Walleye Express

Well, I suspect after the fishing show that I was a part of today airs on any TV stations in Wisconsin or Minnosta, we are going to have a major influx of new Saginaw Bay fishermen. What was my bad luck for me yesterday was OFF THE CHARTS today. I met the camera crew and co-host "Bill Sherck" at franks at 8:00am. We went in the store talked about the Stinger Scorpion spoons and the varied ways we run them on the bay. Stopped at linwood Corners for breakfast. I had the Western Omlet. Went to my boat and I showed how I convert regular spoons in to spoon harnesses and gave an overview of how I was going to run both the spoon harnesses and crawlers with snap weights and bare spoons as sliders over cranks for todays fishing trip. Only thing missing was my buddy Reel Fishing who was going to first mate for me today. I'm sure something very much more important happened to make him miss this, so I hope all is well with Mark and his family as I am truely worried about it. With only me and Bill having a license I was very concerned about only running 4 rods after yesterdays dissapointing showing on my charter where we only boxed 8 walleyes all day using 8 rods. Man was I in for a surprise. I headed to a spot south and west of the Black Hole where I have good luck ice fishing in 21FOW. I put out both spoon harnesses with crawlers 20/40, 1 1/2 ounce snap weights near bottom. Set the other side with Rattle Tots 80 back with Scorpion sliders. 2 minutes later fish on the slider. Then the other slider went off with what I thought was a much larger fish. Nope, it was two 19 inchers, one on the slider and one on the Rattle Tot, a true double on one line. I soon traded the two spoon harnesses back over, that had not had a hit with real crawlers, to cranks and spoon sliders and then things went nuts. Twice we had 3 fish on with just 4 rods out. And twice 2 fish on the same line crank and slider. Fish after fish after fish. I thanked God we only had 4 rods out at one point. They got enough action film of fish and everything else in 1 hour 45minutes and so we came in. They are going to send me a copy of the show this fall when it airs. Going back to the same spot tomarrow. Bill gave me his card to call and keep checking on when it's done. I thought Ron Schara himself was going to show up with Raven, but it seems this will be on a segment of one of his shows coming up. Bill Sherck is co-host and produces Minnesota Bound, Backroads with Ron and Raven, Due North Outdoors, Pheasants Forever, The Outdoor Beat and Legends of Rod and Reel. He said the segment may air on all of them at one time or another. They also fished and filmed yesterday on the Bay out in front of Finn road with a guy who guides Fly Fishermen for carp. When Bill called me yesterday to confirm our meeting place this morning he said he was out on the flats fly fishing for carp, so I thought he was in florida or something. I almost flipped when he said the Finn road flats. He caught 2 carp on flies with one being over 20 pounds. Wild stuff. Also said the guide knew me quit well and spoke highly of me, yet his name didn't ring a bell. He also guides on the AuSable, so maybe from my "River Guides Association" days.

I belive they taste like clams, so deep fried is my ticket.

What goes around comes around. I never used to believe that when I was younger and way more pesimistic.

Mike. Before you second mortgage your home (and like Frank said) think over what salmon gear you own now that could be easily converted over to walleye fishing. A lot of fishing gear is hyped and marketed for specific species when it could just as well be used for all species.

You'll deffinetly want seperate River/Open Water sections and possibly an Ice Fishing section. This will keep some interest here when the salmon season ends. Maybe a walleye Gear/Gadgits and Accessories section. Place where people might show how, when and where they build, use, store, transport their gear when ice or open water fishing for walleyes. Or display or talk about new gear, lures, or terminal tackle. You better apply for a few more Mega Bites Mike if your goiong to use all of my ideas.

