I’m in Devils Lake, ND for the final regular season NWT event — firing this off then headin’ to the rules meeting. Might be the only Target Walleye email this week, back to the regular schedule next week. Thx for reading!
Today’s Top 5
Tips for windy-day jig pitchin’.
It’s no secret that walleyes bite in the wind — here’s a few things you can do to make sure you’re not missing [as many] fish:
If all else fails:
Rock donkeys of the week!
The AIM catch-record-release derby on Green Bay was called off due to crazy-high winds (props for keeping safety first). Know most teams agreed with the decision, but had to be heartbroken they couldn’t fish their fish…
Especially when you’re on the caliber of goldendoodles that guide Jacob Kaprelian and Rob Korth were. Didn’t say how they were catching ’em…but do see an Okuma Cold Water Line Counter in the background…. #Slaunches
Cory Campbell thwacked this ON rock donkey on a Rapala RipStop — has a hard-plastic boot tail that’s like putting a brake pedal on a jerkbait…stops like it hit a wall and is super-easy to fish. Awesome shot:
Gavin Krogstad caught and released this 32-incher outta Stump Lake, ND on a bottom-bouncer and spinner tipped with a nightcrawler. Congrats dude!
Custom-painted soft plastics are a thing.
Custom-painted crankbaits are all the rage right now…but have you ever seen custom-painted soft plastics?! I’m traveling with NWT pro Drake Herd and got to digging in his tackle box — wait until you see some of the stuff he and the Renegade Outdoor Innovations crew are kickin’ out [heart-eyes emoji]:
Pics don’t even do ’em justice — they’ve got a special thing going on. Sounds like they can do-up just about anything when it comes to soft-plastics, cranks, decals, you name it. Hit ’em up here for more deets.
Drake’s been out pre-fishing on Devils Lake, trying to get ’em dialed in for the next 2 days of the NWT. They say when the cows are feeding, so are walleyes…so what does it mean when the cows are swimming? Lol:
Good luck tomorrow, man!
My biggest (dumbest) fear about fishing the NWT.
Speaking of the National Walleye Tour — here’s some random car ramblings while on my way to Woodland Resort on Devils Lake. Funny how a lot of the NWT pros and cos are worried about the same thing…and it’s not just getting dialed-in on the fish:
Don’t worry, my anxiety levels are no longer through the roof (#goosfraba) lol. Have only been here a couple days, but already don’t wanna leave!
Woodland Resort is one of the coolest places I’ve stayed — has everything you need right here on the grounds. Hardest part for me is staying focused and getting work (this email) done when there’s walleyes waiting a few feet away:
More info on the fishing soon-ish…can’t give up all the goods before the tourney.
Joel Nelson’s jig color selection tips.
There’s a zillion colors to choose from so which is best when? Fish-head Joel Nelson breaks down his go-to colors for clear and stained water, sunshiny or gloomy days, and when fish are feeding on specific prey…but gotta make sure you’re on fish first:
> Acid mine drainage and acid rain eliminated most of the fish [in Cheat Lake]. In the 1980s, nine-tenths of the fish that managed to hang on were bullhead, catfish or white suckers….
Thought this was pretty interesting:
> The river’s water quality began to improve in the early ’90s, partly because the DNR began dumping limestone sand into some of the Cheat’s acidic headwater tributaries. The limestone buffered the acid and added much-needed fertility to the river’s waters.
Did you know West Virginia had walleyes? Now Cheat Lakes got a healthy population of these:
> An incredible week for trophy walleyes — super aggressive this week. Drifting and trolling spinners and crawlers in the morning/evenings on fire. Trolling cranks on the mud in the afternoon has been really good in 24-32′. Many pike over 40″ being caught among the walleyes. Some go-to colors: hammered gold, chartreuse, pink and UV colors.
Line that says it all about phone-generation kids:
> “Why is it taking so long?” Libbie, 11, asked…had been fishing with a nightcrawler under a slip bobber for a full 5 minutes and the bobber had yet to dip below the surface.
Have a shot at winning this killer $550-ish spread from Do-It Molds! Comes with a $100 gift card, Soft Plastic Starter Kit for pouring your own baits, assorted jig molds and way more (walleye not included lol). Click here to enter. Share the link you get for more chances to win — good luck!!
No one line is perfect for all situations, which is why Brad Hawthorne keeps both braided and fluoro setups in the boat when pulling bottom-bouncers for walleyes. Here’s when he likes to use each:
Quote of the Day
I know there’s 20 people right now that just went “leadcore!” Well you’re wrong as [beep].
Takes some practice, but you can work it like a puppet: make it dart off and swing in a pendulum or figure-8 motion. Mix and match different plastic tails (or minnows) on the back to change the look/action — quick underwater vid here.
Sign up another fish-head!
If you’re forwarding Target Walleye/Ice 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.)
Target Walleye/Ice — walleye during open water and all species during hardwater — is brought to you by Al and Ron Lindner, Jim Kalkofen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-nuts like you! #fishheads
Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye/Ice. 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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