Walleye Express

Well, I was bragging when we hit the dock after the trip. Then it went to complaining after I fillet about the 54th walleye. And even though I do love the cheeks, we were under a client time restraint to get them done. I'm lucky I still have 8 fingers and two thumb.

That's a good one Mike. Funny because I told everyone I'd Jap Slap the first guy who asked.

Had a corporate charter today with me and three other charter boats. Things started slow because of the dirty water churned up yesterday by that NW wind. Finaly found the main school east of 9 and 10 bouy in 19 to 22 FOW. Spoon harnesses 30/30 with 1/2 ounce drop weight on one side and 20/20 1 1/2 ounce on the other side. And Gulp outfished the real deal 3 to 1. Total for all boats was 87 walleyes and me and my buddy Larry from Sea Gypsy charters cleaned the majority of them.

That's a good deal. But I bought a whole crapload of bags mostly (natural nightcrawler and pumpkin seed) from franks for $4.99 a bag last summer. Heres an interesting side note. I just got off the phone with my cousin Mike Manyen. Him and his partner won the Linwwod Classic Saturday running my harnesses. Weighed in just a little under 30 pounds for 5 walleyes. But don't ask. As he swore me to silence about where and what color spoons were best. If it was me who won, you know I'd spill my guts.

Glad to hear that Tom. Another buddy has been killing them there as well using gulp worms on my rigs instead of the real deal. A little more expensive but a lot less hassle.

Had a fairly good first charter day on the Bay today. The conditions were not what I'd call optimum. The Bay was flat as a pancake, hot muggy and the bugs were terrible. What radio or cell phone chatter I heard was not stellar either. I've seen this (Dead Sea) scenario to many times over the years on the Bay. During these times meat is often the only offering that produces, so I decided to run on one side with my latest invention the "Meat Freak". One of Daves Ka'Boom jointed crank baits minus the back section and replaced with a 2 hook harness. Ran them 2.8 MPH, 60 back, with 1/4 ounce tot's 70 back on the other side. Long story short, fished 1/2 a day lading 17 fish 13 keepers. New program tomorrow if the wind changes it's mind.

Probably spent my last charter day for the spring on the Tittabawassee today with a client and his son. Had to work a lot harder for the few fish we caught today that amounted to 2 decent walleyes, 3 very nice smallies, a large white bass and 2 cats. The Sandford Dam was shut right off and the river was snake belly low and slow. We were marking lots of fish in the deeper holes but few were interested. On the Bay next Saturday for the duration of the summer.

Seems I was wrong just a little. It was 3 Blue Stars that were in my grandparents bay window. Gold/yellow starts meant that your son or daughter was killed in action. Thank God my dad and uncles all came home. Heres a link to explain it all. http://www.atlasgeo.net/fotw/flags/us%5esvc.html

By 1944 my grandparents had 3 gold stars in their bay window. This meant all three of their sons were in the armed forces fighting for this country's freedom. My dad in Italy and my 2 uncles island jumping their way to Japan. Back then the mission and the enemy seemed very much clearer then in today's conflicts. Starting with Vietnam, politics and public opinion ate away at our honest intentions, resolves and strategies for wining that and now this present war. We all have our own opinions about what's right, wrong and the way we should resolve conflicts with other countries and nations. But no opinion should get in the way of the respect that we should all feel for the ones fallowing every order (politically popular or not) that allows us to even have an opinion. God Bless this country and God bless and keep those brave men and woman defending it. Happy Memorial Day Vets.

