People are already ice fishing in the Lower 48! 🤯
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While you were busy mowing the lawn, folks are already finding fishable ice...in October! And they’re nowhere near Santa. 👀 Word is Jason Haugen was on some high-elevation gem in northeast Wyoming. #globalwarming
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Everyone PLEASE be SAFE this season!
Oh, and speaking of mowing the lawn.... I think Caleb Holmen may be on to something with this ice rig, especially considering how fast the season changes up here lol
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Best “ice cleats” I have EVER used 💯
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You might not know this, but I did quite the number on my leg a few years back...breaking it in multiple spots and dislocating my ankle.
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After that, walking on the ice was absolutely terrifying.
I tried every pair of ice cleats, springs, screws, razor blade, mousetrap style/make/brand of ice traction on the market before a buddy of mine FINALLY enlightened me on Kahtoola MICROspikes. Spendy, yes. But nothing else compares! I’ve been using ‘em for 12+ years now.
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Folks literally climb mountains with ‘em, so they can for sure handle that run to the tip-up lol.
Do yourself a favor and check them out, you won't be disappointed.
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Find first-ice walleyes near current areas 🎯
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Gotta say...as I was reading this Pat Kalmerton write-up on Virtual Angling, I realized that Pat was almost perfectly describing my 3 or 4 absolute favorite early-ice walleye spots around the Brainerd, MN area...even tho we live in different areas/states. Actually had me a little shook lol:
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But also had me realizing that these spots had a lot more in common than I realized. Way more info in the full write-up here (check it out!) but a few excerpts below:
> Pat: “I begin by locating the water source. It can take the form of a feeder creek, river inlet, or spring. The common denominator is that fresh incoming water supports life. And often you’ll find thriving weeds near these sources.
> “My favorite scenario, by a long shot, is when a river tributary opens up into a flat that eventually breaks into the main lake – pigs in a blanket to me – and the fish. And conditions improve that much more when green weeds are involved.
> “A typical flat opens at the mouth of the tributary in a fan shape and features a hard bottom, gravel or rocks. From there it tapers deeper until hitting the break. Breaks can be gradual or abrupt; the steeper the better.
> “But wait, there’s more. The key to the kingdom is finding a shelf somewhere along the main break. Let’s say the flat begins at the mouth and works itself down to 8’, where it drops hard to 25’ or 30’. Midway down the slope a shelf protrudes, call it a ledge. Walleyes will stack on it like books. That’s a key contact point.
> “Not every flat breaks wildly, though. My favorite lakes at first ice are relatively shallow, murky, and weedy. A break on those bodies of water might only mean a few feet. That’s where the weeds come in. Weeds can compensate for lack of physical structure. Walleyes follow edges, and thick green weeds give them something to track along. Green coontail holds lots of forage, too, but they’re the first to wither. Broad-leaved cabbage is the next best thing.”
Keep learning here.
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DIYers: How to winterize your outboard 🛠️
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Whether you’re wrapping up your open-water season now, or in 2 months when some folks are ice fishing, these are some useful tips from Ryan Dechaine and the folks at Mercury.
Covers everything including stabilizing fuel, engine storage, lower unit lube, prop, fogging, power trim fluid, sacrificial anodes, grease points, batteries, and more:
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Old-school fishing commercials make the world go ‘round
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1. OH: Fisherman drowns in Lake Erie...
...after falling into water off the rocks behind Edgewater Yacht Club. Witnesses say waves were roughly 6’ tall at the time. Ugh. Makes me sick to my stomach. Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family. 🙏✝️
2. MT's angling adds nearly $1 BIL to economy
> The report by the BBER, published in August, showed anglers contributed more than $910 mil to Montana’s GDP in 2024 and supported more than $1.5 bil in total economic output – gross receipts to MT businesses – across the state, making it one of biggest contributors to the state’s outdoor economic sector.
3. MN: Mille Lacs might get 3-walleye limit this winter?
Something that was brought up at the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee (MLFAC) meeting that was held Oct 22.
4. Some interesting walleye science 👨🔬
Couple recent studies I came across:
- The effects of light intensity and water clarity on growth rates of age-0 walleye
- Evidence of nearshore in-lake spawning Walleye in the central basin of Lake Erie
5. MB: Jason Mitchell hit up Hecla 🔥
> Incredible fall walleye fishing on Lake Winnipeg out of Hecla, Manitoba. This bottleneck between the upper basin and the lower basin produces an incredible number of fish each spring and fall. This fishery also produces some gigantic fish. Truly one of the best fall walleye bites in the world.
> We break down some of the general fall patterns and locations for catching these infamous greenback walleye. Because of the dirty water, spot locking or anchoring in one spot and vertically jigging is overall deadly.
> Depending on current, hang a 3/8- to 1/2-oz jig tipped with a salted shiner below the boat and wait for fish to move through. Bright, underspin jigs that have extra flash and vibration in the current are deadly. Our favorite river jig for double hooking a salted shiner is the Northland Deep-V Spin Jig.
> Top locations include rock patches and stair-step ledges on current seams in 17-24’ of water.
> We headquartered out of Gull Harbour which has comfortable cabins, a great restaurant and plug-ins for boats right next to the boat ramp. With the exchange rates, this is a budget friendly dream trip for U.S. anglers looking for great fishing with the chance at catching huge fish.
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6. PA has a cold-weather life jacket requirement.
> From Nov 1 to April 30, all anglers and boaters will need to wear a [USCG approved] life jacket on boats less than 16’ in length or any canoe or kayak.
Also, something to think about…
> “...according to PA boating accident reports, nearly 80% of all boating fatalities occurred because boaters were not wearing life jackets.”
7. CO: Emergency "fish salvage" on Two Buttes Rez
> ...being implemented to keep a large number of fish from dying as the reservoir water levels drop
> CPW said that anglers must have a valid ‘25 CO fishing license, but all bag and possession limits have been removed during the salvage. Anglers can keep all the fish they catch. Multiple rods up to two are allowed.
8. MI: Senate passes fee increases for fishing licenses
> ...aiming to generate nearly $30 million for wildlife and natural resources.
> addresses revenue challenges faced by the MI DNR due to inflation and declining participation in hunting and fishing.
> The plan includes MI’s first hunting and fishing license fee increases in 10 yrs while maintaining the lowest costs in the Great Lakes. It also offers discounts for seniors and youth, and reduces the cost for an antlerless deer license to $5.
> The bill requires the MI Natural Resources Commission to re-examine the state's deer and elk baiting ban and allows for additional deer management tools, such as earning the chance to take a second buck.
> Sportsmen also may be able to purchase a new Complete License, that allows them to hunt and fish multiple species with a single transaction.
> The revenue will support DNR efforts in fish stocking, habitat improvement, deer management and hunter education. Additionally, the legislation proposes new management tools and eliminates the sunset on the pheasant stamp program.
> The legislation now moves to the Michigan House for further consideration.
9. JT has a new 38" Gold Digger – ML X-Fast Ice Rod
> You asked for it, and we delivered. The new 38" Gold Digger is here.
> We don’t take shortcuts, while others cut down blanks, every one of our proprietary blanks is purpose-built, engineered with a specific length and load curve in mind that define the exact action and power we strive for.
> The result, a medium-light, extra-fast rod with the perfect backbone to absorb every head shake giving you total control without sacrificing feel.
> Proudly built in Farmington, Minnesota, and crafted for anglers who appreciate the details.
10. Ever seen a 6" glow in the dark gliding tube?
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How Brad Hawthorne breaks down big water
Catching walleyes on big water during the fall all starts with mapping and Side Imaging:
> He demonstrates how to use electronics and sonar technology to locate and catch walleye efficiently. ...also discusses why adapting your fishing techniques based on the behavior of the fish and the changing conditions on the water is a crucial component.
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"Imagine a place where trophy walleyes can be caught, fisheries biologists encourage you to keep what you catch, and there is no daily creel limit in effect."
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- That’s a line from this Wired2Fish post, which went on to say:
> Though walleyes have gained a faithful following of anglers in the upper Willamette River basin, officials are doing everything they can to reduce numbers and restore balance to the ecosystem.
> Walleyes are viewed as one piece of the puzzle that has led to the downfall of native species such as chinook salmon and steelhead.
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If you’ll be celebrating All Hallows Eve with the kiddos – or you’re a big kid at heart – send in those pics of your fishy Halloween costumes!
Here’s a snap I came across (from last year’s shenanigans) of Zion Gal with a GIANT he caught while fishing from the bank on the North Saskatchewan River:
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Have a great + safe weekend, Target Walleye fam! 👊
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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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