Today’s Top 5
European perch caught in the states?
Jumbo perch magician and Ice Force pro Andy Fiolka iced this ridiculous silt sucker outta a secret Idaho (!) lake that rhymes with “Bask-Maid:”
Andy caught her working the always-fishy Rapala Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap. Not sure which exact color, but the fish out there are known to be cannibals, so if we had to guess:
Can’t tell if that fish looks more like a slobby European perch (left), or one of those weird Florida-strain peacock bass like the one Steven Quinn caught (right):
Top 30 ice-fishing pet peeves!
We polled Target Walleye/Ice fans to find out their biggest ice-fishing pet peeves and compiled ’em into one big-nasty list. How many are you doing??
Check the full list by clicking here, but here’s a few of our favorites:
- Garbage left on the ice. If you bring it out, bring it back with you!
- Losing a fish after it gets wrapped up in the transducer.
- Snowmobiles are the jet skis of ice fishing.
- Sunflower seeds in my hole.
- When people set up right on top of you, even though there’s a whole lake.
- People complaining about you being set up too close (^ lol).
- Snake northerns. ‘Nuff said.
- Trying to re-tie with frozen fingers.
- People drilling holes during prime time.
- Women hanging all over me once they find out I’m an ice fisherman….
Make sure you leave a comment on the full list at TargetWalleye.com if you think something’s missing or people are overreacting….
How the Ultimate Panfish League was won.
Joshua Sykora and Drew Little weighed a 6.47-lb bag with 15 fish (8 crappie, 7 sunfish) to take home the win on MN’s heavily pressured White Bear Lake at the first Ultimate Panfish League event of the season:
Looks brisk! Both guys said their Striker Ice Climate suits made hole-hopping doable on that balmy -6 day:
> Josh: “We fished away from the community hole on an inside turn that the fish were using to go back and forth to the main roaming area. The key was to keep on the move, and when we’d find the hot hole it seemed to produce both crappies and ‘gills. But it would only last for a short time…had to keep moving.
“We were using Jeff’s Jigs and Flies Tungsten Zoo Bugs and Tungsten Waxie ice flies. We fished in about 13′ in very heavy weed cover…could barely see the fish on the Vexilar. These jigs were heavy enough to punch through and get down to the fish.
> “As the day got longer, the fish were less aggressive. I upsized the jig and put plastic on which seemed to trigger more bites.”
Here’s a look at those tungsten treats — Zoo Bug on the left and Waxie on the right:
Congrats guys, keep it rolling! Awkward facial expressions and giant slabs always help:
Pound bottom for mudflat walleyes.
A lot of ice-nuts are heading to Mille Lacs this weekend to chase walleyes on the flats, but this mud-bottom technique will put ’em topside on any lake with similar structure:
That mud bite should only get better as the season goes on and more bugs get to hatchin’. Little different than how they play in the mud down south — whatever works:
Fisheye lenses are getting out of control.
That’s outdoor junkie Zach Jackson catching some laker bait. Works:
BTW – that fisheye deal isn’t the goofiest pic you’ll find out there of Zach — we’ll just leave this right here:
News
1. ND: Gilbert/Ellis win Metigoshi NAIFC.
Myron Gilbert and Dave Ellis weighed a stout 15.26-lb bag of pannies to take home the 1st-place prize of $2,200 and even better, bragging rights:
It’s one thing to catch ’em good, but to do it while looking over your shoulder in these tournaments is pretty crazy. This is right out of the NAIFC official rulebook:
> “… Any open hole may be fished by any competitor as long as they maintain the 15′ rule…leaving a por or other equipment next to a hole does not stop another fisherman from using that hole if you are over 15′ away.”
2. MN: Possible reduced walleye limit?
The DNR is looking to cut the daily walleye limit down to maybe 3 or 4 — it’s been 6 fish since 1956! Would say it’s about time — that’s still plenty of fillets to feed the fam. And if you’re just doing it for the meat, there’s cheaper places to get your fish lol.
They say the current walleye fishery isn’t impaired but worry about:
> “…increased angling efficiency by men and women who continue to invest in ever-improved fish-finding electronics and satellite-guided navigation.
> “A related change — announcing fishing success in real time over Facebook and other social media — intensifies fishing pressure over hot spots.”
Might be looking to reduce panfish limits too….
3. MN: Corporate America meets DNR…
… in a very good way. The annual Kraus-Anderson Walleyes on Ice live-release ice-fishing tourney is Feb 11 on Lake Minnetonka. All funds will go to purchase 8″ to 13″ walleyes that will be stocked by the Westonka Walleye Program.
> Al Lindner: “It’s exciting to see corporate America and anglers of all walks working in cooperation with the MN DNR to better the quality of our fishing. It’d be great to see a lot more of this.”
Win-win.
And Garmin adds 21 pros, including NPAA president Jimmy Bell.
5. T-H Marine renews sponsorship with NWT.
If you haven’t heard of T-H, they make some awesome products and are growing like crazy.
Sales in MN/WI were up 10% in the last year, and boat show season is comin’ in hot!
If you’re bored at work, check out the Lund Boat Builder — lets you deck ’em out however you want. We promise not to tell your boss…or wife:
7. OH: Hartman named Erie fish management admin.
Travis Hartman named admin of the DNR Lake Erie Fish Management Program, which tracks the growth/decline of the fish pops. Has a B.S. in fisheries management, M.S. in natural resources, catches big walleyes and runs a Lund — seems to be a good fit:
8. WI may make changes to Green Bay whitefish quotas.
DNR is considering a quota shift from where some nets are coming up full and where others are coming up empty. But also:
Boyarski with the DNR said that they’d consider “increasing the whitefish quota in the lower bay, but banning gill nets” as another option.
Think bait shops are mad you’re not accidentally kicking over the minnow bucket now?
10. 5-yr warranty on all Eskimo augers.
#Confidence
Check ’em out at FishUSA.
Events
1. SD: Mobridge ice fishing tournament, Lake Oahe, Jan 14.
There’s 525 two-person teams fishing for over $200,000 in cash and prizes! Good luck to all the anglers! Here’s an update on the current fishing/ice conditions:
2. MN: Kraus-Anderson Walleyes on Ice tourney, Minnetonka, Feb 11.
All $$$ goes to stocking 8″ to 13″ walleyes back into the lake. Love it.
3. MN: Warroad ice derby, Lake of the Woods, Feb 18.
4. IL: Humminbird training workshops, Chicago, Mar 11.
You’ve got one, now learn how to use the snot out of it.
5. ND: Devils Lake walleye school, Sep 7-10.
Combines classroom and on-the-water learnin’ with Johnnie Candle and Doc Sonar.
Tip of the Day
The ultimate DIY walleye leader holder.
Great idea and cheap to make. As Ross Robertson says, “Because tangles suck:”
Quote of the Day
That’s too bad because we have 100,000 lakes between Kenora and Thunder Bay alone.
– Gord Pyzer going savage on a MN bud ‘cuz their license plate boasts “10,000 lakes.” Guess the Ontario plates say, “92,300 moose, piles of maple syrup, and hockey” on ’em. Ok not really, but they could.
Today’s ‘Eye Candy
Cody Pearse’s wife is 7 months pregnant and still showing us all how it’s done catching monster Lake Winnipeg greenbacks. Impressive first fish:
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