Adding to the angling toolbox

The last couple of weeks I’ve detailed techniques that shape the way I approach most days on the water. Power-corking and lead-core trolling are fantastic tools that I’ve added to my arsenal — both serve me well at specific times and places. I don’t power-cork every day, and lead-core trolling shines only under certain circumstances; a third technique I use almost every time I hit the water is casting reaction-style baits. Over the years, subtle approaches like Lindy rigging and vertical jigging have been almost completely replaced by power-fishing approaches, including casting baits to trigger bites.

Reaction-style baits are baits that are meant to be fished quickly and aggressively. The time of the year coupled with the depth of water I’m targeting will determine the baits I select.

In early spring into June, I’m usually casting shorelines and emerging weedbeds. I rely on three baits for triggering bites. Rapala Rippin Raps fall at the most aggressive end of the spectrum. I fish them either on a straight retrieve or, more often, yo-yo them back to the boat. I bomb the Rap parallel to emerging weeds, let it sink to the bottom, and quickly rip the bait off the bottom. Let it settle and repeat. Many times fish will “pin” the bait to the bottom, and when you sweep your rod up the fish will be hooked. A slightly more moderate approach is using the same action but throwing a heavy jig coupled with a paddle-tail plastic. The most subtle of three is the Rapala X-rap. This can be fished on a straight retrieve but does the most damage as a slash bait. The action imparted is twitch-twitch-pause. The bait is neutrally buoyant so on the pause it sits tantalizingly still in the fish’s strike zone.

As spring gives way to summer, the best power-fishing of the year begins. Targeting fish in 10-plus feet of water, it’s time to break out a collection of baits including Rapala Jigging Raps, Moonshine Shiver Minnows, and Northland Puppet Minnows. All three have slightly different actions but are interchangeable in my mind. I make medium- to long casts away from the boat — leaving my bail open as the bait descends to the bottom. Once it settles, I snap my rod tip from the 9 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position. I work these baits faster and more aggressively than any bait throughout the year. The goal is not to convince a fish to bite with subtle nuance, rather force a “reaction strike.” Reaction strikes are often violent as the rod feels like it may be ripped from your hands. The beauty of this style of fishing is that you can cover water from 10- to 40-plus feet just as easily. Additionally, it only gets better as early summer progresses to late fall.

As spring looks less like a mirage by the day, it’s time to prepare for the open water season. If you haven’t added a new fishing technique in years, perhaps this is the year? As I’ve discussed the last three weeks, I would suggest power-corking, lead-core trolling, or power-fishing reaction-style baits. As I look ahead, these three techniques will be an important part of almost every day I spend on the water. They have proven themselves productive additions to my angling toolbox.

Bret Baker is a lifetime resident of Cloquet. He is a proud husband, father, educator and outdoorsman. Bret began guiding fishing trips when he was 16 years old. Today, in his 40s, his passion is to introduce people to the tremendous outdoor adventures available in our region.