Weight style breakdown, Zeebz slow walleye growth, Planer boards in cabbage

That’s according to this study from last year talkin’ zebra mussels and spiny water fleas:

> “Both invaders reduce lake levels of zooplankton, an important food source for young walleye. Zebra mussels act as filters, reducing the amount of algae in the water…a food source for zooplankton. Spiny water flea eat zooplankton directly.”

Makes sense to me that the little’uns would be havin’ a harder time putting together a meal…but I really wouldn’t think invasives are slowing the growth of adult fish too? Maybe. Who knows? I don’t.

Oddly enough, I have noticed that the fishing actually seems to be getting BETTER on a lot of these lakes infested with zeebz and whatnot. That being said…

…zeebz come in and change the whole system of the lake. “My grandpa used to catch ’em here” will only work for so long – fish aren’t going to be in the same spots they used to be. Goes for whether you’re trying to catch ’em with a rod, or survey ’em with a net or trap.

Why? Zeebz filter the water, which increases water clarity and allows vegetation to grow deeper. So the fish are typically moving deeper – or sometimes pushing WAY up farther, burying in the weeds – and so should you. Clearer water can also make fish “more smarter.”

Okay, now I’m getting waaaay off topic compared to the original write-up. Just some random somewhat-related thoughts I felt like spewin’…. Take ’em for what it’s worth, which isn’t much! Lol.

…from a TX lake back in 2014 with a reeeeally unusual technique…. 🧐

Not sure why this is the first time I’m hearing about this, but thx to Mike Krantz for the heads up! Apparently zeebz were found at a single boat ramp on Lake Waco, TX in Sep 2014. Then in Oct of that year…

> …agencies installed nearly an acre of plastic sheeting over the shoreline and lake bottom in the affected area and weighted it down with sandbags.

 

> This method was used in an attempt to kill the mussels by blocking oxygen, impede their reproduction, and prevent them from becoming established in the lake.

 

> The plastic was removed in Mar 2015, and evidence indicated the effort was successful. Since then, TPWD and the City of Waco have monitored the lake and found no mussel larvae, settled adults, or their DNA in the lake.

Well, guess we’re going to Menards. 🤣

Gotta bring this one back from the archives ‘cuz you probably still aren’t doing it 🤷‍♂️. Walleye nut Chad Maloy uses Off Shore Tackle Planer Boards to troll live-bait rigs through shallow cabbage and not spook fish. Few quickie excerpts below:

> Come late June (and mid-summer) when the weeds become fully grown, the bait’s no longer concentrated in isolated areas. Most are now living in or near the mature weed growth.

> [Cabbage weeds] provide the perfect place for bait and walleyes to get out of the sun and hide.

> [One] July my friend Dave and I came across a beautiful patch of cabbage weeds. I told Dave we should try using an Off Shore to run a leech through the weeds.

> The water was crystal-clear and we needed to get the bait away from the boat in order to not spook the fish.

 

> Let your bait out at the desired depth, then clip the Off Shore Tackle In-line Side Planer Board onto your line, and it will run your bait to the side of the boat. The distance is determined by the amount of line you let out after clipping [the planer board] to your line.

 

> Our rod was rigged up with a 3/8-oz worm sinker, a small swivel and 4′ of Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoro to a small Northland Gum-Drop Floater + jumbo leech.

> The cabbage was about 10′ under the surface of the water so we let out enough line that once we started to move the sinker would brush the top of the cabbage, allowing the leech to float just above it.

> Every once in a while the sinker would catch a leaf causing the whole rig to stall and then pop loose – ideal for triggering a bite if a fish is following your bait.

A super-sneaky technique that for sure can pay off:

From Ross Grothe, whose pupdawg is clearly suspecting there’s something in the water:

1. Cody Wolters kayaked across something you don’t see everyday…or ever:

No doubt that muskie got a mouthful!

2. And we aren’t the only ones that like the taste of walleye.

This pic was from Ray Welle, an incredibly fishy dude who always seems to be catching:

> Ray: “Found this little pike floating…. He was still alive so I tried pulling the walleye out but I couldn’t get it. Looks like he bit off more than he could chew! I would say the northern was 22″ and the walleye looked to be about 12-13”. #GimmeThat

Still not sure how Ray took such a killer photo using a flip phone. 😝

1. CAN border restrictions loosening up?

They just extended the non-essential travel restrictions thru July 21, but sounds like things started to “loosen up” on Monday:

> “Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have had a full dose of a coronavirus vaccine approved for use in Canada can skip a 14-day quarantine that has been a requirement since Mar 2020. Eligible air travelers also no longer have to spend their first 3 days in the country at a government-approved hotel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said plans to fully reopen the border would be announced over the next few weeks….

2. Natural mortality > fishing mortality?

Sounds like it from a study done on bass derbies in IA from 2015-2018.

> “Average total annual mortality was 0.66 with natural mortality representing the largest mortality source (0.57) followed by delayed tournament mortality (0.06), non-tournament angling mortality (0.02), and initial tournament mortality (0.006).

> “Our results reveal both non-tournament and tournament angling mortality are low compared to natural mortality in some lakes. Therefore, cumulative angling mortality likely has minimal population level effects on some bass populations.

> “Our results reveal both non-tournament and tournament angling mortality are low compared to natural mortality in some lakes.”

Of course that’s talking about bass, but still interesting.

3. SK: Registration for the “Vanity Cup” opens July 12.

The champs will take home $100K+ 🤯!

Tyrell Mooney and Michael Copeland took home the mega win(nings) last year on Tobin Lake, SK with a 2-day bag of 48.60 lbs, fattening up their wallets by $114,980 after bonuses, including the top-finishing Lund prizes.

Here’s a little of what Tyrell had to say:

> Day 1 we targeted a sharp break on the river that went from 16′ to 28′ pulling Lindy rigs with 10-12′ snells and leeches. Day 2 we found that the fish had moved off of the break from fishing pressure up river to a big 17′ flat, and were scattered so we just tried to move over 20-30′ every pass. The fish were finicky and didn’t want any movement at all with the bait…when they picked up the leech there was no “tap” it just felt like a weed clump.

At the time, he said “paying off boats and making some investments” were on the list of things they both planned on doing with the winnings:

Earned it, fellas! 👊 And good luck again this year.

4. MN: Sounds like the 4-fish walleye limit bill is dead.

For now. Regardless, big thx to all the folks working on it behind the scenes, and no doubt getting the word out about selective harvest and catch-and-release walleye fishing.

5. MN: Mille Lacs walleye #s down in June?

Not necessarily the # of fish in the lake, but how many were caught according to folks at the ramp. That’s actually good news if you’re wanting to get to target walleye on Mille Lacs again this season ‘cuz they’re “now at about 46% of the state’s allocation of the safe harvest level.”

Means things should be on track for the catch-and-release walleye season to open back up Jul 16. And potentially be able to keep 1 walleye between 21-23″ or longer than 28″ from Sep 16 to Nov 30. Current Mille Lacs regs here.

6. Freedom Tackle Turn Back Shad doesn’t need a swivel.

Has a “full metal body that swings freely on the line-tie shaft” so no line twists:

7. MI: Hundreds expected at “Vets with Nets.”

 

Vets with Nets = a charitable organization that uses fishing to help veterans by getting them outdoors and on the water

They’re expecting more than 250 veterans and 120 boats to take part in the 3rd annual event on Lake Erie July 9-10.

8. MI: Some locals oppose the proposed Back Forty sulfite mine.

They say it could negatively impact the Menominee River.

9. Dunno where Greg Namie Jr got this…

…old-school Berkley Trilene trucker hat, but I need one:

10. ND: I find it sorta interesting that Game and Fish…

…pays the same property taxes as private land owners. I guess I just never thought about it? They recently paid more than $715K in property taxes on land the dept owns or leases, which is more than 200,000 acres for wildlife habitat and public land.

11. Ever seen anything like this before?

Takes probably the 2 most popular walleye fishin’ techniques – jigs and rigs – and combines ’em into one unit called the Mission Tackle Jig’n Crawler Harness:

Let me know if you’ve used it before.

12. ND: Zeebz found in Twin Lakes.

13. VA: Dude caught a 3-lb 9-oz goldfish:

Was 16″ long x 15″ girth and is the new VA state record…yup, it’s a thing hahaha. Apparently they added goldfish to the state-record program last year, and this was the first one submitted. But I can’t imagine ’em getting much bigger?!

Which weight when?!

There’s a zillion different weights on the market – each has its own time and place. Here’s Mille Lacs guide Brad Hawthorne talkin’ his favorites and when he uses ’em.

BONUS rigging tip at the end of the vid shows how Brad uses a Quick-Change Weight Clevis and Loop Snap at the same time to swap out most any weight:

Dude is dialed. 🎯

“…on your drive to the cabin, you pull over to get gas and enjoy a burger and cup of coffee at a highway pit stop.”

– That’s Gord Pyzer describing how walleyes transition from spring locations out to their summer ones. Scattered and on their own time. Glad to finally be seeing ’em show up at their cabins lol.

Your secret is safe with us:

Saaaay cheeeeese!

Caught by Dean Taylor on a “silverside” Lunkerhunt Sushi 110 jerkbait:

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH