Merrill Creek

[jimmythegreek]

This time of year w water temps in the mid/high 40s they are 2 places. the top 20 ft of the water column and the bottom. lakers can and usually do hug the bottom just like if you were ice fishing. U either drop bait to marks on ur FF or just jig and bounce the bottom w a binsky, tube, jig/meat, etc. trolling is great for covering water and make a good spread w a few rods, one on the top, one 10ft down, one 15ft, one 20. look on youtube for lures and techniques, floating rapalas, spoons, hoochies, etc. all work up high. down deeper u wanna run dodger/flasher combos and pop gear like cowbells. The guys who do well deep either jig em up in between trolling (mark fish as u troll on bottom and go back to them to jig). If you have 2 downriggers set one at a safe depth and work the other literally hitting bottom once in a while or just above it, thats where the bigger lakers hang. Watch the weather, if its sayswind is 5-10 it will be 20 on MC or RV, as for MC make sure u are equipped for electric TM trolling, battery wise and motor wise