2013 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray

Episode 237: Erie Steelhead, Live Forage Pike & Flatfish Lakers

Today, the Mercury Marine Destination starts us on Lake Erie for Steelhead, then up to Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan for Pike and Lake Trout. Steelhead, or Great Lake Rainbow Trout, (everyone has their own terminology for this species), can be fussy and hard to hook, but with a few big water tactics and realistic looking lures, you can put the odds in your favour. The new Live Target Smelt Banana bait looks just like the real thing and has beautiful action. The flash and attention to detail has made this a Great Lakes favourite from the day it hit the water. Snap weights help get this fish producer down to the correct depths, but in the gin clear waters of Lake Erie, planer boards are needed to get away from the fish spooking boat. Either large boards or like the small clip on boards used today, both work great, but make no mistake about it, get away from the boat. When the magic lead of line and distance from the boat starts producing, pay attention and repeat exactly what you did that worked. The Okuma line counter reels make this difficult task extremely easy. Small mini planer board release clips, a few snaps and an assortment of weights, makes it easy to make you own snap weights.

If you are looking for a big water boat that is still very trailer friendly, look at the Crestliner Sportfish 2150 SST. Lake Erie or Lake Ontario can get as rough as the Ocean at times, truly inland seas, so this testing ground has proven this boat as stable and safe. This is the largest of the Crestliner fleet and handles the big water comfortably, even when it blows up without warning. The SST (Space Saver Transom) extends the length of the boat allowing more usable space in the boat, and giving a large splash well that will keep even the largest waves from entering the boat. The SST also gives a perfect place to store the sun top when not in use with a hinged area that hides the cover completely. The Crestliner boats are completely welded and this 2150 Sportfish even has toe rails for balance when fighting big fish, or rigging lines in the rough water, something not often found in many aluminum boats.

These Creatliner boats are built right and this 2150 is even rated for 300 hp. With a Mercury 300 hp Verado motor, power is no problem. Creatliner boats run true and plane quickly, so maximum horsepower is not needed, but still nice to rocket out to the hot spots once in a while. For family fun and options, the conversion stern bench on this Sportfish offers a plush bench across the back for tubing, skiing or leisure rides, and folds down into a back casting deck when it's time to fish. With the 15 hp Mercury Pro Kicker as a trolling motor, even the slowest trolling speeds are available for any presentation needed. 300 hp sounds like a load of power, and it is, but these Mercury Verado motors are not only powerful, but very fuel efficient, especially if you are running at mid speeds. The other outstanding characteristic of the Verado, incredibly quiet, even at top speeds, you can talk normally without raising your voice. At trolling speeds, you can hardly hear it!! Add the Cannon Track system and Cannon Adjustable rod holders, and you can do anything you want with this anglers dream, this rig is complete.

If you want to keep more room available in your boat, have a look at the Ego nets, these compact nets telescope out with the push of a button, and then collapse to be stored without the bulk of most nets, this is extremely handy and can be used one handed if you are fishing by yourself. Pay attention to details, once bait is found, hungry Trout won't be far away. The Humminbird 1198c SI not only has a large crystal clear screen, but the GPS helps to keep you in the productive zone. Have you ever wondered what is going on away from the boat where your planer boards are tracking, well, with the Humminbird Side Imaging, you can see structure, bait and fish that would have normally been missed. This has been used many times as an informant to stay in an area longer. The fish don't always hit on the first pass. The Side Imaging gives you a reason to stay because you are seeing to the sides and what you have been missing.

If you are using braided lines, wonderful, they give you an increased line capacity on your reels and the new Seaguar Kanzen is one of the best, but make sure you use a long leader of invisible Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader material, I cannot stress how many more fish will be caught with the Fluorocarbon, it is invisible in the water compared to mono lines, and 50 feet of 10 or 15 lb test will give your realistic Live Target Smelt a natural and invisible approach.

Pike will hit anything in the far remote Northern waters, right? Well, sometimes that is correct, other times it is amazing how fussy they can be, especially when the usually stained bays are crystal clear. Those colourful bright spoons and lures that worked so well in the stained bays, are now simply not working. This situation was the problem Charlie faced today, and this was the first time Charlie tried the Live Forage spoons by Northland. These spoons have a metal kicker tail in the shape of a fish's tail, and a beautiful reflective foil photo image finish. It worked like magic and had the Pike racing each other for it. It was like someone turned on a switch. The Foil finish held up much better than expected, not as well as a hard painted finish that would last years, but who cares, this is what worked and it was dozens of large Pike before any damage was noticed on the finish.

If you are looking for the lightest most comfortable baitcasting outfit Charlie has ever used, check out the Okuma eleven Ball Bearing Komodo reels and Helios rods. The last few years from Okuma has produced a new generation of gear designed for Canadian anglers. This feather light outfit was loaded with the thin Seaguar Kanzen braided line. No stretch hook sets are great for the boney tough mouthed Pike. The bigger they are, the harder you need to set the hook to break the grip and penetrate the bone and gristle filled mouth. The Seaguar Kanzen features a high density weave for maximum knot strength, abrasion resistance, and durability. Keeping with this clear water presentation, 80 lb test Seaguar Premier Fluorocarbon leader material was perfect for a stealth approach.

Even though this leader material is fairly thick at 80 lb test, it is invisible. The thicker diameter also offers several advantages, if the Pike wraps in the leader, it doesn't cut into the Pike, Charlie can grab the leader by hand without worry of cutting his hands, and it is very flexible and doesn't kink and knot like most regular wire leaders would. Absolutely a win win situation. Yes, you might need to retie your leader after a few dozen Pike, but that is a small price to pay for getting hit after hit, especially when you would be fishless with the visible wire.

Lake Trout love the action of the Flatfish, but if speeds are not consistent, or the Lakers want a faster speed, then the Flatfish might roll and not track true. The Yakima Bait Company (Worden's) has recently come out with a new version called the Hawg Nose. This incredible Flatfish tracks at faster trolling speeds, dives 15 - 20 feet without weights or divers, and features that famous skip beat action. The skip beat has it wiggling to the left and wandering a little, back to the right, back to centre, pause or almost stumbles, and this sends out those all important wounded vibrations that call in the big ones for the kill, it works!!!!

On northern Fly-in trips, weight restrictions keep gear to a minimum, so why bring a separate rain coat when your normal, everyday jacket can be used as your raingear anyway. Viking makes beautiful jackets and coats that are 100% waterproof, and from some of the storms Charlie has weathered in Saskatchewan and other trips over the last two seasons, they are truly 100% waterproof and comfortable. The Tri-Zone also has a fleece lining for the cold mornings that can be zipped out and worn separately when it warms in the afternoon. Matched with Viking pants or bibs, and you will be all set for whatever conditions are thrown your way. Funny weather in Northern Saskatchewan, it can be sunny one minute, 10 minutes of pouring rain the next, and back sunny. All day can be like this, be prepared.

Continue to Episode 238

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