Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League
Michigan Division / Lake Erie
04/12/2008
The Michigan Division of the FLW Walleye League launched this morning in the chilly darkness with winds blowing a steady 15mph out of the West-Southwest. The only saving grace is that this is an offshore wind, and the anglers who are heading west to the reefs can run some relatively calm waters to get there.
“Lake Erie is a mud hole right now”, said local Pro Rick LaCourse. “The jig bite is definitely going to be better than the trolling bite, but if the trollers can find cleaner water, then it’s going to be their tournament to win”.
Many anglers will be fishing the numerous rock reefs in the Western Basin today, jigging with heavy ½ to 5/8th ounce hair jigs tipped with minnows or plastic baits. There they can pick up a limit of fish and then go look for those big girls that will upgrade their baskets with “winning fish”.
The trollers will likely be using shallow running crankbaits or crawler harnesses to cover water in their search for the trophy size females. With the water temperatures still in the low 40’s, the fish will suspend in the top part of the water column, where it warms the fastest.
Some anglers struggled in these muddy conditions, while others figured them out. Kevin Michnicki is one of those fishermen who seems to have succeeded in figuring them out this past week.
“I hope my fish are still there, because I’m on some BIG fish”, said Kevin
(a/k/a KGonefishing on WC). “Yesterday I caught a 28”, 27” and a 25 incher,
and I left outta there pretty quick…I didn’t want to get caught on that spot,
or burn them up”
Good luck Kevin! And, good luck to all the anglers who are out today fishing in some tough conditions!
Join us here this afternoon at http://www.liveleaderboard.com to watch as your favorite FLW Walleye League competitors cross the stage to weigh in.
The weigh-in starts at 3PM Eastern Time.