Fishing Michigan

Ok, this is my last mention of Gander Mountain for at least 10 days.  That’s when I get back from the U.P.

While there tonight, I asked the kid in the fishing department when they would be putting out their ice fishing gear.  I had noticed some StrikeMaster augers up on the shelf already, so I figured what’s the harm in asking.  I was a bit surprised when he told me that they had just put them out yesterday.

August?  Ice Fishing?  Global Warming be damned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Take that Gore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They will be working their stock out to the floor from now until ice forms.  Besides the augers,  they had several jigs and kits already out for everything from bluegills, crappie, perch and walleye!  There’s not much I need, but I always like looking.  If you are already getting the itch for cooler temps and cutting holes, take a ride down US-23 the Airport Highway exit, go east, turn left at the first light, and you are there already!

One thing for sure is, I will never claim an idea when it wasn’t mine, so Chris this is for you.

Several years ago I was working with this kid whose family had a cabin in Canada.  The lake they were on was fairly weedy and he had a unique idea on how to troll for Northerns that I had never heard of before.  By using trolling spoons sold for salmon fishing, he could avoid the tangles of the weeds below.  Otherwise known in many circles as the infamous “Weed Pike”.

If you have seen the spoons up close, you will notice right away that these blanks are not  your daddy’s Little Cleo or Daredevle.  They are extremely light in weight, and will stay up in the water column.  Specially at the higher speeds used for pike and muskie, usually 2.5+ mph.

What this does, is allow for trolling over lakes with really good weedbeds, which will hold these toothy critters while they lay in wait to ambush unexpecting baitfish and whatever else seems to be swimming by. Mostly ducklings, rats and snakes.  Which leaves the spoons in a unique position to handle this type of bite, not only are they below the surface, but after experimenting with this technique since I was introduced to it, because the spoons stay up, they will attract pike who want to feed on the surface in the evenings.  Many of these spoons have glow finishes, not found in normal pike gear so it offers an extra edge to the angler.

Next time you find your self targeting the water wolf,  pick up a few salmon spoons and give them a try,  you don’t need a diver, and you can even pull out your walleye boards if the lake is big enough to allow for wide sweeping turns.