Came out of Gem Beach about 10am and headed to American Eagle shoal. Lots of boats. Trollers and casters. Didn’t see any nets while heading for NE of pak. Started drift casting weight forward lures. There was only 2 of us. Used only 2 rods. No hits for about half hour. Made adjustment to drift and started picking them up. Fished till 2pm to get limit. All were 18 to 21 inches. No shorts and a couple sheep. Could have been a quicker drift but at least it wasn’t flat. Beautiful day on the lake.
Category: Uncategorized
Northwest of South Bass 5/23
First post here on Walleye.com so here it goes.
We put in at Catawba State Park at 6 am and had lines in the water by 630ish. Had a steady bite all morning but nothing crazy. Trolled Bandits, Flicker minnows, worm harnesses, and Stinger spoons. Caught 1 on a taco salad Bandit, and 1 on a blue/orange belly Flicker, 70′ leads.
Not a touch on the BadMo worm harnesses. The majority of our fish were caught on Stinger spoons with the “bumblebee” color doing the best trolled behind Dipseys and Tru Trip jet divers 65′ back. Had 18 in the box by 11am. It was a good day overall. Thanks to all you fine folks for the great info on this awesome site.
Tight lines. Paul
We put in at Catawba State Park at 6 am and had lines in the water by 630ish. Had a steady bite all morning but nothing crazy. Trolled Bandits, Flicker minnows, worm harnesses, and Stinger spoons. Caught 1 on a taco salad Bandit, and 1 on a blue/orange belly Flicker, 70′ leads.
Not a touch on the BadMo worm harnesses. The majority of our fish were caught on Stinger spoons with the “bumblebee” color doing the best trolled behind Dipseys and Tru Trip jet divers 65′ back. Had 18 in the box by 11am. It was a good day overall. Thanks to all you fine folks for the great info on this awesome site.
Tight lines. Paul
May 23 – May25
First trip out. Trolled Bandits between D and E cans south of the pack that appeared to be drifting. Orange Crush, Blue Chrome and a white polka dot one ( not sure of name). Caught 16 during the 3 days all before 12 noon. Generally 60 to 90 out. Wednesday am was glass flat before the winds picked up. Nice morning.
5/16 report
We started where we left off yesterday by the line NW of Kellys and NE of N Bass this afternoon for an 18 fish limit.
Surface temps were 56-57 and 15 ft down 53. The spoon bite is heating up.
Our best overall bait was a Spro Madeye 120 in Golden Perch 80 back. It caught 9, but we were running two on each side.
The best spoons were Michigan Stingers and Scorpions in Nascar working 25 to 30 down.
Speed today was 2.0 on the Fishhawk.
Based on wind forecast we will be off tomorrow. Good luck and stay safe.
Fishing Put in Bay Area 5/17 to 5/19 – Looking to Share Info
Buddy and myself heading over from WI to fish the general Put in Bay/Catawba area from Wednesday 5/17 through Friday 5/18. Tentatively planning to start around the islands tomorrow to get acclimated.
Anyone interested in exchanging numbers to share info/network and help each other out (will be easier to text vs connecting here)? If so, send a PM with number and will establish a small group.
Tight Lines!
GBTLG8
5/15 report
We went West to work the reefs. That didn’t work out so well. After a couple hours and only 2 eyes we pulled the spread and headed North East to the line.
We finally found a nice pod and started to pick some eyes and had 2 large sheeps that sunk the inline boards. We had 10 eyes in the boat when all hell broke loose. We had an outside board move away from the boat instead of behind and circle back in wrapping up 4 other boards. It was total chaos. 5 boards pulled together and still moving.
Well after much cutting and cursing we got the culprit in. It was a yellow cat that was about 20 pounds. Fortunately we didn’t loose a board or any bandits. But there was allot of balled up line and all the rods on that side had to be re-rigged. We decided to call it and head in.
Best lead was Bandits 75 back, at 1.8 mph. Best color was nascar.
My first outing on Erie
Hi everyone. I have enjoyed reading all the post from everyone. My friends and I have taken a few charters over the years and have enjoyed it a lot. My buddy has been trying to get me to put my boat on Erie. This year I have spent some money upgrading my electronics, so I’m finally going to try Erie with my boat. We are going to be there May 22-28. My main tactic is going to be trolling, but am open to suggestions. This will be my first time with my own boat so looking for some pointers and maybe some locations because I’m not real familiar with the lake. Also if anyone can tell me where to get a detailed lake map that would be great. I’m excited about the trip but nervous too. I just want everything to go well. Anything specific I should try? Where should I start? Any help would be greatly appreciated ….Thanks
Fishing with Lance and Kim… May 15, 2023
I opened the back door to the deck this morning, and was hit in the face with a NE wind…ugh. I checked the iWindSurf app, and it showed it was only blowing 9mph at South Bass at 3am, but that the forecast was showing 12-13mph until around noon. I figured it was doable. Not the greatest of conditions, but not bad enough to stay home today.
I was picking my crew up at Bay’s Edge Condos at 5:30, so I left the house at 4:45, so I could go gas up, get ice, and hit Hi Way Bait for some crawlers (for my worm burners on the dipsies), before heading over to pick them up. I got there at 5:15, texted them that I was there, and they were ready and out the door by 5:20.
We headed over to Mazurik’s to launch, and the parking lot was empty. At first, I was surprised that no one was there yet, and asked myself, “Is it too windy?” But, then I realized it was Monday, and it’s always like that on a Monday. It wasn’t long after getting the boat ready to launch, that more rigs started pulling in.
After letting the 400 warm up to temp, we headed to the north side of Kelly’s, and to the southeast side of Gull Island Shoal. Turning the boat around to go with the waves, the Terrova was deployed, the baby Merc fired up, and the Fish Hawk dropped to depth.
Speed was set to 1.9-2.1 on the GPS, which was 1.8-1.9 on the Fish Hawk.
It lasted an hour, when it shut off due to low battery power. Note to self…put more batteries in the glove box of the boat. oops.
But, it didn’t matter…I just kept the GPS speed where I thought it needed to be.
Bandits behind Off Shore boards caught at 100, 85, and 30 back. Colors that caught were the Red Headed Wonder Bread, Blue Chrome, and Chrome Barbie.
The worm burners caught the other three walleye, and the catfish. Dipsies set on the zero, one, and three settings….zero at 27 and 35, the one setting at 40, and the three setting at 47 and 59.
Lance and Kim booked this trip to learn trolling techniques, and “If we catch fish, great, but it’s not a priority”, said Lance, so that took all the pressure off. We just had fun. It’s a good thing it wasn’t a priority, because our catch rate was bad today. We caught 6 today….not including a big catfish, that Lance masterfully was able to release before getting it to the boat. We also had a half dozen crawlers stolen from the worm burners, too, so had we caught those fish, too, we would have had a better catch. Oh, well….lucky fish!
Lance had questions, and I answered them the best I could. At the end of the trip, I asked if they learned what they needed to know, and they both said, “Yes”. They have their own Vexus boat here this week, so they will be practicing what they learned, and I have no doubt that they will be successful, and have more confidence now, to do it on their own.
My crew for tomorrow, called and cancelled while we were fishing today, stating a “bad tooth” that can’t wait. I know very well, what a bad tooth feels like, and how it can ruin the best of plans….so, they are going to come back in September, for a perch trip instead.
My Wednesday crew cancelled, due to his wife’s eye doctor’s appt, because she won’t be able to drive, so he will have to take her….like a good husband should.
He’s one of my regulars and has another day scheduled in June, so I’ll see him then.
I was scheduled off on Thursday, so I won’t be back out until Friday morning. I will get to play with the pups, go bluegill fishing, and get a round of golf in, on my time off. I’ll be ready to get back on the water by Friday. 🙂
Stay tuned…
Capt Juls
I was picking my crew up at Bay’s Edge Condos at 5:30, so I left the house at 4:45, so I could go gas up, get ice, and hit Hi Way Bait for some crawlers (for my worm burners on the dipsies), before heading over to pick them up. I got there at 5:15, texted them that I was there, and they were ready and out the door by 5:20.
We headed over to Mazurik’s to launch, and the parking lot was empty. At first, I was surprised that no one was there yet, and asked myself, “Is it too windy?” But, then I realized it was Monday, and it’s always like that on a Monday. It wasn’t long after getting the boat ready to launch, that more rigs started pulling in.
After letting the 400 warm up to temp, we headed to the north side of Kelly’s, and to the southeast side of Gull Island Shoal. Turning the boat around to go with the waves, the Terrova was deployed, the baby Merc fired up, and the Fish Hawk dropped to depth.
Speed was set to 1.9-2.1 on the GPS, which was 1.8-1.9 on the Fish Hawk.
It lasted an hour, when it shut off due to low battery power. Note to self…put more batteries in the glove box of the boat. oops.
But, it didn’t matter…I just kept the GPS speed where I thought it needed to be.
Bandits behind Off Shore boards caught at 100, 85, and 30 back. Colors that caught were the Red Headed Wonder Bread, Blue Chrome, and Chrome Barbie.
The worm burners caught the other three walleye, and the catfish. Dipsies set on the zero, one, and three settings….zero at 27 and 35, the one setting at 40, and the three setting at 47 and 59.
Lance and Kim booked this trip to learn trolling techniques, and “If we catch fish, great, but it’s not a priority”, said Lance, so that took all the pressure off. We just had fun. It’s a good thing it wasn’t a priority, because our catch rate was bad today. We caught 6 today….not including a big catfish, that Lance masterfully was able to release before getting it to the boat. We also had a half dozen crawlers stolen from the worm burners, too, so had we caught those fish, too, we would have had a better catch. Oh, well….lucky fish!
Lance had questions, and I answered them the best I could. At the end of the trip, I asked if they learned what they needed to know, and they both said, “Yes”. They have their own Vexus boat here this week, so they will be practicing what they learned, and I have no doubt that they will be successful, and have more confidence now, to do it on their own.
My crew for tomorrow, called and cancelled while we were fishing today, stating a “bad tooth” that can’t wait. I know very well, what a bad tooth feels like, and how it can ruin the best of plans….so, they are going to come back in September, for a perch trip instead.
My Wednesday crew cancelled, due to his wife’s eye doctor’s appt, because she won’t be able to drive, so he will have to take her….like a good husband should.
He’s one of my regulars and has another day scheduled in June, so I’ll see him then.
I was scheduled off on Thursday, so I won’t be back out until Friday morning. I will get to play with the pups, go bluegill fishing, and get a round of golf in, on my time off. I’ll be ready to get back on the water by Friday. 🙂
Stay tuned…
Capt Juls
Attached Images
  Â
Shake Down Fish with Weaver Clan
My buddy Mark asked me to join him and some family for a planned fishing trip on his boat a few weeks ago.I fished on his 35′ Sea Ray 3 yrs ago.His boat is more of a cruising boat and not really set up for fishing.But he does have 2 rod holders that I could set our Cisco triple tubes into to get out 6 rods trolling.But Mark wanted to start out casting and switch to trolling if the casting didn’t work.
But we had a problem.The boat still wasn’t in the water as our fishing day approaching.Mark said the people launching his boat at the CIC had it scheduled to launch the morning before our fishing trip.I figured they were good enough to believe them so I drove over that morning to our lake house.That afternoon Mark text me at 5pm that when he arrived at his place at the CIC after work,his boat was not at his dock!He went over to the launch site and had his boat going in as he arrived.Talk about cutting it close.We loaded up the trolling gear and went out to dinner.
We needed to wait till 8am Friday morning,when the CIC fuel dock opened to gas up.Took a short ride out to F can and started to troll a little before 9am.I recommended we start trolling instead of casting because there was hardly any wind.Set out 6 inline boards with 4 bandits on the outside boards and set up the inside boards with a couple of tadpole/harness.Was a slow tough bite.Seamed we only catching occasionally on the outside boards.Switched out the 4 outside lines with white and chartreuse bandits on longer leads of 90-110.
Changed out those inside harnesses to bandits eventually,then changed one of those to a dipsey.Put a spoon harness,flicker shad and a J7 on dipsey too.Even put a sinker on the other inside line.We fished from 9-2:30 Friday and did not get a single bite on those inside lines We finished with 9 fish that weighed 25 lbs at cleaners.
I took the 9.5lbs of filets to my place and zippered and cut up half of them for dinner.We went to the Crow’s nest and they cooked up our fish for the 8 of us.We really enjoyed the fresh fish for dinner.Talked to a charter there that told me he did well trolling his big boards/Tru trips/spoons on Friday.So the spoon/harness bite is switching over now.
But we had a problem.The boat still wasn’t in the water as our fishing day approaching.Mark said the people launching his boat at the CIC had it scheduled to launch the morning before our fishing trip.I figured they were good enough to believe them so I drove over that morning to our lake house.That afternoon Mark text me at 5pm that when he arrived at his place at the CIC after work,his boat was not at his dock!He went over to the launch site and had his boat going in as he arrived.Talk about cutting it close.We loaded up the trolling gear and went out to dinner.
