Walleyes Like BlueBerry Muffins with their GULP Worms?

[walleye express]

Just got back from the marina and a pretty decent day of fishing on the Saginaw Bay. Boxed 11 fish, with 8 being walleyes. Took three guys from Texas out along with a guy from Flint. Had our best luck for big fish today on my spoon sliders baited with a GULP worm on top of a Dave's Ka'Boom Winning Streak. Blueberry Muffin was the hot color for the spoon and Captains Choice was the hot Winning Streak color, and it also took some fish today by itself as well.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000625-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000630-med.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424IM000626-med.JPG

[MSUICEMAN]

good stuff dan.... with my next spending money I'm going to have to pick up some more of dave's lures. Nice pictures!

steve

[Marcellus Bodi]

Hi Captain Dan,
What you got a leader and a single hook off that Blueberry Muffin.

[walleye express]

Marcellus.

The leader is 30" and I tie 2 #4 mustads with coated 7 strand wire. Theres a little more to the harness rig than meets the eye. I experimented with all kinds of ways and components to make them. Finally found the formula that you can actually troll at speeds up to 3MPH, while allowing the spoon to flip back and forth naturally without having them spin out, twist and tangle.

[soulfish86]

Maybe you would wish to elaborate on the spoon/harness details? I understand if you wish to keep the details to yourself. Working out a good system isn't always easy.
I tried the gulp crawlers and didn't have any bites, ran them along side real crawler rigs. The real meat got a few hits and the gulps got zero. They came in a jar called "Berkely Gulp nightcrawlers". " not for human or pet consumption"! I recall your earlier post, you had mentioned "packages". Are the jar crawlers different than what you have been using? Mine smell a little like kogel's bologna. The label also says "do not place used product back into jar", which i did since i hadn't read the instructions. What does it all mean? :confused:
Thanks for sharing Captain Dan!

[No Mas]

Can you run that set up with (kaboom or hot-n-tot and spoon) with a three way swivel? Or does the action of the spoon have a tendency to twist the line a lot??

[walleye express]

Maybe you would wish to elaborate on the spoon/harness details? I understand if you wish to keep the details to yourself. Working out a good system isn't always easy.
I tried the gulp crawlers and didn't have any bites, ran them along side real crawler rigs. The real meat got a few hits and the gulps got zero. They came in a jar called "Berkely Gulp nightcrawlers". " not for human or pet consumption"! I recall your earlier post, you had mentioned "packages". Are the jar crawlers different than what you have been using? Mine smell a little like kogel's bologna. The label also says "do not place used product back into jar", which i did since i hadn't read the instructions. What does it all mean? :confused:
Thanks for sharing Captain Dan!

Nomas.

You could use any diving crankbait to get the spoons or spoon harnesses down. I prefer the Streaks for many reasons having nothing to do with the workings of this particular technique. I also prefer to use the spoons and spoon harnesses as sliders on the main line after I let the crankbait out first. I simply add a speed bead or barrel swivel 30" above the crankbait as a stopper for the slider. If you were to use a three way, you'd have to let them out together and with the crank floating and the spoon sinking, thats where the line tangles would come in.

And Soulfish86.

I've been buying the GULPS in the plastic packages. Haven't seen the ones in the jars yet. Nightcrawler, Natural and Punpkinseed are the flavors I'm using. I'm trolling these kinda fast (2.4 to 2.7) when I'm trolling sliders with bare spoons and the spoon harnesses. Slower if using the gulps on plane harnesses while using Inline boards. And it is in the components that I experimented with and use with my spoon harnesses that allows them to work properly, flip back and forth like a spoon should and not spin out at speeds up to 3.5MPH. Franks will be carrying some of my spoons harnesses by the end of next week. Heres the idea behind the sliders.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424SliderRig_-med.jpg


And heres another picture of a different walleye we caught Saturday. Notice that even in the net, the Winning Streak and spoon harness stay seperated. I truly have not had any tangles in the two summers using this rig like this.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/84246-12-04d-med.JPG

[STEINFISHSKI]

You are the man Dan! What a great concept with the slider rig. I can't wait to pick some up to give it a try.:)

[walleye express]

You are the man Dan! What a great concept with the slider rig. I can't wait to pick some up to give it a try.:)

Well, thank you for those kind words Steinfishski.

I wouldn't consider myself an inventor or inovater, but can often see the merrit in trying different things or experimenting with proven tactics often times through necessity.

