Fishing Michigan

You know this unit has to be expensive if they don’t tell you the price upfront and have to askfor more information.  This is definitely a commercial application only, but still wow!

“The Classic” Automatic High Speed Fish Descaler

 tried to find another type of scaler, kind of like a drum, but really a bucket.  It has a paddle attached to the lid and you insert a power drill on the outside and start scaling.  Cannot remember the maker, but it retailed for about 50 bucks.  Wait, found it.  Turns out if you google bucket scaler, its much easier to find,

The H-H E-Z Bucket Scalerturns out is available at Frank’s Great Outdoors for $39.99.  Its what it cost four years ago when I first saw it, but like anything else, figured it had gone up in cost.  It didn’t, so it all works out.  A good explanation on how to use is available on their site.

The first type of drum scaler I saw on the market was several years ago,  the Slick Skin   .  It retails for about $350.  Made by Wedge Outdoors, it is also available locally in the state at Frank’s.  Its made in Michigan, and this doesn’t happen often, the mfg’s website is cheaper than the retailer.  It might have something to do with the upgrade available for the tub the water goes into.

The last type available is the Tumble Drumm scaler.  This was easy to find, and available at a lot of online sites.  The red version is the higher end model, and at the NESCO   website its on sale for $238 .  Bass Pro has them for (black tub) for $199.  Call ahead to make sure they are available at any retail location.  Just because they have them listed in a catalog, or website, does not mean they have them at all retail locations.  If the store you shop at doesn’t carry that one item, have them bring it in so you can pick it up.  They can get them from their own catalog, or have them transferred in from another store.

There are additional brands,  and if  you get any of the salmon magazines, they usually have a few listed in their ads.

Maybe you know someone who prefers their panfish with the skins on, scaled of course.  My preference is that as long as its cooked right, I just don’t care one way or another.  Those who do preferred their fish scaled are adamantabout it.  I did the google thing on fish scalers and came up with quite a few styles, both electric and handheld models.

I am just going to take a look at the electric scalers available on the market, some start out about 100 bucks, while others can cost over thousands.  First off are the wand type electric scalers

I found one website that had a little of everything as far as price ranges.  This Bear Paw model is about as much as I would spend, but only because I am virtually indifferent to any preference in this.

Other higher priced models, and grant you, they look very well built, are also available.

http://www.autofishscalers.com/NorthRockFish%20Scaler.html

http://www.autofishscalers.com/KT-S%20Fish%20Scaler.html

Normally it would be hard to fish plastics vertically for perch on open water.  The lures are too light for the current,  or if you tried to jig effectively down to 30 ft, the jig would be so big that perch wouldn’t be interested…etc.  Dropping down the anchor will take care of some of these problems on a good day, and if you use the dropper rig mentioned a few days ago you accomplish the mission on the windier days.

I have been using Little Atomplastics through the ice for a few years now with really good results.  Before that, if you told me that a plastic bait would out-fish “live”, I would have said there is no way its possible.  I had tried the offerings from the BIG companies, and although would pick up a fish here and there,  the results didn’t come close to the real thing.  90% of the time they would sit in the tackle bag, just waiting for one of those days when I would run out of bait and I would have a back-up plan.

What sets LA plastics apart from the rest is the movement these extra soft baits produce.  The problem with most baits on the market is the lack of movement they produce while being jigged, even with the most aggressive approach.  Little Atom will wiggle with the softest tap of the rod tip, so even the least aggressive fish will be enticed into biting your offering.

Photobucket is down right now for maintenance, so I will provide pics later, but for now follow the links to see what I am talking about.

The “Wedgee” is a versatile bait that resembles the blood worm which is a dinner time favorite of perch.  It can be rigged with a vertical or horizontal jigging lure, or placed on a small hook on a dropper.  Wish it was possible to say (in the case of all LA baits) these two or three colors work best, but it wouldn’t be true.  I have landed fish with blue, bubblegum, blood red, motor oil, hot yellow and orange, and last year with the new Atomic Glow offerings.

The “Nuggies” has got to be my favorite all around bait from the Wisconsin based company.  It has caught bluegill, crappie and perch on a regular basis when I have walked out during the winter.  Because it resembles an egg sucking leech, it also works wonders while fishing the streams and rivers of Michigan for steelhead.  Last year the owner Rick DeBaere introduced the ” Micro Nuggie ” and the bait truly became a bait for the most finicky bluegill.  You can rig the original for perch with a horizontal presentation with a jig or hook, trailer it behind a small spoon and watch it wiggle on the downward drop.  This winter there should a larger version introduced,  I am already thinking of ways to rig this for walleye on Brest Bay and Saginaw Bay.

“Tease Tails“  are a new old bait, just reintroduced by Little Atom.  Offering a shorter thicker profile than the Wedgees, it gives the perch more of a minnow image to take in.

You can find more of what Little Atom has to offer by visiting  www.just-fish.com.

…..well caffeine really. 

I am really swamped this week, so this is my first chance at getting online and taking a look at the blog site.

If you are drifting for eyes or any type of fish that will inhale a crawler or even panfish worm, there is one way to entice a quick strike.  This method is good for fishing from the bank, or from a boat.  Here’s what  you do…….

