Thumping... Fish Come To You

 Fish calls that go "thump" (Secret #6)

This one sounds a bit weird, but I know that many people swear by homemade “thumpers.” They often laud their success with these devices, but I haven't seen many make a true comparison test with them.
I do recall that Buck Perry also wrote of “thumping” the boat, or making noise, so the fish knew something unusual was happening in the area... and supposedly this put them into an active mood. Considering that particular source, I'm inclined to think there's something to it. Then I found this tip from Paul Johnson, who was Berkley’s director of research and development  for nineteen years.
It was featured in his 1984 book, “The Scientific Angler.”

✅ "This secret is one I discovered quite by accident, while my son and I were out recovering lost lures for fishermen on a popular reef. Huge boulders in the reef area made it a perfect holding area for a variety of species, but it was also difficult to fish without getting hung up.

✅ On one particular day the lake was calm. As we swam around a boulder, we spotted a yellow object that revealed itself to be a cut-off mushroom anchor. At first it looked much bigger than it really was, but then everything looks one-third larger underwater. The anchor must have weighed a full ten pounds, and the dive boat seemed a hundred miles away.

✅ We started back with our treasure, which grew heavier as we moved along. Finally, all I could do was pick it up, swim a few kicks, then drop it back to the bottom. After about the fourth thump we noticed that we were being surrounded by fish, whereas up until then we had seen nothing.

✅ Bass, walleyes, and even a muskie came flashing across to see who was making all the commotion. Whenever the fish left I thumped again, and again they returned.

✅ Remembering this tidbit, I tried the same tactic the next time my son and I were out fishing. The action was slow, so I reached over and grabbed the anchor line, then thumped the mushroom anchor on the bottom, fifteen feet below the boat. Within minutes we had our first fish. 

✅ About every fifteen minutes thereafter I repeated the thumping. This trick seems to work best when you give just a few thumps, spaced a half minute apart rather than in a steady tom-tom beat.

“The Scientific Angler.” Paul Johnson, 1984

Illustrator, SCOTT ZOELLICK

Make A Map

By request, I tracked down the marked map for Lake Koshkonong. It was marked by Tom Rawski and appeared in a 1965 issue of Fishing News. The writeup stated, “This guy catches fish. And he is one of the very few who will take the time to write up his secrets.”

Here is an edited version of some of his comments on fishing the lake:

✅ Lake Koshkonong offers exceptionally good fishing for northerns, crappies, walleyes, perch, and catfish. But Koshkonong is generally accepted as one of the finest lakes for white bass in the state of Wisconsin.

✅ White bass fishing is at its best in the late afternoon and through the night. We have had great success trolling Spoonplugs right next to the shore. The best way to locate stripers (white bass) is to troll. This is especially true in the river. Work one side of the shore, then the other until you hit the main channel.

✅ We have had good success using a 3 way swivel and the No. 500 (tiny) Spoonplug trolled right off bottom. (River rig)

✅ Another hint that may come in handy here or elsewhere: Sometimes you may have anchored in deep water in the river. Boats around you may be getting fish and you are not. Usually the trouble is that you are in water that is too swift. If this happens, then move so you can fish the EDGE of the sluice.

✅ The lake itself is very shallow, maximum depth 6-8 feet. There are a few deeper areas where the Rock River flows in and out. Because of the river it is an excellent lake.

✅ Koshkonong is an ideal lake for Spoonplugging (casting the Spoonplug) because much of the bottom is sand or gravel. We find Brass, Red and White, and Silver Spoonplugs best. Jigs, French Spinners, and Streamer Flies (Silver Minnows, Mylars) are excellent, too.

✅ This lake is big, nine miles; it gets rough so watch out. Most anglers fish the lee shore or, if too windy, they go into the river.

Could you do the same for your lake?