WalligatorGetter
03-13-2010, 11:35 AM
Well, I read in the paper that some wrecking service pulled nine vehicles out of the lake this past week. With that said, I think it is safe to say that I am done for the season. I don’t want to end up in the paper next week! I just thought that I would take the time to post one final report for the season.
I know that I have complained a lot about this being a frustrating season, and it was. For a good chunk of the season I couldn’t fish in my number one or my number two spots because of all of the congestion in the upper bay from the lack of ice this year. In other words, my spots in the upper bay were all full because there wasn’t enough ice for people to fish the outer bay for much of the season.
On top of that, the lack of ice also took its toll on me as I was counting on being able to take a pickup truck out there so that I could sneak out on the week days during the narrow time period after my classes. However, I had to use a sled for most of the season which was just too much messing around for fishing after class.
Although it was a frustrating season, when I look back on it, it really was a pretty successful season. I ended up with 67 keeper walleyes, and a few nice ones in there too. I didn’t get any monsters like I was hoping, but I did get three different fish that went over eight pounds. I also caught a lot of fish in that 23-27 inch range, which are also very fun to catch.
I pretty much fished in the upper bay. I have never done very well fishing south of Gladstone, with the exception of the Esky river mouth which always has big fish near it. I always fished on either the mud flats, or one of the few different pieces of structure that I fish. As one would expect, most of the eaters came from the structure, most of the bigger fish came from the mud flats.
I ended up catching nearly all of my fish on #9 rapalas in bright colors, and always with no bait. On the structure, I fished them 18 inches to 3 feet off the bottom. On the mud flats, I fished them anywhere from 18 inches to 12 feet off the bottom – whatever depth the fish were at. And I always rip them really hard.
I never caught a single walleye on a tip-up.:mad: I just don’t know how people do it. I think I had four flags all season. I missed two, and the other two were pike. I don’t know. Next year I’m going to have to find a tip-up tutor or something. I don’t fish at night. Maybe that is part of my tip-up problem
All and all, it was a pretty good season. There seemed to be good numbers of fish in all of the spots that I fished. There was certainly no shortage of Tanks. Every time I went out I marked giant fish. Getting them to bite is a different story though. Little Bay de Noc truly is a world class walleye fishery – lots of fish, and big ones too!:)
Happy "waiting for the 15th of May" to all!
I know that I have complained a lot about this being a frustrating season, and it was. For a good chunk of the season I couldn’t fish in my number one or my number two spots because of all of the congestion in the upper bay from the lack of ice this year. In other words, my spots in the upper bay were all full because there wasn’t enough ice for people to fish the outer bay for much of the season.
On top of that, the lack of ice also took its toll on me as I was counting on being able to take a pickup truck out there so that I could sneak out on the week days during the narrow time period after my classes. However, I had to use a sled for most of the season which was just too much messing around for fishing after class.
Although it was a frustrating season, when I look back on it, it really was a pretty successful season. I ended up with 67 keeper walleyes, and a few nice ones in there too. I didn’t get any monsters like I was hoping, but I did get three different fish that went over eight pounds. I also caught a lot of fish in that 23-27 inch range, which are also very fun to catch.
I pretty much fished in the upper bay. I have never done very well fishing south of Gladstone, with the exception of the Esky river mouth which always has big fish near it. I always fished on either the mud flats, or one of the few different pieces of structure that I fish. As one would expect, most of the eaters came from the structure, most of the bigger fish came from the mud flats.
I ended up catching nearly all of my fish on #9 rapalas in bright colors, and always with no bait. On the structure, I fished them 18 inches to 3 feet off the bottom. On the mud flats, I fished them anywhere from 18 inches to 12 feet off the bottom – whatever depth the fish were at. And I always rip them really hard.
I never caught a single walleye on a tip-up.:mad: I just don’t know how people do it. I think I had four flags all season. I missed two, and the other two were pike. I don’t know. Next year I’m going to have to find a tip-up tutor or something. I don’t fish at night. Maybe that is part of my tip-up problem
All and all, it was a pretty good season. There seemed to be good numbers of fish in all of the spots that I fished. There was certainly no shortage of Tanks. Every time I went out I marked giant fish. Getting them to bite is a different story though. Little Bay de Noc truly is a world class walleye fishery – lots of fish, and big ones too!:)
Happy "waiting for the 15th of May" to all!