by Matt Johnson Modern day society continues to push the mentality of doing things “big” and bold. “Go big or go home” is no longer just a term used on the sports field, but also rather in the office, at the factory, or even in the classroom. We are wired to take things to the max and “push it to the limit.” But what about fishing? Or better yet, what about those first few weeks after ice-out when the panfish are still in “ice mode” trying to find their appetite? “Go big or go home” might send you off with the latter, but “go small or go home” could be the ticket to an amazing day on the water. So what does “ Go Small or Go Home ” mean exactly? For me, it means keeping you ice fishing tackle with you when you first hit the open water scene. When you sit back and think about ... [ Pound this link... ]
Five of Fishing’s Diamonds in the Rough – the top Midwest fisheries
Easy as an angler to get caught up with that tide and chase after the most popular girl in the class, but there are some incredible opportunities at top Midwest fisheries that often fly under the radar. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and such is the case of fish popularity. Walleyes, for example, are held in snob regard across the upper Midwest. Trout purists hold down the west, and everyone south of Des Moines, Iowa, is obsessed with bass. Overlooked species provide an extremely high quality fishing experience for what is often trophy caliber fish. In some cases, these overlooked top Midwest fisheries are just victim of geography - in that they would receive much more pressure and interest if they were located in a different region of the ... [ Pound this link... ]
Creating lake maps for walleyes just got easier
Larger, established bodies of water get a lot of attention from walleye anglers, but there are a few areas in the country that really stand out to me for having numerous small lake fishing opportunities that are top notch. Biggest challenge of finding good walleye fishing on some smaller bodies of water is finding which lake to fish. The reality is that for most small lakes, there are few good maps available. You might find that actually creating your own lake maps for walleyes just got a lot easier. Logging sonar data and creating your own map has long been possible but very time consuming with some fairly expensive equipment and some know how. One new piece of technology that is really going to change how we fish small lakes is actually a couple of Apps on your cell phone if ... [ Pound this link... ]
Bald eagles on spring migration back to Minnesota
Bald eagles are migrating back to Minnesota and may be seen in large numbers across parts of the state over the next few weeks, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "Ice is breaking up along the rivers, so it's definitely time for folks to keep their eyes out," said Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer, DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist. "It all depends on the weather. It’s typical to see eagles coming through our area in mid-to-late March, as waters begin to open up and snow melts.” Only two states, Florida and Alaska, have greater nesting populations of bald eagles than Minnesota. In 2005, researchers estimated there were more than 1,300 active nests in Minnesota and that number has likely increased since. Fall migration typically occurs as lakes and rivers freeze ... [ Pound this link... ]
Catching pre-spawn walleyes in rivers
The first week of March features typical late-winter temperatures in the low 30s. Warm spring weather slowly increases the water temperatures, until the icy cold snowmelt hits the main stem of the river, causing water temps to crash back down. The water will stay cold until most of the snow is gone, allowing the soils to warm and either absorb the snowmelt, or transfer the soil's heat to the spring runoff. Pre-spawn walleyes respond to this burst of icy cold water in predictable ways. First of all, recognize that the fish don't move (or, don't move very far). Biology and instinct has driven them to position on or very near spawning areas, and those biological urges have not disappeared. Unless the dip in water temperatures is also accompanied by an unusual, dramatic increase in water flow, ... [ Pound this link... ]
Erie Walleyes Angler Take Notice of Perfect 10
By Abe Smith Charter captains on the Great Lakes don’t waste much time testing every new lure that hits the market. They know the two or three best baits for trolling for walleyes and that’s that. Don’t even bring a new lure to the party. So, when a lure crashes in from nowhere to enter the ranks of elite Lake Erie walleye baits, the old timers get a little upset. Solid belief systems are shaken. Old confidences are questioned It happened last fall in the Central Basin. The Smithwick Perfect 10 Rogue counted coup on walleye and topped the performance of every hardbait competitor, old and new. “By season’s end a lot of captains had all but abandoned the traditional trolling lures they’ve used for years,” says angler Matt Hougan. Derby winner If Hougan gets exuberant over the success ... [ Pound this link... ]
Dropshot Rig for Panfish
“A dropshot rig is absolutely beautiful for putting a bait at the fish’s eye level—right where they’ve got no choice but to eat it.” Despite its 'advanced' connotation, the dropshot rig couldn’t be simpler. Think split-shot rig in reverse. As a softbait delivery method, the dropshot excels for bass. So it’s no surprise that small baits twitched and wiggled in new and tantalizing ways hold equal appeal for crappies, sunfish and big perch. If you can cast, you’re in. If you can tie a Palomar knot, you can master a dropshot rig. Amazing that such a versatile rig— this prefect presenter of soft plastics and livebait— would be so little employed by panfish fans. In reality, a dropshot rig can be as productive as a bobber and bait, or even a tiny jig. It’s even possible that the dropshot is ... [ Pound this link... ]
Winter Strategies for Spring Success
by Garett Svir The ice season is coming to an end but don’t throw out the larva or put away the ice fishing jigs quite yet. You might find success using winter strategies for spring success. After ice out, crappies will start to make their way from the deep water haunts of winter to shallow black bottom bays. It’s not spawning time. These fish are searching for the buffet line. Black bottom bays soak up the heat of the sun like a sponge and hold bug hatches necessary to start the food chain. Crappies sneak in on warm days for a quick meal long before the spawn begins. While minnows are a great producer once water temperatures have warmed, ice out slabs require finesse presentations. I think the experiment stemmed from my unpreparedness for the coming season. Winter jig boxes and larva ... [ Pound this link... ]
Last Ice fishing Go with the Flow
Plan ahead, drill and get things draining and you’ll catch more panfish than ever this time of year By Mitch Eeagan. It’s last call. No, it isn’t 2 a.m. at your favorite watering hole. You just got a phone call from your bud fresh off the hard water letting you know the short-lived season of last ice fishing is peaking - now. “You’d better get on the lake immediately, before ice conditions deteriorate to the point where you’ll have to wait until open water to catch your next limit of panfish,” he orders. Your plan? Surprisingly enough to your comrade, it’s not to fish right away -- or even tomorrow morning.Instead, you’ll be waiting at least another 12 hours to drop a line. You know that preparing ahead of time will get you more fish than if you walk right out and start fishing.Sure, ... [ Pound this link... ]
North Country Walleye ‘Meat’ The Precision Jigs
Methods like the jig and meat combo start to shine right about now, when cold snaps start getting measured in weeks and that first-freeze rush has kind of petered out. Walleye are still absolutely catchable using lures and jigs with more razzle dazzle, stroked quicker. But season after season, batting cleanup with a well-placed baitfish gets hotter and hotter the colder it gets. What's nice about these colder periods is they force me into moving around less and slowing my entire approach way down. How is that even remotely a good thing? For one, camping out on good spots really lends itself to being thorough, meticulous and maximizing what I'm doing. There's nothing better suited to soaking great structure than a baited jig. Use the cold and rougher travel to your advantage. Ma Nature ... [ Pound this link... ]