Tots in the Mud. 8-21-08

[Walleye Express]

Started just west of the Spark Plug this morning in a 1 to 2 foot NE chop. Had planned on going all the way to the outer Spark Plug or the 3 humps and fish deep, 27 to 30 FOW. But my intuition got the better of me and we spun around and started a troll back SW towards that corner of the Bay. Only hit one fish for the first mile or so but noticed a ton of fish belly to the bottom, the usual place for them to be on a NE wind. The usual late August/early September plan of mine for the last few years is an outrageous program where I let Rattle Tots out 180 feet and gouge the bottom or get as close to it as I can. The down side of course is dealing with that much line on turns or keeping lines seperated when fish hit outside lines and run or get dragged across inside ones. So I figure what the Hell, I'll go 40/40 with 1 1/2 ounce snap weights in front of the Rattle Tots. That should accomplish the same thing with less line. Well she did, and we pulled 13 walleyes with 2 being to short. Many of the extreme outside lines (ones closest to the water) that I checked now and then had zebras on their hooks and mud stuck on their bills, but they produced a pretty decent catch for this time of year on the Bay.

[JWheeler]

Nice work Dan!!!

[Walleye Express]

Ya, you know, even a blind squirrel........

[Priority1]

Way to figure it out and gitter done Dan. Find out what they want, and give em lots of it.

[Walleye Express]

Thank Frank.

The only hard part for me yesterday, after them young boys learned what a strike looked like, was trying to teach them that the outer most 2 rods on each side were hitting/gouging bottom now and then and a bent rod was not always a strike. My neck is still sore from them yelling fish on 100 times and my having to look and verify rather it was indeed a fish or the bottom. With some foresight, I'll be using 1 ounce or 3/4 ounce snaps next time out. Those 1 1/2 ouncers were already set up and ready to go, so they got used.

Edited August 22, 2008 by Walleye Express

[Walleye Express]

Oh, I also wanted to add one thing more. This party of people and two others earlier this summer were sent to me by a couple of you guys on the West Side of the State, after they had successfully fished with you for Salmon. Only one of the 3 from those referrals were canceled for weather. But I want to thank you very much for both your faith in my experience to show your clients a good time and catch them some walleyes over here on this side of the world. I was very happy that the two trips I got to run turned out for the best (limit of 20 and this trip 13) and reinforced both of our business reputations. I will remember the favor and recipicate whenever I can. Thank you again.