fishing-with-ace-guide-service

A lot of extra snow this year leaves more time to get things ready for the spring fishing opener

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:07:53 +0100

Hello everybody,
It's been a while since my last entry. It has been a long difficult winter for me. I spent about two-and-a-half months with a serious kidney infection and I wasn't able to do much fishing this winter. As of a week or so ago, the doctor has finally given me a clean bill of health and I am getting ready for the up coming open water fishing season.

This spring looks a lot different than last year. I recall having my boat at the dock on the 17th of March last year. No chance of that happening this year. We still have about two feet of snow on the ground here at my place on Pike Bay on Lake Vermilion. The last weekend of the Walleye season I measured over 30 inches of ice and I don't think it has gone down any. Unless we get some major changes in the weather, it looks like we may have a very late ice-out this spring.

The good news is that it will give us all plenty of time to get things ready for the new season. I always begin by taking an inventory of all my tackle. Everything from hooks to crankbaits and everything in between. There are always lots of hooks to replace on your favorite hard baits. I also lie to have an idea as to what needs to be replaced when I make that first trip to the tackle store. Knowing exactly what you need will always save you some money in the long run. Believe me I know how hard it is to walk by something on the rack that looks good to me.

After I have my tackle boxes in order my next step is to lubricate and clean all my reels. At last count I have about 60 rod and reel combinations, so I don't want to let it go until the last minute. After taking care of the reels I clean all the reel seats on the rods. Then I take a clean soft towel and wipe all the rods with a quality furniture polish.
You don't need a lot, just enough to give it a nice smooth surface. This really helps to add years to your rods and keeps them looking like new for a long time. After the cleaning is done I replace all the line on all the reels, that right all the reels. Don't take a chance on losing that fish of a lifetime because you were too lazy to change last year's line. It really does make a difference.

The last thing I do is to check all the systems on my boats. Everything from bow to stern gets a once over. Batteries, pumps, trolling motors and all of your electronics should be cleaned and checked out. Make sure to check all of your running lights and your PFD's as well. I can't tell you how many times I have watched somebody on the boat ramp on opening day that couldn't get their motor started. All of those problems can be avoided by simply taking some time "BEFORE" opening day to check all those systems out. The fishing opener is only about 8 weeks away so do it now and spend your time fishing this spring not towing your boat to the marina.

"Ace" <*)))><

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service                      
On Beautiful Lake Vermilion
Muskies and More. 
member Lake Vermilion guides league.
www.aceguideservice.com

Pro Staff Member,
Ace Muskie leaders.
www.glittertail.com
www.NeverSnag.com
www.h2otackle.com
www.hawgseekers.com
www.Ducktaillures.com
www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com

Walleye bite slow but sure on Lake Vermilion so far in January

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:10:16 +0100

Hello everybody,
I trust everyone had a nice holiday season this year. Now that the dead of winter has arrived I have been spending more time out on the ice. Lake Vermilion has 15 to 16 inches of good solid ice now. With very little snow cover, travel on the ice surface has been pretty easy. I'm getting around nicely with my two wheel drive pick-up in the McKinley park area of Big bay.

The Walleye action has been a little slower the last couple of weeks however there are fish being caught. I'm still catching most of my fish on a 1/4 0z jig tipped with a chub minnow. The bright colors seem to work the best especially later in the day. My dead stick rod has a plain #6 red hook and a split shot and has at times been the only thing they would bite on.

The early morning hours just before and after sunrise have been the best for me the last week or so. The last hour or so before sundown can also be very active however it hasn't been as consistent as the early action. My shack is over 32-feet of water right now on a point with a bottom change. We have been getting a few nice Perch along with the Walleyes and even a Whitefish or two later in the day.

The Pike action has been very good for me all season. Tip-ups or hair jigs tipped with a medium sucker or some kind of dead bait have been very effective. I always set the dead bait high just below the ice surface for the best results. Weed flats, weed edges and rocky shoreline breaks in six to 14-feet are my best locations. Main lake points with deep water available can be very good for larger fish. You may not get as much action but you will see some larger Pike.

Have a great week everybody, be safe out there enjoying this winter wonderland of ours.

"Ace" <*)))><

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service                      
On Beautiful Lake Vermilion
Muskies and More. 
member Lake Vermilion guides league.
www.aceguideservice.com

Pro Staff Member,
Ace Muskie leaders.
www.glittertail.com
www.NeverSnag.com
www.h2otackle.com
www.hawgseekers.com
www.Ducktaillures.com
www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com

Techniques for early season walleyes and pike through the ice on Lake Vermilion

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 04:52:31 +0100

Hello everybody!

The hard water season is in full swing here in the north country. Lake Vermilion has a good solid ice cover of about 8 to 9 inches in the Mckinley park area of Big Bay. There are still some areas with less ice, however the main bay in front of the park seems to be pretty even. Channel areas, neck downs and river and creek mouths may still have some thin ice, so proceed with caution if you are in those areas.

So far the Walleye action has been pretty good for many of the anglers I have talked to this week. I unfortunately have been off my game a little so far this winter and have only been on the ice one time so far. I have been battling a major kidney infection since the early part of November.

My health has been improving as of late and I will no doubt be out on the ice a lot more in the next few weeks.

Typically I like to fish the mud this time of the season. The Walleyes are feeding on may fly larva and it can be the most consistent action of the winter. There are also fish being caught on the rocks and many anglers will spend the entire winter fishing those locations. Small bright colored jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow, or minnow head, have always been effective for me. I like a plain #6 red hook with a split shot on my dead stick rod. There are times when that presentation will out fish any other.

For you Pike fishermen out there this can be the best big fish action of the season. Rocky points and shoreline breaks in 6 to 14 feet can get very active during the hard water season. Large weed flats can be very active however the size is typically smaller.

I prefer a tip-up with a medium sized sucker or frozen smelt. I use the dead bait just below the ice surface and the live suckers about a foot off of the bottom. I will also use a 3/8oz hair jig tipped with a sucker or even a soft plastic bait when the action gets hot and jigging is the most effective way to catch them.

The weather is about to get much colder at night, so it shouldn't be too long before we can drive on the ice. Right now however we are walking or using 4 wheelers. Don't push your luck, no fish is worth going through the ice for. Below zero temps are on the way, so make sure you have at least 12 inches of good ice before even thinking about driving a car or truck out on the ice.

Be safe and remember there is no such thing as totally safe ice. Keep a few and put some back, the future of our fisheries depends on it.

Happy Holidays!

"Ace" <*)))><

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg
Ace guide service                      
On Beautiful Lake Vermilion
Muskies and More. 
member Lake Vermilion guides league.
www.aceguideservice.com

Pro Staff Member,
Ace Muskie leaders.
www.glittertail.com
www.NeverSnag.com
www.h2otackle.com
www.hawgseekers.com
www.Ducktaillures.com
www.bearpawshandpouredbaits.com

Believe it or not ice fishing season on Lake Vermilion is almost here

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:37:07 +0100

Hey everybody,

With the open water fishing season about to come to an end, I'm sure many of you are thinking about the hard water season.

Lake Vermilion typically has some fishable ice by late November, even as early as Thanksgiving many years. You won't see me out there on 3 or 4 inches of ice, but I know there are some of you that will be out that early.

Safety is the big issue early in the season. Always be prepared for the worst if you venture out early. I have a good friend that broke through the ice last winter and being prepared for a bad situation is what saved his life. He was wearing a PFD and had a set of icepicks around his neck to help him climb out of the freezing water.

Remember what they always say, "There is no such thing as safe ice." The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends 4 to 6 inches for a man on foot, 6 to 8 inches for a snowmachine or ATV and at least 12 inches of good ice for a car or pickup.

I'll have some more ice fishing tips and weekly reports as we move into the hard water season. Lake Vermilion can be a great place for winter fishing and some of the largest Walleyes in the system get caught through the ice every winter. There is also some excellent jumbo Perch and panfish action along with excellent Northern Pike fishing the entire winter season.

Have a great deer season all you hunters out there, Looks like the weather should be perfect for opening weekend.

"Ace"

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg.
www.aceguideservice.com

It's been a great fall for fishing on Lake Vermilion

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:28:00 +0100

Hello everybody!

The open water fishing season is winding down to just a couple of weeks of decent fall weather. I always get a little blue this time of the season even when I'm on the water every day. Just knowing that another fishing season is about over puts me into a little funk this time of the year.

My wife will usually try to avoid me when she can because after 40 years she can easily recognize the symptoms. I know there are still a couple good weeks yet and perhaps a little more depending on the weather but non the less it is coming to an end.

