Episode 5

Fishing in a Polar Vortex

Location: Lake Winnebago; Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Guide: Captain Matt Merten [920-410-2206 | https://www.badgersportsmanoutdoors.com/ ]

The Midwest has been experiencing the coldest temperatures in over two decades, but that's not going to stop us from getting out on the ice on Lake Winnebago. Captain Matt Merten shows us that the perch bite is back!

We spent two days on the lake, the first day was tolerable to be outside, but the second day it would have been absolutely impossible With the wind chill factor being -40℉.  The weather was worse the second day, but the fishing was better. inside of Matt's permanent shelter we found schools of jumbo perch, and had an absolute blast catching these fish.  Working the bottom with vertical jigging lures was the key. Pounding the bottom and then lifting up and holding very steady was what triggered the bite.

Episode 6

Saginaw Bay Walleyes

Location: Saginaw Bay; Bay City, Michigan

Show Date: February 9th & 10th, 2019

Guide: Charter Captain Mike Patterson [419-308-6925 | mikessportfishing.com]

This week we’re heading somewhere we’ve never been, Saginaw Bay Michigan.  We had been planning to ice fish Lake Erie with Captain Mike Patterson, but the ice was shifting too much, and was not safe.  Mike had a backup plan, and shifted us north to Saginaw Bay. Saginaw bay is located on the eastern side of Lake Huron, and covers a massive area of of 1,143 square miles.  With all that water, we needed to travel over 10 miles to get to our spot, which was a blast on our Yamaha’s! We needed to travel that far because it’s where the deep water meets the reefs, so the walleyes are staging on the breaks, and coming shallow to feed.  

The key to catching these walleyes, and some perch, is to keep it very still after drawing them in.  So, jig your spoon or jig until you mark something, then hold it still until they hit. It’s an interesting presentation, much different than on Erie, but it absolutely works.

Episode 7

North Dakota Jumbo Perch

Show Date: February 16th & 17th, 2019

Location: Devils Lake; Minnewaukan, North Dakota
Guide: Dave Tice & Aaron McQuoid - McQuoid Outdoors [701-351-6058 | mcquoidguides.com]

It’s no secret that Devils Lake North Dakota is the place to go to catch jumbo perch through the ice, and McQuoid Outdoors knows where to find them!  We got a text message on Sunday night, and we were on the road the next day. Dave Tice of McQuoid Outdoors got ahold of us, and let us know that the Perch bite was going crazy, and it did not disappoint.

We’re fishing a cold-front, and you’d never know it for two reasons. Firstly, the fish bit, and they came in droves; there were many instances where it was non-stop with someone catching.  Second, we were driven out to a beautiful shack that was already set up, and heated. These perch have a very light bite, and if we were out in the wind, I don’t think we would have caught half of what we did.  Using Kastmasters with a minnow head was all we needed all day, and the day wasn’t even that long - it didn’t need to be! Get in touch with McQuoid Outdoors as soon as you can!