Doug Wynn

Hey Y’all from the Excel 230 Elite. It’s been a while! My fall and winter fishing has been a departure from my normal. Cuz Rickie and I have made several trips to regional rivers for sauger and walleye. Our planned pre-Christmas trip to Lake Erie was cancelled at the last minute due to a winter storm so we loaded up the Excel and headed south and east for Tennessee River walleye.

This required tweaking some tactics and equipment but we made it work on a couple of trips. While researching walleye and sauger tactics, I came up with lots of ideas for tactics I want to try here on our lakes. There are always folks who catch good numbers of fish using tactics they keep to themselves. Those fishermen are willing to go outside the box, spend lots of unproductive hours on new water areas, and finally work up a pattern that works consistently. That’s where I’m at right now.

No, I’m not doing my experimenting on guide trips! I will always use the tactics I think we have the best chance to catch the most numbers or quality fish while on guide trips. I now have much more time on my hands than I did this time last year after losing my taxidermy studio in a fire last March. That spare time is for experimenting.

Boat and fishing show season is starting for me this week. I will be helping my sponsors at Grizzly Jig Show in Caruthersville, Missouri January 30 thru February 2nd. If you get the chance to go, look me up in the Cornfield Fishing Gear, ACC Crappie Stix, or K9 Line booths.

This is the premier show in our region with seminars from TV personalities, guides, and tournament fishermen from all over the country. These folks are the best of the best and a wealth of information. You will also have the chance to walk up to them and talk at the company displays. Great prices on tackle and equipment will be offered also.

February 7-9 are the dates for the West Ky Boat Show at the CFSB Center in Murray. I’ll be doing seminars again after a couple of years of schedule issues. Check listings for seminar times.

I want to ask a favor. I’ve done seminars in the past that were well attended and I want to offer what my readers want to learn from. I’m asking if there is a subject pertaining to fishing our area you would like to learn more about, please let me know so I can plan my seminars accordingly. My e-mail is doug@5riversdux.com .I will also have a booth near the seminar area so feel free to stop by and give me a shout.

February 21-22 are the dates for the Catfish and Crappie Conference at Freedom Hall in Louisville. I’ll be there helping Excel Boats and Off Shore Tackle. This show grows bigger every year. Again, there will be seminars and fishing pros who will gladly talk to you about fishing or boats.

The lakes are settling down from the recent freeze and the crappie are biting. Extreme caution is needed for fishing water temperatures at their lowest points of the year. Fewer other fishermen will be on the lake and the chances of getting quick help in the event of a dunking or boat trouble might be slim. Wear your PFD and keep extra clothes available.

Low water is always an issue in winter fishing. Extra caution is needed to avoid the gremlins that just love to tear up props and lower units.

Winter will start easing toward spring soon. Now is the time to get ready. Respooling new line on reels, cleaning out all those boat compartments crammed full of stuff you’ve already forgotten about, and straightening up tackle boxes can be done on these winter weather days.

I recently cleaned out my rod boxes and storage compartments in the Excel and it was like Christmas! All those hot baits I had bought, tucked away, then forgotten were rediscovered!

Boats require a certain measure of maintenance. Many items can be done in your garage or driveway. Engine oil and lower unit lube needs to be changed yearly. Many new engines like my Suzuki have a computer that tells you the engine hours and will warn you when maintenance is due.

Batteries must be checked and charged.Having the boat in top shape will prevent you from sitting at the ramp while your buddies are slamming the crappie.

Be careful out there. Hope to see you at the shows.

Welcome to our slice of Heaven.