By:  Mark Schram

The snow covered grass is of no concern to any walleye angler in Wisconsin.  It’s March, and it is time to go “hog hunting” on the local river systems.  This season’s open water walleye fishing has already begun at De Pere, Wi on the Upper Fox River. Boats are lining up at the launch ready for departure.  I am sure “that guy” has already made several appearances at the boat launch.

 

Every year, I see “that guy” in De Pere, often at the launch most commonly known as the Dairy Queen Launch (The real name of the launch is Fox Point).  I have seen him at 3 in the morning, at noon, and at 7 at night.  He is always there. I have seen him at other launches also.  He seems to always know where I will be fishing.  At times I wonder if “That Guy” is some type of fishing secret agent.

 

Many times “that guy” is like a transformer, and takes on multiple disguises over the course of the day.  Sometimes he wears the classic insulated bibs, other times he is in jeans and a worn sweatshirt.  I’ve seen him in oversized insulated boots, cowboy boots, and tennis shoes.  One time he was dressed as a woman! I don’t always pick him out of the crowd until the last second, and then it is too late. 

 

So who is “that guy?”

 

“That Guy” is the angler who came to the dock to launch his boat unprepared to hit the water. 

 

“That Guy” can be identified by the following traits:

 

  • “That Guy” has not bought his minnows at the gas station– launches his boat, and then sprints up the hill to get his bait.  (We all know how fast a guy runs in insulated bibs and cowboy boots)
  • He also has not “blown the winterizer” out of the motor at home or checked his batteries for a charge.  His boat is always dead on arrival. 
  • “That Guy” never has his boat fully loaded prior to launching his boat.
  • “That Guy” always has to go to the rest room after his boat is launched, sometimes twice. 
  • “That Guy” never has the launch fee in exact change, and needs to sprint back up the hill to the convenience store to break his $20 bill.  He must stop to ask every other angler waiting for him if they have change for the $20. 
  • “That Guy” has now sprinted up the hill twice since launching, and is exhausted from the 800 yards of running.  He always stops to take a shot from his inhaler and a brief rest on the wooden snow covered bench.
  • “That Guy” always stops to get a personal fishing report from every nearby returning boat after his boat is in the water.
  • “That Guy” is back to his boat, ready to go….ummm, he forgot to buy his fishing license….back to the gas station.
  • He’s Back….Oh crap….Beer run……

 

 

 

This year please vow not to be “That Guy.”   “That Guy” Is not very popular.  Admittedly, I was that guy three years ago in a brief moment only.  It can happen to anyone unexpectedly. 

 

My point to this comedy is come prepared to the launch.  At any given point, especially over the weekends, 150 boats or more are in the river or in the process of launching from the Dairy Queen launch.  In most cases, many are launching for the first voyage of the year.  It is a true assembly line of boats coming and going. Please keep the processes moving for the benefit of all who wait behind your boat.

 

Walleyes are biting in the 6-8 foot ranges near the De Pere Dam.  Horizontal (or drag jigging) is working better than vertical jigging this past week.  Many of these walleye are the first arrivals of the males, and are running anywhere from the 15-25 inch ranges.  Check out myfishingpartner.com for current updates.