rods/reels for Lake Michigan

Question
QUESTION: Hi Marc,
What is the best rod length, action, and power for fishing
Lake Michigan from shore? I'm targeting browns, pike,
walleye, and smallmouth. I'm using bucktail, rabbit leech,
and woolly bugger jigs, spoons, and spinners, and Rapalas
once in a while too. What about reel size? I know it
depends on the rod and line, but are Okuma Epixor 45 and 55
too big? Shimano Sahara 2500 or 4000 too small?

Thanks,
Drew

ANSWER: Hi Drew,

For the species you mention, I use 8 pound test all season long.  Only in the fall when the salmon come in do I up grade to 10 pound line.  That said, you don't really need a reel any bigger than a 2500 size class spinning reel.  Something that will hold about 150 yards of 8# is more than enough.  Browns (even giant ones), don't make long runs like the salmon do.

For casting spoons, spinners, crankbaits, and minnow baits I use a 9 to 9.5 foot medium action steelhead rod.  Something that will cast 1/4 to 1 ounce lures is perfect.  The length is helpful for casting distance and landing big fish on light line.  

I also use a lot of jigs and I have a different rod rigged for jigs( I don't like the long rods for jigging).  For that I have a 7'-6" medium light, extra fast tip, spinning rod rigged with a 2000 size reel.  For jigs I like either 8# Magna-Thin or 8# Power Pro with a 6 foot 10 pound fluorocarbon leader (something like Vanish).  Most of the time I am using 1/8th, 3/16th, and 1/4 ounce jigs.  Once in a while 3/8ths.  

It sounds like you are tying your own jigs.  Don't overlook a baitfish pattern tied with white marabou and a hint of something like flashabou mirage.  It's my go-to jig for most of the season for Browns and Smallies.  Three-sixteenths ounce minnow head (plain lead or pearl white with a big eye either painted or stick on), white marabou (not too much), three strands of flashabou along the lateral line, total length about 2.5 inches and you are GOLDEN!!!  Fish it high, fish it low, fish it mid depths.  Ice out to ice on!  Awesome!

Your 4000, 45, and 55 size reels are a little big but will come in handy for the fall Salmon runs.  There you will need some heavier rods and a reel that will handle 200 yards of 10#.

Good luck.  We got into some beauties this weekend despite the wind!

Marc

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the great info. Looks like I should have talked to you before I went shopping.

I was at Cuppertino but didn't get anything. Just a nice northern that kept following a 1/2 oz. black/white bucktail jig but wouldn't strike. Glad you had some action.

Do you use jigs with Aberdeen hooks or forged hooks? Is the minnow head you are referring to the Ultra Minnow (similar to the commercial Spro jigs) with the scales and the recessed eye socket?

Thanks for the help. Maybe we'll run into each other sometime. I'll be the guy using a 7' Medium Heavy rod and oversized reel with 300+ yards of 10lb Big Game line trying to cast home tied jigs. At least I'll be set for salmon. Two years ago I had one on a 6'6 medium rod with a 2500 reel with 8lb Magnathin. That fish swam off with a black bucktail jig in its mouth without having to try too hard.

Drew

ANSWER: Hi Drew,

Good to hear from a fellow Milwaukeean!

My favorite mold is the Do-It JME-7-A1.  It's the newer Minnow Head with the recessed eye sockets.  This mold takes the normal 575 hooks but you can get a 575H (Barlow's) which is a heavier wire and holds up really well on the Browns.  I modified the 3/8 cavity to take a heavier hook (Mustad 32786) and I use those for plastic swimbaits like 3" Salt Shakers or Big Hammers.

Two other heads that work well for Lake Michigan are the JBS-6-A Bullet head and the JG-6-A Flat Grub and these both accept a forged hook like a 630 or 635.  I really like that Bullet Head with a 3" or 4" Gulp minnow or something like a Lunker City Fin-S-Fish or Zoom Fluke.  

The Sparkie head JKS-1080A is excellent for tying Goby imitations or for using with goby plastics.  

Reinke can help you with any of these things.  In fact, he is getting in some new Mustad hooks that are heavier like the 575H.  These should be good. Go in when Bob is there Monday-Thursday.

If I had to give you one bit of advice about tying jigs for the lake it would be that "less is better".  Unlike tying something for Musky or Bass where you want the materials to flair out and puff up, jigs for the lake should be slim and look like a minnow.  My marabou jigs look absolutely sick once you get them wet.  You'd look at them and think, man, marabou is cheap, put a little extra on.  But don't!  A little sparse is better and the same goes with bucktail. Same holds true with tinsel.  A little is good, too much is no good.

Good talking with you and maybe we will cross paths down there one day.  It hasn't been great yet but the next six weeks or so should really get going.

Good Fishing,

Marc

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the great info!  I did try tying a marabou jig, but I think I dressed it too heavily because it didn't look right in the water. It didn't even move the way a bugger tail does- it was just an immobile lump. I'll give the sparser dressing a try. Your info on jig heads was very helpful too.

I've been going down to Reinke for a couple of years now. Bob is a great guy, and he speaks very highly of you. What a great shop right here in town. Wish I had known about it sooner. Last week I picked up some bullet jigs with the new Mustad hooks that are like the Gamakatsu. Very impressive hooks.

What do you think of the lead issue? I hear rumblings about banning the use of lead in fishing tackle. I've thought about buying some molds, but have held off because of this concern. I've emailed Do-It about alternate casting material, but they indicate that lead gives the best results. Do you have a back-up plan, or do you think jigs will be exempt because they are not the same as split-shot? I noticed the fishing regs now recommend switching jigs over to a non-lead material, so maybe they won't be exempt if it ever comes to that.

An awesome pattern you might be interested in is called the Grey Frede. It's a Danish fly pattern that they use for sea trout (browns) over there. I found out about it in a book on woolly buggers and then on the web site globalflyfisher.com. I've tied it as both a fly and a jig, and with the grizzly marabou tail, grizzly marabou dubbed body, and grizzly hackle, it looks a lot like a goby. The browns seem to like it too. I tie two versions-  one with natural grizzly, and one with tan grizzly marabou and hackle.

Thanks again,
Drew  

Answer
Hi Drew,

I'm going to check that Grey Frede out.  Sounds very good.  Thanks for the tip.

I am hoping that Wisconsin doesn't follow along with the lead ban.  And if they go weights only, the jigs would still be OK.  I haven't heard them talk seriously here in WI yet.  A back up would be tin.  I have been pouring with tin for 15-20 years now.  I have a separate pot for the tin.  I have used it mostly for jigging spoons but I have often poured jigs with it when I wanted the size but not the weight.  It also stays very shiny.  It pours at a lower temp, but still works in the pots made for lead.  It is about .688 the weight of lead.  

Yes, maybe try a little sparser with the marabou.  Marabou is probably one of my favorite materials.  It looks like a drown cat when you get it wet, but in the water it comes alive.  

Reinkes is a treasure.  Both Bob and Rich are great guys.  Bob is more active in the business these days and always good for a funny story.  I think I started going in there around 1978 and I it hasn't changed a bit.  

Keep in touch and good luck at the lake.

Marc