If you’re not sure what controversy I’m talking about, it has to do with fisheries survey results on MN’s Mille Lacs Lake saying how the walleye population is down, fish are skinny, forage is gone, etc….

Last week I sent out a TW called “The truth about Mille Lacs walleyes” where I commented item-by-item on some of the things that have been said over these past few months…because what I’m seeing on the water is so very different from the survey results (which limits, slots, seasons, closures, media, tourism – literally everything – is based off).

So when I heard that the Al Lindner was hopping on Tutt’s Walleyes & Woods Outdoor Show to talk about the status of Mille Lacs, there’s no way I was going to miss it, and holy smokes did it blow my expectations out of the water. He was FIRED UP.

> Al Lindner: “I’m sick and tired of seeing the insanity that’s going on…Mille Lacs is one of the best lakes in the country and they can’t get a handle on taking care of this lake the way it should be taken care of? Somebody’s gotta be accountable for this and it’s time for people to say enough is enough…we’re PO’d…we want answers.”

That’s just one little snippet out of the full 14:35 long show that’s for sure worth a listen:

But it’s not what you think…. Emerson Mulhall was targeting bass with a Berkley Finisher when he caught a 2-lb 9-oz (16″) jumbo perch out of Lake Burton, GA that tied the state record!

Props on making the books!

1. Gotta kick this off with one of the biggest crappies iced in MN in yeeeeaaaars. Wyatt Williams (@wyattearp.w2) going beast mode:

> Wyatt: “Bobby and I were fortunate enough to see another massive metro area fish. Upwards of some of the biggest truly documented crappies in the state of MN, this perfect fish measured at 18.25” x 3.50 lb x 7.25” tall.”

And how wild is this.

> “I knew the day would come where a 6” auger would get me in trouble, Bobby held it under the hole while I grabbed an 8” auger, drilled next to it, and passed the fish over to be brought above the ice. Incredibly grateful for my third fish over 3 lbs in the last couple seasons, and looking onward to one of the ultra rare MN 4-lbers.”

Congrats on the fish of a lifetime! And he’s already looking for bigger lol.

2. Here’s fish-head Jadyn Thomas dropping 2 big cents on those glorious Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba “greenback” walleyes…

> Jayden: “Lake Winnipeg should be officially classified as a drug. Once you get it in your system and experience it, you want more, and more, and more.”

Here’s one big example of why:

> “Fishing was good, [but we] had to work for them and stay mobile. Using FFS (forward facing sonar) was crucial for making decisions whether to stay or go. Knowing when to change up the lure selection from rattlebaits to spoons, and knowing how to read the mood of the fish and adjust accordingly were a couple of keys to our success.”

Jayden’s 1-2 punch included: A 1/2-oz Berkley Warpig (sexier shad) on a 42″ heavy fast-action Elliott Rods “Greenback” and then a 1/4-oz Custom Jigs & Spins Slender Spoon (blue glow tiger with the gold back) fished on an Elliott Rods “Evolution Ice Series” 42″ medium fast-action:

Way to make the bite happen, man!

3. Sometimes big baits really do catch the biggest fish – and that goes for panfish, too! Blake Tollefson used an 1/8-oz Eurotackle Z-Viber to ice multiple western-WI crappies that eclipsed the 15” mark. He also said that very few fish were caught that day, but the ones they caught were the right ones. #GoBigOrGoHome #Blake’sNotGoingHome

Filthy!

This is the absolute last thing I would ever expect to catch on a “Rayburn red” color BOOYAH One Knocker…. Matt Baker is going to need a bigger fish tank!

The goldfish weighed 25+ lbs, which HAS to be a new personal best lol!

In case you missed episode 67 on our YouTube channel. Hope you dig it and thanks SO much for taking the time to watch and comment!

1. MI: A 59-year-old Mecosta man lost his life…

….after falling through the ice on Little Bass Lake. Prayers to the fam.

2. WI: Ice fishing dispute leads to near drowning…

…near Sebewaing on Saginaw Bay. This is a pretty wild story.

> “…three Sebewaing men were fishing on an ice-covered Saginaw Bay canal off the end of Kilmanagh Road in Sebewaing Township around 10 am Friday when another Sebewaing man and a passenger approached them in an airboat and stopped.

> “The airboat operator, known to the three men, began to argue with them, likely triggered by an old, unsettled dispute…. The airboat, which had broken the ice around it when it initially approached the trio, departed. The airboat operator then made a turn around the three men before leaving, breaking the ice encircling the men.

> “Two of the men managed to get to safety before the ice had completely broken, but the third quickly fell into the water, which the man in the water estimated was about eight feet deep, according to the press release. The man said he fought to stay afloat, weighed down by his heavy clothing, and told deputies he never touched the bottom…. The man’s two companions eventually were able to pull him out of the water and get him to a safer patch of ice.”

3. MI: Man rescued on Big Bay de Noc…

…after the ice sheet broke off and floated away from shore.

4. ND: Did you know that Devils Lake has…

…public fish cleaning stations?

How dang cool is that?! Here’s a list of locations, hours, etc.

5. ND: 59th-annual Red River Valley Sportsmen’s Show…

…is happening Feb 29 – Mar 3 at the FargoDome.

Jason Mitchell will be doing seminars each day on the “do’s and don’ts with forward facing sonar” and “tackle modifications that catch more walleye.”

6. NY: Lake George commissioners advocating for herbicide…

…(called ProcellaCOR) to get rid of milfoil. Sounds like locals have been very opposed to it.

7. MN: Commercial fishers + DNR capture 83 invasive carp .

They captured 82 silver carp and 1 bighead carp Feb 13-14 in Pool 5A of the Mississippi River, near Winona.

8. MN: Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc…

…are having their 20th-annual sportsman’s (and sportswoman’s) banquet Sat, Mar 23 at Cragun’s Resort

9. The new co-angler backpack.

10. Speaking of backpacks…

…Blackfish has $50 off their Dry Bag Backpacks. Love mine! Literally use it every single trip out.

11. Garmin released Q4 results.

> Revenue from the marine segment increased 14% in the 4th quarter due to contributions from the acquisition of JL Audio. Gross and operating margins were 53% and 16%, respectively, resulting in $37 mil of operating income.

12. C-Map maps (Lowrance) got updated.

Better satellite imagery, better shading and:

> Over 13,000 improvements for bridges across America including vertical and horizontal clearance information for more than 6,000 bridges.

> Over 300 improvements to navigable locks, significantly improving the geometries and positional accuracy.

13. Great Lakes: Multiple fisheries projects received $1.3 mil funding.

14. OH DNR names Andy Chow as new chief of communications.

Joe Okada’s walleye flies crash course.

> “Before we head to the water, let’s go over how I prefer to tie my flies as well as how to rig and how to fish them in current (casting). Hopefully, this helps you as you start to do this yourself. It’s one of my favorite ways to catch a fish.”

“And just like that, the excitement of thinking you have a state record on vanished!”

– That’s FCO guide service talking about this huuuuge mirror carp that scarfed-up a crank on the Columbia River out of Irrigon, OR:

If you squint your eyes just right it could still pass as a record walleye lol.

Crappie-nut Adam Bartusek took advantage of the full moon and got his burbot on in central MN. ‘Tis the season!

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026