You might remember a recent Target Walleye where I posed that ^ question here in Top Item #1.

It featured a Q&A with Travis Hartman, who has been a fishery biologist with the OH DNR for 20-ish yrs and is currently the Lake Erie Fisheries Program Administrator for the OH Division of Wildlife.

I thought that info was from last season (when I came across it in a random FB post) but apparently the info was 10 years old and had just been regurgitated....

Luckily that info seems to have aged well...extremely well 😅😮‍💨 phew! And Travis Hartman was nice enough to reach out and provide some awesome insight (thanks man!). Here’s some nuggets from the new conversation – new as in from last night and this morning HA!

> The key message is that anglers should make harvest decisions within the regulations. Those decisions might be very different for each angler. For anglers that prefer to release big fish, they certainly should, and at the same time it’s OK for anglers to keep big fish if that fits their desires. 

> Lake Erie is a different animal than other walleye systems. We are fortunate to have tens of millions of walleye, and many of the harvest dynamics in Ohio have been similar for decades. Even though we are seeing increasing fishing effort in what were traditionally low effort months (September through April, including pre-spawn and spawning periods), our highest harvest months are still May through August. In most years, more than half of the walleye harvested by anglers in Ohio waters of Lake Erie are harvested in June and July.

> For anglers strongly opposed to harvest of large walleye compared to harvesting smaller “eaters”, I remind them of the age structure of Lake Erie walleye. Based on otolith (inner ear bones) ages, we know that trophy walleye on Lake Erie are nearly all 12 to 19 years old. Let’s say that you catch a 30” female that is 15 years old. She has been spawning since she was 4 years old and has potentially contributed for at least 10 years. If you harvest her, you probably removed the next 3 or 4 years that she could have spawned, at most. On the flip side, if you harvest a female “eater” that is 5 years old, you potentially removed 10 years or more of her future contributions. Again, anglers should make harvest decisions within the regulations, that align with their own values.

> The best argument for releasing large fish would be genetics. If you value large fish and you release her to continue contributing, even 3 or 4 more years would continue contributing genetics from a large fish that survived to an old age and could perpetuate more of those large fish in the future.

> We have been spoiled with large year classes in 8 of the past 11 years, and 3 of those year classes are all larger than the big 2003 year class that I referenced in the response to Lance. Based on more than 40 years of annual survey data, we know that we are in a very unique period of high productivity and incredible walleye fishing.

This photo is of Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel sampling walleye that were caught in their fall gillnet survey. This survey contributes data to the annual population model that is used to determine sustainable harvest regulations:

> During the 2025 fishing season we set the record for the highest angler walleye harvest rate that we have ever measured. During the 1980s that were previously considered the good old days of Lake Erie walleye fishing, the angler harvest rate was consistently between 0.51 and 0.57 walleye harvested per hour of angler effort, well higher than most walleye fisheries in the Midwest. Since 2018 we have been above 0.60 fish per hour every single year, and in 2025 we hit a new record of 0.93 fish per hour. That is the combined rate for all of Ohio’s Lake Erie waters from April through October.

> We also break harvest rates down by fishery (charter fishery and private boat fishery), along with management units. Our most impressive harvest rate in 2025 was the charter boat fishery in our eastern Ohio waters from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut (our eastern waters of the central basin). Their harvest rate was an unbelievable 2.02 fish per angler hour. We have hit a point where our walleye harvest rate on Lake Erie is seasonally and regionally in the same ballpark as good harvest rates for panfish!

Note: This graph shows angler walleye harvest rate in Ohio waters of Lake Erie. They’ve experienced 8 straight years that are all higher than the 1980s harvest rate, and 2025 was a new high in the 46 year dataset. This data is from their April through October creel survey that covers the entire Ohio portion of Lake Erie:

Both the folks that hit Lake Erie AND the fish are eating well. 😅 This pic is of Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel sampling walleye that were caught in their fall gillnet survey. These are diet items from the walleye’s stomach being measured:

This shot is of Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel sorting the catch from a western basin trawl survey. They use trawls to index the abundance of young-of-year walleye, which allows them to predict how many 2 year old fish will result from each year’s hatch:

This next graphic shows west basin trawl survey data of young-of-year walleye in August. This includes trawl catches in both Ohio and Ontario waters of the west basin. The 2025 data will be used to predict 2 year olds in 2027. 8 of the last 11 years have been above average hatches.

As you can see, the good ol’ days of walleye fishing are happening right NOW on Lake Erie 💯 and it looks like they’re set up for it to continue for years to come!

Solid quick-hitter from Brian “Bro” Brosdahl:

> On the natural lakes of the upper Midwest, walleyes typically spawn in depths of 1-4′ over gravel bars, mixed gravel and sand flats, then when they’re done, they drop off to the edges.

> But “where they go next isn’t necessarily deep. Male walleyes will linger near the spawning sites, and females will slip out into 4-12′. Some will slide farther down the break, but they’ll still move up mornings and evening to feed.”

> Bro says his favorite post-spawn spots combine slight contour changes and vegetation. “By far, the best spots will be those with new-growth cabbage, coontail, sand grass, etc.”

> He prefers cabbage weeds, which draw a buffet of bait – perch, shiners, crayfish, darters and more. “May through July I’m watching my Humminbird Side Imaging for scattered areas of emerging cabbage weeds, which may be nothing more than foot-wide isolated clumps of inch-tall stuff, but hold food.

> “Also look for larger weed flats along upper and lower food shelves, and soft-bottom areas – that’s where most of the weeds usually grow. Your 2D sonar will show weeds too, but looking right and left of the boat with Side Imaging gives me a more comprehensive idea of the layout, and I spook fewer fish by maintaining my distance.

> “I’ll find pockets, outside points, funnels and areas where vegetation extends past the pronounced weedline. Then it’s just a matter of dropping waypoints.”

Thx for the insight, Bro! 👊

And btw the next time you flex on me, I hope it's by kicking my butt in the boat...pls not physically, but by catching way more walleye than me!

This video from Caleb Wistad (aka hookedupwi on YouTube) is an A+ swimbait breakdown talking in-depth how to choose the right swimbait, match it with the perfect jig head, and retrieve it to trigger bites in a variety of conditions.

I honestly learned a lot from this video and I think you will too:

Keep kicking ‘em out, man!

I thought this pic was some kind of burn wound at first! 🔥🥴 But apparently it’s the ultra-clear waters of Flathead Lake, MT:

Sheesh! And here I thought we had clear water around the Brainerd Lakes Area....

1. MN: Red Wing MWC is May 8-9

On the Mississippi River = a great equalizer for many tactics.

2. MI: Saginaw Bay MWT is this weekend

3. SD: Lake Oahe NWT happening May 20-21

4. MN: Walleye Alliance "Spring Shoot Out" coming in hot 🔥

Happening May 16 on Gull Lake near Brainerd, MN.

Folks have been begging for more walleye tournaments in the BLA throughout the season (not only in fall) so here’s your chance to put your money where your mouth is. 😏 I can only say that because I’m already signed up with a buddy lol.

5. WI's 'Fishing Opener' is this weekend

Lucky buggers. ⏳

6. IA: 44th-annual Walleye Weekend is here

7. PA’s walleye season opens tomorrow

8. MN: DNR previews new licensing system

The new online system will launch this summer

9. SD: GF&P commissioners say no to lowering walleye limit

> The SD Game, Fish and Parks Department denied a petition from an Oacoma man who sought to cut the state’s walleye limit in half for the first 3 months of the year on a portion of the Missouri River.

> Amy Gebhard, a GF&P fisheries biologist out of Chamberlain, earlier in the meeting explained that Lake Francis Case’s walleye abundance is slightly above a 7-yr average, according to a survey conducted last fall.

> GF&P conducts an annual survey with 75 gill nets to gather data. Another survey conducted via electrofishing last year showed there are fewer young walleye in Lake Francis Case but reproduction is “still very present.” Gebhard said the population of sauger, a fish similar to a walleye and is constrained within the walleye limit, also has an upward trending population in Lake Francis Case.

10. SD: Study set on where walleyes travel in Lake Francis Case

11. Minnesota Mom’s Fishing Challenge, May 9-10

A free virtual fishing challenge for those lovely ladies in our lives! Will be happening over this year’s fishing opener, which is also “Take a Mom Fishing Weekend” = all MN moms can fish without purchasing a fishing license.

> To participate in the challenge, moms simply need to join the Minnesota Moms Fishing Challenge 2026 Facebook group and submit one photo of each fish they catch on May 9-10.

> The 2026 Minnesota Moms Fishing Challenge is a collaboration between the Minnesota DNR, Student Angler Organization and Women Anglers of Minnesota. All participants who submit a fish photo will be entered in a random drawing for prizes (including gift cards from Scheels) provided by the Student Angler Organization and their partners. Participants are also invited to tune in for pre-challenge fishing webinars, hosted by Women Anglers of Minnesota, to brush up on technique before heading out.

12. Tell me these colors don’t scream “walleye!”

Some killer new patterns in the CrushCity The Mayor lineup:

And they have a new 3.5" size too, which I’m pumped about ‘cuz it’s a GREAT all-around size for walleye.

It doesn’t matter what lake I’m headed to or what time of year it is, I will always have a swimbait rigged-up in my bait rotation when figuring out what the walleyes want that day. Such a great way to cover a bunch of water, and when the swimbait bite is on – it’s on!

13. Lowrance enhanced their Eagle Eye software

Remember Eagle Eye is their 9" $999 FFS package of unit + transducer:

> This release builds on the [well-regarded] recent ActiveTarget software update, extending many of the same performance improvements to Eagle Eye users.

> The newly added depth offset feature gives anglers the ability to account for the transducer's installation depth below the water surface. With depth offset enabled in Forward mode, anglers can now compensate for this previously hidden area, gaining full visibility from the transducer to the water's surface.

Also 3 new color palettes.

14. T-H Marine now has Prop Nuts for Quest trollers

> The Prop Nut stabilizes your trolling motor while reducing noise and vibration for smoother and quieter movement.

Also no tools needed to remove/replace the prop.

15. Q1 Garmin marine revenue up 11% YOY

> ...the marine segment increased 11% in the [Q1] with broad-based growth across multiple categories. Gross and operating margins were 56% and 26%, respectively, resulting in $91 million of operating income.

16. MI: Asian carp trap at Rock Run Rookery Preserve

> A 1-way trap has been installed in a channel that links the Forest Preserve District’s Rock Run Rookery Preserve lake to the Des Plaines River as part of the battle to keep invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan.

17. CO: Boulder hires divers to get rid of milfoil

But creating this type of hysteria is a little dramatic:

> Officials warn the plant's spread could threaten recreation and drinking water infrastructure. The plant displaces native species, can tangle swimmers and boat motors, and can clog water infrastructure. It may also affect the odor and taste of drinking water.

> While Boulder does not currently draw drinking water directly from the reservoir....

18. Free onX Fish class May 5 at 6:30pm cst

> Join the onX Fish crew...for a Masterclass designed to help you plan your first successful trips of the season. We'll dive deep into the app's powerful mapping tools, showing you exactly how to scout new water and find productive spots regardless of your target species.

Btw onX Fish is now available on Android!

It’s literally a cheat code for researching fisheries (e-scouting!) and finding your new favorite honey hole. The onX Fish app has powerful filtering tools to search by species, trophy potential, keeper potential, and high abundance.

You can start a 7-day free trial and check it out for yourself! The app costs less than $3 a month, and that’s before you get 20% off when signing up with code: TW on their site. 👊

19. Scheels is having a big fishing sale 🚨

Up to 50% off the goods!

Windy shoreline = dinner bell for walleyes

Here’s why – from NWT pro Drake Herd:

> When the wind starts pushing into a shoreline, it sets off one of the most reliable walleye patterns you can fish. Wind creates wave action that stirs up sediment, disorients baitfish, and reduces light penetration – giving walleyes a major feeding advantage. Instead of roaming, they’ll often slide shallow and pin bait against the bank, turning that stretch into an active feeding zone.

> The key is focusing on windblown areas with structure – rock, gravel, or scattered weeds. These spots hold bait and give walleyes ambush points. Even a slight wind can be enough, but the best bites usually come when there’s consistent chop hitting the shore.

> Presentation-wise, simplicity wins. Moving baits like crankbaits, swimbaits, or a jig and minnow worked parallel to the shoreline can be deadly. Walleyes in these conditions are aggressive, so covering water and keeping your bait in the strike zone is more important than finesse.

Walleyes can sometimes be a little funky to start out the season, but they should be putting on their post-spawn feedbag soon – it’s time to bulk back up!

In honor of 'Fish-Flop Friday' I just wanted to remind you that even fishing YouTuber Tom Boley occasionally has one that gets away from him. #HeIsHuman? #FishingRobot

Per usual, Tom has been kicking out a pile of great content on his YouTube channel this season. I 10/10 recommend subscribing to him and I'd honestly be shocked if you weren't already.

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026