NIAGARA REEF

Cold and rainy day even had a short period of snow. Fished Niagara Reef Saturday with a great bunch of guys who endured the harsh April weather. Trolled reef runners for the most part and ended with 19 walleyes. Fished ranged from 18 inches up to 29 1/4 inches which included two fish O's. Best reef runners were Lights Out, Toxic Purple, Fruit Loops and Bare Naked Purple. Majority of the fish were on 80 foot leads running 1.6 knots. An east west trolled worked the best. This coming week should really turn on the fish with temperatures predicted in the 65 to 79 degrees. Check Lake Erie satellite pictures to find clean water.  See you on the water.

WINDY WEEKEND

I thought the windy city was Chicago but looks like its Marblehead. Very little fishing or charter activity this past weekend. There were several charters boats out of Anchor's Away Marina in Marblehead with only three walleyes caught. The wind will be around until Wednesday so maybe some fishing by Saturday. I spent some time this past weekend getting my Michigan spoons organized and making up new wire harnesses which hold up better than mono. I also inventoried my  Tru-Trip supply and had to order another three dozen for the this year. Anyone who hasn't seen or used Tru-Trip divers should take time and look at this product. These divers troll well with spoons and harnesses and allows the angler to fight only the fish. Interested call BudMan Charters or visit www.bigfishtuff.com. See you on the water.

WEST REEF

Three man limit running reef runners 80 ft. back at 1.6 knots. Best colors copperhead and bare naked purple produced all 12 walleyes with copperhead accounting for ten fish. Trolled from west reef east between north bass and middle bass working the same area for three hours. The predicted front this weekend may slow the fishing down. The last two days the jig bite has been extremely slow. All of the fish in the picture were spawned out except one. See you on the water.

CAPTAINS LOG

 FINALLY, A NICE DAY AFTER THREE DAYS OF WIND.  A VERY SLOW BITE FOR  TROLLERS TODAY. JIG FISHING WAS GOOD EARLY ON THE REEFS BUT THAT TOO WAS SPOTTY.  ANTICIPATE AN IMPROVEMENT WHEN WE HAVE  SEVERAL DAYS OF STABLE WEATHER. THERE WERE SOME REPORTS THAT FISH WERE CAUGHT SUNDAY ON 40 TRU-TRIPS WITH SMALL MICHIGAN SPOONS.  SEE YOU ON THE WATER.

SLOWER BITE BUT 5 MAN LIMIT

What a beautiful day on the water. 5 man limit with another box of fish at 120 lbs. Reef Runners caught most of the fish with the best lead at 80 ft. while running 1.6 knots. Bare Naked colors in orange/green, orange/yellow, pearl ghost and cranberry crush worked best. We worked a pocket of fish just south east of D can. See you on the water.

D CAN

Fishing near D can continues to be excellent with one catch of 25 walleyes that weighed 160 lbs. Husky Jerks continue to reign as the dominant crank bait. Many of the females are spawned out. See you on the water.

TROLLING CRANK BAITS

Ok, you say you want a trophy walleye, well there is no better time than right now. Reach for your phone and call your favorite charter Captain, hope that's BudMan Charters......just sayin. The trolling bite is as good as it gets. Fished three hours yesterday and caught a 5 man limit just east of D can pulling gold and pink husky jerks, 40 to 55 feet back and 1.3 to 1.6 knots. The fish ranged up to 10 lbs. The jig bite is fast and furious with limits being caught in less than two hours. Black and purple jigs tipped with a minnow is still working the best. See you on the water.