Trust your electronics, Biggest hunchback yet, Sutton’s winning deets

Few interesting details from NWT’s Insider Report:

> Bill: “Normally you troll with the wind. The way this set up we had to trough it. Most of the time the wind was at a T, but sometimes the wind kind of wrapped us, and we had to troll into it. My second biggest fish came that way today.

> “I was using the kicker for propulsion, but the electric trolling motor on the front for steering. I was also using the Power-Pole Drift Paddle to help me steer. It was all three at once.”

He described the winning area as a trench…fishing a break between 38′ and 42′, and running his cranks about 24′ down.

Caught ’em running Bandit Walleye Deep Divers at 2.8-3.0 mph 🔥🔥🔥 behind planer boards. Said he was using both stock and custom colors, but that his best was “wild thing” – here’s a look at it:

Was running 2-oz snap-weights on day 1, but opted to long-line troll with 10-lb Berkley FireLine on day 2…

> “It didn’t take long to figure out that something wasn’t right [on day 2]. The adjustment I made was putting the Bandits straight on 10-lb FireLine. It worked great, but it also gives you very little margin for error. The only forgiveness you have is in your rod. And the fish this week fought like they were on a triple dose of steroids. With every violent head shake, we were terrified. But it ended up being the right adjustment.”

Now to get personal:

> Bill: “After a while, I felt like [my first NWT win] was kind of a fluke. In 2016, I finished high in the points standings, but after that, I started second guessing myself and my fishing career if you will. To come out and compete with these guys and then come out on top, that’s what feels the best. Knowing I can compete with this younger generation is gratifying. My nerves were nothing today – coming from behind is the way to do it.”

Well-deserved, man!

I shared a mini hunch in the last Target Walleye, and ended up getting a couple messages from readers with their own unique critters – so of course gotta share ’em!

This one came from SK fishing guide Todd Graham who said it “looked like it swam at high speed into a dam….” 😂 And here I thought the Hunchback of Notre-Dame was in Paris:

Was doing some digging on PK Wobblers and Dakota Discs and found out they’re actually designed to be trolled at faster speeds than traditional spinners – work GREAT running at 1.8-2.1 mph like you would a crankbait.

That means using in-line or snap weights, you can run them side-by-side with cranks to quickly dial-in what the fish want that day. Here’s a quick in-line weight chart the crew at PK Lures shared that’ll help you get dialed-in:

– Hilarious comment from Paul Simanauskas under this Al Lindner post on Lindner’s Angling Edge FB:

> Al: I haven’t caught a crappie like this in years!!!! I caught a handful of other nice ones while I was WALLEYE fishing in the weeds. Going back later with my crappie stuff to actually target ’em and possibly film ’em. I’m pumped. Have a great day, see you on the water.

Mega crappies on a VMC Moontail Jig – who’d a thunk?!

Btw Al did go back out after ’em, and obviously came out on top. 🐐🔨💪

1. Some fresh NWT stats…

…coming off the Green Bay qualifier. Always a bunch of interesting snippets from walleye-nut John Balla:

2. CAN: Fishing-related businesses suffering from border closure.

> “After over 15 years of marketing to Canadians, 95% of our customers were American. Some of them returning for 25-30 years….”

> “Grocery stores, gas stations, float plane services, baitfish dealers, fuel and propane businesses, hardware stores, marine dealers, food suppliers and other equipment. The list goes on.”

Seriously gotta wonder how long they can last. 😞

3. NWT: Mark Courts is leading the AOY race.

4. SD: Shakoor/Hunter dominate Lake Oahe MWC.

Super cool that Ali Shakoor (MI) and Dennis Hunter (CO) literally drove from opposite ends of the walleye world to learn the Missouri River system. And learn it they did besting 2nd-place by nearly 5 lbs. 👊 Congrats fellas!

5. Skeeter announces exclusive relationship with Johnson Outdoors.

Humminbird/Minn Kota.

6. Gamakatsu has a new Under Spin Head Mini.

7. MN: Couple more lakes with zeebz.

Pine Mountain Lake (Cass) and Roe Mine Pit (Crow Wing).

8. SD: Lake Oahe NWT signup deadline July 16.

Ali Shakoor and Dennis Hunter better be making another roadtrip out of it!

9. St. Croix is outing Tundra Ice Rods at ICAST.

10. Little background on what ICAST is.

The 64th-annual fishing biz trade show that’s happening July 20-23 in Orlando, FL:

> “ICAST [International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades] is the annual gathering point for the entire sportfishing industry. We bring more manufacturers, buyers and media together than any other sportfishing industry event of the year. That means hundreds of new products, dozens of new connections and many new business opportunities for everyone who attends.”

11. Ever heard of the Tornado HH Knot?

Me either. Big Palomar guy 😂.

Apparently the “Tornado HH Knot” is supposed to be the 💣 for fluorocarbon because the knot strength “is nearly 100 % of straight strength.”

If you’re interested in learning how to tie that ^ bad mamma jamma – or most other popular knots – Sunline has some really great videos and graphics that can help.

12. Dan Marking retires from Vexilar.

13. MI: Apparently spear fishing for burbot is a thing.

And Jonathan Durtka is dialed on Lake Huron:

I’d just be super curious to know where he was finding them and what they were doing. Hear all sorts of rumors about ’em squatting in the deep basin all summer, but that dude is clearly rocking a snorkel, so can’t be chasing ’em too deep? #mysterious

14. FishUSA has Rippin’ Raps buy 2 get 1 free.

Make sure you add 3 to your cart for it to apply.

15. Lunkerhunt is having a 25% off everything sale on its site only.

16. Lure Lock sponsoring a NASCAR Cup car for 1 race.

17. VT lakes and ponds have a small Chinese jellyfish?

Trust your electronics!

Ultra informative video from Tom Boley breaking down the where/when/why/how he puts his Humminbird Side Imaging, Down Imaging and 2D sonar to work on summer ‘eyes:

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH