The best part for me was getting to see all the folks who made the effort to come join us. Thanks to all who brought food and refreshements. A big thank you to Lady Bridge-Rick for bringing the fry-wagon. The fishing was fine and the weather decent resulting in many limits of tasty walleye.
Once I download pictures from the camera, I'll post a few. I think I got some good on the water pictures of a couple boats to pass to their captains.
Also would like the thank the other 2 members of the organizing gang - Hal (Roamer) & Clark (BFG). You guys made this thing work.
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I had a great time again this year. Fishing was fantatic even for a salmon guy. Saturday night was a little too much fun. I will post up some pics when I get to the camera. Thanks to everyone that put things together.
www.salmonheadcharters.com
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The Cheeseheads showed up around noon on Wednesday. I met up with 'em at the hotel and soon we were off to the lake.
Headed straight out of TBM 7 miles to 22fow and trolled East. We managed 11 walleyes and about a billion silver bass on that trip, but it seemed that we had stopped short of where the good fishing was actually occurring (we would find this out 2 days later). We spent a lot of our time that evening re-acclamating ourselves to how the Draggin' Flies does on the troll, and experimenting with many new to us gadgets (Lite Bite Slide Divers, Walker discs, etc.) Best baits on Wednesday were Dreamweaver WD's in Grape Jelly and Pink Skittles, along with SS Jr. Green Slick and Ladybug. We ran the Walker discs back 80-100' and the Lite Bite SD's back 65 or so. Not much on the riggers...but that would soon change.
Thursday morning found us running to some familiar water up by Stoney Point. Little Dandy had taken me up there several times this year, and I knew that there were quality fish to be had, but we would have to work for 'em. 7-some odd hours later..we had punched 4 MI tickets with very nice walleyes, probably averaging 20-21" with fish up to 24" in the mix. Ladybug was a stud again, along with the Green Slick. We switched off of the Walker discs, as we were having some trouble with the tripping adjustment and went to mini-discs on the inside boards and 2 colors of lead on the outside. Tried several different cranks on the leadcore, but eventually Keith pulled one out that looked like a winner, that being a white body, chart/lime green top w/ green stripes down the sides. Sent it out and WHAMMO...and little did we know what we had stumbled upon. We dubbed that crank the "Green Bay Packer" in honor of our friends from the Land of Cheese. We also ran a Lake Erie stand-by gold/black Hot n Tot off the rigger which took many of our largest fish of the day.
Friday morning I decided to take a flyer on a hunch from experience and we motored up 2 miles north and 5 miles east of Bolles Harbor. Wasn't long and we found 'em in 24fow. We punched our 4-man MI ticket by noon that day, which was encouraging. Green Bay Packer off the leadcore was HOT...along with Ladybug again on the Slide Diver, with Green Slick doing some lifting, as well as a pink/purple dots Jr. Streak that Reid dug out and promptly hauled 4 fish in 15 minutes. Discs were back 70', SD's on 56' 1/4" set on 4.5 and we ran the riggers with cranks down 12-15'.
Smackdown Day was a difficult decision for me, as I had a hunch that Salmonhead, Little Dandy, Offshore Addiction, Lady Bridge, In the Net, etc. would be running to OH waters...just wasn't sure where in OH waters. We hadn't really come close to OH water since Wednesday, and the old adage of "don't leave fish to find fish" rang in my head. For the most part, even with the very windy conditions, not a whole lot had changed over the previous two days. This reinforced what I was thinking (along with the input of Red Rider, Keith, and Terry) so we put the Hewey on a b-line right back to where we left 'em on Friday. We were not disappointed, and by noon we had our 4 MI tickets, and then went in search of 4 more to punch our OH tickets as well. Same baits as the day before, with a few changes..but for the most part the baits that did all of the lifting were the ones from the previous day. Endless chatter on the radio was pointing us towards Sputnik and the McD's buoys. We headed to Sputnik, as it was closest to our position. I think we had 4 lines in the water when we then proceeded to double (GB Packer and the SD w/ a Ladybug). Woooooohhhhhooo!
I think we fished about 40 minutes in OH water, kicking back a couple smaller fish, and Keith having one come unbuttoned (really, really nice fish) at the back of the boat. Didn't take long...that is for sure.
