12/16/12 A Few More Walker Bay Walleyes

I checked out a shoreline break on Walker bay this afternoon and had 6" of ice all the way out. It was a little slushy but a crust has formed and supported my weight. I decided to wet a line and found some active fish in 18 f.o.w. but they were mostly cigars @ 6"-13". I love seeing these smaller fish in the lake, bodes well for the future. Before I went in I checked a 12' flat and picked up a couple decent fish. There was a lot of portables headed out this evening, I'm sure some fish will be caught this weekend. All of my bites came on either a Gold Frostee or a Forage minnow under cork. Fatheads worked fine.

Attach file:

---

12/15/12 Spooning Walleyes

I got out this afternoon for a few hours and the 'eyes were hitting on gold spoons tipped with a minnow head in 12-18 f.o.w. I managed to ice about a dozen and kept four. This type of spoon that flutters back down on the drop can really be effective. I like Lindy Rattlin' Flyer's in stained water because the rattle will really call them in. In clear waters like Leech Lake I like C.J&S Slender Spoons and   Do-Jiggers. Fish in clear water seem to prefer flash over noise.

                                                                 Spooning.....

                                                                       

                                                                  Leads to forking!

 

Click on this pic!...are you hungry?

                                                                     

Fancaster's Crunchy Fish Batter

1/4 cup yellow corn meal
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup plain or seasoned breadcrumbs
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Mix ingredients.Dip fillets in egg then dredge in dry batter. Fry in hot oil!

Cheers and Hooksets!



                                                      

12/09/12 Round-And-Round

I got out and checked some ice this afternoon on my local 'gill hole and it was good to go with five inches of solid ice. My first frozen foray this season. Hooking up on a Bull-'gill right away I am reminded of the that terrible '80's song by Ratt...Round and Round. It's fitting for these aggressive fish that run circle after tightening circle up to the hole. It's good to be back on the ice!

                

                                     "We will find some to fillet, just give it time...Yow!"

11/11/12 Crossed One Off!

I just got back from visiting the inlaws in North Carolina and I snuck in a day of fishing for Stripers on Lake Nottely in northern Georgia. I have been dreaming of catching one of these fish for years, nothing huge but I thought I would share.

Tech Notes:
Water temps were 55-60
We fished with gizzard shad, rainbow trout and blueback herring on circle hooks.
Two rods with "down lines"- Just a 1-1/2 oz sinker rig like a sturgeon or catfish rig.
Two rods with 1/2 oz "tweener lines"- same rig with lighter sinker, further back on the drift.
Two balloon rigs or planer boards for fish up high and to keep the baits away from the boat.
The down and tweener lines were fished with light 6'-8' Flouro leaders.
I fished with Josh Garrison of Blairsville Ga. Great guy, awesome fishery. http://www.fishgarrison.com/fishgarrison/Home_Port.html
These fish are really tough. My best fish pulled 100' of 15# flourocarbon off of the line counter reel TWICE! We chased a few fish that were feeding on the surface but we didn't have the major surface bite going. I really wanted to catch one on topwater. Maybe next time. One smaller (6#) fish was bleeding a  little so I kept it. I made fresh caught Striper fingers battered in a corn meal/starch crust. I was glad I did, they were a real hit.

10/21/12 Oh Rainy Day Walleye...

We fished friday near Clementson on the Rainy River and had good luck with eaters and two fish at 29". Saturday the Walleyes shut down completely so we switched to Sturgeon Gear. I was able to put my wife and dad on their first dinosaur fish and even ended up getting a double with my dad.   My best sturg was 55". Totals for the two days were 6 Sturgeon and 37 Walleyes. Not gangbusters but all-in-all a good trip. I also got to fish with Brian from Moose lake, a great guy who seems tuned in to all things finned and who is welcome in my boat anytime.

A 1/2 oz pink jig or gold Northland Whistler jig tiped with a live Emerald shiner was the ticket for the 'eyes while a gob-o-crawlers on a 3/0 J-hook and a 3oz No-Roll sinker was just right for the Lake Sturgeon.



                                               I woke up this mornin' to the sunshine
                                               It sure as hell just looks like rain
                                               But I know just where to go on a cloudy day....

cheers and hooksets!

55" Lake Sturgeon Video

Here is Brian's video of the 55".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYP5_mMWjjs&feature=g-high-u

Fall Fatties Leech Lake Muskies and 'Eyes 10/12/12

10/12/12 Fall Fatties

I couldn't decide whether to chase Muskies or Walleyes this afternoon so I did a little of both. I found water from 48-52 degrees and baitfish stacked up on south facing weedy breakines. The Pike were really bangin' but managed a few 'eyes on a Live Target smelt. The biggest marble eye was just under 27" and quite girthy. I got several Pike in the 30" range and saw one tank. I also managed to shake up a nice 50" x 24" 'lunge on a good ol Suick.  My best 'ski of the year. My knees are still shaking. The same little inside turn produces for me every October. Fall fishing is here, the best time of the year by far.

Cheers and Hooksets!