February-08 — John Gillespie's Waters & Woods

February 2008

Episode 5
Airboat Trout
Show Date: February 2nd & 3rd, 2008
Guide: Charter Captain Eric Haataja [414-546-4627 | wibigfish.com]

Eric Haataja is as serious about safety as he is about fishing. So to get us out to our ice fishing spot, he takes us in an airboat. Since an airboat can travel on land and water, he uses it to get us across the open water in the harbor to where there is enough ice. Unfortunately when we arrive all the ice is gone, so we end up fishing from the boat.

Using our little Frabill Jig-sticks in open water proves to be some of the most exciting we have ever seen, the rod are literally bent in half. Consistently boating 5-10 pound trout all day, is what we have come to expect from Eric. All the while hoping that the 20+ pounder will hit.

Using everything from the ZIP to Berkley Alive Gulp, these fish are just pounding whatever they see. It make for some very unique and exciting television.

Episode 6
Massive Walleyes through the Ice
Show Date: February 9th & 10th, 2008
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Guide: Pro Guide Dale Stroschein, [920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com]

Dale Stroschein always has a way of showing the best any system has to offer, and that doesn’t stop when the bay freezes. Heading out to Sturgeon Bay, Dale takes a group to a destination that will yield trophy size walleyes. Jigging in the early morning and late afternoon, Dale puts us on the spot when the fishing gets hot. Johns persistence keep us on the ice in the “off hours” and everybody is still catching fish.

Jigging is the name of the game on this adventure, and when your in 20 feet of water and its so clear you can see the bottom, you really need to concentrate. It does pay off, BIG TIME! So many people said that the fish that they caught was there biggest, we lost count. Dale says this excellent fishing will continue until ice-out.

Episode 7
Pre-Spawn Ice Walleyes
Show Date: February 15th & 16th, 2008
Location: Fox River, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Guide: Pro Ice Guide Larry Smith [920-361-4996 | walleyeguide.com]

Guide Larry Smith guides us on a frigid day on the fox river near Green Bay. Today we are fishing for pre-spawn walleyes through the ice. Larry tells us the strong current draws these monster fish out of the bay, and down to where he has us camped out.

Using the all too well known 'hole-hoping' technique, our anglers move around all day to track these fish as they move. All you need is a dead-hooked minnow, a knuckle-ball jig, and some patience.

Episode 8
Ice Walleyes
Show Date: February 23rd & 24th, 2008
Location: Vilas County, WI | Green Bay, WI
Guides: Pro Guide Rob Manthei [715-477-2042 | robmanthei.com]
Pro Guide Dale Stroschein [ 920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com]

This two part ice fishing episode brings us to beautiful northern Wisconsin fishing for some of the most beautiful country, and some of the best looking walleyes in the state. Rob Manthei will show us how to catch walleyes after dark. Then we head south to meet up with Dale Stroschein, to catch the famous trophy-sized walleyes that the bay of Green Bay is known for.

Braving the cold in Vilas Co. Wisconsin is no easy task, especially when these fish want to run with the line. We are tip-up fishing mainly after dark, when the temp dips down to 14 below zero. Rob puts us in 20 feet above some structure that is holding the fish, early ice you will find weeds left over from the summer, late ice you’ll want to look for rocks. Rob has us using a 50/50 combination of shiners and suckers on their tip-ups to see what is working the best.

When we join Dale in Green Bay, it is sill deathly cold outside, but at least there are no tip-ups. This bit is pure jigging excitement, using an odd-ball jig and a shiner. Dale has us out a giant flat, and today we are fishing ahead of a storm, which Dale says that can turn the bite red hot. The 40 MPH winds don’t die down at all but catching these trophy walleyes is sure a blast, and keep you warm too. This excellent fishing in Green Bay will be hot until ice-off.