Last week was as crazy as this week. After flying to Chicago and getting back late on Friday night, Saturday we left early to see my Dad in Eleva. My brother was there so we got a number of things done around the house. I decided to take the "old" way of going back home, Hwy 10 which runs a mile from the house all the way to Eleva. Back in 1973 Oil Crisis the government instituted a 55 mph speed limit on major highways so there was little advantage between taking Hwy 10 vs the interstate, I94. Today the major 2 lanes remain at 55 mph but the interstate is back up to 65 (in Wisconsin). Having recorded mileage both ways, Hwy 10 is 5 miles shorter than taking I94, is much more scenic, and only takes about 5 minutes longer. It's a welcome change from the last 25 years of thinking the interstate is better. We headed back early Sunday with the intent of hooking up with my neighbor Lory Brasel and trying the late afternoon bite. Last week the bite lasted well into the 6:00PM time frame, could it still be on? Heading to the landing north of the Casino, evidence of a busy morning was confirmed by the truck trailers parked in the ditch. Arriving at 3:00 there were enough empty spaces to stay withing the landing. My strategy was simple, head to the Cut, backtroll to the corner, and depending on our success, either stay or move to 7-mile flat, scene of last weeks success. Although the cut was void of boats, we only nailed 1 fish before deciding to move. We did mark a lot of fish but they didn't seem to interested. I caught a smaller walleye, 21 inches, but that was it. Time to move to 7 Mile. There were a few more boats on 7 Mile but the fish were just as uncooperative. One thing was evident, a big mayfly hatch was about to commence. My sonar marked huge masses of mayfly larva setting themselves up to emerge into adulthood. There are theories as to whether these bug hatches affect the fishing or not but I can't believe they don't. Evidence of the previous night's hatch were all over the surface. Marking a load of fish on the point, we decided to anchor and try bobber for a while. Using a crawler, Lory nailed the first keeper I had seen in 4 weeks. We through it in the live well then spent the next hour trying to duplicate the feat. No such luck.
My friend Bill had called to warn us that a weather front was moving in fast and we need to be cognizant of the approaching storm. Deciding to move closer to the landing, we headed back to the Cut. Again, there was not a boat to be found we started on the edge and immediately began marking fish. Putting down the crawler rig, we went 20 feet before that tell tale thump, a walleye. Setting the hook the 26 1/2 incher finally succumb to the net, a good start. Re-baiting and 2 minutes later boom, another 22 incher hit. Releasing it and re-baiting I nailed a 24 inch walleye, again within minutes. After the 4th fish, I suggested to Lory he reconsider my offer to use one of my hand tied spinner rigs as it was obvious the presentation was hot and what ever he was using was not. Almost as scripted he retied, threaded the night crawler, let it to the bottom, and within a minute had a nice walleye. I am not sure who was more excited, me steering him right or the fact that he caught one right away. As we unhooked his walleye, the lightening made it's presence known. Time to head for the landing. We ended the day with 7 walleyes, 5 caught in the last 30 minutes. We were able to stay just ahead of the storm but eventually it caught up with us. An hour later the wind took out one of my nicest Autumn Blaze Maple, a 10 year old tree, the 3rd I have had in that location! Oh well. Power was off till 2:00, just in time for the air to kick back in. The first picture is the 26.5 incher that I caught and the second is the last fish of the day, Lory's 24 inch walleye that practically jumped into the boat! I am expecially fond of how his hat dressed up the boat significantly! I am in Loveland, CO returning Friday, maybe heading back home for Saturday and doing the Mille Lac thing this weekend. Hopefully the bite is still strong!
Last week was as crazy as this week. After flying to Chicago and getting back late on Friday night, Saturday we left early to see my Dad in Eleva. My brother was there so we got a number of things done around the house. I decided to take the "old" way of going back home, Hwy 10 which runs a mile from the house all the way to Eleva. Back in 1973 Oil Crisis the government instituted a 55 mph speed limit on major highways so there was little advantage between taking Hwy 10 vs the interstate, I94. Today the major 2 lanes remain at 55 mph but the interstate is back up to 65 (in Wisconsin). Having recorded mileage both ways, Hwy 10 is 5 miles shorter than taking I94, is much more scenic, and only takes about 5 minutes longer. It's a welcome change from the last 25 years of thinking the interstate is better. We headed back early Sunday with the intent of hooking up with my neighbor Lory Brasel and trying the late afternoon bite. Last week the bite lasted well into the 6:00PM time frame, could it still be on? Heading to the landing north of the Casino, evidence of a busy morning was confirmed by the truck trailers parked in the ditch. Arriving at 3:00 there were enough empty spaces to stay withing the landing. My strategy was simple, head to the Cut, backtroll to the corner, and depending on our success, either stay or move to 7-mile flat, scene of last weeks success. Although the cut was void of boats, we only nailed 1 fish before deciding to move. We did mark a lot of fish but they didn't seem to interested. I caught a smaller walleye, 21 inches, but that was it. Time to move to 7 Mile. There were a few more boats on 7 Mile but the fish were just as uncooperative. One thing was evident, a big mayfly hatch was about to commence. My sonar marked huge masses of mayfly larva setting themselves up to emerge into adulthood. There are theories as to whether these bug hatches affect the fishing or not but I can't believe they don't. Evidence of the previous night's hatch were all over the surface. Marking a load of fish on the point, we decided to anchor and try bobber for a while. Using a crawler, Lory nailed the first keeper I had seen in 4 weeks. We through it in the live well then spent the next hour trying to duplicate the feat. No such luck.
My friend Bill had called to warn us that a weather front was moving in fast and we need to be cognizant of the approaching storm. Deciding to move closer to the landing, we headed back to the Cut. Again, there was not a boat to be found we started on the edge and immediately began marking fish. Putting down the crawler rig, we went 20 feet before that tell tale thump, a walleye. Setting the hook the 26 1/2 incher finally succumb to the net, a good start. Re-baiting and 2 minutes later boom, another 22 incher hit. Releasing it and re-baiting I nailed a 24 inch walleye, again within minutes. After the 4th fish, I suggested to Lory he reconsider my offer to use one of my hand tied spinner rigs as it was obvious the presentation was hot and what ever he was using was not. Almost as scripted he retied, threaded the night crawler, let it to the bottom, and within a minute had a nice walleye. I am not sure who was more excited, me steering him right or the fact that he caught one right away. As we unhooked his walleye, the lightening made it's presence known. Time to head for the landing. We ended the day with 7 walleyes, 5 caught in the last 30 minutes. We were able to stay just ahead of the storm but eventually it caught up with us. An hour later the wind took out one of my nicest Autumn Blaze Maple, a 10 year old tree, the 3rd I have had in that location! Oh well. Power was off till 2:00, just in time for the air to kick back in. The first picture is the 26.5 incher that I caught and the second is the last fish of the day, Lory's 24 inch walleye that practically jumped into the boat! I am expecially fond of how his hat dressed up the boat significantly! I am in Loveland, CO returning Friday, maybe heading back home for Saturday and doing the Mille Lac thing this weekend. Hopefully the bite is still strong!
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