Walleye Express

I see (finally) that there is some rain in the forecast for the ludington area for tonight and Monday morning. And to even be talking about the lower PM salmon run this late in September seems very weird to me. But I think with this rain, it may bring a few more, and probably the last of the river runners up the river. And I'd like one final crack at them this Tuesday or Wednesday. So my question is, are there still a lot of fish in Ludington lake on the graph or jumping in the harbor?

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Fished out of Huron about 6 years ago and limited both days we were there. 24 fish with the smallest being about 4 pounds with 5 or 6 over 8, and 2 real monsters over 10. A trip of a lifetime for sure. But those BIG ones make for better pictures then they do table fair. I'd take more pictures, do more releasing of the hogs and keep more of the smaller fish if I went again.

And thank's everyboody for all the Kudos you've all given me threw this summer season. It may go unsaid sometimes, but they mean a lot to me. I kind of hang around this and only a few of the other subject titles on this site, so probably miss giving a lot of you salmon fishermen the "at a boys" you all derserve.

That's what I was thinking after seeing your pic, but I also thought it was off the meat freak. thanks for the clarification. That is a solid day Dan. Now does that get you thinking about chartering a little longer into the season?

Yes. I've already revamped my web page and announced that I'l be using my smaller 18 footer for two men charters only, to extend the season a little longer on the bay. The big boat is already out and winterized for the season. Hell, this spot today was over 18 miles one way from LBM anyways. Only optimum weather conditions like today would make it worth running that far. And how many mid September limits can you remember? I've only had two and they both came in the last 2 weeks. If this was to become the norm, I'd leave my bigger boat in longer.

Sounds like a great day Dan! I've heard a wise man say find out what they want and give em lots of it. Now I know what a hot n tot is, could you elaborate about the meat tot. I think I have an idea but there are 2 possibilities and just looking for clarity

Rattle Tot with a 1/4 crawler on the front.

Still working on the walleye adrenalin hype that Scott "Fishinmachine2" caused 3 days ago on our/my fishing board, with his 35 walleyes and 10 keepers post, the brother and I launched at Gambill marina at 9:30 am this morning with high hopes of doing the same. What I was worried about most was the NE winds and the 4 to 7 footers that beat the crap out of that West shoreline all day yesterday and most of last night. And when I seen the water temp had dropped 10 degrees near shore from just a short week ago, it didn't look that good.

But oddly, the farther off shore we got, the warmer the water was. We started in 23 FOW between the Saganing and Pinconing Bars. Trolled north and worked the same general area that Scott had for about an hour without a touch. Ran about every kind of Crank I had during that time. Told the brother we need to head in closer to the second break, and troll just off that 11 foot break that drops into 17 FOW. Well, when we hit 17.8 feet and like Scott said in his post 3 days ago, all hell broke loose. My closest board to the boat jerked back and went under. It was a double. And I mean 2 walleyes on the same Rattle Tot. Both 14 1/2 inches long. Switched all rods over to Meat Tots and we boated 26 walleyes, 3 cats 1 sheepshead and 2 jumbo perch in the next 3 hours, and kept our 2 man limit of walleyes, working that ledge from Bar to Bar with Meat Tot's. An outrageous day for September on Saginaw Bay. Oh, and thank's a heap for the starting point Scott. :grin:

Erik.

River Kings can be the most fickle fish in the world as you mentioned in your post. Air temp, type of day, water temp, river flow, color, how many fish are in the river, moon phases and probably several other things I haven't learned about after 40 years of chasing them. Even when their biting, there always seem to be a time period during the morning, day of evening when they bite best. Other days they're jumping all around you but won't touch nothing. I've had plenty of those days and they are usually when the kings are on the move upstream in mass because of a big Lake push of fresh fish, or after a fresh rain. But the funny part is, I've had my best days when they get stalled from low water and stacked on top of each other in the holes as you described. Try using spawn on the Jets like I did Saturday or bottom bounce spawn back into the hole.

Tie an 18 inch leader of fluorocarbon line to a quality/20 pound tested barrel swivel. Use #6 trebles as the hook. Slide the proper size Egg sinker on the main line before tying it to the swivel, so the egg sinker slides freely up and down the main line above the swivel. Position your boat in the center of the run/hole. Drop the rig behind the boat and lift and drop the whole deal, so it will gradually drift/drop back some with the current, but hit bottom every time you lift and drop. Don't forget the golf ball sized glob of spawn. The hits will be everything from a tap to a slam. Good luck.

GJ and info Adam.

