The Fishing is Getting Better Every Day

Hello Fishermen.  Spring sprang nicely last week.  I was out on the boat most days last week and was shocked to find, after the cold spell, that lake temps had really taken a beating around Otter Tail Lakes Country.  The panfish had pulled out of shallows, retreating back to late-winter waters and into mid-bay zones.  Things changed quickly in the shallows this week, however.  We had some great penetrating heat from both the sun and the warm air.  The shallows responded.  Water temps climbed from the low and mid 40’s into the low 50’s by Sunday afternoon.  These were the temps in bays.  Main lake temps were still much cooler, but as springtime pan fishermen, we don’t need to be too concerned with main-lake temps—only the warmest water.  And that’s where you should fish.  If you’re going to make trip out on the lakes and Otter Tail County, this week, take a look at the county map.  Your interest should lie in the lakes that are shallow, small, and ones that have bays.  Large-class lakes with bays are nice to search out too—the panfish can really concentrate nicely in bays adjacent to the main lake.  While small lakes warm quickly on sunny days, panfish may respond to warm shorelines as well as bays and creek inlets.  It may take more effort to find good concentrations, because they might try to occupy several different lake zones.  As anglers, first-spring panfish can be tricky, especially on lakes where the water’s clear.  And, that’s where a lot of the early fish are at right now.  You must approach them slowly—as they can see you.  They spook when the bobbers hit the water so you’ll have to try and cast beyond them and/or use bobbers that are slight and light so they don’t scare them easily.  I tried some cast-and-retreiving the last time I was out and it was difficult to find the perfect lure.  For good/accurate casting I was trying 1/32 oz jigs with hair tipped with  Gulp bodies.  They fell too fast in such shallow water.  I tried 1/64 oz jigs, but they are very difficult to cast without the wight of a bobber, so having nice limp line and a longer rod really helps casting the light jigs.  They did work, but the fish still seemed more interested in bobbers and shallow set flies w/Gulp.  The fishing gets better everyday right now.  Once shallow bays and shorelines warm a couple more degrees, the process will loosen up quite a bit and the fishing gets easier.  Good luck in Otter Tail County this week, it’s getting exciting!

By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service