A team of brothers with a combined age of 33 🤯 won the 2-day event on Tobin Lake! Winston Stockdale (18) and his brother Will (15) caught 10 walleyes for 98.42 lbs and took home a $19,606.25 payday + ultimate bragging rights!

Saw in an Instagram post from Winston (@prairieboyfishing) that they had 47.03 lbs on day 1 putting them in 4th. But then on day 2 they caught 4 over 30” and ended up with 51.39 lbs!

Amazing job, fellas! Keep doing your thing – no doubt we’ll be seeing your names more often.

Check this post from walleye pro Tommy Kemos 🎯 matching the hatch on Lake Erie with the new #10 Berkley Finisher (top) and a 5” Berkley Drip Swimmer (bottom):

Looks like Keith Kavajecz was running a similar Berkley Finisher program in the "Nebu" flavor:

Folks have been lightning it up with the Finisher all across the walleye world. If you haven't thrown one yet, you should for sure give on a toss.

Per usual, Tom’s full video is loaded with a bunch of juicy little nuggets, but here’s the time stamps to jump to a few of his main talking points if wanted...

Tip #1 (7:25): Using electronics to find fish. Not just FFS...all forms of electronics. Fish are more congregated in the spring and fall, but they're much more spread out in the middle of summer.

Tip #2 (13:30): He talks cycling thru multiple presentations because fish can be in so many different places, doing so many different things, and in different moods.

Tip #3 (20:28): Don’t get locked into fishing one specific type of structure.

Now here’s the full vid, which also has a bunch of fish catches mixed in

- That’s walleye pro Drake Herd talking about the OSP (Japanese bait company) Saikoro “Dice” Rubber soft bait that has legit won hundreds of thousands of dollars in bass derbies these last couple of seasons. 🤔🥴

It seems like by this time next year, almost every company will be coming out with some sort of version or different twist on this. 

I just saw that Scheels already has the Strike King Tumbleweed (left) and 3 Brothers Baits Loaded Dice (right) in stock, but surely more to come:

Now here’s what folks in the comments said under Drake’s post... 😅

> Tyler Andrzejewski: Bass eat licorice. They will eat this.

> Greg Ballering: No, they won’t...but put this on a 2’ stick to keep the geese off your dock.

> Lynn Leifson: Walleye eat a worm twirling around on a bent hook. Why not?

> Will Pappenfus: *Notify me if price drops.

> Jake Didier: Lotta walleye caught on spinnerbaits, arguably the least realistic bait in the bass world.

> Rick Malik: In Lake Erie they would definitely eat that, wrapped in an old gym sock they would still eat it....

> Cody Nielsen: I’m more curious about how I can market hair jello for $20.

But also...

> Doug Glimmerveen: A lot of walleye guys have been really quiet about bass techniques since they found out Ned Rigs work on walleye. I'll bet this works too.

I might just have to take one $10-20 🤑 for the team and see if those big, suspended ‘overs’ would eat this thing on days when they won’t touch anything else....

Although waiting for weightless 'dice' to sink down to depth sounds fun.

> Live-bait rigging (or Lindy rigging) is perhaps the most effective system for fishing walleye ever developed. Yet, it comes with its own set of nuances that can be crucial for success. In this tip, long-time guide and tournament angler Toby Kvalevog breaks down live-bait rigging, from crawlers to leeches and minnows.

> Live-bait rigging was designed to put fresh bait in front of bait in the most lively way possible while covering water. That means dragging away from the boat with simple components: a sinker, a swivel, a leader line, and a hook. Each bait category requires modified equipment with the same set of components.

Choosing weights:

> The weight you use depends on the conditions. In shallow water or low wind, a lighter weight is desired to keep the bait from dragging on the bottom. Leeches, for example, require lighter weight to not impede their natural swimming action. Upsize your weight as you increase depth and wind speed. In clear water, you also want to get your presentation away from the boat, and controlling your weight can help you do that effectively. Generally, 1/8 oz is good for 6-8’, 1/4 oz for 8-15’, 3/8 oz for 15-20’, and 3/4 oz for anything deeper than 20’.

Choosing hooks:

> A #2 octopus hook is excellent for minnows and sometimes crawlers when dealing with larger walleye. A bigger hook means a bigger hook gap for the wide nose of creek chubs, for example. They are often thicker gauged, so they better hold on to big walleye, too. That being said, there is such a thing as too heavy of a hook, especially regarding leeches. Downsizing to a #8 octopus hook, for example, helps keep the leech swimming naturally. Overall, a #4 octopus hook is good for fishing with a crawler, but again, you can upsize when targeting larger fish. This is because you create the action more with a crawler by gently sweeping the road occasionally to compensate for the fact that worms don't naturally swim in the water. Upsizing the hook with leeches leads to dragging and balling up the leech or collecting moss and debris on the bottom.

Choosing line:

> Your leader material choice depends on the bait. For crawlers and minnows, fluorocarbon is fine, but for leeches, you'll want to switch to monofilament leaders. This is because minnows attract toothy critters like pike and tend to run closer to the bottom, where they're more likely to run into the sharp edges of zebra mussels. Fluorocarbons' abrasion-resistant properties limit break-offs from these hazards. You can and should also add air to the nightcrawler with a worm blower to keep them up off the bottom. Fluorocarbons' downfall with leeches is that it sinks and drags leeches to the bottom and weighs them down. Kvalevog uses a 6-lb monofilament for leeches as it tends to float and keep the leech up and swimming naturally.

Choosing speed:

> Another way to keep your hair looking natural is to control your speed. Again, leeches should be allowed to swim freely by slowing your speed down to around 0.4mph on your GPS. Minnows can be run up to 1mph, but you should always pay attention to what you feel from your minnow on the end of the rod. If your minnow gets nervous and starts swimming harder and more frantically, that's your cue to slow down, as a fish is likely approaching and making that minnow want to flee. For crawlers, 0.8-1.0mph is a good speed as you are actively imparting the action by slowly dragging or sweeping your road and letting it fall back on semi-tight line. This dragging motion creates spin, and when you stop, the air in the crawler floats up, provoking strikes from walleye in pursuit.

Equipment:

> 2500-3000 size spinning reels are excellent for live-bait rigging as you often let a lot of line out. Kvalevog spools up 6-lb mono for all of his live-bait applications. The light line again allows live bait to swim freely. A longer, lighter, tipped rod is preferred as you feel for both strikes and what your bait is doing down there. So, feel is a big deal when detecting a lively minnow, a spring crawler, a bound-up leech, or recognizing subtle bites.

> This age-old tactic hasn't stopped catching fish, but advancing technology and equipment have made it a very specific way of fishing. Take it from Toby Kvalevog, a live-bait master with a lifetime of professional live-bait fishing experience. These tips are truly the bread and butter when it comes to fishing live bait for walleye.

1. Here’s the 2026 NWT schedule:

• Apr 9-10: Lake Erie – Monroe, MI
• May 20-21: Lake Oahe – Mobridge, SD
• June 18-19: Bay De Noc – Gladstone, MI
• July 30-31: Green Bay – Oconto, WI
• Aug 27-29: Championship – Lake Sakakawea – Garrison, ND

2. 2026 MWC schedule is out:

• March 20-21: Illinois River – Spring Valley, IL
• May 8-9: Mississippi River – Red Wing, MN
• June 5-6: Lake Winnebago – Oshkosh, WI
• July 23-24: St Marys River – Sault Ste. Marie, MI
• Aug 21-22: Bitter Lake – Webster, SD
• Sept 18-19: Cass Lake – Cass Lake, MN
• Oct 1-3: Championship (2025 qualifying) – Devils Lake, ND

3. MN: Mark Thone wins ‘walleye stamp’ contest

The Shakopee artist’s acrylic painting will be featured on next year’s walleye stamp:

Coming in 2nd place (both in the walleye and trout division) was Bemidji’s Sam Larsen – awesome stuff, bud!

In case you didn’t know: Buying a $5 optional walleye stamp helps raise money to supplement the state’s walleye stocking efforts – those dollars flow into a dedicated account for walleye stocking.

> The MN DNR stocks walleye in about 1,000 lakes that cover roughly 1 mil acres. This effort costs more than $3 mil per year. Your purchase of a walleye stamp supports the purchase of fish from certified private providers.

> MN is blessed with about 2 mil acres of walleye water, of which about 1/2 have strong self-sustaining walleye populations. Stocking improves fishing in walleye waters where natural reproduction occurs at only low or moderate levels.

Can still pick one up, even if you’ve already bought a fishing license. 👊 I get one every year. Btw for $0.75 more, the DNR will mail you the actual physical walleye stamp as a collector’s item.

4. MN: David A. Andersen Memorial Walleye Shootout TOMORROW

10th-annual Warrior Boats owners tournament on Lake of the Woods.

Btw they added a "Conventional Angling Division" this year where folks with no live sonar on/in their boat have a chance at an additional $1,000.

5. Lindner Media enters strategic partnership with Topwtr Collective...

...to modernize and expand its digital marketing capabilities.

> “This move brings cutting-edge tools and strategy to the storied brand, enabling Lindner Media to better serve industry partners and reach anglers in powerful new ways.

> For over 50 years, Lindner Media has set the gold standard in educational fishing content. Now, in partnership with Topwtr Collective – a firm specializing in data-driven marketing for the outdoors – Lindner Media is investing in the infrastructure needed to extend that influence in today’s fast-moving digital landscape.

> Topwtr Collective provides advanced digital support services, including real-time performance dashboards, media campaign execution, website optimization, and digital sales development. This structure will enhance the reach and effectiveness of content distribution.

> “We’ve always believed in making content that educates, entertains, and moves the needle for our customers,” said James Lindner, President of Lindner Media Productions. “This collaboration gives us the digital horsepower to demonstrate and amplify that value. It allows us to focus on creating trusted fishing content while knowing we have the right people and tools in place to connect with modern audiences and deliver results for our partners.”

> Topwtr’s proprietary dashboards and analytics engine enable partner brands to monitor KPIs – like video views, engagement, and sell-through – in real time, ensuring maximum return from every campaign. Lindner’s daily content will continue to be produced in their Baxter, MN studio and on the water, then delivered with precision across digital platforms.

> “When you blend the Lindner’s unmatched credibility with our results-based marketing engine, you get a flywheel that drives traffic, transactions, and loyalty in real time,” says Pete Przepiora, Co-Founder of Topwtr Collective. “This partnership is about turning legendary storytelling into repeatable, scalable revenue for every brand we work with.”

6. Rapala VMC announces new US head and key brand appointment

> Marcus Twidale, who has led Rapala USA for the last four years, is leaving his role to work on the group’s long-term strategy to accelerate the growth of its flagship brand.

> In a major announcement, the Finnish giant has appointed Twidale (pictured right) Vice President Rapala Brand and Group Strategic Brand Management, and will be replaced in the US by current Head of Sales, Travis Tuma (left of picture) as Rapala VMC USA President on January 1 next year.

7. WNC has a couple new baits coming this fall

Will try to dig up some more details soon, but here's a sneaky peaky:

8. Oldest-ever Great Lakes lake trout recorded in Lake Superior

At 62 yrs old, the fish (named Mary Catherine) is double the age of the normal lifespan of lake trout. But crazy enough it weighed only 4.6 lbs and measured just over 24”.

> How does one measure the age of a fish? It's a little similar to estimating the age of a tree – by counting the number of specific rings.

> In lake trout, a tiny piece of calcium that lives in the inner ear of the fish is the best way to guess.

> The scientific term is an otolith and as the fish grows, so does this ear stone. Every winter, another ring forms on the otolith. Mary Catherine's otolith had 62 rings.

9. Zebra mussels confirmed in Union Lake (Douglas County)

10. Pitman Creek Wholesale expands key accounts team

> ...the nation’s leading independently owned fishing tackle distributor, announced a major expansion of its Key Accounts team to better serve mass merchants. The company has hired two seasoned industry veterans who will greatly improve Pitman Creek’s ability to service customers. Julia Peterson and Brenda Mock bring over 40 yrs of combined experience to the Pitman Creek Team.

11. Skeeter expands partnership with Minn Kota + Humminbird

> New 2025 Skeeter FXR, APEX, FLEX, PRO and ZXE packages now include Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging 2 option and full Minn Kota/Humminbird product integration

12. Wildlife Forever's ‘Fish Art Contest’ is open now

> This annual program invites youth from around the world to dive into science, art, and storytelling – while reeling in knowledge about fish and aquatic habitats. Since 1997, more than 86,000 young artists from 46 countries have taken part, helping to fuel the next generation of outdoor stewards.

> The free contest [runs now thru Feb 28] is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and each year, thousands of vibrant entries swim in from across the globe.

Check all the '25 winners here, but a few that instantly caught my eye:

13. ‘Gussy’ threw out a pitch at a Brewers game ⚾️

14. Highway 3 Marine named Warrior Boat 'Dealer of the Year'

Congrats to Doug Erickson and the rest of the team!

15. Boat sales down 10.2% YOY

> NMMA’s latest Monthly Recreational Boating Industry Data Summary, which highlights data on a 12-month rolling basis, June 2024 through May 2025, reflects ongoing headwinds in retail powerboat unit sales as economic pressures remain a key concern. New powerboat retail unit sales declined 10.2% year-to-date (Jan.–May 2025), with 98,065 units sold compared to 109,212 in the same period last year.

> Macroeconomic indicators in May painted a mixed picture. Inflation remained at 2.4%, gas prices averaged $3.15 per gallon, and interest rates, both for mortgages (6.8%) and the Federal Funds Rate, continued to challenge consumer financing. Meanwhile, consumer confidence stood at 98.0 and consumer sentiment at a low 50.8, signaling apprehension around near-term financial conditions.

16. Yamaha Marine down in 1st half YOY

> ...$1.8 bil, down 5.9% from the same period of the previous fiscal year. Operating income was $251 mil, down by 26.5% from the same period a year before.

17. Suzuki FY Q1 was up

> Marine segment revenue increased 5.7% from the year-ago fiscal quarter to $216.5 mil. Operating profit increased 13.4% to $62.4 mil.

> ...the revenue increase was mainly driven by robust sales in North America, despite the impact of tariffs.

18. KastKing has officially moved to TX

How to pack trailer wheel bearings

‘Cuz boat/trailer maintenance matters, and keeping up on it can save you a ton of $$$ and frustration in the future.

This is either good or terrible news, depending just how crazy you are:

Doesn’t seem possible 😳 but it is! We’re just 105 days away from Thanksgiving weekend.

Talk about a proud dad moment! 🔨 Chase Parsons said his boys co-hosted their first episode of The Next Bite TV and did all of the catching.

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you have a great weekend, Target Walleye fam! Back atcha next week...

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026