What’s it gonna take to win the Lake Erie NWT?
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The first NWT event of the season is coming up Apr 18-19 on Lake Erie out of Port Clinton, OH. It should be an absolute slugfest!
They’ve been to Lake Erie a half dozen times since the NWT started in 2013, but it’s been yeeeears since they’ve hit Lake Erie in the early-spring time-frame.
Here’s a rundown of the winning weights and averages from every Lake Erie NWT event, and a few interesting snippets from each winning pattern.
*Note: 2016 and 2017 were the two events held in roughly the same time-frame as this year’s…
Aug 24-26, 2022 – Dunkirk, NY
1st: John Hoyer (3-day total, 15 fish) of 102.33 lbs = 6.82-lb avg
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Imagine if those ^ were pre-spawn fatties. 🤯
And he caught them CASTING and not trolling:
> Using a Berkley PowerBait The Champ Swimmer [the biggest 4.6″ size], Hoyer would cast into eelgrass, snap the bait as hard as possible to clear the grass, and they’d bite it on the fall. His best colors were HD Bluegill and HD Yellow Perch.
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> “…ripping it hard off the bottom about 6-ft and killing it…letting it freefall as fast as it possibly could, and they would absolutely inhale it. Every fish had it choked so I was able to get a good hookset and get them in the boat. I would use a 1/2-oz up to a 1-oz Fusion19 swimbait jighead depending on the current.
> “With the heavier jighead, it falls even faster and they hit it even harder. That snapping action is the most fun way to catch a walleye – end of conversation. To see how fast they come and hit it on ActiveTarget is literally breathtaking. The only rod I used was a 7′ MH Fenwick World Class. That rod was rigged with 10-lb Fireline and a 15-lb Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader.”
June 24-25, 2021 – Huron, OH
1st: Bill Sutton (2-day total, 10 fish) of 55.82 lbs = 5.58-lb avg
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> Bill: “Normally you troll with the wind. The way this set up we had to trough it. Most of the time the wind was at a T, but sometimes the wind kind of wrapped us, and we had to troll into it. My second biggest fish came that way today.
> “I was using the kicker for propulsion, but the electric trolling motor on the front for steering. I was also using the Power-Pole Drift Paddle to help me steer. It was all three at once.”
He described the winning area as a trench…fishing a break between 38′ and 42′, and running his cranks about 24′ down.
Caught ’em running Bandit Walleye Deep Divers at 2.8-3.0 mph 🔥🔥🔥 behind planer boards. Said he was using both stock and custom colors, but that his best was “wild thing” – here’s a look at it:
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Was running 2-oz snap-weights on day 1, but opted to long-line troll with 10-lb Berkley FireLine on day 2…
> “It didn’t take long to figure out that something wasn’t right [on day 2]. The adjustment I made was putting the Bandits straight on 10-lb FireLine. It worked great, but it also gives you very little margin for error. The only forgiveness you have is in your rod. And the fish this week fought like they were on a triple dose of steroids. With every violent head shake, we were terrified. But it ended up being the right adjustment.”
Oct 15-17, 2020 – Huron, OH
1st: Jason Przekurat (3-day total, 15 fish) 73.25 lbs = 4.88-lb avg
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> “The high ones are always the most active and catchable…. [But] all of my big fish came 25-33′ down over 44-46′. We were using 2-oz Off Shore Guppy weights. With the snap on, it was 100′ back total.”
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Trolled at speeds of 1.5-1.7 mph with his bow-mount Minn Kota Ultrex and said he had to get squirrely with it:
> “The whole thing was erratic driving and erratic speeds…making quick S-turns constantly to speed the boat up and then slow it back down. [The baits are] raising up and they’re going down – they’re turning left and then turning right…trying to cover all the depths at one time. To do it, you drive erratically.
> “I was using the Ultrex with High Speed Bypass [immediately boosts the motor to the highest speed] to avoid the kicker-engine noise. When you’re fishing in a pack of boats, that’s how you get extra bites.”
JP said he was running “standard deep-diving crankbaits,” that “purples are typically productive on Erie” but golds took his bigger fish of the week:
> “When I was in my primary area the first 2 days, I was trolling around the perimeter of the bait. You don’t want to be fishing where there’s a lot of bait, and there was a lot of bait out by the buoy. I would just slide outside until the bait started disappearing.”
*April 12-13, 2017 – Huron, OH
1st: Mike Defibaugh (2-day total, 10 fish) of 64.65 lbs = 6.47-lb avg
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Mike actually donated his cash winnings to the local Make-A-Wish chapter. 🙌
> “My wife and I talked about it a lot. I’m living my dream out here and I thought it would be great to let somebody else live their dream.”
Started the day jigging, but realized his fish had moved shallower and the spawn was about to happen, so he moved to fish a flat adjacent to spawning areas:
> “Where I was, the water clarity was more consistent and the fish were further behind [with the spawn]. This area generally doesn’t turn on for another couple weeks. The jigging fish got more active for a reason. So I decided to try the females off the spawning grounds and it worked.
> “I was getting them 18-20′ down over 30-32′. [Trolling] 88-101′ [back] took all five of our big fish.”
He used Bandit Deep Divers (chartreuse head, purple sides, pink belly) with Off Shore Tackle planer boards, adding Pro-Cure gel scent on the top of each crankbait:
> “I think the scent was key to locating the crankbaits. They were hitting it hard – the boards would just rocket back. There was no mistaking there was a fish on.”
2nd: Ryan Buddie (2-day total, 8 fish) of 62.61 lbs = 7.83-lb avg
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> Started the day fishing the edge of West Reef, located near North Bass Island.
> “On my first pass I had 3 fish, and 2 were giants. I thought it was going to be on. But there was a lot of boat pressure and the fish just turned off. I tried sliding off away from the boats…I tried different angles, but it just didn’t pan out. There were tons of boats around and hardly anyone was getting bites.”
Caught 4 of his 8 fish on a Warrior Lures custom-painted (spaced out) Bandit Deep Diver running anywhere from 40’ to 110’ back at approx 1.5 mph:
> “Yesterday they wanted higher baits. Today it was mixed. We were pretty much targeting fish between 10- 20’ down. The biggest key for me was when I got opportunities, I put them in the boat. And the fact that 2 or 3 of my fish were prespawn gave me an additional 6 or 7 lbs.”
3rd: Korey Sprengel (2-day total, 8 fish) of 58.63 = 7.33-lb avg
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Had a 37.35-lb bag on day 2 that shoved him up into 3rd place:
> “I was an idiot on day one. I caught 3 fish in my primary area by 11am yesterday. For some reason, I decided to leave and look for the mother lode.”
> Sprengel never boated another walleye and limped to the scale with 21.28 lbs. Today, he stayed and caught 7. Sprengel found this area, located on the west side of North Bass Island, on the final day of practice. He caught only 1 fish there, but the water was clearing up. Sprengel described the area as a 1-mile stretch in approx 35’.
> “I told myself if it’s going to be a tough bite, I’m going to fish the cleanest water I can find. The fish were scattered, but I could see my prop at times. I really felt like that gave the best chance at catching 5 fish. And every fish that came out of there was a good one – they were all over 27 inches.”
> …Sprengel ran deep-diving crankbaits with Off Shore planer boards. He said the fish were positioned low in the morning, at approx 20-25’ down. In the afternoon, they would raise up to 10-15’ below the surface. He trolled his cranks at speeds of 1.2 to 1.4 mph, using his Power-Poles to eliminate surging and help slow the boat down. He used a snap-weight program with 2-oz Off Shore Guppy weights that enabled his baits to reach 25-30’ with less than 100’ of line out.
*Apr 21-22, 2016 – Sandusky, OH
1st: Tom Keenan (2-day total, 10 fish) of 91.46 lbs = 9.15-lb avg
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I believe all 10 of his fish were over 30″. 😳
> With the most of the field heading west both days, Keenan ran east to the less-populated waters around Loraine, OH.
