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Mentioned it on Wed, but sorry for the off-schedule TW sends this week! Sick kiddos and Dr. appointments are no fun. All good tho. Here we go!
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A Fort Peck giant that almost became the MT state record
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We first shared a pic of this fish WAY back in an OG Target Walleye email on Feb 19, 2016 (btw crazy to think we’ve been kicking ‘em out for over a decade now!) of a Fort Peck, MT giant boasting epic proportions. The other day I came across a write-up from The Montana Outdoor Radio Show bringing it back to life, and thought it’d be cool to share with you again...there’s been a lot of ‘new’ folks here in the last 9 years. 👊
> “Big fish stories are everywhere, but every now and then, one comes along that is unforgettable. As you may remember, back [on Valentine’s Day] in 2016, Kyle Sando hooked a Fort Peck walleye so massive it was just a scale tip away from making history – a whopping 17.66-lber.”
And to catch it THRU THE ICE makes it that much crazier:
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> “Eddie White, who [owned the now closed] The Minnow Bucket in Huntley, reported the length of Sando’s whopper measured 34” long with a girth of 22”. Sando’s catch was a mere 0.09 lbs [less than 1.5 oz] shy of the MT state record at the time. That record, a 17.75-lb walleye from Tiber Reservoir, had stood since 2007, and Kyle’s catch proved that Fort Peck was still home to some true giants.”
Here's another angle of the fish that was shared by The Glasgow Courier in March 2016:
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> “Fast forward to 2021, and the record books got an update when Trevor Johnson hauled in an 18.02-lb, 32.25” behemoth of a walleye at Holter Reservoir, officially setting the new MT state record.
> With Trevor’s new record, Kyle’s catch still remains one of the biggest walleye ever pulled from MT waters, falling just 0.36 lbs short of Trevor’s reigning champ.
Btw here’s a look at Trevor’s fish – the current MT state record – that was boasting a 32.25” x 22” stature. Can you even imagine?!
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Little more info on Trevor’s record catch from this Tom Kuglin write-up:
> “This spring has been a beast out there, not because there’s no walleyes, but it’s been cold and the flows have been way below normal. Trout have been great but the walleyes...are in there doing something different this year.
> “I bet I’m close to 120 hours out there this year and I’ve only caught 3 walleyes.... Most people would say, ‘What are you doing, you’re crazy,’ but it’s just knowing that potential is there.”
> Trevor says his dad [Kit] had been taking him to chase pre-spawn walleye before he can even remember. “The fact Dad and I are both guiding now, we’re both busy so we don’t get to fish as much as we used to...so it was pretty special to be able to get out there with him.”
Said he thought it was a burbot at first because he couldn’t raise it off the bottom, but papa Kit knew what was up. 😏
> “We just got a little glimpse and knew it was big. We’ve seen a lot of big fish so we’re thinking maybe it’s 13, 14, 15 lbs. She dove a few more times and then we were able to net her and get her in the boat, that’s when it got really big.
> “It was obviously a really weighty fish, but we just had no idea because we’d never seen a girth like that.”
> When it comes to keeping fish, the Johnsons like to practice selective harvest. That means letting the bigger and older fish go. Even though they knew the walleye could be the biggest ever landed in the state, they attempted a release by moving the fish back and forth in the water for a few minutes to force water through the gills. Unfortunately the fish with its epic weight and after the long battle did not survive.
> “You know there really are a lot of mixed emotions. It’s a potential state record but we’re catch-and-release guys. It’s an amazing fish and it shows people the potential of what you can catch around here. We both still preach selective harvest, but yeah, still some mixed emotions, but it’s a great honor especially here in the state of MT.
> “It doesn’t even sound believable. I almost feel like I’m undeserving, like does anyone deserve something like that. You joke about it but you’re not looking to go out and catch the new state record. I’m just out there looking to explore the unknown and I managed to bump into the fish of a million lifetimes.”
Amazing. 👊 Big congrats again, man!
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We had another close brush with the MT title just this last April – info from Montana Outdoors:
> “Jason Mundel an outfitter on Fort Peck caught a huge walleye Sunday [4/28/24]. The walleye weighed over 18 lbs and started losing eggs. He measured the fish again and came up with the impressive 17.76 lbs and released it back in the water.
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Wish I had more info for you, but that’s all that’s out there.
SO....I’m not proud of it, but I got my Facebook detective on 🕵️♂️ and found a few maybe-clues in the background of some of the other pics Jason had posted around the same time.... Looks to me like the program was LiveScoping in 14-16’ with what appears to be an "oyster shell" color Berkley PowerBait Bonefish. Like I said, I’m not proud of it, but gotta do what you’ve gotta do. 😂
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I wish these walleye guys weren’t so dang secretive about everything lol. If this were an almost-state-record bass you know there’d be a full breakdown of the specific bait, technique, depth, structure, color, speed, something, anything. C’mon walleye peeps! 🤷♂️ Help me to help you to help us LOL. I can’t track it all down myself, but:
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Measure depth from the TOP of the ice
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Quickie tip that helps me get dialed in on the bite and eliminates guesswork (aka the transducer-cable variable)....
