Thursday, August 18, 2011

8/18/11 Trollin' 'Em Up

I got out for about four hours this week with some family in town, they wanted to catch some Walleyes. We did best pulling Minnow Raps behind planer boards over deep humps. I tried tail dancers, shad raps, dt-20's and minnow raps behind the boat but every fish came on a minnow rap behind board about 8' down. I marked fish from 4' down to 30' and even pulled some leadcore but 8'-10' down got the bites. We ended up with four keepers, four overs (the biggest being 27") and one bonus Muskie in four hours of fishing.

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Sunday, July 10, 2011

Pressure, Weather and Muskies

Most avid Muskie hunters are tuned into solunar calenders, weather reports and fish dawn and dusk to maximize their time on the water. I have noticed a few unusual wrinkles to these patterns that have helped me out the last few years.

First off the weather thing. Most people know that fishing ahead of a front or with a dropping barometer can lead to feeding fish. However, with the ever increasing fishing pressure that has occured in the past 5-10 years, fish adapt too. I find Muskies feeding later and later in these situations after most have hung up their sticks. Fishing right in the middle of or the day after a front can be huge. Give it a try!


This fish was caught by my brother Jeff out of a gin-clear lake the morning after a storm rolled through. We got this fish to follow the day before, right as the front approached but couldn't get it to bite.                                                                    
 
Finaly, the fishing pressure thing. It's just a fact for most Muskie hunters that they will have to fish evenings or weekends but changing up the time of day can be a great idea too. On some boddies of water, dawn and dusk or at night can be the only real time to score but it pays to experiment. Early to mid morning or even at high noon can be great if most anglers are hitting the water for the evening bite. No, it's not rocket science but paying attention to these little details can put a few in your boat and on your camera.                                                                                                                             

Cheers and Hooksets!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

7/2/11 Transition Fishin'

We finally got some stable weather this week but there is a lot going on with rising water temps, a large Mayfly hatch and many fish gorging themselves on molting crayfish, the fish proved tough to pattern. Extra boat traffic adds to the fun with most people doing just fair for Walleyes. I've managed a few fish at every spot but nothing fantastic as far as numbers. I like to stick with my mixed bag approach for bigger 'eyes, Pike and Muskies until the 'skis really get chewing, which should be any time now.

Here is a baby 'ski and our best Walleye from Sat.

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Posted on: 2011/7/4 9:15
 

Sunday, June 12, 2011

6/12/11 Weed Walleyes

I'm managing a few now using my favorite summer pattern, rippin' minnow baits through cabbage weeds. I even managed this skinny 31-1/2" on a Bomber Long A in six f.o.w. yesterday.

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Friday, May 20, 2011

5/20/11 Report

I finally got out again for a couple of hours this morning and yes the fish seemed to be scattered. I did manage four slot fish, four eaters, three jumbos and three Pike. Best 'eye was 25". With weather and wind movin' in for the weekend I'm sure there will be a lot of fish caught.

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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Opener 2011

I took my dad out for four hours on Sat. morning in the wind and cold and we only managed five fish but with three fish between 24" and 26" we weren't complaining.





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Friday, May 6, 2011

5/6/11 First catch of the year

Went after some Crappies today but with 51 degrees being the warmest water I could find only managed two small ones. I switched tactics after a few hours and scrounged up a meal of Perch.

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