Catching Up

Wow, I was right.  We did pay for that warm spring.  The record summer temps didn’t help as well.  There were some of the highest surface temps on the lake that I remember.  Things held together till around July 4^th and then it was 7 weeks of bath water. 

Right Now

But here we are.  We made it through the shore fishing doldrums and starting Labor Day weekend it has been very good and fairly consistent.  Crankbaits early and late have been taking some nice 4 year old Kings.  Flicker Shads and #5 Bomber Fat Free Shads.  I have to say it again; the Flicker Shad is the best lure out there for $3.99!

In-Fisherman: Tubes for Trout and Salmon

In case you are interested, my article regarding fishing tubes for Lake Michigan Trout and Salmon is running in the In-Fisherman right now.  Outside of these spawning Kings, the tubes are  deadly all season long. 

Full Moon Walleye

The photo is my daughter Ava with a nice Lake Minocqua Walleye that she caught on our August vacation.  This fish hit her Deep Thunderstick Jr while we were fishing the evening of a full moon.  It came from the shallow saddle between Kline and Jossart Island.  After we shared high fives, there was still time for one more drift so we set up in the exact same place.  I was still picking up pliers, flashlights and putting the net away when Ava made another cast.  “Dad I have another fish”, she exclaimed.  I look over and the rod is pinned to the gunwale and line is screaming from the reel.  I reached over and lifted the rod to feel what it was and I felt a big head shake.  A BIG head shake!  That’s when I started to get nervous.  The fish was still screaming 8# line off the reel and heading back to the west and into the bay.  We were drifting the other way.  That’s when I told Ava to hold the rod high and I spun the bow around with the trolling motor and we started to chase it.  We followed it for a half a minute or so and then the fish stopped.  Ava tugged a while but by then I could see that it wasn’t moving.  I helped her pull and we got back a bushel of weeds and bottom debris about 8’ up the line.  That fish (I am presuming a big Musky) ran her through about 30 yards of weeds and got off.  We did get the T-Stick back featuring some serious tooth gouges.  I was a pretty exciting two casts that we won’t ever forget.  And she got to feel the power of a big musky.