Blog
Early Spring Options Abound | Walleye Insider
The Glacial Lakes Region of northeastern South Dakota is becoming a premier walleye destination in the Upper Midwest, with the potential to produce lots of respectable fish as well as trophies. Locals know the score, but the rural nature of the area has kept it larger untapped by most anglers.
Diversity Training | Walleye Insider
Prediction of blue-chip fishing were realized when the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT) rolled into Mobridge, South Dakota, May 28-30 for the Berkley/Lowrance Pro-0Am on Lake Oahe. The massive Missouri River impoundment yielded big numbers of fish in a variety of ways, allowing the 104 pros to showcase their talents in multiple manners.
Cold Cranking & Other Competitive Lessons | Walleye Insider
Although only a small percentage of walleye anglers participate in tournaments, their travails and triumphs benefit us all. Countless innovations in tactics and equipment were developed, refined and ultimately proven under the pressure of competition.
A Multispecies Big-Fish Matter | In-Fisherman Magazine
The entire late-ice scene is exciting event. Lakes that were seemingly void of fish activity are suddenly revitalized and full of biters. Spring-like weather also allows anglers to shed bulky winter clothes. In fact, it’s when we often get our first base-layer-tan. Most fish are relating to key shallow spots, too, located just a short walk on the ice.
Worth a Look
Now that it looks as though we have all managed to survive another Winter, we can begin to prepare to roll full force into the refreshing aspects of the open water season. With Springs arrival, many of you will go on a quest to update at least some of your equipment. This is an annual rite and serves as a Stimulus Plan for the Fishing Industry. Helps to keep the doors open on your local Bait Shop, as well as your favorite Lure and Equipment Manufacturers in business.
Wood is Good
With Labor Day behind us…we can now look forward to some peaceful days on the water as most of the tourist types have expended all of their vacation time, leaving the lake for us fisherman. Just in time too, as we are entering a time period that is well known for exceptional fishing. Opportunities abound and you concentrate on the task at hand in relative solitude.
Warm Weather and Weeds
As we enter the warmest months of the year, fishing tends to become spotty. A lot of people reduce or even eliminate their fishing trips, waiting for cooler weather. They equate warm air temperature with warm water and assume that every fish has moved very deep in search of cooler water.
Two Choices
Walleye’s and fishing for them in general can prove to be a quandary for most of us, and to greater degrees than I care to admit on many occasions. Unless you are dishonest even by fisherman’s standards, you know this all too well. Find a school of decent sized fish willing to display the proper attitude under the right conditions, with an acceptable presentation…fishing-better yet catching-can be downright easy. But, it is far too long between these glorious days for all of us.
True Innovation
I’ve been in the Fishing Game long enough to see plenty of new products with outrageous claims come, and just as quickly go. There seems to be a direct relationship between how absurd the products supposed benefits are and just how useless it actually is in practice.
Still Time
Once March rolls around each year and winter shows sign of giving way to spring, most walleye fisherman’s minds are on anything but ice. They’ll spend their time perusing tackle catalogs, attending sport shows, or maybe even trying their hand at open water fishing below a dam on a major river system. More power to you, if this is your inclination. Many of us diehards prefer to spend the last days of March and at times even into April on hardwater and will not give up the auger until the last possible moment.
Tough Choice?
Every year during the Hardwater Season, the most frequent question posed to me is; “Should I spend my money on a Vexilar or an Aqua Vue.” For those of you just entering the Electronic Age of Ice Fishing, this can be a daunting dilemma. I’ll outline some of my thoughts on the subject to help make your decision making process a bit easier. The information may also help those who are looking for a well appreciated gift, fulfilling a need for the avid ice angler in their family.
Tailrace Tactics
Ah, Springtime, Tailraces, and Walleyes. For those of us in the North Country, the first open water opportunity of the year. What a perfect combination of ingredients for a fun and productive outing. The level of your success can be largely determined by your ability to present baits effectively, right up tight to the Dam.
