Escanaba walleyes

We fished little bay de noc thursday and friday night. Thursday was the coldest, but the best. Everything on the boat froze, the marine band, the boards, everything. But it was well worth it. Husky jerks being pulled about 20′ behind the boards was the best ticket. We caught a bunch of pigs the first night which were all released. The second night we had some pigs as well as some small eaters.
One thing that made me sick was a guy that was at the hotel was cleaning about eight big fish. Probably fish between 27 all the way to 30 inches. I was so mad, he was fishing in little bay, and we confronted him and told him you could only keep one fish over the 23 mark. He argued and got all huffy and said he has been fishing here for eighteen years, and “there are no rules on big fish”. That is when I wanted to call the dnr. We didn’t but bob lauridsen had the regs in his truck and showed the guy straight. He was all apologetic after that. I just wanted to turn the guy in. Not only was he keeping big fish, but he was “unaware” of the rules after eighteen years of fishing. Can you imagine how many big fish this guy has killed in eighteen years? Sick!! We also had the pleasure of taking along jerry hilgenberg, and he caught two of his biggest ever. A 27 and a 29. I will post this picture when I get over to his house and get the picture.

one more

another one

my wife even got in on the action!

one more, a true hawg

Nice photos…
Good job on informing the uninformed

You really should have turned him in…I know its tough to do but those big females are very hard to replace and lay millions of eggs every year.
He would have learned his lesson big time! Three fish over the limit and 7 fish over the slot would have cost him plenty.
Thanks for a great report and good fishing!

Fished the bay Saturday during the day in 2 boats. Found fish but all were very neutral. Saw a total of 3 fish boated in 8 hrs. Worked the breaks for what appeared to be the most active fish. (Very sluggish bites) Drifted crawler harness’ along and on top of 1 st, 2nd and 3 rd reefs with nothing more than perch and Gobies. Worked the fish riding higher in the water column (10-12 down over 22-35 fow)pulling Thundersticks ,Shad raps and Husky jerks. After dark we moved into Butlers Island are “Hot spots” and found no takers. All the right conditions were there 45-46 degree water, 10 -15 mph winds from the south and Overcast.
Off the water by 7:00. Thursday and Friday may have been good but Saturday was quite slow. The only area not covered extensivley was the top 5 ft of water. hmmmmmmmm
Maybee I should head back out after we fill our Deer tags Tuesday………….

outdoor guy, from everybody we talked to, it seemed like nobody could establish a day bite at all. Now, there could have been some people catching them during the day, but I didn’t hear of any. Did you try blackbottom during the day?

No, I have not fished Black Bottom since late August. Awesome bite then !! We ventured through the Narrows and met 3-4 footers south of there. Had my wife in the boat and did not want to end the day early so we stayed in the upper bay.
Going back out this week after we drop our Horned Criters.

awesome, let me know how you do, sure will be cold?

Thanks, “It is NEVER as Cold in the Boat as it is Standing at the Boat landing”
Friends out right now pulling cranks. I’ll advise when I know something. Not answering the Cell phone so I hope they are too busy !
Frank

awesome, I can’t wait to hear the report. Fishing little bay has many of my best memories!! I love that place! I just wished I didn’t live 500 miles away…

10 Fish last night. 18″-26″ All came on cranks in 8-10′ fow
Key element was stay on weeds and run baits 3′-4′ ft down.
Black and silver Jointed # 11 Raps. Snow storm brewing for tonite with high winds. 5″ predicted. May try after the storm. 15 Deer this morning. only 1 with bones (too small)
Back out this afternoon, maybe the snow will bring success !

sounds like fun…which reef? has the water temp dropped?

1 st reef and Butlers Island. Water temp @ 45 but expect it to drop tonite. 8-13″ of snow expected by noon tomorrow with winds up to 35 mph. Gonna make it tough to get out for Deer hunting

yeah thats cold!! BRRR!! Do you do any fishing through the ice up there?

Here is one more picture, of Mr. Jerry Hilgenberg.
His two biggest eyes to date…Thanks for coming with Jerry!

No fishing through the Ice for me. Busy time of year for me lots of Fundraiser banquets and shows to go to not to mention the “Honeydoos”

uh oh, honeydoos!! OUCH!! I love to ice fish, but down here in ioway, not much for walleyes through the ice, unless I just suck !! I sure would love to jig up some of those 30″ through the ice, I think that would be more fun than running boards at night in freezing temps…At least you can have a heater in a shack.

Smart move Outdoor Guy!
But the horned critters aren’t bitin very well either!!!

Who netted that Piggie for you? That may be a MORE interesting story!