WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
March 6, 2008

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Boat shows, sport shows, fishing seminars, new fishing equipment and tackle typically mean that Spring is here, but it sure seems that mother nature has a different plan again this year. The Spring will come and at this pace it might be a bit, but as everyone knows, we will be fishing that 2008 opening day 60 days or so from now. With all the cold temperatures, just think how great that mid-80 degree day will feel with a fish jerking on the end of your line. That is the only way to think this time of the year for me, and with this thought pattern, the open water seems to come much quicker.

As for the fishing in the area, most anglers that are taking the time to get out are finding typical reports. The Winnie Perch action comes and goes, with some reports starting to show fish moving to the shallower water. A migration of Perch from those deep Winter haunts seems to happen this time of the year and as we progress toward that last season ice. Anglers who are persistent with hole hopping are finding better action and better sized fish.

The Crappie and panfish reports are showing activity yet, but the continual pressure has increased the knowledge of many of the fish or maybe the inconsistency is coming from the ever-so-changing weather that we are experiencing lately. Either way, the panfish activity has started to slow with spotty-to-good reports coming from many of the good panfish lakes. Keeping line weight at 2-4 LB and small presentation seem to be a tactical trick in making lookers eaters right now. If you plan on panfishing, don't forget to think small when the fish are negative or inactive.

So with fishing season coming sooner than later, no better time to talk about those reels. Most reels on the market have a time and place and many are made equally, but when it comes to increasing your speeds for Walleyes and Pike, a line-counter reel by either Okuma or Daiwa will make those average days good and those good days great. When fishing spinners or crankbaits, 1-2 feet difference in your bait presentation or line length will make all the difference in whether or not your catching fish. If the fish want your bait two feet above the bottom and putting 50 feet of line out gets your bait there, simply putting 51 feet of line out will slow or stop your activity. If you fish crankbaits or spinners, I would recommend looking at a line counter reel, it certainly will add to your daily catch and it is a tool that I just won't fish without.

Until next week, think warm weather!

Sean Colter
member of NMGL
seancolter@seancolter.com