There’s a catch-photo-release derby (thru the FishDonkey app) called the Rapala Quinte Gold Series ‘Fall Prospector Tournament’ that kicked off last weekend on the Bay of Quinte. Already has some absolute giants coming in like this one:

Crazy enough, that pic doesn’t even do it justice...get a wide load of this thing sprawled out on a Fish Bumper next to the custom-painted Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk that took ‘er down:

That place grows ‘em special! Here’s a little throwback insight talking the fall walleye migration on the Bay of Quinte in this Hooked Magazine write-up:

> In late fall huge numbers of giant walleye migrate from Lake Ontario into the Bay of Quinte, where they stage for the spring spawn. This process starts in early Sep and carries through all winter. Some of these schools of fish can be in the hundreds! Imagine knowing your lure is about to intercept a bunch of pigs with fins!!

  > A huge factor in this migration is the abundance of gizzard shad that can be in schools of thousands...why these fish look like sumo wrestlers...they’re lined up at the smorg all day and all night!

> Often these walleye and gizzard shad can be within a few feet of surface – the boat itself can spook them out to the sides – making planer boards an essential part of the set up...allows you to get your lines as far away from the boat as possible.

> At times we had planer boards 150′ away from the boat [!] when we were alone on a spot...if you’re around other fishermen...respect their space as well.

Yup, Bay of Quinte is for sure on the fishing bucket-list.

While you were busy mowing the lawn, the @fishinggeeks were already kicking-off their hardwater szn with some wild brookies in Alberta, CAN:

Believe he was fishing with his buddy Barry Butler, who also got in on the action with Frostbite Mini Slayers rigged on 1/16-oz Headspinner Propeller Jigs:

Can you believe it’s already here?! And coming SOON south of the border. I love how ice-heads basically become meteorologists this time of year, watching temperature and wind forecasts like it’s their job while pacing the shorelines.

Everyone PLEASE be SAFE this season!

Oh, and speaking of mowing the lawn.... I think Caleb Holmen may be on to something with this ice rig, especially considering how fast the season changes up here lol:

Another cool catch and catch again story!

Came across this one from Zion Gal who was shore fishing the North Saskatchewan River. He was fishing on Halloween if you can’t tell LOL:

> We get this fish in the net and man did it look familiar. It was totally my personal best walleye I caught a bit ago this fall [here's that day].

Which he confirmed by comparing some fin irregularities:

> It measured at 31” but 11 lbs 11 oz now. She had gained 2 oz. Very cool being able to catch this fish again. This just shows that with proper fish handling catch and release truly does work.

Awesome fish and a great release! Can’t wait to see how big she is the next time you catch her.

You might remember this “VMC Water Test” commercial – hilarious and I don’t even think that Al Lindner is acting lol:

Sooooo many gems out there! And if you really want to throw it back, you for sure should check out this YouTube video that’s a whole mashup of fishing commercials from 1984-86 packed into one 26:06 long video:

That ^ includes Al Lindner’s favorite old-school fishing commercial of all time...a Trilene commercial where he accidentally fell into the water when a tree branch broke (it wasn’t scripted!) but they kept rolling anyway LOL. Amazing.

Super-relatable comment under this vid where Randin Olson of Lock Jaw Guide Service shows us how he disassembles, greases and oils his fishing reels...and he breaks ’em ALL the way down. But watching this vid for sure gave me the confidence to dig deeper on my next reel cleaning sesh:

1. GSM Outdoors acquires Northland Fishing Tackle

A BIG move in the tackle industry!

Few details and comments in the above ^ link. I actually first saw the news break in a FB post from Northland Tackle's CEO Gregg Wollner where he said:

> “Hi friends! It is bittersweet to announce we sold Northland Fishing Tackle to Good Sportsman Marketing (GSM) yesterday. Our owners including our founder John Peterson have been great stewards and now is their chance to retire and spend time with their families.

> “Everyone at GSM has been great, and our employees will have new opportunities, and some will have new offers at GSM.

> “For the next few months I will help with the transition and make sure everyone lands in their new best situation.

> “Cheers to all the Northland people that have been associated with the company over the past 50 years, and to the people at GSM who can take the brand to places we couldn’t even imagine.”

2. 2025 NWT Schedule Changes

> The first event of the 2025 NWT season was previously scheduled to be on the Missouri River out of Bismark, ND. ...the first event will officially be moved to Lake Sharpe in Pierre, SD during the same scheduled dates, April 24-25, 2025.

> NWT was faced with dramatic changes and obstacles [at] the initial location due to a last-minute rule change limiting the NWT boat count to 100 boats.

> NWT tourney director Jeff Kelm: “We are saddened at the circumstances regarding the first event of the season. To best benefit the NWT anglers, desired high event participation and payouts, we made the decision to move the event to Pierre, SD. We are grateful that they accepted to host the NWT in 2025 under such short noticed and are excited to start the season there next year on a body of water that has immense history, including the chances of seeing walleye weighing up into the teens.”

> Additionally, the NWT staff looked into opportunities of moving other event locations throughout the 2025 schedule, based on feedback from NWT anglers however the Tour works hard to keep the NWT a nationally recognized walleye series designed to appeal to the walleye anglers in the nation. The final decision moving forward for the 2025 season was to keep events split between the west, central, and east to open the doors to more anglers fishing the NWT and while providing a diverse number of bodies of water to compete on.

3. FishUSA has Gold Miners in stock

First place I’ve seen to get the brand-spankin’-new Rapala Gold Miner on the pegs!

Designed to dive deep...VERY deep. Will reach depths of 30'+ unassisted! Lake Erie guide Ross Robertson says it's also the loudest Rap out there for off-color water or to draw fish in from further away.

4. OH: New Lake Erie ‘Walleye Slam’ leader

Ricky Miller’s 30.25-incher hit the scales at 9.74 lbs:

5. Lake Erie: 2024 walleye hatch projected to be low

6. OH Wildlife Council approves new walleye regz at specific lakes

> The council approved amendments to OH’s inland fishing regulations that will begin on Jan 1, 2025. The 15” minimum length requirement for walleye, saugeye, and sauger was removed on Acton Lake, Alum Creek Lake, Atwood Lake, Buckeye Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, Ferguson Reservoir, Findlay Reservoir 1, Findlay Reservoir 2, Indian Lake, Metzger Reservoir, Piedmont Lake, Pleasant Hill Lake, Rocky Fork Lake, Seneca Lake, and Tappan Lake.

> In addition, the Ohio Wildlife Council approved adding a 15” minimum length requirement for walleye, saugeye, and sauger at Mosquito Creek Lake and LaDue Reservoir.

7. MN: Record muskie caught outta Mille Lacs

> Traveling angler and world-record chaser Art Weston is back at it in Minnesota, where he’s been after the fish of 10,000 casts alongside local muskie legend Nolan Sprengeler. On Tuesday, just before midnight, Weston caught and released a true Lake Mille Lacs monster. The 57.5” muskie should set a new all-tackle world record in the length division.

> ...they hit the water around 6:30 pm. They fished hard for hours, cycling through Sprengeler’s go-to spots, and Weston finally connected with the fish they were after just before midnight. The muskie hammered his Bondy Royal Orba lure 30 yards out from the boat.

> “It was like a Mack truck grabbed my lure and headed the opposite direction. I think I let out an audible ‘Oof’ sound when it struck.”

> Instead of trying to play the fish and wear it out, Sprenger advised Weston to crank the fish in as fast as possible with his 9’3” Thorne Brothers Stealth rod fitted with an Abu Garcia Revo reel on the maximum drag setting.

> The strategy worked. Sprenger had the net on the massive fish in 30 seconds to a minute after Weston set the hook.

8. MI tribe restoring fish passage for native GL's fish species

9. Garmin announces Q3 results

10. MN: Hey Twin Cities folks....

Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited is having Scott Seibert and Shelly Holland speak at their meeting TONIGHT in Bloomington. Everyone is welcome – TCWU meetings are open to the public.

11. MN: Zeebz found in a few more lakes

Now confirmed in Turtle River Lake (Beltrami County), Eagle Lake (Sherburne County), White Sand Lake (Crow Wing County) and Long Lake (Todd County).

12. WI: Silver carp found in Lower Chippewa/Black Rivers

13. IN: Yamaha consolidates propeller operations...

...to its newly-expanded facility in Greenfield.

14. Have you ever seen a screw-on jighead?

Apparently it’s a patent pending design that Stack Tackle calls Screwy Head Jigs – pretty interesting.

15. SD: Dakota Angler Ice Institute is THIS WEEKEND!

At the Sioux Falls Convention Center Nov 8-10. One of the biggest and baddest ice shows in the nation with over 100 vendors and they always have a great lineup of free ice-fishing seminars. More info here.

How Brad Hawthorne breaks down big water. 

Catching walleyes on big water during the fall all starts with mapping and Side Imaging:

> He demonstrates how to use electronics and sonar technology to locate and catch walleye efficiently. ...also discusses why adapting your fishing techniques based on the behavior of the fish and the changing conditions on the water is a crucial component.

Spotted this one posted on @fishhookterry's IG definitely a 10/10:

NWT hammer Jake Caughey and his buds beat the snot outta some last-chance Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba greenbacks up near Hecla Island. What a way to cap off an incredible open-water season!

Diehards doing diehard stuff.

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026