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Hello and Happy Spring from Patricia Strutz, “A Blond and Her Boat.” As I write this it is snowing and blowing outside.
Looks like October musky weather...only its the end of April. Come on, enough already!!
I hope you all had a wonderful winter and have your hooks sharpened
and fresh line spooled; anxiously awaiting the open water season. Hopefully the ice will be off our lakes before fishing season
arrives!
I scaled back on my sportshow and seminar commitments this winter and increased my writing assignments. That
meant I could spend a lot of time down south. Jim (the better half) and I traveled to Florida, the Bahamas, Louisiana, and
Arkansas. Took in some fishing at all the locales. I really enjoyed the striper fishing in Arkansas...I'll be back for more
of that! I've attached a “close up” of one of the fish we caught...I
call them saltwater muskies. It's actually a barracuda. Most anglers find them a nuisance, but I like their menacing look
and attitude!
Are you all ready for some real (freshwater!)
musky fishing? There are still some openings for guide dates in my Crestliner Fishhawk or my row troller this season.
Please shoot me an email if you'd like to book a trip.
Welcome
to a new sponsor, Lakewood products! This Wisconsin based company produces some of the nicest tackle boxes I've ever set eyes
on. Their cases are incredibly functional and innovative. For my row trolling
buddies: check out their oversized crankbait boxes! Pictured below is their “Pedestal Pal, Sr.” This unique box
can be carried from car to boat, then secured around the pedestal of your bike/butt seat. Great for when you are fishing in
one of your buddies' boats. They also create cases for guns, ammo, archery, and
ice fishing.
View their complete line at: www.lakewoodproducts.com
Gearing Up for Springtime Fishing
**Boat Checklist:
*Look for signs of an oil leak
on the concrete under your outboard. If you have a leak, your motor will need some maintenance.
*Is your battery charged up and ready to go?
*Add
fresh gas to what is in your tank already.
*Check for signs of wiring
damage due to rodents.
* At the dock: (make sure your plug is in!) Back into
the water and leave the boat on the trailer until after you start your outboard. That way if there are any problems with it
starting, it is still on your trailer.
**Truck/Trailer
Checklist:
*Check the air pressure on your tow vehicle and trailer's tires.
*Grease your trailer bearings and look for any water infiltration. If there are signs of water,
you will also have rust inside. New bearings are in order.
*Trolling
motor working properly? Check for proper electrolyte level on all your batteries.
*Electronics
(sonar, gps) mounted and working properly?
*Rod guides checked for abrasions?
*Reels cleaned and oiled? *Fresh line spooled onto reels?
*Hooks sharpened?
*Have you shopped for all “the essentials” (leaders, split rings, must-have lures, etc.)
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*Amy (pictured above) hoists a nice fish she caught
last year while attending Frabill's Couples Chasing Muskies trip at Cass Lake, Minnesota. Her husband, Eric, played net man for her twice...but he also
managed to set the hook on his own musky! We are still taking registrations for this year's trip: August 13th-16th in Eagle River WI. Ask me for details.
Spring Pleasures
*The
migration of songbirds chirping cheerfully in the forest
*A lazy bike ride down a winding country lane *Loons sitting on their nest
*Chipmunks scurrying around the forest floor *Tiger swallowtails flittering around
*Hanging your sheets out on the laundry line to capture that
fresh springtime smell
*Bloodroots, hepatica, merrybells, and other wildflowers popping up
*Baseball season...fishing season...and time
to grill out over the campfire
*Rod bending perch, walleye, and northern pike action
*Hiking in the woods, looking for
antler sheds or morel mushrooms
Congratulations to Mepps/Mister Twister! Their Curly Tail Grubs and Aglia bucktails took #1 & #4 place respectively
in Field & Stream's “Top 50 Lures of All Time.” I love both of those lures. They're easy to use and catch
a variety of fish...you can bet I'll be tying some on for walleyes and northerns these next few weeks.
Mark your Calendars: The fifth annual Bob Ellis Classic (a row trolling for muskies event) will be held on Saturday, October 18th,
in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. Pictured above is my friend, Tom Stark, who introduced me to this fine technique...
Ethanol : Are the new “bio-fuels” OK for your boat?
*I just recently read an article
on this topic in the publication Great Lakes Angler.
Here are a couple of the tips it pointed out:
1. You need to check for residual water in your fuel tanks before switching to E10 fuel. If
you find any water, dry the tank completely. When fueling, fill the tanks to the top. This helps reduce condensation which
will cause the ethanol to separate from the gasoline (which can cause stalling or even engine damage.)
