Water Temp 70 Degrees
The bite has become fickle, with high winds and a loss of 11 degrees water temperature, but fish are still being caught when found. The high winds have limited where you can go, and the bite windows are short, so make hay while you can when you encounter fish.
To find fish, use side imaging or forward-facing sonar and get on them quickly, as they seem to be on the move. Casting Rapala jigging Raps or Berkley Finishers have been good, but for covering water, you can’t beat a bottom bouncer, and a crawler trolled 1-1.3mph, being careful not to go over 1.3mph as a rule of thumb. Bottom bouncer weight varies between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces depending on wind. On average, a 2-ounce bouncer will do. The majority of fish are sitting in 8-15 feet of water and a more subtle plain hook and half crawler has been best for getting bites. When running blades and spinners down size to a smaller blade. Lots of nice smallmouth, sheepshead, and catfish are being caught along the way, making for an active day of fishing. As the water cools and we approach fall, the big crankbait trolling bite will fire up soon!
Chad Schilling
Oahe Wings and Walleyes Guide Service
https://oahewings.com/