Me and Reel Fishin are planning a trip next Sun/Mon/Tues in his Big Boat (weather permitting). Been a while since I caught a king I didn't have to stop from running under a log. Should be a hoot of it pans out.

Nice job I have never heard of a egg loop knot. My spawn is alway flying off.How do you tie that? I really like the ideal of jet divers I am going to try that this week.

Rob.

It took me a while to remember how even I did it years ago. You might be able to find it on line somewhere, as I surely could not explain it very well without physically showing you. I'm going to pick up a few of the bigger spin-n-glows to try in front of the spawn next time behind the Jets. That's how they do it mostly on the Kenai for kings.

nice job i see you still got it after a few years

Yup, I don't think you ever lose it. But it sure feels good turning what I thought was going to be a crap day into a successfull one using an old trick.

Wulp, after sending that picture of the new world record Brown to one of my old Steelhead and Salmon river charter clients, he begged me to take him and a friend on the river today. I actually was not anxious to do so, as the reports for the last week have been pretty dismal. No rain in 2 weeks means low water. Warm weather with highs reaching 80 degrees this last 10 days in a row means warm water.

Both of these bad conditions has kept the main body of the fall run still staging in PM Lake at this historically late date. The fish that have been taken recently have been taken on fresh spawn bobber fished through the holes. I did save the huge skein of spawn I got from the King I took 2 weeks ago, and with no promises made I met my old buddy at the launch on the PM at 6:30am this morning.

Another thing I didn't figure on was that being it was Saturday, the launch was backed up like a baby that ate a brick of cheese. I watched as 9 boats launched in front of us and headed downstream, where we were going to go as well. Well after we launch, I'm surprised to find one of my favorite holes (near the launch) not occupied. So we pull in and anchor. We start seeing a few fish moving through, but nothing will bite either the Cranks, or the bobber fished spawn we're throwing.

"Let's put it right in their faces" I suggest. I had rigged 2 rods up like I used to years ago on the Big Manistee with #10 Jet Divers. Tied in 30 inch 15# test Fluorocarbon leaders with #6 Ultra Point mustad trebels. Tied egg loop knots just above each one to hold the Golf Ball size clusters of fresh/raw spawn on the hooks. Let the Jet back 30 feet into the hole and put them in the rods holders as we continued to cast cranks. All of a sudden the PINK Jet and rig buckles up and this monster king starts jumping like crazy downstream. Long story short, 38 inch 24 pound female. 15 minutes later 15 pound Male. We move and at 10:30am we land another 12 pound male. Move again and press our luck in front of a mega log jam, where I know they are hiding as the sun got high and hot. Hook two more that break us off in the logs. All these fish on the PINK Jet rig.

Nobody I've talked to has seen such a weird river run as this years. I certainly have not in my many years of river fishing for kings. Usually by this time 90% of the kings are up and past the lower river sections on the PM. But the main body is still out in the PM lake or in the main lake as far as anybody can tell. The water temps are right but the levels are pretty low. My bud fished the river for the past 3 days and came home with one fish.

The post below was written this spring by me, when Tommy Harris and I were thinking about building and selling these new rigs. Tommy had the idea of the dual spinners in combination with his keels and I did the designing and tank testing. Tommy was going to introduce them at next years sports shows. So both the post and the idea was kept under our hats all summer in case this happened. But Tommy has since become very much busier with things already proven, and has given me permission to introduce the idea to everyone. I have also used these rigs on the Saginaw Bay this year with pretty good success.

Introducing Capt. Dan's/Tommy Harris "Cow Girl Killer Keels".

Teamed with the paint layering genius of Tommy Harris and the slightly dysfunctional lure making ideas of Capt. Dan, the Cow Girl Killer Keels were born. For those of you not familiar with the term "Cow Girl" as it pertains to fishing. This is a new (very successful) blade attachment process that interlocks two blades with one just ahead of the other. This #10 and #12 Muskie spinner rigging idea (actually invented and named by a girl) and recently adopted by Muskie Fishermen everywhere, is weighted with gobs of lead and a very generous supply of colored flashaboo finsil that when teamed together with all these components, pulsates, vibrates, flashes and moves a ton of water as the lure is retrieved. All those things that big muskies love to see.

Well, we borrowed but downsized to #5 that same tandem spinner blade idea, and mixed that with the weight forward DNA taken from the Old style Erie Derie, the Pa's Lure and the long deceased Hot-N-Tot Pygmy. All of which, were or are still walleye catching magnets even today. And all being weight forward, crawler baited type lures, designed to run deep when casted, trolled and/or counted down and retrieved. Now, combine all these old times features with the unique forage shaped keels and the color painted "BLING" that only Tommy Harris can put on both the Keels and blades. Then throw in the tandem double rigged Cow Girl blade style system, and you have to see this thing working in the water yourself to believe both it's looks and action.

And like all of my screwball inventions, I strived too make it work/run efficiently at DEAD slow speeds below 1 mph and at faster speeds, so you could team live bait presentations with any crankbait techniques you wanted. And using the Cow Girl blade configuration accomplished all this and more. It starts working immediately when it hits the water at dead slow speeds, even on the fall. And I could not physically pull it hard/fast enough in the backyard pool to get it to foul, twist or come to the top. The bonus is that this lure ties in or attaches quickly and easily to your main line via snap swivels of all types, and eliminates the need and rigging hassles of snap weights, bottom bouncers or anything else to get this offering down to where the walleyes are. All that is built right into this one easy to rig, handle and store lure. Even one feature I did not expect before testing it. The smaller/lighter keels vibrate like crazy (like the pygmy's used to) as they work, because it seems of the (water moving) Cow Girl style rigged spinner blade system.

And as per my long established reputation of sharing new ideas with everybody for the unheard of price of ZERO, here they are laid out for all to see and copy if you like. The Tommy Harris keels and blade components I used were bought off his own web site. And I feel, are the unique/key working component parts in these rigs IMV. I cannot think of any other type/style/ or shaped keels that would become such an intricate part of this lure in this dynamic configuration. But that is not too say that you could not find another. But I'm afraid, if you want to duplicate these rigs exactly as I've built them here, you will have to buy these quality components from Tommy himself. .

Thank's Jason.

But next time you'll be the hero and I'll be the zero. After 50+ years of fishing, I firmly believe knowledge and skill will never be more then 35% of any fish catching equation. But that 35% is all powerfull in the scheme of things. Circumstances and repetitiveness put us on and caught us our fish today. We just knew how to react and adjust to them once they gave away their hiding spot. And that's 65% and the rest of the fishing equation IMV.

Things were a little different today then yesterday. First we stopped off at my big boat this morning to pick up some bouncers and harnesses. Also wanted to take a good look at my TR-1. Good new was that My TR-1 autopilot is not broken like I thought on yesterdays trip. The actuator pump pin on the hydralic cylinder simply broke and disconnected from the motor. About a .30 cent codder pin and it and I will be back in business.

But the good news didn't stop there today. The other good news is my 2 day catching Jinx that was fallowing me around Saturday and Sunday got it's azz kicked today. Me and Reel Fishin launched at Gambles at 8:30am and headed towards Pin Bar. Got about half way there and we knew that reaching the spot I wanted to go NE of the Bar was going to be brutal. That calm forecast for this morning was off by about 1 1/2 feet. And the NE wind and waves coming straight at us and my Flat Botom Jet Boat was beating us up a little. So when we hit 12FOW straight out from Gambles we started to fish. We stumbled onto what was an isolated 10.8 foot finger that juted out into 13 fow. We hit a triple there (2 keeps and a dink) and I marked the spot on my GPS. All we did was make circles around this spot and we went 12 for 15 on walleyes, one giant smallie and one cat by 11:30am. Now here's the real curve ball. 2 ounce bouncers/harnesses 10' back on one side. Tommy Harris Firetiger blades on one rig and White/Red web pattern on the other. Both Bouncers ran on one side. Then twin Meat Tots on the other side 10' back. Green/Red Bill on one, Pink Flamingo on the other. Both were equally effective. Speeds were everything from 1.7 to 2.6. The waves had a lot to do with that.

Pike get a bad rap by most. There isn't much better tasting table fare IMV then the flaky/sweet/white meat of a Pike.

With the water temps taking an early dive this year Frank, you may have to move your timetable up some. As far as I can tell the temps are already some 6 to 8 degrees colder and ahead of themselves from last year. The temps are of course only a part of the fall river run equation. The colder bay temps are what starts first the shad, then the shiners, chubs, and perch migrations closer to the rivers mouths. And like you said, in turn, attract the walleyes behind them. The final piece to the puzzle that usually starts the full fall migration into the rivers, is a frost or two and any heavy fall rains we get. Those also may come early this year. Looks like another great ice fishing season ahead. With my ankle and shoulder fully healed now, expect both a few more river and ice reports this season from me.

