They typically appear silver, brown, or green in colour with dark vertical stripes around the tail-end of their bodies, which sometimes break up into spots. Their large size and shocking power make them an ideal target for anglers seeking a trophy fish, though, they are easily one of the most frustrating fish to attempt to catch and are frequently referred to as ‘the fish of ten thousand casts.’

They will use a shallow area for spawning, which ideally will be well covered with vegetation, but they’ll monitor both areas in search of food, as the temperature and conditions dictate. In the Spring, their metabolism is often slower, so they’ll feed on smaller bait, while in the Fall, they’ll focus on larger prey in order to prepare for the Winter.

This technique refers to letting out a set amount of line from the reel to get the lure down to a chosen depth and pulling it behind a boat that is traveling at a slow speed so that the lure is continuously displaying the desired action.

The idea is to cover as much water as possible while your lure moves in a swimming action, mimicking the movements of real prey. It’s a technique that is highly influenced by the gear you use, so you’ll want to make sure you have the correct equipment for best results. Slowly pull a wobbling crankbait just below the surface of the water (you should see a subtle wake forming). Make sure you wait for the tug of a bite so you don’t risk jerking the lure away too quickly and losing your catch. When trolling, it is best to use a motor that enables your boat to go slow enough to target the fish you’re after.

With this technique, it’s as simple as allowing your jig to reach the bottom or mid-water column (wherever the fish are holding), and then moving the jig up and down at varying speeds and motions, working the water column.

With a jigging technique, it’s important to have a strong rod with a quick tip, especially if you plan on reeling in larger fish. Most anglers recommend low-stretch line such as braid or fluorocarbon for maximum sensitivity and hook-setting abilities.