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Had a few neighborhood kids knock on my door the other day wanting to know if there were any odd jobs they could do to make some money. They suggested pulling weeds or mowing the grass (which both obviously need to be done at my place lol) but I had a better idea:
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The boat always takes priority hahaha! Found out they all love to fish, so I sent them off with some cash and a big box of assorted fishing tackle...and they hit me up the next day wondering what they could do next! 😅👊 Keep grinding fellas!
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When a hammer like NWT pro Duane "Dewey" Hjelm says he just caught his biggest walleye ever...you know it’s going to be an absolute unit LOL.
> Dewey: “A few weeks back, before I left for Green Bay I had a couple of days to go play around on my favorite lake [Oahe]. We didn’t catch many that day but when I set the hook on this fish I knew instantly it was different. When fighting the fish, I told the boyz that if this were indeed a walleye it was definitely my PB. When Tyson netted it, we were all in awe.”
She was a 34” behemoth that went 13 lbs 14 oz. 🤯
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Big congrats on the fish of a lifetime, man!!!
Oh, and Dewey also said...
> “This beast was caught on a new bait from Rapala that’s going to be released at ICAST here in a few short weeks.”
He must’ve meant a few long weeks lol:
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No doubt walleyes LOVE eating leeches....
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...BUT sometimes it’s parasitic leeches that are dining on the walleye. 👀
Josh Woodward (@_woodward_fishing) posted a video on his Instagram page showing a walleye they caught on a Moonshine Shiver Minnow that had a mouth FULL of leeches:
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> “We see these leeches on walleye every summer in the same exact spot on a certain lake (northern WI). Never anywhere else in the lake which I’ve always found interesting. ...not a weed in the lake!”
Here’s a couple other screenshots from the video:
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I’ve seen this before, but never to THAT extent 😳so I reached out to a friend at the MNDNR (Marc Bacigalupi) who passed the information along to MNDNR’s Fish Health Laboratory and here’s what they (Isaiah E Tolo, PhD, Fish Health Supervisor) had to say about it:
> “We do see this from time to time and yes they are leeches feeding on the walleye.
> “Some waters in R1 and R2 have been documented with similar observations....
> “This looks like Hirudinosis – infestation with leeches of the superclass Hirudinae – family Piscicolidae.
> “One common species that can be found like this in fish like walleye, drum and largemouth bass (etc) is Myzobdella lugubris. This particular leech is the most common leech that parasitizes fish in the Great Lakes region and is the only species commonly found in buccal cavity.
> “The disease of leech infestations in general in freshwater fish is called Hirudinosis and is usually not very serious in large fish but outbreaks can occur in some populations of wild fish when many leeches are accumulating in locations where fish may be congregating. The leeches attach, penetrate the skin and take blood from fish and can quickly decrease hemoglobin in small fish – sometimes killing them.
> “On a population level I doubt that leeches have much of an impact but seeing them in these concentrations on multiple fish may be a sign of a disease outbreak in this population. It will likely run its course as leeches detach to lay eggs and fish behavior changes (i.e. young year 1-2 walleye may be congregating for some reason – looking for cooler water temps and higher DO, looking for benthic oriented prey etc.). Whatever the reason for the infestation – these parasites and hosts are well adapted to each other and I would not expect issues with the walleye population.”
Big thanks to MNDNR’s Fish Health Laboratory for getting back to me with that super interesting info! 🙌
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Z-Man ElaZtech saves leaky boat on fly-in trip.
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You can’t make this stuff up!
> @willnalleyfishing: “I just completed a fly-in fishing trip to remote northern Ontario. We traveled to a back lake that was accessible from our main lake. The boat we had at our disposal was missing a rivet and of course, leaked like a sieve.
> “After a short bit of quick thinking and problem solving I sacrificed a StreakZ XL for the win! A short piece was cut from the body using a multi tool and threaded through the hole missing the rivet. A quick pull through and stretch followed by a release, completely blocked the hole and saved the day! My buddy added a bead of superglue to help seat and protect the exposed part inside the boat. The day was saved by the most innovative soft bait material in the world!”
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Also proof that dudes will do anything to make “one last cast” actually NOT be their last cast lol. Well, anything except tell their wives:
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One❓that I get asked ALL of the time...
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...is what LiveScope pole I’m running. And I’m not just saying that as an excuse to bring it up 😅 I’ve legit been asked 100s of times in the comments section of videos or by folks simply replying to this email.
I’ve been running a 4’ FIN GEAR Live Scan Pole Mount for several years now. It’s not cheap but it has worked GREAT and is super beefy! I love how quickly it can stow and deploy – all in one motion – which is amazing for someone who hops around to a lot of spots.
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Before this I had broken numerous other poles that had lots of plastic parts, so finally decided to pony-up for one that could withstand my abuse. I’ll even leave my FIN GEAR down in the water when Side Imaging at 4-5 mph when other poles would literally explode.
I have it bolted on a Cisco Sport Trac Lund Mount (42°) so I can move it anywhere – front to back, side to side – around my Lund 2025 Impact XS. Sometimes I’ll even pop it off to throw the pole and shuttle into the back of my buddy’s rig since sharing is hard hahaha.
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You’ve gotta figure out what style of mounting system you need for your rig – they sell versions that attach to a rail, or to a track system, or you can mount it to a base plate like I did depending on your boat make/model. It looks like FIN GEAR has started making all of their own mounting systems now too since I originally set mine up, which makes things much easier.
And btw I prefer Garmin's 0 Degree Pole Mount for attaching the transducer to the pole. I feel it gives me better images directly beneath the boat than the offset mounts and also slightly more accurate casting.
Like I said this stuff isn’t cheap, but it’s built to last. And as someone who has beat the ever-living snot out of one for years now, I can 100% vouch they’re the real deal.
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5. NY: Folks want Saratoga Lake walleye szn to close earlier.
> Saratoga Lake anglers are concerned that walleyes are being over-fished in tributaries during the late winter period due to early ice-out and warmer water temperatures, which trigger an earlier spawn. They are asking NY DEC to consider a local regulation that would close the walleye season on March 1, rather than March 15.
6. MN: Local biz owner checks DNR on Mille Lacs regz.
I came across this interesting exchange of emails between “Tutt’s Bait and Tackle owner Jason Bahr, who is also a member of the Mille Lacs Lake Fisheries Advisory Committee (MLFAC) and Brad Parsons, the current fisheries chief of the DNR about the ultra conservative catch and release walleye regulations currently in place on Mille Lacs Lake.”
If you’re invested in the Mille Lacs walleye limit drama, you’ll want in on this tea lol. 🫖
7. OH might finally name walleye the state fish.
> House Bill 599, which passed the House today 93-4, designates sander vitreus – commonly known as the walleye – as the official fish of the state of OH.
> H.B. 599 now must pass the Senate and be signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine for it to take effect. The bill is swimming farther than previous efforts to declare a state fish.
> OH is a fish out of water when it comes to state symbols. Despite having two state fossils (Trilobite and Dunkleosteus), a state beverage (tomato juice), and a state rock song (”Hang on Sloopy”), OH is 1 of 3 states that still lacks an official state fish (the other 2 are IN and IA).
> A 2021 NBC4 poll saw 27.5% of respondents back the walleye for state fish, while 20.8% and 20.6% backed the yellow perch and smallmouth bass, respectively.
8. OH: Walleye tourney cheaters’ boat up for auction.
9. Al Lindner’s Lund 2075 Pro V is for sale.
Said he’s selling all his open-water stuff and focusing 100% of his efforts towards ice fishing this season.... Okay, not really...but check this thing out!
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Might I recommend a few other teams try tying on this bad boy? Lol
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13. MO: DeSoto Lake stocked with 40K walleye fingerlings.
