April-08 — John Gillespie's Waters & Woods

April 2008

Episode 14
Last Ice on Devils Lake
Show Date: April 5th & 6th, 2008
Location: Devils Lake North Dakota
Guide: Pro Ice Guide: Jason Feldner [701-351-1294 | percheyes.com]

Heading out to North Dakota for the final ice show of the year. Targeting walleyes and pike, always has good results in North Dakota. We are fishing on Devils Lake, that massive expanse of water in the center of the state.

Jigging for walleyes showcases the quality of fish that Devils Lake has to offer. Late ice brings the walleyes to the shallow flats, which is where we plant down for the beginning of or trip. Just using a jig and minnow, and keeping a strong focus on what we are doing, we catch fish.

Switching to northern pike later shows us lots of action. Using tip-ups and Pete Maina’s famous system of using a muskie rod to land these pike.

Episode 15
Eric’s Pre-Spawn Walleye Bite
Show Date: April 12th & 13th, 2008
Location: Marinette, WI
Guide: Charter Captain Eric Haataja [414-546-4627 | wibigfish.com]

We finally get on the open water for a full show, but the weather conditions still have a strong hold on winter. Eric always guides the waters of Green Bay and the Menominee River in early spring for huge pre-spawn walleyes. We stay for two days, the first day jigging, the second day trolling.

The first day we jig using mostly Lindy jigs like the Fuzz-e-Grub, the big profile of these jigs is good in the dark stained water of the river in spring. Since we were mostly vertical jigging, John did get out his Zip from time to time. We caught some jumbo walleyes, but not in the numbers that Eric is used to, so day two would be trolling. Trolling crank baits in shallow water, where the ice had been latterly one day before. Targeting the fish that haven’t moved up river yet.

Eric continually told us both days that it is not a numbers bite, but a trophy fishery. 95% of all fish you catch here will be a jumbo, but like he says, you have to put in your time.

Episode 16
Spring With Dale
Show Date: April 19th & 20th, 2008
Location: Sturgeon Bay, WI
Guide: Charter Captain Dale Stroschein [920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com]

Spring can be a tough bite for any angler, so when we came knocking on Dale’s door, he said he would make it happen. We have two days to try for whatever we think will bite, so on day one it is pike. We troll for pike all day, and land a jumbo, but the rest of the day doesn’t pan out equally.

Day two pays off when we travel down to Green Bay to fish the Fox River for walleye. We anchor up in the rapids created by a dam, and cast crank baits trying for the jumbo walleyes that we know are here. Sure enough, when we put our time in we capitalize on the beautiful walleyes that the Fox has to offer. Fishing late into the night we catch some very nice fish.

Episode 17
Larry’s Spring Mixed Bag
Show Date: April 26th & 27th, 2008
Location: Fox River, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Guide: Pro Guide Larry Smith [920-361-4996 | walleyeguide.com]

It is the first nice day of the year, sunny with temperatures in the upper 70’s with a light breeze, it’s the weather we have been waiting for all year. With the excellent weather also comes equally good fishing. We join Larry Smith on a guide trip on the Fox River in Oshkosh, WI for a spring grab-bag of fish. We try all sorts of bait and techniques. From jigs and minnows for perch, to pulling flies through the current for white bass & walleye, we see it all.