Sunday morning found us on a very, very FLAT lake at 6:50am motoring back to Sputnik. We hammered the snot out of 'em in 2.5 hours, punching 4 OH tickets in short order. Kudos to Reid for keeping us on track with the fish as the conditions deteriorated very quickly around 9:00am. Big Jon discs w/ spoons back 60-70', 2 colors of leadcore with the GB Packer Hot n Tots, and then some 800 series Reef Runners off the riggers (hoping for bigger fish) down 12-16' w/ 30' leads, as well as the SD Lite Bites w/ Ladybugs back 71' set on 3.
I'll tell you this much right here...it was one heckuva time. I so much enjoyed the company of Team Draggin' Flies. The comraderie on that boat was amazing. One would think that 5 days straight on a boat, at the restaurant, and at the hotel would have guys wanting to "get some space"...but such was not the case, in fact you could probably say just the opposite. It was with a sad heart I watched the boys from 'Sconsin pull away yesterday, but I'll see 'em again very soon.
Both cookouts were GREAT! It was awesome to see all of my good friends from afar once again. The fellowship and laughs were aplenty. I would personally like to take a minute to thank the following people for their efforts and contributions...
Greg, Tom, and Jen from EducatedAngler.com for once again supporting the event. The tent, tables, and chairs were a blessing once again. The shirts, hats, spoons, cranks, etc. and rod/reel combo for the raffle was an added bonus.
Keith, Reid, and Terry from Team Draggin' Flies. What can I say...I had a GREAT time with you guys.
Little Dandy and Roamer for all of their hard work. This is putting things mildly...they worked their butts off getting this thing organized. I am fortunate to consider these guys as my friends.
Capt. DeWayne from WalleyeWiz Charters for the tip on Wednesday.
Rick from LadyBridge for bringing the kick-butt fryer.
Capt. Rob Presson for the donation from Slide Diver and Fishlander. Thanks Robbie!
Chip Greene from Ridgeback Rattler Downrigger weights Co. for his donation of the gift certificates.
Salmonroy for the donation of the awesome hand-tied harnesses for the raffle.
Timberwolf for bringing the 'taters for the fish fry.
Capt. Paul of Salmonhead Charters for picking up Broken String and Salmonroy when SeaCatMich had to cancel at the last minute due to unforseen circumstances.
I am sure that others did more that I did not see, as well as provided things for the cookouts of which I was not aware. For that, I say THANK YOU to all of you.
Wow...what a great time. Hopefully we'll get some good pics from the week up on this thread...
BFG
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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I would also like to thank Toledo Beach Marina for the slips for all of the boats, along with Matthew's Bait and the LaSalle Yacht Club for all of their information and support over the course of the weekend.
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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First I would like to thank the EA group for putting together a first class group and outing.
I would like to thank Paul( Rough Fish Master) for letting me ride on his boat. Was great to fish with Brant(Bradley), Greg, and Bob(broken string). I had a great time on Saturday and the food at the outing was excellent.
I would also like to thank Gary (Offshore Addiction) for filling in for our inconpasitated captian on Sunday morning. He did a great job driving in less than ideal conditions. Greg it was fun dancing around the back of the boat with you.
It was nice to put faces with names from the site. We have a great bunch of people on this site.
Great Fishing, Great People, and Great Weekend.
Thanks Roy
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We had a great time. From "The FISHFOWLER" to everyone that made this happen, Thanks. And to the new friends I met, good luck fishing and when it comes time to put the "SMACK DOWN" on the waterfowl, which is only 12 weeks away, get ahold of me and we will hunt some birds. I just got back online and got my phone back, I lost it Saturday at my sis's house warming party which is why I missed fishing yesterday. Sorry bout that. I did however leave a roasting pan at the party tent if somone picked it up give me a call next time youe around Toledo Beach and I can run up there to get it, and possibly go catch some eyes together. Thanks again to everyone and good fishing! Mike/ Timber Wolf
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Action from aboard LD Saturday Morning. Here's h2ohazard crankin' in another "nice one". Hey Jen, when you get that one in the boat, there's another one on behind you!
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on Sunday morning. He did a great job driving in less than ideal conditions. Greg it was fun dancing around the back of the boat with you.