Michigan Charter Boat Association Press Release This is an outgoing email only. DO NOT REPLY VHS Disease is found in perch Lake Michigan finding raises alarm for fishery By PAUL A. SMITH [email protected] Posted: June 14, 2008 The deadly fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia has been found in Lake Michigan yellow perch, heightening concerns about the plight of the popular native fish and the vulnerability of the Wisconsin sport fishery in general. Great Lakes "It's not good news, but it's not unexpected," said Randy Schumacher, regional fisheries supervisor in Milwaukee for the Department of Natural Resources. "The real priority now is keeping the virus from getting transferred to inland lakes." The finding comes a week after VHS was detected in round gobies found dead on beaches in South Milwaukee, the first such finding in southern Lake Michigan. Another in a string of invasive species and diseases transferred into the region from Europe and Asia, VHS causes blood vessels to weaken and hemorrhage, often but not always killing the fish. It is not a threat to human health, according to the DNR. The disease was first discovered in the Great Lakes in 2005 and has caused large fish kills in New York waters, including thousands of spotted muskies in the St. Lawrence River and walleyes in Conesus Lake, Schumacher said. VHS was detected in Wisconsin waters last year, first in freshwater drum in Lake Winnebago and later in brown trout in Lake Michigan waters near Algoma. The disease is known to affect more than 30 species of fish, including chinook salmon and rainbow trout. The World Organization of Animal Health has categorized VHS as a transmissible disease with the potential for profound socio-economic consequences. The spread of VHS casts more uncertainty over the future of the $2.3 billion Wisconsin sport fishery. "It's really a shame," said Ted Lind of Milwaukee, president of the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations. "What can you do now? All we can do is wait and see how bad the fish are hit." The latest finding comes days before Monday's opening of the yellow perch sport fishing season on Lake Michigan. The VHS-positive perch were collected June 5 as part of the annual spawning assessment conducted off Milwaukee by the DNR. The lake's yellow perch population has begun to stabilize after a collapse in the late 1980s and early 1990s that resulted in a 90% to 95% reduction of the popular commercial and sport fish, according to DNR estimates. The commercial fishery was closed in 1996, and sport limits have been drastically cut to protect the remaining perch. "There goes the farm," said Eric Skindzelewski of Milwaukee, president of Lakeshore Fisherman Sports Club, in reaction to the latest VHS finding. "This is the only recreation we've got, and if the perch go down more, it will be a tragedy." Citing a decrease in prey fish, biologists have also been concerned about the condition of trout and salmon populations in the lake. Stocking of chinook salmon was reduced in recent years to better balance the predator fish to available prey. But the average weight of chinook salmon has continued to fall, leading many to wonder if VHS will be the straw that breaks the back of struggling populations of perch and salmon. Schumacher said it was difficult to predict the impact on Lake Michigan fish. "Sometimes (VHS) has resulted in massive fish kills, and sometimes it hasn't," he said. "Some fish develop immunity to the virus, so we hope that our populations will be able to withstand it." What's clear is that the negative effect of the disease will be multiplied if it reaches inland waters and takes a toll on muskies, walleyes and other popular fish. The DNR passed regulations last year that prohibit the transfer of fish between waters in Wisconsin, the most likely means of spreading VHS. Schumacher said VHS posed no threat to humans and that anglers could continue to fish and eat their catch. Many fish with the virus show no physical sign; others have red blotches and bulging eyes. However, as always, the DNR advises state residents to not eat fish found dead or decomposing or that appear sick, regardless of cause. Decomposing fish might attract other bacteria harmful to people. Schumacher said the department would continue to test fish as part of ongoing assessments. But the biggest job, he said, was continuing to educate the public and preventing spread of the disease to inland waters. "The ball is now in the court of the angler and boater on Lake Michigan to not transfer fish or water inland," said Schumacher, recalling the spread of zebra mussels. "It's illegal to take fish from one lake to another, and it would be a terrible thing to do." This is an outgoing email only. DO NOT REPLY -- Michigan Charter Boat Association 800-622-2971

It's called Blue/Green Algae. It gets dislodged from the botton in heavy winds and floats in the water column and get on everything. Stacks up and rots on the beaches, and stinks to high heaven. It's also liver toxic to children playing in and around it on the beaches. It also causes heavy fines from the DNR when beach front owners try to remove it without a permit. Of course the permits cannot be had.

Ran all 8 rods with Scorpion stinger spoons today. 4 as sliders over Rattle Tots again and 4 with Jets. Caught about 20 to 25 walleyes and we kept 14, with only one fish coming on a tot and the rest on the spoons. A guy next to me in for the weekend from Lake St.Claire headed out deep in the rough seas we had today and ran spoons off his downriggers. He caught 30 fish and had some real dandys. I might have to go to a Salmon Mentality if this keeps up.

I got out yesterday as well with two clients. One from Alaska and one from England. Let the first line out 65 feet with a Rattle Tot and when the line came tight on the reel we had a four pounder on. Got all lines set by 8:30 in almost dead calm seas and had 3 to 4 foot waves hitting the back of the boat by 10:15. The guy from England was looking a little nervous and our north troll against the waves was not fun at all so we called it quits. We did catch 12 walleyes and a big sheep and lost several more by then. Yesterday was also my first experience with Jet Divers in front of my spoon harnesses. They worked great and I'll be adding them to my arsenal.

So when is the "Free Gas using weekend" scheduled for?

The components are easy enough to see in the picture. Split rings to add to the front of the spoons. Beaded chain swivels attached to them at both ends. Michigan Stinger Scorpion spoons. #30 plastic coated wire to tie the harness. One Mustad #2 beak hook and I use the same trebel that comes with the spoon for the back hook. A few custom beads and sleeves to attach the back hook and the harness to the spoon. I get all the components from www.Staminainc.com The spoons you can order from many of the outlets listed on Stingers site.

GJ Frank. Looks like them cookie cutters ae making their way North.

Frank. I hope you can forgive me but I only order the components needed to make so many each winter and when they are gone they are gone. I get a lot busier in the spring and summer months. This winter I made 230 and they are now all gone. Next winter I will make more, probably with the new addition of the beads. I've been honored by Michigan Stinger for taking me on as one of their Pro Staff members. I'm positive that we are both happy with the PR and spoon sales that this great product generates and gives both of us. It's very easy to promote, trust and use something that truly works. Many people see and build thier own spoon harnesses from the clear pictures I often post. In fact I encourage it for those who have the ability to do so. But don't forget, most of the walleye we caught in this post were on bare Stinger Scorpions we used as sliders. But the spoon harnesses are not that hard too build either and you can pick the colors that you know work best in your area. All the places that sell Michigan Stinger Scorpion Spoons are listed on their site. If you need or want help about what components to order I'll be more then happy to help you out. Otherwise, it may be around late January to mid-February next year before my next batch.

I talked to one of the guys that won the tourney today in Franks. He also looked a little sore 3 days after the event, as they also made the long run. He was buying lots of BIG Copper and Gold blades if that helps anyone.

I tie in a good sized barrel swivel to the main line 30 inches above the Rattle Tot. I also make my slider leaders 30 inches long as well. I let the tot out to my desired length, let it start digging and then attach the slider to the line and let it find it's own way down to the swivel stop. Then attach the line too the release. The spoon runs just ahead of and above the tot and never tangles with it believe it or not. This has always gotten me a few extra fish but nothing like yesterday. I'm guessing we caught over 30 fish and 28 came on spoons and spoon harnesses.

After posting about my newer way of building Spoon Harnesses using a few beads, one of my Fishing board members got some insperation from my work and went nuts. These are things of beauty, but not sure how the walleyes will see them.

Took a short 3 1/2 hour shake down cruise in my charter boat today with 3 of my very best friends. Walleye Dreaming, Reel Fishing and Chamook. I was more concern about the working condition of all my gear then filling the box so we kept the game plane simple. Rattle Tot's 45 back with bare Stinger Scorpion spoon sliders and my new beaded Spoon Harnesses ran 20/25 with 1 1/2 once snap weights with Gulp. We fished in 16 to 19 FOW all day. The Gulp let me down today though, and I blame the water temps as it is still only in the high 50's. So we switched to real meat and was immediately rewarded with a triple on that fast. Long story short we only kept 11 fish, as all any of us wanted to take home was 2 or 3. We released probably twice as many. Another nice thing was I didn't have to attend the lines like on a regular charter, so I got lots of pictures.

