did the most damage making passes in line with the nuclear plant and the middle of the “gap” between S.B. and Catawba. Running 2.5 in 27 to 31 fow, running cranks mostly Bill Lewis lites 109 back with 2 oz. inline. Once we found ’em, it didn’t take long.
Author: Admin 1
Fishing with Rick Rensch…8/4/2026
2 a.m. back deck forecast for the morning was clear skies, 64 degrees, and an absent wind. iWindSurf said the wind forecast west of the islands would be 5mph out of the south….in other words, a beautiful day to go perch fishing.
Rick Rensch was driving in from Indiana this morning, and was meeting me at Catawba at 5:45, so we could be launched by 6 a.m.
I left the house at 4:45 and took the slow way through town, out to Hi-Way Bait to pick up some ice and some Emerald Shiners. Their shiners this morning were nice ones. The perfect size to cut in half. I like to use the tail on one hook and the head on another hook instead of whole minnows. I tend to think that the smell of the innards draws them in to check it out.
I got down to Catawba at 5:15 and readied the boat. Rick showed up at 5:30, but since it was still pretty dark out, we waited… and launched at 5:45.
I didn’t have any intel on where to go after this two-day blow, so I simply headed NW out of the launch and started searching. I was headed towards D-Can, but kept an eye on the Garmin for any tell-tale signs of perch down below.
Rick Rensch was driving in from Indiana this morning, and was meeting me at Catawba at 5:45, so we could be launched by 6 a.m.
I left the house at 4:45 and took the slow way through town, out to Hi-Way Bait to pick up some ice and some Emerald Shiners. Their shiners this morning were nice ones. The perfect size to cut in half. I like to use the tail on one hook and the head on another hook instead of whole minnows. I tend to think that the smell of the innards draws them in to check it out.
I got down to Catawba at 5:15 and readied the boat. Rick showed up at 5:30, but since it was still pretty dark out, we waited… and launched at 5:45.
I didn’t have any intel on where to go after this two-day blow, so I simply headed NW out of the launch and started searching. I was headed towards D-Can, but kept an eye on the Garmin for any tell-tale signs of perch down below.
We stopped once between F and E Cans and gave it 20 minutes. There were good marks when I hit the Spot-Lock on the Ulterra, but they wouldn’t bite. The bottom was a little softer than I like to sit over, too, so we continued on up towards D-Can.
The bottom wasn’t rock, but it was harder than the first spot, and there were marks, so I was going to give it more time than just 20 minutes.
There was a pack of boats starting to congregate on the west side of the cans, and only a handful of us on the east side of the Can. We fished over 26 feet of water.
The bite started slow, with some little ones, but eventually got steadier with some keepers coming in over the side. It was about a 3:1 ratio of little ones to keepers, so it took us from about 7a.m to 10:30 to get our 2-person limit of keepers.
Rick was happy with the size, and wants me to keep him informed on the bite, because he wants to come back for more…and that makes me happy! 🙂
My next trip will be Friday with Jack Scott and his two friends. We will be launching out of Huron or Vermilion and chasing walleye over in Lorain again. If the wind forecast is anything like it was last Saturday, we’ll launch out of Huron. But, if it’s stronger, we’ll launch out of Vermilion and save 10 miles on the boat ride.
Stay tuned….
Capt Juls
Yellow Gold update August 4, 2026 G can SE (my honey hole)
Late start today , not much breeze so not much of the swing, spreaders (no Bling), shiners.
dozen yellow gold returns today, 3 sheep head, and a young walleye not much bigger than a big shiner. (returned unharmed)
did keep 10 yellow gold 8 inches.
There were boats way west of me, 6 or so, they didn’t move much so maybe they were sorting also.
This was a surprise , some of my shiners were 3/4 of the walleye’s size. Thats a #2 true turn hook.
dozen yellow gold returns today, 3 sheep head, and a young walleye not much bigger than a big shiner. (returned unharmed)
did keep 10 yellow gold 8 inches.
There were boats way west of me, 6 or so, they didn’t move much so maybe they were sorting also.
This was a surprise , some of my shiners were 3/4 of the walleye’s size. Thats a #2 true turn hook.
(my honey hole gps#’s are posted on About Water Dog)
Well, back on Wednesday, weather permitting. May try the Reefs or South of Green, just never know.
Enjoyed being back on the water, land chores are up to date for now.
Be safe and use the life jacket and engine kill switch , safety first.
~ Water Dog
Fishing with Rick Rensch…8/4/2026
2 a.m. back deck forecast for the morning was clear skies, 64 degrees, and an absent wind. iWindSurf said the wind forecast west of the islands would be 5mph out of the south….in other words, a beautiful day to go perch fishing.
Rick Rensch was driving in from Indiana this morning, and was meeting me at Catawba at 5:45, so we could be launched by 6 a.m.
I left the house at 4:45 and took the slow way through town, out to Hi-Way Bait to pick up some ice and some Emerald Shiners. Their shiners this morning were nice ones. The perfect size to cut in half. I like to use the tail on one hook and the head on another hook instead of whole minnows. I tend to think that the smell of the innards draws them in to check it out.
I got down to Catawba at 5:15 and readied the boat. Rick showed up at 5:30, but since it was still pretty dark out, we waited… and launched at 5:45.
I didn’t have any intel on where to go after this two-day blow, so I simply headed NW out of the launch and started searching. I was headed towards D-Can, but kept an eye on the Garmin for any tell-tale signs of perch down below.
Rick Rensch was driving in from Indiana this morning, and was meeting me at Catawba at 5:45, so we could be launched by 6 a.m.
I left the house at 4:45 and took the slow way through town, out to Hi-Way Bait to pick up some ice and some Emerald Shiners. Their shiners this morning were nice ones. The perfect size to cut in half. I like to use the tail on one hook and the head on another hook instead of whole minnows. I tend to think that the smell of the innards draws them in to check it out.
I got down to Catawba at 5:15 and readied the boat. Rick showed up at 5:30, but since it was still pretty dark out, we waited… and launched at 5:45.
I didn’t have any intel on where to go after this two-day blow, so I simply headed NW out of the launch and started searching. I was headed towards D-Can, but kept an eye on the Garmin for any tell-tale signs of perch down below.
We stopped once between F and E Cans and gave it 20 minutes. There were good marks when I hit the Spot-Lock on the Ulterra, but they wouldn’t bite. The bottom was a little softer than I like to sit over, too, so we continued on up towards D-Can.
The bottom wasn’t rock, but it was harder than the first spot, and there were marks, so I was going to give it more time than just 20 minutes.
There was a pack of boats starting to congregate on the west side of the cans, and only a handful of us on the east side of the Can. We fished over 26 feet of water.
The bite started slow, with some little ones, but eventually got steadier with some keepers coming in over the side. It was about a 3:1 ratio of little ones to keepers, so it took us from about 7a.m to 10:30 to get our 2-person limit of keepers.
Rick was happy with the size, and wants me to keep him informed on the bite, because he wants to come back for more…and that makes me happy! 🙂
My next trip will be Friday with Jack Scott and his two friends. We will be launching out of Huron or Vermilion and chasing walleye over in Lorain again. If the wind forecast is anything like it was last Saturday, we’ll launch out of Huron. But, if it’s stronger, we’ll launch out of Vermilion and save 10 miles on the boat ride.
Stay tuned….
Capt Juls
Yellow Gold update August 4, 2026 G can SE (my honey hole)
Late start today , not much breeze so not much of the swing, spreaders (no Bling), shiners.
dozen yellow gold returns today, 3 sheep head, and a young walleye not much bigger than a big shiner. (returned unharmed)
did keep 10 yellow gold 8 inches.
There were boats way west of me, 6 or so, they didn’t move much so maybe they were sorting also.
This was a surprise , some of my shiners were 3/4 of the walleye’s size. Thats a #2 true turn hook.
dozen yellow gold returns today, 3 sheep head, and a young walleye not much bigger than a big shiner. (returned unharmed)
did keep 10 yellow gold 8 inches.
