Jason Halfen
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After a long week's absence, I had a chance to get back onto the backyard gem for the afternoon. I started by checking the main-lake crankbait bite that has been the staple of my trips since early June. Well, that didn't last too long. Two shakers and a magnum leadcore tangle led me back to the moving waters of the Chippewa River that typically host my mid-late summer visits.
Tim and I found a variety of fish snapping up in the river. Most came to the boat on live bait presentations, although a couple, including the unusual green fish shown in the first picture, came on catalpa orange/chartreuese tail paddletails from B-Fish-N Tackle. I haven't caught a largemouth on Wissota in several years, so this 16" fish was quite a surprise. Walleyes were active in the flow, and we ended the afternoon with a total of 14, with the majority of those fish in the 15-17" class. No "overs" today but decent action nevertheless. Crawler halves and leeches fished dead slow on 1/16 oz jigs did the damage.
Channel cats were a constant presence in some of the deeper stretches adjacent to the shallow mid-river structure we were targeting. The largest of the several we tangled with today was the 24 incher shown in the second pic. After getting my thumb chewed up pretty well by a 10 pound channel last week, I went out and grabbed a Lindy Fish Handling Glove, and used the glove to handle the cats we landed today. I'm definitely impressed with not only the protection that this glove affords the hand, but also with the ability to get a good, firm grip on the fish through the "SuperFabric". If you have kids or a spouse who don't like to handle fish because of teeth/spines/scales/slime, or are weary of your own hands being turned into hamburger by teeth, fins, or gill plates, then do yourself a favor and grab at least one of these gloves. All I need now is a right handed glove to match the lefty I picked up today.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin: JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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walleye1274
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Thanksfor the update Jason!!  I am just itching to get back on the water on Saterday after beeing out of the country for the last 2 weeks. Do you think the trolling bit is starting to fade? I was hoping troll for a few hours to kick things off. Even though the trolling bite has been fun I do miss the thump of jig fishing! Thanks again.
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Jason Halfen
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There are still fish that will hit trolled cranks on the lake, but it is NOTHING like it was earlier in the summer. We had 2 yesterday before we pulled the plug. I probably had a couple of handfuls on my trip prior, last week.
Whites and natural patterns are still taking the most fish in my boat.
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin: JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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Whiskerkev
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I couldn't see but are you wearing heels to match those gloves?
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bigpike
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Quote:
I couldn't see but are you wearing heels to match those gloves?
ouch....
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"Goverment is not the answer to peoples problems. Goverment is the problem" Ronald Reagan
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Jason Halfen
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Laugh all you want fellas, my hands are cut-free this morning!
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Jason Halfen ~ IDO Pro Staff
Guided walleye and smallmouth bass fishing in western Wisconsin: JasonHalfenOutdoors.com
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Whiskerkev
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Like the pic of my mom holding that 20 from last year? She wouldn't even think of putting on bite proof gloves.
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Mudshark
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I'm not gonna laugh Jason...
The way my hands are working lately I'll be the next one in line for abuse 
But I am a bit older than you  
Them buggers DO hurt sometimes 
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"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do." Ben Franklin
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Whiskerkev
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I notice Mudshark isn't wearing any nancy boy gloves in his avatar though.
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raapala
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Hey, both Luke Skywalker and Michael Jackson wore a glove, so can Jason. So leave him alone!! 
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Mudshark
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I am bit serious here....(yer just a trouble maker kev )
I have trouble grasping things-especially slippery things- anymore (long story) and have been wondering what type or brand to buy....
Your recommendation is good enough for me...
Thanks bud! 
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"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do." Ben Franklin
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Darrin Bauer
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I need to take a picture of my wife holding leeches with a pair of hemostats, also quite funny. Will be dragging crawlers today in the yellow river bay just upstream from the state park landing, did well last weekend, one over, 2 in the slot and 2 unders. I hope to mark some of those cribs that eluded me last Sunday.
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Whiskerkev
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Mudshark,
If you come to my boat with such a glove, you're walking to the fishin hole.
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Jono
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I think the gloves are a good idea. I like unlined leather work gloves and I work them with mink oil to keep them in shape. I keep two pair in the boat.
I fish Muskies primarily and they help a lot to protect my hands from gill rakers, teeth, hooks, etc.
For guys who might not normally fish larger predators, they are still good to keep around in the boat. You might be fishing Wallys or Smallies or whatever but you can't control what bites your lure. If you happen to catch a pike or muskie you have something to protect your hands while dealing with the fish. That can give you better grip and confidence which helps the fish in that it may minimize handling time and time out of water; ensuring a good release.
Over the last couple of years, one thing I've seen late fall is guys using latex gloves to protect their hands from getting wet in the cold but still be sensitive enough to cast. I have a pair of lightweight turkey hunting gloves that I use in this application.
Jono
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Wissota update, 7-9-08
