You wouldn’t think that this year’s winter weather was conducive to fishing, but for professional fisherman Doug Sikoura, it is a time to feast on fish. According to Sikoura, the only fish his family eats is the fish that is caught in sub-50-degree weather. So the ice fishing on Morse, with a record 12 to 14 inches of ice, is optimal.
“The bacteria slime coat that fish develop in the warmer months is what give them that fishy taste,” Sikoura said.
With a 25-fish limit a day, Sikoura has been able to fill the freezer this winter using some of the gear and supplies he receives from his sponsors, which include Bobby Garland, Simms, Crappie Pro, Yeti and Power-pole.
Sikoura’s favorite place to fish is Morse, the place he got his professional start with the Indiana Slab Masters three years ago. His professional career is off to a successful start and he is becoming a bit of a celebrity, especially since he was always braving the frigid temperatures this winter brought.
“I’ve been an avid angler for many years, and since I felt like I knew this body of water well, I thought that I had a chance to compete,” Sikoura said. “We finished in second and lost by .01 of a pound, and I’ve been hooked, pun intended, ever since.”
Now Sikoura fishes all over the Midwest following the Crappie USA and Indiana Slab Masters trails, including Indiana reservoirs such as Morse. Sikoura has had a successful year with a third place in the Indiana Slab Masters Classic, a third place in the B ‘n’ M Points Race and a top 20 finish with the Crappie USA Classic. However, in the winter, he switches his focus from professional tournaments to the other dishes Morse has to offer.
“During the winter months, I spend most of my time targeting walleye, yellow perch and bluegill,” Sikoura said.
It’s not a bad place for yellow bass either. Sikoura’s fishing tournament partner and Noblesville resident Jim Raymer caught the world record yellow bass in Morse on Nov. 4, 2000, at 2.95 lbs.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, “Raymer’s fish not only clobbered the existing Indiana yellow bass size record, his catch shattered the existing 2.9 lb. world record.”
“Doug is very enthusiastic and skilled and motivated to be the best there is,” Raymer said.
The biggest fish Sikoura has caught in Morse was a 12 lb. channel cat. He’s willing to show most anyone his techniques, and I had the opportunity to join him one Sunday afternoon right before a cold front. Sikoura’s techniques include giving the pole a couple of quick rips in the water and then jigging the rod until a fish is interested. Once the chase is on, he says to move the bait upward until the fish bites. Then, you set the line and reel the fish in.
I was able to catch three large crappies the day we went out. I also learned that placing the bait in the middle of a shad ball is a wise maneuver since this is the fish’s natural food. However, the real pupil the day we went out was Sikoura’s oldest daughter, Parker. She not only caught the most fish, but the biggest as well. The best part was that in between praise was the witty banter of the two of them, especially since what we caught was going to be dinner that night. Parker kept reminding her dad that she was the fishing champion that day.
Sikoura told this and other stories as he started his speaking tour this year. He said he was recently surprised by the 80 people in attendance at Bass Pro Shop in Cincinnati and the 40 people at Westside Bait and Tackle in Indianapolis, where he spoke about tips and techniques for fishing.
On May 5, he will make an appearance at the Indiana Writer’s Conference. He would eventually like to get into writing his own outdoor pieces since he has fishing knowledge and experience dating back to his childhood. Sikoura got his start fishing in the ditches behind his home in Demotte, Ind., where he and his brother were allowed to ride their bikes to go fishing on the weekdays.
“I was always that kid riding the tires down to the tread on my bike to go somewhere fishing,” Sikoura said. “I remember riding my bike to baseball practice with a glove in one hand and the fishing pole in the other. That’s when riding a bike no-handed came in handy.”
Now Sikoura is trying to pass the passion on to his own children, Parker and Lakelyn.
“When I was 9 years old, we started ice fishing, making fishing a yearlong passion, and it was my favorite hobby/sport even though I played football, baseball and golf,” he said.
Sikoura believes that the technology surrounding fishing in recent years will help to draw young hopefuls to the sport.
“It’s become a video game that is real,” Sikoura said. “So this generation’s love of video games is a blessing. Take kids fishing every chance you get.”
With the latest Vexilar technology, Sikoura said he can actually see the fish in real time, which has really “changed the game.” According to Vexilar, there is also an app for that: “SonarPhone turns your smartphone or tablet into a fully functional sonar system that will rival any high-end sonar on the market today.” So even the next generation can pick up the fishing passion. Maybe someday Parker will find herself hanging with more professionals, but in the meantime, I think she’ll be just as happy to be fishing with her dad.
Five tips from fishing pro Doug Sikoura:
- Use maggots; bee moths fall off too easily. And fish love them.
- The best time to fish is before a cold front or during a high pressure system or a low pressure system.
- Fish near the Old River Channel and you’ll never be far from the fish.
- Have fun, watch the wildlife and be thankful for being able to experience the outdoors. Catching fish is just a bonus!
- Put the fish in front of you and bend it slightly at an angle to make it look bigger in photos.
