Sinfully Simple

By Mark Romanack

In the spring bass can be sinfully simple to catch
by simply casting spinnerbaits from shore, piers,
while wading or from a boat cruising along the bank.

Few things associated with bass fishing are simple. Every popular fishing presentation seemingly has a dozen different lure brands, rods, reels and line combinations to consider. Digesting and applying all this information can literally take the fun out of fishing.

Fortunately, not all forms of fishing are complex or difficult to master. During May and June when the water is cool and fish favor the shallows, one simple lure and and even simpler presentation tops all other bass fishing techniques. This unique combination of lure and presentation is so deadly you can catch fish from a boat, casting from shore, wading the shallows or bobbing along in a float tube.

The common spinnerbait is not only an effective spring time lure, it’s about as easy to fish as anything equipped with a hook. Cast it to targets above and below the water and reel it back slowly. You can get fancy with the retrieve, but most of the time a slow and steady retrieve that brings the lure near good cover will trigger the most strikes.

Boating Photos are Serious Business

By Mark Romanack

This Smoker Craft Millentia 172 shows her best
for still and video cameras.

I bet lots of you outdoor enthusiasts have spent some quality time browsing through a boating magazine or catalog. Boat and outboard manufacturers spent countless time and money creating images that are eye candy for their potential customers. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in the case of marine catalogs and boating magazines those strikingly beautiful running and fishing shots are money in the bank. 

Of course shots this beautiful just don’t happen by accident. The many “photo shoots” these manufactures schedule are carefully organized and orchestrated events. In addition to having a bunch of boats and motors  ready for action, it takes a boat load of people in front of and behind the cameras to make these shoots possible.

April in the “D”

By Captain Jake Romanack

The Detroit River in April is one of the nation’s premier
 walleye fishing destinations. The king of “Vertical Jigging”,
the Detroit River routinely produces giants like these and
countless “eater” sized walleye.

April is the time when anglers everywhere get fired up. Some guys are into spring steelhead, others spend their time targeting perch, still others like to hunt down crappie and don’t forget those who prefer to hit the big pond in search of browns and coho salmon. When I think of spring, it’s April in the “D” and I don’t mean baseball that gets me pumped up. The Detroit River and early season walleye are what gets my blood flowing.

This week, I was blessed with the honor of sharing a boat with long time friend and fellow Off Shore Tackle pro staffer Rob Jones. In my young years of fishing I have always went with the motto “if you want to be the best, you have to fish with the best”. 

Rob is a skilled anger who can catch walleyes anywhere they are found, but the Detroit River is Rob’s wheelhouse. Recently Rob took me under his wing and showed me some of his favorite haunts on the Detroit River.

Big Bites Come Early and Late

By Mark Romanack

Double fisted walleye like this are getting harder and harder to
come by.  Fishing key waters at key times of year is the secret
to putting lunkers like this in the boat.

Anglers after double digit sized walleye have two windows of opportunity here in the Great Lakes region. Right after the ice breaks up in the spring and again just before the ice forms in the fall, walleye are on the feed bag. Adult walleye feed aggressively prior to spawning in an attempt to gain as much “egg mass” as possible.

The problem with targeting walleye early and late in the year is the water is icy cold and walleye can be lethargic despite their desire to feed. The keys to catching walleye early and late in the year boil down to picking presentations that are tailored to the fishing in cold water.