If you are an avid angler, you probably have heard the phrase "Match the hatch". Although mostly used by Fly Fisherman, this concept holds true for all forms of fishing. Knowing what your target species of fish are eating is crucial to having a good day on the water. Ever wonder why a certain color works in one lake but not the lake across the road? It is probably due to the forage base in the lake that doesn't exist in the other. Rick Clunn and other Elite Series bass pros, will often talk about the importance of understanding what the bait fish or crayfish in a given waterway are doing or will do. Most anglers don't have this knowledge however.

The problem is somewhat compounded for northern anglers. Most every Bass fishing magazine you pick up to learn a new technique or presentation will refer to Shad and impoundments / reservoirs. Although the Mississippi River does have some Gizzard Shad in it, most all northern lakes do not. The reason is that shad can not handle the cold winter temperatures we experience in the north. The Bass and other game fish still do ok though by preying on other bait fish that live in our northern waters.

Do you know  what bait fish live in your favorite lake? Do you know how big they get, when they spawn, where they prefer to live and what they look like? That is going to be the focus of series of post I will be doing over the coming weeks. Each post will focus on a species of bait or forage fish. You wont be reading anything about shad or bream (what those silly southerners call gills) but you will be able to read about a few species you may never have known were on the menu of your favorite game fish. Make sure you subscribe to the blog so you don't miss a single species.

First up will be the Rainbow Smelt. Stay Tuned!!

Custom Search