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The mortality rate on walleye varies. Stress is a huge factor. Stress is greater at certain times of the year. All fish coming off the spawning beds are already somewhat stressed. Due to the spawning differences between walleye and salmon I would think that walleye have a potentially longer life span. We have all taken fish that had to be released, knowing well that the fish would die. I sometimes feel it's a terrible waste to throw back a under size fish with a torn gill. If that fish could be added to your limit, another fish may still swim. If everyone could be trusted to do what is best for the fishery, we wouldn't need DNR enforcement of the rules. This perfect world doesn't exist, so we do what we have to do. JMHO and the way I feel.

A legally caught fish belongs to the fisherman that caught it. I'm all for selective harvest, but I don't force the issue. We could all do better as sportsmen, by zeroing in on poachers.

I'm in Ludington once or twice in August. My brother slips his boat there. I usually make a few trips in late July and August to Manistee and sometimes fish around the Big Sable Point. Ludington and Manistee remain my favorite Lake MI ports. The net issue keeps me concerned and on my toes, but I'm careful and deal with it.

Capt. Ron, Good Job. It's good to know that the LT are there. The LT are especially beneficial for the charter fleet and their customers. A few years back, when I was fishing some small tournaments on Huron, the lakers often made the difference in the tournament.

GJ UnReel. It's always good to get some slime on the floor.

Mike, If you're short handed and twist my arm, I probably could get a pass from my wife. I'll send you a PM. I may try and get there a day early to prefish, with you or anyone that would have me.

I just got some supplies rounded up for a low tech sprinkler system for my yard. I'm waiting on Miss Dig,and a contractor to give me a price for pulling the pipe in. I'm trying to stimulate the economy by purchasing piping supplies. Well this was plenty on my plate, because it takes me about two or three days to do a days work. I will pump water out of the pond, and have 6 places to hook up a sprinkler.

I developed a bad oil leak on my Garden Tractor. It has a 20 HP Briggs engine and I think the PCV stuck closed and the pressure blew out the crankcase gasket. Thats where the oil was coming from. I barely finished cutting the taller grass. The oil was getting on the drive belt and causing plenty of slippage. So I pulled the engine after removing some sheet metal. I had to pull the pulleys, to get the crank case apart. I need to replace PCV valve oil breather assembly, crank case gasket, and the shaft oil seal for insurance. I spent a few hrs today removing the engine and taking it apart. I did fry up some walleye for dinner. I'm going to check the weather tomorrow and try to get out fishing. If the weather is iffy, I'l get parts and fix the tractor. I hope this is it for the rest of the year. It's time to go fishin.

The eagles are so cool to watch. We see a quite a few around here especially when tourist season is over. Those birds rule. The other birds keep their distance until the eagles are finished eating.

Thanks for the report Jon. The high winds have scattered the fish. As the water warms the action will slowly drift North.

Nice pics Ken. Thanks for the photo tips also.

GJ Jason. Fire up the smoker.

That should help the whole system. Now if we could get the municipalities to clean up their act.

I am new to running leadcore. I have a 8,2, and two 5 color rods for a total of 4. I'm thinking that the half cores with DBs or snap weights will get down into the full core range without having so much line out. Last year I only had the 8 and 2 color. I just added the two half cores this Winter.

I used to fish salmon a lot more when Huron had them in greater numbers. I concentrate on Walleye until late July and August, when I make a few runs to Lake MI for Salmon. The price of fuel may hobble me a bit this year.

GJ Bill. It's been windy here as well. The upcoming week is looking better here. I'm going to start chasing eyes. Mother Nature throws some curve balls once in awhile.

WTG Ed. VN Bird.

Thanks Randy. There is a lot of info there.

Thanks for the report GB. Better Luck next time.

GJ Dan. Those white bass can be a ton of fun.

The WMFL is all about fun and a little friendly competition. I'm sure most of the contestants would be happy to share some information with you. If you have any specific questions just ask. There is a ton of info in past threads.

My apologies Rich. You and your "Kids" had some quality time on the water. It is so much fun to watch the kids catch fish.

The Lakers will be legal in few days. You need to be a Philadelphia Lawyer to figure out the LT rules. Darn the could simplify them.

My Bros fished the bay Sat and took a pounding. There are a few spots to duck some of the wind. I was in A.A. for the U of M graduation. A friend and fishing partner of one of my bros finished 3rd in the tourney. One of my brothers sons graduated, or he would been there also.

I never fished that tourney because it was too spread out, time wise and area. They have little or no control over the tournament. One other thing I didn't like is the culling of fish. People would drag fish on a stringer then cull them for a larger fish. I seen tournament fishermen that were short a fish pick up the culls. These tactics turned me off.

Good thread Dan.

We had similar success fast trolling salmon. My bros and I were fishing a tourney out of Harrisville when a friend told us to slow down. We just finished our radio chat and we were into a double. Needless to say he picked up the pace. We used to joke, "If the canon balls come out of the water we will slow down a tad". Fast trolling is a gr8 tactic when your searching, and sometimes that's the only way they will strike. We try and vary the speed and see what they want.

I'm going to do up some bratwurst, for this event. Better sign up. This may be the last time you ever see me spring for lunch. I'll need a rough count on crew members. Does anyone have a 5 gal Igloo water cooler so we can make some lemonade to wash them down? I'll probably cook some Kogel's hot dogs also.

GJ Rich.