There's a gazillion spoons out there so Mille Lacs guide Brad Hawthorne is giving up the deets to cut that decision making down for you! Brad gives up some sneeeeaky spoon fishing tips in this throwback Northland YouTube video on why and when to use certain spoons. Here's Brad with the juice. 🧃

Buckshot Spoon

> "If you’re looking to fish higher in the water column...the Buck-Shot Spoon is the perfect spoon for that. 

> "I’m usually fishing it 2, 3, even 4 feet up so the fish can see it. It also has an audible rattle to help call fish in. If you’re fishing a flat or an open expanse with nothing in it and fish are just using it as a highway, they’ll see that spoon up there, hear the rattle, see the bait on it, and come up and hit it. 

> "Most of the time, we’re using 1/8-oz and 1/4-oz versions, but you can go all the way up to 3/8-oz. I’m not saying I won’t slam it on the bottom every once in a while, but generally when I’m fishing a Buck-Shot Spoon, I’m fishing it pretty high in the water column."

Forage Minnow Spoon

> "With this spoon, I’m usually fishing a little bit lower. If I find that the fish are really negative or reacting poorly to rattles, that’s when I’ll switch to the Forage Minnow Spoon.

> "This is one of my favorite spoons because it’s light and fluttery – it allows you to fish that 1-3 foot zone really effectively. You can use the same colors you’d run higher with a Buck-Shot Spoon but present them in a subtler way."

Btw sounds like he’s REALLY been digging the “gold” Northland Tungsten Forage Minnow Spoon out there this season.

Forage Minnow Jig

> "This is one of those secrets I didn’t really want to let people in on. When you put a full minnow on it and jig it, then flop it on the bottom, it lays perfectly with the hook point facing up. With that minnow still alive, it sits there and wiggles around, and the fish will just drill it right on the bottom.

> "When you pick it up, that minnow freaks out, and they just slam it.

> "If the fish are a little off or sluggish but still hitting spoons, go to the Forage Minnow Jig and start catching walleyes. Remember bottom contact with this bait – I’ll sometimes let it sit on the bottom for 20 or even 30 seconds.

Buck-Shot Coffin Spoon

> "This is a super heavy spoon. If you’re banging it on rocks, it’s going to make a lot of noise.

> "I’ll usually insert the Coffin Spoon somewhere between my Forage Minnow Spoon and Buckshot Spoon in my lineup. It has a lot of flash and a lot of noise, especially with the large split ring and treble.

> "It’s a great spoon for places like Lake of the Woods and Mille Lacs. Out of these four spoons, if the fish aren’t biting the way you want them to, a lot of times it’s not the fish – it’s the spoon you’re using.

When to use each spoon

> "No matter how I’m finding fish, whether it’s with Humminbird MEGA Live, 360, or something else – once I’ve identified fish and start targeting them, If I mark a fish a foot and a half to two feet off the bottom, I know that fish is searching for food....

> "That’s when I’ll instantly go to a Coffin Spoon or Buck-Shot Spoon. If the fish is already up that high, I know it’ll come at least double that distance to grab a spoon. 

> "That generally means they’re more aggressive, and aggressive fish allow you to get away with rattles, bigger baits, and larger profile spoons.

> "If I drop the 'ducer down and the fish are tight to the bottom, that’s when I’ll go to the Forage Minnow Jig or the Forage Minnow Spoon and work tighter to bottom. 

> "Everything starts with where you initially mark the fish. That’s your baseline."

I’ve already seen so many reports this season of fish houses being broken into – or even the whole shack being stolen – all over local police blotters, FB posts, in the news, etc.

I actually have a buddy whose Ice Castle was just stolen a couple days ago off Perch Lake in Baxter, MN. Pls keep an eye out no matter where you're at across the ice belt.

Soooo lame and makes me absolutely sick.

How hard is it to keep grubby paws off other people’s stuff?!

It’s outrageous that you can’t even leave an ice auger in your locked shack for the 12 hours that you go home before coming back out that same evening.

I’ve talked to numerous folks that say they even leave their wheelhouses unlocked just so that they don’t have to replace the broken door if some jerk wants to come snoop around...’cuz if they want in, they’re getting in either way.

What kind of a world do we live in where you can’t respect others’ stuff? It’s really not that hard to just be a good human. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Don’t care who you are, we all go thru tough times: whether it’s financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, you name it. But if you want something = work your dang butt off until you get it! Okay, okay...I’ll try to relax a bit now....

Like I said, I’ve got no time for someone that can’t respect other people’s property...but this time it was a necessary kind of “breaking and entering” – posted by @panoramic_outdoors on IG:

> “A few years ago K-dog (have yet to discover his or her actual name) used our ice shack for an overnight shelter while in a blizzard on Lake Winnipeg."

> “Most of the time our shack is broken into with the intent of theft or destruction...this time it was not the case...glad to see there are still some good folks out there! Our response to these visitors: Anytime k-dog!”

Pretty cool. But might also be a good reason to keep a pen and paper in your fish house instead of a Sharpie lol.

Don't underestimate how fast groups of slabs move around down there! If the weather permits, playing that run-and-gun game can make all the difference in how many fish you take home.

Here's some deets from a new Rapala YouTube vid with Tony Roach talkin' the importance of using the right gear and staying mobile for crappie while he's out on Upper Red Lake:

> "Often when we see them on FFS, we’re trying to get ahead of them.

> "When you’re fishing Red Lake crappies, speed and mobility are key. That’s why I’m fishing this...heavy tungsten [VMC Tungsten Torpedo Spoon] to get down there fast.

> "You want to get on top of these fish as quickly as possible. We’re literally towing the FFS around in an Otter sled. The [Strikemaster] Maven is ideal for drilling quick holes because you’ve got to punch on top of these fish, get down there quickly, catch 'em and move on.

> "You’ve got to have the right setup, a fast auger, plenty of batteries, and you’ve got to pack light and move efficiently.

> "We’ve been running these stretches, sometimes 100-200 yards away from the [Polaris] Ranger, drilling holes and looking in every direction until we land on these big schools.

> "You almost have to predict the rate of speed they’re traveling. Sometimes, if you see them out at 40' you’ve got to get 50-60' ahead of them and anticipate where they’re going to be.

> "It’s less like fishing and more like hunting.... We’re just running them down. You’ve just got to stay right on top of them.

> "I'm fishing the Torpedo [Spoon]. No bait. Just dropping that thing down as fast as I possibly can, and smacking big crappies."

Yeahhhh I'm sending that one back where I found it!

Saw that grossness posted by Garth Wilhelmsson in the Saginaw Bay Area Fishing FB group on Jan 29 and had to do some digging to figure out what exactly was going on with it – have seen numerous others before, too.

Looks like that fish has something called lymphocystis and sounds like it’s maybe caused by...

> ...external trauma from spawning, aggression, parasites, or handling can facilitate infection and spread. In addition, crowding, shipping, and other stressors appear to trigger disease outbreaks.

And a little more on the deal from the MN NDNR:

> Although the virus occurs naturally in the environment, infections occur at a much higher rate during cold periods in late winter and early spring.

> It’s not usually fatal to the fish unless it affects their feeding, breathing or a secondary infection occurs.

> Not known to infect humans...however, proper cooking of any freshwater fish is recommended. Dispose of uneaten portions by burying [lol] or in household waste.

Here's another lovely-looking specimen someone pulled thru the the ice that's got the funk.

As stated, apparently it does not affect humans, and we're definitely not telling you to eat one if you catch one...but would you? 🤔 #RestInPeaceGrease

1. A day in the life of Al Lindner 🍿

> What happens when a legendary angler decides to skip the office and go fishing instead? You get a front-row seat to a true day on the water with Mercury Partner, Al Lindner.

> In this laid-back and honest look at Al’s routine, he rigs a few go-to baits, grabs a quick snack and heads out on the Minnesota lakes he’s called home for more than 50 years. Along the way, Al reflects on a lifetime in fishing, from tournament days to guiding, the rise of youth and competitive fishing and how technology has changed the sport forever.

> But more than anything, this is about why he still does it. The thrill of the bite. The love of being on the water. And the two things that have guided his life for decades: fishing and faith.

> At nearly 81 yrs old, Al is still telling stories, still chasing that next bite and still sharing the joy of fishing with anyone who wants to come along.

> Grab a coffee, hop in the boat and spend a day in the life of Al Lindner.

2. Great conversation on MN walleye fishing 🎥

> In this episode, the Walleye Alliance and the Minnesota DNR break down new creel survey results from the Brainerd Lakes Area. Covering angler effort, forward-facing sonar usage, catch vs harvest trends, and what anglers are saying about Minnesota’s proposed 4-fish walleye bag limit. We also discuss why social data matters, how technology and pressure intersect, and why public comments help shape future fisheries management.

I also really appreciate that Jeremy Smith was playing devil's advocate:

3. MN: Mille Lacs perch limit dropping from 10 to 5

> The Lake Mille Lacs yellow perch bite is shaping up to be another productive one this winter with Minnesota anglers as of Jan. 18 having harvested about 47% of their allowable 36,500 quota. Tribal anglers can harvest an equal amount of 36,500 pounds of yellow perch.

> That healthy state harvest has prompted the DNR to tighten the daily perch limit on the lake for the remainder of this winter. DNR Fisheries Section Manager Brad Parsons confirmed..that effective Mon, Feb 9, the yellow perch daily limit on Mille Lacs will drop from 10 to 5.

4. The ‘Tour Level Gold’ season finale is out now 🔥

> A season's worth of early mornings, long days, relentless competition and it all comes down to one more day to execute on the biggest stage in walleye fishing: the National Walleye Tour Championship.

> A full season without having an off day, let alone a tournament, Duane Hjelm sets out to round out his best season yet chasing his second AOY title. Green Bay can make you or break you. The weather coming in makes day two of the event seem unlikely. These guys have to get it done on the first day, or they won't be able to fish for the championship.

5. MN: I fished a spot that had 10K other people on it 🤣

We had a blast at the 2026 Brainerd Jaycee’s Ice Fishing Extravaganza! And decided to have a little fun and edit this video like it was a reality TV show trailer HA! Hope you get a kick out of it:

More info on the Extravaganza next week.

6. MN: Walleye Alliance Spring Banquet is April 23

7. MN: Big news for bass-heads!

The DNR has officially changed the rules...catch-and-release bass fishing is now allowed year-round in MN.

8. Big ‘Season Opener Sale’ from Minn Kota + Humminbird! 👀

Too much for here but here are the Minn Kota details (click the pic 👇):

And here are the Humminbird details (click the pic 👇):

9. Sitka clothing now in fishing

10. NC: Big Rock Sports filed for bankruptcy

Distributor of fishing and hunting stuff:

> The filings in US Bankruptcy Court...so far have not detailed the reasons for the move to liquidate, but show the company was facing a wide range of lawsuits from suppliers, property owners and other business partners.

> Prior to the US filing, Big Rock's Canadian subsidiary was liquidated, and the filing was blamed on a liquidity crisis facing Big Rock in the US.

11. CO going militant about zebra checks

> ...utilize 2 new officers at CO's points of entry to intercept boats coming into the state with the invasive mussels. More than 54 mussel-infested boats were intercepted at the state borders last year.

> "The primary portion of these new officers' job duties is to enforce compliance at these roadside stations."

> ...also has plans to install a new $1.3 mil dip tank to improve the decontamination of boats visiting Highline Lake....The tanks have been deployed in other states and use hot water to quickly flush out and kill mussels attached to boats.

"Intercept." "Enforce compliance." "Deployed." Dang!

12. Rapala is distributing Okuma in Australia

13. Brunswick 2025 FY results posted

Brunswick Corp. released its 2025 fiscal year and fourth quarter financial results. Pretty flat overall with Q4 being good:

> The propulsion segment [Merc] had a robust 4th quarter, with net sales increasing 23.1% to $555.6 mil from the prior-year period.

> ...Navico Group [Lowrance] increased 4% year-over-year to $203 mil.

> Net sales for the Brunswick boat brands increased 11.2% to $387.3 mil from 2024.

14. ASA is looking for a trade show manager

15. HUGE ICE-FISHING GIVEAWAY! ($4K+ VALUE) 🤯

Have a shot at winning a $4,000+ spread of ice-fishing goodness that’s chock full of some of our absolute favorite ice gear!!!

Yup, this is real life. Our biggest and baddest giveaway to date!

Takes just 10 seconds to enter and can share the link you get for bonus entries. Good luck!

Couple hardwater tips from Jason Mitchell

Gotta give props to Jason Mitchell again, because he’s not afraid to share his secrets with the rest of us – thank YOU, Jason! 🙌

In this vid, he talks 1) when to tie direct vs using snaps, and also 2) how/when/why he uses a sneaky braided line split-ring trick on ice:

Groundhog Day was on Monday, and ol’ Punxsutawney Phil says we’ve got 6 more weeks of winter ice fishing...but the PA Game Commission says he might not make it that long. More like 3-4 hours on low ‘til he’s fork tender. 😅 Savage!

How about Trey Fridgen hitting the bumpboard with a slobby 31-incher?! Caught out of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba of course 👀 if you somehow didn't notice its green back. Props man! What a unit:

Thanks so much for reading! 👊 Hope you get slimed-up this weekend, and I’m not talking about the flu lol.... 🦠

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026