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Just realized that this is the 1,000th Target Walleye email that I have written 😮💨 where does time go?! I’ll tell you where it goes...behind a keyboard lol.
Just wanna say THANK YOU to everyone taking time out of their day to read these emails. Also a big thank you to all the companies and folks that support TW – literally none of this craziness would be possible without you. 🙌 Hope you have as much fun reading ’em as we do putting ’em together.
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The new Berkley Rawler Jig is here! 👀
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I just saw that the all-new Berkley Rawler Jig is in stock NOW at Scheels. 🏃➡️ Run, don’t walk.
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We were fortunate enough to spend a couple days testing it out with the Berkley crew earlier this summer and the thing is legit!
First thing I noticed was how streamlined and sleek it was – never had it foul up on the cast which is seriously impressive with this style of baits. 💯 And you can get that ‘crawler to twirl even at suuuuper slow speeds.
The info below comes from Berkley bait designer Kyle Peterson (great guy!) who stuck this absolute unit with the Rawler while we were in the boat. 😮💨
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> Kyle: "I'm super excited – I've never seen another castable slow-death bait like this. There's ones with blades, search baits, props, but nothing with just the jighead and hook. We patented it...this is Berkley's design – we own that space.
> "There are really three parts working together. First is the head design and balance of the bait. ...the majority of the mass is up by the pull point, then it necks down to the swivel. That was really important on the larger sizes – we tried several designs where a normal jighead with a blade blocked water flow and wasn't activating the hook...the head design is crucial.
> "Second is the swivel. We needed a high-end swivel connected through the bait – that's the through-wire design you see, though it's not obvious. The pull point connects directly to the swivel inside the bait.
> "The last thing we came up with was the hook. During development, we'd get them to turn, then not turn – it was frustrating. I took a piece of wire, bent it, and put the worm on, and we got it to spin really consistently. It's a very easy slow-death turn hook...but getting that helical shape right was super challenging. If it was off a little, the worm didn't turn properly.”
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> "We also added the fluorocarbon prong keeper. Those are the best keepers for live bait and Gulp.... It makes a small entry hole and pokes out the side, so no more sliding down the hook."
What would you say to people who might say it's just a basic slow-death hook?
> "Nobody has one without a prop or blade. This is true slow-death. It may look similar, but it performs way better – no tangling. It pulls through weeds, has the right weighting, and the best bait keeper for live bait and Gulp crawlers."
And how does that compare to the Bladed Rawler?
> "It was built at the same time as the Rawler, so ideas like the helical hook and fluorocarbon keeper carried over...but the big difference is the head design: cavity on the backside hides the swivel, getting the wire form closer to the body to limit tangling. We shrink-tubed the joints to stiffen it up and prevent issues.
> “4 beads to the back – optimized spacing so the blade's location vibrates right into the worm. Too far back, the blade is out of control – too close, not enough wiggle. Our clevis is quick-change – you can swap blades. Walleye guys love custom colors, so we suited that. Our Berkley blades are custom: no stock sizes – we have special cupping and paint jobs...front and back for each color."
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How long have you guys been working on these internally?
> "We started last fall – just the concept, what we wanted to accomplish, bringing something new to the market that hasn't been done. It was a double-team project with the Rawler and Bladed Rawler – we split directions with different head shapes to optimize for the consumer: no tangling, great experience. Took about a year and a half to get right.
> "Tommy [Kemos] was huge. His insight on actions and crawlers – I never would've gotten it right without him. Watching him rig the bait, getting the right turn at the right speeds, was the most important part. I'm not a huge trolling or slow-death guy, so I relied on his feedback – he was top-notch. This [bait] wouldn't be as good without him.
> "...when we work together, we're always bouncing ideas around. You don't see the in-between: 20 different prototype heads, off-center weights, 100-lb fluorocarbon lines – all kinds of stuff.
> "[Tommy] has wanted to do a project like this for a while but didn't have the resources. Teaming with Berkley, we engineered something amazing.
> "We relied on [Tommy] almost exclusively for testing...tangling was our biggest issue with these styles of baits.
> "One day I made prototypes, [Tommy] came to Spirit Lake right the day after ice went off. It was blowing 35 mph, 10 degrees – we were freezing reels up, throwing prototypes for three hours.
> "Not many guys would do that, but Tommy was out there every second. Tommy's one of the best, most in-tune, picky pros I've worked with. Gotta thank him for his work on this."
Why throw one over the other?
> "I'd have both rigged and let the fish decide. For high skies, flat calm, tough conditions – throw the standard Rawler and crawl it over them. For fishing around weed lines, dirtier water, or searching for fish – the Bladed Rawler is the better choice.
> "This bait can be fished with and without FFS. Guys fish rivers, throwing down current. I've caught more just throwing it off the back [of the boat], crawling over weeds without staring at a screen.”
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4 Q's with Tommy “gunnnnzz” Kemos on...
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Kyle hit on this earlier, but we wanted to bring Tommy into the chat since he was big in testing this bait to dial it in perfectly. This bait is similar to the Rawler – same curved slow-death hook, killer for slow-rolling over weeds, casting at suspended fish, or any fishy mark honestly...but with more flash. It spins smoothly at low speeds and doesn't tangle. Also sounds like getting this thing dialed in was a real grind.
So, here's more from Tommy:
I know you played a huge role in bringing this bait to market. Why does this bait exist?
> "The whole concept and goal of the bait was to create a castable delivery system for the slow death technique...which I've always felt is one of those techniques that will catch fish when all else fails.
> "It's something I've been playing around with for probably almost 15 years now.
> "I got on board with Berkley to start working with a company that could bring everything to fruition, incorporating all of the details, all the different little targets that we had.
> "One of the hurdles is having something [castable] that's tangle-free...with a hook system that is light enough to impart the right action...but strong enough to hook and hold a large walleye.
> "The [non-bladed] Rawler is more of a finesse-type delivery system for super-finicky walleyes...[it] calls them from a long ways away. The big difference from the original slow death jig – there are some other slow-death jig products similar in concept, but they don't perform as well as they could.
> "We needed something with better action and that's how the Bladed Rawler came to life."
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Is it fair to say that the Bladed Rawler allows you to present a spinner-type presentation at depths or at angles to fish that you would never be able to pull a traditional spinner rig?
> "Absolutely. There's no question about what a spinner does in the walleye world. To combine both of those, the Bladed Rawler is a much better weed bait, but they're both super versatile for not only artificial bait, like Gulp, but live bait as well.
> "I've been doing this for a long time...pulling planer boards over weeds is super difficult. Now with FFS, I can cast that thing out and let it swim through all the nooks and crannies of a weed bed in search for active fish.
> "The vibration that blade gives off...they can't resist it...[paired] with forward-facing sonar – that thing pulls walleyes out of the weeds like I've never seen a bait do before. It's just insane."
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Is it a normal Colorado-style blade off the shelf?
> "Absolutely not – that's what makes it special. It's a custom-built Colorado blade that Dan Spengler spent a long time developing. It looks like just any other Colorado blade, but it is a special tuned blade with different cupping... and it's interchangeable.
> "The bait's unbelievable...Dan and Kyle spent so much time on it...I love those guys. Working on baits with them is amazing."
Do they ever turn it off?
> "I don't know that they do...I get text messages and calls from those guys all hours of the day. Their wheels are always turning...something will pop up in their mind that needs to be talked about right away.
> "The level of passion they have for bait development...any spare time they get, they go fishing. They're always working on something, fine tuning it on the water until it's perfect. I think those 2 guys almost fish more than most of their pros do [laughs]."
They sorta remind me of this passionate duo, minus the CTE – see if you can guess who is who lol:
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Tom Boley’s secret to the best fall walleye fishing
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So now that the “casuals” have left the boat ramp 😏 it’s time to get after it, and the bite will only get better over the next couple of weeks.
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Korey Sprengel's Finisher cadence for suspendos
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The Berkley Finisher can be fished a TON of different ways. Folks hear the words “reaction bait” and tend to get a bit crazy 🤪💪💨 but you could also be overworking it and missing out on fish.... Here’s how Korey Sprengel likes to bring fish in for a closer look and then seal the deal:
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2. World Walleye Championship is happening right now
On the Le Homme Dieu Chain in Alexandria, MN! The 3-day derby kicked off yesterday.
Wayne Butz and Joseph Sommers were leading after day 1 with 5 for 21-06...super solid bag considering they’re only allowed 2 of their fish to be over 20” each day. BUT Chaz Dobias and Corbine Hime were right on their tails.... 👀
3. MN: Caughey/Steffen win ‘Fishing to End Hunger’ derby
Huge props to Jake Caughey + Dan Steffen on taking home the win with 18.15 lbs! That’s a 5-fish bag with only 1 over 20” allowed, and there’s was anchored by an 8.53-lb Gull Lake giant they stuck in the last 15 minutes.
Earned ‘em a $16K payday + the big fish side pot + ultimate bragging rights for beating out a ridiculously stacked field. 🙌 To say those fellas are on a roll would be a wild understatement! #TillerLife
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4. MB: Pine Falls derby postponed
That's the St. Georges Voyageurs Walleye Classic that pays $25K to 1st place. Was supposed to be happening this weekend, but got postponed to Oct 25-26.
Apparently the water levels are way down, and there’s about a 3’ drop off the concrete pad which has caused some serious damage to rigs attempting to put in. Repairs are already in motion, but launching this weekend wasn’t going to happen:
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5. NE stocking advanced walleye fingerlings
> ...these fish began as eggs collected back in early April, were carefully raised and fed at our state fish hatcheries, and are now being stocked into waters across Nebraska for anglers to enjoy. These advanced fingerlings are larger and more developed, giving them a better chance to survive and grow – ultimately enhancing fishing opportunities for NE anglers in the years to come.
Super impressive how big they grew in less than 6 months!
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Why winterizing your boat is SO important
Especially the further north you live. Here’s a few reasons why posted by our friends at Highway 3 Marine in the Brainerd Lakes Area, MN:
> Minnesota winters aren’t just cold... they’re harsh on your watercraft if it’s not properly protected! Here’s why winterizing matters:
> Prevents engine damage. Any leftover water can freeze, expand, and crack your engine or lines (a VERY expensive fix!).
> Protects your batteries & fuel system. Draining, stabilizing, and disconnecting keeps everything in working order.
> Stops mold & interior damage. Moisture and fluctuating temps can ruin seats, flooring, and electronics.
> Saves you money in the spring. Skip the costly repairs and get back on the water faster!
> Keeps your boat looking new longer. Proper storage + shrink wrap or covers = longer lifespan.
> Whether it’s a boat or pontoon, winterizing isn’t optional in Minnesota, it’s essential! And we have you covered (literally).
And if you’re not the most mechanically inclined, folks like Highway 3 Marine can help get you ready before the freeze:
> We offer trusted storage, wrapping, and maintenance options! Stop by or call today so you’re ready to hit the lake first thing in spring!
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While on the way to the pumpkin patch with the fam this weekend... 😅
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Thanks for reading! 👊 Hope you have a great + safe weekend!!
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Sign up another fish-head!
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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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