People are already ice fishing , Fall sand lovers, Micro tungsten tips

Sorry for the late send and shorter-than-normal TW! Was battling tech gremlins all day.

> If you’re getting Target Walleye for the first time, a friend probably signed you up! <

While you were busy mowing the lawn, folks are already finding fishable ice…in October! And they’re nowhere near Santa. Word is Tyler Ray (whose Instagram handle couldn’t be more appropriate with @chasingiceoutdoors) was on some higher-elevation CO gem. #globalwarming

Btw wanted to say a big thank YOU for wearing safety picks around your neck. Also looks like an ice chisel just off the edge of the pic and flotation-assisting Ice Armor bibs on.

Can you believe it’s already here?! Funny how ice-heads basically become meteorologists this time of year, watching temperature and wind forecasts like it’s their job.

Back in the day (okay, maybe just a few years ago) I’d be one of the crazies driving north with a spud bar in one hand, large dark roast in the other…vigorously pacing any shoreline I could get my two left feet on….

For whatever reason I’m just not there yet this year…. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pumped for hardwater! But I’ve been having to ease myself into the thought of it hahaha.

Maybe having kids changes things? Maybe it’s ‘cuz I’m getting soft in my old(er) age?? Or maybe it’s the fact that walleyes have finally been cooperating and hitting the floor of my Lund 2025 Impact XS that I’m refusing to winterize??? Whatever it may be, I’ll be more than okay letting the lakes lock up and gain a few extra inches before I kick off my hardwater season this year.

Lol! How much you wanna bet that dude ^ (Uncut Angling) is snatching tiger trout through the ice on some Manitoba slough as I type this…?

Everyone PLEASE be SAFE this season!

Water temps have dipped into the mid-50s here in Central MN and walleyes are finally on the chew! There’s a pile of different ways you can target ’em right now and one of those really fun presentations is pitching jigs on shallow sand flats that break off into deep water…. I break it all down in my newest YouTube video below:

Thx much for watching! And I seriously appreciate all of your feedback under each vid – both positive and negative….

I know I recently said that muskie fishing was torture…but then I came across this pic posted by Outdoor News Jr Pro Team on Instagram proving the opposite:

> “JPT member, Gannon Diemer, 5, of Brainerd, MN picked the lake and wanted to use big minnows, so they dragged them around until they got a bite, dad set the hook and Gannon reeled in his first muskie, a 42-incher!”

Love to see it, buddy! And a BIG congrats!!

1. World’s largest ice-fishing contest is happenin’ Jan 29.

Of course talkin’ Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake. Just up the road from us. About 10,000(ish) people come from all over to spank the walleyes – hopefully! Maybe even a ‘pout or 2 hahaha.

2. SD: Dakota Angler Ice Institute, Nov 12-14.

Held at the Sioux Falls Arena & Convention Center. This year’s speakers include Tom Boley, Dave Genz, Brad Hawthorne, Jason Durham, Tony, Mariotti, Jadyn Thomas, Shantel Wittstruck, Troy Peterson (Mr. Bluegill), and many more.

3. MB: Check the Winnipeg Ice Fishing Show’s pro lineup…

…for their “Ice Fishing Academy.”

4. MN: The North Metro Ice Show, Oct 30-31.

5. IA: Clear Lake Bait and Tackle ice fishing event, Nov 5-7.

6. IA: Stan’s Bait ice event, Nov 6.

7. MN: Arrowhead Ice Show, Duluth, Dec 10-12.

8. The Crappie Chronicles is back.

A spicy YouTube series that kicked off last season – they shot the whole thing within a 60-mile radius of downtown Minneapolis:

> Adam: The truth is…the biggest crappies and the sickest bites are all much closer than you’d think. They’re all located in the Twin Cities Metro area.

Can check out season 1 here if you missed it. And they just posted a teaser of season 2:

9. Hey vets, Johnny Morris wants a vid from you.

About why you love fishing, and it might win you a new Bass Tracker Classic XL.

10. VA: Smith Mountain Lake has walleyes now.

Biologists think they’re getting into the lake from Leesville Reservoir, just downstream of the Smith Mountain Lake Dam.

> “Appalachian Power operates the Smith Mountain Lake Dam and sometimes needs to pull water back into the lake from downstream. That means bringing water through the intakes from Leesville Reservoir. Leesville has a healthy walleye population. The VDWR theorizes that when that water is returned to Smith Mountain, walleye hitch a ride.”

11. WI Senate passes 10 bills to help hunter/angler opportunities.

12. MN groups want lead ammo/tackle banned in state parks.

13. MN: Basketball player transfers to U of MN for bassin’ too.

That’s Luke Loewe.

> Playing in the Big 10 was a plus…but returning to his Midwest roots as an aspiring pro fisherman was a top priority as well. “There are a lot of great opportunities up here. A lot of great fishermen. I’ve been connecting with some of the better anglers around MN which has been cool.”

14. G3 Boats has a new GM, Marc Castillo.

> A 25-yr marine industry veteran, Castillo previously served as the director of development, operations, fabrication and engineering for Safe Boats International in Bremerton, WA. Castillo replaces Terry Ickes, who is retiring from G3 after 21 years

15. Here’s the folks behind the Yamamoto buyers: Gridiron Capital.

They’re out of CT.

Spotted this gem in the last Musky Insider = all of the feels!

Saw Ted Takasaki sharing this pic over on FB that said “Off Shore Tackle Planer Boards put my buddy, Josh Wegner from Northstar Powersports & Marine, on this awesome 30″ walldawg.”

Heck of a fish, man! Scary thing is it’s probably not even the biggest walleye to land in Ted’s boat this season . Hope you get to wrassle one like it this weekend!

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH