Tough Fishing

The site has been quite regarding fishing reports probably because the fishing has been tough. I myself have only been out twice this year and have caught a few fish but nothing like I was hoping for.

Saturday spent 4 hours working the area south of the island to west of the island casting and dragging bottom bounces. Ended the day with 2 keeper walleye and 2 large perch. Caught a lot of white perch and sheephead. Marked fish better south of the island than west. I did not see one other net get used. People I talked to seemed very frustrated. Most charters I talked to had between 2 - 6 fish for the day. Some had zero. Customers also were frustrated. After last year, many are coming back expecting the same results and are amazed at the difference a year can make.

I guess that is why it is called fishing and not catching.

Don't feel bad, many are in same boat. Not proud of it, but I've been out three times and yet to catch one fish. Now I don't profess to be a skipper nine, but a bad fisherman I ain't! Looks now like I will go most of may without one. Wife has a house rented at hilton head starting fri for all the kids and grandkids. (She seemed to think we should do something besides fish to celebrate 40th wedding anniversary. Imagine that!). I lobbied for during the mayfly hatch but was out voted. When I do get back after memorial day and finally catch one, it will be one expensive walleye considering all spent to date this spring on boat, maintenance, dock, insurance.......

I talked alot of guys over the weekend. Many with lite coolers. I fished Thurs and Fri and showed improvement of the bite on Saturday afternoon. Had some drifts of 4 to 5 a drift. Buddy had 19 in first 3 drifts on the spot I fished Thurs and Fri morning and nothing would bite then. Saturday about noon it was busy and was still good when I left at about 3.Had to bring to 4 oz bouncers up 3 to 4 cranks with a soft tip action. They wanted purples and golds, even a watermelon blade. Most fish were on long harness behind the weight. They didnt want a cast and retrieve for us. Buddy looked like he was doing some jigging also. Mixed bag of White Perch, Walleye and some yellows and only a handful of sheeps. Yep it was tough for most but some trollers did better.