Today’s Top 5
That’s the sound this 32-INCH Canadian razorback made when it sucked in Sean Konrad’s bait — Diefenbaker Lake in southern SK. [Photo credit @sean_konrad.]
Best of the rest.
Ross Robertson puttin’ up some lumber on Erie:
Bill Saunders (@goosepimp101) caught-and-released this 15-lb river pig during a hot blade bite. [Photo credit Mike Callian (@mikecallian).]
Guide Travis DeWitt has been getting his clients on some hogs…not sure where (lol).
For out of season fish — insane:
> New reg: “A person may not fish for a species (even if immediately released) during the closed season for that species on a given water. Fish caught during the closed season must be unhooked and released immediately. They may not be handled for any other purpose, including taking a picture.”
> Taking a picture of an out-of-season fish can result in a ticket…the resulting penalty can be a fine of up to $250 fine, and/or 15 days in jail. [WHAT??]
> “It’s a ticke offense. It’s all because of the social media thing and people posing with the fish for pictures. They often spend too much time dilly- dallying and don’t return the fish immediately to the water,” said Lori Severino, a DEC spokeswoman. “This was designed to protect the fish species.”
HELLO?? We’re pretty sure walleye, bass, whatever aren’t endangered.
Since when are the fisherman-funded agencies’ jobs supposed to be to limit fishing fun and “protect fish?” Are the fish their customers? Sheesh.
Walleye Tom Brady style.
Tom hasn’t gotten to these walleye (one zander) yet:
Here are some that got deflated and Tom was able to squeeze a little too hard:
#deflatewalleyegate
This pic is worth 10,000 words! Wow!
News
1. MN: ‘Eye bite on at Leech Lake.
2. MI: Reg changes for walleye and perch in Saginaw Bay.
3. MI: Huron walleye bouncing back.
> “We’re just now going through a discussion to change regulations on walleye for the 2016 fishing season, to liberalize them because the population is so abundant.”
> The reason for the boom following years of struggling is due to the demise of the invasive alewife population, which eat walleye fry.
4. ON: No walleye stocking at Nipissing.
Gov’t vs citizens. Time for a walleye revolution….
5. ND: Something’s in the water at Devils Lake…
…looks tasty!
…with a hashtag.
7. MN: Possible record sturgeon.
James Yerhart, Mississippi River L&D #5, 9:30 pm, 1/4-oz 3-inch Mister Twister green jig, no minnow, 10-lb Fireline, 1-hour fight:
> “The end of my rod looked like a cotton ball. I mean, it really looked like a huge cotton ball. When I looked at it later, I realized it was all little bits of line.
> “The fish was done swimming away, but he was like a huge log. I couldn’t physically get him in with the rod and reel. I didn’t want to just grab the line with my hands because something was gonna break, the line or the hook.
> “So we started looking for a beach. We found one and Elias just ran the boat up on shore, and we pulled him in, very slowly.”
> “We couldn’t weigh the fish, so we have no idea how heavy it was. I know it was just over 70 inches long and had a girth of 27.75 inches.” …growth charts estimate such a fish at somewhere between 85 and 125 lbs.
Thought it was the great white shark, but the new one is the opah:
Ooops:
Looks tip-up friendly….
10. Erie: Algae means perfect storm for Asian carp?
Events
1. SK: Rafferty Reservoir Cup TOMORROW.
May be 1 slot left!
2. PA: Pymatuning walleye derby TOMORROW.
> Pymatuning Lake Association Walleye Tournament. Anglers can register for this tournament at the Espyville Boat Launch on Saturday from 6am until 8am.
> The cost is $40 per two man team with $5 late entry fee added the day of the tournament. There is an additional $5 cost to enter the “Big Fish Pool”. First place will have a payout of $1000. Second place will earn $500. Third and Fourth place will earn $300 and $100 respectively.
3. NJ: Hopatcong walleye derby SAT and SUN.
> The contest will begin at 5 a.m. Saturday and conclude at noon on Sunday. The entry fee for club members is $20 and non-members $25 ($20 entry plus $5 non-member fee). A payout of 80 percent of entry fees will go to the anglers weighing in the three heaviest walleye.
> Entry forms are available online at kneedeepclub.org or at the club’s official weigh stations located at Dow’s Boat Rental, Nolan’s Point, Lake Hopatcong and Lake’s End Marina, Lakeside Blvd., Landing. In-person entries can be made until 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2015.
4. KS: Cabela’s National Team Championship on Milford.
May 27-30, $250,000+ in cash and prizes.
5. WI: 2016 NPAA conference in Wisconsin Dells.
Jan. 8-10, 2016, don’t miss it:
GREAT places to fish – check ’em out!
‘Eye Candy
The bite is on at Lake of the Woods — it’s always on there! Here’s Carter Beck, 14, with a 28-incher caught on Four-Mile Bay. The fish weighed 8.5 lbs. Great fish Carter!
Tip of the Day
How to track down early-season wallys.
> You don’t need to be the first boat on the lake. The water warms up several degrees as the sun rises, and fish tend to bite better as the day goes on. …start trolling a deep-diving crankbait around shoals, reef edges, and tight contours that offer quick access to deep water. Once you find how walleyes are relating to these features, the pattern will be the same in other parts of the lake.
> Midday: Even if you haven’t hooked a heavyweight yet, you should at least have a feel for whether the type of water you’re fishing is productive. If it’s not, you may need to relocate.
> When the water temperature is above 45 degrees, tie on spinner rigs and fish them from shallow to deep. Use chain swivels and planer boards to help spread the lines out both above and below the water to improve your chances of dialing in a pattern.
> Evening: If you still haven’t managed to figure out the fish by now, move your lures drastically high or low in the water column to see if you missed something. See if other boats on the lake are all over a particular depth or structure, or working mudlines, clear water pockets, or dirty patches.
Quote of the Day
It’s the Friday before opener in the Boundary Waters, what do you expect?
– Member of a group of anglers talking to MN conservation officer Anthony Bermel, giving their “logic” for illegally keeping 12 walleyes.
Shot of the Day
Winning 28.5-incher from the recent Treeland Resort, WI derby. Love the thumbs-up — says it all!
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