Soft water almost here?
Well it’s been a tough season of ice fishing and with only a few trips out I really can’t blame the fish for not cooperating. I can hear my brother-in-law saying that I need to start putting more time on the ice if I want more success (I hate it when he’s right). The lull between ice season and open water season is upon us. What to do, what to do?
For the last few days I’ve spent my time dusting off all my rods and reels and took a quick inventory to see what I’m going to need for this year’s tournament season. One of this year’s rod purchase is going to be a live bait rod. Last year was the first time in a long time that I came back to this technique and I forgot how much I love it. Well this year I can see myself using technique quite a bit especially in our 3rd tournament of the season on Matagami in early June. The great news is G-Loomis has their new Walleye series rods and one of their new Walleye Rig Rod’s (WRR8501SGLX) will be here shortly. I can’t wait to fish with this rod.
I think I spent close to 4 hours this week re-spooling line which has to be a new record for me. Can you tell the cabin fever has really set in? This also gave me a chance to pour through the boxes of tackle and place my orders for this year. One of the products I’m anxious to try out are the new Mustad double wide live bait hooks (Model # 10548R). Once again we can thank Gary Parson & Keith Kavajecz for another great design improvement on an already terrific hook. These new hooks have a much wider gap and a shorter shank which will help with hook ups. With the shorter shank when you set the hook the hook will now hinge easier upward into the roof of the walleye’s mouth. Bennett’s Bait and tackle (Smiths Falls) and Bits and Baits (Stittsville) will be stocking these, if they haven’t already got them in.
Well Sheldon and I also confirmed our Walleye Schools and tournament schedule for the season, and we certainly have a busy May and June. The Walleye school on West lake is now sold out on May 1 & 2. This is the second year we have done the spring school at Westlake Willows and we have sold out early both years, so a big thank you to all the folks that signed up. This year’s spring school will be full of great information on spring walleye techniques, mapping and sonar and of course getting out on the water which this year we will do one day on West Lake and the next on the Bay of Quinte.
The next event that Sheldon and I are getting ready for is the Carp Show. Sheldon had an excellent idea this year with explaining what you see on your sonar screen and then what technique we would use to catch those fish. Sheldon also has some very cool stuff on side imaging and down scan to share at this year’s seminar as well. We will also be in the Bits and Baits booth each day of the show for a few hours after our seminar. Make sure you drop by and say hi.
Keep an eye out in the next few weeks for my live bait rigging article.