The “Fattest Walleye Ever” title goes to.... 🏆
|
|
|
Last week I shared a picture of John Hoyer with a Lake Erie pre-spawner that measured just 22” yet still weighed a paunchy 5.5 lbs! 😳
|
|
|
But I was reminded that the “fattest walleye ever” award should probably still belong to Alberta fish-head Trevor Davies who caught this 24.4” walleye that went 10.4 lbs! 🤯
|
|
|
Believe that portly feller was caught on a “hot perch” color Bagley Deep Diving Shad at the time, which looks something like this:
|
|
|
Whoops...not that kind of hot perch, THIS kind of “hot perch” hanging from the fish’s trap in this alternate angle:
|
|
|
Madness! I can't even imagine.
|
|
John Hoyer catches BIG everything. 🤷♂️
|
|
|
I believe their 5 for 30-15 was the biggest bag weighed (out of 140 boats) over the 2-day derby. 😅 And no, I’m not surprised one bit.
|
|
|
I will forever love this throwback quote from Gary Parsons:
> “You put a green largemouth in front of us, we all get scared...but smallies are almost walleyes.”
Lol!
|
|
Pitching hair jigs for spring cold-front walleye. 🎥
|
|
|
There's a pile of different ways you can target walleye right now, but a light hair jig – like an 1/8-oz VMC Bucktail Jig – tipped a shiner can absolutely save the day during spring cold-front conditions...or if you just want to catch a zillion walleyes even if the bite is good lol:
|
|
|
This first week has had its ups and downs, but overall the bite has been wild so far this spring. “Bass thumb” aint got nothing on “walleye hands” LOL they get you inside and out:
|
|
Do we really understand the dynamics of how a crankbait functions? 🤔
|
|
|
Bunch of great info on how crankbaits dive – and all of the MANY variables that play a part – in this full Fishing 411 TV write-up from Mr. Precision Trolling Data himself, Mark Romanack. Couple interesting nuggets below with some awesome diagrams to help our little brains understand more better-er:
> Mark: “When trolling with buoyant lines such as monofilament and co-polymer lines, the line floats creating a defined linear resistance to the bait’s diving ability. The buoyancy of most fishing lines is so pronounced that when line is deployed, the majority of the line played out is actually floating at or near the surface. Only a rather modest amount of line is actually pulled below the surface by the diving crankbait.”
|
|
|
> “This situation creates a “bow” in the fishing line rather than the line gradually descending in a predictable angle towards the crankbait. This fact about trolling is the primary reason that using mathematical formulas to predict lure running depth are not accurate. You see, the “bow” in the line is not a constant, but rather constantly changing. As more line is played out and the trolling lead becomes longer, the amount of line associated with the “bow” becomes greater.
> “Line buoyancy plays a major role in crankbait function as does line diameter yet another variable that must be considered when trolling. In general, thinner lines experience less friction as they pass through the water, allowing crankbaits to in turn achieve more diving depth. Fishing lines that are thicker in diameter, create more friction in the water and therefore reduce the diving depth of crankbaits.”
|
|
|
Some other variables you might not be factoring in here.
|
|
What’s your new boat name???
|
|
|
Few of our favs from over on FB:
- Blue plunger
- Camo urinal
- Grey lady
- Silver bulldog
- Green pizza rolls
- Red roughneck
- Green whiskey
Can still play even if you don’t have a boat, and your answer might be even better:
- Transparent cats
- Non-existent safety glasses
- Invisible toilet paper
- My friend's crayons
😂😂😂
|
|
|
1. MN: Mississippi River NWT happening May 23-24.
Out of Red Wing. Over $250K up for grabs:
> “The winning Pro-Angler will walk away with a 2024 Nitro ZV-20 powered by a 225hp Mercury Pro XS motor, plus $15K cash...an additional $8K cash if the Pro-Angler is fishing out of a qualified Ranger, Triton, or Nitro contingency eligible boat.”
They’ll be livestreaming the weigh-in here starting at 3pm cst each day.
And here’s river rat Bill Shimota giving you a little preview of the pre-fishing fun"
|
|
|
😩 Youch! I'm assuming the prop needed more than a dozen swings lol.
Good luck and be safe, all!
2. Adolescent walleye population in Lake Erie drops.
> "Walleye fishing on the lake has been outstanding for years. Based on a 2024 abundance estimate of 72.07 million walleye age 2 yrs and older, walleye in that age group have decreased 20% since 2023. Density of walleye 15” and larger remain the same.
> "The state Fish and Boat Commission said it typically takes 3 yrs for Lake Erie walleye to reach that minimum harvest size."
But also keep in mind that (I believe) 4 of last 6 yrs have been record hatches and that 2019 was the largest ever...
3. EP. 2 of Tour Level Gold is live NOW.
|
|
|
7. Reminder from the Coast Guard.
> ...statistics show drowning accounted for 3 out of every 4 recreational boating fatalities, in which 85% of the victims weren't wearing a life jacket.
8. New EVP-Ops at Outdoor Sportsman Group.
Derek Sevcik, internal promotion. OSG = most of fish/hunt bigger media including the Outdoor Channel.
9. Midwest receives $15 mil to remove fish barriers.
10. Have you seen these slip-bobber rods yet
2B Fishing makes a pair of spinning rods that are specifically designed for slinging slip-bobbers for walleyes.
> The “Precision Shooter” is a 7’ 5” medium-light bobber rod that’s been designed down to the smallest of detail with slip float specific rod features like oversized guides and tip for sliding slip knots, allowing you to place the bait precisely where the fish are. With the perfect backbone and a moderate action to keep fish pinned, its a precision instrument sure to deliver.
They also have an 8′ telescoping version called the “Sharp Shooter” that collapses down to 6’10” for easy storage.
|
|
|
I have one of each and love ‘em. I usually prefer the Precision Shooter when making as accurate of casts as possible in semi-close quarters or shallower water...but you can really bomb the rig out there with the Sharp Shooter and pick up a ton of line on the hookset, which also comes in handy when the fish are out roaming deep water.
Obviously you don’t need to have forward-facing sonar to put this rod’s benefits to work...I think anyone who likes soaking a slip-bobber for walleyes would appreciate some of those key features. 💯
11. Blackfish is having a Memorial Day sale.
They have 20% off all Blackfish items with code: MEMORIAL DAY
12. MN: Lund Mania, July 12 on Otter Tail Lake.
> Along with the fishing tournament, you can visit Main Avenue during the day to witness artists painting fish houses & more on the street, and cool off in the Cultural Center Gallery while viewing the annual Decoy Show. The celebration continues into the evening with food, music, a parade and fun!
The whole thing is a GREAT time!
|
|
|
“Some aren’t exactly happy with the outcome (you can decide who).”
|
|
|
- That’s Travis Frank talking about starting a new family tradition for ‘fishing opener’ – love this idea!
|
|
|
Btw FishUSA has the "firetiger" color Rapala Giant Lure in stock if you want to start your own tradition, or maybe the (wo)man cave needs some more wall decor. 🔥
|
|
|
Amazing fish and pic from Cody (@backroadangler) while CRUSHING walleyes on Manitoba’s Lake Winnipeg. Said he and his 2 buds caught 273 of ’em! 🤯 #RoadTrip
|
|
|
The only way Blackfish Gear can look better is when it's covered in slime.
|
|
|
Enjoy those small victories! Like this IG story posted by Due North Outdoors host Travis Frank getting his CrushCity Ned BLT back from a greedy pike. 👊 Not today, Mr. Snickerel.
|
|
|
Thanks for taking time out of your day to read these Target Walleye emails! I seriously appreciate it!! 👊 See you back in a couple days.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
