January 10
Again in 2007 I will be running the Johnson Outdoors Shootout Series for CATT. I am excited to announce that
this year we will be having our first event of the series on Opening Weekend, May 26th. Also for 2007, the
series will consist of 3 Tournament events with a 2 day Championship. The Championship winner will be
awarded a new Nitro Boat. This is how the field will be filled for the championship. The top 10 finishers in each
event will qualify for the championship. Also, the top 30 teams for the entire series will receive a bid. This will
mean a 75 team Championship. As well, there will also be plaques and prizes for the Points Champions for the
Series. Here are the dates for the Johnson Outdoor Shootout Series:
May 26th - Muskegon Lake, Fishermans Landing
June 16th - St. Clair, Harley Ensign
August 19th - Lake Erie, Erie Metropark
September 21-22 - Championship, TBA
I expect another great year of competition and fishing. Each of the last two years has come down to a nail biting
finish and I hope this year is more of the same. Hands down, this series is the best value for the money,
anywhere. Also this year we will be having our Largemouth only tournament at St. Clair, on August 18th. Check
out CATT this year, you won't be disappointed.
Again in 2007 I will be running the Johnson Outdoors Shootout Series for CATT. I am excited to announce that
this year we will be having our first event of the series on Opening Weekend, May 26th. Also for 2007, the
series will consist of 3 Tournament events with a 2 day Championship. The Championship winner will be
awarded a new Nitro Boat. This is how the field will be filled for the championship. The top 10 finishers in each
event will qualify for the championship. Also, the top 30 teams for the entire series will receive a bid. This will
mean a 75 team Championship. As well, there will also be plaques and prizes for the Points Champions for the
Series. Here are the dates for the Johnson Outdoor Shootout Series:
May 26th - Muskegon Lake, Fishermans Landing
June 16th - St. Clair, Harley Ensign
August 19th - Lake Erie, Erie Metropark
September 21-22 - Championship, TBA
I expect another great year of competition and fishing. Each of the last two years has come down to a nail biting
finish and I hope this year is more of the same. Hands down, this series is the best value for the money,
anywhere. Also this year we will be having our Largemouth only tournament at St. Clair, on August 18th. Check
out CATT this year, you won't be disappointed.
February 12
Exciting times are upon us as we race toward another season of bass fishing. However, before we can jump in
the boats here in Michigan, we have to wait for the ice to thaw. However, there is plenty to do in the meantime. I
am currently working at CATT getting things ready for the upcoming season. Also, there are plenty of sponsor
duties to tend to. This year I will be adding Team Daiwa to my list of sponsors, as they step on as a reel
sponsor. I would like to thank all my friends and acquaintances for supporting my sponsors in 2006, and will
appreciate that support again in 2007.
Exciting times are upon us as we race toward another season of bass fishing. However, before we can jump in
the boats here in Michigan, we have to wait for the ice to thaw. However, there is plenty to do in the meantime. I
am currently working at CATT getting things ready for the upcoming season. Also, there are plenty of sponsor
duties to tend to. This year I will be adding Team Daiwa to my list of sponsors, as they step on as a reel
sponsor. I would like to thank all my friends and acquaintances for supporting my sponsors in 2006, and will
appreciate that support again in 2007.
March 4-7 - Nebraska Snow Goose Hunting with Midwest Migrations!!!!
As is the case every Spring, Midwest Migrations and Robert Schlagel played host to myself and four others as
we were part of a Snow Goose Spectacle. Four days of hunting allowed us the opportunity to see 10's of
thousands of migrating Snow Geese. Not only did we see them, but we put a few rounds in the air as well. A
late surge of winter in the southern Nebraska area held the geese back a bit this spring, and coated our pond
with ice, making the first day a bit hectic. However, sunny skies and some wind helped clear the ice, and the
geese found their way into the decoys. Midwest Migrations never fails to disappoint, and Robert was
successful again in sending a hunting party home with some game and great stories. I am looking forward to
joining with Robert again in October for a Fall hunt in North Dakota. If you are interested, email me or go to
MidwestMigrations.com for more info or to book your hunt. You won't be sorry!
As is the case every Spring, Midwest Migrations and Robert Schlagel played host to myself and four others as
we were part of a Snow Goose Spectacle. Four days of hunting allowed us the opportunity to see 10's of
thousands of migrating Snow Geese. Not only did we see them, but we put a few rounds in the air as well. A
late surge of winter in the southern Nebraska area held the geese back a bit this spring, and coated our pond
with ice, making the first day a bit hectic. However, sunny skies and some wind helped clear the ice, and the
geese found their way into the decoys. Midwest Migrations never fails to disappoint, and Robert was
successful again in sending a hunting party home with some game and great stories. I am looking forward to
joining with Robert again in October for a Fall hunt in North Dakota. If you are interested, email me or go to
MidwestMigrations.com for more info or to book your hunt. You won't be sorry!
My retriever
Logan hard at
work with a Snow
Goose
Logan hard at
work with a Snow
Goose
Making
some room
for decoys
some room
for decoys
The first flock
August 18 - 27lbs On Lake St. Clair
Every once in a while, you just have a great day. Most of us dream about it, and for many it seems it never
happens. With as much time as I have put in on St. Clair, Erie, and other smallmouth waters, I knew it would
only be a matter of time until it happened for me. However, as my long-time fishing partner and longer friend
Correy Mikel and I left out of Harley Ensign, I never expected it to be that day. We started in the lake, hitting a
few small fish here and there, and then ventured into the current near Walpole Island. It wasn't long until we
were both hooking fair sized fish, and we decided to head into some heavier current. It was Friday, day two of
the FLW tournament, and there were boats everywhere. I noticed immediately that most were drifting deep, out
in the channel, off the breaks. We pulled onto a 15' flat near Fawn Island and started making our first drift.
The wind was just howling out the West making our drift uncontrollable. I was so frustrated because I couldn't
get set up and get my "bounce" going well. Employing a little speed control helped, and we were able to at
least move down river. After less than 20 yards of getting to the bottom, I felt my first hit. I was so in the zone,
immediately popping the rod and getting pressure on my first fish. As it came up, I couldn't believe my eyes' it
was six pounds easy! I landed him, put him on the scale and confirmed it. 5.98lbs. I barely had time to get my
tube back to the bottom and I was into another one. Scaling over 6 I was satisfied we were on a good hump.
Knowing that the fish move often in the current, I had to make a decision to check some other spots and see if
this was a pattern, or just a school of big fish moving up river. So we headed north about 2 miles to a
well-fished spot on the Canadian shore. On the first drift through the heart of the spot, we both landed 3
pounders and had two more that were smaller. But as the corner turned and the current pushed us down, I
steered the boat back to the curving shoreline. Immediately the break began to come up from 20-12 feet. My
rod loaded up and I set the hook. My first thought was rock, couldn't move it; then the rod started to unload
and I noticed a surge in my line in the opposite direction. My heart almost stopped when I saw the fish for the
first time, and nearly broke when I saw my line racing for the outboard. Somehow, I maneuvered the away from
the fish and was able to put some line on the reel and get him to the boat. My first fish over 7 pounds, putting
us near 19lbs with only 3 fish. The day continued much the same, as we caught four and five pound fish almost
at will. It was as perfect as life is meant to be. At that moment, if only for that day, I was unstoppable. I
watched FLW pros drifting by insanely studying what we were doing, jumping our drifts, and watching as we
culled 4's. I may never have a day like that again, in fact I may never catch another fish. But for 8 hours on St.
Clair, we were smallmouth gods.
Every once in a while, you just have a great day. Most of us dream about it, and for many it seems it never
happens. With as much time as I have put in on St. Clair, Erie, and other smallmouth waters, I knew it would
only be a matter of time until it happened for me. However, as my long-time fishing partner and longer friend
Correy Mikel and I left out of Harley Ensign, I never expected it to be that day. We started in the lake, hitting a
few small fish here and there, and then ventured into the current near Walpole Island. It wasn't long until we
were both hooking fair sized fish, and we decided to head into some heavier current. It was Friday, day two of
the FLW tournament, and there were boats everywhere. I noticed immediately that most were drifting deep, out
in the channel, off the breaks. We pulled onto a 15' flat near Fawn Island and started making our first drift.
The wind was just howling out the West making our drift uncontrollable. I was so frustrated because I couldn't
get set up and get my "bounce" going well. Employing a little speed control helped, and we were able to at
least move down river. After less than 20 yards of getting to the bottom, I felt my first hit. I was so in the zone,
immediately popping the rod and getting pressure on my first fish. As it came up, I couldn't believe my eyes' it
was six pounds easy! I landed him, put him on the scale and confirmed it. 5.98lbs. I barely had time to get my
tube back to the bottom and I was into another one. Scaling over 6 I was satisfied we were on a good hump.
Knowing that the fish move often in the current, I had to make a decision to check some other spots and see if
this was a pattern, or just a school of big fish moving up river. So we headed north about 2 miles to a
well-fished spot on the Canadian shore. On the first drift through the heart of the spot, we both landed 3
pounders and had two more that were smaller. But as the corner turned and the current pushed us down, I
steered the boat back to the curving shoreline. Immediately the break began to come up from 20-12 feet. My
rod loaded up and I set the hook. My first thought was rock, couldn't move it; then the rod started to unload
and I noticed a surge in my line in the opposite direction. My heart almost stopped when I saw the fish for the
first time, and nearly broke when I saw my line racing for the outboard. Somehow, I maneuvered the away from
the fish and was able to put some line on the reel and get him to the boat. My first fish over 7 pounds, putting
us near 19lbs with only 3 fish. The day continued much the same, as we caught four and five pound fish almost
at will. It was as perfect as life is meant to be. At that moment, if only for that day, I was unstoppable. I
watched FLW pros drifting by insanely studying what we were doing, jumping our drifts, and watching as we
culled 4's. I may never have a day like that again, in fact I may never catch another fish. But for 8 hours on St.
Clair, we were smallmouth gods.
September 18 - Congratulations to new parents! A good friend and awesome fisherman, Eric Pessel and his
wife are proud new parents. Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
wife are proud new parents. Congratulations on the new addition to your family!
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