Fishing Michigan

1 59 Pikulski, Joe MI Gilbert, Myron MI 16 5.96 0.65 0.52 $2,451.00 Biggest Gill $120.00
2 35 Smith, Doug MI Rogers, Randy MI 16 5.82 0.37 1.09 $1,225.50 Biggest Crappie $120.00
3 63 Pearson, Buddy MI Chittum, Kevin MI 16 4.83 0.44 0.74 $817.00
4 10 Wells, Brandon MI Pace, Andrew MI 16 4.82 0.51 1.02 $408.50
5 21 Tesmer, Tim MI Angel, Tim MI 16 4.14 0.53 0.54 $408.50
6 51 Boedeker, Mike MI Young, Dave MI 16 3.87 0.49 0.47 $408.50
7 46 Williams, Barry MI Williams, Jason MI 16 3.77 0.22 0.54 $408.50
8 52 Boedeker, David MI Kniffen, Ron MI 16 3.67 0.00 0.59 $408.50
9 22 Bivins, Isaac MI Bivins, Zach MI 14 3.61 0.40 0.46 $408.50
10 8 Bieszat, Ron IL Witte, Dave WI 16 3.50 0.29 0.49 $408.50
11 33 Stachurski, Richard NY Riley, Kevin NY 16 3.40 0.59 0.00 $204.25
12 3 Crawford, Paul MI Schultz, John MI 16 3.26 0.00 0.65 $204.25
13 36 Griffith, Bob PA Kuna, Mike PA 16 3.23 0.48 0.56 $204.25
14 1 Martin, Jim MI Martin, Glenn MI 16 3.05 0.37 0.26 $204.25
15 20 Tucker, Nick MI Williams, Jeff MI 16 3.02 0.00 0.53 $204.25
16 61 Jersey, Gary MI Seagraves, Al MI 16 2.91 0.36 0.19
17 41 Schaumberg, Jeff OH Vorell, Dan OH 15 2.77 0.31 0.83
18 45 Faynor, Bud MI Cox, Roy IL 16 2.77 0.30 0.33
19 50 Wright, Jeff MI Wright, Ben MI 15 2.65 0.00 0.37
20 18 Kemeter, Zack MI Spiess, Derek MI 12 2.51 0.44 0.00 Ice Gator
21 49 Horn, Robert IL Sitarz, Bart IL 16 2.43 0.00 0.29 Auger
22 34 Dillon, Mark IN James, Bob IN 15 2.39 0.00 0.38
24 19 Dahlin, Craig MI Odil, Scott MI 15 2.37 0.49 0.00
23 13 Sercomb, Mike MI Todd, Gary MI 14 2.37 0.34 0.00
25 17 Krzeminski, Tad IL Cholewa, Marion IL 15 2.21 0.00 0.45
26 11 Karpo, Steve MI Curtis, Tony MI 15 2.00 0.00 0.00
27 9 Kempf, Larry MI Wills, Kenneth MI 12 1.98 0.00 0.00
28 40 Gawlinski, Jacek IL Wojcik, Zibi IL 11 1.96 0.27 0.00
29 39 Smith, Randy MI Smith, Chase MI 12 1.87 0.37 0.00
30 2 Taffe, Terry MI Jarmin, Mike MI 15 1.79 0.00 0.00 $120.00
31 16 Clement, Andy MI Clement, Jeff MI 12 1.79 0.00 0.00
32 37 Schirmacher, Spencer MI Collins, Adam MI 16 1.79 0.00 0.00
33 44 Moser, Jeremy MI Smiley, Mike MI 11 1.79 0.00 0.00
34 60 Knutson, Topio MI Mattis, Randy MI 11 1.69 0.00 0.56
35 43 Trumble, Eric MI Brousseau, Kyle MI 6 1.66 0.00 0.52
36 30 Scaman, Warren IL Kopjo, Jim IL 16 1.64 0.13 0.36
37 5 Hunt, Darin MI Owen, Rod MI 10 1.64 0.00 0.00
38 6 Drlicka, John MI Fry, Johnny MI 12 1.52 0.31 0.32
39 66 Smith, Mark IN Tuttle, Jeff IN 14 1.52 0.00 0.22
40 47 Wright, Greg MI Wright, Lucas MI 12 1.51 0.00 0.00 $120.00
41 14 Morse, Phil MI Morse, Jeff MI 12 1.49 0.00 0.00
42 67 Karpo, Alex MI Rollston, Matt MI 5 1.43 0.00 0.46
43 64 Charles, Jason MI Fredrickson, Ryan MI 10 1.40 0.00 0.43
44 24 Silveus, Robert MI Silveus, Douglas MI 12 1.39 0.00 0.54
45 27 Bussian, Doug WI Danula, John WI 9 1.34 0.57 0.00
46 65 Wallace, Dalton MI Jewell, Anthony MI 8 1.33 0.38 0.00
47 53 Cratsenburg, Jeff MI Cratsenburg, Chad MI 5 1.05 0.00 0.00
48 4 Smith, Frank MI Losey, Rick MI 7 0.94 0.00 0.00
49 55 Bacarella, John MI Bacarella, Joshua MI 9 0.87 0.00 0.00
50 25 Donahee, Ryan MI Sierminski, Mike MI 6 0.86 0.20 0.00 2ea Shappell
51 62 Franks, Steve MI Mcconnell, Mike MI 2 0.62 0.00 0.42 Rovers
52 15 Holford, Brian MI Ropasy, Scott MI 1 0.30 0.00 0.30
53 42 Ellison, Scott MI Ellison, Joe MI 1 0.26 0.00 0.26
54 26 Jones, James MI Culp, John MI 2 0.08 0.00 0.00
55 48 Richardson, Kent MI Wright, Chad MI 1 0.04 0.00 0.00 Little Atom
56 7 Rosecrans, Mark MI Glaza, John MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 Lure Box
57 12 Downard, Tim MI Taylor, Roger MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
58 23 Mills, William MI Schuette, Thomas MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
59 28 Adams, Doug OH Rider, Jason OH 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
60 29 Dodes, Scott MI Moyer, Mike MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
61 38 Marsonek, Tom OH Munger, Eileen OH 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
62 56 Mohammed, Tony MI Andy, Mike MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00
63 58 Nagel, Paul MI Kovacs, Dennis MI 0 0.00 0.00 0.00

