Its always fun for me to get over to Everts Resort this time of year. Upper Peninsula waters don’t open for Walleye until May 15 and (as usual) my yard has a foot of snow still. I made the trip with fellow Upper Peninsula IDA’ers Frank Pearson(his buddies John and Larry), Al Erickson and Pete (Mr. Musky) Yake…his first trip to the fabled pool. Calvin Svihel, fellow IDA staffer drove over Tuesday afternoon for a few hours of “plastic madness”. He, Pete and I hopped into my Crestliner and headed upstream about 3:00 PM. For a Tuesday the boat traffic was pretty amazing…most of them, as usual, heading for the Dam. I had pitched jigs up there the afternoon before and frankly the bite wasn’t that good yet. I did manage this chunky girl on a 3/32 H20 jig/Cotton candy ringworm in 12′ of water…we gave her a quick CPR.
We all agreed that the dam was far to crowded for an enjoyable afternoon so we headed downstream. My 332C started finding scattered pods of fish in 18-25′ of water along the channel contour so we rigged with 3/8 oz H20s and Fintech Zone Rs topped with Ringworms and Paddletails. Cal, fresh from his recent adventure to Rainy River quickly stuck a nice eating sized Sauger. Moments later…as yours truly was trying to acheive some boat control Pete and Cal had this nice double come to the net!
We passed another large cluster of boats at the mouth of the Vermillion River, which was pumping pretty hard. I am guessing the combination of boat pressure and cold runoff was pushing fish pretty deep. We continued to stick fish regularly…80% of them Walleyes, both males and several very healthy looking 19-22″ spawners. We released all spawing females…regardless of size or nationality. We probably CPRed a dozen nice female Eyes from 2 1/2 to 5 lbs in the next hour. The favorite jig color for the day was Chartreuse and either Pro Blue or Oystershell for our vertical presentations. We motored up to the Vermilion again and I decided to break out ny new St. Croix Elite ES70MLF. Although I had pitching in mind for this purchase, with a good bite going, what the heck! I quickly strapped on an Avid reel spooled up with 6# Trilene XT Solar and tied on a 3/8 Sour Apple colored jig/ProBlue ringie combo. A distinct mudline was apparent where the Vermillion runoff joined the river. I pitched the offering upstream and and it rolled with the current for a short way and BAM! Something absolutely CRUSHED IT! The fight was on…I tell you I LOVE this combo of rod/reel/line! Suddenly Cal says…”Theres your Piggie Tom!! Pete scooped this super fat 26.75″ beauty safely into the rubber! I’ll never know for sure…but after weighing several Eyes in the 9-11# class recently at Rainy River…Cal put this girl at well over 9#…she had an incredible girth and shoulders.
Wow…After sticking about 25-30 nice fish, mostly vertically jigging, we decided to cross over to some sand flats and rip rap shoreline to intercept some more wandering jumbos that may be slipping the current up there in the waning light…but Cal sets the hook and we realize this is another Biggie. The fish fights like a Brahma bull but Cal’s tackle is up to it…OOPS!!! The #1 Gamefish of Europe!
Cal took a good natured ribbing and very photogenic picture. Yes…this girl was ALSO CPRed! Cal eventually was named the multi species title holder.
BTW we found the flats hotter than a firecracker…boating nothing big but several doubles on 15-20″ Eyes and Sauger. We kept enough for a nice Fish Fry that night. It was a blast meeting and fishing with you Cal!
I thank Dean Marshall for his gracious hospitality and always helpful fishing tips. The increased runoff and high wind made Wednesday tough…but we still managed some fish. The increase of small males caught tells me the bulk of the spawning run is yet to come. I will be back in a couple weeks and look forward to seeing everyone “on the water”!
GET OUT AND GET FISHING!
Another “multi species” dandy for Cal…Wheres Mike Little when you need him?
I get into the act with this cute little Shovelnosed Sturgeon.
Beautiful fish guys!! Great report…!!
Cal, was on the….fish…
Sure looks like
Those elites sure are sweet rods, aren’t they Tom?
Thanks for letting the females go. You are truly a sportsmen.
Too bad we didn’t get a photo of Calvin’s mooneye and Tom’s crappie from that day to round out the multi species title. I had a great time fishing with you Tom. Thanks for the invite!!!
Great report Tom..
Cal, that fish is about as cute as you..