There were boats way west of me, 6 or so, they didn’t move much so maybe they were sorting also.
This was a surprise , some of my shiners were 3/4 of the walleye’s size. Thats a #2 true turn hook.
(my honey hole gps#’s are posted on About Water Dog)
Well, back on Wednesday, weather permitting. May try the Reefs or South of Green, just never know.
Enjoyed being back on the water, land chores are up to date for now.
Be safe and use the life jacket and engine kill switch , safety first.
~ Water Dog
Best Perch hair jig color this year?
Alright? have at it! What?s the best hair color jig so far this year? Tipped w a minnow or just the jig?
Best Perch hair jig color this year?
Alright? have at it! What?s the best hair color jig so far this year? Tipped w a minnow or just the jig?
Draggin the Line with John
We fished this past Friday just north of old C can in Canadian waters.Had done well there the past few weekends.Caught one right away but started noticing grass on our trolling gear.After another 30 minutes of nothing and clearing grass on all 4 lines decided we needed to move.Headed north a few miles but was too much grass also We headed east to the weather bouy and the grass was not a factor there.We got our 12/26 lbs but took us close to 4 hrs.The best setup was dipsey 3 setting at 80 and 1 setting at 60.Gold double Willow worm harness and monkey puke spoons were what caught.Had a couple spoons on TT 40 on our inline boards at 75 and 85 that also caught.I was doing something with a rod when I heard an unusual noise.I looked to the rods and one of the rods drags was screaming.I yelled to John to grab it.He was just finally able to get some line back when I noticed our inline board getting pulled in too.I grabbed that inline rod but the board dove.I gave it slack but the board didn’t surface.I thought we were going to lose it all.Then John said it’s gone.Whatever grabbed it got off luckily The board surfaced and we got the tangled mess in.Not sure what could be big enough to pull so hard and get off. Chrome or walleye or some junk on the bottom.
Draggin the Line with John
We fished this past Friday just north of old C can in Canadian waters.Had done well there the past few weekends.Caught one right away but started noticing grass on our trolling gear.After another 30 minutes of nothing and clearing grass on all 4 lines decided we needed to move.Headed north a few miles but was too much grass also We headed east to the weather bouy and the grass was not a factor there.We got our 12/26 lbs but took us close to 4 hrs.The best setup was dipsey 3 setting at 80 and 1 setting at 60.Gold double Willow worm harness and monkey puke spoons were what caught.Had a couple spoons on TT 40 on our inline boards at 75 and 85 that also caught.I was doing something with a rod when I heard an unusual noise.I looked to the rods and one of the rods drags was screaming.I yelled to John to grab it.He was just finally able to get some line back when I noticed our inline board getting pulled in too.I grabbed that inline rod but the board dove.I gave it slack but the board didn’t surface.I thought we were going to lose it all.Then John said it’s gone.Whatever grabbed it got off luckily The board surfaced and we got the tangled mess in.Not sure what could be big enough to pull so hard and get off. Chrome or walleye or some junk on the bottom.
What a strange season it has been! Water Dog thoughts?
Ok
the smoke, cough , cough, ,
mayflies, keep your mouth closed,
the gnats, well follow the mayflies advise,
What I have learned in each season (many seasons) for the search of the yellow gold, is that it is ever changing, caught some limits in April, (hogs) and then June, July and August , you never know how mother-in-law (nature) will treat you.
the smoke, cough , cough, ,
mayflies, keep your mouth closed,
the gnats, well follow the mayflies advise,
What I have learned in each season (many seasons) for the search of the yellow gold, is that it is ever changing, caught some limits in April, (hogs) and then June, July and August , you never know how mother-in-law (nature) will treat you.
So I will be going out soon, given the current weather forecast, I look for some wind for a nice swing, anyway,
If you go pease use the life jacket with the ones you love will be with you fishing with you,
God Bless,
Be Safe
and tight lines,
Water Dog