April 2012 — John Gillespie's Waters & Woods

April 2012

Episode 14
Spring in Milwaukee
Show Date: April 7th & 8th, 2012
Location: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Guide: Charter Captain Brian Settele [414-559-9238 | fishchaserguideservice.com]

This week we’re out in the Milwaukee harbor in some pretty gusty winds looking looking to catch lake trout. Brian Settele is our guide, and it’ll be his mission to keep our lines vertical in these 15-30 MPH winds. We are fishing in a west wind, which makes fishing possible. Brian tells us that if the wind is out of the northeast, don’t bother coming out. John loves his blade-baits, so he is using a Sebile Vibrato. Brian is using his custom jigs with gulp. Having more than one angler is a great opportunity to try different baits, and see what is working.

Episode 15
Lake Erie Early
Show Date: April 14th & 15th, 2012
Location: Lake Erie, Toledo, Ohio
Guide: Captain Paul Pacholski [1-800-798-1218 | eriehopper.com]

Everything is happening early this year, the ice went out almost a month early and we’ve been seeing temperatures near the 80’s in March. Lake Erie is seeing the same, and our ice guide Mike Patterson didn’t get out one day this year, except in his boat. So Captain Paul called to tell us that he added 2 weeks to his schedule, and he wanted us to join us. We obliged, and brought our Yamaha buddies with us to join in on some bonus fishing fun.

We arrive to a bit of wind, and Paul isn’t surprised, but it isn’t enough to keep us off of the water. As soon as we get to our spot the bonanza begins. We are using some classic Erie fair, hair-jigs with a stinger hook; and also Gulp and the Sebile Vibrato. All are catching fish, so it’s really a personal preference. The only thing we have to make sure to do is keep bottom contact, because these fish are striking out of anger - not appetite. So as long as you get in their face, you’ll put ‘em in your cooler.

Episode 16
Windy Wisconsin Walleyes
Show Date: April 21st & 22nd, 2012
Location: Sand Bay Beach Resort - Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Guide: Pro Guide Dale Stroschein [ 920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com]

It’s been a windy spring, and this weeks episode finds us right in the teeth of it. Just like most anglers that have the weekend to fish, we don’t get to pick our days based on weather, so we’ve found ourselves in some pretty rough conditions. Not phased by just about any weather, Dale Stroschein takes us out for one of our favorite spring trips of the last few years - jigging for walleye. We are also joined by Dale’s assistant Aaron, and our friend and Muskie guru Pete Maina.

For this jigging experience, we are exclusively using Berkley Gulp with jigs. We are setting up near shore, working different depths and break-lines, mostly over rocks. As always with jigging, it is critical that you keep bottom contact, and Dale also tells us to keep your presentation very slow.

Episode 17
Crazy Wisconsin Weather
Show Date: April 28th & 29th, 2012
Location: Southern bay of Green Bay
Guide: Brett Jolly [715-581-5678 | captainjollycharters.com]

Wisconsin is known for its crazy weather, especially in the spring. We’ve seen it on our show before, where we seem to go through 3 different seasons in one day!

This week we are out with Captain Brett Jolly trolling the lower bay to find gigantic post-spawn walleyes. Brett has an interesting system for trolling, where he uses the Mercury 9.9 to push the boat, and the Minn Kota bow mount to steer. When we saw this system, we wondered why we haven’t thought of it before.

After picking up a few trolling, we stop to jig, which is a favorite technique of Johns. Unfortunately the wind picks up, pushing us off the spot. This is the point when the weather can’t make up it’s mind - bringing heavy winds and rain. You’ll have to check out this episode...