Gotta love the shoals.....

[JimB]

everytime we visit BL the various shoals are always another point of emphasis. It seems we are always in ideal structure and "just happen" to locate some fish. One of my favorite South or Northern (direction) wind spots" is drifting between Wood Island and Orchard Bay. We have probably caught (consistantly) our largest 'eyes in this area.....not to mention the Northern's and LARGE crappie....I will again be drifting my various roadrunners as well as dragging a minnow along bottom very soon...... Can't wait til early June.

[O2BFishin]

Hi JimB

Last year I fished the shoals near Wood Island a little (when wind finally died down) and would like to explore that area more. Will be at BL third week of June - ya-ba-dabba-doo!!! Where do you start your drift from if starting around Wood Island and how far back into Orchard Bay do you drift? We went from Cedar Grove across to Orchard Bay last year just to escape the wind. Had good morning fishing just off southern tip of Snake Island - decent panfish and some northern, too. Evenings were lousy in the Bay but found calm water and good fishing in coves northeast of Orchard Bay/Bigge Island.

O2BFishin

[JimB]

depending on the wind condition and more importantly the wind direction will dictate a starting point, but generally we would line up to attempt to drift into or out of Orchard Bay....again depending on the wind! A helpful hint though, it may worth the few bucks to invest in (assuming you don't already have) floating markers. At the beginning of our drift we will throw a marker in at our starting point then commence with the drift. There is nothing more frustrating than after 1 initial (successful) pass with the first drift and then want to duplicate that same pass and only able to guess where your point of origination was. Also when drifting I always will drag something for crappies to help locating possibly a school of "slabs". This area between Wood Island thru the Bouy line of Orchard Bay typically results in some very large slab each visit. Good luck !!

[livebait]

livebait said:

ditto to what jim has said, watch-out through this area there maybe a couple of big channel CATS waiting to ambush what ever bait you are drifting. we can only pray that the wind will line us up for the proper drift.

livebait is always a good choice.

[O2BFishin]

Thanks for the feedback. The shoals-to-Orchard Bay (or vice versa) drift sounds like a winning idea if the wind cooperates. Last year when we were at BL, there were white caps almost all week in open water. I wouldn't mind venturing down to Big Bay for first time, but it is a long haul without a serious motor. I'm also thinking about exploring the back side of Bigge Island for first time. So many areas, so little time!

Can't wait til we're there. Less than 4 weeks and counting!

O2BFishin

[JimB]

Hey 02b, what size motor do you have ? Boat size? It really isnt THAT far to Big Bay.......Do you have a hotspots map? How many times have you fished BL? Sorry about all the questions but I would like to help if I can..... JimB
PS just to let you know there is a lot of nice shoreline to troll between Wood Island and Big Bay, especially early in the year before the weed groth get to high!

[O2BFishin]

Hey JimB - Thanks-- I'm always looking for a tip or two!

Our family vacationed at BL 2 summers ago, returned last summer, and are coming for third time in 3 weeks. Quiet, beautiful, reasonable $$, fish in the boat every morning & evening -- LOVE IT! :-) We just use a couple 14' boats/8 hp motors.

Two years ago word was crappie fishing was a little slow, but we found them tight to shore around Raspberry. Folks recommended we go to deeper water and switch to jigs, but we stayed put, used livebait, and outfished those folks! Was before bass season, but couldn't keep the small mouth from hitting whatever we threw out! Also fished Lonesome Bay and got some pike.

Last year crappie were REAL slow. Water was all white caps, so fished Orchard Bay and coves north and east. Caught so many bluegill I was tired of 'em, but many were 10"+. Also off-on pike strikes in the mornings. End of week, waves died, and found small crappie on shoals near Wood Island using roadrunners. Was thinking of targeting that area -- then you posted comments on drifting shoals.

Haven't stumbled in to any Walleye, but haven't targeted 'em either. Maybe this year.

So, that's my BL fishing history. Didn't have a hot spots map first year but corrected that mistake in a jiffy! Sorry such a long post.

O (as in Oh!) -2-B-Fishin ;D

Oh yeah, I've trolled weedline going to Lonesome Bay, but w/o success. Have tried red/white weedless dardevle and Johnson silver minnows with trailer. Hit too many weed snags with rappalas. Any thots?

[JimB]

FISH SLOOOOOOOOOWER...............ESPECIALLY if TARGETING WALLEYES! Also fish areas recieving wind......focus on Rocky points with drop offs......best time during low light conditions! My favorite is a perch colored crankbait. If you elect to troll....periodically adjust trolling speeds..............for me, I can't wait 16 days until heaven!