Priority1

I had the extreme pleasure of fishing with Sean, Tom A, and Jim H, for a four man miscount. We farmed a 19-20 inch walleye at the end of the trip. Next trip one guy will be in charge of the count and I'll make sure he has his shoes off. Someone is going to make a count next time when the 18th fish is netted. I sure would rather be 1 short than one over. It's good thing Dutch wasn't with us. He would have been really p!$$ed. It was nice to start but we then the wind picked up and we had some 3 footers. We had a few tangles, and a busted rod but other than that it was a great trip. Sean was a boy a few years ago when his grandpa Jim brought him aboard Priority1 for a 25 fish trip. He did the work of a man this trip helping set lines and netting fish. Jim is teaching him well. Everything we had down was taking fish. We started with a 12 rod spread but scaled back to 10 when conditions worsened. 3oz BB off the down rods and 2oz BB off the Offshore boards with flag kits. I just love being out there. I gave my fish away again this trip.

Dan, You look wetter than the fish. Way to getter done in less than ideal conditions. Keep on them.

Don, Congrats on the nice catch and the 27# one.

Allan S, Tom D, Jerry P, and I took a 4 man miscount in the skinny water. I seldom switch gear so we pulled 2oz bouncers off the boards and 3 oz on the down rods. We keep doing things that are all wrong and the fish don't give a flip. It sounded like a lot of fishermen struggled today. 10 Offshore boards with flag kits and 2 down rods for a 12 rod spread. We tried some tots but the meat game keeps getting it done. We actually caught 20 keepers and mistakenly gave one away. We also caught an acrobatic small mouth that we put back. Don M who fished with me yesterday was also in the area and we finished about the same time. Don was using his trolling motor and apparently his electronics drained the main motors battery. We were able to help them with a jump start. I gave my fish away. Gotta love dat bay.

I fished with Don B, Don M, and Skip S, for a four man ticket. I burned a lot of fuel today on a recon mission Running three legs of a big triangle. We took fish in both spots we shut down over. 2oz bouncers off the boards and 3 oz bouncers on the down rods with harnesses on all. We pulled tots on the outside boards for a bit but switched to the all meat game. It was tough fishing for the most part until we hit some very active fish. At one point we had 5 on and 3 made it to the box. All colors worked but a A multi colored blade was hot as well as pink and purple. Like always we break traditional rules and the fish could care less. The fish are still not that aggressive. I have never seen a year quite like this one. If you are not on top of your game so many fish will go unnoticed. The bigger keeper fish are fat lazy and lethargic. It's been that way for us most of this season. Anyone else experience this? We also caught about 5 or 6 sub legal eyes, a big catfish, and some sheephead. I gave my 5 fish away.

GJ Robert.

Yum!!

Dan, Good work on the eyes.

Dog, Good work.

Jon, A warm to GLF.

Jason, A warm to GLF.

Steve, A warm to GLF.

It's all about education. You have to prove your proficiency to obtain a drivers license to operate a car or truck. The CG classes should be the bare minimum to obtain your boat registration. Many of these new boaters would also benefit from a few hours of practicing backing a trailer in a empty parking lot. Most of these clowns don't realize they are clowns. A person in charge at the ramps could put an end to this also. A few weeks ago I was waiting in a parking place for my crew to arrive. I saw a lone person snake back a boat trailer and launch his boat and tie up for approximately 15 min. This was on a weekend. He walked into the parking lot scanning for his guest. I told him that I too was waiting for some guests but I was doing so in the parking area and not tying up a dock. His reply was he was only waiting for one person, as if this made it better than waiting for 3 or more. Ignorance is in long supply in the boat world. Another pet peeve of mine is people that do prep things on the ramp going in and coming out. The lack of etiquette is the main reason I seldom fish weekends. There are idiots during the week also but it's times 10 or more on the weekends.

I started both these days in a restaurant waiting for conditions to improve. It's not my preferred way of starting but the company and conversation was great. Monday we spent some time looking and boated 10 nice walleye. The fish in our area were scattered. I fished with a new friend Bob E, along with Mike T, and Bob M. The main reason I fished this day was a recon for Tue. I probably would have sat both days out had it not been for a planned Tuesday trip with a very special guest. Thanks guys for helping me with this. Tuesday it was rough and we had a 91yo WW2 vet onboard. Our choices were limited so we stayed close in the weeds and fished where the waves were tolerable. We caught 7 nice eyes fairly quick but then it shut down. We also caught at least as many sheephead. The waves died a bit so we headed out to check a few spots. With the reports and weather we didn't want to venture too far from port. The winds picked up and the waves built, and we pulled lines. One of our last lines to come in had another keeper eye for 8 total. It was a pleasure fishing with our honored guest Elmer G. and his daughter Denise. Thanks to Bob M. and Skip S. for helping me make this trip possible for Elmer. I hope I can fish with Elmer many more times. I met Elmer through Walleye for Warriors. It was by chance our paths crossed and in the past I had some ties with Elmer's deceased brother Ray. It's a very small world.

I play most every fish off the sides with the rod 90 degrees to the gunwales. I have been doing this for a quite awhile. It keeps the fish in the water and they surface only as they are netted easily. Keep the rod tip straight out or even slightly down as the situation requires. Keep the rod bent.

My last trip the inner bay was cooling back down.

J Dog, Nice work.

It's also there so that if the pump diaphragm fails the spilled fuel will go into the carburetor and NOT leak into the bilge. A fuel leak to the bilge can be disastrous. Like KABOOM. Get a new piece of clear plastic tubing and hook it back up.

The best fishing on the Saginaw Bay is Mid May through early July. The fish have recently scattered and it's an ever changing game. I have some friends from the West side that fish with me often. Most of them will still have my words ringing in there ears, "Get over here in June". It's just so easy then. I'm not trying to discourage you from going but there is no pat answer to your questions. I spent 2/3 of my last trip looking for fish. It will probably be the same thing next trip. Prime time has past.

Most fishermen don't pay attention to the details. It's not about one BIG thing, it's a lot of little things that add up. It all starts with boat control. I don't mean perfect boat control, because some times a little erratic driving will trigger strikes. I drive erratically on purpose when the situation calls for it. It is also not acceptable to drive yourself into tangles. Running 12 or more lines you have to keep an erratic control. I call it driving like a drunken sailor. Next get the speed right, and that can vary. The fish will talk to you so make sure you are paying attention. The drunken sailor drive will help determine what speed is best. Some times they just want it different, faster or slower. PRESENTATION is so important Get everything else right and blow this one and its not going to happen. Poor rod handling is most common out there. A lot of fisherman think they do it right but are so far off it's laughable. Some will not accept, or admit, they are doing it wrong so they keep on keeping on. When there is a fish on keep the rod bent and low. I mean keep that rod bent at ALL times. Keep the fish in the water. Quit shaking the rod like you're in a sword fight. Be cool and in control. Proper netting. Ya have to close the deal. People with poor rod handling tactics add to the problems at the net. People wave nets around like flags and catch anything on the way to a fish. When they finally get to their destination they poke at the fish and most likely knock it off. Ya have be cool and in control. Netting is not an exact thing. The fish and rod handler will vary things, but you have to close the deal. Get good at netting. Just any one of these details can throw the game way off. SO GET IT RIGHT and your percentages will skyrocket.

GJ Tony. I'm glad your engine problems were rectified.

Woof Woof!!!!! Grumpy old dogs do bite. Maybe it was cumulative thing. Sometimes a series of events tend to put folks on edge. Maybe the noodle became the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm not sure of the circumstances rather grabbing at straws myself. We can all get bugged and not be our usual congenial selves at times. Forgive and Forget and go forward. "Help is usually always welcomed if offered in the right way." Just a bit of advice from a grumpy old dog. Damn I'm good. Let's start a Dear Abby Forum.

You can post your request here. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=70

You are like me. I don't even like weekend fishing. I hear you loud and clear. Tourneys require some pre fishing and it is tiring.

WTG Jeff