Fishing Michigan

What are the advantages of using a flasher like Vexilar units on open water?  Quite a few actually.

I mentioned realtime readings in the prior piece.  This means whatever you are reading is actually happening at that moment.  The flasher units do not need to interpret what the signals mean and then display the information into a visual representation. What you see, is what you have right then and there.

Flashers give you an exact type of bottom content as you travel over that area.  Is it flat, soft, or hard bottom.  Are there weeds or are they scarce and if there are weeds, are there fish lurking within.  With the FL-18’s or FL-20’s, you can zoom on the bottom six foot and get the separation between fish and lake bed that you cannot get with a traditional fish finder.

If you are vertical jigging in the Detroit River or other body of water where the currents are moving fast and control of your jig is important, the flashers really shine.  Just like during ice fishing, you see your jig, you see the bottom, you see the fish, fish rises to jig, jig meets fish and pretty much set the hook.  Ok, that’s a little simplified, but not by much.

The false readings you get with traditional fish finders just don’t happen with a flasher.  Often a fish finder or sonar unit will read fish by checking for an air bladder and sending the results back to the unit.  Bigger the bladder, the bigger the representation on the unit’s display. 

Now use a Vexilar or some other type of unit.  Its June, walleye fishing at its best, and the mayfly hatch is in full swing.  You can actually pick up the mayflies (also called wigglers) on your screen as lil’ green specs, then you see the big red marks representing walleyes.  Now you know the hatch is on in that locale, and you know the depth where the walleye are feeding.  Time to change up your tactics to “match the hatch”.  Not literally like in fly fishing streams,  but get your lures, rigs and inline spinners down to where the walleye are.

Just because winter is about to end, do not be in a rush to put away your 3-color flashers into storage until the next ice season.  Although most folks think the Vexilar units are just for winter and ice fishing, they can be an invaluable tool during the open water months as well.

The open water transducers in come in many models to fit your application.  I use one on the electric trolling motor for the inland lakes.  On the big lakes, and the bigger boat, I have a high speed transducer set up.  If you have a fiberglass boat you can use the hull thru ducer and epoxy it to shoot straight down.  If you run an aluminum boat, then there is an aluma-ducer  available.

Using a flasher really seems to be a lost art on open water, and for folks who aren’t using this available technology, they really are missing out.  Flashers give you the picture as it happens in realtime,  there is no delay over what you see, and what is happening in the water.  If you don’t have an ice fishing system already, there is another option for you.  The FL-10 is an in dash unit that can be rigged just like I already described.  Some will rig one in the console, others will install a second one in the bow as well, depending on the type/design of the  boat you are using.

Just a quick reference as to how I have it rigged.  I used my FL-8’s last year, since I replaced them with the FL-20’sduring the winter, I will be using those.  They are the same transducers.  In the 16 ft duck boat for the inland lakes, I have my unit in the bow to read off the trolling motor.  In the big boat, or bigger boat I use a RAM mount on the dash.  Both transducers, although different styles,  are 12 degree units.  During the summer when the fish are shallower (walleye) a 19′ ducer is fine.  When you start getting into that 30 to 40 ft range during the hotter months is when the 12′ ducer shines.  Now if I take up salmon fishing the 12 degree will work, but if I was rigging a boat just for salmon fishing in deep water, then I would go with the 9′ transducer.  The FL-20 will read down to 200 ft, so in most applications in Michigan waters, I should be ok there too. 

I hope everyone had a good Easter today,  I am still stuffed from my sister-in-laws’ meal,  maybe it was the bumpy cake. FULL!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking for an opportunity to either get your feet wet fishing a tournament or looking for a little excitement,  here is the perfect opportunity to do both.  The Huron Valleye Sportfishing Club in conjunction with the Down River Walleye Federation is holding the Jim Territo Charity Detroit River Walleye Tournament on April 12th.  The entry fee is only $20 per person, so get a couple of buddies and hit the river jigging.

Go to this link for all the information you need to get signed up, and I was asked to mention to get signed up as soon as possible.  http://www.mssfa.com/huron_valley/JimTerrito.htm

Click on the rules and entry form icons to get started.  If you get signed up, enjoy the experience and good luck fishing.  You don’t need to catch a limit, just the big fish!

Walking ditches, seeing the weeds move against the current and taking off running.  Those were memories from walking Plum Creek as a kid.  Just a mile or so down the road from my parent’s house, it made for a nice bike ride, and before that just a good stretch of the legs.  With me went my spear.

I don’t know the make of the spear head, but it was a nice 6 tine model.  I had it attached to a 12 foot pole for spearing carp and suckers out of the crick.  We walked for miles on either side of the road studying the waters below the bank edge.  If we went too early it was not uncommon to see 30+ inch Northerns making their spawn run from Lake Erie.

In the prime time for the carp runs, we would spear as many as 10 or so in a day.  It got to be so much fun I would tie off the little red wagon we had as kids to the bike.  Yes,  it was a Radio Flyer, didn’t everyone have one back in the Sixties?  Much to Mom’s chagrin, we came back with that wagon loaded with carp for the garden.  Figured if it was good for the pilgrims, it was good enough for me.  Just don’t think they brought any cats on the Mayflower,  after one miscue,  we buried them a lot deeper.

One morning, the suckers were so thick under the bridge I skipped school.   My biology teacher didn’t mind so much, because I brought a few in for him to dissect.  My parent’s didnt mind too much either, because they didn’t know,  and I had learned how to forge mom’s signature pretty well by then.

In recent years, some of the creeks see more than just carp, suckers and pike.  Some of the kids over in Scofield (when I lived in Maybee) were spotting steelhead running in the creeks.  Its a big no no to spear them, as well as pike, but it is like anything else outdoors, just something to see.

Walleye fishing is picking up on Brest Bay.

One of the latest trends in early season walleye fishing has been the use of hair jigs over the last four or five years.  Purple jig with purple hair seems the most popular.  The tactic works the best in 16 feet of water or less.  Matthew’s over in Bolles Harbour does have a really big selection of these jigs.

Reason for bringing up the jigs,  a 27″ eye was taken recently inside Brest Bay with that tactic.  Its started folks and right now you can do all the fishing you need right here in Michigan waters.  Current licenses are available at Cook’s, Sterling State Park Party Store, Matthew’s Bait and at the sporting goods counter at Wal-mart and Meijers.

I made a few calls this morning, just to check and see if either of the places I mentioned carried the equipment for shooting carp with a bow.

Matthew’s B&T does not, but referred me to Bottom Line Tackle on West Jefferson.  Its about a 15 minute drive or less from Sterling State Park.

Cook’s Sportland will have the gear in next week, they are sold out right now.  Call ahead before going to check.  Unless you just like going and looking around a bit like I do.

One of the many memories I have as a kid is going down with my brother and Dad to the annual Erie Shores Bowmen’s carp shoot.  If you haven’t heard of the club its not a big deal.  It was just a small club that a small group of guys founded back in the early 1970’s.  They held the carp shoot in the spring when the carp and dogfish are rolling in the marshes around Pte. Mouilee.

Shooting carp with a bow is gaining in popularity,  as archers take to the waterways.  Popular local spots include the “hot hole” or warm water discharge from the coal burner, and the side ponds out of the channel from Sterling State Park.  Equipment includes a bow with a reel attached, a specialized arrow, and a stout line, in the 100 to 200 lb range.  Usually the reels are designed so the angler/archer can handline the fish back to the boat.

We just had that small 14 ft Alumacraft rowboat back then, but dad decked it out for shooting, literally.  From the small bow bench to the second one back he built a deck for a shooting platform.  In between the two benches was a hinged trapdoor for storage.  It was long before folks started installing flood lights and bringing out generators to run systems.  The 20 hp Mercury was a bit overkill, but dad had a trolling motor back then.  Me and the oars!  I remember being told to go left, nice and slow, then hearing, “No, my left!”.

They had a “sugar shack” at the site where kids could get pop and such.  All I remember is those two foot long straws filled with flavored sugar, my favorite is still the grape.  I hear tell that’s not a good thing these days, but I liked it just fine.

The truly neat part was what was taking place during the weigh-ins.  The folks would come down to watch, some in campers even.  They would take the carp after it  had been weighed, if no one wanted them.  There must have been a half dozen or more improvised smokers going right there in the lot.  Some were no more than those old 55 gal metal trash barrels with metal grates over the top.

I believe Cook’s Sportland carries all the neccessary accessories needed, and will check with Matthew’s Bait Shop.  They have added archery to their business this year.

I just got back from running to Monroe.  For whatever reason I am in Meijer, I usually check out the small sporting goods section before starting my shopping.  They have a small closeout section with some ice gear on an end of a rack.

Usually I look at what they have and its kind of the same ol’ story.  Have that, don’t need that and want that, but not for THAT price.   Today, was one of those good days where the seasons change and things are starting to get blown out the door.  I picked up two scoops/ladles for $1.50 each.  They even have small chisels at the end of the handle.  For 99 cents each, I picked up two pair of HT rubber traction slip-ons.  Made of rubber, they fit right over your boot.  I have never used this style before, but cannot go wrong for the price.  If you ever have tried walking on glare ice, you know how important they can be.

I had the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone the other day.  My brother calls and says they are stopping by on their way back from Toledo.  I’ve had a few emails for some updated pics of the neice, so here goes.

Walking in the door all bundled up with her still glowing father.  Does that look ever get annoying?  Don’t think so,  but he can be pretty smug lately!

After I picked up those cargo nets for the quad a while back, Grandpa goes back for more.  He also sees this John Deere hat and cannot resist.

Course he tells Michelle, my sis-in-law that its an Easter Bonnet when they come in.  She thinks dad has gone all out for something to wear to church come Sunday.  She will realize sooner or later that this is farm country and not the big city.

Uncle Charlie got her something to from TSC.  Good thing I remembered to remove the dog toy label before they came over.  Imagine her surprise when she starts to squeeze this John Deere toy and it squeeks!

Course it finds its way to the floor, and I get this,  “Well, pick it up look.”

She has her “normal” baby toys as well, like this crazy little Elmo dressed up like a chicken.  Darn thing waddles and talks, but she seems to like it.

Course when it stops and quits talking, she wants more, then you get this little face.  Either that or she is tired of the flash going off.  Thats a wrap.

I stand corrected, and really appreciate one of the readers pointing out to me that in fact Jay’s does have a website available now.  You can visit the site by going to www.jaysoutdoors.com

I just cruised through the fishing section of the website.  Guess my best comment is that there is room for growth.  They did have a more than fair selection of ice gear available.  Since spring is upon us,  I was taking a closer look at the open water gear.

For baits and lures, all they had were Eagle Claw and Mepps products.  I do like the Mepps inline spinners for muskie and pike fishing, so that was  a good thing.  Did not notice much in the line of other types of fishing available though.  Quite a few years ago, the store in Clare was the first place I had seen the XL Jitterbug, my absolute favorite topwater bait for muskie.

If you are looking to pick up a new rod, I hope you like Shimano products.  Its the only brand available besides Okuma and Eagle Claw.  That said,  the Talora rods are some VERY nice trolling rods.   Specially if  you are into salmon fishing on the big lakes.  Wish they had some Daiwa Sealines to go with them though, but there is one Okuma available with a linecounter.  Don’t go by the picture of the Shimano Tekota trolling reel, there are linecounter models available.

The one section where I was really impressed with was their electronics section. Really nice selection, specially in the area of accessories.  Over 17 pages of stuff,  if they make it,  you have a pretty good chance of finding it.