Mike "Doc" Sabec has been a professional fishing
guide for the last 20 some years in the Mercer area.
As a lifetime resident of Mercer, Wisconsin, "Doc"
has been fishing the Turtle Flambeau Flowage and
Mercer area lakes for 36 years. “Doc” spends on
average 200 days a year fishing the Turtle Flambeau
most productive method and presentation
when fishing the Turtle Flambeau or other
Mercer area lakes. Tipped with a minnow
or half crawler, the weedless jig is a very
effective way to work wood areas, rocks,
and weed lines. The ISG Slowfall Jig in the
1/8 oz. size and various colors is a
excellent choice. With a plastic weed
gaurd and wire hook will get you into
where the fish are without to much trouble
with snags.
4"tube imitates the crayfish, and the small
mouth's number 1 source of food in our
area is the crayfish. The Turtle Flambeau
and Mercer are lakes are full of crayfish
making the 4" tube the bait of choice. Rig
the tube with either a 1/16th or 1/8th oz
tube jig. Vertical jigging these tubes
around wood and weeds or casting and
retrieving in a jigging motion can prove to
be deadly for the small mouth. The ISG 4"
tube in the "Crawdad" color is Doc's first
choice, followed by the Watermelon
Chartreuse and then the Goby. A slowfall
with crawler or minnow also produce well.
abundant with crappie. Although not always easy to find on a
consistent basis in the summer months, the crappie presentations
and tackle are quite simple. I like to use a small 1/16th oz.
jig which can be weedless or plain. Light line, (4 lb. test) and
a soft tipped rod always adds a advantage to your success. Color
of the jigs doesn't seem to matter as much as where the
presentation is offered to the crappie. A small fathead minnow on
the small jigs always works best. Crappies suspend most of the
time over brush, cribs, weed lines, and deep water so it is very
important to get the bait in their feeding zone. Slip bobber set ups
can also work well when wanting to fish a desired depth over the
top of structure.
