't expensive. Look at the bright side, you caught fish. Good luck in the future!

[Dennis]

You may also want to consider running smile blades off leadcore. Gives the presentation a different look even though you may be running at exactly the same depth as with other weighting methods. Probably has to do with the bow in the line as well as how leadcore reacts to speeds changes during change in direction or boat speed. Will actually undulate a bit up and down in the water column much more so than with snap weights-bouncers, etc. Most likely a major factor in triggering bites. Something to consider.

[PUDLOFBLOOD]

Thanks for the tip Dennis! I haven't got into the leadcore yet. Really not much need for it here in Kansas with the shallow lakes. I do have several buddies that troll cranks with lead core and do good. Something to think about.
Pudle