|
Quick heads up (and apologies) that the Target Walleye email schedule is going to be jacked up the next week and a half-ish....
I’ll be on the road the next couple days while fishing the Lund Mania tourney on Ottertail Lake. I'm excited to fish it again – only been out there a couple of times in the last 7 or 8 years, so hoping a few walleyes show up for the reunion too lol.
Then I'm turning and burning right on down to ICAST in Orlando, FL next week where we’ll be getting a first look at all the new products coming down the pipeline for next szn. Will of course have some special new product issues coming your way after I get back.
Thank YOU for reading! 👊
|
|
We lost Hall of Fame angler Tom Neustrom
|
|
|
The fishing community lost a true legend this week.
Tom Neustrom touched countless lives through his passion for fishing, guiding, conservation, and mentoring anglers across generations. His impact on our sport and the people who love it will be felt for years to come.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom’s family and friends during this difficult time. Rest easy, Tom, and thank you for everything you gave to the fishing world. 🎣🙏
|
|
|
From Lindner's Angling Edge here:
> Tom Neustrom [age 77] dedicated his life to the sport he loved and to the people who shared that passion. As a respected Minnesota fishing guide, a member of the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame and the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, a leader with the Minnesota Walleye Roundtable, and a tireless advocate for Minnesota's fisheries, Tom's impact reached far beyond the water. His dedication helped shape the future of fishing in our state, and countless anglers have benefited from his knowledge, leadership, and willingness to share what he knew.
> But accomplishments and awards only tell part of the story. Those of us fortunate enough to know Tom will remember his kindness, his generosity, his infectious enthusiasm, and the genuine joy he found in helping others catch fish and appreciate the outdoors. He always had time for a conversation, a story, a laugh, or a piece of advice that came from decades of experience.
> Minnesota's fishing community is better because Tom Neustrom was part of it. His legacy will live on in every angler he mentored, every conservation effort he supported, and every friendship he built along the way.
> Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom's family and everyone who had the privilege of calling him a friend. He will be deeply missed, but his influence on Minnesota fishing will never be forgotten.
> Rest easy, Tom. Thank you for everything you gave to all of us. The next cast just won't be the same without you.
|
|
|
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM, Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Timberlake Lodge Event Center in Grand Rapids, MN with visitation beginning at 11AM until the time of the memorial service.
|
|
“The smiles, the laughter, the high fives all make it all worth it.”
|
|
|
- That’s Tom Neustrom talking just last week with the Outdoor News crew, who said his final submission was titled, “Guiding is a lifestyle.”
> Neustrom wrote: “Where it all begins and hopefully never ends. It’s not just a job, but a lifestyle. Being a fishing guide is not for everyone, but for me, it is what I love to do. After all these years and I mean for four decades, I still have that passion each and every morning when it’s time to partake on another adventure. Guiding gets in your blood and the total satisfaction of bringing clients on the lake for them to experience their rod bending and for them to feel the fish at the end of the rod never gets old. As Robin Williams once said in the movie Patch Adams, ‘My job is to create happiness’ and that means so much to me at the end of the day. The smiles, the laughter, the high fives all make it all worth it.”
|
|
|
No doubt ‘Neusie’ is absolutely leaning into ’em on the big pond up in the sky right now. Save some fish up there for the rest of us, fellas! 🙌
|
|
Garmin launched the new LiveScope 2
|
|
|
Here we go! Can be tough to get a good idea of sonar stuff without seeing it and experiencing it in person (which will happen at ICAST), but this seems pretty straightforward. Few details:
> Improved noise reduction and expanded/broader sonar coverage – wider sonar angles improve coverage in all 3 modes: Forward, Down and Perspective
> Clearer target separation at both short and long ranges
> Integrated image stabilization, reduced noise and better target separation
> Faster processing speed and low latency
> No more black box
Three new transducers...
> LiveScope 2 (LVS44) builds on the proven technology of LiveScope Plus [LVS34] and delivers 20% more resolution and 25% more range – out to 250' – for anglers who want to cover more water and find fish farther from the boat.
|
|
|
> LiveScope 2 HD (LVS42HD) is optimized for castable distances out to 125' with Garmin's clearest live sonar ever, offering 50% more detail at closer ranges compared to the previous model.
|
|
|
> ...LiveScope 2 and LiveScope 2 HD transducers connect directly to a compatible Garmin multi-function display (MFD) and power source, eliminating the need for a black box and simplifying installation.
> Integrated sensors enhance usability, including the built-in water sensor, which automatically turns off the sonar when the transducer gets lifted out of the water....
> ...onboard water temperature sensor for accurate readings.
> ...come with a trolling motor barrel mount and adjustable Perspective mode mount so the transducers can be easily adjusted to fit an angler's fishing techniques and preferences on the
water, no tools required.
And they also have a new version for you ice-heads.... 🥶
> For hardwater anglers, the LiveScope 2 HD Ice Fishing Transducer delivers the same high-definition sonar with a shorter, flexible cold-water cable and convenient all-in-one power/network cable packaged with the 0-degree shaft mount in the box.
Compatibility
Believe these are the Garmin units/screens this LS2 works with:
ECHOMAP Ultra
ECHOMAP Ultra 2
ECHOMAP UHD2
GPSMAP 700/700xsv/900/900xsv
GPSMAP 9000/9000xsv
GPSMAP 8400/8400xsv/8600/8600xsv
GPSMAP 16x3/16x3xsv
GPSMAP 15x3xsv
GPSMAP 12x3/12x3xsv
Availability
It will be available at retail as soon as electronics folks get it on their sites/in their stores – and will be for sale on Garmin.com here on Friday. MSRP is $1,999.99 - $2,199.99.
|
|
Polymer transducer mount gets rid of ghost trees?
|
|
|
Came across this in a recent BassBlaster email, who said he didn’t have a pic of it yet because it’s “sorta in the proto/pilot stage.” but bass-head Dave M sent him a FB post by a MS crappie guide named Jason Clements where he says this (here's the video):
> The Ultimate LiveScope Breakthrough: Goodbye bottom fill and heavy returns and ghost tree!
[Here's some ghost trees – that sorta arc that's always there.]
|
|
|
> As a pro crappie fisherman and guide, my gear takes an absolute beating. If you've ever fished Grenada Lake, you know what 3-4' rollers at 58 mph will do to your boat and your electronics mounts.
> After constantly breaking expensive mounts on guide trips, I got fed up and decided to engineer my own solution. But during testing, we accidentally stumbled onto something way bigger than just a tougher mount. We completely eliminated the LiveScope ghost tree and cleared up our bottom returns.
> Check out this video. Look at the 6' water return – zero phantom lines, zero bottom fill, and you can actually see the full body and direction of the fish on the bottom.
> Why does this screen look so much better than yours? Because almost every commercial mount on the market is made of machined anodized aluminum. Metal acts as a massive electrical conductor.
> If there is any stray voltage or bad grounding in your boat's 12V system, that aluminum mount feeds that electrical noise straight into your Garmin transducer body. It ruins your picture, and you end up wasting thousands trying to fix it with ground wires and extra batteries.
> I designed the True Sight Mount by Angler Precision Mounts out of an ultra-rugged, weather-proof engineering polymer (ASA) instead of metal. It acts as a complete electrical insulator, blocking stray noise at the source while maintaining a true zero-degree straight-down view and seamless perspective capability.
> We ran this prototype through the worst rollers Grenada could throw at us in our Z20, and it barely even shook. It's tough, it's lightweight, and it clears up your screen mechanically.
> ...officially patent pending. I'm getting ready to run a very limited introductory "Pro-Staff Field Test" batch for local guides and tournament anglers who want a cleaner screen before the fall bite kicks off.
Couple quick deals:
1. With it he claims no more ghost trees AND fish no longer disappear into the bottom: "You can see them swimming.... You normally see their backs and [then] they disappear, but [with this mount] you can go all the way in the mud and you can still see them."
