ND Live Fishing Reports

Fishing reports are updated every Friday and follow the ND Live radio program heard throughout North Dakota

Greg Schoneck

ND Fishing Challenge is just around the corner with the first tournament launching out of Hazelton May 8^th. This is not just another tournament. This is fishing for a cause. Money raised is going to ND Teen Challenge, an addiction center in Mandan. It is modeled after an event held in Minnesota last summer which was a huge success. Sponsored by Scheels and endorsed by top name pros including Al Linder, Ted Takasaki, Tommy Skarlis, and ND’s own Jonnie Candle.

It takes $100 to get entered and teams are requested to raise $500 in sponsorship dollars. The $100 stays in the pot for cash and prizes while the entire $500 goes directly to the charity. Can’t do the $500? Do what you can. Can’t even do that? Several donors have given sponsorships for teams to be able to fish by simply paying the $100 entry. Give me a call and I will hold your spot.  (701-720-0447) Details at www.ndfishingchallenge.com

You’re gonna lose a jig doing that

This started late last fall when the kids and I took a trip to the tailrace. Fishing was off and getting a bite was all work. We were anchored in the current with the usual out the back or side, and jigging back to the boat. No fish, not even a swing and a miss. My hard drive went into search function and out came this idea that maybe a little different presentation might trigger a strike. It did!

Fox Island in Bismarck is about as urban a boat ramp as I have ever fished. Even with the fantastic bite that has been going on there were only about 15 other trailers in the lot. Great ramp by the way, all pavement , complete with a cleaning station. We got the day going with a slow drift behind the first sand bar we came to. That was pretty much the pattern for the next 3 locations.

I get all tense and begin to second guess what I’m doing when other boats are putting in fish and I’m not. Several other boats have at least one fish and I’m still waiting for # 1. Spot # 4 before it finally comes together in a slack water area just a couple of miles south of the ramp.

Normally I drift with the current and pitch or vertical jig. It’s how I’ve fished for years and still do but I’m finding that a little different twist has been filling the livewell on tuff days. I hold the boat in the current with the electric. Making very short pitches upstream, 20 to 30 feet. I glue my eyes on the line and wait for touchdown. The second it lands I give a lift and 3 or 4 frantic cranks. Often I only get 3 or 4 lift-drops before I’m back to the boat. Fast fishing!

Maybe it’s the speed, maybe a more natural presentation but whatever it is, it works! Seems the speed triggers the strike. You won’t need a super sensitive feel but extremely fast reflex is essential. Strikes are hard and quick.  I vary my cast from directly upstream to just off center where the jigs slips downstream and passes the side of the boat. Once the jig is parallel to the boat I crank in for another cast.

This presentation is a lot of work and it requires constant focus. You make hundreds of short little casts but the reward is nothing short of astounding.  Does it work every time out? Not, but the last 4 trips out to the river it has put fish in the boat faster than all of my more traditional approaches. I suspect several savvy fishermen have been doing this for years but it’s brand new to me. Amazing, I’m going to call it Windows 7 and it was my idea!

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Remember fishing is a learned sport. More you practice the better you get, so better get fishing!

Greg Schoneck for ND Live