I took the time to straighten the example, so knowbody wrenches their necks looking at their computers. :lol:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/8424SliderRig_1-med.jpg

[andy capp]

What is on the end of the spoons leader? to make it slide down the line?

[Rat Fink]

Dan,

How long is the actual harness rig behind the spoon?

[walleye express]

You can use regular snaps or snap swivels. I use Norman Quick Clips that I team with quality 20# tested barrel swivels. They go on and come off the fastest and easiest as far as I'm concerned. :cool:

And I make the leader lengths 36". That keeps it a little longer than the length from the stopper to the crank which is 30". When I pull them in, I catch the spoon or spoon harness first as it swings in. And if the fish is on one or the other they stay seperated as you net the fish. I know it sounds like it wouldn't work right and create a real mess, but believe me it don't if used properly. :yikes:

[GONE FISHIN(LARRY)]

great idea,i've used a 3 way rig for years like your slider idea better

[walleye express]

Thanks Larry.

My buddy just called me on his cell phone. He's in town for the next week pre-fishing for the MWT scheduled for this coming weekend on the Saginaw Bay. He was also asking me about my slider rigs. Ya know, I just then realized that some of you might think I'm using these rigs with Inline boards.

I'm using them with my BIg Jon Otter Boat planer boards. After I let out the crank, I attach the slider and whip the rig in the water and then quickly attach the line via a release to the planer board line. So there is always tension on the crankbait as the slider works it way down to the stopper under a simi-tight line.

Now.....If your going to try this technique with inline boards, I'm guessing you'd have to let out the board do the desired length under some resistance after you attach the slider, versus letting the board float back free like so many people do with inlines, so the spoon or spoon harness stays up and away from the crank. Remember, my trolling speeds are almost always over 2MPH and approaching 3MPH on most occasions while using these rigs and the bigger planer boards. I'd suggest these higher speeds as well if using them with inlines.

[bohunt1]

Walleye Express, I love the way you school these guys on your knowledge of walleye fishing. I have asked questions about fishing on the site and never have been let down. It's guys like you that make this site absolutely awesome. Keep up the good work. I will have some questions in the future so please feel free to PM me. Thanks for your endless contributions!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rat City Hooker]

Dan
Your setup looks like it would better than the 3way for sure.
Cant wait to try it.
Looking at your pictures what launch do you go out of since it looks like your boat is on the larger size like mine?
Also what time of day do you think is the best bite?
Thanks
Larry

[walleye express]

Dan
Your setup looks like it would better than the 3way for sure.
Cant wait to try it.
Looking at your pictures what launch do you go out of since it looks like your boat is on the larger size like mine?
Also what time of day do you think is the best bite?
Thanks
Larry


Bohunt1.

Thank you for your generous compliments. I wasn't always as forthcoming about techniques or new patterns as I am now. Age may have something to do with it. But I know we all like to be the only Orange outfit in the woods when it gets to be daylight. :lol:

But the sooner you realize that's not going to happen, the better your success and own experience will be. I proved this to myself on the Pere Marquette River in my last few years of guiding on that Great River. I let everybody else worry about getting on the river before daylight, jumping ahead and getting to the next hole before anybody else. I hung back, took my time and throughly worked the holes. The results were amazing. More fish, less hassels and a nicer day all around.

The fact is, even though some people will try this spoon/spoon harness technique (with the GULP or without it), if they don't catch a fish on it the first day, they'll go right back to what they were doing before. It's understandable human nature.

And Rat City.

I keep my boat at Lindys Marina, on the Qianicassee River, (Saginaw Bays East) and least used side. It's a 25.6', 1979 Grady White. I try to keep the old girl looking and running good. She's never let me totally down, but she's a constant job for the three months she's wet. :confused: :lol:

As far as the best time of day, I think anytime after 9:00am (historically) has been the best time for me. I have a theory, especially since the water clarity has improved so drastically, that the fish feed heavily just before daylight, then head to the bottom and lounge around for a while. Then as the surface water warms and the microscopic things at the bottom of the food chain start to rise in the water column, the baitfish and the majority of the preditors go back on the feed and rise with them. Thats why seeing suspended fish on your graph, often spells a good day.

[Sturgeon-man]

Time to chime ...... I also give you a kudos. Your input on "eyes" have enlightened my fishing in the bay tremendously (tots, gulp worms, etc). Much appreciated! ;)