Last weekend on Wampler’s Lake in Brooklyn, Knutson’s Bait and Tackle ran  the MidWest Open.  It was a bluegill and crappie tournament where teams of two had to bring in 8 of each species. Some of the best teams that used to dominate the old Trap Attack series were entered and many were on top of the standings at day’s end.

Here is Tim Angel from Branch County I believe.  He is the other half of a Tim and Tim team, with his partner being Tim Tesmer.  Past winners on Wampler’s, these two have made a few trips to the championship event.

Here is a shot of the lake during the tournament.  Notice how everyone is closed up in their shanties?  Even though the weather was warm there is a good reason for this.  Wampler’s like many of the lakes in the region has extremely clear water, and this allows for sight fishing.  It is best done inside an enclosed fish house, where the angler can actually look down the hole while he or she is jigging for the bigger fish.  Its like watching TV, and really helps in playing keep away from the smaller fry.

This is a shot of the contestants coming back to get their buckets weighed.  This year there was a new twist that seems to have gone over fairly big, the weigh-in was held indoors at one of the Brooklyn high schools.  Seems to have gone over fairly big, instead of waiting around in the cold to see what everyone caught.

This is IceMan Barry Williams, with his son Jason.  Barry has a real gift when it comes to making true ice flies.  Sometimes a generic term applied to all ice jigs, in recent years he has perfected some weighted spiders and flies made with tungsten beads allowing for a slow and realistic drop while ice fishing.

This is Jeff Wright, who teams up to fish with his brother Ben.  These guys are also past winners on Wampler’s, and the first team to win the North American Ice Fishing Championship.  They’ve got the gold rings to prove it.  Everyone was given a bucket for transporting their limit to the school for the weigh-in.

Tired of this on again, off again winter?  Go North and enjoy what ice fishing is all about.  Pack up the gear, throw a dart at a  map and get out of town while the getting is good.  It doesn’t have to be that off the wall, but there are many destinations around the shotgun line, just hours away with great opportunities.

One get-a-way that never gets old is heading up to Saginaw Bay.  I had thought about going out to Brest Bay and trying my luck.  I called up the State Park Party Store, and they were pretty definite about not trying my luck.  Its not a bad thing to listen to folks when it comes to walking on the hardwater.

I talked to a buddy of mine online the other night, and the walleye fishing has been steadily getting better on the bay.  This two day warm spell should do little to harm the conditions.  Basically melt some snow, blow out some slush, and then lock it all back in for the weekend.  This is the picture of their catch Monday night, plus one bonus perch.

Here’s a yearly event held at Jerry’s Pub on Wampler’s Lake in Brooklyn.  Its  fun event for all, and the price is easy to swallow at only a $10.00 entry fee to be paid prior to the start of fishing that day.  Below is the information that was sent to me, along with the entry form that can be printed out.  Good Luck if you decided to go, its a lot of fun and worth the trip.
 

Sunday February 10^th, 2008  - ” BIG FISH ”

Registration and Launch Headquarters at Jerry’s Pub & Restaurant. The Contest will be restricted to one-hundred individual participants, so please register in advance ~ 517-467-4700, $10 Entry Fee ( Register morning of the Contest inside Jerry’s only if absolutely necessary ~ may be full ). All money taken in will be paid out in awards, 25% for each of the 4 BIG FISH. Cash Prizes to be awarded for the biggest fish by weight caught in the following categories: Bluegill ( Includes Redear and all Sunfish except the Rock Bass ), Crappie, Walleye and Pike, ( No Pan Fish under 7 inches ). There will be gifts by drawing as well. Park from the back of lot to the front. All fishing will begin at 8 AM - weigh in at 1 PM, Awards inside right after the Weigh-In is completed. Weight will determine winning fish, length will break ties. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS: ·          All entrants will abide by the laws of the state of

Protect the environment, remove refuse, including cigarette butts, from the ice when you leave. Each entrant agrees to hold the sponsors and organizers, their agents or employees harmless from any liability of any nature and kind for any injuries, and or damages or disagreements suffered by the entrant before, during, or after the contest is held. An individual may be entered by completing the entry form and signing it. When completed this contract is binding and party agrees to abide by the contest rules. Entry fee is $10 and must be paid prior to contest start time.  Have fun and catch THE BIG FISH. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cut here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I have read and agree to the Rules for ” The Jerry’s Pub Ice Fishing Contest on

Phone Number ____________________         Tag Number assigned ____________________ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2008dh.jerryspub.doc
 

There is ice to the west of us,  I will make a few calls to see if there is any to the east of us.  Well northeast anyway.

As of now there is enough ice out on Wamplers to take machines out to haul your gear.  Just enough snow on the lake to make it easier to walk as well.  Wampler’s Lake has a little bit of everything in it; pike, walleye, perch and it really shines for crappie and bluegill.

Want a quick get-a-way?  They are icing walleye and perch up on Saginaw Bay as we speak.  The river has been producing as well, but caution needed as the middle hasn’t frozen over completely yet.

Will get a hold of some friends to see how the perch fishing is on Lake St. Clair.  With this cold snap the past week or so, there must be someone catching perch around the marinas and creeks.

Custom Jigs & Spins offers three spoons that I am familiar with,  and one that has been a highly successful spoon from the first time I used it last year on Lake Erie.  The Slender Spoonis a uniquely shaped spoon that was introduced by Reef Runner several years ago.  Yep, the same Reef Runner that makes trolling crankbaits for catching walleye.   Although the 1/4 oz is light by Erie standards, the physical size measures up.  So far the copper blade and orange sticker has produced the best.  Although the hook measures up, the blade can get twisted up while catching pike.

The Lightning Spoon offers some unique color patterns. Some companies would call it a holographic finish, while this one calls it “foil”.  Three sizes are available, and species to target range from aggressive gills, crappie, perch and walleye.  Definitely too small for pike.

The Demon Spoon bares a striking resemblance to the Frostee Spoon produced by Lindy.  Available in a few more colors, this spoon should be used while targeting panfish including perch.  It is a push in the 1/8th oz to use while chasing walleye.

Overall, the prices are right.  Highly recommend getting some of the Slender Spoons for your spoon selection.

When talking about fishing, specially ice fishing in the Midwest, Lindy’sname will usually come up during the conversation.  Small wonder with so many of their ice lures bearing the name of Dave Genz,  basically the concensus leader in ice fishing over the past decade.  Lindy offers three spoons in its line up of ice lures.

The first one to hit the market several years ago was the Rattl’r Spoon.  On the backside of the spoon there is a rattle chamber. It comes in three sizes, and since the website does not list the weights, if memory serves they are available in 1/8,  1/4 and 3/8ths of an ounce. Primarily a walleye spoon, the smaller size can be used with perch.

The next one to be introduced was the Frostee Spoon.  This spoon was developed from the vertical jig of the same name three or four years ago.  Available in a variety of Lindy’s Techni-Glo colors, most anglers use the smaller sizes for panfish.  It is also available in 3/16th and 1/4 oz.  These two closely weighted lures are  viable walleye spoons.

Released this year, is the Rattl’n Flyer Spoon.  Unlike the Frostee spoon, this one takes its’  heritage from a horizontal jig.  Available in some unique new colors and prism finishes, it follows Lindy’s target audience, inland lakes.  Going no larger than 1/4 oz,  it is good for optimal conditions on the Great Lakes.  Look for a 1/16 oz size to come out next year for gills and crappie.

The Bay de Noc Lure Company, ever hear of it?  Does not sound familiar?  If you like to ice fish, specially for walleye, I bet you have and never realized it.  Because I would lay odds that you have a few of their lures in your tackle gear,  like the Swedish Pimple or perhaps a Do-Jigger.  Another effective fish catching lure is the Vingla.

The company was founded in 1955, and like many Michigan tackle companies, they led the way into a new revolution in fishing lures.  The company isn’t as old as Heddon, or Arbogast (Jitterbug fame), but they hold their niche just like these famous brands.  When ice fishing was still in the cradle compared to targeting other styles of fishing,  Bay de Noc Lures were the first and only jigging spoon available to the winter angler.

The name of the company comes from its location, in Gladstone, Michigan.  Thats the Upper Peninsula for all us trolls under the bridge.  Located on Little Bay de Noc, east of Escanaba, the lures were made and tested right there on Lake Michigan.

Made of solid brass, the lures can be made to jiggle, hammer the bottom or flutter on the drop.  All effective means to jig up walleyes during the winter.  The smaller versions of the Pimple are also effective for perch and crappie.  The big boys, 2 oz and bigger for ideal for salmon and northern pike.  You might have to get a custom rod built for those lures though.

Here is a discription of sizes and new colors available in their crushed ice series in the Pimple line-up that was announced last year. The copper, yellow and orange ice were all good colors, and looking forward to trying out the purple and green that are new for 2008.

Ok Mike, and everyone else.  A funny thing happend yesterday while taking the beagle pups on a training run behind the house.  First of all they had a blast, instead of me or Bonnie (the lab) kicking up the bunnies, the managed two on their own.  They figured out what their noses are for, and they found their voices too.  I still haven’t fired a shot over them, but have been working a couple of times a week in this little scrub wooded patch.

Nothing like the sound of two happy pups baying on the heels of a cottontail.  I let them have their fun and called them in.  Guage is the best so far on coming when called, so I latched the snap from the lead rope onto her collar. 

Here is the fun part, while I am kneeling holding Guage, Belle is three feet away standing in some downed brown grass.  I am calling her, and calling her and calling her.  Ok, here I am thinking she is having a “hound momment”, so I take my glove and toss it next to her head to catch her attention.   I must have hit that rabbit square in the back, because off she ran, with Belle right behind her, Bonnie behind Belle, and me trying to get the latch undone on Guage.

Its amazing how tight the rabbit held with me, and three dogs practically right on top of it.  I pity the computer game/video generation because they miss out on so many amazing stories like that one because they never leave the house.

Its always good to have the camera charged up for emergency reasons.  I took this picture last night as the sun was going down.  Makes for a nice desktop screen.