[FrankB]

I just read in a report that they found some large bait balls yesterday at Heidecke. I was planning on going up there tomorrow morning in search of some eyes and stripers. I've read in past reports that the bite turns off pretty good once the hatch hits. Is it worth it going out there?

[Reborn1105]

I would be out there but I'm sick be out there next week.

[Luv2fish2]

The question is how much fish did you catch before the hatch? If not many then there should be no difference. ;) For me catching nice size fish is hard for me, since I can not get under the bridge. Good Luck.

[RiverRat]

There are a lot of big fish caught on the southside, the same structure and bait. I think the bridge creates a "grass is greener" mentality. When the water is so high that only a few small boats can get under the bridge that is when the fishing on the northside is better because of less fishing pressure. Right now the northside is getting a majority of the pressure, there will be 30 boats on the water and 15 of them will be fishing around the island on the northside.

[FrankB]

I might just have to go out there then

[FrankB]

Does the hatch mainly happen on one side of the lake or on one side first and then move over?

[Gary Grunauer]

Frankb

I have fished H about 15 times this year with better than average luck, I primarily target crappie and to a lesser degree walleye. I have had about 10 limit days.....15 crappie per limit and many have been released. Today was not one of those limit days, actually it was my worst crappie day so far. Big schools of shad or bait fish were in many locations, but that does not mean to give up. I started to catch multi species when I trolled along the rocks and cast small cranks along the same. Action slowed by 9:00 am. little twister tails and road runners worked as well on smallies, walleye and those fabulous fighting sheephead. The crappie still managed to elude me today, they were not on the usual drop offs.
You have to ask yourself where else can you fish within your given time frame, and for me H is my best option, can't stand Braidwood and LaSalle.....too hot.

[FrankB]

Getnany, thank you for that post!
That's exactly what I needed to read. I will be out there tomorrow for sure!

[mops7]

Although I have never fished Heidecke after the hatch, my advice would be to find a bait that imitates an injured shad. If you find the bait balls, the predators will be close. The shad find safety in numbers so if you can mimic one that is injured or seperated from the "pack" then you should get a bite. Use a bait that is real erratic or a spinner and speed it up real fast, and then let it drop. Something that is different from the rest. Good Luck. Mops

[GETDANET1]

RB, hope you are feelin' better soon.

[wsj_outdoorsman]

mops7 wrote:

Although I have never fished Heidecke after the hatch, my advice would be to find a bait that imitates an injured shad.

You could just scoop up some of the drying shad and impale it on a slip bobber rig set just below the school's depth. A slit of the sides will get more scent in the water also, or step on it to smash it.

[raptor]

Probably the best bet after the hatch, is the brief feeding frenzy window when the stripers are "boiling" the surface.
Gorge, gorge, gorge themselves on shad.
Throw into the boil, bigger fish deeper under the action.

Don't know if this action (or any other for that matter) has occured this year.
Work, work, sleep, work work, sleep, mow the lawn, work, sleep, work, work, sleep, mow the lawn...

[JimL]

Hey Raptor!Thought you moved out of state or something

Quote:

Don't know if this action (or any other for that matter) has occured this year.

Nope,at least not for me.Just heat and rain.

[toothy pez]

i will let u guys know 24 hrs from now

[noctrl117]

That would explain that when my dad and I went out today and tried most of lake on both side, we only got (1) bite and we caught no fish.