Buy your bait the day before you go fishing, and bring it back home with you.  Once there, throw some coffee grounds into the worm bedding.  The bait will absorb the caffeine from the coffee grounds and really come alive.  So much so, that at times it can be hard to get a hook into the lil’ buggers.

Give it a try, it works!!!

With the rain coming there could be some fishing, and very well could not be.  I am still waiting on the new motor to come in for the Triton, so weather permitting its off to the hills I go tomorrow.

If at first I don’t succeed, there will be Wampler’s, Devil’s, Round and Sand Lakes on the agenda.  Bluegill and Crappie are the targets, weather permitting.  Either way, its got to be better than the cold front I’ve been dealing with lately!!!

Will have a couple of the 6′6″ Light action rods ready with slip bobbers and my shorter UL rods ready for some casting in between the bites on the bobbers.  Its cabin fever time, and ready to bust loose out of here.

One of the guys who reads some of the forums I visit for fishing, wrote me on this rod from Bass Pro Shops.  “JoeFish’n”  wrote me that he purchased this rod several yrs ago in the 6′6″ UL model, and has been very happy with it. 

The BPS Micro Lite series comes with a Tennessee handle on some of the models, and a few where the metal ring can be screwed in over the reel’s t-bar.  After reading some of the reviews I can see why “Joe” likes the rod that comes in a cent short of 40 bucks. 

This is another nice feature about Bass Pro’s website,  they not only list the reviews, but they list all the comments, both positive and negative.  The comments made about this rod are overwhelmingly positive, with 49 total reviews to read over.

The crappie are biting.  There are several lakes producing crappie out in the Irish Hills right now, and you should have at least another good week, maybe three of fishing for the early season.

I was going through ebay earlier and looking for some ultra light rods to use while spring panfishing.  To be honest there wasn’t much of a selection even though I had 51 hits for an ultra light rod in the sporting goods heading.  Lots of cheap stuff probably bought on a close-out by someone looking to unload them just on the website.

So how do you choose a good ultra light for chasing crappie and bluegill?  Factor in your style of fishing; do you cast, or just use live bait and a bobber?  Do you do both?  Sure Michigan allows for two rods per angler.  Do you jig over open water? Are you fishing an open area or will there be some trees or docks in the area?  What size baits do I use?  Is strictly live bait your only tactic or do you like a jig and plastic to throw out?

Now factor in your budget.  Do you want the best?  Do you want a good quality rod, but just don’t have a ton of money to spend?  Do you want something in between or just the cheapest thing you can find?  You do have some play here in your choices.  You might consider spending more money on a casting or jigging rod, and then less on a bobber rod.

My rods are from St. Croix, not only do I like the quality, but it is an American company, whose products are made in the United States.  Take that back, the Triumphs series is made overseas, but the Premiers, Avids and Legends are made in Wisconsin.  That is nothing against G. Loomis rods which are made in Washington state, but owned by Shimano.  That’s nothing against the parent who goes out and buys an Ugly Stik by Shakespeare for their child.  In fact its probably not a bad idea for kids to go out and fish the ugly’s for a while.  Kids are hard on rods, come to think of it, so are a few buddies of mine.  They are an excellent choice in the low end range for a bobber rod.  They just don’t make one long enough in my book. 

This might make a few people cringe, but that’s ok too, not everyone fishes all the time, but a good starting point for a rod will be in the $70 range retail.   From there the sky is pretty much the limit.  A good jigging rod, or one for casting in close quarters will be in the 4′6″ or five foot range.  A good casting (open water) rod will be 6 ft or 6′6″ long.  Bobber rods should be 6′6″ or 7′ in length.

Why a long rod for your bobber fishing?  Leverage and hook set for the most part.  If you fish relatively close in to your target area,  don’t feel like these guidelines are set in stone, because they are not.  A 6ft rod can be just as effective.  I like setting up 10 to 15 yards from where I know the fish are, and when I lift my rod tip I want to be able to set the hook as quick as possible.  The longer rod allows for this.  Now if you are only throwing your bobber 10 foot away, you can use that 6ft rod and get the job done.

Those are some of the things I look for in a panfish rod.

Some of my favorite spring panfish baits were not originally designed for fishing open water, that is specifically true for two of the three Northland baits I am going to show this morning.  Northland Tackle makes some of the best baits for just about every type of fish you can think of in North America.

The Micro Minnow typifies what I look for in using an ice jig for spring panfish.  Its a bit larger than most of my ice jigs for gills and crappie, and more importantly the eye is above the head.  That feature allows me to cast the jig and control it better on the retrieve.  If the eye as located in the front, like on a vertical jig, the bait would swim side to side a bit, like a shimmy action.  Not exactly the most natural looking thing while being reeled back in.  What I like to do on all these baits is either put on a small plastic minnow, or like my favorite, just a 1″ or 1.5 inch curly tail grub.

The Whistler Bee,  is just a downsized version of another good walleye jig the full grown Whistler.  Again, the eye is on top, I can hook up a piece of plastic, but this bait as the added attraction of the micro sized prop behind the lead head.  It sends out vibration and adds flash.

The Firefly is probably my least used jig, but it has a definite place in my kit come spring time.  It fills that unique slot when the fish are looking for a hair jig.  It is a subtle bait, and works best when the fish are almost neutral.  Seems like it works best on a gently lift and and fall retrieve.  The light feathers will move with the water and gives the body a almost lifelike appearance.