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Z-man
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Took a mini-break with the family last week, and spent 3 days at Sturgeon Bay, Wednesday to Saturday afternoon. Fished a few hours each day, with one or all of the kids, wife, and even the dog. Figured the best way to get them hooked on fishing was to find some of the nice smallies that are fairly easy to catch this time of year in these waters...and none of us went home dissappointed. Water temps in the canal ranged from 48 to 53 throughout the time we were there. The more willing feeders were in the warmer water, and Lindy-rigging suckers in 18 to 24 feet was a very effective method of catching them, not to mention a pretty easy way for Dad to help them manage the lines, while stearing the bow-mount, netting the fish, keeping the dog from jumping overboard to chase geese and ducks,etc.  The most excitement came on double smallies, or savage hits from pike bending the rods down to water level....got a good number of pike into the boat, but had quite a few bite-offs too, as we were rigged with 10 lb. mono leaders and circle hooks.
I'm estimating that we boated at least 2 dozen smallies over the course of 3 afternoons, most in the cookie-cutter size range of 18 to 19 inches, with only two under, and the largest a 20 incher caught by my daughter. Lost at least as many. Not to be outdone, though, my son boated a bonus 28 inch eye when we decided to search out a 14 foot flat off the main channel. The girls had left us by this time with the camera, to explore the local shops, but Capt. Fritz Peterson had stopped with clients to watch the fight, all of us figuring my son had just another nice pike on. After we netted the eye, the good Capt. took a couple shots of her before the release.....will post those pics when he emails them to me.
So all in all,between the good fishing, hiking the state parks, good eats at local establishments, and the comfortable digs of the Beachharbor resort, a very good trip, and we're all talking about going back again for more 
We did fish the shallow flats for a bit, but with cold temps, only got a couple there, dragging a sucker with split-shot. The bite for smallies should just improve in these waters, shallow and deep,in coming days and weeks....tough to beat these cookie-cutter 18's, except by some of the low 20's that also frequent these waters.
Will post some pics after the kids get them downloaded. Destroyed my camera in some rough trolling in Green Bay the previous week  , but the new one came in while we were gone.
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Z-man
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Finally got around to posting a few pics of last weeks outing. Mom had to show the kids how to display a nice smallie...this was the second of a double that caused some chaos on the boat, with all the hooting/hollering attracting the attention and grins of a few boaters around us. And the camera-shy daughter who did the netting on this one, decided to stay in the background, sneaking in some bunny-ears. But got her to pose with one of the nice smallies she got that afternoon. Even the dog tried to get in on some of the action.
If you've never taken on the challenge of fishing with the family, you ought to give it a try....it's a real hoot.
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Z-man
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....almost forgot the pic of the new fishing boat I hinted about for my next birthday. Think about all the rod holders you could mount on this baby.
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Sturgeon Bay family outing
