February 2019 | Mack Attack Magazine

DODGING GREAT LAKES SALMONIDS

BY MACK’S LURE PRO STAFFER CAPT. JOHN LITTLEFIELD and offers a “snappier” action and more “thump.” This is my go-to lake trout presentation when fished in front of a weightless lure.

First, they offer flash, which simulates large fish feeding on baitfish. Secondly, dodgers displace a lot of water, which allows fish to hone in on your presentation using their lateral line. Thirdly, they impart action on an otherwise actionless fly or hoochie. As a charter captain on Lake Michigan, I utilize Mack’s Lure dodgers daily to put more trout and salmon in the cooler.

The two dodgers that I utilize for Lake Michigan trout and salmon are the Double D™ Dodger 7.6” and the Sling Blade 9”. Each has a time and place and both are very good options for both trout and salmon on the Great Lakes. The Double D™ has a broader profile than the Sling Blade™, which displaces more water

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Dodgers come in all shapes and sizes, and appeal to many of the predatory species targed by trolling anglers. They are generally trolled in front of a weightless lure, such as a fly, hoochie or spoon to draw fish into your spread from greater distances.

Due to its broad shape, the Double D™ is more speed-dependent than the Sling Blade™ and excels at slower speeds, generally less than about 2 mph. Any faster and the dodger will spin out and lose its attractive side-to-side sashay. The maximum speed a Double D™ can be trolled will fluctuate with varying currents, as well as with different lures behind the dodger. I will use Double D™ Dodgers mainly behind downriggers when lake trout are the main target.

faster speed might be desired), I will always incorporate at least one Sling Blade™ 9” and a fly on a downrigger to add flash near the middle of the trolling spread. Quite often, these are the most productive rods in the spread. When targeting salmon, or a mixed bag, the Sling Blade™ 9” is my attractor of choice.

It is an especially good choice when wind and waves make speed control difficult, because the Sling Blade™ maintains its side-to-side action, whether moving faster or slower than your desired speed.

THE 2018 SEASON WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE SLING BLADE AND IT IS, BY FAR, THE MOST VERSATILE DODGER I HAVE FISHED.

The 2018 charter season was my first experience with the Sling Blade™ 9” and it is, by far, the most versatile dodger I have fished. It can be fished slow, and it can be fished fast. The shape of the Sling Blade™ prevents it from “spinning out” at higher speeds, and its action can be modified by adding a slight bend, thereby creating a bananalike shape.

When integrating spoons or plugs into my trolling spread (where a

The Sling Blade™ 9” UV Green was deadly in 2018

The large dodger rigs mentioned above are best fished on beefy tackle that can handle both large rigs and large fish. When fished behind downriggers, I prefer a shorter fiberglass rod (8’) with a lot

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of flex, such as the Shimano TDR with a medium light power. These rods are paired with Daiwa Sealine SG47LC3B’s and spooled with 20 lb.

Slime Line Ultra Clear. Dodger/fly combos are then run 10- to 30-feet behind the downrigger weight, most often at 15-feet.

Behind the dodger and in front of the lure should be a stretch of high-quality fluorocarbon line. I use lengths between 18- and 24-inches.

A shorter leader length will impart more action on your lure, and a longer leader length will give your lure less action. I prefer to use a quality shock-absorbing fluorocarbon such as Sunline System Leader in 20- or 30-lb. test. Using a fluorocarbon that is too light or too brittle will result in unexpected break-offs from thrashing or hard-striking fish. At one end of your leader, tie on a highquality ball bearing swivel and at the other end, tie on your favorite Mack’s Lure fly or hoochie.

The art of dodger fishing dates back to before our time, and it is just as effective today as it has ever been. With all of the colors and sizes of dodgers available from Mack’s Lure, the ways to customize your spreads are endless.

One last tip is to combine a large dodger with a Flash Lite® 2-Blade Series. Dodgers are often overlooked

Grand Traverse Bay lake trout caught on a 7.6” Double D and fly trolled behind a downrigger

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by the modern Great Lakes fisherman with plastic rotating flashers being the new rage among anglers, but next time you are on the water, tie on a Sling Blade™ or Double D™ Dodger to help you put pmore fish in the boat.

Mack’s Lure Pro & Guide Staffer Captain John LIttlefield is a fishing guide on the Lake Michigan waters of Grand Traverse Bay and Platte Bay, as well as Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay. For further questions on rigging or to book a guided trip, email Captain John at littlefieldsportfishing@gmail.com or visit his website at LittlefieldSportFishing.com.

GUEST COMMENTARY

HOW TO LOCATE PERCH ON ICE

BY Mack’s LURE PRO STAFFER DANNY COYNE One of the most enjoyable fish to target during the ice fishing season has to be the yellow perch. Once the schools are located, these fish are plentiful and they make some of the best table fare to be had. Perch are found throughout the interior of the Pacific Northwest in many freshwater lakes that are accessible during the winter months. Perch fishing is a great species of fish to take newcomers or young anglers ice fishing as it can offer non-stop action.

insects nestled among the weeded bottom. As the season progresses the fish will move out to a bit deeper water, holding on points and drop off ledges. Unlike its distant relative the walleye, perch don’t just hug the lake floor. They can vary from one foot off the bottom to suspending within a few inches from the ice surface.

Start by targeting near the bottom and then work your way up the water column until you lcoate the school.

A good tactic in locating the school of perch is to drill multiple holes in a crisscross pattern that covers an area of approximately 40 years.

Start fishing the hole closest to the shallow ater first. I like to begin the day by jigging a small spoon such as a Sonic BaitFish™ jigging spoon from Mack’s Lure, tipped with maggots, meal worms or even regular cocktail shrimp. Using a small spoon will help locate the active aggressive fish you’ll want to keep the school from leaving, this is when you should slow down your presentation. Once I get on top of an active feeding group of perch, I switch from a spoon to a Mack’s Lure Glo® Hook or plain hook tipped with bait. If the fish are near the bottom, slap your presentation on the bottom to stir up silt, as this will attract the fish even more, thinking it’s a feeding frenzy!

In no way are perch trophy size fish, but they do provide a lot of enjoyment to catch, especially during ice over. Once you get a grasp on the basic understanding on how to locate the active fish, you will be in for an enjoyable day of non-stop ice fishing action. Not to mention, the white flaky meat of a perch is a perfect ingredient to some great tasting fish tacos.

The key to a good day of ice fishing for perch is to locate the schools. These fish tend to school up tight during the winter months, so once you locate one, you will locate others. Early ice season offers some of the best fishing for perch and they will tend to bite anything you throw at them. In the first month of fishable ice you’ll find perch hanging around in shallow bay areas feeding on

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SONIC BAITFISH™ (SBF) WATCH THIS!

TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Learn effective ice fishing techniques for Yellow Perch with Mike Hall & Bobby & Robin Shindelar.

LAKE CASCADE ICE PERCH

BY CAPT. PETE ROSKO Since we are in the heart of ice fishing season in the North Country, what better way to start off 2019 than to view Mike Hall’s tutorial on jigging for yellow perch with the Sonic BaitFish™.

COOK YOUR CATCH BAKED PARMESAN PERCH

In this presentation, Mike is featured on an Angler West TV show titled, “Lake Cascade Ice Perch.” This top-rated show is produced by Justin Wolff and can be seen on YouTube.

Mike is accompanied by fellow Mack’s Lure Pro Staffers Bobby and Robin Shindelar as they share the finer points of catching trophy Idaho yellow perch through the ice.

Over the years, Mike has helped thousands of anglers across our country in becoming more proficient anglers. Whether it’s fishing in open waters or through the ice, Mike’s scientific approach to catching a large variety of different fish is legendary.

As always, we at Mack’s Lure thank you for subscribing to our monthly issue of the Mack Attack Magazine.

We hope your new year is filled with happiness and good health. - Capt.

Pete Rosko This episode can be viewed online at this link or by clicking on the ‘WATCH THIS’ video above, which will direct you to the YouTube page.

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Ingredients • • • • • •

2 tbsp dry bread crumbs 1 tbsp grated Parmesan 1 tbsp paprika 1 tsp dried basil 1 lb. perch filets 1 tbsp butter, melted

Directions 1. In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika and basil.

2. Brush fish filets with butter, then dip into the crumb mixture.

Place in a greased baking pan.

3. Bake, uncovered, at 500 degrees for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

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QUESTION

HOT DEAL OF THE MONTH

OF THE MONTH Have a question? We’d love to answer it for you! Shoot us an email at media@ mackslure.com with your question and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of the Mack Attack Magazine!

Q: I’ve heard a lot about Glo® Hooks, especially for ice fishing.

How would you recommend rigging them?

A: That’s a good question. And the Glo® Hooks are awesome ice fishing lures that can be used in conjunction with other products or as a standalone lure for various panfish.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

The Northwest Outdoorsmen’s Richy Harrod shows off a gorgeous Brown caught on a Cripplure™ Glow in British Columbia with Mark Roseboom of Lone Butte SGs.

Attach a Glo® Hook with a 2-inch leader to the tail of a Sonic BaitFish™ or rig a Glo® Hook with a Double D™ Dodger or Sling Blade™ to increase your attraction. Be sure to rig your dodger backwards, however, as this will provide the Glo® Hook with more action on the rise and fall.

Simply attach a 14- to 16-inch leader to a Glo® Hook in the color of your choosing. In between the dodger and the hook, attach a couple of split shot weights to help keep the presentation vertical, then slowly jig up 4- to 6-inches, then drop and repeat until your rod starts dancing.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH

Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Marc Christophel joins Angler West TV on Pyramid to fish for monster cutthroat trout using Cripplures and the all new Hum Dinger® 1/2 oz.’s.

Follow Mack’s Lure on Facebook and Instagram and tag us with #MacksLure.

Facebook.com/MacksLure @macks_lure To submit your catch, send us an email at media@mackslure.com or tag us on social media using #MacksLure.

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