Fish-flop Friday, IN record walleye denied, Dustin Lynch fishes

Love me some #FishFlopFriday!

Jeremy Maslowski straight-up posterized his girlfriend Linnea Thomas lol. Although I’ve gotta say she did a GREAT job of keeping her composure – most folks look like they’ve just seen a ghost when in the middle of the flop:

How cool is that?!

Oh, and even Dustin Lynch looked pumped to meet this local celebrity:

My fact-checking all seems to pan out for the actual info in this write-up…but heads-up: I don’t think I have ever seen a site use soooo many pictures of zander and call them walleye. This single write-up alone has 4 or 5 pics that are actually zander…I mean they are great photos 😅 but the wrong species LOL.

Anyways, the current IN state-record walleye(s):

> Leon Richart set a state record when he reeled in his monster walleye (14 lbs 4 oz) on the Kankakee River in Lake County in ’74. 3 yrs later, that walleye record would be tied by Donald Tedford while fishing on the Tippecanoe River in Pulaski County in ’77.

There was finally a larger fish caught in 2002! Except it was apparently caught illegally, but the guy didn’t know what he was doing was wrong…

> Scott Hoswell was fishing on Lake Michigan on Dec 11, ’02, when he hooked into a monster walleye. Once he landed the fish after a 10-min fight, Hoswell knew he had something special. The walleye measured 32.25” long [21” girth] and weighed 14.47 lbs, about a quarter of a pound heavier than the state record walleyes from ’74 and ’77.

Here comes the thickness. 🤯

> As the IN DNR was verifying the new record, officials learned where the fish had been caught. Hoswell hooked this walleye in Burns International Harbor, also known as the Port of Indiana. For safety and security reasons, fishing from boats is not allowed in the port.

> Once DNR officials learned where the fish was caught, the record was invalidated. Bill James was Chief of Fisheries for IN at the time. In a release after the DNR refused to certify the new record, James said, “IN’s record fish entry rules require that a fish be legally taken to be eligible. We appreciate Mr. Hoswell’s honesty and his skill as an angler. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accept an entry that did not comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including watercraft rules.” While his fish was not entered into the record books, Hoswell was not cited for illegally fishing in the port.

> The angler claimed he didn’t know about the ban on boat fishing when he caught the walleye. After his record was denied, he searched and admitted that he did find signs prohibiting boat fishing in the port [tho there were numerous other boats recreationally fishing there at the same time!].

> This ban and the denial of Hoswell’s record walleye drew the ire of some anglers. They pointed out that, while fishing from boats is illegal, shore fishing was widespread around the port. They saw this as an inconsistency in how the law was written and enforced.

> But, regardless of public opinion for or against the ban, Hoswell’s walleye ended up being the IN record that never was….

Wild story! And you know that’s not the only fish of that caliber swimming in Lake Michigan…. I’d say it’s just a matter of time before those long-standing records fall! Hopefully it’s not caught by a salmon fisherman. 😂😜

Of course I’m talking about those jig-snatching pike! But this round goes to Johnnie Candle:

> “My guide client and I cast at the same time. Me a hair jig and he a crankbait. I set the hook and knew instantly that I was bit off by a pike. Jokingly I asked my client to back me up and get my jig back. Sure enough he did on the same cast.”

Score!

I wonder if that thing ended up in a pickle jar lol. 💀

Crazy to think we’ve already been doing these Sea Foam “Top 5” videos (full playlist here) for a YEAR now! And gotta shout-out Sea Foam for making this fun video series possible, and of course for keeping us running smooth.😎👊

Here comes episode 46 – hope you dig it!

1. MN: Legislature passes jumbo-sized outdoors bill.

Everything I have seen or heard tells me this wouldn’t have happened without the folks at MN-FISH.

> The finalized environment and natural resources bill will send $308 mil in new operating money to the DNR, spread over the next 2 fiscal yrs. In addition, the agency will receive more than $116.6 mil in direct cash from a $1.3 bil capital investment plan sourced from the state’s $17.5 bil budget surplus.

Way, way, waaaaay too much to run thru it all in this email (full scoop here) but I’ll plop a few updates/changes/etc below:

• Fee increases for fishing licenses, originally sought by the DNR, will not happen.

• The Waterville fish hatchery will be rebuilt for $18-20 mil. Other hatcheries will be updated with $35 mil in new operating money also covering expansion of fishing piers and other shore-fishing facilities.

• Another $35 mil is earmarked for new gravel, docks, bathroom facilities and other improvements to boat access infrastructure on lakes and rivers.

• The new operating funds will bolster staffing at the DNR to conduct more fish population surveys and other research needed to maximize fish stocking.

• To ensure an adequate supply of live bait during a minnow shortage, the DNR may allow importation of minnows but only from waters in neighboring states. Also, the DNR must consult with bait dealers and fishing groups to recommend by early next year how to “ensure a viable MN-grown bait supply and sustainable bait industry” that minimizes the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species or fish disease.

• Ice-fishing litterbugs will be subject to a $100 fine for each violation of a new law aimed to prevent garbage, excrement and other waste from hitting the ice. The law requires a waste container to be secured to the angler’s shelter, motor vehicle or other fishing “conveyance.”

• Now 2 lines also may be used in the Minnesota River downstream from the Granite Falls Dam and in the Mississippi downstream of St. Anthony Falls. By rule, the DNR may allow two-line fishing on areas of Lake Superior.

2. Lake Erie walleye: A conservation success story.

3. MN: Krasaway/McPherson cleaned-up ($17K) on Lake Vermilion…

…for the win City Auto Glass walleye derby. Nice rundown in that write-up.

4. OH: Climate impacts on Lake Erie walleye?

Some interesting info on things that COULD happen if climate models are right….

5. OH: Spring die-off of Lake Erie fish causing concern.

Don’t worry, its an annual thing.

6. SD: Fish consumption advisories issued for 28 lakes.

7. ON: 22nd-annual Emo Walleye Classic is this weekend.

8. Country singer Toby Keith bought Luck E Strike.

9. Mustad adds 4 industry veterans to team.

> Andy Baumbach becomes director of marketing and Vince Minnick joins as national sales manager, while Dave Wensel and Brian Perry have been recruited as senior regional business managers.

10. NY: Oneida Lake ice-fishing szn was shortest in 21 yrs.

11. FishUSA now has Bill Lewis PWCs in stock.

Did you know that Mr. Cranky himself (Mark Romanack) designed the new Bill Lewis Precise Walleye Crank?!

> Made with precision-trolling in mind, the PWC was designed and tested with walleye-trolling expert, Mark Romanack, and has been 2 yrs in the making. There is arguably no-one more knowledgeable on precision trolling than Romanack.

> He designed the PWC to get down into the strike zone quicker with a steeper diving angle. On 10 lb mono, the lure will get down to 33’ with 200’ of line out, or with 100’ of line out it will get down to 25’.

> Equipped with 2 large Mustad Triple Grips…prefers this hook setup much better than the smaller 3 hooks on many traditional walleye lures. The larger hooks hold the fish better and don’t tangle in nets nearly as badly as the 3 smaller ones.

And he’s been putting ‘em to good use. 👊

12. Premier Marine “Sunsation Angler” receives innovation award.

> In the pontoon category, Premier received the 2023 Minneapolis Innovation Award presented by NMMA and Boating Writers International…at the Discover Boating Minneapolis Boat Show.

> Winning the Innovation Award was the all-new Sunsation Angler pontoon featuring dual sport versatility. Designed for recreation at the front and purposeful fishing in the back. Bow port and starboard loungers and a mid-ship couch give families everything they need to cruise and relax, while the stern features a fishing layout with everything the angler needs, making this the perfect option for those looking for something for everyone.

> The stern features two fishing chairs, with the option to add a third and provides ample space to move around. The new angler station comes complete with a large livewell, designated baitwell, six rod holders, tackle storage with three tackle boxes, ruler, tackle and tool holders, cupholders, and a storage drawer. Every attribute was intentional with the angler’s needs in mind.

> What really sets this pontoon apart is direct access to the water with our patent-pending Open Water Panels on both the port and starboard sides as well as the aft. With the simple lift of a lever, anglers can swing open the rear side panels, locking them into place on the outside of the pontoon, keeping the inside free of clutter while giving anglers the feeling of being on the deck of a bass boat….

Love to see pontoons getting fishy-er!

13. Target Walleye gear is now 50% off. 😳

These items won’t be available again once they’re gone!

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH