Crotch Lake Hints

[Rescue78]

Well my fellow hawk talkers, you've helped me before and I'm sure you can do it again.

I'm heading to Crotch Lake tomorrow and Friday as well as for a week, August 14-21.

Seems like one of our newest member, Justin Smith, will also be there from Pensyvania. I met him on the Tumble Home Lodge bulletin board and invited him to Fish-Hawk.

I've fished the lake a few time and hit the classic Colonel Island, Stormy point, the 3 sisters etc.... with so so luck. Caught smallies but have a hard time with the walleye.

Any pointers will be greatly appreciated. I'm sure Justin will appreciate too.

Thanks boys (and girls)

[Rescue78]

C'mon guys.

I'm sure someone can help!!!!

[Rideaufish]

I guess they all want to keep the crotch secrets to themself.

[fishhit]

Rescue,
Spent a week at crotch first week of july and the fish were hard to come by. Spotted tons of fish suspended over deep water, 30' deep in 60' of water, and trolled through them with everything in the box with little luck. Clouds of bait fish were marked on the sonar and I suspect the walleye are well fed. Tried the classic structure approach with little luck as well. The open water bite on this lake is a tough pattern to crack. try fishing the downwind areas of the lake when the wind is out of the west or south-west. If you get desparate try stillfishing a worm and sinker off the docks. I saw a guy pull in a 24" walleye on a blue and white snoopy rod and reel combo one evening. i didn't know wether to laugh or cry after spending 42 hours fishing my arse off out on the lake only to miss out on the dock monsters.

[roughrider]

I see the basin bite is still a tough bite . I've been to tumblehome 15 or so weeks the last 10 years . The last time the bite in the basin was tough because of massive bait spawn that spring .If you see Cliff the guide ,ask him if he's jigging or trolling,if its trolling,its a tough jig bite and visa versa. I talked to a fellow on another board who usually catches a couple hundred eyes in a week and only took 15 a couple weeks ago .First I would try worm harnesses with small silver blade on leadcore or snapweights over the basin till sundown ,2nd, I would move to downwide shoreline weeds and troll 5" silver Rapala floater with 1/8 oz. weight ahead of plug with 120ft back and pump the rod,hits usually come on the drop-back .I and another fellow used that pattern to save a tough week of fishing . You can also try the night bite trolling shallow weeds,look for 10 to 12 ft. depths with weeds about 5 ft.off the bottom.Oh,and the dock is a great place for kids to catch fish,smallies,pike and eyes.Good luck roughrider

[kds3299]

I was up a Tumblehome the second week of July, but didn't really fish Crotch Lake very much. I'm a bass fisherman and fished many of the surrounding lakes. Talking to Cliff, the guide there, the walleye bite has pretty much been off this year. Apparently some guys had some luck jigging on the backside of Corlnels Island - find the visible stump and go east to 20 fow. I had some luck at the entrance to the narrows. There is a moon shaped shoal in about 20-25 fow, to the east of that there is a little island. I was fishing between the island and shore in about 15 fow and landed some nice smallmouths and a 21 inch walleye carolina rigging a senko. The guys in my fishing party had some luck trolling worm harnesses in Big Black Bay, catching either skinny 13 inch or less walleyes and several slot size walleyes. Even though most people take in any walleye they catch at Crotch, as they claim they are the best eating, I dont let my buddies bring in walleyes unless they are right below the slot size (15" to 17 3/4) or of course above the slot.

[Rescue78]

Guys

Thanks for the tips. I'm just back from Crotch and fishing was tough. Caught a few small size smallies and a few pike.

I'll be back there for a week August 14-21. I'll be able to try your inputs.

Thanks again.