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Kevin, I like them Penn Riggers. I can see the numbers on the depth counter 10 feet away. I spoke with people from other rigger manufacturers suggesting they put counters on their riggers that are bigger than the ones we have on our LC reels. I have some ancient electric Cannons on my rig. They came with the boat.

It's a waste not to take advantage of these tasty morsels. Heck yes they got cheeked. I ended up with just shy of 4# of fillets, 3 meals for the two of us, with a sandwich or two the next day. Walleye, "The other white meat".

Andy, The weight forward type lures like the Erie Dearie can be very productive drifting and casting just off the weeds. I'm just old school, so I tend to just hammer away at the tried and true. Once I switch to crawler harnesses, I seldom run anything but. The walleye on the Saginaw Bay, are everything except fussy. I like to keep a simple presentation, and the bouncers and in-line weights just put the goods in their faces. I'm not against trying different things, but I get too busy catching fish to experiment. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm bragging. The great Dizzy Dean said, "It aint bragging, if ya can do it". Frank:) One thing we used to do in the 80s that was different from others, was running a spread of Hot-N-Tots on one side and harnesses on the other. Everyone says you can't mix the two. Who said you CAN'T. We would troll in big circles, with the tots on the outside of the turn, and the meat on the inside. This gave the tots, and the meat the speed they needed. Everyone knows the tots run best about 2.5 and harnesses about 1.5. We only did this as the waters warmed up. Try this sometimes if you want to run both. Think outside the box.

A very warm welcome to you Kevin. There is good advice above, so I get to keep my 2 cents. Let us know if we can help in any way. If you get a chance introduce yourself in the welcome section. Again, WELCOME ABOARD.

I went with an old friend to do a shakedown cruise out of AuGres. Big Jack has a 17 foot walk through, with a 70 Johnson 4 stroke. We started fishing about 3PM and managed 3 walleye before the N. wind came up suddenly, and sent us scurrying for the launch. The Skunk came out of the box just as we cleared the pier heads on the AuGres River. Our first fish was a little over 24 inches and the smallest was about 17-1/2. Two of the fish came on a #14 Clown, and the 17 inch+ male slam dunked a Church Board with a #12 Clown. I thought that 17 inch eye was a 30 incher when he first hit. We were fishing mostly in 6-8 FOW. We were running 35 ft back, and trolling @ 1.2 to 1.4 MPH. Water temps were ranging from 37 to 40 degrees. Stay in the warmer water. It looks like another great year on the Saginaw Bay. Gitter Done.

Come on guys. What would you do?? I hope I didn't come on too strong and spook everyone off this thread. Well this should bump it back into the new posts, and maybe get a reply.

Make sure your riggers are capable of handling those heavier weights.

And the other four letter word SNOW. We had some flurries here this eve.

Sounds like on fun trip with your F I L. Thanks for the report.

A very warm welcome to you Chris. You will fit right in here. I fish mostly out of AuGres, on the Saginaw Bay. I fish Lake Michigan a few times a year. I have a 22 Starcraft Islander hardtop. The boat is kinda like me, Old, Slow, But Somewhat Dependable. Gitter Done.

I'd probably start at the tackle shop. I would buy some in-line weights and some bottom bouncers. I would then go home and put the lead core rods, big boards, and divers away. That stuff takes up too much room, and it doesn't fit my MO. I have plenty of time so I probably would not fish until tomorrow. I would make it point to fish ahead of that front. By mid May a crawler on a harness would be my choice off in-line planers. If it was a tourney and I was in it (had to fish), most of the above would apply. I would probably fish just off the weeds on the opposite shore the wind was coming off from. There are also a few areas that a slight front would not effect as much. Others would handle this situation differently, I'm sure. I usually go against the grain.

I bought from the one in Saginaw before. It was a good place for me to hang while my wife was in the mall. I'm sorry to see them go.

GJ Dan.

Just like blue jeans, the more you wear em the better they get.

A warm welcome back to you, bashful Tim. LMAO Get back in the groove.

I just got back from the tackle store. I picked up 3 new 20 series LC reels, a new rod, another in-line planer board.

I have read the Saginaw News most every day since grade school. The last year or so the pages have gotten smaller, and fewer. It's a sad time. They used to have stock listings but that was done away with a couple of years ago. I guess computers and live TV get the new out better and faster. One of my first jobs was delivering the news.

Two thumbs up on this one Dan. You are blessed to have him and his dad aboard. It's one of the things you will feel good about the rest of your life.

Dan, Is that picture at the Gordonville launch?? BTW Grizzly Adams didn't look that bad. I like the old pics. They take me back 20 years.

Well at least you had nice weather and got that shakedown cruise behind you. Good Luck the rest of the season.

GJ Richard. A VG early trip.

I have a bunch of the MA--DX in 20 30 and 45 series. I have never had a problem with them. I will add three of the 20s for a total of 12, for my walleye spread. I probably will not run more than 10, but it's nice to have an extra, to get back in the game, when something gets messed up. I have a couple of Diawa GL47LCs. Never a problem over 10 yo. I have 6 Penn 209s that I have had for over 15 yrs without a problem I have one Penn #9 $2 Garage sale find. I replace clicker pawl last yr. This is a backup walleye reel. I have an old Penn #49 just sitting on my mantle. A garage sale find. I like the drags on the Penns #1 and the Diawas #2 The MA20DX reels are perfect for walleye. I may add MA15DX reels instead of the 20s this year. I hope my wife doesn't see this post. I love all my stuff.

With a introduction like that, from the famous Adam Bomb, Jay has to be one kick azz fisherman.

Nice looking Brown. WTG:)