We needed to wait till 8am Friday morning,when the CIC fuel dock opened to gas up.Took a short ride out to F can and started to troll a little before 9am.I recommended we start trolling instead of casting because there was hardly any wind.Set out 6 inline boards with 4 bandits on the outside boards and set up the inside boards with a couple of tadpole/harness.Was a slow tough bite.Seamed we only catching occasionally on the outside boards.Switched out the 4 outside lines with white and chartreuse bandits on longer leads of 90-110.
Changed out those inside harnesses to bandits eventually,then changed one of those to a dipsey.Put a spoon harness,flicker shad and a J7 on dipsey too.Even put a sinker on the other inside line.We fished from 9-2:30 Friday and did not get a single bite on those inside lines We finished with 9 fish that weighed 25 lbs at cleaners.
I took the 9.5lbs of filets to my place and zippered and cut up half of them for dinner.We went to the Crow’s nest and they cooked up our fish for the 8 of us.We really enjoyed the fresh fish for dinner.Talked to a charter there that told me he did well trolling his big boards/Tru trips/spoons on Friday.So the spoon/harness bite is switching over now.
Fishing with Shane, Marilyn, and Sharon… May/13/2023
Shane, who lives in Minnesota, wanted to share a day on the water with his Mom Marilyn, and his sister, Sharon, so he booked a trip for Mother’s Day weekend with me.
Last night the wind forecast wasn’t looking too favorable, so the plan was to launch out of Catawba and stay on the protected side, and see what we could find. But, this morning when I looked, the forecast had changed for the better. The gusts were no longer in the high teens to low 20s, but rather 10mph or less. So, with that knowledge, and hope that the forecast wasn’t wrong, I sent Shane a text at 4am, to let them know it was a better forecast, and that we would be meeting at Mazurik’s, instead of Catawba.
I got there an hour early, so I could pull all the rods, and check the line on them, before picking out what baits I wanted to run this morning. Only three needed trimming, due to abrasion near the lure, so it didn’t take very long. I puttered around the boat getting things ready, as the birds started to chirp their morning greetings. It was still very dark out, and quiet.
The feral cats, that hang out around the break wall, were curiously watching me, until other vehicles began to drive in, and they scurried away.
The air temp was in the low to mid 50s, with a light ENE wind.
My crew arrived early, so we had a head start, and launched at 5:30. The sky was cloudy, which kept the sky from lightening as fast as it did the past few days, and we would not get to see a pretty sunrise happen, so that was missed.
We headed to the NW side of Kelly’s again, and set up with some Red Headed Wonder Bread Dead Eye lures that DJ Custom Eye Lures painted for me, on each side, behind Off Shore boards. Bandits out produced the Dead Eye this morning for me, so I’m not sure what to make of that. I keep hearing how they out produce the Bandit for everyone else who’s running them, so I really had higher hopes for them.
We ran the same program as yesterday with the lures running 90, 80, 70, and 60 on the port side, and 80, 70., 60 and 50 on the starboard side.
Colors were two Red Headed WB Dead Eyes on each side, along with two Bandits on each side. The Bandit colors were (2) “Pearl Shad” by Chris and Matt Hoopes (the one I kept reporting as “the white one with the black dot”, that I didn’t know the name of, or who painted it…I found out today, they painted it, but don’t paint lures anymore.), (2) “Red Chartreuse”(stock color at FishUSA)…one of each of those on each side. The Red Headed, which is usually my best color, didn’t produce at all this morning, but the other two colors did.
At one point, I took one Red Head off each side and then added two dipsies to each side…running the zero and three settings. We started with spoons, and then I remembered I had some crawlers in the cooler, so I dug out the worm burners and put one on each dipsey.
The zero setting was set at 25 and 27, while the three settings were set at 43 and 45 back.
I adjusted our speed to run 1.9 on the Fish Hawk, which was 2.3-2.4 on the GPS and we started catching at a better rate.
The Worm Burner took the biggest fish, on a three setting at 45 back…. which was only a “good eater”, at maybe 25 inches. 5 crawlers were stolen, too, so they were hit and misses.
I took the Bandits that were running at 50 and 60 back out of the line-up and put a 2oz snap weight on them, running at 50/24 (total of 74), and that took two with Pearl Shad Bandit.
Water temp near Starve was 58.2 on the surface, but only 52.7, at 15 feet down.
It was a tough bite overall, and like others have said, the bite for us slowed way down at around 8:30-9:00, too. We had 9 when that happened, and would only get two more the rest of the morning, before it was time to head in.
