2010 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray
Episode 199: Spin-N-Glo Walleye/Stripers/Weedless Pike
Today, the Mercury Marine Destination starts us up in Cochrane Ontario for Walleye with Polar Bear Outfitters. Then out to the St. John River in New Brunswick for Stripers, then back up to Lindberghs Reindeer Lake Lodge for Pike. Polar Bear outfitters in Cochrane offers fly in services to a number of lakes they have cabins on for Pike and Walleye www.polarbearoutfitters.com or 866-550-5680. Walleye is the main focus today.
Besides the obvious fishing equipment, three items Charlie lists as a must on a fly in. The portable fish finder with the Humminbird 385C being Charlie’s favorite. This one has a rechargeable battery and built in GPS. A drift sock for those windy days to slow the drift speed, and the Minn Kota trolling motor for boat control. Light in weight and easy on your battery, the new Minn Kota Traxxis is ideal for this. Even on small fly in lakes, these are a must, and if the outfitters allow, Charlie even brings in his own 6 hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard.
Seaguar has long been known as the leader in Fluorocarbon, and now they even have a premium main line fluorocarbon called Tatsu. This line is made with double structure technology, an outer coating that makes this line incredibly limp and easy to cast with incredible knot strength, and a high density inner core that gives a higher tensile strength. Add it up, and you have an abrasion resistant, invisible line that is easy and limp to cast, that is surprisingly sensitive to the lightest take. Add a light and sensitive Okuma EVX graphite rod and an Okuma V System reel, and this make for one beautiful Walleye combo.
The Spin-N-Glos have always been known for Salmon, but these floating, spinning, attracting wonders work fabulous when turned into a worm harness. Not only do they have models that flash, but are also UV coated. Since these wonders float, they are especially great in snag filled areas that the Walleye love to hide. Charlie ties up several in various colours for the unknown water colour and uses the Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader material for an extra abrasion resistant rig. Both the Mustad Ultrapoint Octopus #92604BLN and Ultra NP Triple Grip hooks #36233BLN were used for the harness. Using the Triple Grip Treble as a trailer hook, it has incredible hooking power with the unique configuration, and fish have a much more difficult time shaking the hook. As always, the Worden’s Spin-N-Glos never fail and always produce fish, including a few eye openers!
Then, a road trip East to the Fredericton area in New Brunswick. This time the Ram is put to work again towing the Crestliner Raptor this trip. Designed for towing and to be worked, the Ram 2500 4X4 diesel hardly had to work at all with this load and the fuel efficiency hardly changed from the trips without the boat. If you do long trips, or towing, the diesel Ram is a great way to go. Gone are the days of smelly exhaust and noisy engines, this Ram diesel is quiet, comfortable and luxurious, you simply have the best of everything with this truck. The 4 X 4 also came in handy on an awkward boat launch when the trailer tire fell into a hole, a turn of a knob, a flashing light indicated that the 4 wheel drive was engaged, and the truck powered the trailer out of what would have ruined the fishing day.
Joining us on this trip is local fishing guru Clark Rayner. Clark is better known for his love of his Muskie fishing, but sure knows his way around when the Striped Bass move in. The Crestliner Raptor 1850 trolling edition is a perfect all round boat, featuring a nice sized casting deck and an open concept for those who like to troll. This boat allows you to do whatever is needed to catch fish and this is exactly what was needed today. A little trolling, a little casting, and a bunch of running. Powered by the Mercury Verado 175, not only was it incredibly fuel efficient for the long runs, but designed for long hours of trolling as well. These hard fighting fish love eating eels, so anything that resembles them will work. Expect a large fish to peel off a fair amount of line, so larger spinning reels like the Okuma V System in the 45 size, loaded with 30 lb test Tuf-Line XP or Muskie type tackle with Okuma Akena 400 sized reels loaded with 50 lb Tuf-Line XP are ideal choices.
Then, last but not least this week, Pike fishing is fun, but not when your spoons are constantly being fouled in the weeds. Nothing is more annoying than seeing what would have been the fish of your lifetime turn away from your lure because it picked up a gob of weeds. Spoons are great Pike lures, but treble hooks catch weeds very easily. Always one to experiment, Charlie replaces the treble with a Mustad Ultrapoint Siwash hook #10829BLN and uses a length of 60 lb test Seaguar Fluorocarbon as a weed guard. Tied with a uni knot around the bend of the hook, then looped around and tied through the eye of the same hook, the stiff Seaguar is perfect to reflect the weeds, but folds down on the hit from a Pike. A few trial and error attempts will probably have to be made to adjust for the right loop size, and changing loop size while tightening the knots, but this worked incredibly well and resulted in fish that would never have been caught. Don’t forget, quality sunglasses like Maui Jim should be looked at as an essential part of your equipment, not only to protect your eyes, but to help you see through the glare on the water. It is amazing what you can see with good glasses, including lunker fish about to hit your bait. For all your outdoor and fishing needs, contact SAIL – The Outdoors Superstore at www.sail.ca
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