> “…with LakeMaster I was able to see a series of bumps in 32-38′ near shallow water that the big females were funneling through. I set my Humminbird Depth Highlight to show these areas in green and worked 1.5 mile trolling runs from top to bottom. With iPilot Link you can go from waypoint to waypoint, but with my target depths in green, even when I had a fish on, I knew I was still in the zone.”
> He trolled Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerks and 800 Series Reef Runners. “White was the key color…. Purple and white or pink and white. At the end of the day, purple and white was probably the best.”
> “I had 40 fish on during the tournament and boated every one of them. The key is keeping my i-Pilot remote right next to me at all times. Not around my neck, but on the rod locker. This allows me to turn the boat into the fish, which swings the back of the boat away from the fish and creates what I call a ‘netting pocket.’
> “If the fish comes into the starboard side, I’ll turn into the starboard side. In big 3- to 5-ft waves it becomes even more critical. As the fish gets close I’ll also shut off the Terrova for the last 10-15 seconds of the fight so when the walleye first breaks the surface my co-angler can net it. Definitely beats unnecessarily dragging fish around.”
June 14-15, 2013 – Port Clinton, OH
1st: John Gillman (1-day total, 5 fish) of 51.70 lbs = 10.34-lb avg
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Day 2 was canceled due to high winds. I believe John Gillman still owns the all-time NWT single-day limit record? I mean it’s tough to imagine anyone ever beating a 10.24-lb average lol!
I’ll be super curious to see how it goes down this year now that more folks are spending their time “sniping” fish 🎯 with forward-facing sonar….
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Tom Boley’s killer boat-positioning trick for pitching jigs. 🎯
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Talkin’ COLD-front walleye fishing, which spring is always known for! And these boat-positioning tricks make it possible to “snipe” shallow-ish walleyes without using forward-facing sonar….
Normally you wanna Spot-Lock so you’re casting back to the fish with the wind:
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Allows him to burst his trolling motor sideways left and right and see which way the fish are sliding, to stay on ’em. Worth a watch to hear Tom break this technique down – click the pic below to jump to that section of the video:
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Walleye guide shows-out at the Bassmaster Classic!
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Came across this great Q&A in Jay Kumar’s last BassBlaster where Jay was picking the brain of northerner Adam Rasmussen, who recently finished 2nd in the Bassmaster Classic! He qualified to fish the Classic after winning the Bassmaster Open on Wheeler Lake, AL last year.
1. Is it true you used to be a walleye guide?
> “Still am and yeah that’s how I grew up making my living – guiding walleyes and muskies, and tournament-fishing for walleyes.”
2. What if a walleye guide won the Classic? Would there have been tsunamis and solar flares and the end of the world? 🤣
> “[Laughs] I don’t know about that, but it would’ve been pretty cool I know that. A lot of people all over the country, but moreso WI and MN, are pretty jacked up…grew up around me, seeing where I came from and what I’ve gotten to.”
3. Why are walleye guys and northern guys doing so well now at the higher levels of bass fishing?
> “That’s a hard one…I don’t really know the true answer. What I would say is just all the different fisheries we have up here. They relate a lot to down South.
> “…what I’ve learned from walleye fishing and what I took to bass fishing down South, the biggest thing would be understanding bait and forage.
> “Walleyes are the dumbest fish on the planet to catch. All they do is swim and eat. If you find their food, you find walleyes. I kinda took that into bass fishing: No matter what time of year it is, they still have to have food around. I’ve kind of put that into play in bass fishing and it’s working out. Not that I’m fishing strictly bait…has to be bait close by.”
4. Have you ever gotten frostbite from fishing?
> “Lots of times. I’m an ice-fishing guide as well so…. We’ve had lots of frozen fingers and frozen cheeks and all that good stuff.”
[Maybe that’s one reason the northern guys do well – if the conditions are bad, it’s no big deal to them?]
5. Do you want to fish the Elite Series?
> “Yes, absolutely, that is the main goal.”
6. Who’s your bassin’ hero?
> “I would have to say just because I didn’t really pay attention to the whole Bassmaster scene when I was a kid growing up…Al Lindner – all the Lindners. In the Midwest they’ve been huge on the forefront of fishing…every species. That’s where I learned some of the early stuff about bass fishing – watching the Lindner videos, the magazines and stuff like that.
