March 2011 — John Gillespie's Waters & Woods

March 2011

Episode 10
Big Dave is Back!
Show Date: March 5th & 6th, 2011
Location: Wisconsin River, Wisconsin Dells
Guide: Pro Guide Big Dave Ehardt [414-803-7160] Rivers Edge Resort [608-254-6594]

Big Dave Ehardt has been a staple on Wisconsin’s Waters & Woods since 1992, and was sorely missed last year while he was recovering from back surgery. Although not 100% quite yet, he is very close to being done with his physical therapy, and was able to get back on the water with us for some walleye, sauger, saugeye, and incidental sturgeon fishing. The end of the previous sentence is one of the great things about Big Dave, he catches everything, and just loves to be on the water fishing. The river off of Rivers Edge Resort is almost completely open
This week we get the Frabill out for some nice eating walleye and sauger. We have a great time vertical jigging using Gulp and ZIP’s, catching some nice slot-fish as well, which of course are released to start the next generation. Also, helping Dave along the way is his co-guide Nate, who lands some of the largest fish of the day.

Episode 11
Everybody Loves to Fish
Show Date: March 12th & 13th, 2011
Location: Lake Winnebago; Oshkosh, WI
Guide: Pro Ice Guide Larry Smith [920-361-4996 | walleyeguide.com]

Larry Smith is the absolute best at guiding large groups on the ice. Which is why we game him a call when we had a group from a charity auction coming out to fish. We had 14 people, including some little kids. Larry and his two co-guides, Matt and his son Sawyer, kept everybody comfortable and fishing the entire day.

This show displays what an excellent fishery lake Winnebago is. We were able to keep the kids busy, catching a seemingly endless supply of perch; while some of the adults were able to head out looking for the plethora of other species that swim these waters. In this show alone we catch perch, walleye, white bass, and smallmouth bass. All were caught jigging; usually using a small spoon, zip, or jigging rap.

Episode 12
Newton Giants
Show Date: March 19th & 20th, 2011
Location: Newton Lake, Newton, Illinois
Guides: Matt Bichanich – Pro Bass Fisherman [Uncle Josh Pork Baits | unclejosh.com]
Tab Walker, Guide [618-752-5075 | outdoorsportsmanslodge.com ]

Sometimes you just want to head south to get off of the ice, luckily we don’t need go that far. This week we are making our annual stop in Newton, Illinois - where we fish a power plant lake that never freezes. Our host and guide, Tab Walker, puts us up in 5-star accommodations; and puts us on some of the best large mouth bass fishing that we’ve ever experienced.
This year the weather is much more accommodating than in the past, sunny the first day and cloudy the second day, and in the 50’s both days. Its relaxing weather for some very exciting fishing. We are working the shorelines in a summer pattering, using the jig & pig and the wacky-worm. Some of the fish we are catching are so close to shore that they are in 4 inches of water, so pinpoint casting is key.

Episode 13
Dale’s AM-PM Walleye Bite
Show Date: March 26th & 27th, 2011
Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Guide: Charter Captain Dale Stroschein [920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com ]

Late ice is a fantastic time of year to pull a slob through the ice, and Dale Stroschein is the guide to be with if you are looking for a walleye of a lifetime. Dale has been fishing the waters of Sturgeon Bay for his entire life, and this is the time of year to be here. We have wonderful weather both days that we head out, and fishing to match. We have a great crew with us, all willing to stay late, and get up extra early for their chance at a monster.

“This bite isn’t about numbers - it’s about a catch of a lifetime,” Dale says as he speaks to our group outside of his Sand Bay Beach Resort before heading out. “This is the #1 place to sit on a bucket, get one bite, and it’s the largest walleye you’ve ever caught.” He goes over the jigging technique that will be best able to land that trophy that everyone in our group is looking for. We are mostly jigging an odd-ball jig with a shiner minnow; but if you’re up to it, you can go the two-rod route and put a spoon or jigging rapala on the other. The second lure is meant to get the walleyes attention, so he’ll see the minnow on your odd-ball. Although, you’re not really going to care which lure that monster hits, as long as he ends up on the ice for a photo op. A photo is usually all that is taken, the walleyes are released to grow and be caught again, and make a lifetime moment for another angler.