Walleye Express

Thanks Frank. A lake trout fishing friend of mine found 70 degree temps 80 feet down a couple of days ago off Port Austin. I really think the main problem right now is water column temperature stabilization. In years past this August Funk was compounded by fewer scattered schools of the available fish. But as we start to get more fish in the system (as we have these past 4 years) sheer numbers will begin to fill in any availibilty gaps in the different areas of the bay. And all these fish still have to eat to survive, bad conditions or not. But these ideal feeding windows gets narrower and the fishes foraging moods more finicky during these water rollover times on the bay in deeper waters. The guys willing and able to shrink the available water column and fish shallower waters (10 feet or less) have an advantage right now. That is if they can tolerate and deal with weeds and other things conducive to shallow water. These shallower waters may cloud up, might even be a little warmer, but for the most part stay stable for the fish that have been living there all summer. And the fish that move from deeper waters up into these shallow waters, do so for a reason, and that's to feed. So most of the fish you find there might be smaller on the average, but will be more receptive from the beginning. I'm planning on running up to Saganing Bar Saturday (conditions/wind allowing) and working that second break (15 to 17 FOW). And if time allows, allow me to zig-zag around a bit and hit Pinconning Bar, the Black Hole, Nayonquin Point or the cigar if need be on the way back south.

Well, if the weather holds up, and after reading and processing all the Saginaw Bay fishing reports from several individuals this past week, along with calling on all my years of fishing experience on the Bay, I've scientifically and professionally formulated a sure fire, fish catching game plan for Saturday. I'm going to bring up the Hot Spots Bay Map on my PC. Then stand back about 15 feet or so and shoot a rubber tipped dart at the screen. Wherever that dart sticks, that's where I'll start. And they say experience trumps scientific remedys when fishing.

That they even planted any herring was a revelation to me. But I see their chances of taking hold as better then fair in the Saginaw Bay, since the alewives have left an open nitch in the food chain and forage base that they could fill in quit well. I've also seen a steady return of the mayfly on the inner Saginaw Bay since the zebras have cleaned up the water column. These little split tailed flies are a big part of the herrings diet and life cycle. I'd love to see them take hold again on the bay and maybe even create a new fishery. We used to take a week every summer to fish for them in Michigans U.P. They are delicious smoked or grilled. The whole herring catching process became pretty refined for us towards the end of the times we went up to the U.P. for herring. By then we had 16 foot fiberglass telescoping crappie rods and used tear drops with live mayflies that we would pick off a white sheet we laid out over night on our tents. White and the retained heat from the tent over night seemd to attract them better. The mayflies would be thick on the sheet in the morning if they had a good hatch over night. We would then gentley (as not to scare the rest) pick them off the sheet by the wings and put then in a paper grocery bag. Then thread 1, 2 or 3 of them on the tear drop. Drop them down slowly the 16 feet to the rod tip and slowly lift it back towards the surface. You could get a hit going either way, but mostly lifting. As they were feeding on the emerging larvae as they floated towards the surface and became flies. You would then simply note at what depth you got your hit, as that was the depth they were feeding at at that point.

Been having some discussion on my Saginaw Bay fishing board about Lake herring. Their many scientific names, historic abundance and decline over the years in each lake, and their future as a forage and/or game fish, if any. Someone mentioned that they heard our DNR actually planted some this year in lake Huron. I ran with that ball and E-mailed my DNR biologist buddy. Heres his answer and a nice photo. Some truth in those 2008 Herring plants Dan: 6,250 lake herring fingerlings (nice ones too, see attached photo) were planted in Thunder Bay here in Alpena. These fingerlings were the product of an experimental lake herring culture pilot project. For the last two years the DNR has been engaged in a pilot project to refine the culture and logistical details of lake herring rearing with the idea that we may someday (in the near future) embark on a larger scale lake herring stocking program. The fingerlings that were stocked this year were the result of that pilot project effort. Understand that the goal this year was not to have a big plant, but to just learn better how to collect the eggs and do the rearing. Anything that got stocked was just frosting on the cake so to speak, for this year. The pilot project is a success in that we are learning lots about how to go about this. Yes we had some poor egg fertilization rates, but that is how we learn to do this. We hope to have those bugs worked out this coming fall. Presently we plan another year of the pilot project (2008/09). The final decision to embark on a large scale reintroduction effort has not yet been made by the DNR. That will be taken up later depending on the results of the pilot project. Saginaw Bay is a candidate reintroduction location, partly because historically lake herring used the bay for spawning and nursery grounds. Remember that lake herring (also called cisco) are native to Lake Huron. There are still lake herring in Lake Huron today but very little in the Michigan waters of the lake south of the straits. The goal (if this ever happens) will be to reestablish a breeding population in these areas. This is not a put-grow-take concept, but rather a reintroduction idea. The hope is that lake herring would become abundant enough to serve as a viable forage fish for Lake Huron's (and Saginaw Bay's) predators. Lake herring too are a popular sport fish in their own right as well.

