We're back on the water!

It’s been a weird spring ‘round the Midwest...sunny and 80°F one day, then frost warnings or snow flurries the next.

And of course it’s been blowing 20-40 mph everyyyy single day. 🤦‍♂️ Which means the bite has quite literally been up and down lol.

There's a pile of different ways you can target walleye right now, but a light, 1/8-oz VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig tipped with a shiner can absolutely save the day during spring cold-front conditions....

That’s when it’s an “up bite” 👆 when the fish are wanting to feed up...but lately it’s been more of a “down bite” 👇 where dragging the jig on bottom – or even letting it sit still for 5-10 seconds – has been the deal.

I don’t mind bumping up to a 1/4 oz when they're feeding down, or even slightly heavier depending on the wind and how deep we’re in.

For both situations, I've really been liking the new "voodoo haze" color in our clear, zebra-mussel infested water.

In this new Target Walleye video, I run thru what’s been working (and what hasn't!) on the lakes around here this first week-ish of the season. Where we’ve been finding the most consistent bites and some of the tricks it’s taken to fool ‘em into biting.

I hope you enjoy the video and maybe even snag a few tricks you can put to work on your home water. 👊

We've finally got some warmer weather coming up in the forecast and the bite should only get better! More videos to come....

...NEVER be afraid to chuck a jig and 'crawler at 'em.

Folks have said forever that you need warm (or even hot) water for the crawler bite to be on...but that's just not true.

Certainly there are warm-water bug-hatch situations where 'crawlers can shine, but walleye will absolutely eat 'em all year long, even in water colder than 50°F like we were dealing with to start the season.

No matter if I'm fishing shallow or deep, weeds or rocks, suspended or on bottom: My go-to jig for pitching 'crawlers is a 3/16-oz VMC RedLine Series Tungsten Ned Head Jig. I run 1/0 for shorter, pinched-down 'crawlers...and 2/0 with longer or full 'crawlers.

Funny looking head shape for pitching 'crawlers, but it works great for throwing at suspended fish and working 'em up in the column. Can also let it fall all the way down, drag it along, and let the fish eat it off bottom.

The big surface shows up great on sonar despite the lighter sizes.

That combined with the 90-degree line tie forces the head to track straight on the retrieve whether you're fishing fast or slow, up or down.

Can absolutely save some coin 🤑 and go with the OG lead version of this jighead if you want – still works great.

But the newer tungsten version will gitcha better returns on FFS, that nasty Vanadium steel hook (fine wire but strong), the weights laser etched on the heads, and I like the matte finish on the jighead.

Both have that "Conical Keeper" that somehow does a great job of keeping the crawlers pinned up vs sliding down the shank every cast. But no matter what style of keeper you use, it'll eventually happen and you'll want to freshen that fun noodle.

Like I said, 3/16 oz is by far my favorite all-around size. Just heavy enough to be able to accurately cast 60-70' feet away from the boat, yet light enough you can still sorta 'hang' that crawler above their nose if need be.

I'll lighten up to a 1/8 oz when fishing in shallower water (basically anything less than 10' for sure) or on calmer days if clear-water fish are being ultra fussy and not really moving on the bait. Can dang near float or hang it in place.

Likewise, I bump up to a 1/4 oz if the wind is really ripping. Or if the fish are "hot" enough that I can get away with working the bait more quickly. Just lets ya be that much more efficient at getting the bait in front of them and significantly easier to throw out away from the boat without casting off the crawler.

Few quick rigging tips:

Hook 'em thru the head. Which is the fatter, darker end. The tail end of the worm tends to be more flattened and lighter in color.

Have the darkest side on the top, and lighter side on the bottom. Looks more natural that way, as that's the color scheme of most natural prey. Does it matter? Maybe not. But if walleye are really staring it down, I don't want to give 'em another excuse to say no.

I almost always pinch the tails off of my 'crawlers so that the overall length is around 4" or so. Few reasons why I give 'em the pinch:

As you can see in the pic...it's extra scent coming out of that thing!

Shorter 'crawlers are less likely to get wrapped up or hook themselves on the cast, or while working the bait.

Sometimes the extra weight of a full crawler whipping around on the cast can cause 'em to tear off down by the hook, which leaves you with a little nub. So less fussing around.

I seem to get a lot more short biters nipping at the back half of the crawler when I throw a full one. My hook-up percentage goes WAY up with a slight pinch.

Obviously folks have been catching walleye on jigs and crawlers for decades now 💯 but a lot of folks are doing things a little differently today....

I've been trying to tell you about this whole jig and 'crawler with FFS thing for 5 years now. 😅 Accidentally stumbled upon it while out filming a TW video from Aug 2021 where they wouldn't eat anything else – it's kind of funny to watch it back now.

Talked about the whole suspended 'overs' on FFS thing multiple times after that, but in 2023 I finally did a video called "LiveScopers don't want you to know this" that was dedicated to how the top walleye tourney pros have been sneaking in bigger bites than everyone else by chucking jigs + crawlers at big, suspended walleye.

This ^^^ feels and sounds weird. I'm not trying to brag and I apologize if it's coming off that way. Yuck. I guess I'm just trying to say that if you're not paying attention to the videos we post on the Target Walleye YouTube channel, you might want to consider it. 'Cuz the whole point of them is to try and help folks put more fish in the boat. ✌️

Options are endless when it comes to keeping those squirmy fish-catchers from melting. You can make it as difficult (spendy, high-tech options) or as simple (coffee can or the container they come in) as you want to...so use whatever works best for you!

Except this:

I've been using the Coleman Pro 9-Quart Hard Cooler the last couple seasons and really liking it. It's not actually designed for bait, but it works GREAT for me.

*Target Walleye sticker not included 😅

Of course the most important feature for a day on the water? It does a great job keeping 'em cool – duh!

Few other reasons I chose this one...

• It’s a nice size that can hold a couple dozen crawlers, or a dozen dozen! (More on that below)

• It’s compact but beefy...feels bulletproof.

• Grippy, rubberized boots so it doesn't slide around.

• Has anchor points/tie-downs for you folks running BIG water.

• Single, heavy duty latch that you can flip with one hand.

• Flat on top in case I need a surface to write on.

• Antimicrobial treatment to the interior helps protect it from odor causing bacteria.

• Low profile so it fits on the bottom shelf in my garage fridge.

• Can support up to 300 lbs so you can use it as a seat or step.

• It’s a nice size that can hold a couple dozen crawlers, or a dozen dozen!

Most coolers get so much deeper when they get bigger, and I didn’t want to have to be digging shoulder deep to get to ‘em on bottom.

Exterior dimensions: L 13.50”, W 9.45”, H 9.17”

Interior dimensions: L 11.5”, W 6.5”, H 7.5”

Of course you can just throw a Ziploc bag with some ice in there...but after enough time the condensation can make a mess.

I ended up buying a 4-pack of slim ice packs (4.75” x 0.5” x 7”) off Amazon for $10 that work slick. Can fit two laying side-by-side on the bottom. And on really hot days I'll add the other two along the sides.

Anywho...this is just what's been working well for me the last couple of seasons.

Side note: I just went to Coleman's website and they're out of stock...looks like maybe discontinued? Of course lol.

If you're in need of one, it looks like Scheels actually has 'em in stock still and $20 off right now while they last = which is cool timing.

1. NWT was livestreaming from Dylan Nussbaum’s boat

Both on Facebook and YouTube during day 1 [today] of the Lake Oahe NWT event. Love seeing more live coverage. And they'll have a different pro on live tomorrow for day 2.

Btw there’s no culling for this event – once a fish is in the livewell, it's in there for the day. I believe the pro and co’s combined bag is allowed 2 fish over 20" and the rest need to be under.

Super curious to see how it plays out and if anyone is able to wrassle in a couple of those mythical Lake Oahe giants for their overs....

UPDATE: I had the livestream up as I was writing this and got to watch Dylan catch a GIANT 32-incher that’s 12+ lbs! 🤯

Can hit the live leaderboard here to see how day 1 plays out, or maybe catch the end of the livestream weigh in.

Of course we’ll be following with the ‘Full Scoop’ next week on how the top-3 pros got it done.

2. Drake Herd was dual wielding on Oahe

Drake is one of the fellas who’s putting their own time and resources into bringing livestream tourney days to the walleye world. 💪

Must be rocking Starlink in his boat, appears to be mic'd up 'cuz the audio is crispy, and is even streaming his LiveScope screen so you can see what he's seeing – love that.

3. New ‘Tour Level Gold’ episode is out now! 🔥

> The 2026 National Walleye Tour kicks off on the waters of Lake Erie, where anglers are met with a brutal mix of high winds and unpredictable temperature changes. Conditions are tough, and success will be hard-earned. But this is Lake Erie, home to some of the biggest walleyes on the planet. Join us as the world’s top walleye anglers battle the elements and unlock the secrets of this unforgiving fishery.

This is absolute must-watch stuff!

4. MN: 18th-annual Minnesota Fishing Challenge is May 30

On Gull Lake near Brainerd. Only about 15 spots are left in the 150-boat field for the MN Fishing Challenge hosted by the legendary Al Lindner!

Whether you’re a hardcore tournament stick or just love getting on the water with family and friends, this event is for ALL ages and skill levels and every single dollar raised helps Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge fight addiction, restore families, and save lives.  

The fishing tournament that literally saves lives! 🙌

5. Scheels is hosting a FREE virtual fishing tourney!

From May 23 thru June 7 on FishDonkey. This weekend-only, multi-species tourney includes walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass categories. Zero entry fee and a chance to win some serious prizes [!] even if you don’t catch a fish. More info here.

Also, if you’ve never done one of these virtual fishing tournaments thru the FishDonkey app before...here’s the perfect chance to give it a shot for free! Promise once you give it a shot, you’ll have a blast!

6. Suzuki Marine up in FY 2025

> The company's marine business posted revenues of $753.78 mil for the year, up 8.9% year-over-year. Operating profit decreased 13% year-over-year to $167.8 mil. According to the statement, the reduced profit was driven mainly by the impact of US tariffs.

7. West Marine did file for bankruptcy

Sounds like Garmin is owed the most: $8.57 mil.

8. WI: Free fishing weekend is June 6-7

9. In-Fish spring crappie roadmap

In-Fisherman post with MN guide Matt Breuer breaks down the spring crappie cycle from ice-out to post-spawn by water-temp window.

10. Berkley came out with a MaxScent urchin bait

Annnnnd it’s already sold out on their site. 😳

Looks like Scheels has some black ones left in stock tho, the rest of the colors are listed as coming soon....

Wiggle your “super worms” for weed walleyes?!

Some super interesting details in this Walt Matan MidWest Outdoors write-up (cool story!) on how he wound-up fishing with a stranger he met in the fish-cleaning shack, and learned some cool tricks for weed walleyes. Few excerpts below:

> ...buys ‘crawlers in bulk, packs them in bedding and keeps them in his beer and bait fridge in the garage. Then the night before going fishing he pulls out the ‘crawlers he needs and puts them in a can full of iced well water in the fridge overnight. These crawlers will pump up into supercrawlers, twice their normal size. However, they are only good for the next day’s fishing – then they shrink up.

> …his secret weapon: a 5/32-oz homemade jig painted hot pink with his wife Betsy’s nail polish. He slid the supercrawler on the hook nose-first and fired a cast to the weed edge.

> “You want to cast about 2′ into the [coontail] weed edge and [purposely] get the jig stuck in the weeds. You reel up until the line gets tight and then jiggle it until the jig pops free. That’s when they strike.”

Walt said he was finally getting bites once he started doing this technique, but missed a half dozen fish...while cleaning-shack Joe had already netted 3....

His other trick (after getting a bite) was opening up the bail and letting ’em eat the crawler for a 10-Mississippi count: One Mississippi, two Mississippi...ten Mississippi. Boom.

They proceeded to stick 2 dozen walleyes in 6 hours on an interesting technique that just might work on your local weed-dwellers.

Good news: Tourney SZN is here!

Bad news: Entry fees are too. Let alone pre-fishing and travel expenses, time, moving and/or fussy fish, brutal weather conditions...you name it!

Tho it is nice to get back into the swing of things with some friendly competition! But it's been off to a rough start for yours truly hahaha.

Usually by ‘fishing opener’ most of the walleyes have already done their deed. So how can you tell if there’s still walleye spawn activity happening? Well, sometimes the signs are more obvious...like half the fish that Nick Lindner and I caught in our first fishing league night of the season. 🤢 Dude PLEASE get that thing out of my boat!

Thank YOU for reading! 👊 Back atcha in a couple....

National Professional Anglers Assoc.

MN-FISH

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

 (218) 824 5026