Tom,
I didnt realize you were already in town. I was down there on Wednesday. Did you happen to be on the water Wednesday afternoon or morning?
Thanks for the report and pics Tommy. Looks like Cal is after Mike Littles Sheephead King Award isn’t he?
Nice fish guys. 
Thanks, Bill
Tom, I was down there Monday and Tuesday looking for your ugly mug! Did someone tip you off that I was coming???
FYI~ If any of you guys catch more mooneye, please take them back to Evert’s as Dean’s saving them for me…
The rela-tics are in for a Easter treat this year!
Serously, it’s great cat bait. Thanks!
PS nice report Tom…Cal didn’t mention his trophy to me on Wednesday!
I lost a new prop Tuesday AM and spend most of the day trucking down to Rochester for $$ parts.
Got your note though…I’ll be back in a couple weeks.
I’m not going to ask how one can lose a new prop…
Tom,
Way to go on the multi-species, and really nice Pig Walleyes. looks like you got in and out before the rains hit yesterday, good going.
Fish will always be here for your return.
Jack..
Great report
,looks like you guys had a blast.I cant wait to get back in the boat on saturday.
Wellllllll……
I put it on, ($130)….
…….probably didn’t spread the cotter pin enough……. 
My old one is running even better now…
Thanks for the report Tom!
Looks like a great time with some great guys.
Hey Tom, great report. I didn’t know who you were, but I do now. We were in the cabin next door, and I had the red 1800 Lund Fisherman out of Everts on Tuesday and Wednesday. I knew you as “the guy from Michigan”, but now I can match a name with a face. (And you all know how well I am with names right Dustin
)
I want to tell you that Tom was a great help with his colors or jigs, size of jigs, ringworm colors, etc… (Sometimes you aren’t always sure if someone is telling the truth), but what he said while cleaning fish at Evert’s on Tuesday, is exactly what he just wrote.
Hey Tom, someone in Red Wing should open up a parts store for those props, because $65 to Rochester for a couple of pieces doesn’t seen right.
Nice fish guys, I need to get down to try out my new St. croix rod. I only hope I can catch fish like you guys.
Great report and pics Tom!
Thanks for sharing and making this cold/windy/yucky day in IA a little more enjoyable
dave
Thanks! We have an understanding on the IDA staff that we provide honest accurate info here.
As most people are naturally skeptical these days…a lot of them listen but don’t put the info into practice. I have learned a LOT from booking trips with other Guides like James Holst and Jarad Fluekiger…not to mention the reports posted here.
Congrats on the fish Tom.
It was finally great to meet you(tall guy in red bibs in the Alumacaft). Hope to talk to you again sometime. You must have taken the decent weather with you because it got worse Thurs. 
Thanks for the great report, pic’s and info Tom.
Great Report Tom and congrats on the piggie
I am in Branson MO right now, have been fishing Table Rock all week and fishing has been tuff, can’t wait to get back home and hit pool 4 again, my family and I a will be heading out tomorrow morning. Give me shout when you head back down to pool 4 so we can try and hook up!
Hey guys, what strategies do you change when the river water either gets “dirty” or is running faster and higher from runoff?
I was down last week and thinking of going down next weekend, I was just curious if you need to make some changes to increase your chances. Thanks.
I believe the fish need to adjust to changes too. Obviously with lower visibility brighter colors, slower presentation, and possibly added scent or “meat”(minnows).
I absolutely LOVE nothing better that to fish jig/plastics…except the FISH dictate our options. The few better fish I caught Wed were on a hair jig/minnow combo. Dean named this color “ugly” but it rocks in the spring. Ask him for Tom Gursky’s favorite “Ugly” hair jig!
Bottom line…look for current breaks…shallow or deep. Fish the “seams” of the Dam tailrace where the currents seem to split and the ends of sand flats and clam beds.
MAINTAIN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH YOUR JIG AND THE BOTTOM…I rarely use more than 6# mono. To me a nice walleye is worth losing a few jigs. Good luck!
GREAT REPORT TOM….THAT WILL GET EVERYONE FIRED UP FOR SURE……. CAN’T WAIT TO GET OUT…..
Hey does anyone have an email to Everts Resort. I live two hours away and I am looking for some good fishing since the Rainy got muddy this weekend and only produced 9 Fish. Im planning on Going to the Mississippi this weekend so any information would help. Thanks
Jordan
[email protected] tell Dean the Oatmeal Cookie Chef sent ya!