Behemoth saltwater pike, Modified ice shack comp, Bluegill vs sunfish debate 🥊

Timm Kopka caught this absolute behemoth of a pike outta the German North Sea (?!) using a #4 Mepps Black Fury Spinner. 🤯 Wowza!

If you think its shoulders are impressive, check the belly!

Timm posted on his Instagram that the beast measured 118 cm (46.46″) and weighed 16-18 kg (35.27-39.68 lbs)! Thing looks like it has a bigger “waist” than me lol:

Far as I can tell, Timm was fishing a tributary north of Niedersachsen (Lower Sacony) Germany. I’m no travel advisor…but sounds like one of the few areas in the world you can catch pike in salty (brackish) water, and that they grow big fast.

…from The North Metro Ice Show’s 2021 portable ice fishing shack competition.

Stumbled across this video on Alex Timm’s YT channel doing a walkthrough of the top portables from the competition – thought you might get a kick out of some of these mods:

Bunch of good excuses to hide in the garage for the next couple weeks. 🙈

…the Westonka Walleye Program on recently pumping 10K grown walleyes into MN’s Lake Minnetonka 👊 thx to $20K in private donations from the surrounding community.

As you can see, they’re not just dumping in little french “frys” either…they’re 8-13″ fish:

Every $2 donation stocks another fish, and to date, WWP has spent over $250K on stocking walleye in Lake Minnetonka = amazing.

Important stuff ‘cuz the DNR estimates as little as 5% of walleye in the lake come from natural reproduction – so a BIG thank you to these folks.

The Westonka Walleye Program is now officially recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 public charity, which means all donations qualify for the maximum tax deduction.

Btw there’s no official slot on Minnetonka, but the program has something they call the “sportsman’s slot” where they’d like to see all walleyes under 16″ go back…those freshly-stocked buggers will grow quick if they get the chance. ♻️🐟

From my friend @ana_on_ice on Instagram:

> “Can’t fish with your bestie [@nicolestoneoutdoors] on your wedding day? No problem! Just force the photographer to take pictures of you acting out pretend fishing scenes together instead!”

🤣🔥 Big CONGRATS, Ana! 👏👏👏

I love this kinda stuff. Pretty interesting read from Fishing Hall of Famer + media legend Steve Quinn over on the Lindner’s Angling Edge site. And there’s more to it than you’d think: All bluegills are sunfish, but not all sunfish are bluegills…. Click below to learn up!

Sure you’ve heard by now bassin’ legend Aaron Martens recently passed on at the age of 49 after a courageous 19-month battle with glioblastoma. 🙏✝️ Prayers to the family.

Jay Kumar put together an awesome tribute to Aaron in a recent BassBlaster here that’s for sure worth a read. Thx Jay!

2. Great Lakes water temps are near record highs…

…for this time of year.

3. MN: 72 walleye/sauger seized in Lake of the Woods fish bust.

🤦‍♂️

4. Tell me this doesn’t get you pumped for ice!!!

This is 11-yr-old Will Tibbels with a certified Lake Erie 14-lber [!!!] he snatched thru the ice on a Mack’s Sonic BaitFish with the line attached to the back. HUGE props, bud! It’s going to be a tough one to top:

Mack’s is ultra famous for their Smile Blades, but that’s not all they have that catches fish.

5. MN: St. Paul Ice Show comin’ in 🔥.

Happenin’ Dec 3-5 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

6. 2022 Lund Renegade has a redesigned Mod-V hull.

7. Merc has a V12 600hp Verado outboard?!

Recently won a Consumer Electronics Show innovation award. Wonder how long ’til we see it on a tiller hahaha!

8. The most hardwater tricked-out Snowdog EVER.

Holy back-country bluegills, Batman. 😱

9. MI: 4K+ sturgeon stocked in Saginaw Bay tribs

10. Navico hires new territory managers.

Parent company to Lowrance, Simrad, etc.

Bro’s early-ice walleye tips and tactics.

This video is loaded with TONS of info from Brian “Bro” Brosdahl on early-ice walleyes. Things you should consider doing differently early on (when first sneaking out on 4″ of ice) compared to the rest of the hardwater szn:

One of the baits that Bro was chatting about towards the end of the video was the new Northland Buck-Shot Coffin Spoon – thing is loud and proud 💪 with a killer tumbling action. Quick look-see:

I got to play with one last winter on Lake of the Woods and it’s the real deal. Comes in 4 sizes (1/8, 3/16, 1/4, and 3/8 oz) and 12 colors. FishUSA has ’em stock here.

Sometimes (okay most of the time) the wheels fall off. 🤦‍♂️🤡😩

Of course this snap caught my attention ‘cuz it’s a nearly 30″ #greenback walleye! But also because @burbotbros and his buddy Travis said they whacked ’em trolling cranks on MB’s Red River, a place where the majority of folks are anchored-up and vertical jigging in the fall. 💯 Nicely done, fellas!

Sending her off with a sunset pic…but don’t worry, this one includes some catching! Here’s Danny Bacon and his chocolate lab, Ladybird. 🙌 Love it!

Have a great weekend!

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH