|
Heads up: This will be the only Target Walleye this week.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Hope your day is filled with family, food and far-fetched fishing stories!! Or maybe you’re hitting the water?
I mean there’s nothing better than spending time with loved ones, but....
|
|
|
Chill, mom...it’s just a joke. 🤣😘❤️ See you in a couple of hours lol.
|
|
Could this be a $300K+ walleye?!?! 🤑
|
|
|
There’s only 10 days left in two largest walleye fishing tournaments on Lake Erie – the Fall Brawl and the Walleye Slam – and Ed Hatten Jr. just dropped a fat walleye bomb!
He cracked a 31.25-incher that weighed 12.30 lbs on the Fall Brawl scales and 12.27 lbs on the Walleye Slam scales. 🤯 What an absolute unit:
|
|
|
It’s gonna be a tough one to top! Especially with sub-freezing temps filling up the extended forecast.
Anything is possible when you’re talking about Lake Erie, but Ed’s net girl dog looks to be feeling pretty comfortable and confident in how they’re sitting lol:
|
|
|
Love that! Congrats on the catch, Ed!!!
|
|
“Time to start putting on that winter weight.”
|
|
|
- That’s Kaitlin Woodward talking about this pic of a THIIIIICK Green Bay walleye that she sniped off of Humminbird Side Imaging. 😳 Thing legit had me speechless, which doesn’t happen often lol. Enjoy:
|
|
|
If your Thanksgiving turkey goes missing tomorrow, here’s why:
|
|
|
Speaking of eating until you’re uncomfortably full 😮💨 check out this 52.5” muskie (short video) that Troy Schmidt found dead in central MN after it choked on a muskrat!
|
|
|
Alright, who makes a muskrat muskie bait? You know someone does....
|
|
“Aside from a giant greenback, this pretty much sums up Lake Winnipeg.”
|
|
|
But there’s a reason people put up with the blow...and that reason(s) is the absolutely gorgeous emerald/iridescent green walleyes! And did I mention they LOVE eating rattlebaits? This one scarfed a "blue shiner" color Clam CPT Psycho Shad before being sent back home:
|
|
|
Random factoid: Their B-E-A-utiful greenish coloration apparently comes from the limestone-rich waters of the northern basin of Lake Winnipeg. Some say the greener the fish, the “fresher” they are to the south basin. And that eventually the green will fade/blend into a more white-ish look.
|
|
Simple new fish-house security system? 🤔
|
|
|
Got me thinking maybe we need to be hanging some mannequin heads inside of empty wheelhouses to help scare off those lowlifes who can’t seem to keep their grubby paws off of other folks’ stuff. Shoot, throw it on an oscillating fan so it’s moving around lol.
|
|
Christmas gift ideas for walleye/ice anglers. 🎁
|
|
|
Have a fisherman/woman on your Christmas shopping list? Here’s some great NEW stuff they absolutely “need” (lol) in our Special early-ice baits and gear issue! Click the pic below for the full rundown:
|
|
|
1. MN-FISH’s “World’s Greatest Ice Fishing Auction” is live
An insane amount of great prizes and trips to bid on thru 8pm on Dec 8.
> The highest bidders can win trips to ice fishing resorts/lodges on MN hottest lakes – Lake of the Woods, Red, Leech and Mille Lacs. Or a fishing adventure with some of Minnesota’s top fishing guides, such as Tony Roach, Larry Hanson, Dave Genz and Jason Mitchell who have donated their time and talents. Need ice fishing stuff? You can bid on a Garmin Live Scope Plus ice bundle or an Aqua-Vu underwater camera or Vexlar or Hummingbird units. Tackle companies such as Clam, St. Croix, Rapala, Razr, Eskimo, Pure Fishing and many others have donated nifty ice fishing shelters, augers, rods and reel, tackle and tools.
From MN-FISH prez Ron Schara:
> While the online ice fishing auction is fun and full of good deals, there’s a more serious reason. The dollars raised by MN-FISH keeps the organization going. What do I mean by that? For MN-FISH to be effective in the State Legislature, we employ skilled lobbyists to march the halls convincing lawmakers to support increased fish management, to continue updating fish hatcheries, to continue fixing public boat accesses and help stop the spread of invasive carp.
> Without these efforts, state anglers would be ignored by the Legislature. Why? It’s the old squeaky wheel lesson. We anglers have learned to start squealing about the State of Fishing.
> And it’s working. The DNR recently announced it intends to stock 7.5 million walleye fry in Leech Lake this spring. We pushed for it after DNR surveys showed the need to boost the lake’s walleye population. We also applaud the change in walleye limits on Mille Lacs.
> The MN-FISH mission is simple: to make fishing success better in Minnesota than it already is. We’re making progress but we need all anglers to help row the boat. Thanks for listening.
2. Another new episode of 'Tour Level Gold' just dropped!
From the National Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Huron. 🔥
|
|
|
3. US/CAN: Virtual “Clam Trap Attack” tourney, Jan 18-19
Multispecies derby (northern pike, walleye, sunfish, yellow perch, crappie and lake trout) that costs $20 to enter and can be fished by any ice angler thru the FishDonkey app. Thousands of $$$ in Clam goodies up for grabs and a pile of different ways to win.
4. Virtual “America’s Ice Fishing Tournament” happening Feb 8
> The tournament is virtual and anglers can participate from any public, frozen body of water. The event is open to anglers in MN, WI, ND, MI and SD through the FishDonkey app. Eligible species include walleye/sauger, northern pike, crappie, perch, and sunfish.
> Proceeds from America’s Ice Fishing Tournament benefit Confidence Learning Center.
5. MN: Red Lake Nation and DNR disagree...
...on how to combat zebra mussels.
6. MN: Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza is Feb 1
The largest charitable ice fishing contest on earth is happening Feb 1 on Gull Lake just 10 miles north of Brainerd, MN.
7. WI: Striker is celebrating its 15th birthday
8. Catch Cover’s once-a-year sale is on!
Our friends over at Catch Cover only have a sale once a year and it's going on NOW thru Mon, Dec 2. Save 20% off your entire purchase at CatchCover.com – everything on their site is included and no offer code is needed.
Catch Cover makes great products for your fish house and they're all made right here in Minnesota [!] and carry Catch Cover's No Questions Asked Lifetime Guarantee = amazing.
9. I NEED this new giant Rapala 🇺🇸
An oversized 29" replica [!] of the iconic Rapala Original Floater!
|
|
|
10. Wisconsin Ice Fishing Expo moves to EAA grounds
The Dec 13-15 ice show is moving to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) grounds in Oshkosh.
> Now in its second year, the expo venue change was needed because the show outgrew the previous facility its first year and is now nearly twice the size at more than 65,000 sq ft indoors while also gaining more parking area with easier access.
> “We were hoping for about 5,000 visitors in our first year and were amazed that we put around 12,000 people through the doors,” said Jeff Bast, one of the owners of the expo. “It’s been several years since WI has had its own dedicated ice expo and it’s clear that having one in Oshkosh right next to Lake Winnebago was a great area to produce it....”
11. onX Fish = now in Wisconsin 🧀
If you’re a fish-head in MN or WI, you’re gonna want to add the onX Fish app to your phone’s home screen – put that puppy on speed dial! It’s literally a cheat code for finding your new favorite honey hole and so much more.
> All the information you need to plan your next day on the water in Wisconsin. Home to the most trusted mapping for the outdoors, onX Fish is a fully-functioning GPS navigation and planning app on your phone.
> Right now, onX Fish is live in both Minnesota and Wisconsin (free for a limited time only), giving anglers exclusive access to an app designed to help make the most of every fishing adventure.
|
|
|
I’ve been using the app all summer/fall and found multiple new lakes in my backyard holding GIANT walleyes that I never knew existed. I’ll have a lot more info coming about it soon.
12. Humminbird has rebates on ice units 🥶
Get up to $100 back on ICE HELIX units if you purchase by Dec 31.
13. Which ice rod is right for you? 🤔
Man, am I ever loving this “Ice Rod Power Chart” from Tuned Up Custom Rods! 🎯 Awesome, quick-glance graphic to pick out the perfect rod for your style of fishing:
|
|
|
14. Sea Foam: Best boat storage tips
Several nice videos at the link ^ above talking boat winterization. Covers everything from stabilizing fuel, engine storage, lower unit lube, prop, batteries, drying out your boat and more.
15. DC: ASA wants small-quantity foreign tackle taxed (pdf)
Spotted this in Jay Kumar’s last BassBlaster email:
> “By shipping in small quantities, some foreign tackle companies get an unfair advantage by avoiding paying excise taxes which are the taxes collected by the feds that fund a large part of DNR budgets. That pdf is a letter to the Senate and House about it.
|
|
|
Early ice: How to use a “spud bar” to check thickness
Annual post ‘cuz it’s that important!
Stop using your “spud bar” (aka chisel) as a walking stick and start learning what each swing means for YOU in actual inches of ice.
Three hard swings might mean 2” of ice for some...might mean 5” for others. Completely depends on which specific chisel you’re using, how hard you’re swinging it, and the quality (hard or soft) of the ice:
|
|
|
Take your time and check the whole way out – and back – not just at the ramp. Ice picks around your neck are a must and probably the cheapest insurance you can get. Wear a life jacket or consider treating yourself to a “flotation-assisting” suit. Flat out: If you break through the ice, it’ll help get you back out...not weigh you down. What more does a guy need to say?
Btw I don’t think Clam makes ice chisels anymore? If you’re looking for another mean spudster, check out the Rapala Two-Piece Chisel – absolutely shreds ice.
Nowadays, I also like to slap a Transparent Boat Ruler from Quik Measure Pro onto my chisel so I can quickly check ice thickness – while “spudding” my way out – by hooking the lip of the chisel on the bottom of the ice. Why? Becasue the less things I have to carry from hole to hole, the better.
|
|
|
“I thought it was the muskies and pike that were supposedly eating all the walleyes?!”
- Funny comment from Jesse Thomas under this Rainydaze Guide Service FB post of a big, cannibalistic walleye they iced on Rainy Lake – GREAT shot!
|
|
|
How about Al Lindner sending off the open-water season with some cold-water Rapala Rippin' Blade action?!
|
|
|
Thanks SO much for reading! 👊 Good luck and BE SAFE this weekend if you’re getting out.
|
|
|
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.)
|
|
|
FRIENDS OF TARGET WALLEYE
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
