I live 20 miles south of Eloika, so I spend considerable time on the lake, spring, summer, and fall (right up until it ices over). Most people find Eloika too challenging due to the heavy weed cover. But I have learned a few techniques that produce an abundance of bass between 2-6 pounds, and some of the largest crappie in the State. The key is to stop looking at the weed cover as impenetrable; instead, use your fish finder to find distinct weed lines adjacent to pockets of open water. In the spring, I catch great numbers of crappie in 12 feet of water, along sharp weed lines. I slow swim a two-inch jig along those weeds, fishing as deeply as possible. This technique works quite well until the spawn, when the crappie scatter throughout the lake. The bass are another matter, and I won't disclose my secret. But suffice it to say, they readily hit certain presentations throughout the year. I hardly ever fish the shallows, since most large fish inhabit the deeper water. Find those sharp weed lines, and you will find fish. By the way, the perch can be quite large, and will inhabit the same structure.

Last year, in the late fall, I caught over 30 bass, between 3-6 pounds, when the surface temp was less than 45 degrees. I was happily surprised - not expecting that kind of success. I release nearly everything I catch, relying on smaller bass and perch for table fare. Fish over 17" aren't that great to eat, and of course, we all know that we can't keep any bass between 12-17 inches anyway.

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