14. New Gamakatsu Horizon jigheads for strolling/Damiki.
> Developed and successfully utilized in Japan for the popular mid strolling technique with forward-facing sonar, the Horizon Head Jigs are designed to maintain a horizontal posture while imparting an extremely natural action to your bait.
> ...comes equipped with an ultra-sharp Gamakatsu round bend jig hook with Nano Alpha finish. The Horizon Head LG and Horizon Head LG Weedless have a Tournament Grade Wire (TGW) hook that’s thinner, stronger, and sharper than the standard wire and features the Nano Alpha finish. The Nano Alpha finish is 2X slicker for improved hooking ratios and 4X more corrosion resistant than traditional finishes
15. John Clark = new GM of Skeeter Boats.
> Clark joined Skeeter in 2006 in the accounting department where he focused on improving budgeting and forecasting abilities to assist in management planning. Clark also served in various roles within the company including quality assurance manager, and director of quality assurance and customer relations where he expanded Skeeter’s customer service skill set and tools through new software solutions, warranty management systems and the launch of Integrity Services. Prior to his current role as general manager, he held the position of assistant general manager and his responsibilities included managing daily operations, staff, facilities as well as Skeeter’s long-term vision.
16. Josh Ahlberg = new sales/marketing vp of Outdoor News.
17. Source Outdoor Group 🤝 Outdoor America.
> Outdoor America proudly announces Source Outdoor Group of Gainesville, GA, as its designated Agency of Record. Tasked with spearheading marketing strategies for the premier outdoor network, Source Outdoor Group will manage facets of Outdoor America’s media, public relations, influencer management, and communications strategies. This partnership aims to enhance brand visibility, expand audience engagement, and drive the network’s mission of promoting outdoor activities, conservation, and adventure.
18. West Marine got $150 mil financing.
19. Boating Industry 2024 Top Dealers applications available now.
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Cover water vertically and horizontally. 👀
From Parsons and Kavajecz is this great throwback The Next Bite TV write-up:
> Early summer is a transition period: Fish are past the post-spawn period and are moving into more summer patterns. Traditionally this can mean tough fishing, but covering as much water as possible can help you catch more walleyes.
> Spread lures out both horizontally as well as vertically. Walleyes can be tight to the structure, or suspended in open water. It really depends on the particular lake....
> In open water, get those baits out from the boat using Off Shore Tackle Side Planers. These boards are ballasted so they run true in the roughest conditions, and even sit upright when still in the water.
> Spreading lures vertically sometimes means using methods that allow lures to run deeper than they normally would. This is a common practice this time of year since we’re typically using smaller-sized lures that are not designed to dive very deep on their own.
> In open water it may mean adding a weight in front of the lure, like an Off Shore Tackle Guppy Weight on an OR16 Pro Snap to gain more depth. Or in situations where we are trolling structure, we often incorporate leadcore line to get the baits to the desired depth.
> Shad-style baits like the Berkley Flicker Shad are great where the fish are feeding on stuff like shad, perch, crappie and similar forage. In lakes where the walleyes are feeding on things like smelt, cisco and alewives we opt for a longer bait like Berkley Flicker Minnows.
> Walleyes normally feed “up” meaning their feeding zone is above where they’re positioned. If you mark fish suspended 25′ down over 35′, run your lures just above them at 20′. > Fish relating to structure and hanging tighter to the bottom are another story. While running lures just above these fish can trigger a few to bite, many times these fish are better triggered by running lures right in front of their faces.
Keep reading here for way more info from The Next Bite crew.
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If you SOMEHOW still don’t own any Berkley Flicker Shads, get on it before your buddies make fun of you lol.
Catches ’em year-round, plus leadcore SZN is coming in hot.... If you ever see walleyes scattered all over out deep – with no structure to hold ’em in one spot – you want this dude fighting on your side:
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Behind every “hero shot” is a fish trying to do the dang Macarena in your hands, and sometimes they nail the tooshie shake. Hilarious snap of Martin Prochnow taking an uppercut from a zander. #FishFlopFriday
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Tight lines (and grips 🤣) this weekend if you’re getting out!
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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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