Took a trip with a bud to the Saginaw River this mroning for some smallie action. We were not dissapointed. We landed several decent fish with my buddy loosing what would have been about a 4 pounder when it threw his bandit crankbait while in mid-air. Nice change of pace for both of us.

When the alarm went off at 6:30am yesterday morning and the curtains in my bed room (on the west side of the house) were blowing around like the American Flag was on top of Mount Suribachi that fateful day on Iwo Jima. I knew then my weather forcasters were at least wrong about the intensity of the predicted winds. Tried to call my clients cell to catch them before they left, but no answer. Went and got the boat ready to go and mentally got a plan ready for the day. Clients showed we went out towards the 47's about 3 miles and things got rougher as we went. Stopped and talked it over. Turned back in towards shore to fish SW corner in shallow knowing the waves would be smaller. Weeds and weed clumps everywhere in water cloumn up close. Headed back in, wrote deposit refund check and left as friends and no hard feelings, with promise of trying again next year. Does not look good either for next few days. Waves/Rollers 3 to 5 feet might be called a decent day on Lake Michigan, but on Saginaw Bay it's a nightmare. FZUS53 KDTX 100746 NSHDTX NEARSHORE MARINE FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DETROIT/PONTIAC MI 332 AM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 FOR WATERS WITHIN FIVE NAUTICAL MILES OF SHORE LHZ422-101530- INNER SAGINAW BAY- 332 AM EDT SUN AUG 10 2008 SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM MONDAY TODAY NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 KNOTS...DIMINISHING TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS...WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. PARTLY SUNNY THIS MORNING...THEN BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY. AN ISOLATED SHOWER THROUGH 9 AM...THEN SCATTERED SHOWERS WITH AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET. TONIGHT NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. PARTLY CLOUDY DURING THE EVENING. MOSTLY CLEAR OVERNIGHT. AN ISOLATED SHOWER ENDING OVERNIGHT. WAVES 4 TO 7 FEET...SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FEET OVERNIGHT. MONDAY NORTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS...TURNING TO NORTHEAST. MOSTLY SUNNY THROUGH MID MORNING...THEN BECOMING PARTLY SUNNY. WAVES 2 TO 4 FEET. MONDAY NIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 15 KNOTS...TURNING TO NORTH. MOSTLY CLEAR DURING THE EVENING. PARTLY CLOUDY OVERNIGHT. WAVES 2 TO 4 FEET.

I heard that. But sometimes I wish My type "A" personality would take a break.

I'm curious Frank. Does your boat drift straight with the waves like mine because it's heavy in the back, or sideways with them. I'm also assuming you could only run maybe one In-line board per side if drifting straight, and 3 or 4 other long lines off the back drifting. I sure did love the drifting technique in my 18 footer when I first started out, and the whole bite/hook/play scenario. But I've always loved the hands on casting/jigging/drifting techniques better versus the trolling anyways.

Hate to admit it, but I'm a sissy when it comes to handling leeches. I can pick up a live/wild rat by the scruff of the neck. Grab any snapping turtle living rather he's in the water or not. Kept and played with a big farm of Mamoth Yellow Garden Spiders when I was a kid. But won't touch a leech.

I've had the same Rattle Tots on all 8 lines since the begining of June, 80 back always. And I always spice them up some with a 1/4 crawler (Hook the piece at its tip and never threaded or gobbed) on the front outside belly hook, and run them anywhere from 1.8 to 2.6 depending on where I see the marks on the graph. Deeper/Faster, Shallower/Slower. Started that 1/4 crawler idea 2 years ago and seemed to outfish the guys using straight Rattlers almost every time. The guy who did so well on the cigar the other day (from what I could see) was using the smaller Eyeliminator flashers with #5 blades using XPS fish keels as the weight. Not sure if he was using real meat, but I think he was.

In-Fisherman Discontinues Professional Walleye Trail in 2009 Company Plans Future Investments in Walleye-Focused Media Baxter, MN (August 5, 2008)-In-Fisherman, a division of InterMedia Outdoors, Inc., today announced that it will discontinue operation of the Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) after the 2008 season. The PWT started with a single event in 1989 and grew to become North America's most prestigious walleye tournament series. During the past 19 years the PWT served as a proving ground for new tackle and marine equipment and the birthplace for innovative tactics that have made anglers across the country more successful. Along the way the PWT has awarded millions of dollars in cash and prizes to thousands of professional and amateur participants. However, sponsorship support no longer covers event expenses, and angler participation has declined in recent years. Announcing the decision, In-Fisherman Publisher Steve Hoffman said, "This was a difficult decision for us, but in the end we felt that the PWT was no longer an effective way for us to serve the dedicated angler, which is our core mission at In-Fisherman." The PWT has three events remaining in its 2008 schedule culminating in the 2008 PWT Championship Shootout on October 16-18 in Hudson, Wisconsin, with a first-place purse of $50,000. Going forward, InterMedia Outdoors will continue to invest in walleye-focused media including additional editorial content in Walleye In-Sider magazine, content and functionality improvements in WalleyeFan.com, the launch of a new television series "Walleye In-Sider" which will begin shooting in October and will debut in the fourth quarter of next year, and the development and launch of a fully redesigned In-Fisherman website with content devoted to walleyes and virtually every other freshwater fish. Hoffman added, "We're very excited about our new print, online and television endeavors, and are confident that we will not only teach millions of anglers how to catch more and bigger walleyes, but will continue to help our advertisers sell more product." About In-Fisherman For over thirty years, In-Fisherman has been the communications leader in the freshwater fishing industry through the integration of publications, television, radio, books, videos, DVD's and the Internet. In-Fisherman publications include In-Fisherman and Walleye In-Sider magazines; plus six annuals, Walleye Guide, Catfish In-Sider Guide, Bass Guide, Ice Fishing Guide, Pike & Muskie Guide, and coming in 2009 the Panfish Guide. The In-Fisherman Library consists of over 19 educational fishing books and 95 instructional fishing DVD's and videos. In-Fisherman Television airs 52 weeks a year on Outdoor Channel, Outdoor Channel 2HD, Fox Sports Net, The Sportsman Channel, Wild TV, and select broadcast markets. In-Fisherman Radio airs 6 days a week to over 420 stations nationwide. In-Fisherman's website can be found at www.in-fisherman.com. About InterMedia Outdoors InterMedia Outdoors, Inc. is the leading multimedia company exclusively serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts, with the largest network of websites dedicated to hunting, shooting and fishing; a portfolio of 17 magazines including powerful brands such as Guns & Ammo, Petersen's Hunting, Fly Fisherman, and Florida Sportsman; syndicated radio programming; 11 market-leading television productions, the largest library of outdoors television programming and The Sportsman Channel, the only television network 100% dedicated to hunting, shooting and fishing. --------------- WalleyeFIRST spoke yesterday with Jim Kalkofen, Executive Director of the In Fisherman PWT for the last 19 years, on the telephone. Mr. Kalkofen, an icon in the Professional Walleye fishing industry, was instrumental in forming the In Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail with original owners and Founders of In Fisherman, Ron and Al Lindner. Prior to that time, Mr. Kalkofen was on the Board of Directors and was one of the Founders of the MWC, which at that time was the Manufacturer's Walleye Council, as a liaison from Mercury Marine. Prior to and during Mercury Marine's sponsorship with the MWC under their Mariner Branding, Jim formed the Mariner Open Walleye Tournaments, which were successful for several years. Jim was inducted into the Freshwater Hall Of Fame last year, nominated by Industry and Angling professionals across the country because of his visionary dedication to the development and forwarding of the sport of competitive Walleye angling. Jim stated In Fisherman and he parted ways last Friday, and indicated the remaining events would go forward as planned. He expressed regret that In Fisherman decided to eliminate the Professional Walleye trail, and was surprised the decision was announced mid-season. Chip Leer will continue his duties as 2008 Tournament Director, and Julie Meister will remain as Tournament Coordinator. Julie reported this morning that she and Chip are looking very much forward to the PWT Can AM, and will be working with WalleyeFIRST to provide a clear, steady, and enjoyable live video stream. Watch for a WalleyeFIRST Radio interview with Jim Kalkofen to be published this afternoon before 4 PM.

Found it and it's GPS coordinates on my Hot Spots map tonight. And it's the same spot I have 3 waypoints punched in on in a triangle on my own GPS. And we were trolling over that spot Sunday a few times with the same limited success. So one has to assume that it might have been more about speed, depth and lure choice Sunday as much as it was about water temp/conditions, knowing that fact. I've been real lucky so far this summer not having to change my program one bit for all the fish I've been catching. But it may be time to get fancy.

Broken Wing. My boat is moored at the marina in a slip at it's extreme North end, so I park right in front of my dock when I go out. Also got my charter logo/advertising on the windows, so if you seen it you'd know for sure it was my truck. And we also had quit a few rubber band stretchers that simply let go by the time you got to the rod Sunday. Sad part was really about the young man I took out Sunday. We had to reschedule his trip twice (once in June and once in July) because of bad weather, during the times when I was limiting out in 2 hours during those months. So we finally get some good weather for his trip and this happens.

A sustained heat wave and warmer temps will eventually push even baitfish North or to more comfortable water temps. I don't really see that happening to any degree this late in the game this year. I think it has as much to do with stable and stratified water temps as it does cooler or warmer temps. Walleyes seem to adapt to any temperatures when and where baifish abound. Hell, I've caught them in the Hot Ponds in 92 degree temps years ago (when the water was higher) in the middle of June. It's when there are these mixed clouds of different temps floating around that effects their feeding moods. About the experiences of people I have on board. I have several groups a year who don' know what a planer board is or what it is used for. I heard one guy in a group I had the other day explaining to everyone at the back of the boat (as I was putting out the boards in the front), that they were used to keep eveybody in boats around us away from my boat and my spread.

Wulp, I hope my optimism about August staying good fishing through to September wasn't misplaced. Got out yesterday morning SE of the Black Hole and trolled with the NW wind/waves for almost an hour without a touch. Got around that 18 FOW mark and started to slowly get a few fish. But she was very slow. Boated 9 and threw 4 back for the 1/2 day. LDR'd a few others. Only seen one other fish boated around us. Got back and the guy 2 slips from me had 15 nice ones. Said he smoked em out by the Cigar. Not exactly sure where the Cigar is, but I'll find it. I could also mention that I had 77 degree surface water temps yesterday in most of the spots I fished, the warmest I've seen this summer. And 74 degrees in some others spots very close to these warmer sections. That tells me the water got churned up somehow and is now in full turn over mode. This fact can often segregate fish in isolated feeding pods as it tends to heap the baitfish together as well in certain areas and section in the water column. Bad part for me is it takes 20 to 30 minutes to stop and secure the trolling motor, clear and secure all 8 lines, retrieve the boards and run and gun to a new spot. Then the 20 minutes again to start all over. If fishing with friends, this down time would be cut in half or better. But clients usually know little about the program to be really helpfull in this process, so I'm better off trolling to different spots from a central location. Yesterday I trolled North and South to much when I should have trolled East and West more. Oh well, we try. Also think I'm going to a 50/50 program next time out. One side Rattle Tots (high and Low), the other Eyeliminators/keels all deep (Real Meat/Gulp) with spoons and Thumpers. This will keep me in the ball game (Hopefully) with both aggressive and funk fish on both sides of the boat from 1.8 to 2.3 MPH.

What....No silk net like those guys from England use for carp. Them guys crack me up.:D:no:

Thanks Frank, Surface temps were still 73 degrees today. Supposed to keep the cooler night temps for the next few days then a real HOT spell. If the inner bay bite survives that, I may actually get into the Black INK this summer.

Mine too. We could only manage 7 in my shallow water hot spot. Caught the rest off the second ledge East of Nayonquin.

The bay was flat as a pancake today and by normal fishing standards still red hot. But by what I've been used to in the last few weeks, tough fishing. It took us the full 5 hours to catch 22 walleyes today, but their average sizes were bigger then the last few trips out. Hope this slump don't last to long.

Ah yes. Those fresh water turds can really put up a good fight. I love them the most when they hit my Do-Jigger in the winter through the ice.

NJ Adam. Those shallow water fish have been making my trips the last 4 times out. And surprisingly, there are some real dandys still in that shallow water. That 10 pounder we took on the 19th came from those waters. I've been starting right on our shallow water ice fishing spot between Boutell and Parish roads in 15 FOW and trolling NNE, and not a soul around me. Get to 18 Foot and troll back. Also a ton of fish on that second break off Nayonquin Point in 14 to 16 FOW as well. I still believe it has a lot to do with the inner bay surface temps staying cooler this year.

Well, I challenged the waves again today only because my clients did not get my (NO-GO) message I left last night on their cell phone. Luckily my good trolling spot filled us up by 10:38, and we led the pack back that were coming back in like the end of a 200 boat walleye tournament by 11:00am. I'm canceling tomorrow as the wind is expected to pick up. :shock: :shock: :shock: :wink:

Only a very few were left and they were in smaller bunches. And those were on their way to the East shore at Mach 2 when we left the bay today.

Man was the west wind kicking late this morning and this afternoon. Started out on almost calm seas then all hell broke loose and so did the fishing. Some bigger fish as well. :wink:

CONGRESS RESTORES 35-YEAR EXEMPTION FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS FROM PROPOSED EPA PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS NO NEW PERMIT FOR BOATS REQUIRED ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 22, 2008 - In a remarkable display of bipartisan support for recreational boating, both the House and Senate today passed S. 2766, "The Clean Boating Act of 2008" which will permanently restore a long-standing exemption for recreational boats from permitting requirements under the Clean Water Act. The legislation now goes to the White House for the President's signature. Congressional action was spawned by a U.S. District Court decision in September 2006 under which an estimated 17 million recreational boats would have fallen under Clean Water Act permit requirements effective September 30, 2008. The permit would have dictated maintenance and operation procedures and potentially subjected boaters to citizen lawsuits as well as a penalty system designed for industrial polluters. "This is a fabulous victory for common sense and it just goes to show what can be done when the boating public, the marine industry and its representatives in Congress row together in a bipartisan way," said BoatU.S. President Nancy Michelman. BoatU.S. Government Affairs Director Margaret Podlich was quick to shower praise on a boatload of legislators who did much of the heavy lifting including Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representatives Jim Oberstar (D-MN), Steve LaTourette (R-OH), Candice Miller (R-MI) and Gene Taylor (D-MS). A complete listing of all legislators involved will be available at http://www.BoatUS.com/gov soon. BoatU.S. has worked for more than a year with the National Marine Manufacturers Association and a broad coalition of stakeholders to resolve the problem before the permitting deadline. "One of the real keys to success here was our collective ability to activate the grassroots," said Podlich, noting that tens of thousands of letters and e-mails were generated by boaters and anglers over the course of the past 12 months. BoatU.S. is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boat owners with over 650,000 members.