2. He keeps all his LS settings the same.
3. His company does not have a website yet, but here’s his FB if you want to try to reach out.
|
|
For your viewing pleasure 🍿
|
|
|
I recently posted a new "Top 5" vid (episode 96) on our YouTube channel. Big thx to our friends at Sea Foam and Scheels for making this video series possible! We're having a ton of fun with 'em and hope you are too!! 👊 Here she be:
|
|
|
2. John Balla’s stats from Bay de Noc NWT 📝
3. Clam dropped new ice gear for 26/27 szn 🥶
> From all-new Pack Traps, FishTraps, Hub Shelters, Rods, Reels, Tackle, Ice Armor by Clam, Boots, and must-have Accessories, we've packed this season with innovations built to help you fish harder, be more efficient, and catch more!
|
|
|
> "That vertical fork [tail] acts almost like a rudder. Every twitch sends the bait gliding farther off center, and as it sinks the tail continues to move naturally, giving fish a completely different look than they've seen from existing soft jerkbaits."
> High body mass improves casting distance without sacrificing balance...molded dorsal and ventral hook slots....
> ...also excels as a ChatterBait trailer....
> Seth: "One of the things I like about the Stuntman is that it gives you a lot of the same fish-triggering action you'd expect from a hard jerkbait, but you can throw it anywhere." [Seth Feider YT vid on it here.]
> Built in the USA, the Stuntman will be available at retailers nationwide in Fall 2026 in 4-inch and 5-inch (5 per pack) sizes in 10 pro-selected color patterns at an MSRP of $6.99.
6. Jayden Wendel hopped on the JMO Podcast 🎙️
This young fella was the youngest to ever win an NWT event after his victory out of Gladstone, MI.
7. MN: River Bend Resort is for sale 🏷️
On legendary Lake of the Woods and Rainy River near Baudette.
8. MN has a new state-record bluegill...AGAIN! 🤯
Second time in 3 weeks that a new record was plucked out of Big Stone Lake on the MN/SD border. This time it’s Dale Hoffman with an 11.6-incher that hit a certified scale at 2.21 lbs! Caught in 10’ of water using a slip-bobber rigged with a gold jig and redworms. What a unit!
|
|
|
Which he says is “one of the most versatile scoping baits out there” for walleye, but of course you don’t need FFS to throw the Ripfish. Here’s 4 different ways he dangles:
1) Rip – pause [2 seconds] – Rip again. Follow the bait down when you pause with a tight line. This cadence allows the bait to walk the dog underwater or dart laterally when ripped. I’m not talking hard hook set rips...simple finesse wrist flicks are all you need for the bait dart 2’ side to side.
2) Strolling...that’s right – strolling. Slowly reel the bait while imparting a consistent [harder, 2-3”] rod tip cadence is the trick. The quivering causes the bait to flicker, flash and rattle at the same time. Once the fish engage, pick up your retrieve speed. Speed it up – don’t slow it down...pull it away faster – BAM – got em’ – simple as that!
3) Standard Rip/Fall – basic sweep up and let the bait fall to the bottom. It’s all about the bite on the fall with this one.
4) Pop/Hang – sweep or work the bait in any combination of 1-3, but after working the bait hold your rod with the line tight and slowly reel or use minute rod shakes. This will cause the bait to hold its position in the water column.
|
|
|
Have you ever caught a banded walleye? Jason Mitchell has been adding some bling to his collection:
> “The North Dakota Game and Fish Department banded several walleyes this spring and the bands are to be reported so angling mortality can be determined. Interesting information...not to mention where these fish show up in the future. We caught two banded walleye this weekend, one in Pelican and the other in East Bay.”
And this looks like a grown one to boot!
|
|
|
Always love how Robert Cardenas is able to capture the moment:
> “As the first light breaks over the water, I’m out here on the docks capturing those pre-launch moments before the tournament takeoff. Adrenaline is pumping through the anglers, spirits are sky-high, families are gathered for support, and the sunrises are never forgettable. These are the moments that make it all worthwhile – the hustle, the passion, and the pure love of the sport. Grateful to freeze these frames with my Sony and share them with you all.”
|
|
|
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.)
|
|
|
FRIENDS OF TARGET WALLEYE
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
