A few years before I joined Lake Hopatcong’s Knee Deep Club, I started reading the fishing reports written by members and posted on the club’s website. After looking back on the past year’s reports, it became quite obvious that there a handful of common fishing methods used to fish the lake at different times of the year. Shortly after ice out, anglers would begin flat-line trolling small stickbaits and Phoebes and continue to fish this way through the entire trout stocking season. After the water warmed, herring netted from the lake would serve as the top choice for bait into the fall. When water temperatures cooled, there was once again a clear method of catching fish, in particular walleye, and it was vertical jigging.
Although vertical jigging catches its share of ‘eyes on New Jersey’s biggest lake, the tactic is equally effective when applied to almost any impoundment in the Northeast that contains these tasty fish. The same method and baits have also brought anglers success in catching lake trout, hybrid striped bass and even the occasional musky.
When And Where To Begin
Although anglers may catch a few fish by late September, the best time to start jigging is after lakes turnover. The exact time that lakes “flip” can vary depending on a host of environmental and weather factors, but as a general rule of thumb, this occurs when water temperatures drop into the lower 60s. After the turnover is complete, there will be more oxygen below the thermocline, or lack thereof a thermocline, and fish will be able to hold just off the bottom in the deeper parts of the lake. It is at this time that targeting main lake points, deep drop-offs, rock piles and other structures can produce solid action on jigs. It is also worth noting that these same areas will produce fish through the ice season, just make sure you have a proper means of making a hole and take the appropriate safety precautions.
Tools Of The Trade
Both spinning tackle and conventional tackle can be employed for vertical jigging. Medium-action rods are often all that is necessary. Spinning reels should be typical freshwater 2000 or 3000 models and in regards to conventional tackle, a baitcaster you’d use for tossing spinnerbaits to bass will get the job done here too. A shorter rod, 6-feet in length with a fast action tip is preferable, but most any freshwater set-up will do.
There are applications in fishing when you can debate mono versus braid versus fluorocarbon, but this is not one of them. Although you can, in reality, fish with any type of line, there is no doubt that for vertical jigging in deeper water that braid is a winner. Braid’s absence of stretch and the fact that it lacks the buoyancy of monofilament will allow you to keep your bait on the bottom and detect even subtle strikes. Twenty-pound test Power Pro is a top choice. Fluorocarbon also lacks the stretch and buoyancy of mono, but it has more memory than braid. Some anglers prefer to attach a length of flouro leader with a uni-to-uni or Albright knot, but there are plenty of sharpies who catch lots of fish without taking this extra step.
Lure selection should be focused on baits that have a line-tie on the back so that they hang vertically in the water. Popular choices include Rapala’s Jigging Rap, Sea Striker’s Got-Cha plug, “The Binsky” by Fish Sense Lures, the Lindy Darter and the Salmo Chubby Darter. Rattletraps are also fine options and I’ve heard that the Koppers Live Target Golden Shiner has proven deadly on walleye and lake trout populations in other parts of the country and Canada. Someone ought to try them here in the Northeast.
Putting It All Together
Once you’ve picked your bait and tied it to your braid, it’s time to find some fish. Once again, the best place to target walleye is off main-lake points and rock piles. Drifting over these prime areas while keeping your offering just off the bottom is the name of the game. Depending on the type of lure, either shorts snaps or longer even pulls will produce the right action.
During the fall, wind can often be a force to be reckoned with. This is one reason why braid is an absolute must. During faster drifts, the small diameter and sinking qualities of the line will give you a much better chance of keeping it in the strike zone. If the wind is really whipping, which it often can be, a drift sock can be employed to slow the drift. Putting the brakes on a drift will enable anglers to keep their baits just off the bottom and give fish a sporting chance to eat it.
There are lots of anglers of who look forward to vertically jigging walleye, hybrid stripers and lake trout every fall. I’m one of them. This is a relatively simple technique that doesn’t require any fancy gear, aside from a boat – any boat. This is the absolute best time of year for this type of fishing, and I would encourage anyone who hasn’t tried it to give it a shot.
By Mark Modoski
.