It has been an excellent fall, especially for Walleyes. I can't remember the last time out when we didn't get a limit of nice fish. It is by far my favorite time of the season but unfortunately it goes by way to fast and before you know it Pike Bay will have a sheet of ice and I'll be staring out my front window dreaming of open water again.

Ice fishing does offer me a taste, but I just don't get the same thrill as I do on a beautiful summer day on open water. Hopefully the winter blues will stay away a little longer this fall but it doesn't look good for that to happen this year. Pike Bay usually has ice by mid November and I expect that to happen again this year.

On another topic, if you fish Lake Vermilion and want to know whats going on as far as fisheries management - the Cormorant issue and a few other issues - there is a public meeting at the Tower Civic center on Nov. 1.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. The DNR will have some preliminary results from the test nets and you can have a seat at the table to voice your opinions on what the DNR has planned for the future.

Instead of complaining about what they do you can be a part of the process. Public input carries a lot of weight with the DNR. Believe it or not, you can make a difference, but you have to show up and be heard.

"Ace"

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg.
www.aceguideservice.com

Don't hide inside this winter, join an angler group and make a difference

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:00:21 +0100

Hello everybody,

Fall is here and everybody seems to be busy hunting, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. The trees are alive with the beautiful fall colors that the northland is famous for and for many folks, including me, this is their favorite time of the year. I'm no longer a hunter as I was when I was young. My old body just can't handle the long walks and all the other things that hunters have to do to be successful. Fishing on the other hand is much less of a strain on these old bones and I'll be out there in the boat as long as we have some open water, hopefully into mid November.

After the cold winter weather moves in, I get a little depressed at the thought of my open water fishing season coming to an end. I'll have to find some way of passing the time for the next 6 or 7 months before once again I'll have some open water to fish. Ice fishing does help a little bit, but unfortunately it just doesn't do it for me. I do have a shack that I put out on Vermilion, however after a few weeks I get pretty sick of staring down that hole. I'm an open water guy and unfortunately nothing is going to change that. I do have a few other things that help keep me busy during the long cold winter. I am involved in the Star of the north chapter of Muskies Inc. We have monthly meetings in Grand Rapids during the winter months. I also represent the Lake Vermilion guides league on the board of the Minnesota Muskie and Pike allience. The LVGL also has monthly meetings, so I do have a few things to do during the cold dark winter.

I guess what I'm getting at here is that for any other outdoors people out there that spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months. There are lots of outdoor organizations here in the northland that meet during the winter months. Many of them need people to get involved and take part in the process. Hunting, fishing, traping whatever it is that makes you smile. There are organizations that support your passion and do more for the sportsmen than you may realize. If you can't go to the meetings, just become a member and show your support for those that do so much for all of us that use and enjoy the great outdoors. Organizations of outdoorsmen give us all a voice in what happens in St.Paul, where all the decission are made that effect us all. All of these organizations are non profits, they only exsist to help us, the outdoor sportsmen have a hand in the process. Check out your favorite sportsmens group on the internet and think about becoming a member.

"Ace" <*)))><

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg.

Fall is a great time to catch a monster muskie on Lake Vermilion

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:27:40 +0100

Hello everybody!

Here it is mid September and the cool fall air is already upon us. Water temps are falling and the Ciscos and Whitefish will soon be moving into their spawning areas on Lake Vermilion and many other northern lakes.

What that means for those of us that have the Muskie fishing bug is a chance to catch a true monster muskie. Muskies that spend most of the year out in deep water chasing bait-fish will be moving into the shallows to take advantage of the almost unlimited supply of fat rich Ciscos and Whitefish.They can add on much needed weight that will help them to survive the long, cold winter under the ice.

Muskie anglers all know what this time of the years brings and most are willing to brave the wet, cold weather to get their chance at a true fish of a lifetime. Muskies getting fat on a diet of Ciscos can put on weight at a fantastic rate in the fall. A 50-inch fish that might be in the 30-pound range in July or August, could easily weigh 40 to 50 pounds by late October. Fish of state record size have been caught and released in Vermilion many times in the last few years, almost all of them have been caught in the fall.

Trolling is the presentation of choice for many fall muskie anglers, however you can also catch them casting. As water temps fall into the low 50's and upper 40's trolling gets more and more effective. Large minnow baits like Jakes and Grandmas have always been very effective on Vermilion. In recent years however large plastic baits like Bulldawgs have become favorites among many of the anglers that come to the "Big V" for their shot at a giant.

Trolling along the shoreline breaks on gravel or rocky shorelines, windblown points and around main lake rock structures has always been very productive. Ciscos prefer to spawn on gravel and other hard bottom areas in four to 12 feet of water. They will start to school up adjacent to these areas when water temps cool into the mid 50's and as they fall into the high 40's they will start to move up into the shallows. You will often see Ciscos breaking the surface by the hundreds whenever you're out on the lake in late fall. You'll also eventually see a Muskie charging thought these schools of bait looking for an easy meal.

This action will continue right up until ice-up and as long as there is open water. You will likely see those "crazy muskie guys" breaking ice at the boat landing to get one more shot at that fall giant.

It may sound crazy to many of you, but to a muskie fisherman it's one of the best times of the season to be on the water. Fish in the 40 to 50 pound range have become almost common place on Vermilion in the last few years. There have been many released that have been well over 50 pounds as well. It's very possible that more than one new state record fish has been released on Vermilion in the last 10 years.

Unfortunately a state record fish has to be killed before you can get the record. Fortunately, most of the Muskie anglers I know wouldn't think of killing a fish like that, even for a record. That means there are many fish of record class swimming out there for all of us to catch and release once again.

"Ace"

Trolling for walleyes on Lake Vermilion can be very effective

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:21:59 +0100

Hello everybody,

One of the least used yet most effective presentations for Walleyes on Lake Vermilion is trolling.

I'm not talking about pulling cranks along the shoreline breaks, which I know many people like to do. I'm talking about trolling for suspended Walleyes, out in the lakes main basin areas.

There has been an increase in the number of anglers that use this presentation, but it's still a very under used method for catching walleyes when many other more typical presentations aren't working.

We all grew up fishing for walleyes with live bait presentations and it can be very effective, however very few anglers ever try anything different. One of the worst things an angler can do is to get into a rut by only using one method to catch fish. I often hear people say, "well they just aren't biting." The truth is there are always walleyes bitting someplace, sometimes right under our noses. It's up to the angler to broaden their horizons and try something new and different.

Now there are a few different techniques you can use however they all accomplish the same thing and that is to get the lure in front of the fish. I'm sure that many of you have seen a few boats in Big Bay using down riggers or pulling planner boards behind the boat. They are two methods you can use along with long lining with mono or braided line and one of my favorites when the walleyes are a little deeper is trolling with lead core line. Lead core allows you to be more consistent in your depth control, without having to use a down rigger.

There are a few things you'll need to be a consistent producer however other than a set of down riggers it's not all that expensive to outfit yourself with an effective arsenal for trolling. One must have piece of equipment is a good set of trolling rods, equipped with line counter reels. There are several good, well-known brand names that you can purchase that are relatively inexpesive. It's possible to get a good trolling combo for less than $100, and in many cases if you watch for a sale, you can get a decent combo for around $60. You'll want at least an 8-foot rod and I know of many anglers that use rods up to 12-feet long.

Planner boards are at their most effective when trolling in shallow water or when the walleyes are spooked by the sound of your boat. The boards allow you to get your baits out away from the boat which is less likely to spook fish away from your baits. I prefer to use 10-pound mono on my rods however braided line allows you to get a little more depth on your baits. Unfortunately the no stretch quality of braided line tends to pull the hooks out and you will lose a few fish unless you run a mono leader.

Typically an 8 to 10-foot leader works well but that is something that varies from one angler to another. Using a light drag can also help prevent fish from pulling the hooks. Most trolling rods have a very soft tip for this very reason, they can absorb the initial shock when the fish hits without ripping the hooks from their mouths.

Now after you have purchased your rig, your next investment should be the "Troller's Bible." This publication lists every crank-bait under the sun and tells you how deep they run on mono and braided line in all pound test you would normally use for this presentation. Once you spend some time trolling you will begin to understand which baits work best in certain situations. Long lining is simply pulling cranks without any down riggers or lead core line to assist you in getting your baits down. You can attach a snap weight to assist your bait however that technique takes a lot of time to develop as you really don't know, without some experimentation, where your bait will be running.

Now fortunately for us there are several manufactures that make crank-baits that will run as deep as 30-feet. It really makes it much easier for fishing deeper water without all the extra gear. Many of the areas I troll here on Vermillion are in the 18 to 35-foot range so it is possible to fish them very effectively without having to purchase a lot of expensive extras. As for which crank-baits work the best, there are many many models from a number of manufactures that will catch walleyes on Vermilion and most other north country lakes. It's just a matter of you doing some experimenting and finding your favorite baits.

After you have a selection of crank-baits all that is left is locations. Vermilion has miles and miles of good trolling water, so finding places to troll won't be a big problem. The first key, and probably the most important, is to locate suspended fish or baitfish on your sonar.

Walleye typically suspend for one reason - to feed on suspended bait fish. If you locate the bait, you will locate the walleyes and there are always walleyes suspending somewhere at all times of the season.

So if you are looking for something new to try to catch your walleyes, give trolling a try. You will typically catch a better average fish and you will always have a shot a a real giant. Just think, no worm dirt in your carpet, no minnows to buy and a real shot at a "big" walleye every time you go out.

"Good Luck"

"Ace" <*)))><

Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year on Lake Vermilion if you're after walleye, ...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 03:53:24 +0100

Hello everybody!

Here it is late August already with just a few days until September. Summer is just about over and many of you will be out in the woods or in a blind somewhere in the next few weeks. I, on the other hand, will be out on the water enjoying some of the best fishing of the entire season.
Shorter days and falling water temps always get me excited about fishing. It means that Lake Vermilion and many other northern Minnesota lakes will get very active for a number of species.

Walleyes

    As water temps fall Walleyes on Lake Vermilion tend to seek out sharp vertical drops with deep water close by. Shorter days with less daylight seem to be the trigger that gets them started on this migration. You'll start to see more and more Walleyes relating to the deeper holes and sharper drops.
    The best way to target these fish is with a jig and minnow combo. A slow vertical presentation is what you are looking for. It allows you to fish right over the fish you are marking on your sonar. This presentation is by far the best way to go once the lake turns over. Typically turnover sends most of the Walleyes deep. Once they become adjusted to the changes they can roam just about anywhere however most of the Walleyes will stay deep right up to ice-up. After turnover trolling crank baits can also be very effective in catching roaming Walleyes.
    Main basin areas tend to be the most productive for both of these presentations.

Muskie

    The fall Muskie action on Lake Vermilion has become legendary in the last several years. Several fish of state record size have been released in the last decade on Vermilion. There is a real strong chance that some day soon we will see a new state record Muskie come out of Lake Vermilion. There have been several Muskies over 50-pounds caught in recent years and a few that exceeded the state record mark of 54-pounds that were released.
    The reason for these fall giants is simple: Food! Both Ciscos and Whitefish spawn in the fall and when they come into the shallows to spawn, many of the largest fish in the system follow them to take advantage of the almost unlimited supply of rich oily food at a time when they reall need it. Many of the Muskies that come into the shallows in the fall are open water fish that have rarely seen a lure in front of their face.
    Trolling and casting can both be very effective in the fall. Large cranks and rubber are favorites among many Vermilion Muskie anglers late in the fall.

Smallmouth Bass

    The smallmouth action is also very good in the fall. They tend to move into wintering holes once the water temps fall into the low 50's.
    Before that they will start to move back into the shallows for a short time feeding heavily on minnows and crawfish along rocky points and saddle areas. As things cool off they will start to look for areas similar to where the Walleyes are. Main lake points and reefs with sharp vertical drops into deep water are a favorite location.
    Jigs, dropshot rigs, spoons and live bait rigs with large minnows are all very effective for these schoolers. You can often find them as deep as 40-feet late in the fall, so don't be afraid to go deep, even deeper than you might think. It's very important to release these fish as it's not unusual to get on a school of large fish.
    Just remember that it takes 10 to 12 years to grow a 4-pound Smallmouth on Lake Vermilion. They are hard to replace.

Another great thing about the fall fishing is that you'll typically have the lake all to yourself.

Especially during the week if you get that chance. So dress a little warmer and get out to take advantage of some of the very best fishing of the season on most northern Minnesota lakes, especially beautiful Lake Vermilion.
Have a great week everybody and please remember to put some back, the future of all of our lakes depends on it.

"Ace" <*)))><

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