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Happy New Year, Target Walleye fam! Hope your Christmas/holiday season was A++ and that 2025 will be your best year yet. 👊
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Updated crappie barotrauma study 🕵️♂️
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We've talked about this before after MN DNR's "pilot project" last season, but now they’ve stepped up their game in studying the effects of barotrauma on crappies caught out of deep water.
This time they handled fish more quickly, utilized descending devices and several forms of technology to track and record fish movements over a couple days:
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This is still ongoing research, but some interesting info for sure.
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Couple hardwater tips from Jason Mitchell
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Jason Mitchell could be the mascot for Farmers Insurance since he knows a thing or two, because he's seen a thing or two. And even better yet, he’s not afraid to share his secrets with the rest of us.
First up is a quick-hitter where he talks when to tie direct vs using snaps. Vid also talks how/when/why Jason uses a sneaky braided line split-ring trick. 🤫
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Next is a full-length episode with Jason Mitchell’s tip-up program for trophy walleyes.
> Trophy walleye on tip ups after dark in SD’s Glacial Lakes Region. Early-ice pattern where fish are shallow...often less than 4’ of water but these fish are also extremely spooky.
> This strategy catches a lot of big walleye each winter. Set up tip-ups on shallow structure with big minnows (like a sucker minnow) and wait. These shallow water bites often happen after dark on many of these lakes that clear up during the winter.
> This is a simple program that produces a lot of big walleye each winter across the upper Midwest and Canada. This big bait/tip-up strategy catches some of the biggest walleye caught each winter.
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Thanks for always educating, man!
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INSANE ice implosion captured on vid 🤯
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Little speculation as to why it might happen in this Kurt Mazurek write-up:
> “From what I can see, it looks like there was probably a couple feet of open air between the ice layer and the surface of the water beneath it. You see that when the largest area of ice falls in, free falling without a splash. I suppose that air layer could form as the result of fluctuating water levels, like in a reservoir. A few people have commented on the original video that the ice failure may be the result of someone powering up an aerator system under the ice.”
Not sure what caused it, but I do know that I never want to see it happen in person. And if I did, I might not ever ice fish again lol. #HardPass
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Bonus daytime bites in shallow weeds 🌿
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Where I'm at in central MN you've got about a 1-hour window at sunrise and sunset where you can consistently catch clear-water walleyes ⌛️ outside of that = good luck! UNLESS you poke around in the weeds....
Bonus points: Everything lives in the weeds, so the multi-species game is strong. 💪
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Ice fishing after-dark crappies on clear lakes
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It can feel like you’re ice fishing on a whole-new lake after the sun goes down! Everyone else heads back to the access, and then about 30 minutes later crappies show up out of nowhere! Oh, and a few bonus walleyes cruising the shallow weeds too....
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All of the gear I used (sizes, weights, rod, you name it) is always linked in the video’s description. 👊 Thanks SO much for watching!
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1. Al Lindner tied the knot...
...and it wasn't a Palomar. ❤️
> Al: “Hi everyone, I would like to introduce you to my wife Kerry, we got married a short while ago, we had a small private wedding. We met at church and started fishing together and next thing we know, we fell in love. Kerry loves the LORD, baking, fishing and me. We’re excited about what the Lord has planned for us. We appreciate your prayers and support. We will CU on the water.”
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Congratulations and many blessings, Al and Kerry! We're incredibly happy for your next chapter together! 🙏
2. MN to allow automatic hook-setting devices?
> Rule changes are likely coming for Minnesota tip-up users. Barring any setbacks in the DNR's approximately 2 yr rule-making process, anglers may be able to use non motorized hook-setting tip-ups and longer quick strike rigs, by way of some administrative rule cleanup and edits....
Imo it's about dang time! 👍 Less gut-hooked fish.
3. MN: Zippel Bay Resort’s ‘Igloo Bar’ is open for biz
They set it up ON THE ICE each year. Big screen TV, full bar, food menu...and the answer is “yes,” they catch fish out of it.
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4. Tom Huynh University is here 🎯
You already know walleye-tournament phenom Tom Huynh 🔨 but did you know that he’s offering a forward-facing sonar master class if you want to seriously step up your game?!
This course is packed with tips, tricks, and know-how you need. Go at your own pace with videos, guides, and testing models for a simple, easy learning environment.
> Installation. Setup. Customized Settings. Practical On-The-Water Application, Techniques, and Tips. This course will turn you into a Forward Facing Sonar Master. FAST.
5. Korey Sprengel’s already got dinner on the ice...
...so now he must be working on dessert. 😎
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Btw do you see that little glowing red light on his chest? It’s not because he’s the fishing-version of Iron Man (lol) it’s actually Whitewater’s Torque Heated Fishing Vest. I snagged one at the start of the season and have been living in it ever since – both on and off the water – absolutely love it.
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7. New Dialed In Angling Podcast
> Nick Lindner joins Tony Roach to take a deep dive into "ice camping". The two discuss their ice camping journeys, struggles, and experiences. They talk about everything from gearing up to tips in making your ice camping more successful.
Speaking of ice camping...that’s exactly what the Roachster was up to in his newest episode of Dialed In Angling.
8. I’ve been digging these boots
Typically you have 2 options when choosing an ice fishing boot: 1) Ultra heavy but warm, or 2) lightweight but cold feet. Not no mo’.... 😎
These bad boys are Norfin’s warmest boots – called the Yukon Boot – and they’re specifically designed for ice fishing. Warm, lightweight, removable moisture-wicking liners, waterproof...yes please!
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I’ve been using them since last season and been incredibly pleased. My feet haven’t gotten cold yet, no sweat, and I love that they don’t weigh you down if you’re hole-hopping. Nicely done, Norfin crew. 👏👏👏
FishUSA is currently sold out of most sizes, but it does look like they’re in stock directly on Norfin’s site.
9. MI: Ultimate Fishing Show, Jan 9-12
10. ND: Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby, Jan 11
From 2-3pm at South Woodhaven Pond:
> The Fargo Park District invites youth ages 15 and under to participate in the annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby at South Woodhaven Pond on Saturday, Jan 11 from 2-3 pm. This fun, family-friendly event is free and open to the public, providing a great opportunity to enjoy the winter season and try your hand at ice fishing.
> South Woodhaven Pond has previously been stocked with perch, fathead minnows, and northern pike to ensure an exciting fishing experience for participants. Bait is provided by SCHEELS while supplies last, and holes will be pre-drilled by FM Walleyes Unlimited for added convenience. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ice fishing rod and tackle, and adult supervision is required for all youth. Portable ice houses and sonar equipment are welcome.
11. MN: Ice fishing mentorship event for local youth, Jan 12
At Long Bridge in Detroit Lakes. They have about 60 slots available.
12. MT Ice Grand Slam just kicked off
> This isn’t your ordinary tournament. It is basically multi-species mayhem across ALL public frozen lakes and reservoirs in MT from Jan 1 to Apr 30. Think you can land the biggest whopper through the ice for 22 different species?
13. MN: World’s largest charitable ice-fishing contest is Feb 1
Of course I’m talking about the 35th-annual Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza just up the road from us on Gull Lake’s Hole-in-the-Day Bay. The event has raised MILLIONS of funds donated to more than 75 different charities! 🙌 Incredible.
14. Striker and Coors Light team up 🍻
For a Limited Edition Ice Fishing Suit.
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Top reservoir walleye locations for ice fishing
This Virtual Angling write-up with Curt Reeff is specifically talking about Lake Oahe, but the info can be applied to a lot of different reservoirs.
> What is making this winter different on Lake Oahe is the fact that water levels are down. Low water has increased the effect of current on the upper end of the reservoir. Reeff has also had to relearn spots as some of his favorite spots from past winters are now too shallow or out of the water.
> The old river channel almost seems to serve as an underwater highway for fish to move up and down the reservoir and structure next to the old river channel is a key area to focus on.
> My favorite areas are where old creek channels meet the river channel depending on the depth. I like that 18-24’ range if I can find it. ...find perch and crappie on the shallower adjacent flats next to the channels but often finds the walleyes using the bottoms of the channels. In years past when the water was higher, flooded brush piles and submerged trees sometimes held both walleye and crappie but many of those areas are now too shallow or out of the water.
> Deep flats adjacent to the old river channel are also top locations to search. While Reeff points out to the increase of current with the reservoir being low, he also stresses that some current can often make some locations better as fish seem to use the current. Reservoir walleye often become more active when there is current and pulses in the current can create feeding windows as current moves and washes down baitfish. Current can create opportunities for walleye to feed with less effort as they lay next to the bottom and wait for food to pass by.
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“Life is like a burbot stomach, you never know what you’re gonna get.”
- That’s the caption under an Instagram post from Kris Radzichowsky showing a corn-fed burbot he caught somewhere in Ontario.
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He said an old-timer had a permie close by and that they were pretty sure he likes to chum whitefish with corn. Who’d uh-thunk that burbot would scarf it up?!
Which gave me an idea for a new custom-color Rapala Rippin’ Rap. 😂
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Would obviously catch everything that swims in IA and NE too hahaha:
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I’ve really been digging the VMC Hatchet Spoon so far this season when chasing finicky, clear-water walleye. It has an awesome fluttery action and the marabou comes to life underwater. Of course she looks good while doing it 🥵
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So this is what a 40.55” walleye would look like...😅 sorta.... It’s actually a massive zander (basically a muscle-bound, European cousin of walleye) that Armand Michaud caught out of a French lake. Can you imagine?!
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Thanks SO much for reading! Back at ya in a couple of days...
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Sign up another fish-head!
If you're forwarding Target Walleye to a friend who loves to walleye fish or want your fishing buddies to get these emails, just send us their email addresses and we'll take care of it! (We won't sell the addresses, use them for spam, etc.)
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FRIENDS OF TARGET WALLEYE
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Target Walleye – walleye during open water and all species during hardwater – is brought to you by Al Lindner, Jay Kumar, Chris Philen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-heads like you!
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Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye He was discovered in Brainerd, MN after years of wondering how in the heck people break into the fishing biz. He's in it now, but still can't answer that question.... Brett is one of those guys who majored in marketing, only because there was no such thing as a "fishing degree" at the time.... Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com
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