15 lb walleye caught, DIY rod tubes, Tony Roach dropshots on ice

This 15.40-lb freakazoid (30.75″ long x 19.5″ girth) was caught out of cap’n Rob Henry’s boat. She ate a custom-painted #12 Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk sent down to the abyss with the assist of Cannon Downriggers. Dude’s having a replica made so the fish was released to get even more bigger-er!

You know the interwebz Photoshop “fish police” are lovin’ that pic:

No it’s not “Photoshopped.” But yes it is a rather generous hold on a world-class gravel lizard. As always: Would still be 15.4 lbs if he held it behind his back….

This video is a wild ride! A straight-up rollercoaster of emotions that has me feeling for Tia Hyland. She had a HUGE Mille Lacs Lake pike scarf-up her Lindy Frostee on 6-lb test, then tease her underneath the ultra-clear ice before winning the battle:

Bet it was a quiet ride home lol.

– That’s Thorild Nelson talking about his new PB crappie, a ridonkulous 16.25-incher! Know you’re onto something special when the thing gets stuck in an 8″ hole. 🤯 #TALL

I dunno man…I think this one is looking more like the late-Jurassic period ‘cuz i’m getting some serious stegosaurus vibes LOL:

Said he was targeting walleye that morning, but knew they had a chance at a massive slab, and obviously that chance presented itself. Running a 1/4-oz Northland Buck-Shot Coffin Spoon with a minnow head in 20′ on a point coming out of a deep basin. Wrassled her in on his 32″ Fenwick Elite Tech paired with a Pflueger Trion and 6-lb mono.

Congrats on the slabbage of a lifetime, man! 🥵

Fishing on pressured waters? Or maybe stuck in that brutal, negative bite?? Try tying on an oversized panfish jig with a minnow head or finesse plastic.

Sounds goofy, but it’s a little trick a handful of #dialed guides have been using the last few years on crowded lakes or in clear water:

The biggest 1/16-oz Drop Jig XL should have enough hook gap if you’re fishing with say a fathead minnow head. If you wanna bump things up to a full minnow – yet still have a super compact presentation – try the 1/8-oz Drop Jig XXL which comes with a #4 hook:

Bonus points: Also helps keep the “dinky” panfish away. Nothing wrong with stumbling across a 14″ crappie or 10″ bluegill while chasin’ walleyes!

Few random things that had me slow my scroll:

1. Apparently a 58-FOOT 👀 1970 Chris Craft Roamer Riviera (weighing approx 45 tons) was seen breaking its way thru up to 6″ of ice on MN’s Lake Minnetonka in an effort to get it out of the “water.” #PrestigeWorldwide

2. These homemade PVC rod tubes look legit. 💯 Great DIY idea from Forcier’s Fishing Guide Service. He uses 3/4″ PVC pipe – cuts the opening and plops caps on each end. Said he makes them 1.5″ longer than the rod to slide in and out of the holder. Diggin’ it:

3. This dude, Justin Jenken, caught a lake trout on a pair of Pit Viper sunglasses LOL. Can’t even make this stuff up:

He’s always up to some kind of craziness on his YouTube channel.

4. Saw this one posted by Mike Smith in the Ice Fishing Minnesota FB group. He installed a “gaming chair” in his flip-over shack. 🤣 Apparently it even reclines and has a foot rest:

1. OH: Dude who won the Lake Erie Fall Brawl…

…had to take a 2 HOUR polygraph test administered by two police officers. Sounds relaxing!

But then again I’d probably let ’em waterboard me for 47 hours straight if it meant I got to take home a decked-out Ranger 622 w/ a 400hp Merc valued at over $125K 🤯fo FREE.

2. MI: Saginaw River walleye ❤️ perch too much?

So the DNR is opening the walleye season year-round to balance the walleye and perch predator-prey relationship.

> “The potential risks are very small…. The walleye population is at 5 million. There’s a large cushion. We also have the ability to look at the data each year and make a quick adjustment if necessary.”

Unrelated side note: That write-up used a stock photo of a zander…doesn’t change anything they’re saying, I just always find that entertaining hahah.

3. MN: Lake of the Woods’ annual fall population survey shows…

…slight decline in walleye numbers:

> …down slightly from 2020, the result of a couple of weak hatches in 2017 and 2019 [which is normal], but they’re still within management goals.

Survey also showed that the sauger population is booming.

4. MN: DNR expanding winter creel survey on Lake of the Woods.

They have a couple of clerks who will work from mobile “creel shacks” set up at major access points along the lake to interview anglers coming off the ice.

5. The difference between LiveScope vs Panoptix.

Really good vid from Fish Addictions TV explaining the difference between Garmin LiveScope vs Garmin Panoptix, and when each unit shines:

6. SD: Hooked on Hardwater happenin’ Feb 26.

60 pro anglers take out 60 underprivileged boys for a 1-on-1 ice fishing experience in the Black Hills. Love to see it!

7. FishUSA has 25% off Rapala Jigging Raps.

#StockingStuffers

8. UT: Flaming Gorge Rez “Burbot Bash” happenin’ Jan 28-30.

Over $30K in cash + prizes up for grabs. Burbot Bash = annual tourney (and non-profit event) to help rid the fishery of the “invasive species and voracious predator that eats sport fish that would otherwise be available for anglers to catch.”

> “Known for its ugly face and tasty flesh, the eel-like burbot is a menace to the other fish in Flaming Gorge Reservoir. It has a huge appetite and sharp teeth that are carving into the reservoir’s sportfish populations.”

Okay, but “sharp teeth?” Must grow ’em differently in UT ‘cuz we can definitely lip ’em – just like you would a bass – over this way….

MarCum MX-7GPS Giveaway!

Yup, this is real life! 🤯 Here’s your shot to win a new MarCum MX-7GPS lithium-powered sonar/GPS unit!! 🔥 GPS mapping + MarCum’s legendary sonar platform = we almost feel bad for the fishes…almost!

> Customizable HD display, industry-leading 1/2″ target separation, real-time sonar designed specifically for ice fishing, and comes standard with a MarCum Brute 12V10Ah Lithium LifePO4 battery!

Takes just 10 sec to enter and can share the link you get for bonus entries. 👊 Good luck!

Tony Roach deadsticks with a dropshot rig.  

Tony likes the extra range of motion it gives the minnow, and that dropshots don’t get tangled up on the drop as often…something that happens when using bigger split-shots.

Also gotta love always knowing exactly how far the bait is sitting off bottom – without using a flasher or depth bomb – while resetting the line after a fish catch…or miss. 😉

Check the Wired2Fish video here:

“Seems the walleye are enjoying some extra snacks as well this time of year!”

– That’s the caption under this post on Lakewood’s Insta talkin’ about a portly critter Ross Robertson plucked out of Lake Erie:

Buckle up, boys and girls! 🥶

It’s pretty rare to see a non-cliche sunset fishing pic (when ya don’t catch ’em lol) but I managed to find one….

Even better: It’s none other than Matt Jensen – marketing guru at Rapala – getting his flag on! Gotta LOVE when companies have folks working for ’em who actually fish themselves:

Thanks SO much for reading and have a GREAT weekend, fish-heads! 🙌

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH