Fattest perch ever, How Roach Jigging Raps, Fish grab of the year?

There’s jumbo perch, and then there’s JUMBOTRON perch…and then there’s whatever the heck you’d call this thing LOL. 🤯 Ana Braiedy aka @ana_on_ice snatched this specimen (15″ long x 11″ girth) out of a secret Idaho lake that rhymes with “Bask-Maid”. Wasn’t even her biggest on the trip. Check it!

Okay, fine…it’s no secret the fish (a bunch of other bigguns) were caught on ID’s Lake Cascade.

Funny enough I actually went to college with Ana – small world! Back then she NEVER stopped talking about crappies (swear this is real life lol) so it’s nice to see her chasing other species hahaha. Sent her a text to get the scoop and here’s the CliffsNotes version of what she had to say:

> Avoiding the crowds and focusing my attention on some of the many sunken creek beds with weed flats nearby definitely paid off. Finesse jigging paired with slowly raising a “glow yellow perch” color #3 (1/16-oz) Rapala Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap right off the bottom was the key to getting them to commit about halfway up the water column in 25′.

Love it, Ana! 👏👏👏 That doesn’t sound like any fun at all…oh, and I’m on my way.

Most lakes with FAT jumbos are stuffed full of freshwater shrimp, but these ones have a different menu:

But seriously: Jumbos in that system are savages and apparently the top predator.
They’re cannibals, so the best baits are usually ones that imitate small perch.

I feel like a dirtbag even writing that headline because the occasion I’m talking about is actually me…and I don’t ever want to be known as the dude that toots his own horn. 🤦‍♂️ But anyways….

The crew at AnglingBuzz just dropped their newest episode called “Midwinter Ice Fishing Opportunities.” The video is 38:12 long, but definitely worth a watch if you’re able to kick your feet up that long.

It’s loaded with all sorts of ice-fishing goodness, few highlights: Jeremy Smith and James Lindner show how they utilize Humminbird MEGA Live for roaming basin crappies. The AnglingBuzzards cover some new gear for panfish and predators. They head north to Manitoba to highlight some of its premiere fisheries. Jeremy Smith shows how he cleans and cooks burbot. And a crew of us journeyed across Lake of the Woods in search of giant burbot…and got a big, bonus surprise.

This bonus surprise is one of those memories I will never forget, and might just be the highlight of my “ice-fishing career.”

My buddy Jason Rylander was fighting a TANK. We weren’t sure if it was a burbot, walleye, pike or sturgeon (you never know on Lake of the Woods!) but we knew whatever it was, it was BIG.

The spoon’s hook had gotten stuck on the bottom of the ice so the fish couldn’t get turned up the hole. I ended up going shoulder deep – more like neck deep 🤣 – and got my hands on it. This type of thing usually doesn’t pan out, but got super lucky this time and am so pumped there’s video proof of its existence!

Can watch full AnglingBuzz Ice episode here, or if you’re short on time, jump to the specific story I’m talking about by clicking below:

Thx much for letting me tag along, fellas! 🙌

If you bought a wheelhouse 4+ years ago you’re basically sitting on a chunk of cryptocurrency. 🤷‍♂️

If you’ve been in the market for one, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Pretty wild to see “toys” like that significantly appreciating in value.

I’ve seen houses that went for $15K brand new in 2015-2016 selling for $23-24K today. And I don’t mean buying the same layout new at today’s prices…I mean the exact house after 5 years of use, and then selling used for that kind of profit. Crazy stuff!

We’ve talked a lot about using Rapala Jigging Raps for open-water ‘eyes, but they also make killer hardwater baits. Of course there’s more than one way to fish ’em, but here’s Tony Roach’s take coming at you in a quick-hitting fashion:

> His go-to bait summer and winter…but usually downsizes to a #5 on ice.

> Fishes it really aggressive (as fast as he can!) to get fish interested. Darts off to the sides of the hole and covers a much larger area.

> Slows the bait down as soon as he graphs a fish, but still keeps the bait aggressive and moving.

> Doesn’t tip it with a minnow head…says it can screw up the action.

> Likes 6-lb mono since it doesn’t hold moisture and freeze up like braid.
https://fishusa.rv5k.net/KVG39

> Clear-water or high-sun days Tony likes using colors like yellow perch or blue chrome.

> In stained water or low-light conditions he uses brighter colors.

Btw Rapala added 4 custom-color patterns to the Jigging Rap line-up (all 5 sizes). Clockwise from the TL: fruit punch, glow pink squirrel, glow slimey lime and headspin:

They’re sold-out most everywhere. I’ll give it a shout when I see ’em back in stock

1. Dylan Nussbaum gets Z-Man.

🤝 Pumped for both sides! I think you’re going to be hearing a lot more about Z-Man in the walleye world this season. Their stuff had already been crossing over bigtime from the bass world, and now they’ve been adding quite a bit of stuff that looks walleye-specific. More on that later when we aren’t covered up in so much ice.

2. H2H Opens schedule announced.

• Mar 14-18: Fox River
• Apr 4-8 Menominee River
• Jun 6-10: Winnebago
• Jun 13-17: Mille Lacs

3. Zeebz being studied for medical field reasons?

Specifically looking at why they are so sticky:

> “…if we understand why they stick so well, that could help us design things like non-toxic biodegradable glues, which could offer an alternative to internal stitches for surgery or localized drug delivery applications.”

4. New 2022 Lund catalog is out.

One of the few things I still like getting a (free) paper copy of, but you can also view the online version here.

5. MN: Walleye Alliance Spring Banquet, Apr 21.

Special guests Tony Roach and Senator Carrie Ruud who introduced the bill to reduce walleye bag limits in MN.

6. Best rattle-reel line I have ever used.

It’s called Sufix Rattle Reel V-Coat line. If you own a wheelhouse, this will be one of the best and cheapest upgrades you can do to anything within those walls.

Basically it’s a neutrally-buoyant fly line that lasts forever-and-a-half. Has a vinyl coating that’s waterproof so it doesn’t freeze and won’t cut your hands when that slimy pike makes a big ol’ run. But by far the best part = WAY less tangles! Which of course happens non-stop with other lines as you’re pulling a fish in by hand and throwing the line in a pile on the floor. Same goes for when you’re sending your presentation back down the hole after the catch.

Can get it in a 50-yards spool or a mega 150-yarder that’s metered every 50 yards so you can consistently spool up several rattle reels. I actually use the same 20-lb stuff on my tip-ups now too. Of course I run a small swivel to a fluorocarbon leader on both.

7. SIMMS has a bunch of new execs.

> Simms executive leadership team of 10 consists of men and women that cumulatively represent almost 300 yrs of experience in the outdoor/fishing industry. Several individuals have been contributing to the evolution of the Simms brand for over 10 yrs, and in some cases, more than 25 yrs. Their elevation represents a commitment to building the brand, challenging the status quo, and engaging the entire organization in the push for positive impact across the industry.

> In total, the team occupies 15 seats on various conservation/philanthropic boards, commissions, and advisory councils committed to protecting and preserving fisheries, to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to shedding light on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits that can be attributed to fishing.

8. FishUSA has 15% off all ice rods.

Believe the sale ends tomorrow. Just use the promo code “FREEZE” at checkout.

9. Pat Kalmerton is going live tonight…

…on Clam’s Facebook page at 8pm cst. I love tuning into these live events – great chance to ask questions.

10. Why don’t I own this Simms shirt yet?

Because 1) it’s simple and cool, and 2) us portly fellers love dark-color shirts lol:

11. ASA has a new public affairs manager.

ASA = American Sportfishing Association, who is “the nonprofit trade association of the sportfishing industry. [They] work to safeguard and promote the enduring economic, conservation and social values of recreational fishing for the benefit of all Americans.”

12. Buck has a dozen new knives for 2022.

Bunch of different styles, but the amount of drool I’d get on this 842 Sprint Ops Pro (2022 Legacy Collection) is ridiculous. 🤤 #DoWant

Tip-up “setting” tricks for panfish.

Guide Pat Kalmerton has a few tricks up his sleeve to set tip-ups for panfish. One of those (look closely below) is to slide up and angle the tip-up’s shaft…makes for a lot less tension on the flag = it’ll pop with lighter panfishy bites. Click the pic below to watch Pat’s video for more tricks – not just panfish stuff either:

“They can be nowhere and everywhere at the same time….”

– That’s Tony Roach talking in this MidWest Outdoors video about chasin’ jumbo perch. Little more from him:

> “But that’s the thing about perch, man. They’re always roaming. They’re always swimming. I always joke around and say it’s the fish that I love to hate. ‘Cuz walleyes relate to structure…perch can be anywhere…they can be out in the basin, they can be on top of the flats…they can be nowhere and everywhere at the same time – that’s no joke.”

The video was shot on Lake Winnibigoshish in northern MN on a day where they started squatting on ’em in the Yetti Fish House, then went out ice trolling to stay after the bite:

One of the gnarliest snaps I’ve seen in quite some time (from fishing guide + content creator Matt Duprau 💯) of a big ol’ Bay of Quinte monster:

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH