High-speed spinning reels, SpinDrift the weeds, Mono vs braid for glide baits

I find it sorta interesting how gear ratios (how many times the spool turns each time you crank the reel handle) are a big deal when talking about baitcasters and bass fishing, but are rarely mentioned in the walleye world. 🤷‍♂️ I’m assuming it’s because for years we just didn’t have many options for different gear ratios in ’em.

Here’s NWT pro Korey Sprengel talking about the size 30 Abu Garcia Revo Rocket Spinning Reel that has a 7:1 gear ratio and brings in 40″ of line per crank [!!!] and why it’s his go-to for glide baits:

Few other upgrades from the previous model:

> “The new Revo Rocket features an asymmetrical X-Craftic alloy body design, that gives anglers a more compact, lightweight body. …the new AMG2 gear system, that is 17% larger than the previous generation, allowing for extra gear strength and the ability to create the Rocket’s extreme gear ratio.”

Of course it’s not just for ripping glide baits:

> “…fills a gap in the arsenal with a faster gear ratio for finesse applications. Long casts can prove difficult in picking up line slack and lead to lost fish and missed opportunities. The Revo Rocket is the answer to that with a design created to pick up slack quickly ensuring a better hookset and more opportunities to catch fish.”

Man, it’d also be nice for those times when you’ve just made a cast and then see a fish on the graph you wish you would’ve tossed at…so you reel in like a dang tornado lol.

More info here.

There’s nothing new about pulling ‘crawlers thru the weeds for walleyes – always has and always will catch ’em – but here’s a few tweaks to help get your bait past some of those little bluegills and right in a walleye’s face.

Great way to catch pressured walleyes RIGHT NOW on “average” lakes that might be right in your backyard, and cover a bit of water (at 1 mph) until you land on a pod:

> Pros: Uses less power to maintain speed and gets the boat moving from stop noticeably faster…definitely saves some battery juice. Little less vibration as well.

> Cons: Doesn’t do well in shallow weeds and slop – they get wrapped up instead of chopped off. And doesn’t work with those T-H Marine G-Force Eliminator Trolling Motor Prop Nuts (or similar deal) for quick removal without tools.

But if you aren’t going up in the slop bassin’ this prop is the deal! And if I am gonna be chasing green carp in the THICK stuff, I just throw my stock prop back on and slice away.

1. We lost Lamiglas CEO Tom Posey.

Post from Lamiglas’ FB page:

> We are saddened to announce Tom’s sudden passing on Tues, Jun 28th, 2022, doing what he loved – flying his airplane. This loss is a tough one for everyone that knows him.

> Lamiglas thrived by way of Tom’s father, Dick Posey, when he acquired the company back in 1965. Dick was instrumental in the development of graphite and other innovative advancements in the industry today.

> In 2015 Tom stepped into the company after the passing of his father, and he worked tirelessly to keep the name and quality of Lamiglas alive…. During his tenure, Tom grew sales to the largest in company history (since 1949)….

RIP fishing brother 🙏✝️ our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

2. ON: Absolute GIANT won the ‘Walleye Wars’ opener!

If you’re gonna catch your new PB walleye, might as well do it when money is on the line! Ryley Desautels took home the top spot of the longest walleye caught during the Walleye Wars catch-photo-release province-wide derby. She was 83.8 cm (aka right at the 33″ mark) which won him $2,775 cash + a new Garmin LiveScope unit. 🤑

And some people will still say he’s HoLdInG iT oUt ToO fAr even in that photo. 🤣🥴

She was around the 14-lb mark which is truly a whoooole different caliber of fish! I believe he guides out of Andy Myer’s Lodge on Eagle Lake…so I’m assuming that’s where he caught it, or else somewhere close.

Ryley also said he caught her vertical jigging with a Frostbite Dragon Slayer – haven’t fished one yet but a sweet-looking plastic for sure:

The next round of ‘Walleye Wars’ is happening in Manitoba from July 15-24 – province wide, fish where you want and when you want.

After that Saskatchewan kicks off on Aug 12 and Alberta on Sept 16.

3. WI: Green Bay NWT happening Jul 14-15.

Outta Marinette. Can’t wait to see the weights brought in! You think it’ll be won casting or trolling??? 🤔

4. OH is spraying Indian Lake Jul 12-13.

With a trial run of ProcellaCOR EC herbicide (targets Eurasian watermilfoil) on 200-250 acres on the south end.

5. UT: DWR increases fishing limits at 6 waterbodies…

…due to drought impacts and pond repairs.

Mostly affects trout, but sounds like on Yuba Reservoir folks will be able to keep up to 20 walleyes per day with no size restrictions.

6. MN: Green Lake Walleye Classic is happenin’ Aug 21.

7. MN no longer stocking lake trout in Cook County.

Northeastern corner of the state including lakes in the Boundary Waters.

> “The decision is based on the success of restoring the fish populations in many lakes, and failure in others.”

Here, this will help that ^ to make more sense:

> “In several lakes in the area, lake trout are reproducing naturally so well that they no longer need stocking. But other lakes have repeatedly rejected efforts to build up the population, due to a few factors.”

8. MT has a new state-record golden shiner. 😝

To be fair it was the first golden shiner ever submitted to their record books.

It went a staggering 0.03 lbs, 4.41″ long and had a 2.6″ girth hahaha.

But what’s really cool is that it was a 15-yr-old (Sam Grisak) who caught it from Giant Springs Pond on a dry fly, and now has his name in the record books = congrats dude!

Confirming their fears, National Park Service biologists have discovered that a non-native predator fish has made its way through Glen Canyon dam to the lower Colorado River, where it can prey on ancient native fish they have been working to reestablish.

Sounds like a horror movie when really it’s just Denver7 news talking about smallmouth bass and chubs…. 🙄

Mono vs braid: Rapala Jigging Rap walleyes.

Lot of folks have hopped on the braided-line bandwagon and never left 👀 but there’s a time and place for everything…. Here’s my take on mono vs braid when slinging Rapala Jigging Raps (or any similar baits) for walleyes:

“My rod arsenal sure has changed over the past couple of years.”

– Know there’s a lot of folks reading that will be able to relate to this one posted by my bud Jordan Spychalla hahaha:

Did you know that the “dog days of summer” had actual dates? This year it’s July 3 thru Aug 11. Guess I thought it was just whenever it was uncomfortably hot and the fishing got extra tough haha.

Either way, this little gem doesn’t seemed too stressed-out about it, so maybe we shouldn’t be either – posted by Warren Miller:

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH