| We're nowhere near the height of the open water | | | | suspending Rapalas in fairly short lengths that have a |
| season, but I thought I would summarize what I know | | | | more vigorous action than longer Rapalas. I haven't |
| about wiper fishing.Bait fishing:Slip or egg-sinker rig, with | | | | tried jointed Rapalas, but I suspect they will work well |
| 1-3' leader, baited with cut baits like carp, or shrimp, or | | | | also. |
| live baits like crawlers or minnows. Worm harnesses | | | | Experiment with colors and patterns, but I find that |
| bounced on the bottom, or pulled behind bottom | | | | silver and blue Rat-L Traps work as well as any |
| bouncers from a boat also work on the bottom. | | | | crankbait.Streamers - Fly fishing:Wipers are always hit |
| Certain soft plastic jerkbaits are also said to work, | | | | or miss, so some people don't like to expend the |
| although I haven't tried them.Bobber fishing:At the right | | | | energy required to cast heavy streamers with heavy |
| time of year (Spring, early Summer, and Fall), a 3" live | | | | rods. Those that do are often rewarded by hungry |
| shiner or sunfish suspended 4' below a large bobber | | | | wipers. I fish Lefty's Deceivers and Clouser Minnows |
| can produce nice fish in areas where wipers come in | | | | tied on stainless steel hooks in sizes 2, 4, and 6. I like |
| to feed around dusk (along dams or riprap, or on | | | | chartreuse and white, pink and white, blue and white, |
| sandy bottom flats.Poppers:Long-bodied poppers, like | | | | black and white, and brown and white. I keep switching |
| the Rapala Skitter Pop and similar poppers can | | | | until I find the right colors. You can use #1, 2 or 3 fly |
| produce well in the early morning and around dusk, | | | | leaders, if you want, but it's more economical to just |
| especially when shad are schooling high in the water | | | | use 12 lb. test mono (about 7-10 ft.) because you don't |
| column.Crankbaits:Trolling a Rat-L Trap 1/4 oz. can be | | | | need a tapered leader when you're throwing heavy |
| deadly during the spring and well into summer, and | | | | streamers. I have used floating, neutral, or sinking lines |
| during the fall. It also works to cast them into schools | | | | with success.Wipers are hit and miss in most places, |
| of shad when you run into wipers pounding them at | | | | but when they are on, you won't find a fish with more |
| the surface. Other crankbaits produce wipers, too, | | | | game. They produce nice fillets, too. |
| such as the Rattlin' Rapala and classic floating or | | | | |