By Haley Rodriguez, Mack's Lure Staff Writer
For Chris Marcolin, fishing began with a quiet dock, a few kernels of corn, and the timeless patience only a grandparent can teach. “We would spend the last hours of daylight on a dock waiting for some indication that the colored mini marshmallows and corn were about to be consumed,” he says, recalling his earliest days fishing for Eastern brook trout in the 1970s at McGinnis Lake.
Nearly fifty years later, that simple joy has evolved into a well-honed passion, now focused on freshwater and ice fishing across the Pacific Northwest. Today, Chris targets Kokanee, Trout, and Walleye—particularly in June when post-spawn feeding activity is at its peak. His approach? Precision trolling with purpose-built gear and a tackle box stocked with proven producers—chief among them products from Mack’s Lure.
Chris has long favored the trolling method, especially when chasing Kokanee and Walleye. Using either small, nimble boats launched from unimproved ramps or larger vessels outfitted with shade and walk-around decks, he adapts his approach to the conditions. “Any type of watercraft can be used to be mobile and successful using a trolling method,” Chris notes.
His rod-and-reel setup is carefully considered. For Walleye, Chris uses the Northwest Outdoorsmen HS7102—a one-piece composite rod designed to deliver strength while remaining sensitive enough to detect bottom bouncers and soft bites. Matching line-counter reels spool up to 20-lb monofilament, offering consistent depth control when working the structure-rich waters of the Northwest.
At the heart of Chris’s trolling success are Mack’s Lure Smile Blades, which he pairs with both single and double hook configurations. Whether using Mack's Lure Wedding Rings or Mack's Lure Wiggle Hoochies, he’s found the combination of flash and motion to be critical, especially when Kokanee are selective.
“This spring, using a series of attractors with a small profile lure has been part of the success on larger Kokanee—up to 20 inches in length,” Chris explains.
To further entice bites, Chris tips his hooks with shoe peg corn treated with Garlic Plus Scentflash Oil—another Mack’s Lure essential he uses exclusively for Kokanee fishing. The scent-enhanced bait, he says, makes a noticeable difference, especially during slower bite windows or when fish are pressured.
For Walleye, Chris often relies on the Double Whammy Pro setup from Mack’s Lure. On a recent outing, this lure helped produce a Walleye pushing 35 inches. “Low and slow profile lures tipped with whole nightcrawler worms consistently draw bites,” he says. He stresses the importance of adjusting lure color and blade style during bright midday hours or when the bite slows, emphasizing that subtle changes can mean the difference between a skunk and a limit.
Chris fishes not only with gear but with strategy. From using sonar to target suspended fish near structure to adjusting trolling depth based on seasonal migrations, he reads the water like a seasoned guide.
He also considers weather and moon phases. “I prefer to fish before a weather system moves into the area with rain or winds,” he says. Slightly choppy water or days leading up to a full moon can tip the odds in an angler’s favor. Spending more time “over the fish,” he adds, is often more effective than constant relocation.
With decades of experience behind him, Chris is happy to offer advice for those just getting started:
Among the many fish he’s caught, one stands out: a 34-inch walleye from a quiet evening in 1990, caught while trolling a shallow flat in a 10’ aluminum boat. The lake was calm, the weed beds visible below, and the moment was unforgettable. “There were several lessons learned on this trip, and being quiet was one of them,” Chris recalls. “To this day, I still remember the things I learned from this trip and will always appreciate a friend who shared this with me.”
Chris Marcolins story is one of heritage, evolution, and a deep love for the water. As the seasons change, one thing remains clear: Chris isn’t just fishing—he’s living a tradition, and thanks to tools like Mack’s Lure Smile Blades and ScentFlash Oils, he’s doing it better than ever.
The latest stop on the Mid Ohio Saugeye Trail saw a hard-fought victory by Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer John Stalling and his nephew, who captured first place on a challenging weekend at Indian Lake. For Stalling, a veteran of the...
By Bob Schmidt Are specific Smile Blade angles recommended for different fish species? The answer is yes, you can tune the Smile Blade for different species based on their behavior, the fishing conditions, and the desired lure action. Here is...
By Eric Braaten, Macks Lure Pro Staff In the past several decades or so, many walleye fisherman have used a variation of hooks on crawler harness’ to deceive walleye during the year. There have been several tackle manufacturers that have...
