I was up on the island all last week but weather and waves were not conducive to fishing from a 16 foot boat until Saturday and Sunday. Launched out of the State Park ramp both days between 8 and 9 am and Saturday was light east winds (with rolling waves from the northeast from prior day) and Sunday was light south wind with almost no waves.
As a footnote, earlier in the month, I got a tip that walleyes were holding off Long Point and in the eastern end of the bay and that tip panned out so this location would factor into the both days of fishing. On Saturday, I trolled from the ramp north to the Gull Island Shoal buoy and only caught shorts and junk fish. Using worm harnesses with 2 and 3 ounce in-line weights trolled at 1.3 to 1.5 mph. When I got to the buoy, I turned east and fished the shallow area (27-30ft) for about 15 minutes and caught 2 keepers. I then turned south and trolled to Long Point and caught several monster sheepheads enroute.
Just before I got to Long Point, something really strange happened. A bird came out of nowhere and started flying around the boat. Upon further inspection, I noticed it was a bat. I was still about a quarter mile or less away from shore so assumed the bat was looking for a place to land. After buzzing me for a couple minutes it flew right into my face and then landed on the boat for about ten seconds then disappeared.
Once I got to Long Point, I set up an east to west troll in about 30-40 feet of water. It was about 11am and there was lots of boats going to the beach and some jet ski traffic in the area so was worried all this activity would kill the fishing. Wrong. On the way to the ramp, I caught 7 walleyes and kept 4 of them for a one man limit.
On Sunday, I thought I would change things up and try Long Point first. I trolled from the ramp to Long Point and caught one keeper. Next, I turned northwest and started a troll to the Gull Island Shoal buoy. Again, very quiet run with only very large sheephead hitting and one more keeper. When I got the buoy, I headed northeast around the eastern edge of the shoal. It is a bit tricky in this area because the depth drops from 50 to 40 then to 30 feet very quickly and you have to constantly adjust your depths to avoid getting stuck. After catching another two large sheepheads, I got a very solid hit and the fish was not fighting(like a sheephead). Brought it to the boat and it was a 24.5 inch walleye. For the next 15 minutes, the walleyes kept biting and I got my limit with more 20 plus inch fish. When I decided to stop fishing and brought my lines in I was still getting hits and had to release these fish. Great two days
As a footnote, earlier in the month, I got a tip that walleyes were holding off Long Point and in the eastern end of the bay and that tip panned out so this location would factor into the both days of fishing. On Saturday, I trolled from the ramp north to the Gull Island Shoal buoy and only caught shorts and junk fish. Using worm harnesses with 2 and 3 ounce in-line weights trolled at 1.3 to 1.5 mph. When I got to the buoy, I turned east and fished the shallow area (27-30ft) for about 15 minutes and caught 2 keepers. I then turned south and trolled to Long Point and caught several monster sheepheads enroute.
Just before I got to Long Point, something really strange happened. A bird came out of nowhere and started flying around the boat. Upon further inspection, I noticed it was a bat. I was still about a quarter mile or less away from shore so assumed the bat was looking for a place to land. After buzzing me for a couple minutes it flew right into my face and then landed on the boat for about ten seconds then disappeared.
Once I got to Long Point, I set up an east to west troll in about 30-40 feet of water. It was about 11am and there was lots of boats going to the beach and some jet ski traffic in the area so was worried all this activity would kill the fishing. Wrong. On the way to the ramp, I caught 7 walleyes and kept 4 of them for a one man limit.
On Sunday, I thought I would change things up and try Long Point first. I trolled from the ramp to Long Point and caught one keeper. Next, I turned northwest and started a troll to the Gull Island Shoal buoy. Again, very quiet run with only very large sheephead hitting and one more keeper. When I got the buoy, I headed northeast around the eastern edge of the shoal. It is a bit tricky in this area because the depth drops from 50 to 40 then to 30 feet very quickly and you have to constantly adjust your depths to avoid getting stuck. After catching another two large sheepheads, I got a very solid hit and the fish was not fighting(like a sheephead). Brought it to the boat and it was a 24.5 inch walleye. For the next 15 minutes, the walleyes kept biting and I got my limit with more 20 plus inch fish. When I decided to stop fishing and brought my lines in I was still getting hits and had to release these fish. Great two days