2. Any boats with fiberglass fuel tanks (typically found in older powerboats) are not rated
for ethanol-blended fuels. The ethanol can dissolve the resins used in the construction of the tanks and cause severe damage.
For complete article, purchase
Great Lakes Angler, March 2008 issue.
*I periodically write for this fine
magazine. Earlier this year I featured Captain Sue Boettcher of 5B's Fishing Charter. (www.5BsFishing.com) Sue guides for salmon and lake trout on Lake Michigan (see recipe on next
page) Look for upcoming articles about Chuck Weier row trolling for salmon out of Two Rivers and Dennis Radloff fishing for
muskies on Green Bay.
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Upcoming Articles
by yours truly...
Badger Sportsman...July issue, “Women's Kayak
Group in Western Wisconsin”
*Also, tips on fishing
from kayaks
MUSKIE magazine (NOT Musky Hunter)...June, “High Tech Fishing”
*Information on Humminbird's side imaging feature and Lowrance's innovative sonar,
gps, and mapping features.
The Next Bite/Esox Angler...summer issue, “Winnebago Walleyes.”
FurFishGame...Row Trolling
Boats N Notes...Showcasing
artist Melinda Lee Schnell
*”Mindy”
paints extraordinary “fishy” art
Wisconsin Sportsman's Digest...May/June issue, “Early Musky Season Legislation
Update”
and, “Women Hunter's Mentoring
Program”
**Visit
the retail section of my website to find sassy tee shirts like this one (back side has the cute saying on it!) These shirts,
totes, fishing towels, etc. make great gifts!
*Please
don't forget to visit the message board on my website. There is a wonderful network of outdoorsmen & women who share information,
photos, etc. We welcome your thoughts and participation. I always try to post
current fishing and outdoor related reports, too. Look for my May reports...I'll be:
*walleye fishing in the Northwoods
*going on springtime birding/wildflower
hikes
*trophy northern pike fishing with Mary Penny on a remote lake in Canada
(and maybe a little walleye, lake trout, and bass fishing, too!)
*fly-fishing for bass and muskies with Wendy Williamson of Hayward
*bowfishing for carp with Cindy Braun in central Wisconsin
*shooting
3-D archery
*AND...gearing up for the start of the Northwoods Musky Season!! Yippee!
West
Winds to you all,
Patricia Strutz
www.ablondandherboat.com
info@ablondandherboat.com
Shimano
Heckel’s
Marine, Crestliner Boats
Mercury Motors
Roberts
Outdoors/Bucher Tackle
Hooker
Tackle
Sea-View
Marine Shield
Frabill
Mepps
Lakewood
Products
Johnson Outdoors (Minn Kota)
Lax
Reproductions
Big
Game Twitch Baits
Innovative Textiles (PowerPro fishing line)
Costa
Del Mar Sunglasses
Wolverine
Boots
Rollie & Helen's (The Musky Shop...Minocqua, WI)
Smokey's
Muskie Shop (Pewaukee)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM PAT:
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**If you are an "outdoors" person, the following information is important...whether
you are an avid angler or not, the way this new legislation was railroaded in is unacceptable and could set a terrible precedent.***
As some of you may know, a law change was recently made making an early catch
& release season (using barbless hooks)in the Northwoods.
In the past, the Northwoods of WI has always opened the musky season in late May, to protect these fish during their most
sensitive period--the spawn. This law change would make targeting muskies during the spawn legal.
I am highly opposed to this, as are many other conservation minded fisherman. It doesn't take a fishery expert to realize
how determintal this will be to the future of that species. Even though it is catch and release, adding stress during the
spawn will adversely affect it.
This law change was proposed last year by a couple of local Eagle River guides. They presented the proposal to the DNR
at the Spring hearings. It went through the Conservation Congress channels and was voted down at the state level because it
was deemed to be, indeed, detrimental to the fishery.
SO....some special interest folks--a few Eagle River guides and bait shop owners influenced WI rep (former E.R. mayor)
Dan Meyer to write this up and add it to the budget...which Gov. Doyle ended up signing. Thus, they circumvented the system
we have in Wisconsin of discussing it throught the DNR and Conservation Congress. That system allows for input from all aspects
of the public and fishery experts.
Instead, it was politics as usual...
Even if you agree with the C & R season, you have to be disturbed with the way this new law was put into effect....here
are some possible implications:
What if PETA members influenced a rep. to write up a law against catch and release (they feel C & R is cruel to fish.)
A rep. could write it up, add it to the budget, and it could be passed without input through the DNR or Conservation Congress
or the general public.
