May 2011

 Episode 19
Spring River Fishing
Show Date: May 7th & 8th, 2011
Location: Peshtigo River, Peshtigo, Wisconsin
Guide: Charter Captain Brian Settele [414-559-9238 | fishchaserguideservice.com]


With the unusually cold and long spring, the fever-pitch walleye bit on the rivers has continued on much longer than usual.  To take advantage of the ongoing bite, we invite some good friends of ours from Johnsonville; Bill Morgan and Tom Schneider.  Bill and Tom love to catch walleye, and thats why we’ve got our guide Brian Settele at the helm.  Brian keeps us moving so we are always on the fish.

For the most part all you need is a jig and 4” Gulp, we are using a rip-jigging technique, letting the jig sink and ripping it when it hits the bottom.  Many of these monsters are hitting on the drop, so Fireline is really crucial because you can keep constant contact with your jig because it is a no-stretch line.

Episode 20
Opening Week
Show Date: May 14th & 15th 2011
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin
Guide: Pete Maina [thenextbite.com | petemaina.com]


This week is a very special show for us, it’s opening week in Wisconsin!  Joining us for this occasion is John’s long-time friend and fishin’ buddy Pete Maina and his dad, Tex Maina - walleye slayer of Hayward.  It has been a tradition for many, many years that John joins Pete in his neck of the woods for the opener.  This year, as many anglers know, has been unusually cool; which in-turn throws the whole spawning cycle backward.

With everything being behind, Pete is looking for any new vegetation that he can find, these would be the spots that will most likely be holding fish.  We are targeting walleye; but bass, crappies, and northern are all prolific in the lakes that we are fishing.  Using a Gulp or minnow and jig seems to be the bait of choice, but technique is what is doing all the catching, just ask Tex.  Tex catches about 85% of all the fish that we boat during the show, he always seems to have ‘the touch.’

Episode 21
Walleye Bonanza in the Dells
Show Date: May 21st & 22nd, 2011
Location: Wisconsin River, Wisconsin Dells
Guide:  Pro Guide Big Dave Ehardt [414-803-7160] Rivers Edge Resort [608-254-6594]

Big Dave Ehardt is a river-fishing master, and nobody knows the stretch of river that we’re fishing better than him.  We’re fishing out of River Edge Resort with two guys that bid on this trip to benefit Shoreland Community Church.  Stan and his buddy Dan are looking to catch some fish, and they are not disappointed.  Dave has us on a bite so hot that at times we have three on at once, and at other times we’re catching one every cast.

The technique that we are using could not be any more simple, a leach or crawler on a gold hook.  This simple technique yields us so many walleyes, that the last time we caught this many in a day was when we were in a fly-in lake in Canada.  The walleyes get so tiring, that we take a trip down the river to target bass.  The break is short-lived though as our wacky-worms are bringing in the bass just as fast as the walleyes!

Episode 21
Walleye Bonanza in the Dells
Show Date: May 21st & 22nd, 2011
Location: Wisconsin River, Wisconsin Dells
Guide:  Pro Guide Big Dave Ehardt [414-803-7160] Rivers Edge Resort [608-254-6594]


Big Dave Ehardt is a river-fishing master, and nobody knows the stretch of river that we’re fishing better than him.  We’re fishing out of River Edge Resort with two guys that bid on this trip to benefit Shoreland Community Church.  Stan and his buddy Dan are looking to catch some fish, and they are not disappointed.  Dave has us on a bite so hot that at times we have three on at once, and at other times we’re catching one every cast.

The technique that we are using could not be any more simple, a leach or crawler on a gold hook.  This simple technique yields us so many walleyes, that the last time we caught this many in a day was when we were in a fly-in lake in Canada.  The walleyes get so tiring, that we take a trip down the river to target bass.  The break is short-lived though as our wacky-worms are bringing in the bass just as fast as the walleyes!

Episode 22
Willow Flowage Crappie Explosion
Show Date: May 28th & 29th, 2011
Location: Vilas County, Wisconsin
Guide: Pro Guide Jeff Winters [715-385-9313 | jeffsguideservice.com]


The Willow Flowage in Oneida County Wisconsin is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the state, and the fishing can be red hot too.  Jeff Winters takes us out on a windy May day to show us with this massive 6,300 acre lake can produce when guided to the right spot.  Also joining us is Jeff’s daughter, Rachel, who grew up fishing and loves the sport almost as much as her dad.

The beauty of a body of water like the Willow Flowage, is that it’s size lends it to holding all manner of species.  We catch three different species in the same spot with the same presentation.  We start out jigging for walleyes using a jig and minnow, but find the pike and crappies are what want to bite.  We change over to a crappie jig and plastic, and it’s lights out for the crappies for most of the day.

Episode 23
Fishin’ Up North
Show Date: June 4th & 5th, 2011
Location: Vilas County, Wisconsin
Pro Guide Rob Manthei [715-477-2042 | robmanthei.com]


Rob Manthei knows the lakes of Vilas County like nobody else, and that becomes very apparent on this trip.  We’re here for a few days of great fishing with several guests.

Our first day out is a multi-species explosion with our first guests, Ted and Sharon.  Sharon won this trip with a raffle ticket to benefit Angel on My Shoulder, which helps kids whose families are dealing with cancer.  We catch bass, pike, and walleye using jigs and minnows.

The next guests to join us are Jeff and Andrea, friends of Rob.  We experience a crappie explosion that lasts as long as as we want it to.  What we love about days like this is that the bonanza is on a simple technique.  All we are doing is casting out a crappie jig and plastic with a bobber, and these fish can’t stop biting.

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