May 24, 2007 Contacts: Jim Baker 989-684-9141, ext. 8070; Tammy Newcomb 517-373-3960 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014 Michigan DNR Offers Advice to Anglers Concerned with Tapeworm in Walleye; Fishing Remains Outstanding on Saginaw Bay While the Department of Natural Resources continues to investigate a recently-discovered infestation of adult tapeworms in walleye caught on the east side of Michigan, fisheries officials said that the parasite poses no threat to public health as long as the fish are cooked properly. Walleyes infested with the long, white worms in their digestive tracts have been reported from the Detroit River, Saginaw River, Saginaw Bay, Tittabawassee River, Tawas Bay and the Pine River. “While the worms are unsightly, they pose no threat to humans as long as the fish are thoroughly cooked before being eaten,†said DNR Lake Huron Basin Coordinator Tammy Newcomb. “Tapeworms are a common parasite of many fishes. The life cycle is complicated, and various life stages of the worm live in tiny invertebrate animals, which are eaten by small fish, including many species of minnows. The minnows, in turn, are eaten by larger predatory fish, including walleye.†Newcomb said the tapeworm develops into the adult stage in the walleyes. Eggs are shed in the feces, and the lifecycle repeats itself. Some tapeworms also infest warm-blooded animals, including humans, primarily through the consumption of uncooked food. “Normal cooking, smoking and pickling processes will kill all parasites found in fish flesh,†said Jim Baker, DNR manager for the Southern Lake Huron Fisheries Unit. “Under no circumstances should anyone be consuming raw fish. Sushi made from freshwater fish is definitely a bad idea.†Baker said the DNR will continue to investigate this new infestation to determine the exact species and life cycle of the parasite, and to learn why it is suddenly showing up in walleye. Fisheries biologists believe that walleye are becoming infested with the worms because of recent changes in their diet due to the collapse of alewife populations in recent years. Alewives once comprised the majority of the walleye’s diet, but in their absence, walleyes are eating large numbers of young yellow perch, round gobies, gizzard shad and minnows. Despite the infestation, walleye fishing on inner Saginaw Bay was thriving until a recent cold front moved into the area, Baker noted. Anglers were having no problems catching fish and limit catches were reported everywhere from Linwood south and east to Quanicassee when trolling with planer boards or drifting crawler harnesses. The early season success in the fishery is forecasted to continue through the summer, Baker said. “One of the reasons for this tremendous success in the fishery is believed to be the lack of alewife that compete and prey upon young life stages of walleye and perch,†Baker said. “Walleye have been naturally reproducing at record levels for the past four years, providing large numbers of young fish that are now being caught in the recreational fishery.†For more information on fishing in Michigan, visit the DNR’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr and click on the Fishing menu. The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future generations.

Picked my boat up at Lindys today after the spring start up. $362.85 labor and parts for 4 new upper/lower seals and hydrualic fluid in the outdrive power and trim cylinders. New buzzer in dash (DNR required) for auto bilge alarm. New 60 amp fuse box and fuse hooked up for power trim hydraulic system. Battery charge and systems check. Haul boat to Hoyles to launch and tie up at my slip. #1 good thing I notice is the Kid working at the ramp asking to assist me in pulling my truck out after I launched. Then parked my truck for me over in the visitors parking area near my boat so I would not have to run back and get it myself. Third year I Iaunched my BIG AZZ boat by myself, and up until today was never asked by any body there if I needed a hand. Tie boat up at my slip and decide to check the working order of my HT Yamaha kicker. It starts right up but won't go up or down when the Power trim is engaged. Remembering the Mechanical service (or lac there of) I received before from Hoyles in the past, I head all the way back to Lindys and ask their opinion. Chet figures being my kicker gets drowned quit often because of how low it is hooked up on my transom, that either the brushes or the motor itself is burned out from getting to much water inside these last 4 years that I've had it. My first charter is on June 2nd. 12 days away. My kicker also has an auto pilot hooked up on it and is a large part of the way I fish. It has to be working properly. So my options are, we can order the brushes, but if that's not it, add 4 more days for getting the whole power/trim motor assembly in. 8 days with only 4 to spare in case of other SNAFU isn't going to work for me. So I decide it's better to order the tiny little power and trim motor for this 8 horse. Guess how much? $417.00 just for the part not including labor to install it. There's $780.00 and the season hasn't started yet. So now I figure I have to pull my boat back out, take it back to Lindys, park it in their yard and wait for the part. Hoping they can get to it before it's to late. So I haul my trailer all the way back to Hoyles to take the boat back out of the water, but decide at the last minute to talk to the (under new managment) parts and service man at the new Linwood Beach Marina and Campgrounds (Old Hoyles), to see if things have changed any service wise. Well, this new service manager [John Gorm] is like talking to an old friend versus the (I could give a crap) cold shoulder I got from the old Hoyles previous service head. He says that they hired all new service peoples since they bought the place except one, but they are still swamped with both new and old work, and that it would be impossible for them to get at it before the end of Memorial Day weekend. But knowing the pinch that I was in, that he would personally put it on for me if I wanted to order and pick up the part from Lindys, who could get the part a lot faster being they are a Yamaha dealer. This to me is above and beyond the call of duty to a customer. Letting me buy the part from another dealer and offering to put it on in his own time. Then I ask if it's O. K. to park my trailer somewhere for a few days on the property, until I get the part and we can pull the boat for the repairs. He says sure, we don't charge for storing your trailer all summer when you rent a slip here. Well, I almost dropped my bottle of pop on the floor when he said that. First they lower the slip rental $100.00 for the 2007 season and now all of this. I was quickly impressed from all corners today at the new Linwood Beach Marina and am very gratified with the new ownership at the old Hoyles and their new business attitude. :D

