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Wasted Away Again In Maggotville
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photo:
Three maggots on one Little Nipper
Lyon thinks the maggots remind the steelies of shrimp they eat in Lake Michigan. But Jim Dexter, Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator for the Michigan DNR, says "No, I wouldn't go that route. Mysis (shrimp) are probably a small portion of their diet. It's probably more to do with their genetic wiring to eat bugs, and it would seem to me that a waxie looks like a nice big caddis larvae, or larvae of something!"

Mark Tonello, a DNR Fisheries Biologist for central Lake Michigan, agrees. "Steelhead are just preprogrammed to eat bugs. Even out in Lake Michigan, at times insects comprise a large portion of their diet. And I would say that it is the waxworm they are keying in on much of the time. I have friends that fish waxworms on a bare hook and they catch fish that way as well."
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Comment on This Article

At 7:54 PM, 2008-12-29, kyle said:
i agree with mark. i think there should be an article on spawn and different rigs for them Mark comment offensive

At 10:45 AM, 2008-11-10, Mark said:
great article! i'd like to see an article using spawn or minnows too. Mark comment offensive


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Basic Great Lakes Maggot Rig
What You Need:
Leadhead jig
2 to 3 feet of mono leader
Barrel swivel
Bobber
Split shot
3 live waxworms

How to Fish:
1. Know the depth of the water you're fishing, and fish at the depth where the fish are most likely to lie by adjusting the length of line between jig and cork. In general, fish will be holding near the bottom.

2. Adjust the weight of the jig and amount of weight on the line to reflect current speed. The faster and/or higher the water, the more weight you need.

3. Also adjust the size of the jig to reflect turbidity-i.e. If the water is cloudy, a larger jig is easier for the fish to see.

4. Experiment and adjust until your jig drifts just above the bottom, where it no longer ticking off rocks.

How to reach Jim Lyon
Jim Lyon runs Slim Jim Guide Service from October through May. He specializes in steelhead on the Rogue River but also runs salmon and steelhead trips on the White River. Jim is based out of Rockford, MI and can be reached at 616-874-8667.

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