Water temp means a lot.
Wading from shore or on shore can be done.
Having fun is all that matters- fish or no fish
Here's been my five year success story:
1. Find lake
2. Check for ice- no ice wait one week
3. Fish gravel bars with jigs/rapalas
4. Catch fish or no fish- be happy

Words to live by!

ORIGINAL: woodenbobber

Water temp means a lot.
Wading from shore or on shore can be done.
Having fun is all that matters- fish or no fish
Here's been my five year success story:
1. Find lake
2. Check for ice- no ice wait one week
3. Fish gravel bars with jigs/rapalas
4. Catch fish or no fish- be happy

I can't understand the need to stand hip deep in cold water when you guys say you catch them right next to shore in 2 ft' of water!!WTF

Gotta say another bonus to breaking out the waders and taking a walk is all of the free tackle. Usually I peruse the shoreline on my way back to the vehicle, and tend to find quite a bit. Must have found $100 worth of crankbaits and the like last year alone. Throw on some new treble hooks and good to go. I've never bought a hot & tot in my life, but now have 2 dozen or better .

ORIGINAL: Litl Dude

I can't understand the need to stand hip deep in cold water when you guys say you catch them right next to shore in 2 ft' of water!!WTF

Isn't that what I just said?

bigbob would be more than happy to let you tag along anytime i am out you can even show your friends or envite them along plenty of fish in lake always happy to help a fellow mupere

ORIGINAL: bigbob

i can not believe i have never tryed wading pyma. i live in pittsburgh, but have had a cabin at pymatuning for 16 years lol. THIS is the year. so if anyone is willing to let me tag along, i would really appreciate it. i pretty much catch and release........and no need to worry about me spot burning to friends etc. cause pretty much my fishing partner is my 72 year old father, who has NOOOO wish to do this. thanks in advance, for at least considering this.

and all along i thought i was your fishin buddy go figure lol got the neoprenes ready
GOD BLESS MO

Wading at night sometimes it's a bust and sometimes it's a blast............

LOL, Crappie Slayer, I believe I may have lost a dozen of those Hot n Tots over the last year. Tightlines. Ron

ORIGINAL: CRAPPIE_SLAYER

Gotta say another bonus to breaking out the waders and taking a walk is all of the free tackle. Usually I peruse the shoreline on my way back to the vehicle, and tend to find quite a bit. Must have found $100 worth of crankbaits and the like last year alone. Throw on some new treble hooks and good to go. I've never bought a hot & tot in my life, but now have 2 dozen or better .

Nobody that I have talked to yet. I have been out a few times now and haven't even had a hit. I'll be out tomorrow all day. Going to check a bunch of spots and see if I can find anything yet. I'm going to hit the spillway for a little, the causeway and end the day with some waist deep cold water wading to see if I can pick something up. Then I'll be back out Wednesday trying it again depending on how bad it's raining. Was thinking of taking the boat out tomorrow but with 20-30mph winds I'm just going to stay on shore for now. I'm thinking 3 more weeks before anything really starts, but I need to wet a line so I'll be out. I'll let you guys know how it goes when I get done tomorrow night. These gas prices are getting rediculous for making a trip for nothing so I would rather see you guys traveling catch a few rather than just handing over money to the oil companies for nothing.

Well hit the spillway for a few hours and then the causeway. Absolutely nothing. Spillway had 2 guys jigging, 1 guy utilizing the 3 rod rule with minnows and me jigging and a minnow and only thing caught was about a 6" perch and a shad.

Threw minnies and jigs along causeway while having a Minnie sit under a bobber and not even a hit. As long as we don't get the wind they're calling for I'll be out his evening trying a few other spots with the waders. I'll let ya all know how that goes tonight. Water is still real cold so it's probably 2 weeks early still but I'll keep trying every few days so I can keep yinz updated on when they start moving.

I just use a regular old net...stuck in the back of my vest when walking.
Usually hang it on the shore brush behind me when I'm fishing & back to it with fish-on.
Beaching 'eyes isn't going to turn out well most times...nor will just trying to reach down & grab them.
A net comes in handy for sure.

edit ~ just saw cf's reply...different strokes.

I use a big fly fishing trout net. I got it for steelhead fishing but it makes a perfect net for wading also. It clips on with a retractable wire. I never have to go back to shore till I move spots or I'm done for the day/night.

Trout net, if it's to big I'll beach it.

fished a northern bay that i usually fish after a normal ice out , didnt have any luck sun or mon. water really low half the bay was a mud flat