My crew had fun, even when it was raining on them. Shane was an excellent “First Mate”…having never run boards before, he did an excellent job. He caught on very quickly, and was running his side of the boat in no time at all. His mom and sister had fun reeling in fish, even if they had trouble standing up in the boat, after the wind kicked up a little.
It was enjoyable for me to spend their special time together, and I hope Marilyn has the best Mother’s Day weekend, possible.
Tomorrow’s crew has been rescheduled to Monday, since my Monday crew had to reschedule to July, due to an unexpected surgery, because the winds tomorrow will be nasty.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there….for those with human children and to those of us with furry four-legged children. 🙂
Stay tuned….
Capt Juls
Last night the wind forecast wasn’t looking too favorable, so the plan was to launch out of Catawba and stay on the protected side, and see what we could find. But, this morning when I looked, the forecast had changed for the better. The gusts were no longer in the high teens to low 20s, but rather 10mph or less. So, with that knowledge, and hope that the forecast wasn’t wrong, I sent Shane a text at 4am, to let them know it was a better forecast, and that we would be meeting at Mazurik’s, instead of Catawba.
I got there an hour early, so I could pull all the rods, and check the line on them, before picking out what baits I wanted to run this morning. Only three needed trimming, due to abrasion near the lure, so it didn’t take very long. I puttered around the boat getting things ready, as the birds started to chirp their morning greetings. It was still very dark out, and quiet.
The feral cats, that hang out around the break wall, were curiously watching me, until other vehicles began to drive in, and they scurried away.
The air temp was in the low to mid 50s, with a light ENE wind.
My crew arrived early, so we had a head start, and launched at 5:30. The sky was cloudy, which kept the sky from lightening as fast as it did the past few days, and we would not get to see a pretty sunrise happen, so that was missed.
We headed to the NW side of Kelly’s again, and set up with some Red Headed Wonder Bread Dead Eye lures that DJ Custom Eye Lures painted for me, on each side, behind Off Shore boards. Bandits out produced the Dead Eye this morning for me, so I’m not sure what to make of that. I keep hearing how they out produce the Bandit for everyone else who’s running them, so I really had higher hopes for them.
We ran the same program as yesterday with the lures running 90, 80, 70, and 60 on the port side, and 80, 70., 60 and 50 on the starboard side.
Colors were two Red Headed WB Dead Eyes on each side, along with two Bandits on each side. The Bandit colors were (2) “Pearl Shad” by Chris and Matt Hoopes (the one I kept reporting as “the white one with the black dot”, that I didn’t know the name of, or who painted it…I found out today, they painted it, but don’t paint lures anymore.), (2) “Red Chartreuse”(stock color at FishUSA)…one of each of those on each side. The Red Headed, which is usually my best color, didn’t produce at all this morning, but the other two colors did.
At one point, I took one Red Head off each side and then added two dipsies to each side…running the zero and three settings. We started with spoons, and then I remembered I had some crawlers in the cooler, so I dug out the worm burners and put one on each dipsey.
The zero setting was set at 25 and 27, while the three settings were set at 43 and 45 back.
I adjusted our speed to run 1.9 on the Fish Hawk, which was 2.3-2.4 on the GPS and we started catching at a better rate.
The Worm Burner took the biggest fish, on a three setting at 45 back…. which was only a “good eater”, at maybe 25 inches. 5 crawlers were stolen, too, so they were hit and misses.
I took the Bandits that were running at 50 and 60 back out of the line-up and put a 2oz snap weight on them, running at 50/24 (total of 74), and that took two with Pearl Shad Bandit.
Water temp near Starve was 58.2 on the surface, but only 52.7, at 15 feet down.
It was a tough bite overall, and like others have said, the bite for us slowed way down at around 8:30-9:00, too. We had 9 when that happened, and would only get two more the rest of the morning, before it was time to head in.
My crew had fun, even when it was raining on them. Shane was an excellent “First Mate”…having never run boards before, he did an excellent job. He caught on very quickly, and was running his side of the boat in no time at all. His mom and sister had fun reeling in fish, even if they had trouble standing up in the boat, after the wind kicked up a little.
It was enjoyable for me to spend their special time together, and I hope Marilyn has the best Mother’s Day weekend, possible.
Tomorrow’s crew has been rescheduled to Monday, since my Monday crew had to reschedule to July, due to an unexpected surgery, because the winds tomorrow will be nasty.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there….for those with human children and to those of us with furry four-legged children. 🙂
Stay tuned….
Capt Juls
Attached Images
    Â