Fisherman slay smallmouths, walleyes, panfish

Anglers must travel to catch a diversity

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

Odds are an angler will have luck catching walleye, smallmouth or panfish, however, these fish are all hitting heavy in different places.

“Clear Lake has been just fantastic, I guess,” Tim Eppley, owner of Tim’s Bait & Tackle said. “They’re doing really well on bluegills and crappies.”

Some of Eppley’s patrons reported finding success despite leaving the boat at home.

“They’re just fishing from shore,” he said. “They have a boat but they haven’t taken it over yet because it’s been so good.”

According to Nub, owner of Nub’s Bait, Tackle & More, smallmouths are spawning, making them eager to attach any bit of bait dangled in front of them.

“(In) Carville they’re knocking the heck out of smallies,” Nub said. “Good sized ones too.”

A younger angler pedaled over to Nub’s store looking for more bait.

“I looked out and he had a smallmouth on a stringer on his handlebars,” Nub said.

Not wanting to feel left out, the walleye have been attacking minnows with reckless abandon.

“Walleyes are really biting down by me,” Randy Wiltse, owner of Rapids End Outfitters, said. “They’re just railing them, kind of in the whitewater course.”

Those fishing for walleye near the Charles City whitewater course are catching them nearly as fast as they can reel them, Wiltse said.

Tim’s Bait & Tackle is located on F Street in Charles City.

Nub’s Bait, Tackle & More can be found in Nashua.

Rapids End Outfitters is located on Saint Mary Street in Charles City.