I have always had luck with leeches. Whether I float them under a bobber with a flu-flu type jig or work them slowly with a floater or spinner. I rarely ever catch an opener fish in deeper than 20'. Most come inside of 14' and many in 6-8'. What do you guys do and what do you like to use?
Leeches here too. Usually on a bottom bouncer or plain colored hook with sinker. Each year, one will do better then the other. What is wierd on the lake I usually fish is that it seems for the rest of the year, the one that works best on opener is the one to use for the season - color - size and hook/jighead.
Leeches for me too. Usually fish a river in about 10 feet along a channel. Always had good luck. Orange jigheads bouncing down the current seem to work best.
Best for me has been a minnow , hook, and split shot. One little trick is to put a bead (like the ones used for a slip bobber stop) about 6 inches in front of the minnow on the line. Causes a little more visibility and that "catching the prey" reflex. Has seemed to make a difference if water was still very cold or had post cold front conditions.
Shallow water flats. Every year I watch boat after boat fish deep water and I catch them in 5-8 feet on the flats. You have to remember they are coming off the spawn and will stay in the flats for a week or two before moving out to deeper water. Slow moving baits, small minnows and leaches on floating hooks.
