Carters
Temp 49
Level full to -6 ft
Clarity 8 ft
Feb typically brings our coldest temps of the year . These cold temps will drive fish deep to more stable water temps .This time of year I tell everyone find the deepest fish you can find and target those fish. Walleye hate light and love to lay in the deep water pinned to the bottom . Look for small groups of fish or individuals laying on the bottom near bait . A simple jig n minnow ,small spoon ,or soft plastic fished right in their face will usually draw a bite or two. Walleye can be super picky on color so switch between a few of your favorites to dial in the bite each day . As far as area or location this time of year it doesn’t seem to matter much as long as you’re looking deep you’ll find a few fish here and there . Unlike most of the yr in Feb you can sleep in a bit and get started around 8am vs well before sunrise for the walleye . You may not see the numbers this time of yr but the size of fish can’t be beat . With the fish feeding up for the spring run nows the time to catch some fatty females before they turn their attention to spawning vs eating .
The striper bite held steady last month and continues to be good . Live bait is the go to right now . Alewives, threadfin, gizzards or trout are all working ( please don’t bring blue backs to Carters) flat lines and down lines will both get attention right now just adjust your baits to the level of the bait balls you’re marking on the graph. Small hooks and light leaders will increase your hook ups. We like #1 circle hooks and 12lb leaders with sinkers just heavy enough to get your bait to the desired depth .The find the bait find the fish theory is applicable here as the stripers are in hot pursuit. Typical areas are Worley creek ,fisher creek ,and the bends in the river .if you want to catch them on artificials try some various size spoons fished around the same areas where you’re marking bait and fish . Somedays they want a small 1/2 or 3/4oz spoon and the next day a big 8″ parker spoon . I tend to keep one of ea tied on to swap back and forth . These spoons also get attention while fishing live baits as well as draw fish in to your live baits.
The spotted bass are schooled up and cruising the 30 to 50ft depth looking for bait balls to feed on . Spoons or live minnows,shad,or alewives will get plenty of bites right now . Another option is fishing the backs of creeks with small swim baits . We are throwing the Cast Prodigy and Echo in the 3″ size on 1/8 or 1/4oz jigheads and letting it fall to the bottom then crawling it back on or just off the bottom . It the fish you’re targeting are suspended up high try a 3/8oz. VMC hammerhead jig and trailer hook with the 3″ Prodigy fished vertical .
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