When you’re out ice fishing with – or communicating with – a group of buddies and trying to get dialed in on what depth the fish are cruising at that day, you need to be consistent with how you’re reading depth...and what I mean is how much transducer cable you each have out or how long your FFS pole is extended.
If you’re using flashers...some folks will have 4-5’ of cable out, while others maybe only have 1-2’ of cable out. Same goes for FFS units as every transducer pole (extensions or not) is different.
So what I like to do is read depth from the TOP of the ice because then everybody is on the same page.
Can mean the difference between an “okay day” vs “great day” when fish are cruising a specific contour, or if you’re breaking down a shallow flat/lake where a 1-3′ depth change is big.
Think about a system like Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba...a 3’ difference in depth could literally have you fishing 1 mile away from where folks have been catching ‘em!
Or let’s say you’re fishing on Mille Lacs...that could mean the difference between fishing the top edge vs the bottom edge of the mudflat.
We fish a lot of super steep breaks while chasing burbot on late ice...and they’re notorious for loving a specific contour. Dude can be smacking them while setup just 10’ away from you in 27’, while you’re spitting distance away in 24’ or 31’ and striking out.
Reading depth from the TOP of the ice means you know you’re going to be fishing at the same depth, and you’re going to get dialed in a lot quicker on those fish.
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Wild sonar shot of the day!
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This one's coming from TW reader Clint Hay (thx man!) who found what looks like a Suburban on Devils Lake, ND last week. Said he saw a walleye at the steering wheel!
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Also, this pic on Clint's FB page inside his decked-out SnoBear is giving me some serious ice-rig envy lol. 🔥
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How to catch GIANT Lake of the Woods pike on tip-ups
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Known for its zillions of walleyes, Lake of the Woods has also become a world-class pike destination during the Mar/Apr late-ice period. Special regz mean these fish can be targeted all the way through ice-out. #Jackpot
Mammoth pike will stage for the upcoming spawn in shallow bays all along the south shore and are ready to pop tip-up flags. Believe it or not, 40-inchers are hardly considered “big ones” when the bite is really on! 😳
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Big-fish junkie Andy Walls has been specifically targeting these toothy critters for yeeeears, so we tracked him down to get his scoop on putting these freaks topside.
Gear
> “Make sure tip-ups are spinning smooth and that they have fresh 50-lb Sufix Performance Tip-Up Ice Braid. From there a quick-strike rig tied right to the tip-up line, and a 1/4-oz weight fixed above the leader to keep the bait in the strike zone.
> “Larger ‘Y yolk’ quick-strike rigs present both live and dead bait really well. They have a solid hook-up ratio with one treble fixed just before the head of the minnow and one rigged right before the tail. I’ve had the most success using 50-lb wire down to two #2 VMC Hybrid Trebles. However, there’s lots of rigging options out there...recommend using any legal option you’re most confident in.”
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> “Lake of The Woods has a 30-40” protective slot, so fish between 30” and 40” need to be quickly released back into the water. I’ve found that packing a kit – that we bring with to every flag – helps this process immensely.
> “In the kit: We keep extra rigs, sinkers, pliers, jaw spreaders, hook cutters, measuring tapes, fish grippers, a hole scoop, and a camera.
> “Being able to quickly take care of the fish after you land it and get it back in the water will help ensure a healthy release. Also allows us to get accurate measurements and a quick photo before we let them go.”
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Location
> “Lake of The Woods northern pike can be caught literally almost anywhere on the lake, but there’s a large concentration of fish that really never leave the south shore.
> “Some of my best success early on in the season is in the 8-12′ range. Look for subtle structure changes like: a slightly quicker depth change, funnel, or ridge the fish may be following. Changes in the bottom content – like a rock or gravel patch – will usually provide even better action.
> “As the days start running longer and temperatures begin to inch up, pike will start to migrate in closer to the shorelines. By late March or early April, we’re typically setting lines in less than 5′.
> “The later in the year it gets, begin concentrating your efforts closer to – or directly out in front of – main spawning areas where runoff is the highest...draws fish in.”
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> “Spread lines out to cover as much water as possible – I like walking at least 25-35 steps between holes. The more areas you can eliminate (or find) quickly gets you more bites in a day. Once you settle into an area with fish, they seem to let you know pretty quickly.
> “Not getting bit? Try moving north/south (shallower or deeper) first...when you find the right depth those flags will pop.
> “If I’m getting activity but not getting fish...AKA “false flags”..I’ll make smaller moves east/west or play with my bait (size, type, depth set, etc). Even if it’s the minnow tripping a flag, it’s likely because a pike spooked it and didn’t eat. Dead bait seems to be better when getting a lot of those false flags.”
Setting baits
> “You’re allowed 2 lines each...makes it a little faster to see what’s working! Mix up the depths you set your baits down – covering the entire water column keeps the fish honest. I’ve caught them setting lines just inches below the ice all the way to laying baits right on the bottom.