It's sneaky. Perfectly legal, but sneaky.
It was economically driven by folks looking to line their pockets with a few extra $$$....many are Muskies, Inc. members--in
my humble opinion, a definite conflict with the MI mission of protecting the fish.
Okay...what can be done?
*I spoke to fishery biologist Steve Gilbert. The reason this law did not take effect this
year (08) is because the way it is worded WI has to establish a C & R season for muskies first. SO...
****HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART FOLKS***
*I highly encourage each and everyone of you to attend your DNR Spring Hearings this April 14th. This C & R season
for the Northwoods is on the ballot. If there is an overwhelming NO vote, they may not be able to establish the
C & R season which would probably make this law a moot point.
Here's the link for the Spring Hearings:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/congress/spring%20hearings/2008/2008SpringQuestionnaire.pdf
Please...if you are a Wisconsin resident...attend your local board meeting. The locations for each county are listed on
that link. You can not vote for other counties delegates, however, you are able to vote on issues such as this early season.
You will find these questions on page 19. I will be voting NO on both Questions 12 and 13.
**These meetings generally have very low attendance so every vote is really important. There are many other important fishery
issues to consider, too. I hope you each make an attempt to be there. |
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ALSO, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES...
In reality, the only true way this law can now get repealed is if Meyer or another senator/assemblyman writes
up another bill to repeal it.
So, please email Meyer AND your local rep (and carbon copy it to a bunch of other assemblymen!) so
they know the general fishing public is opposed to the contents of this law and the way it was enacted.
Meyer has already gotten inundated with responses and at this point it doesn't seem like he is going to
change his mind...so, include him in the copy (rep.meyer@legis.state.wi.us) but make sure you let a different rep. hear from you, too.
**Even if you are not a resident of WI, but you fish in WI, your opinion is important.
Thanks!
Patricia
There is an on-going thread on my message board relating to updates on this important new law. Also, an in-depth article
will be in MUSKIE magazine (the Muskies, Inc. publication) in May issue. |
Check out other articles by Pat Strutz on Womenfishing
Guiding Services
Ask the Pro - Patricia's message board
Pat's Escorted Muskie Trips
ABC's of Fishing
Row Trolling
Teva Sport Sandals a product review by Pat Strutz.
I love to fish
barefoot: a BIG “no-no” in a musky boat. It’s just a matter of time that a treble
hook is going to find its way into your heel. So, I started experimenting with alternatives and found one I like…Teva
Sport Sandals.
Created in the
early 1970’s by a Grand Canyon River Guide (Mark Thatcher), Teva sandals are built for all water enthusiasts. They offer
support, stability, and comfort.
Teva’s line
includes a variety of sport sandals, water shoes, and adventure shoes. There’s a style for every type of water sport.
My favorite model is the Dozer. It offers a rugged all-purpose, all-terrain, breathable product with full foot and toe protection.
It’s the perfect compromise between a hiking sandal and a shoe.
This past year
our waters in Northern Wisconsin have been very low. We desperately need rain! Quite often I have to wade out onto slippery
boat ramps or rocky/sandy shoreline to load or launch my Crestliner or row troller. I’ve been impressed with the excellent
footing the Teva Dozers afford.
At the same time,
these shoes are lightweight and I can “feel” while wearing them. This is important while I’m working the
trolling motor in heavy winds. They provide great support and a sense of balance—much needed factors when hunting big
fish for marathon days.
They are offered
in men’s, women’s, and kid’s styles…in synthetic uppers and full waterproof leather styles.
Visit their website:
www.teva.com to peruse their full line and to find a dealer near you (or, order on-line)
Teva (pronounced
“teh-vah”) means nature in Hebrew.
The hand symbol
in their logo is the Hopi symbol for Friendship & Water.
Not only is Teva
the leader in the sport sandal industry, they are also ardent supporters of environmental and conservation related issues.
Try a pair on,
you’ll be amazed at these versatile shoes.
Patricia Strutz,
“A Blond and Her Boat”
www.ablondandherboat.com
info@ablondandherboat.com
Patricia Strutz has had many years experience outdoors. She will be reviewing products
and offering suggestions to make the experience an enjoyable one.
Kiehl’s all sport “Non-Freeze” Face protector
Cosmetics for the Outdoorswoman (and man!) this stuff is Fantastic.
It is a beeswax based balm that keeps wind, sun, and cold temperatures at bay.
I wear it when I’m out on the water in early spring and late autumn. I can actually be in below
freezing temps and my face doesn’t freeze up! It would be great for ice fishing and winter sports, too.
I’ve turned many guys onto this weathershield, too. It
keeps that blustery wind off of your face. Doesn’t smell (no fragrance),
wears off in several hours.
Check out: www.kiehls.com to find a dealer by you, or order it on-line. It’s a bit pricey, but
well worth the money.
Patricia Strutz
www.ablondandherboat.com
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First Rod & Reel Combo for Beginner
Musky Huntresses
(doubles as great rig for large Northern
Pike
and big Stripers, too!)
Many times I am asked what rod & reel combo I would recommend for a
gal new to the sport of musky fishing. Most generally, a novice musky huntress will start out by throwing steady retrieve
topwater lures, small to medium size bucktails and spinnerbaits, and a few small crankbaits.
My suggestions:
Rods:
*A Shimano Convergence CVC70XH (7'0"
musky rod, heavy power, fast action)...suggested retail $69.99
*Or, a Shimano Compre CPCMF70MH or H rod (7'0" musky rod,
med-heavy power, med-fast action)...suggested retail $99.99
Reels:
*Shimano Cardiff 300 reel (round baitcaster), spool
with a mono backing and 65# test Power Pro line. Add a 80# test flourocarbon leader.
The reel's suggested retail
price is $99.00
Selling points:
* (ROD) 7'0- 7'2" rod is the correct length--not intimidating, lightweight,
and will achieve some distance when casting lighter lures. Shimano rods have tapered foregrips. Gals should grip the foregrip
(instead of palming reel) for a stronger hook-set. The tapered foregrips are ergonomic; thus lessening the fatigue factor.
*
(REEL) Small, lightweight. When spooled with superbraid line, there's still plenty of line capacity. It sports a recessed
reel seat, so it sits lower down on the rod, again, lessening the fatigue factor when a gal grips the reel to cast or perform
a "figure-8."
I outfit my boat with this set-up and have taught many new musky huntresses how to
throw a baitcaster and set the hook on a big, mean musky or pike. It's an easy combo to cast and can handle a tenacious battle
with a big gamefish.
For a Shimano dealer near you, check out their website at: www.shimano.comOne dealer I can personally attest to is: Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop in Minocqua,
Wisconsin. They have a great catalog (both on-line and hard copy). Give them a call to order your rod & reel combo today...tell
them A Blond & Her Boat sent you!
(715) 356.6011 www.muskyshop.com
P.S. Photo is of Cheryl Kudlaczyk casting the mentioned combo while chasing muskies
in northwest Wisconsin (Mercer area).
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Cabela's Women's Guidewear Systems Parka & Pants
As a professional fishing guide, many times I see clients show up
inappropriately dressed for the weather. We may fish for 8-9 hours through steady, driving rain. Mother Nature is unpredicatable...you
just might have to deal with a few days of rain on your next fishing trip, too. But, sometimes these rainy days yield big
results (see photo!) In times past, outdoorswomen were very limited in their choices. Not so anymore.
Top of the
line Guidewear Raingear has been available in men's sizes for many years. Now, Cabela's offers this uncomparable quality gear
in women's sizes, also. A complete 3-piece system consists of a Gore-tex parka, a zip out jacket (windstopper, water resistant,
and fleece lining), and comfortable bibs. This raingear will keep you 100% warm and dry in the most inclement weather...believe
me, I've tried lots of different rain jackets...this one is easily the best.
The suit is breathable, light in weight,
provides ample storage areas (pockets), and an attached hood. The adjustable drawcord cinches the parka at the waist
for an appealing, tailored look. I work in this gear. It allows for unrestricted movement (important when fighting a big musky!)
and is extremely abrasion resistant. Yes, it's pricey...but it'll be the last rain suit you need to purchase for many, many
years...and, being able to handle anything Ma Nature throws at you--well, that's worth every penny.
Parka & zip out jacket: Item #XG-970019. Red/Black, sizes
S-2XL. $279.95-289.95
Bibs: Item #XG-97002. Black, sizes S-2XL. $139.95-149.95
*Free Guidewear Gear
Bag (a $70 value) with purchase of entire rain set.
Available on line at: www.cabelas.com
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| Cheryl Kudlaczyk photo by Patricia Strutz |
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Beginner's Musky Huntress Kit
Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop of Minocqua, Wisconsin, has put together an innovative
combo kit for female anglers. Their "Beginner's Musky Huntress Kit" offers bucktails, spinnerbaits,
topwaters, twitch baits, and a fluorocarbon leader. An "Intermediate Musky Huntress Kit" adds more
advanced lure presentations such as gliders, jerkbaits, and crankbaits.
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