Those are the eating size for sure. Looks like another good start to the season.

Heres the fish they kept yesterday.

Just got off the cell phone with my bud who is on the Saginaw Bay right now. It's 1:00pm and they launched at 10:00am. They have caught 35 or more walleyes, with 25 being keepers. Using my Stinger Spoon harnesses 20/20 program with 1 ounce snap weights over 18 FOW. Big boat in the water tomarrow.

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2852450

Me and a good bud spent half a day on the Tittabawassee today. Had a ball as usual.

Good job Frank. My big boat goes in at Hoyles in about 3 days. I have charters booked starting on the 2nd and can't wait to get some spoon harnesses down. Going to miss the river this year though. I've never seen so many willing holdovers as this year. I also see you keep those BIG white perch. How do they taste? I love the White Bass, but have never tried the perch.

Couldn't resist calling a dear friend who helped me get started in guiding 23 years ago. His help, guidance and generosity (IMV) can really never be re-paid, but I took a large chunk off the pay-back ledger today. I sent him home with a limit of nice eyes and wore him out on the smallies.

Thank's guys. And yes that river has taken a few things from me and others new to her shallow and pile-on filled dynamics. Seen many a lower unit on regular boats get cleanly and surgically removed over the years. Even seen a boat being towed back to the launch yesterday. But she don't owe me a thing and has given me more good memories then all three of my wives. :lol:

Heres the skinny. Got to Caldwell ramp about 9:00am. To my surprise the parking lot was full. In years past seeing 6 other vehicles a week after the inland walleye opener was rare. Decided then and there to avoid the crowd and head way down river. Started trolling the Power line run about 1/2 mile below the Gamms Hardware launch in Freeland. Hit three nice fish in short order. But like always on the Tittabawassee there was an obstacle to overcome and a technique to be refined for our success. The river was running high and debris filled. Combine that and all the buds from the trees falling in the river, and your line and lures would load up in 2 minutes trolling. I was going to run 4 rods in the holders but that was impossible with the debris. I told the boys to hold their rods and give them short/sharp snaps as we trolled. This kept all but the worst debris off the lures. I also discovered that the fish were laying right in the middle of the river and not in the current side holes and slots. Laying between the the faster outside current and the solwer inside current. So I would swing/troll (zig zag if you will) the boat back and forth over this seam and the fish would hit as the lures swung in or out of this seam. And man did they unload for average sized walleyes. About 12:30 the crowd went home and we hit the spillway for bass. Kinda lost track of how many fish we caught but I'll give it a good guess. 16 walleyes/14 keepers/one 24 incher. 65 smallies/three 20 inchers/don't know weight they all went back. 6 nice crappies. 1 catfish.

Heres the new lic fees based on House Bill 4624 & Senate Bill 406. http://www.saginawbay.com/pdf/license_prices_based_on_hb_4624_and_sb_406.pdf

Mailed my MCBA bud about this. Heres his reply. Hey Dan, We should not need a TWIC or MMD doc.(that could change). The person who wrote the post was correct on renewal's in Toledo. Once paper work and money (C.C. preferred) is sent in they will authorize you to have your finger prints taken at other locations (Grand Haven, Soo and more). For you and I Toledo is the 1st choice. I went with Capt. Terry Walsh in April, 156 miles from my house to Toledo. Once we reach Toledo; Terry turned in his papers (they review them right there to make sure everything was correctly filled out), gave them a C.C. (preferred) Finger printed him with a finger print scanner, I stood right their and watched the whole thing (maybe 12 - 15 minutes tops) Stop at Cabela's on the way back, it was completely painless and very professional. I would start the process at least 4 - 6 months before your license expires, since all finger prints are sent to FBI and Homeland Security has to clear you before the Coast Guard will issue you a new license. It dose say to send your application to the nearest Coast Guard Regional Examination Center (you know the military). Here is the link for charterboat captains: http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/cb-capt.htm Have a nice day, Larry Dan, Received this from a captain out of Grand Haven, Larry Roger, Again, I apologize for not being able to attend the Grand Haven Charter Boat Association Dinner last Saturday evening. However, as promised, I am forwarding you my notes I was going to use to relay to you the latest info I have concerning licensing. 1. In an effort to enhance security within the nation's maritime domain Congress tasked the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with implementing a single source card that would serve a twofold purpose. I. Ensure security for port facilities that require maritime workers having unescorted access within secure areas. II. Ensure security on vessels regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Additionally, an additional aspect of this card will possibly be the inclusion of all merchant mariner documents (MMDs) included on this same card. This has not been confirmed yet, but is likely to happen. 2. This single source card is known as the Transportation Worker Identification Credential or TWIC card. The TWIC provides a tamper-resistant biometric credential for the entire maritime industry and is currently in the early implementation stages at select ports across the country. Because approximately 750,000 people will require a TWIC it will take about 18 months to phase in. 3. In the past the Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers (RECs) were the source for issuing most mariner credentials. However, under the new TWIC Program the RECs will scale back greatly and new the new TWIC enrollment sites will be stood up in ports all across the country. The nearest enrollment site to Grand Haven will be in Muskegon. There will be others in Detroit, Chicago and Escanaba, MI to service mariners in the Michigan area. 4. An additional aspect of the TWIC is that it will contain an individual's fingerprint encoded in the card that can be read from a reader the Coast Guard and port facilities will have in the future as an additional means of authentication to the picture. 5. The initial security screening for all mariners' licenses is accomplished at the National Maritime Center (NMC) in Martinsburg, West Virginia. As of now, the fee and package for the card is sent to the local REC (Toledo in our case) and then forwarded to Martinsburg by the REC. The NMC conducts the background check and either mails the mariner their Card or MMD, or approval for new mariners. 6. New mariners (or mariners that want an upgrade) have to take and pass their required test for the license or endorsement they want. As stated above, currently this is still done at the REC, but other test sites will be available soon (probably here in Grand Haven). TSA has a web site that has many FAQs concerning TWIC implementation that can be accessed at (http://www.tsa.gov/twic). You can also find out additional information at the Coast Guard's REC website at (http://www.uscg.mil/STCW/mmic-regions.htm). We also have an informational PowerPoint brief on our website at (http://www.uscg.mil/d9/msdgh/index_files/Page618.htm). If you have additional questions please feel free to contact me. I look forward to working with you further in the future. Very respectfully, LT Michael Adams Executive Officer Sector Field Office Grand Haven 650 South Harbor Drive Grand Haven, MI 49417 616-850-2503

Did this finger print packet you talk of come with your license renewal packet. Or was it requested by you for some other reason? Odd I haven't heard of or received any info from the MCBA on this new packet. They are usually prompt with E-mails for this type news.

37 inches 11 pounds and 38 inches 12 pounds. Kinda hard to tell in the top picture, being my client Dave is like me and measures 56 inches across the chest and throws a big shadow. Guys like us should not hold BIG fish up for pictures.

Thank's Ray. They really put up a great fight and saved our trip. The walleye day bite is starting in earnest now along the shorelines. And with the inland walleye season opening today the oportunities and variety will be many.