Fish-Hawk.Net

Heading up to Crotch on the 3rd of July for a well deserved rest from the butcher shop. One full week of glorious walleye catchin' and cold beer. Has anyone been up this year so far, and how high are the water levels. Two years ago at the same time of year I could run w.o.t. right up into Fawn Lake.
Thanks fishhit

Fishhit:
I'll be heading up into the Crotch on June 26th. Don't get a full week, but make the best of the four days. We're praying we don't hit the mayfly hatch this year(made smallmouth fishing after dark a little tough last year). This will be the fifth year of going up this same week and so far, I've always been able to get into fawn lake, so I'm hoping its not a problem.. It can't come soon enough... the uss bocephus overflowing with Lucky Lagers and over-the-slot 'eyes!

ussbocephus & Fishhit:

I'm new to this site - when I saw the crotch lake post, I couldn't help but sign up! I've been fishing that lake for a 1/2 week each summer for 9 years now. What beautiful place...I've had the most success with a jig-head tipped with a leach for the wallys. I'm not looking for your hot-spots, but let me know what your favorite techniques on this lake are...Also, does anyone have much success with pike on the Crotch?

uss bocephus - I have to say that the Lucky Lagers will be flowing because I'm a little superstitious and need all the luck I can get (that's my excuse anyway).

Ledgebuster

Bocephus,
You must be from Penn. or Ohio if you've got a penchant for lucky lager. 24 for $24. Those may flies can make the fishing tough for sure. The fish seem to switch over to the easiest meal available. Great lake for sure, the slot limit on walleye has made her a consistant place for eating sized fish and trophy potential sized too.
Fishhit

Ledgebuster,
Any excuse for a cold pop is alright with me. Jig and leech for sure. jig and worm, jig and minnow, powerbait. Best success in the past came on carolina rigs with floating jigheads in 10' to 18'. Longline trolling a perch pattern rapala over the same depths proved good as well. Good luck this summer and I'll be sure to post results after my getaway.
Fishhit

Ledgebuster, if you want to troll,try small worm harnesses with silver blades,size 2 and under till the sun sets then switch to rapalas or rouges down 15 to 25 ft. over deep water, last time i was there ,I found a weedbed northwest of Gull rock,12 ft.deep, next to deep water,make sure the wind is blowing across the weeds out of the south,troll rapalas with 1/8 oz. weight over top of weeds,you can take multiple fish here at this time frame. roughrider

RR,

Thanks for the tip!! We usually spend most of our time jigging the rock ledges for the 'eyes, but now you got me fired up to try trolling. I just don't have hardly any experience with it so my confidence level isn't too high. How fast should I be trolling? When you say "troll rapalas with 1/8 oz. weight" are you just putting a split shot a couple feet in front of the rapala, or do you rig it kind of like a carolina rig (as you can see I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to trolling)...

Anyway, thanks again for tips and advice

Ledgebuster

Good questions Ledge! I don't do much trolling, so I can't help you out. I see this is your first time posting, and glad to see your not afraid to ask questions..Remember, there's no such things as a stupid question, only stupid people who ask questions!.. just kidding and good luck at the Crotch!

good luck at the Crotch!

If I had a dime for everytime I heard that!.

Welcome aboard Ledgebuster!.

M.T. Livewell

Ledgebuster,when trolling rapala's,check the lures action at the side of your boat,if its rolling side to side,thats fast enough.I use the 4 1/2" and 5 1/4" straight silver and black plugs,put your weight 4 ft. above the lure,let out 100ft. of line,if using spinning reels,tying a small loop after walking off 100ft. on shore works fine.This should get you down 6 to 8 ft. Use light line and only a snap at the lure.When the sun sets,start trolling over the weeds. This works alot better with a "walleye chop" blowing across the weed flat.A good depth finder should show the weeds growing up from the bottom. Troll back and forth using S turns or pump your rods a foot and slowly let the rod back to original position,usually thats when they hit. another place this works great is Black bay,trolling up and down the bay,find the deeper weeds,less snags that way,Good Luck, roughrider