| We're nowhere near the height of the open water | | | | crankbaits produce wipers, too, such as the Rattlin' |
| season, but I thought I would summarize what I know | | | | Rapala and classic floating or suspending Rapalas in |
| about wiper fishing. | | | | fairly short lengths that have a more vigorous action |
| Bait fishing: | | | | than longer Rapalas. I haven't tried jointed Rapalas, but I |
| Slip or egg-sinker rig, with 1-3' leader, baited with cut | | | | suspect they will work well also. |
| baits like carp, or shrimp, or live baits like crawlers or | | | | Experiment with colors and patterns, but I find that |
| minnows. Worm harnesses bounced on the bottom, or | | | | silver and blue Rat-L Traps work as well as any |
| pulled behind bottom bouncers from a boat also work | | | | crankbait. |
| on the bottom. Certain soft plastic jerkbaits are also | | | | Streamers - Fly fishing: |
| said to work, although I haven't tried them. | | | | Wipers are always hit or miss, so some people don't |
| Bobber fishing: | | | | like to expend the energy required to cast heavy |
| At the right time of year (Spring, early Summer, and | | | | streamers with heavy rods. Those that do are often |
| Fall), a 3" live shiner or sunfish suspended 4' below a | | | | rewarded by hungry wipers. I fish Lefty's Deceivers |
| large bobber can produce nice fish in areas where | | | | and Clouser Minnows tied on stainless steel hooks in |
| wipers come in to feed around dusk (along dams or | | | | sizes 2, 4, and 6. I like chartreuse and white, pink and |
| riprap, or on sandy bottom flats. | | | | white, blue and white, black and white, and brown and |
| Poppers: | | | | white. I keep switching until I find the right colors. You |
| Long-bodied poppers, like the Rapala Skitter Pop and | | | | can use #1, 2 or 3 fly leaders, if you want, but it's more |
| similar poppers can produce well in the early morning | | | | economical to just use 12 lb. test mono (about 7-10 ft.) |
| and around dusk, especially when shad are schooling | | | | because you don't need a tapered leader when you're |
| high in the water column. | | | | throwing heavy streamers. I have used floating, neutral, |
| Crankbaits: | | | | or sinking lines with success. |
| Trolling a Rat-L Trap 1/4 oz. can be deadly during the | | | | Wipers are hit and miss in most places, but when they |
| spring and well into summer, and during the fall. It also | | | | are on, you won't find a fish with more game. They |
| works to cast them into schools of shad when you | | | | produce nice fillets, too. |
| run into wipers pounding them at the surface. Other | | | | |