Great video… I’m new to learning how to wiper fish on my own. When you were in 18 feet of water, were you fishing on the bottom or did you have your bait suspended with the bobber? If so, at what dept?
In that video I was fishing about 7 feet deep in 18 feet of water. During the summer, most wipers will be found suspended in 6-10 feet of water. you can find them on your depth finder following schools of shad. An easy way to locate them in the summer is to watch for them to blow up on the surface in the mornings and evenings. you can anchor in the area they were feeding in and they will find you. The depth finder is important. You will need to shut your motor off and watch for them on the screen. They will usually be single marks or groups of 2-3 fish. Whatever depth you see them at on your screen, that is the depth you want to fish. Watch some of my other wiper videos for some additional tips. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Great videos! You frequent mention that you use mussels from April to November, but never below 55 degrees. What do you use in the sub 55 degree water? Thanks!
Do you ever use artificials? We have some very large wipers in our lake (southeastern Indiana) and have caught a few 12, 15 and 13 lbs) when throwing crankbaits in the Spring for largemouth, but it is very random and have not found a consistent method. Im going to try the mussels tomorrow but prefer to fish artificials if possible. Thanks again!
I use to but I would only catch about a dozen a year. I would troll crankbaits, spoons, spinners, cast flukes and even use jigging spoons. I had a friend that raised wipers and he told me they love chicken liver, mussels and anchovies. I also had a guide tell me he only uses shad and shiners. The first time I fished with mussels I caught 50 wipers in about 2 1/2 hours and I never use artificial bait again. I catch 400-500 wipers a year. One lake I fish has a 1000 stocked in it every year and the other lake has 400. Those are the lakes you see in my videos. Good Luck and thanks for watching!
3/0 Octopus, great for the mussels, but I think it was the wrong hook for the shad and that is why my hook ups were so bad with the shad. I'm going to try something different the next time I go.
Yes I have fished mussels on the bottom. I fish an old gravel pit that is owned by the state of Indiana that has a drop off from 20-50ft. the wipers like to hold on that drop off and there is usually a concentration of fish in the corner of that drop off most of the year. that is a great place to bottom fish mussels and I have done it many times. I have also tight lined the mussels off the side of the boat. I only do that when the fish are holding 15ft or deeper. It is not much fun pulling them straight up. I use the bobbers so I can fish away from the boat and extend the fight time and to keep my baits in their face at whatever depth they are suspended. I the ice just came off last weekend so I will be getting after them soon. I will try and do a video on bottom fishing, I have been asked about it many times. thanks for watching!
@kreigadkins That sounds super similar to what I'm looking at. Lake down the road is a 140 acre flooded quarry about 60' deep at max, I'm also in the Midwest. DNR stocks wiper every year, never seen one since I'm usually beating the banks for largemouth. Just got a striker 4cv, took it out today and saw A LOT of suspended fish maybe 15-20' in 40' of water. Didn't hit a jigging spoon, so I thought maybe they were carp, but they could be wiper? Picked up some mussels today, will have to try a slip bobber rig this week and see if that gets their attention.
Great video… I’m new to learning how to wiper fish on my own. When you were in 18 feet of water, were you fishing on the bottom or did you have your bait suspended with the bobber? If so, at what dept?
In that video I was fishing about 7 feet deep in 18 feet of water. During the summer, most wipers will be found suspended in 6-10 feet of water. you can find them on your depth finder following schools of shad. An easy way to locate them in the summer is to watch for them to blow up on the surface in the mornings and evenings. you can anchor in the area they were feeding in and they will find you. The depth finder is important. You will need to shut your motor off and watch for them on the screen. They will usually be single marks or groups of 2-3 fish. Whatever depth you see them at on your screen, that is the depth you want to fish. Watch some of my other wiper videos for some additional tips. Good luck and thanks for watching!
Do you ever fish mussels on bottom or downline ?
the mussel work... is that raw or the cooked... that you can buy at walmart ?
They are cooked, none flavored. Watch my magic bait for hybrid bass video, I show the actual bag I'm using. Good Luck, thanks for watching!!!
Great videos! You frequent mention that you use mussels from April to November, but never below 55 degrees. What do you use in the sub 55 degree water? Thanks!
live shad, shiners or large fathead minnows. in that order of preferance. Thanks for watching!
Do you ever use artificials? We have some very large wipers in our lake (southeastern Indiana) and have caught a few 12, 15 and 13 lbs) when throwing crankbaits in the Spring for largemouth, but it is very random and have not found a consistent method. Im going to try the mussels tomorrow but prefer to fish artificials if possible. Thanks again!
I use to but I would only catch about a dozen a year. I would troll crankbaits, spoons, spinners, cast flukes and even use jigging spoons. I had a friend that raised wipers and he told me they love chicken liver, mussels and anchovies. I also had a guide tell me he only uses shad and shiners. The first time I fished with mussels I caught 50 wipers in about 2 1/2 hours and I never use artificial bait again. I catch 400-500 wipers a year. One lake I fish has a 1000 stocked in it every year and the other lake has 400. Those are the lakes you see in my videos. Good Luck and thanks for watching!
Dahaaaam awesome i never knew they eat mussels.
Better get you some!!!
What hook do you use?
3/0 Octopus, great for the mussels, but I think it was the wrong hook for the shad and that is why my hook ups were so bad with the shad. I'm going to try something different the next time I go.
Am gonna get me some mussels
Remember they only work when the water temp is above 55 degrees. Good Luck!!
Looks like you are using a slip bobber? Do you ever fish mussels on the bottom or downline?
Yes I have fished mussels on the bottom. I fish an old gravel pit that is owned by the state of Indiana that has a drop off from 20-50ft. the wipers like to hold on that drop off and there is usually a concentration of fish in the corner of that drop off most of the year. that is a great place to bottom fish mussels and I have done it many times. I have also tight lined the mussels off the side of the boat. I only do that when the fish are holding 15ft or deeper. It is not much fun pulling them straight up. I use the bobbers so I can fish away from the boat and extend the fight time and to keep my baits in their face at whatever depth they are suspended. I the ice just came off last weekend so I will be getting after them soon. I will try and do a video on bottom fishing, I have been asked about it many times. thanks for watching!
@kreigadkins That sounds super similar to what I'm looking at. Lake down the road is a 140 acre flooded quarry about 60' deep at max, I'm also in the Midwest. DNR stocks wiper every year, never seen one since I'm usually beating the banks for largemouth.
Just got a striker 4cv, took it out today and saw A LOT of suspended fish maybe 15-20' in 40' of water. Didn't hit a jigging spoon, so I thought maybe they were carp, but they could be wiper?
Picked up some mussels today, will have to try a slip bobber rig this week and see if that gets their attention.
If those little ones seem big to you you need to find a new lake lol