We're finally frozen out here in NJ. Time for some winter projects. I've ordered all of my goop for a number of projects, but I've got one I could use some help with from this board.
We fish in Ontario every year in late June. At that time, there is a section of water that is probably 700-800 yards long that has emerging spatterdock. (some on the surface and some below) These are like tiny lily pads that are very fragile and break off easily. When your lure hits them, they break off and and stay attached to your hooks, snap, leader, etc. There is some emerging cabbage and there are are plenty of Muskies in there at that time of the year.
Spinnerbaits, topwaters and the like get bogged down pretty quickly in the stuff. I've tried magnum Toads with weedless hooks rigged texas style as well. The only thing we've had consistent success on was small poppers. Cast to an open pocket, pop it and sit, pop, pop and sit. If the fish are within 6-8 feet, they will charge over and grab it. The only problem is you are only covering a small section of the water, you can't cast deep into the cover and the poppers are poor hooking lures.
I need a lure that can go through this stuff with rigging that wont get snagged on the spatterdock. I speculate that if I could make a long cast back into that stuff and reel it back with a minimum debris, I may be in Muskie heaven. I was thinking about a tube shape lure with all attachments and single treble baked inside the tube.
What do you guys think? Anybody ever fish this stuff and what do you use? I'm open to design ideas for a lure as well. I have until June to complete it!!
Steve