Preparing for jigging

[cycleguy]

Cool info. Sure do appreciate it all.

I ran into a guy here in WI this weekend, said in the spring there can be a two hour wait just to get the boat in… it gets that busy. Is this the case, and is it that packed of a house out there on the water then as well?

Do the trollers tend then to go somewhere else, or join in the middle of all this?

Like the ice fishing… where you see guys all over (my one trip) - are there fish to be caught all around if as a newbie, I'm not looking to get in anyone's way out there? I just want to enjoy the time on the water.

May be a dumb ?? What is the firing range? I mean I get the ideal, but is is active at all, and are there times you are not permitted in the area?

[wakina]

Cool info. Sure do appreciate it all.

I ran into a guy here in WI this weekend, said in the spring there can be a two hour wait just to get the boat in… it gets that busy. Is this the case, and is it that packed of a house out there on the water then as well?

Do the trollers tend then to go somewhere else, or join in the middle of all this?

Like the ice fishing… where you see guys all over (my one trip) - are there fish to be caught all around if as a newbie, I'm not looking to get in anyone's way out there? I just want to enjoy the time on the water.

May be a dumb ?? What is the firing range? I mean I get the ideal, but is is active at all, and are there times you are not permitted in the area?

Yes it can be crowded and there can be a wait to get the boat in the water, I have seen some awful long lines at some of the marinas on Turtle Creek which is adjacent to the reef complex. Weekends are the worse. If you come during the spring spawn to jig I would recommend using a private marina vs state docks. Pay the fee and go fishing, you will save the cost of the launch in gas alone as well as time since they are really close to the fishing area.

Most trollers that know what they are doing will be outside the best jigging areas, they will be targeting the larger females that seem to avoid the party until ready to drop their eggs. They will be on the fringe areas adjacent to but well away from the best jigging areas. It can be crowded on the water also, but the fishing area (jigging) is several square miles in size.

There will be plenty of room for you without a problem, there will be boats all over the place . The main thing is deciding where to start, at times the fish are active just a few hundred yards off shore then again the active fish can be a couple of miles out. Be observant and watch what the other boats are doing, are they catching(?) are they vertical jigging(?) are they casting out and hopping the jig back(?). The main attractor is that jig hitting the bottom! That is why most everyone who is jigging uses the heavier jigs in 1/2 to 1 oz in size with the stinger hooks. That jig has to slam the bottom to be effective.

The firing range is an area set aside for the training of Military personnel, there is an inner range(danger zone I) and an extended outer range(danger zone II) for weapons training. They are mostly small arms but on occasion they fire heavier weapons like the .50 cal machine gun. When firing the small arms the inner range is closed to boat traffic and when firing the heavier weapons the outer and inner range are closed. Here is a link with a map that shows the inner and outer firing range. It starts on the shore at Camp Perry extending out into the lake. The inner range is marked with a half circle on the map and small buoys spaced close together on the water, the outer range is marked with straight lines on the map and larger buoys spaced about 1.5 miles (maybe more) apart on the water.


http://wbsa.us/denied/range_map.jpg