This family knows how to wade for walleyes

A local family's freezers are well-stocked with walleye fillets thanks in no small part to the angling prowess of the neophyte of the clan.
What started as Vince Cappitte's introduction by his father and older brothers to the fine points of wading for walleyes at Mosquito Creek Reservoir turned into an angling success story as the student turned the tables on the teachers.
Greg and Norm Cappitte Jr., along with their father, Norm Sr., persuaded Vince to join them at Mosquito last week for a late afternoon of stalking the shallow flats for autumn walleyes. Vince, a resident of Girard, was the least experienced angler among the Cappittes and had never taken the opportunity to wade fish.
"We finally talked Vince into joining us," said Greg, 43, of Youngstown. "The trip started out pretty slow for him. About a half hour before dark, we all had five walleyes (one short of their limits) except Vince. He just wasn't picking up on the technique."
It was then, Greg said, when Norm Sr. waded over to Vince and provided a bit of quiet instruction.
'Right after another'
"Then bam, bam, bam. It was unreal, he just started catching them one right after another. He got his limit before any of us, even though we all had five already before he caught his first one."
It's no secret that the fall walleye bite has been excellent at Mosquito and anglers in boats and those wading the traditional walleye hot spots are catching limits with regularity.
"We finally all got our sixth fish, but Vince got the hang of it in a half hour that we'll all remember for a long time," Greg said. "The fish were all nice ones -- around 17 inches, the good eating size."
The three more experienced Cappittes have been chasing Mosquito's walleyes for many years.
"Dad used to take us out there when we were kids, and we've been going ever since," Greg said.
So what was the secret to Vince's success?
"Dad showed him how to let the jig hang a couple of feet below the rod tip so he could cast out further and told him to let the bait sink to the bottom before hopping it back," said Greg.
The Cappittes and others are having great success this fall on jig-and-minnow combinations.
Greg said the jig's color doesn't seem to be especially important. "We're throwing 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jigs, depending on the wind. But it's really the meat [minnow] that the fish want."
He also said the better areas are those with hard bottom near four to six feet of water, and he recommended fishing places where the breeze is blowing in toward the angler.
The best places
"You can feel the zebra mussels crunching under your feet as you wade the spots. The best places are points with small rocks or gravel. There also are still weeds in places," Greg said.
Greg said shad, lots of them, also are evident.
The Cappittes get out to Mosquito several times a week and plan to keep at it as long as the weather permits.
"We'll continue until the ice comes. In fact, the bigger fish will be moving up soon. I've caught walleyes right up to the days when I'm pushing ice away from me."
The daytime water temperature at Mosquito has dropped into the low 50s, though it may dip into the upper 40s on cold nights. The past week's bright sunshine has helped slow down the temperature decline.
Anglers need to use extra caution this time of year, whether wading or fishing from a boat. A tumble overboard or a misstep while wading will result in a plunge into water cold enough to quickly exhaust even the most capable swimmer.
Avoid wading into deep spots and be extra careful to avoid drop-offs. It's also a good idea to wear a personal flotation device.
jwwollitz@aol.com