Weeds -
Walleyes - Welaxation
December,
2003...
We have been going to
Chautauqua Lake
for twelve years.
The consistently good fishing and first class accommodations at We Wan
Chu Cottages brings us back two and three times per year.
In recent years our first trip is right after Memorial Day, then early
July and again in early August. The first two trips consist of a group of
fathers and sons and are strictly fishing with a little afternoon golf thrown
in. The last trip in August is with
the wife and family. This trip is a
combination of fishing, relaxation, sightseeing and taking in the local
attractions. We particularly look
forward to attending one of the Friday night open air concerts at the Chautauqua
Institution. They host some top name
performers like Kenny Rogers, Travis Trit, Abba, etc.
We target Walleyes, but also
catch other species of fish including various pan fish, Large and Small Mouth
Bass, and Muskies.
There are many techniques to catch Walleyes.
However, we have had continued success fishing the weeds with jigs tipped
with either a leech or half of a night crawler.
We have also had some good days with jigs and a 3” twister tail both
with and without live bait. You just
have to experiment with various combinations to determine what the fish want.
We always fish near or in
the weeds that begin in about ten feet of water and grow in toward and become
denser toward the shoreline.
These weeds can be found around the entire shoreline of this lake as well
as in many bays, off the end of points and along deep drop-offs.
In the spring we will spend the first day fishing the north end of the
lake (north of the bridge at Bemus Point) just because it is closer to We Wan
Chu Cottages. If we locate fish on
the northern weed beds we will stay in those areas all week.
However, if the spring has been wet and cold, the majority of the Walleye
action will be on the weed beds south of the bridge where the lake is much
shallower and the water warms faster.
As a result the weeds at the south end
mature before those at the north end. Year to year we have not been able to
predict where the fishing will be best. We
just have to check it out and adjust accordingly. If we find fish in the
northern half of the lake we will fish the weed beds all the way to the extreme
end of the lake near Mayville. Conversely,
if they are on the southern half we will fish it all the way to Celoron.
Don’t wait for the fish to come to you.
Keep moving until you find good numbers of fish and can develop a pattern
to consistently catch them.
As stated the weeds start
in 10 feet of water and we will hold the front end of the boat in 12 feet of
water with the electric trolling motor and cast 20 feet or so toward the weed
edge. We
are making just half of a cast and letting the jig land along the edge of the
weeds to 2 or 3 feet inside the weeds. Let
the jig fall to the bottom of the lake. We
start off with 1/16 oz. Northland Fire-Ball jigs tied to 6 or 8 lb. Trilene XL
line. Reel the slack out of your line while lifting your rod to the
11 o’clock
position. Continue to work the jig
slowly back to the boat. I can’t
emphasize slowly enough.
Sometimes the Walleyes
won’t touch the jig unless it is stopped or barely moving.
Let the live bait on your jig wiggle and entice the walleye to take it.
We found that you don’t have to pop or yo-yo the jig to get a fish to
take it. If the jig hangs up on a weed continue to slowly pull it with the rod
tip until it breaks the weed or snaps off the weed and let it immediately fall
back to the bottom on slack line. If
you feel a tick on the line, wait a second or two and take up the slack. When
you start and move the jig again, if you feel even the slightest weight on the
end line set the hook with an upward stroke. Don’t set the hook side ways as
you want to hook the fish in the top of the mouth where it’s hard and less
likely to work loose while your playing the fish.
Do not set the hook when you first feel the tick you will usually pull
the jig away from the fish before it has closed its mouth on the jig.
A lot of ticks will be pan fish. However,
a lot of them will be Walleyes
too. If the fish are aggressive and
hit the jig and take off with it then it’s OK to set the hook immediately.
As you work your jig through the weeds Walleyes
will often come up and just hold onto the jig.
You don’t feel a tick or a strike it is just a slight weight on the
line. Set the hook.
If in doubt set the hook. It
may just be a weed, but it may be a Walleye
as well.
We use the Northland Fire-Ball jig because it has a short shank wide gap hook
which equals easy hook-ups and fewer lost fish. We
usually tip the jig with a leech or a half of night crawler.
We like leeches better because they are more lively, tougher and the pan
fish don’t bother them quite as much as they do night crawlers.
Don’t spend a lot time in the weeds that look like long strands of
grass and grow only 2 or three feet off the bottom.
Look for the coon-tail type weeds which grow all the way to the surface
and resemble a fern. You’ll find
this coon-tail in sparse patches on flats and in very tall dense areas along the
shoreline. Both can and will hold
fish.
As the sun rises higher in the sky the Walleyes will move into the weeds or pass
through and hang out in 3 and 4 feet of water on the inside edge of the weeds
closest to shore.
Both areas are worth checking out. To
fish these areas move your boat into
the weeds, use a good pair of polarized sunglasses to find holes and pockets in
the weeds and hover over them. Drop
your jig into these pockets and let it sit on the bottom for 5 to 10 seconds.
You don’t have to put a lot of action on the jig.
Let the live bait do the work. If
a walleye is near-by it will find it. If there is nothing in that pocket pick
your jig up and drop in a another pocket. It
is more like dipping here and there and no casting is involved.
You’ll be surprised how many Big
Walleyes make their home deep in the
weeds. If your jig isn’t heavy
enough to drop through the weed growth or it is windy go the 1/8 or ¼ oz jigs.
Just go heavy enough to get the job done.
Walleyes
will drop a heavy jig when they are being finicky.
It takes patience and persistence to fish in the weeds.
It seems like I am always hung up on a weed and no fish will ever find
your jig. And then, how do I
determine whether it is a fish or a weed. It
takes practice, practice, practice - but once you learn how to catch fish in and
around the weed beds it can be very rewarding.
We like Black, Fire-Tiger, Orange / Chartreuse and Glow / Watermelon color Jigs.
Some of our favorite weed-beds on the north end are Mayville, Dewittville,
between We Wan Chu and the Bell Tower, Prendergast Point and
Camp
Chautauqua
. On the south end Cheney Point,
Ashville
Bay
, out in the middle of the lake just North of Grass Island, White Wall and
Arnold
Bay
.
We
like We Wan Chu because it is clean, quiet and relaxing.
The Docks are well lighted at night which adds to the convenience and
security. We never have to worry
about our boats and equipment. There
are power outlets on the docks making charging your boat batteries a piece of
cake. They sell Night Crawlers and Ice
for your coolers etc. on the premises. The
fish cleaning station is big and clean with running water and is lighted for
night use. Your cottages are close
to the water and docks. You can be
as social as you wish with nightly bonfires or as secluded as you wish.
The cottages come with cable TV, dishes, pots and pans, silverware,
refrigerator with freezer, coffeepot, microwave, toaster and all the comforts of
home without the phone. If you must
use a phone there are two conveniently located on the premises.
They have coin operated washers and dryers on the grounds and come in
handy after you have been caught out on the lake in a rainstorm.
The grounds are well kept and the staff is both helpful and friendly.
All you need to bring is your clothing, food, (lots of fresh fruit and
vegetables close by in season) paper products and your fishing gear.
We Wan Chu will rent you a boat, motor and fish finder if you need it.
Please take only what
you can use and put the rest back....
Jay Booher
Canton
Ohio
Jay Booher and his Family & Group of
Fishermen are some of the Best Fishermen
that Visit us here at We Wan Chu Cottages.
That is why I asked him to submit a "Fishing
Letter" for our Web Site... Enjoy...
Peter Wiemer
Manager / Partner
12/15/03
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