I definitely need to do more crawler harness fishing. I spent a summer or two doing it with very little success. Mostly catfish, perch and gills. I did get a few nice eyes in the mix, but like one eye to 4-5 other fish and maybe one fish per hour of pulling around. This was years ago, so I’d like to pretend that I have figured a few other things out since then. I have definitely figured out the wipers, where I can usually get 1-2 during the day at almost any time of the year. Which took me a while to do. The late night bite is great, but I just can’t stay awake like I used to.

I use a light weight slow action rod when panfishing too. Gives some bend and still fun. But those wipers seem to spoil when it comes to fighting. Make most other fish feel like a wet rag. Hooking a slab crappie is mostly exciting from the time you see it and “I better land this thing”!!!

Crawler Harness can be fun to tie up during the winter. Single gold blade and some beads all you need on 20lb fluro. Course can go hog wild and tie all sorts of color combos. 
 
Talked to a couple guys one day at the ramp, and they were big wiper fisherman. Seemed like they kept it simple with 2 or 3 oz egg sinker and circle hook, dragging bottom with shiners and chubs. 

2-3oz, that is pretty heavy. I usually go 1/8oz., just enough to tick the bottom. Sometimes no weight. Just depends where I’m marking them. Maybe 1 oz if trying to stay vertical in deep water.

Porktown
2-3oz, that is pretty heavy. I usually go 1/8oz., just enough to tick the bottom. Sometimes no weight. Just depends where I’m marking them. Maybe 1 oz if trying to stay vertical in deep water.

They might have been heavy that day with wind...was couple years back. But I agree on using just enough to get you down where you need to be. 

My guess is they were trying to keep vertical, sort of down rigger approach. Know how deep you want and controlled depth. Wipers don’t seem to be boat shy. Have caught plenty directly below the boat. I hear you on the wind. Call for 10mph gusts and ends up 20mph sustained from opposite direction it was blowing 1/2 hour earlier. Usually makes the shift right as I set up for that perfect angled drift. Terrova has helped that out immensely!

I have a 45lb front trolling motor on my 16ft'er and its way too small when some wind picks up. I m gonna have to try for a wiper in 2025....usually just target crappie and green and sometimes brown bass on that lake. Dont fish it alot, but think I can manage least one. 

Best fishing investment that I have made is Advanced GPS trolling motor. Went way too long under powered and either hand or foot pedal controls. Foot pedals are excellent for working shorelines. Hand is nice to control you to a fixed location that you know. Throw in wind and both kind of blow. If in the budget, adding that bit more for the newer technology is worth it. A few nice features not on I-pilot. Just makes things so much more enjoyable on the water. Still going to fight the wind a bit, technology isn’t 100%, but beats the heck out of not having!

Anyone have ice conditions on Porktown Lake. Since we are renaming waterways and all. If I am first to announce, should mean something???

1.75"- 2" as of yesterday according to the group on FB

I bet there are guys out there on that already….
Long term forecast looks good for ice. Hopefully guys can hold off long enough for it to be safe.