> “As I got a little bit older, I started paying attention to Bassmaster…. Probably around the time when I was 15. That’s when I got my first real boat – didn’t even have a driver’s license yet. I bought a 17′ Lund tiller, and in the summertime I’d have my parents drop me off every day on the [Wisconsin] river on their way to work.
> “…my mid-30s when I really started pursuing [bass fishing].
> “One cool thing I remember – when I was a kid and had my first boat, I was watching a Bassmaster event. Couldn’t tell you where it was. It was the first time I saw Denny Brauer, and he was flipping black/blue jig. We had never even heard about that in the Midwest.
> “I got my hands on some b/b jigs, bought a lighter muskie rod and went on the river, flipping that b/b jig around. I caught some giant smallmouth and some largemouth – it was the coolest thing ever. I was like, Wow this really works.”
7. If FFS was banned from tournaments, or some tournaments, would you care?
> “No. I love fishing tournaments so I would obviously still fish.
> “I’m going to use [FFS] even if I’m not looking at ’em. It’s a tool I keep in my back pocket. At the Classic I fished a lot of brushpiles. I used it so I didn’t miss a cast. All my casts were in productive water.
> “But if Bassmaster banned it…I would still fish Bassmaster tournaments.”
And obviously there will always be a soft spot in his heart for these:
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Keep doing your thing, man! 👊 It’s fun to watch.
And props to Jay Kumar aka BassBlaster for tracking down Adam for that killer Q&A. If you didn’t know, BassBlaster is basically the bass-fishing-version of Target Walleye, and actually where the whole idea for TW came from. You can sign up to get his twice-weekly emails here.
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Have you ever heard of “marsh skis” before?!
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Came across this gem posted by James Davis in the Midwest Waterfowl Flyway Facebook group:
> James Davis: “A step back in time! A wonderful day out skiing! Unique to Wisconsin, marsh skis were developed in the early 1900s as a way for waterfowlers to reach hidden potholes deep in the marsh.”
I wonder if anyone still uses them to sneak into secret spring shore-fishing spots?!
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“What if the ice season was so good, we could ice fish in places never imagined before?”
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Really fun Catch Cover Blog post called “Fantasy Ice Fishing Trips You Can’t Believe” that’s definitely worth checking out:
> “The 2023-24 ice fishing season will go down as one of the worst in history. The season wasn’t terrible for portable ice anglers but it was a very short wheelhouse season in most places in the Upper Midwest. Unseasonably warm temperatures kept the ice thin and wheelhouses in the driveway.
> “But what if it wasn’t? What if it was the greatest ice season in centuries? The Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg are well-known as top ice fishing destinations. But what if the ice season was so good, we could ice fish in places never imagined before? Through the power of AI [artificial intelligence], I explored that question. There are AI tools that can create images of just about anything you can dream of. Here are some of my favorite ice fishing destinations if making ice wasn’t a problem.”
The Alamo, Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Disney World…nothing is off limits lol. Click here or on the picture below for a little ice-fishy entertainment:
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More info here on the championship and bonus payouts. And here’s MTT’s 2024 tourney schedule.
4. IA: Fertilizer spill killed more than 749K fish.
> Approximately 1,500 tons (265,000 gallons) of liquid nitrogen fertilizer (32% solution) discharged into a drainage ditch, then into the East Nishnabotna River. The release occurred due to an aboveground storage tank valve left open for the weekend.
> Killed nearly all the fish in an almost 50-mile stretch of the East Nishnabotna River to the Missouri border.
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5. Wired2fish seeks Editor-In-Chief.
This is a remote position for Wired2fish, who needs no introduction.
> As the Editor-in-Chief of Wired2fish, you will lead our editorial team and oversee the production of content for the website. This role involves developing styling guidelines, determining content strategy, reviewing content, contributing editorial pieces, and managing day-to-day content operations.
More info here on the responsibilities and qualifications.
