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Came across a recent X post from Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept saying:
> “High summer water temperatures restrict walleye growth and survival in much of Texas. However, in the north Texas lakes, such as Lake Meredith, the species does very well. 6- to 8-lb specimens are common at times!”
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Can you imagine if they started a ShareLunker program for walleyes like they have for bass?!
Reminds me that a few years back I came across a FB page called Texas Walleye Association where they were sharing results from their Hank McWilliams Memorial Championship Tournament on Lake Meredith...
There were a few bags brought in around the 20-lb mark during the 2-day tournament, and big fish each day was a 7.97 and 7.92.
But most impressive was Travis Leonard and Michael Vasquez bringing in 5 for 31.12 lbs on day 2 to take home the dubyah! The largest 1-day bag in TX Walleye Assoc. history by an 11-lb margin.
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That’s a solid bag anywhere, but in TEXAS?!?! 🥵
Was super cool to find out that Travis is actually a Target Walleye reader, so I was able to scoop a few details on how they caught ’em at the time:
> Travis: “We were trolling with 2-oz bottom-bouncers and spinners with Colorado blades and a slow death with nightcrawlers. Also trolling 2-oz bottom-bouncers with 4.5” Berkley Hit Sticks. Speed was 1.3 mph in water that was 20-25′.
> “Lots of brush on the bottom so we were trolling just above it and of course at times getting hung up.... Key was to be very close to the brush and it was a very effective way to fish. Light winds with temps hitting highs up around 105+. Brutal day but nonetheless an epic day of walleye tournament fishing.”
Epic no doubt! 👏👏👏 And thank YOU again for giving the rest of us some insight as to how you were targeting walleye in The Lone Star State.
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Btw there’s still quite a bit of walleye stocking going on in TX:
> 2024: 3.20 million fry stocked in Fryer, Meredith, Wheeler Branch and White River Reservoir.
> 2023: 3.17 million fry stocked in Meredith, Wheeler Branch and White River Rez.
> 2022: 4.52 million fry stocked in Greenbelt, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Rez.
> 2021: 2.49 million fry stocked in Meredith and Wheeler Branch Rez.
> 2019: 1.71 million fry stocked in Greenbelt, Meredith, Wheeler Branch and White River Rez.
> 2018: 2.75 million fry stocked in Greenbelt, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Rez.
> 2017: 5.11 million fry stocked in Greenbelt, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Rez.
> 2016: 3.24 mil fry stocked in Fryer, Meredith and Wheeler Branch Reservoir.
Enjoy ’em, snowbirds!
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But now all I can think about is LiveScoping 'em out of those flooded trees....
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Talk about an epic surprise catch! 😳
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A dude in ND was reeling in a 13” walleye when a muskie grabbed a hold of it and wouldn’t let go! They even had to drill 2 extra holes just to get that beast topside, and she still wouldn’t drop the fish stick:
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It does look like she could have maybe used the extra meal:
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One heck of a fish story!
ND isn’t really known for muskie fishing, but maybe it should be? Sounds like there’s several lakes that have high populations, and that Lake Audubon and New Johns Lake have fish exceeding 50”. I’m sure there’s more options that the muskie folk are reluctant to talk about, too. 😏
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Are two heads really better than one? 😅
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Was sent this FB post from The Rooster bait shop in Rapid City, SD of a 2-headed pike?!
Isaac pulled the wild 4-lber out of a Black Hills lake – complete with another hook in its mouth from a previous bite-off.
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The bait shop says it’s legit as they were shown video proof...if you've got a link for it, pls send it my way! You just never know, man!!
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Don’t see that every day....
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1) Apparently the bite has been so good on Upper Red Lake (MN) that folks are flying in to get in on the action. 😅
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Only way to level-up from that would be hole-hopping with a helicopter draped in LiveScope units. Bonus points for being able to “drop in” on private lakes without trespassing. 😎
2) I had never seen a baby burbot (aka eelpout) before...but here’s proof from Kamden Glade that they aren’t born 4 lbs:
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> Kamden: “We may have been electrofishing for age-0 walleye back in Sept [on Lake Vermilion, MN] but I was much more excited to find these baby burbot!”
Super cool! And a great sign of an extremely healthy fishery.
3) Why the heck are there frogs in your winter walleye’s belly?!? Devils Lake, ND is just different....
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Seems weird at first, right? But like we’ve said before: Frogs hibernate in the mud at the bottom of lakes during winter. Walleyes stirring up the bottom = surprise frog buffet! 🍴They’re high-protein snacks and walleyes don’t usually say no to easy meals...even when it’s cold.
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3. The World Walleye Federation is going full CPR for 2025
Not only does this move protect the fishery for future generations, but it also levels the playing field for anglers everywhere. Props to WWF for leading the charge on conservation while keeping the competition fierce!
4. OH: 2024 Lake Erie walleye hatch below avg
> Surveys conducted in 2024 show a below average hatch. The 2024 western basin walleye hatch index was 19 fish per hectare (a standard measure of catch per area). This was the smallest hatch since 2016 and below the average of 58 fish per hectare, ranking 21st of 37 years. Although this year’s hatch is below average, anglers can expect these fish to contribute to the catch in 2026.
> Central basin results were similar with a survey index of 7 young-of-year walleye per hectare, slightly below the average of 7.6 fish per hectare. This was the lowest value since 2017. Central basin walleye hatches are likely a small component of the lake-wide population, but tagging studies suggest that fish hatched in the central basin spend more time there compared to migratory walleye from the western basin. Central basin walleye hatches may seasonally provide local fishing opportunities when schools of migratory walleye are not present.
> Walleye typically grow to the 15” minimum length for harvest 2 yrs after hatching. Because recent hatches [from 2018 to 2023] have been above average and walleye can live more than a decade, Lake Erie anglers can expect walleye fishing to remain fantastic for many years.
5. MN: Tony Roach stuck a Upper Red Lake unicorn 🦄
Came in and CRUSHED his VMC Rattling Roach Spoon in his newest episode of Dialed In Angling. URL is known for numbers of fish, but you just never know when that big girl might show up too!
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6. WI: DNR, partners, awarded $1 mil...
> "..to improve community understanding of water quality, fish consumption and related health issues for disproportionately impacted communities in central Wisconsin."
7. SK: Man fined $10K+ for 35 walleye
A man in Saskatchewan is facing $10,550 in fines after a bizarre mix of (alleged) illegal wildlife offenses. But the walleyes were just the start....
Things got even weirder when airport customs found rosaries and rings made from elephant ivory and black coral in his luggage. No permits = big trouble. Fines will go to Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund and Saskatchewan province.
Breaking the rules hurts our wildlife and fisheries. Let’s keep it clean out there, folks!
8. CAN: Gamakatsu awarded ‘Vendor Of The Year’
At the recent Big Rock Sports Canada Show in Toronto.
> The award recognizes Gamakatsu’s outstanding partnership with Big Rock Sports Canada, highlighting excellence in key areas such as shipping performance, show support, sales growth, and retailer engagement.
9. Yamaha helps place 500 graduate marine technicians...
...into dealerships through its Yamaha Marine Technical School Partnership program (TSP) and workforce development efforts.
10. NT: Yellowknife firefighters are honoring one of their own...
...this weekend with an ice fishing derby on Kam Lake – in memory of Greg Pratt, who ‘fished in any weather.’ The catch-and-release event runs all weekend with cash prizes for northern pike, walleye, and whitefish. Greg’s love for the outdoors lives on, and you can join the friendly competition via the FishDonkey app.
11. MI: Talk about going above and beyond...TWICE!
A sportsman pulled out all the stops to save a deer trapped in icy water – using a kayak and even a ladder to help her gain footing. She made it topside with tons of energy...only to fall through again. Unreal dedication chasing her down and rescuing her a second time. Heroes don’t always wear capes...sometimes they paddle.
12. Christian Laettner 🏀 was out fishing w/ Pete Maina
Wonder if the basketball legend’s hookset is as smooth as his jump shot?
13. Aussie cops raid fishing boat...
...and seize a record 2.3 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of $494 mil on the Australian black market.
> Even cocaine-smuggling Australian biker gangs have fishing boats. Unfortunately for them, upkeep and maintenance aren’t a top priority when they’re using them for activities other than fishing, even when transporting hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs. Authorities reported Dec. 2 that Australian police made an astonishing record cocaine seizure of 2.3 tons when they raided a fishing boat that broke down off the coast of Queensland.
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How Tom Boley ices more clear-water walleyes
The biggest thing to keep in mind when fishing in clear-water is that it’s typically more of a “visual bite” 👀 versus using noisy, rattling baits that create a lot of commotion. And one of Tom’s favorite clear-water presentations is a 1/8- or 1/4-oz Acme Ice-Winder in chrome colors:
> The Acme Ice-Winder [few colors also now enhanced with Moonshine Custom Glow] is a versatile flutter spoon perfect for ice fishing. Quick, short rod lifts create a darting action followed by a fluttering fall, imitating an injured baitfish. Slower jigging produces a rocking motion to entice even the most reluctant fish.
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Tom also fishes them up higher in the water column than you might be used to since then fish can see it from further away:
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This right here is gold! 🤣
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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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