03-26-2004, 11:20 AM
[cool][blue][size 1]Hey Leaky. Glad you got on the water and that the Sparkster added to his education. I think I would have been nervous about the thunder too. That is usually my cue to get off the water for awhile. I just hate it when lightning comes down the rod and fries the gears in my reels. Usually messes up my hair pretty bad too. I don't look good with my Don Kind hairdo.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Some waters are better than others at iceout. Not being able to use a little bait, on Mantua, probably handicapped you. The fish are still in winter mode, even though the ice is off. That means vertical jigging, with a "flavored" offering, will usually do better than something retrieved faster than they want to chase it...especially if there is no scent to get their attention.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Sounds like you had a good day though. I am sure there will be many more to come.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Are you going to try for the wipers and walleyes in Willard this spring from your tube? That can really be a blast. Some of that "New Orleans Stuff" will be good to try...soon. Best colors will be chartreuse and the always effective 3" white twisters, with a light head...fished parallel to the rocks. White or pearl shad bodies work well too. I did especially well on those when I used a permanent marker to make a dark blue back on a plain white or pearl. You can buy them with the blue backs, but it is usually a pale blue. The darker seems to work better. In the fall, I make a red back line and that works well until iceup.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]Some waters are better than others at iceout. Not being able to use a little bait, on Mantua, probably handicapped you. The fish are still in winter mode, even though the ice is off. That means vertical jigging, with a "flavored" offering, will usually do better than something retrieved faster than they want to chase it...especially if there is no scent to get their attention.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Sounds like you had a good day though. I am sure there will be many more to come.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Are you going to try for the wipers and walleyes in Willard this spring from your tube? That can really be a blast. Some of that "New Orleans Stuff" will be good to try...soon. Best colors will be chartreuse and the always effective 3" white twisters, with a light head...fished parallel to the rocks. White or pearl shad bodies work well too. I did especially well on those when I used a permanent marker to make a dark blue back on a plain white or pearl. You can buy them with the blue backs, but it is usually a pale blue. The darker seems to work better. In the fall, I make a red back line and that works well until iceup.[/size][/#0000ff]
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