Just got back from about a 3 hour scouting mission with Gatorbait. Had 2 (father and son) team calls in the last few days about charters this labor day weekend, and I wanted to see if the small boat would still be worth the effort, while at the same time saving the clients some money. And anytime you can catch fish in the rare (Glass like) conditions that we had today on the bay, it's worth the effort. Anyway, we went 3 for 5 on Walleyes (couple of dandys) and battled many sheeps.

Before and after pictures. Minus one jar I already ate warm. I'm thinking about 16 more jars will hold me for this winter.

For those thinking they would like to try this, the process is pretty easy. Skin, fillet and chunk the fish. Soak chunks in salt water 1 hour before canning. Put 2 table spoons of diced unions, 1 1/2 table spoons tomatoe ketchup and 1/2 tea spoon Garlic powder first into bottom of Pint jar. Force as much fish into jar as possible. Top off to just below threads on jar with water. Use wooden spoon to get out any air bubbles and attach lid snugly not tight. Bring pressure cooker to 15 pounds for 50 minutes.

To me there are few things better then this receipt right out of the jar on crackers with your favorite cheese and bottle of pop. But you can use it to make salmon patties or in any recipt the same way you would tuna.

I fish that same stretch of river for steelhead and salmon. I will be fishing it next weekend. Looks like it was a great day on the river. nice job

Good luck if you go Rob. And pray that area don't get to much rain. I love it when they get stalled, and the holes fill right up with them. Makes em real mad and ready to attack anything.

Nice story Dan. Its always nice to run into old friends. I was in Ludington the other day and ran into Mark from Reel Fishin'. Chatted with him on the net a bit, but hadnt seen him in a coons age. Was good to catch up a bit and exchange some info out on the lake....I read a post he put on another site and it sounds like he will be on a certain jet boat here the next few days..HEHE....Good luck guys.

Ya, Gatorbait and I were supposed to join Mark in Ludinton on Tuesday, but both the weather and the declining bite changed our plans. We'll be back on the river this coming Tuesday in the sled for more close quarters combat. Hitting the bay (and possibly the river) this morning with the brother to see if either is still worth the trouble. Pictures and post to fallow (hopefully) on the proper subject.

Thank's Guys.

Always fun to get back to my roots. One of the other surprises I had yesterday was when I got to talk to an old friend and fellow river guide, who passed us in his Jet sled and still guides on both the Muskegon and Pere Marquette for Steelheads and Kings. He asked first how my walleye charters went this year and how my business was. I told him I lowered my prices $40.00 on my Bay trips from last year because of the economy, and even though it started out slow, it turned into one of my best booking seasons ever. He said he did the same thing on the rivers and it improved his bookings over the others as well. Then he asked if I knew what the going rate was now for a river trip. I laughed and said I charged $90.00 for 2 back in 1986 when I started, and was confident enough to have a fish on guarantee back then. Of course having only 2 other drift boats in the state at the time as competition, added to that outcome. But by 2001 there were hundreds of drift boats fishing the rivers, but now you had to be licensed by the Federal Forstry Service on many streams, and I was charging $250.00 per couple then. He says, wulp their asking and getting $450.00 for 2 now. I laughed and said, maybe I should have sold my Grady White bay boat and kept the Drift Boat. Way less work, up-keep and a lot better scenery.

Also ran into a boat load of regulars that I used see and talk to a lot. They regonized me and seemed very happy and surprised to see me. One said he had heard I was dead. I said, I was, but they brought me back just for today. Needless to say, it was very fun and a refreshing change of pace for me yesterday. The kings were just a bonus.

Jason.

I hit another one after the one in the picture. I was setting down casting, resting my legs and looking away, talking to Jeff, and it short hit me right before I was going to lift the crank out of the water. Pulled the rod from my hands and only the gunnel (which was almost shoulder high when I was setting) stopped my Black Max baitcaster from going overboard. The fish was gone when I got it back in my hands.

When Gatorbait and I arrived this morning at 5:45am on the Pere Marquette River, my trained eye didn't detect anything that would spoil our day if the Kings were in the river. Unfortunetly we soon found out that the river had come up some 4 to 6 inches over night from the heavy rain, and that the majority of the fish that were stacked heavily in this river section yesterday, took that high water opportunity to move upstream.

This happened alot back when I was guiding on the PM. That section between Wallhulla and Indian Bridge is mainly shallow fingers and swamp, and holds many of the spawners below Indian bridge until a fresh rain makes it easier for them to get past this Natural barrier. The heavy rain last night did just that. But there were a few straglers still in the section we fished. So we hit it hard and found 5 of them still silver knuckle busters, with only 2 coming to net.