TOPIC:

Ok...I'm ready to get the boat in and start the season. I know some of you have made it out, but that thing called work doesn't allow me out on the weekdays, and the weather isn't doing me any favors yet on the weekends. Looking at the forecast for the next 7 days is DEPRESSING. We get some south/southeast winds to push the ice back out first-mid week, then it appears we get slammed with another arctic front come thursday with NORTH gales right into saturday. Pile whats left of the ice right back down here, dirty up the water so there's 1' visibility if that and a low of 21 degrees saturday morning.
My patience is gone, and global warming is a fantasy..tic
Thanks for letting me vent.

reelfun - my suggestion to you is to find a new job that lets you fish all the time!! haha j/k. I am lucky enough to have a flexible schedule. I am either travelling or in town, and when i am in town, generally can get out when the weather cooperates. Last year however, it seemed there was only acceptable weather when I was travelling. Last year was very frustrating and I hope this year cooperates a bit better.

May the fishing gods be with us

No problem reelfun, it's always good to vent once and awhile.

I feel your pain Reelfun! I was supposed to be arriving in Portage about now for 2 days of salmon slammin and my buddy Kelliann talked me into staying home. Guess I'll have to wait another 10-14 days and try it again. It really sucks having this long distance love affair. Sometimes I think it would be easier to get a date with a Kardashian than to go fishing up there.

I drove around Washington Park in MC today and there is still quite a bit of ice. I wouldn't go out in a boat with that much ice. I did see 3 guys leaving with 15 Coho caught off the pier. Might be a viable option to shake the winter blues.

I was wondering what the pier fishing thing is about? What equipment and methods are involved? Float fishing or just casting lures?

Both. I've had some great days actually casting a little blue ko wobbler as far as I could then counting to 2 and steady retrieve.

I normally have one bobber rod out with wax worms and cast a crawdad rattle trap with a slow retrieve. Some days the limit comes in 15 minutes. Others it's more work. In my experience once the ice is gone shore fishing out of MC slows drastically.

What about in line spinners and crank baits? Has sassy shad lures or Berkley type soft minnow baits ever worked?

I'm sure they would work. I have caught them on small Little Cleos, Shad Rap Crank Baits, bait 8' below a slip bobber, and the Rattle Traps. Typically the water is stained this time of year and the Rattle Traps help attracting the fish. My favorite is the Rattle Trap.