How to Fish Like Bob

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Bob and his three buddies stayed with us at Two Moon last week. It was their first time here, and their first time on Lake Kipawa. It took them a few days to figure out things, but, after a while, they found the magic pattern, caught fish and had a great time. I think we can all learn something from their success, so let me introduce you to Bob.

How to be like Bob:

1. Have realistic expectations. The internet is great for information, but too often it is the source of misinformation. Fishing forum members like to brag about the hundreds of walleye they catch or outfitter marketing materials create an impression that you’ll catch these massive fish, every cast. Bob doesn’t measure his success against those claims. Bob measures success if he and his pals are having fun.

2. Seek advice from experts. This usually means your outfitter or other guests at the camp. Ask questions, have them mark up your map, talk fishing, show them your tackle box and get recommendations of what to use and what not to use. Any outfitter worth their weight in walleye will spend time helping out their client, so listen to the advice they give.

3. Try new techniques. Lake Kipawa definitely has a learning curve to it. The clear water mean that walleye patterns are different than they are on tannin-stained lakes, or warm weedy lakes. We are not permitted to use live minnows on Kipawa, and that alone means learning different approaches. That might mean using tiny jigs, or drop shotting, or slip bobbers, or plain baited hook with light line. It might mean trying deeper, or shallower that you are used to. It might mean putting away those massive bass baits and going light.

4. Spend time on the water. Too often I hear from guests that they are disappointed with the fishing, yet they spend 2 hours on the water in a day, from 11 AM until 1 PM. Get out there early, especially this time of the year.

5. Be happy about live releasing fish. Bob knows that catch and release fishing is what sustains the exceptional fishery here. He doesn’t whine about having to put back a 24 inch walleye, rather, feels better about doing it.

6. Bob eats bass. Hot, sunny afternoons are not typically great walleye conditions, so Bob goes after bass. He and his buddies have a blast catching these feisty smallmouth and they keep some for dinner. Taken out of the cool Kipawa water, these bass are a great table fish. Bob is not a walleye snob.

7. 3 or 4 days just isn’t enough. Sure, you might like out on a weekend getaway and hit the perfect fishing conditions, but then again, you might not. So to expect that you might roll in here and limit out regardless of the weather conditions is just to realistic, regardless of how. Walleye are finicky feeders, so increase your odds by increasing your stay.

8. Know that it is called fishing, not catching. The fun is in the hunt.

I would include a picture of Bob and his buddies, but, you see, he is not a real person. Bob is a composite of a lot of the guests we get here at Two Moon. Think of Bob as the ideal fisherman or woman,  the one who enjoys their stay here, catches some fish, helps conserve the lake, and respects the environment, the laws and other guests. Think of Bob as the ultimate sportsman, the who we all aspire to be.