SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2014
ESTHERVILLE NEWS/ESTHERVILLE, IA
2C
CHASING BIG BLUEGILLS ON WEST LAKE OKOBOJI W
shallow weed areas are always good bets. At the same time, West Lake has an incredible wood dock system. All of this wood is excellent habitat for not only bluegills but also other game fish. Because of its depth, the end of these docks can be in anywhere from 6-12 feet of water. With the water clarity and a good pair of sunglasses, you can see what kind and how many fish are around these docks. So, these are areas to target.” Grosvenor cautions, however, that not TEVE all docks are equal when it EISMAN comes to holding fish, so it OUTDOOR EDITOR takes scouting to find the best ones. As we move into the month of July, the fact that it is loaded with a series of bays that hold weedlines that run Grosvenorʼs son, Calvin (L) and his cousin Max. fishing in the Midwest. “With its incredible water anywhere from 14-22 feet in say that these depth means one thing: per- feet either above the weeds or can clarity, extensive off the bottom when fishing weedbeds/lines hold fish all fect bluegill habitat! weedbeds/lines that can the deep weed edges. around the lake. However, be found in all of the bays Lures and baits “The slip bobber allows us the more you fish the areas, and a strong bluegill popGrosvenor always has an to fish a lot of area. We will the more selective you can ulation, fishing bluegills array of tackle ready for the anchor on the wind side of be, and you will begin to day. His go-to presentation is the weedbed/line, so that we establish a pattern of what on this lake is an awea slip bobber rig with either a can cast with the wind. We you consider your favorite some experience.” Here is what Grosvenor and plain hook or a tiny gold jig can also cast on all sides of spots.” his clients experience each (1/64 to 1/80-ounce) tipped the boat. Many times when Grosvenor notes that he can time he runs his WX 2060 with a Belgian worm (red we do this, we will find one tell what kind of a fishing day Skeeter on West Lake. worm, leaf worm), a medium spot that seems to hold bigger it will be by simply driving During the month of June to large leech or a wax worm bluegills. It’s then pretty easy along the weedline and (just completed), Grosvenor or silver wiggler – in that to move toward that spot watching his Lowrance has been targeting the shal- order. Grosvenor will set the where the bigger fish are HDS10 and its side-scan. “If low weed beds and the exten- bobber to match the weeds located. There is also some- I mark bluegills sitting above sive dock system. “These depth, trying to be about two thing about a bobber moving the weeds, I can pretty much with the waves in the water assure you that the fish are that attracts fish.” going to be active and The other option is aggressive. They will be that straightlining a Shuck’s way pretty much all over the www.motorinnautogroup.com Jigger Minnow with one of lake. If I don’t mark them, these baits. “You fish this then I know that they are right over the side of the boat down along the weed edges without a bobber. We will go or even in the weeds themto this when the fish are down selves. Then it becomes more in the weeds or along the of a challenge and a change deep edge of the weeds. Plus, of strategy to get to these the flash of the Little Jigger fish-say straightlining or vercan really attract the tical jigging a Shuck’s Jigger bluegills.” Minnows.” Grosvenor says fish locaSummer and tion can change daily, even deep weeds by the hour. “They might be “This is my favorite place on top of the weeds, and all of to fish,” says Grosvenor. “As a sudden they disappear. water temperatures rise and They haven’t left. Instead, the weeds begin to emerge in they might have dropped the 14-22 feet of water, I’ll down into the weeds or A Member Of The MOTOR INN AUTO GROUP Estherville • Spirit Lake head to these weed beds. I maybe down along the deep • LeMars • Algona • Webster City • Knoxville• Orange City • Carroll
hen John Grosvenor, longtime Iowa Great Lakes fishing guide (www.jtgexpeditions), thinks about taking his clients fishing on West Lake Okoboji, his eyes light up. After all, West Lake Okoboji is home to some of the finest bluegill
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Motor Inn, Inc.
Photo by John Grosvenor
weed edge. “
Late summer We have now moved into the month of August. The weeds are at full force, and now Grosvenor adds another spot around these weeds. “If they aren’t on top of the weeds, and they aren’t deep in the weeds, I will look to the flats on the outside of the weeds in 19-25 feet of water. “ Again, according to Grosvenor, it’s about working a spot. At this time of year, Grosvenor finds that medium to large leeches become a great gill catcher! “It seems the leeches will attract the larger bluegills. There are times when we get pestered by lots of 5-7 inch fish. The smaller fish tend to leave the leeches alone and give the bigger fish the chance to go after the bait.” Plus, leeches mean bonus fish. On any given day, Grosvenor’s clients have the opportunity to catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleyes. Nothing beats a youngster battling a 20-inch smallmouth or walleye!
than just sitting in one spot. “The difference between no fish, small fish and big fish can be only a few feet when you’re fishing these weeds. I have a Minnkota Terrova IPilot, so it’s really easy for me to bump the boat along. We’re always fan casting our slip bobber rigs, so when we get a good bite going in a certain spot, I’ll move us a little so that we can fish more of that area.” If you are using a traditional anchor, then set up with the wind so that you can move along the weedline and every so often let out a few feet of line. “Of course, you don’t want to run out of rope,” says Grosvenor with a laugh.
Keeping bluegills
Grosvenor says his clients like both the fight of the bluegills, their willingness to bite a hook and their table fair. “They are a great tasting fish. I always try to make sure that my clients get all they fish they want for a meal. However, I also believe that even though the limit is 25 bluegills and we can catch that many per person - we don’t NEED to keep that I really believe in Using the anchor many. catching plenty for a good Grosvenor believes in using meal, but catch and release is an anchor system for more a lot of fun.”