Even Anglers. Boat traffic may affect fishing, and knowing the best times and tactics to beat the traffic is key to better success. Simoson Photo.
By Nick Simonson
When I used to commute, I was fortunate to have a job that started and ended at earlier hours, which worked well for an early riser like me and made traffic all the lighter outside of normal rush hours. Then, when I walked to work at my next place of employment, the concern of dodging other cars only came in the crosswalk at the one stoplight between our house and the office. Since going remote in 2017, traffic has been the least of my concerns. That is, of course, except on the water.
Our lakes and rivers provide wonderful places for people to escape the daily grind, whether that’s through fishing, boating, or other recreational watercrafting. In the past few years, it has become more and more apparent how important waters are to our way of life and how they benefit our mental health. There’s an undefinable healing power of simply being afloat that helps restore a person’s psyche and melt the compounded stress of the week away with a weekend spent at the lake. And that’s a treatment which no one should be denied.
However, with that draw to the water comes increased traffic of others using it, and for anglers, often a disruption of their efforts to connect with their quarry and find their own sense of peace in that process. But there are ways to improve the odds to find the best success when angling on those high traffic lakes. By picking the best times, finding out-of-the-way spots and switching up tactics to adjust to the activity level, success can still be had.
Time It Right
Dawn and dusk often provide the best angling, especially for fish that love low-light conditions like walleyes and crappies. These times are also low-traffic hours on the water as well, especially early in the morning. Make it a point to get up a bit earlier and on the water, as night often allows the buzz of the day before to die down, and gives the fish a chance to reset and reacclimate to the quieter setting. Dusk may be a bit busier, with sunset pontoon cruises being a favorite pastime on many lakes, so consider that element of evening traffic when heading out, but generally things should be quieter at sundown as well.
New Locations
Seeking out productive places on a lake that are away from main shorelines and high-traffic areas will also result in better fishing, especially if the daylight hours are all you have. Look for back bays, central bars and reefs, and other areas of structure that are away from areas where wakeboarders and jet skis are zipping around. Make a note of them for those times you just have to get out there, and focus your efforts on places where wakes are minimal. Additionally, if you’re not confined to just one lake, consider fishing smaller waters where there is less traffic during the day, or even those places where motors aren’t allowed.
Adjust Your Tactics
Finally, in those high-pressure places where boat traffic is constant, it’ll be necessary to switch things up to connect with fish. Utilizing live bait rigs, thinner line, smaller lures and specialty line such as fluorocarbon will help present a better offering in a place where fish are already spooked by the goings-on up above. Slow things down as needed and make adjustments to the moods of the fish and just how busy things are in the water around you.
We all share the water – pontoons, jet skis, wake boats, paddlers, and yes, even anglers – and each of us find what we need in terms of recreation and affirmation of life and the things we enjoy in our own ways. While noting that each of us may be out there for a different reason, anglers can still find ways amidst and around the traffic to catch fish with a few simple tweaks to their weekend plans…in our outdoors.