Fished with the “Master”

James was spectacular on the river yesterday (and I have to do this), yes…. the “Master” baits! He would send that three way rig down…. and be setting the hook before he had time to get his other pole baited. We had doubles, we had tripples! It was like spring or something! Yea, durring the heat advisory we were nailing the fish. We were fishing above Redwing in a stretch of the river where he guided a family of five at that morning and had just inialiated them too. I had fished that same spot hard jigging last Sunday and had got not a bite. James said the fish won’t hit cranks or jigs here, only floaters on three-ways. And hit? They did hit hard, and lots of them in the 20″+ range. Only one other boat anywhere near and he was half a city block away. Hard to explain how much I learned from this young whipper-snapper and how manu fish we caught in only three hours time.

Watching him at a distance you would think he knew zip, with appartently no boat controll going all over the place. Not! He works side to side, back and forth, and across current. The fish hit many times as soon as the weight made it two feet across the bottom.

Watch him fishing and you would not know he took any fish, cause he be sliding those fish up over that Crestliner’s low transom on to the floor when you ain’t lookin! A real low profile pro-approach. James, you da man!

I’ve been fishing, making tackle, and teaching others to fish up North here for twenty years, thanks for teaching the teacher the fishing lesson. Hoggie Hoggard

Edited by FTR Webstaff on 08/08/01 06:03 AM.

yep… thats the way it was when he took me fishing… same thing, same results… incredible summer fishing….. and no one else doing squat… he knows how to give the fish what they want… and thats what it takes…. I figure he must be a wizard…. cuz it works just like magic…..

OK, I’ll be the third to toast the “Master”. I’ve fished twice with James this summer and he pulled off unbelievable feats both times. The first time on a “hot” day, flat water, we boated about 40 walleyes and stopped counting smallies after 50!! The fun part was he stayed away from the crowds and acted the professional he is. The second time I fished North of the lake with James and the guys above have already told the story!!! This guy is magic on the water. I have fished a long time with lots of guys that think they have boat control mastered but I told James he is absolutely the “BEST” I have ever fished with….bar none! He puts the boat in “exactly” the right place, at the right time, at the right depth, and makes it look ever so easy, still managing to work 2 rods on his side of the boat. He’s taught me loads of stuff this summer and I’m gonna learn more…..I practiced some of his technique on the lake Saturday with my fishing partner. We fished my partner’s way for 4 hours (the early 4) and got two eyes jigging with minnows. The last two hours were my turn and we twisted over 30 smallies into the boat, not to mention a few slab sunnies. James knows his stuff, and puts fish into the boat instead of just promises.

Do I have to go out with James or can you guys share some of these magic techniques?

How about river location(inside bend, outside bend etc)

Exact technique (weight on 3-way, description of leader)

Depth and speed? Drift or power? Upstream or down?

I’m looking for details that will help me catch more fish. Everything except exact location of course.

Mike

Boy all that you are asking is tough to do, I mean getting ultra specific about a full time guide’s most secret rigs, techniques, or even general locations…. yea, I guess you are going to have to just fish with him too! Well worth your time and money to do so.

Rigging? I gave him my Berkley Fire Line filled rods and he tied the rigs for me. Man, I have not had treatment that good in years. He has a great new Crestliner boat with a big Yamahamer & Yamakicker, and all the extras. He had pop, leaches, and crawlers on ice and bought me lunch…. hum… I wonder if he can cook? “Hoggie”

Alright already. I just messaged him for availability. Of course you are right and I owe it to myself to learn from a good teacher.

Mike

Mike,

Hoggie is dead on the money but even if you were told all the parts and pieces James uses, you need to see how he applies them to the water before it means anything. Your day on the water with him will be the best day fishing you have had for a long time, tons to learn and he shares very well.