Page 1

and offers a ldquosnappierrdquo action and more ldquothumprdquo This is my go-to lake trout presentation when fished in front of a weightless lure

Due to its broad shape the Double Dtrade is more speed-dependent than the Sling Bladetrade 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 Dtrade can be trolled will fluctuate with varying currents as well as with different lures behind the dodger I will use Double Dtrade Dodgers mainly behind downriggers when lake trout are the main target

The 2018 charter season was my first experience with the Sling Bladetrade 9rdquo 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 Bladetrade prevents it from ldquospinning outrdquo at higher speeds and its action can be modified by adding a slight bend thereby creating a banana-like shape

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

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

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 Mackrsquos 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 Dtrade Dodger 76rdquo and the Sling Blade 9rdquo Each has a time and place and both are very good options for both trout and salmon on the Great Lakes The Double Dtrade has a broader profile than the Sling Bladetrade which displaces more water

faster speed might be desired) I will always incorporate at least one Sling Bladetrade 9rdquo 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 Bladetrade 9rdquo is my attractor of choice It is an especially good choice when wind and waves make speed control difficult because the Sling Bladetrade maintains its side-to-side action whether moving faster or slower than your desired speed

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 (8rsquo) with a lot

DODGING GREAT LAKES SALMONIDS BY MACKrsquoS LURE PRO STAFFER CAPT JOHN LITTLEFIELD

MACKSLURECOM

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

ldquo

The Sling Bladetrade 9rdquo UV Green was deadly in 2018

Page 2

of flex such as the Shimano TDR with a medium light power These rods are paired with Daiwa Sealine SG47LC3Brsquos and spooled with 20 lb Slime Line Ultra Clear Dodgerfly 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 high-quality ball bearing swivel and at the other end tie on your favorite Mackrsquos 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 Mackrsquos Lure the ways to customize your spreads are endless

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

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 Bladetrade or Double Dtrade Dodger to help you put pmore fish in the boat

Mackrsquos Lure Pro amp 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 Huronrsquos Saginaw Bay For further questions on rigging or to book a guided trip email Captain John at littlefieldsportfishinggmailcom or visit his website at LittlefieldSportFishingcom

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

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 yoursquoll find perch hanging around in shallow bay areas feeding on

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 donrsquot 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 BaitFishtrade jigging spoon from Mackrsquos Lure tipped with maggots meal worms or even regular cocktail shrimp Using a small spoon will help locate the active aggressive fish yoursquoll 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 Mackrsquos Lure Gloreg 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 itrsquos 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

MACKSLURECOM

HOW TO LOCATE PERCH ON ICE BY Mackrsquos LURE PRO STAFFER DANNY COYNE

GUEST COMMENTARY

Grand Traverse Bay lake trout caught on a 76rdquo Double D and fly trolled behind a down-rigger

Page 3

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 Hallrsquos tutorial on jigging for yellow perch with the Sonic BaitFishtrade

In this presentation Mike is featured on an Angler West TV show titled ldquoLake Cascade Ice Perchrdquo This top-rated show is produced by Justin Wolff and can be seen on YouTube

Mike is accompanied by fellow Mackrsquos 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 itrsquos fishing in open waters or through the ice Mikersquos scientific approach to catching a large variety of different fish is legendary

As always we at Mackrsquos Lure thank you for subscribing to our monthly issue of the Mack Attack MagazineWe 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 lsquoWATCH THISrsquo video above which will direct you to the YouTube page

Ingredients

bull 2 tbsp dry bread crumbsbull 1 tbsp grated Parmesanbull 1 tbsp paprikabull 1 tsp dried basilbull 1 lb perch filetsbull 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

MACKSLURECOM

SONIC BAITFISHtrade (SBF)TIPS amp TECHNIQUES

LAKE CASCADE ICE PERCH

BY CAPT PETE ROSKO

WATCH THIS Learn effective ice fishing techniques for Yellow Perch with Mike Hall amp Bobby amp Robin Shindelar

COOK YOUR CATCHBAKED PARMESAN PERCH

Page 4MACKSLURECOM

V I D E O O F T H E M O N T HMackrsquos Lure Pro Staffer Marc Christophel joins Angler West TV on Pyramid to fish for monster cutthroat trout using Cripplures and the all new Hum Dingerreg 12 ozrsquos

P H O T O O F T H E M O N T HThe Northwest Outdoorsmenrsquos Richy Harrod shows off a gorgeous Brown caught on a Crippluretrade Glow in British Columbia with Mark Roseboom of Lone Butte SGs

H O T D E A L O F T H E M O N T H

Follow Mackrsquos Lure on Facebook and Instagram and tag us with MacksLure

FacebookcomMacksLure

macks_lure

To submit your catch send us an email at mediamackslurecom or tag us on

social media using MacksLure

QUESTIONOF THE MONTHHave a question Wersquod love to answer it for you Shoot us an email at mediamackslurecom with your question and you may see it featured in an upcoming issue of the Mack Attack Magazine

Q Irsquove heard a lot about Gloreg Hooks especially for ice fishing How would you recommend rigging them

A Thatrsquos a good question And the Gloreg Hooks are awesome ice fishing lures that can be used in conjunction with other products or as a standalone lure for various panfish

Attach a Gloreg Hook with a 2-inch leader to the tail of a Sonic BaitFishtrade or rig a Gloreg Hook with a Double Dtrade Dodger or Sling Bladetrade to increase your attraction Be sure to rig your dodger backwards however as this will provide the Gloreg Hook with more action on the rise and fall

Simply attach a 14- to 16-inch leader to a Gloreg 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