Z-man
Member
Reged: 02/04/02
Posts: 540
Fish Bucks: $10.80
Loc: Dousman, WI
|
|
Had the pleasure of joining a couple friends on Wednesday and Thursday for a day and a half of trolling the waters of Green Bay's western shores. A cold front that moved in earlier in the week made for a tough day on Wednesday, and the forecast NE winds at 10, were actually more like 15, gusting to 20 or so, with 3 to 4 footers by the time we got off the water. Still managed to boat 5 eyes between 23 and 27 inches, and missed at least as many hits, nipping short on the harnesses we were pulling. Water temps had dropped to the 43/45 range from couple days earlier, but we stuck with the harnesses nevertheless, struggling to keep a straight course and low speeds.
Quite a different story, though on Thursday. A bad forecast actually turned into a very nice morning on the water, with moderate winds, and waves at about 2 to 2.5 feet, with the sun peeking through most of the morning, and water temps up to the 47/48 range. Trolling with the wind at 1 to 1.3 again pulling harnesses was the ticket. The fish ran smaller on day two, and by the time we quit just before noon, we boated 9 eyes in the 21 to 24 inch range, missed at least as many,plus a nice, spunky 8 lb. brown that pulled the board straight back and went airborne after the hit. Pretty steady action for the 3 hours we fished.
No pics on this trip...dropped the camera holding on for dear life on Wednesday, and that was all she wrote...time for a new one. 
The larger fish were spawned out and pretty skinny, not the typical football-shaped eyes you would have seen a week or two earlier. Trolling these waters should remain pretty steady for a few weeks. If it's a mixed bag you're after, going with cranks at a faster speed should give you a better shot at pike and browns.
|
Outdoor Guy
Member
Reged: 03/23/05
Posts: 58
Fish Bucks: $1.16
Loc: Norway,Michigan In DA UP
|
|
Heading just south of there tomorrow. What depths were you targeting ? According to my local info, They should be in 4'-8' FOW at a slower pace .5-.7 mph. Any thoughts ? 
--------------------
" I don't think I understand all it is that I think I know about this"
|
Z-man
Member
Reged: 02/04/02
Posts: 540
Fish Bucks: $10.80
Loc: Dousman, WI
|
|
We got most of ours in the 6 to 10 ft. range, at speeds just over 1 mph. Slower probably wouldn't hurt, but that was tough to do in the winds we had. May account for the large number of short hits.
Edited by Z-man (05/02/08 11:24 AM)
|
Tom Gursky
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2437
Fish Bucks: $48.64
Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iro...
|
|
Thanks for the report Z man. I am heading that direction also...Do you think a guy could Lindy rig or drift over them dragging light jigs/crawlers? The winds will be down tomorrow with rainy overcast weather. Air temps to low 50s...
--------------------
Tom Gursky~Northwoods Adventures Guide Service
GameHide / St Croix Rods
BfishN Tackle Field Staff / ["May all your trophies be worthy of the Good Book"
|
Z-man
Member
Reged: 02/04/02
Posts: 540
Fish Bucks: $10.80
Loc: Dousman, WI
|
|
Tom, I asked my buddy the same question, because trolling with boards for walleye is my least favorite way of fishing. I did catch one pitching plastic ahead of the boat as we were trolling, but that's it. All of our fish were caught on boards, with the closest being about 40 feet away, and the rest beyond that. We had two flat lines out 80 feet back behind the boat, and those never got bit, even though we were trolling with the electric bowmount. Unlike river fishing, it seems that the fish are more easily spooked by the passing boat, particularly in 10 fow or less. So I'm convinced that when in Rome....well, you know the rest. I'm hoping to get back there in the next couple weeks, and am planning on bringing some boards along. Good luck.
By the way, the smallies ought to be turning on soon in Sturgeon Bay area. Lindy rigging suckers or shiners in 6 to 10 feet is a very effective way of catching those babies, and even in the clear water, doesn't seem to bother them,( probably just because they're not as smart as walleye, I guess.) It can be a blast if you've never done it before....almost all in the 16 to 20 range, with a few bigger than that. Makes it easier to give up walleye fishing, if only for a day.
|
Tom Gursky
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 07/08/02
Posts: 2437
Fish Bucks: $48.64
Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iro...
|
|
Quote:
So I'm convinced that when in Rome....well, you know the rest.
I agree... CATCHING Walleyes trolling is still better than NOT catching them jigging! 
--------------------
Tom Gursky~Northwoods Adventures Guide Service
GameHide / St Croix Rods
BfishN Tackle Field Staff / ["May all your trophies be worthy of the Good Book"
|
Oconto/Peshtigo walleye
