My friend Bill Schultz who resides in Milwaukee, WI whom I consider the Door County guru and my Small mouth fishing mentor fished it for 16.5 days from the span of Mothers day through 6/5 hooked 618 smallies an average of 37.5 fish a day! My Ranger 617VS 150 Mercury ran well at times doing a steady 45mph at 5000 RPM for 30/40 minutes in between milk runs. She fished The Flats,(photo of the new Quarry launch $6), Egg & Eagle Harbor, Little Sturgeon (The Brutes digs), Sister Bay, Rowleys & Rileys bay.. she boated 52 beautiful Bronzebacks (on the clicker) over 3.5 days, which weren't super numbers, had to work for them but overall there was ample steady action throughout the days. Fished at approx 2-5/4-8 FOW. All fish were healthy and beautiful fighters most falling in the 15-17 range with a handful of juviniles.. There were multiple strong 17"s landed (on the 35" ruler) with 4 awesome 18"s one thick female at 21'' that put on a solid fight and weigh in at 5lb 5oz. I also had my personal best "The Brute" (yes, I named him) at 22.5" 6lb 4oz. This fish was a dandy, giving me the thrill of the trip with approx three 40/50 yard runs, under & away from the boat with three spectacular aerials along with the famous old 2 step water tail dance across the top of water for about half the length of my boat. To say "The Brute" was a noteworthy battler would be a sincere understatement! All fish were released to LIVE and battle another day.
I look forward to going back soon and would like to invite those of you that enjoy small mouth fishing (who the heck doesn't?) to check the Partner Up forum on a regular basis. I occasionally post to local & Out of State quality fishing destinations and would like someone to fish with and share all costs 50/50. Stay well, gooday.
[albu
m][/album]"The Brute" A great Door County Bronzeback at 22.5" 6lb.4oz
[alb
um][/album]I really thought this bad boy was bigger then he actually was.. Plenty tough though measuring & weighin in just 3 ounces under our IL 6.7 state record.
Fyi Wisc state rec is 9.1!! Can't even imagine one that size.
[albu
m][/album]A pleasure to see The Brute off to swim away and brawl another day. Wonderful memories of a great fish!
[al
bum][/albumThis is that fatty female at 21" 5.5. Towards the end of the evening she was no slouch and what a way to wrap up a day.
[alb
um][/album]They go on for several miles at this state park, I believe it's spelled Potowotomi. An awesome sight up close looking up from the water.
[alb
um][/album]Notice how calm Lake Michigan is, had 2 days like it after a day with 4'.. This in itself is un usual & what a pleasure.
[a
lbum][/album]Ho hum, just another 17" Wink. All fish were hooked on plastics, slow swimming Grubs w/3/32oz wide gap jig heads, a couple hit on swim baits..
There's no mistaking the thump when they go after it!
[albu
m][/album]All launches up there are clean, beautiful and easy to manuver. This is the new $6 Quarry launch 10 min from the hotel, 1 min from the Flats and 15/20 min across from Little Sturgeon, Sand & Riley bay
[albu
m][/album]Worthy of a second photo post "The Brute" when I'm ready I will have my 1st smallie replica made.
I have been going to DC annualy since 1974 and things have changed quite a bit since then. Water levels have dropped tremendously leaving some areas non navigable by boat, and the shoreline in the town of Ephraim is a hundres yards out. All of the creeks which used to sustain populations of trout year round and were spawning grounds for kings have dried up. Many of the towns that used to be fisherman friendly are no longer. The type of tourist has changed over the years. The wind and weather is unpredictable. That being said, It's still, IMO, one of the most beautiful places on earth by boat. To be able to take the boat out and not have to worry about a-hole boaters getting in your space is well worth it. I can take my niece and nephew out on the innertube and not have to worry about someone running them over. I can fish a hundred spots and not have to worry about some jag pissed off I'm in his spot. If you ever get the chance, make the 5 hour drive.
