News file photo An angler fishes at the 2019 Michigan Brown Trout Festival in this News file photo.

PRESQUE ISLE — It’s a waiting game when it comes to fishing in the Michigan Brown Trout Festival.

After going almost 35 mph to the middle of Lake Huron and coasting for a little bit, nine fishing reels are set up by fishermen Tim Wieczorkowski and Hunter McConnell on Friday.

The nine fishing reel set-up looks like a spider web from far away. With nine fishing reels, the fishermen will have greater opportunities to catch fish and with the lines set up at different depths, the opportunity to catch fish raises even more.

“This is pretty popular,” Wieczorkowski said of the spider web-like fishing reels.

Three fishing lines are allowed per fishing license, Wieczorkowski said.

Wieczorkowski and McConnell set up a few lead core fishing lines that hang off the end of the boat. Lead core fishing lines add weight to keep the lures deep when the boat is coasting.

Wieczorkowski said having five lead core rods and four downrods works for his boat.

After setting up the reels, the waiting game begins to see if a fish bites onto the bait. Fishermen know they get a fish if they use the spider web way when the bail line raises the fishing pole.

The fish is then reeled in to see if it’s big enough to place in the tournament. If it’s not big enough, it goes back into the water.

The ideal temperature for the water to catch fish is between 52 and 54 degrees, Wieczorkowski said, but big waves can drop that temperature into the 30s.

Wieczorkowski’s boat has caught lots of brown trout this week, including one that made the tournament leaderboard. On Friday, they caught a few lake trout, but none that were big enough to make the leaderboard.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

Brown Trout

1. Mitch Arville 9.75

2. Don Muszynski 9.55

3. Tim Wieczorkowski 8.95

4. Don Harrison 7.8

Salmon

1. Dylan Orr 24.75

2. Andrew Simpson 18.75

3. Alec Brietzke 18.65

4. Cary Orr 18.50

Atlantic Salmon

1. Melissa Kuznicki 8.4

2. Wayne Suszek 8.05

3. Kyle Wirgau 6.95

4. Mitch Arville 5.1

Steelhead

1. Jon Kruttlin 9.6

2. Josh Nowak 8.35

3. Kevin Lundquist 8.2

4. Jim Vivian 8.05

Lake Trout

1. Shawn Szatkowski 21.4

2. Kim Misiak 18.25

3. Kevin Drummond 16.45

4. Adam Dziesinski 16

Walleye

1. Eric Mackenzie 8.4

2. Kim Wesaw 7.7

3. Dillon Schellie 7.55

4. Jeff Vantorre 7.50