With the air temperature in low 90’s and water temps in low 80’s the crappie fishing seems to have slowed a bit. It is times like these that conversations among anglers tend to drift to other kinds of fishing. As outdoor writers Brad Wiegmann and Mike Dixon cast to submerged wood on Mark Twain Lake near Hannibal, MO, guide Lynn Tharp and I discuss his winter fishing activities fishing for walleye and sauger on the nearby Mississippi River. Although we were there to fish for early fall crappies, I am one to never waste an opportunity to learn patterns for fishing other species.
Lynn guides on the Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 22 from November through February, weather permitting. The Lock and Dam is near Saverton, MO at mile marker 301.2. He explains that if the weather cools earlier in the fall he sometimes fishes in October. “It is kind of a bonus,” explains Tharp.
Although he guides for other species from bass boat or pontoon, Lynn uses a Jon boat for his river activities. His other tackle is also pretty basic.
Bucktail jigs are popular with most walleye and sauger anglers and Lynn is no exception. He makes his own bucktails in ½ or ¾ once sizes. He generally uses just the natural color but occasionally he slips in some a white curly tail grubs. He will add some chartreuse or tinsel.
Lynn fishes his bucktails with a 2 or 3 inch chub on the hook. It seems that the fish this time of year want big baits. Most of the shad have maxed out and the chubs imitate the preferred bait. Lynn believes the walleyes are not feeding much. They seem to be feeding about one time per week. Visit Donald Gasaway Blog for more hunting asd fishing coverage….