> “Arming your spread with a mixture of live and dead baits will allow you to quickly figure out what the pike want that day. Alewife, smelt, herring, numerous sizes of live suckers, or even large shiners work well.
> “Pay close attention to which flags are going off: If dead baits are getting more bites...switch more lines over to dead bait. If more flags are going off on a certain side of the spread...start shifting the entire spread in that direction. Can turn a good day into a great day!”
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When to set the hook
> “Some people like to wait and let the fish eat, but I’ll grab the flag as quickly as I get to it and set the hook while they’re running...not stopped. My theory is that anytime the fish is moving, they likely have a good grip on the head or tail of the bait...both have hooks.
> “When they’re not moving, they’re adjusting the bait in their mouth...so you’ll miss half the fish that grab it.
> “Also seem to get much better hooksets when the fish is running – doesn’t take nearly as much force for the hook to penetrate since the fish is already pulling the other way.”
BONUS: You’d be surprised how many BIG walleyes you can run into too!
> Andy talking: “Do you use big baits? The last few years, I have dedicated every hour on the ice to only chasing large predators. Live and dead baits from 8” to 15” is basically all that I have put down an ice hole for over 5 yrs. Most are usually amazed by the amount of fish I encounter, and how small some of the fish are that are actually willing to commit to baits this large. Here are just a couple of the nicer walleyes that decided to chow on the larger than average baits.”
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You know it’s windy when...
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...permanent fish houses are literally being blown over 😳 (thx to 50+ mph gusts) like this one posted by Corey Larson up on Lake of the Woods:
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Per usual, the comments section did not disappoint:
> Now it’s a snow goose blind
> Just put Catch Covers and skids on every side that way you're good to go whenever and however
> He’s 1/4 turn away from becoming a Delta pilot
> DNR checking for lines has gotten out of hand
Here's another Big Pokey and Paul Wall shared by Larry Bauman:
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Crazy! But all of this could have been solved with the extra weight of folks fishing in ‘em, so get out there lol!
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...and the answer is “yes,” they catch fish out of it. Taylor caught this thick 38.5-incher on ladies night last week:
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Super cool! And sounds like it'll be out for weeks yet with 40"+ of ice still.
9. WI: Milwaukee Sport Show, Mar 7-9
Returning to State Fair Park for the 84th year.
10. MN: Northwest Sport Show, Minneapolis, Mar 13-16
Seminars on walleyes, muskies, ice fishing, plus a massive new RV and boat section.
11. SD: Sioux Empire Sportsman’s Show, Mar 13-16
Great for hunting & fishing deals, boat show pricing, and Midwest + Canadian lodges.
12. IA: Eastern Iowa Sport Show, Cedar Falls, Mar 14-16
Huge selection of boats, travel destinations, and hunting/fishing gear at pre-spring prices.
13. PA: Montgomery ramp on Susquehanna getting upgrade
14. ID: Fly tying using leftover wild game materials
This is a new hobby I would LOVE to take up, but not enough hours in the day quite yet. 😅
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What I’m spooling up for spring....
Most of the time I run 8- or 10-lb Sufix 832 braid ("low-vis green" color, but I do sprinkle in some hi-vis "neon lime" for FFS) for my main line. This is the main line on probably 90% of my spinning setups. Braid is spendy but will last the entire season(s), and the no-stretch is incredible for feeling bites.
Then I add about 6’ fluorocarbon leader (attached with a double-uni knot) ran to my bait. This is just a super versatile setup that I can sort of tweak my leader length and weight for different techniques.
Typically I run an 8- or 10-lb fluorocarbon depending on what I’m doing. I will go down to 6-lb for some ultra-finessey stuff like dropshots or very light jigs...and bump the leader up to 12- or even 14-lb if I’m snapping big plastics in the cabbage.
The fluorocarbon leader is a shock absorber for helping to keep fish pinned, and then of course it’s virtually invisible so they can’t see the line near the bait.
The other 10% of setups are typically spooled with 8- or 10-lb Sufix Advance Mono. It’s cheap, smooth, supple, and works great for a lot of things. Of course it’s just not quite as sensitive as braid with the no-stretch...but sometimes that’s a big plus (open-water trolling crankbaits, ripping Jigging Raps and other similar baits) because you don’t tear out as many hooks and absolutely WILL land more of the fish that you hook-up with.
Mono is also more forgiving of what it does with a bait. The bait does not move as fast. When you move anything with braid, it moves, the bait reacts. There are days when the fish know the difference, and prefer the sort of dulled-down action of the baits. Which is why I always try to keep at least 1 or 2 mono setups in the boat to play with on a given day.
Quick snippets, but I hope this helps!
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“The better dressed you are the bigger fish you catch....”
- That’s Paige Plautz talking while “fueled by Twisted Tea and C4 Energy” 😅 after leaving a wedding reception in northern MN and heading straight to the Ice Castle for the night bite:
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Thanks SO much for reading! Have a great + safe weekend, Target Walleye fam! ✌️
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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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