Guide Wendell Wilson said when fishing for multiple species in February, there’s no need to get out early. The mid-day is just as good because the fish are so deep.
“That’s why the striper fishing early and this type of fishing later in the day works so well as a combination of fishing styles,” Wilson said. “It’s the best time for both.
“I typically use light spinning tackle with 6-pound line and a No. 4 gold Eagle Claw wire hook,” he said. “I put a bass casting sinker on the bottom, and the hook is on a leader about 18 inches above. I drop it to the bottom with a shiner minnow and get ready to hook fish.
“On a good day we’ll catch 60 to 70 keeper fish, and an average day yields 30 to 40 keepers, very good for the coldest time of the year. We’ll usually catch some channel catfish as well on any given winter day. If I’m fishing real deep water, such as 60 to 70 feet, I often use a 20-pound test braid because of reduced line stretch and better sensitivity.
“I simply put a barrel swivel and then a 3-foot leader of fluorocarbon line with the same hook, sinker and leader arrangement. Plus this rig does give my clients an advantage when we hook the occasional striper fishing with the small minnows.”
Wilson said the distinct possibility of catching big stripers, then switching patterns and catching several slab crappie, yellow perch, white perch, spotted bass, largemouth bass and catfish make this kind of fishing a true Lake Russell smorgasbord.
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