Rog's Rod & Nimrod

As an avid South Dakota hunter/fisherman, I have two favorite times of the year. One is the second week of November when the rifle deer season rolls around and pheasant season picks up as the crops are usually out of the fields. My other favorite time is when the fishing I enjoy most really kicks into high gear at what I call “lilac time” or that time of the year when lilacs go into full bloom. I can’t predict that exact date, but it is usually around the 1st of May. Right now we are on the threshold of “lilac time,” and I’m as excited as I’ll ever be.

For me, fishing “lilac time” offers two distinct options, and I often find myself torn between choices. One of the things that make both so attractive is that a boat isn’t necessary. The bank is actually the more productive choice.

Let’s first talk about the walleyes. For gear, a spinning rod with six-pound test line is a good choice. Now tie a 1/8TH ounce or ¼ ounce jig directly to your line. No swivel, no leader. Conditions will dictate jig weight. I like chartreuse in color. Hook a minnow right through the head onto the jig. Be fussy with minnow selection. A silvery minnow works far better than a black minnow.

Lake Francis Case is loaded with good places to bank fish. Look for structure where shallow water near the bank drops off to deeper water. The fish like to cruise this ledge. Time of day is all important, and the forty minutes on either side of sunrise and sunset are optimal. The walleyes come into this structure from deeper water to feed as it gets dark. Cast the jig, let it drop to the bottom, and slowly jig it back on your retrieve. At times, the walleye will pick it up as it falls, and you’ll hook him/her on you first jig.

Granted, this fishing is time specific, and pulling bottom-bouncers behind a boat is something that can be effective all day. Trolling bottom-bouncers is good right now, and will be for some time. Jig fishing from the bank has a bonus. You’ll pick up some smallmouth bass and white bass while catching walleyes.

With my bad legs and peripheral neuropathy balance problems, I can no longer climb down banks or navigate rocky shorelines. I take my boat to where I want to fish and pull it up on the bank.

My second “lilac time” passion is largemouth bass, and I mean large largemouth bass. Once again we are going to tie our lure directly to the end of our line. Eight-pound test line is a good choice, but I’ve landed many hog bass on six-pound test. The big females prefer to spawn in warm, shallow water. The typical stock dam has a “crick” end somewhere opposite the dam. You’ll find the big gals in this crick. Step softly and keep a low profile.

These bass don’t need to be hungry to strike. They have an attitude about keeping most anything that moves away from their nests. I especially like floating Rapalas. Cast the Rap, let it sit until the water rings are gone, and give it a twitch. Don’t let line in front of the lure “break” the water! Another good choice are neutral buoyancy plastic worms. Use the same technique.

Largemouth bass fillets are not as good tasting as walleye, smallmouth, and white bass fillets, and I release the big females I’m talking about. Remove the red meat from the white bass fillets as they are every bit as good as walleye. I’ll generally keep two eatin’ walleyes and release the rest. I suggest you do the same as our walleyes need more protection.

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The new rifle deer season format with two choices is excellent as it is the product of many good minds working together. I especially like the resemblance to the former system in that when we make our 1st and 2nd choices in the first round, we can make a second choice within the unit. This second choice is often “any whitetail deer” after making “any deer” our first choice.

It’s too bad Congress can’t work together the way SD sportsmen and SDGF&P worked together on this deer thing. The hatred directed at our president is despicable. Think about this. How long would President Obama have lasted if that same animosity had been directed at him? If you believe he didn’t make impeachable mistakes, say “hello” to the Easter Bunny for me.

See you next week.