6. GSM bought Mid-America Rod Co.
Mid-America Rod Co makes Virtus and Jewel rods, and others.
> Crispin Powley, GSM Senior VP of Fishing: “Our goal, which you’ll see come to market soon, is a ‘Made in the USA’ series of Phenix Rods that will utilize Phenix’s signature technology combined with decades of experienced craftsmanship and manufacturing from Mid-America. We also look forward to continuing their longstanding OEM relationships and partnerships.”
7. Sons of Jim Van Ryn taking over VRX Fishing.
VRX owns Xzone Lures and The Rod Glove.
> Jim, who has led VRX Fishing Products since its inception in 2010, has decided to pass on the leadership roles to his sons, Zac and Nick, who have been an integral part of the company for a number of years. Nick had been working in the company for 7 yrs in the role of product development and production and Zac has been working in the company for 3 yrs in the role of daily operations manager.
8. LA: DWF caught a 92-lb (49.5″ long) grass carp…
…while electrofishing on Lake Concordia.
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9. MN: Tom Boley seminar at Eden Prairie Scheels Apr 12.
10. SC Waterfowl Assoc. Hires Mark Copley as marketing director.
> The South Carolina Waterfowl Association, a nonprofit organization that exists to enhance and perpetuate South Carolina’s wildlife heritage through education and habitat conservation, is pleased to welcome industry veteran, Mark Copley, as Marketing Director.
https://scwa.org/
> During his career, Copley has worked in many facets of the outdoor industry, including for an award-winning TV show production, the marketing department management at Strike King Lure Company, and handling Pro Staff, Trade Show and Media Relations departments management for Rather Outdoors.
11. Jeremy Smith hopped on the Bigwater Fishing Podcast.
> [Lindner Media’s] Jeremy Smith has worked in almost every element of the [fishing] business: magazine sales, television sales, magazine writing and editing, television editing and producing, tournament organization, still photography, videography and on-camera talent to name a few of the hats he has worn.
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How to tie your own feathered trebles.
> A feathered trailer can be a game-changer when fish are being finicky. It adds a small, flashy movement to your bait, which can attract the attention of predators like smallmouth bass or walleye.
> When a crankbait is paused in the water, the feathered trailer provides a subtle movement that can entice fish to strike. It can be especially effective when using suspending crankbaits.
> This video covers the materials you need, the step-by-step process of tying the feathered trailer, and why it is worth the effort.
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I love it! Could definitely see myself becoming obsessed with this, and tying up a bunch of different combos.
If you’re looking for the easy way out 😅 you can always grab yourself some VMC Dressed X-Rap Treble Hooks in larger 2, 4 and 6 sizes…or Clam Gaff Feathered Treble Hook come in smaller 8, 10 and 12.
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“And this is how dreams and goals start….”
Amazing pic from an NWT event last season. 🙌 Dream big, little man!
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I had the exact same reaction to seeing Korey Sprengel’s rig last summer at a media event on Oneida Lake, NY.
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I got a cool message in the TW inbox the other day from Mike Mitzel. They had a tough couple days up on the Rainy River (MN/ON border) breaking ice and then fishing thru small pockets over the side of the boat – literally making their own fishable water. #diehards
They were finally rewarded with his buddy Nick Neu sticking a new PB walleye to the tune of 31-inches! 😳 Imagine the adrenaline rush of trying to net that behemoth while pushing ice chunks out of the way.
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Sign up another fish-head!
If you’re forwarding Target Walleye to a friend who loves to walleye fish or want your fishing buddies to get these emails, just send us their email addresses and we’ll take care of it! (We won’t sell the addresses, use them for spam, etc.)
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FRIENDS OF TARGET WALLEYE
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Target Walleye – walleye during open water and all species during hardwater – is brought to you by Al Lindner, Jay Kumar, Chris Philen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-heads like you!
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Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye He was discovered in Brainerd, MN after years of wondering how in the heck people break into the fishing biz. He’s in it now, but still can’t answer that question…. Brett is one of those guys who majored in marketing, only because there was no such thing as a “fishing degree” at the time…. Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com
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