I'll let you know after Sunday.

With a recent post from one of our local fishing board members about the success he had on Saginaw Bay when trolling a "Charlie Brown" Stinger Scorpion Spoon on a slider above a Hot-N-Tot, I just had to get some. I also thought this might be the time to experiment with something I've been thinking about doing with the Spoon Harnesses. So I'm keeping three of the 6 I ordered in their original forms and the other 3 tied in a newer version of what I've been thinking about. So what do you guys think of the new idea? For those not familiar with my Spoon Harness Rigs, the beads are the only thing I added.

After 4 full days of cleaning, painting, tightening, replacing, removing and installing, she's ready to go for another season. And she don't look bad for a 30 year old Gal. I just wish my surgery ridden body was as ready to go. Notice how neat the Grady's lines look without any MC numbers on the side? Maybe it was worth getting my Boat....opppppssss I mean my Vessel CG/Home Land Security Documented this year. Naaaaaaaa.

Was lying in bed this morning thinking about my new idea and strategy for running a couple of extra rods close, underneath and on the inside of my Mast type planer boards for this summers trolling season. I plan to run two #40 Jet Divers (one on each side of the boat) with either spoons or spoon harnesses, straight down next to the boat. This would give me a maximum of 12 rods out on a calm day that I could run when enough bodies covered the legal rod requirements. And that requirement may even change this year with our DNR considering letting all boats (not just salmon fishermen) use 3 rods each. I got this new rigging idea from all the fish I seem to hook up with when letting other rigs or cranks out the back, before even attaching them to the tether line of the planer board. Seems that (Boats spook fish to the side) theory doesn't apply as much on Saginaw Bay for some reason. Then like all charter captains do with any new ideas, I started tearing it apart wondering if the extra hassle and work involved will really be worth any extra fish it might provide for my clients. And also wondering if having so many rods, rigs or cranks out, changes a fish attitude at all when seen by fish that may be in a already negative mood. So I thought this might be a good conversation topic. Does more lines out really mean more fish in the box? Can a bigger school of Plastic and Metal swimming by spark a walleye into biting more then just one or two?

It's all part of the circle of things. Every single thing in the fishing business is connected in one form or the other. We all benefit from sharing and good info.

Heres some pictures of my last 2 trips. I sent the boys home today 5-13-08 with 27 giant whites and a bad case of Smallie Elbow. :shock: 8)

Press Release May 2, 2008 Contact: (202) 282-8010 DHS REALIGNS TWIC COMPLIANCE DATE WASHINGTON – The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that the final compliance date for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program will be April 15, 2009, which reflects a realignment of the Sept. 25, 2008 compliance date set in the final rule. The seven month extension is a direct result of collaboration with port officials and industry, and realigns the enrollment period with the original intent of the TWIC final rule. TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the SAFE Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program is on track to complete enrollment for a substantial number of jurisdictions by the end of 2008, and several ports will be required to comply with TWIC regulations this year. Owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Boston, Northern New England, and Southeastern New England will need to comply by October 15, 2008. These three ports were selected based on favorable conditions that facilitate near-term implementation. These ports are ideal for initial compliance based upon geographic proximity, the size of their TWIC enrollment population, and respective enrollment efforts to date. Additional ports will be announced in the coming weeks, and the Coast Guard will provide at least 90 days notice prior to enforcement. The TWIC program is progressing steadily and has opened more than 100 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. More than 250,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week. Enrollment began at the Port of Wilmington, Del. in October 2007. Workers can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic. Pre-enrollment can accelerate credentialing by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This eliminates delays at enrollment centers and reduces total enrollment time for each worker. Although the compliance date has been extended seven months, workers are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible. Additional information can be found on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil, and on the Transportation Security Administration's web site at www.tsa.gov/twic. -- Michigan Charter Boat Association 800-622-2971 This is an outbound message only - reply to [email protected]

Or how about doing something totally outrageous and send them to you by priority mail.