Jerry Carlson

Don’t Forget those Summer Crappies Summer is a busy time in the fishing world. There are many choices a person can make when it comes to targeting fish species. Although I do love to chase walleyes and bass in the warm season, I sometimes take a break from these fish and spend a day catching crappies...

It was during a spring snow goose hunt in Kansas last year that I really go to thinking about the unique characteristics of Canada geese. Unlike snow geese, they do not like an abundance of motion in the decoy spread. However, there is no doubt that some action is needed.

This was the eighth year for our group of anglers that make an annual trek to Island View Lodge on Rainy Lake. Although every year is a little different, the one common theme that runs through the entire eight year period is the successful walleye angling we encounter.

Every summer I make an effort to explore a few new lakes to see if there are bodies of water I am not familiar with that need some attention. I also make a concerted effort to spend time looking for new fishing spots on my list of regulars. Either way, there is some research that is done before I get to the landing.

It was going to be an interesting day on the water. I had two enthusiastic anglers in my boat that had limited fishing experience. As we were casting weedless jigs and jigworms along the deep weedline, it became apparent to me that they had not developed the feel and finesse for this style of angling.

It was a hard thing to understand. According to my electronics, the large, rocky reef we were targeting was littered with scattered pods of fish. From previous experiences at this location, we were certain the arcs on the screen were walleye. We just couldn’t make them bite.

When it comes to targeting summertime bass, there are truly a multitude of methods and strategies that will catch fish. These strategies vary from angler to angler and will cater to the demands of working a particular type of bass holding structure.

As we drove into the lot at Island View Lodge on Rainy Lake in northern Minnesota, it only took a moment to realize this was going to be a different sort of walleye trip for our group. Instead of being greeted by the serenity of the landscape, we were greeted by sandbags and huge pumps spewing water from behind the makeshift dam.

Every spring, I look forward to the days when I can drop a boat into open water and fish the shallow water panfish bite. For me, this is an enjoyable time that frequently offers some of the best crappie and bluegill angling of the year.

My very first snow goose hunt took place 30 years ago in New Mexico near the Elephant Butte impoundment on the Rio Grande River. My brother and I set up three hundred homemade decoys on a flyway thousands of birds used daily as they moved off of the water and flew out to feed.

Over the years, I have had many people ask me why I prefer to chase panfish during the hard water season. This is never an easy answer for me as there are many reasons for my winter panfish addiction.

The deep water basin that typically holds winter crappies was void of activity. There was not one single house in the area and very few old holes.