Target Walleye/Ice email

WTHeck is a trout perch, Jig Raps imitate crayfish, Tanks of the week

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Today’s Top 5

Golden tankers of the week!

Tanya Regush cracked this Tobin Lake tanker pulling hand-tied rigs with Northland Tackle Baitfish-Image Blades and nightcrawlers:

Tom Panetti thwacked (and released) this 29-incher casting a Moonshine Shiver Minnow on Green Bay:

This Winnipeg River goldback was caught on the edge of a rock pile with a bottom-bouncer and red #4 Northland Super-Glo Hook on a 3′ snell:

Use Jigging Raps to mimic retreating crayfish.

Typically Jigging Raps are used to mimic perch, shiners and other baitfish, but they can also make a killer crayfish imitation when snapped across bottom.

This little rusty was trying to hitch a free ride in the livewell after an eater-sized walleye spat it up:

Here’s TW’s Brett McComas putting this overlooked crayfish imitation to work on Lake of the Woods to pluck the biggest fish outta the schools, and he gives up a couple extra secrets we’ve never talked about:

The crew was fishing out of the gaw-jus Flag Island Resort in the NW Angle. The rusty crayfish pattern of using oranges/reds dominated. Here’s a breakdown of Brett’s top producers from top to bottom – notice what they have in common? #orange

Top: Bay Rat Long Extra Deep Diver (black flash).

> Able to flatline troll on straight Sufix 832 Braid and get it down as deep as 25-30′ without snap weights or any extra hardware.

> We’d put them in the rod holders to cover water in-between closer spots. Let us continue to fish while re-rigging and tying up other rods.

Middle: Butterfly Blade Super Death (cler tip orange).

> Best presentation for catching numbers of fish. Able to cover water quickly, but can also slow way down (when necessary) to 0.25 mph and the polycarbonate “Butterfly Blades” will still spin.

> Impulse Nightcrawlers have a nasty-good action when twirling on that Super Death hook. No messing around with re-baiting, keeping ’em alive, or having the proper bedding to take across the Canadian border. #Money

Bottom: Rapala Jigging Rap (#7 in glow red tiger).

> Super visual. Doesn’t have the rattles and noise, but they see it and come after it.

> Picks off the nicest fish in the schools.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever caught?

We asked Brad Hawthorne the same question and learned about a little-known species called a trout-perch…WTHeck is a trout-perch?!

TW readers shared their strange catches over on FB — a few that caught our eye:

> James Barnick: “A LOON on my slip-bobber/minnow! Reeled it in expecting a nice walleye and here comes a bird!”

> Darren Goltz: “My own ice-fishing pole that went into LOTW 15 hours prior [in] 33′. Still fishes great!”

> Shane Schluck: “Blue perch had me saying the same thing…what is this thing!!!!”

> Nate Berg: “My buddy Jeff Evans once caught a beach umbrella right on the top tip trolling for muskies on Lake of the Woods. The pulsating of the umbrella made us think he had a world record ‘ski!”

Got any unusual catches? Send ’em to us for a chance to be featured.

New Lund utility trailer.

TW reader Kail Lavigne spotted this Lund “utility trailer” that comes with a few extra ponies on the back..and front:

Props to that level of ambitiousness. Rest of us have different weekend priorities:
Lol!

Shore lunch 2-for-1s.

John Smetana and his son noticed a fish struggling on the surface near Cook, MN. After 45-ish minutes, it worked its way into shore and close enough for them to net:

News

1. MN: Day 1 World Walleye Championship cancelled.

Thanks to heavy fog on Cass Lake. Sounds like it stuck ’round all day and they could only see a few yards at most. Turns the 3-day event into a 2-day. #SafetyFirst

2. MN: Less stocking = more walleyes?

Or something like that….

> “Our review found that 70% of the 254 lakes saw no improvement in walleye numbers — some even had declines — after we massively increased stocking. Tells us we need to be more efficient in how we stock fingerlings.”

3. Stop flushing pills down the drain.

Not saying you do or would, but if you do:

> “A recent study conducted in the Niagara River revealed several species (including walleye) were having negative reactions to antidepressants found in their brains….”

Happening from prescription meds being flushed. They also said:

> “…fish were less likely to evade predators. It’s a domino effect: you remove one fish and you make everything disappear because their food supply is gone.”

4. OH: Gizzard shad pop. exploding on Erie.

Could help boost the walleye population:

> “Walleye feast on shad and could fatten up the fish this fall, which gives the walleye a better chance to survive the winter. If that’s the case, then the spring walleye population could be abundant.”

5. ND: Devils Lake just keeps getting better.

Thanks to a consistent mix of all year-classes. The OutdoorsFIRST write-up qdescribes the fishing as “phenomenal, incredible, top-notch, and a crown jewel.” Sounds pretty dang good to us!

6. SD: More walleye in Sharpe than expected.

Hate when that happens….

7. MN: Zeebz found in two more lakes.

Ten Mile and North Star. Just a matter of time.

8. MN: Who wants to go cormorant hunting?

Many want ’em gone ‘cuz they’re fish-eating machines. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working at getting permits for problem areas.
Would be pretty easy, just need to pick up some decoys like this:

News

1. MN: Day 1 World Walleye Championship cancelled.

Thanks to heavy fog. Turns a 3-day event into a 2-day. Always a good call. #SafetyFirst

2. MN: Less stocking = more walleyes?

Or something like that….

> “Our review found that 70% of the 254 lakes saw no improvement in walleye numbers — some even had declines — after we massively increased stocking. Tells us we need to be more efficient in how we stock fingerlings.”

3. Stop flushing pills down the drain.

Not saying you do or would, but if you do:

> “A recent study conducted in the Niagara River revealed several species (including walleye) were having negative reactions to antidepressants found in their brains….”

Happening from prescription meds being flushed. They also said:

> “…fish were less likely to evade predators. It’s a domino effect: you remove one fish and you make everything disappear because their food supply is gone.”

4. OH: Gizzard shad pop. exploding on Erie.

Could help boost the walleye population:

> “Walleye feast on shad and could fatten up the fish this fall, which gives the walleye a better chance to survive the winter. If that’s the case, then the spring walleye population could be abundant.”

5. ND: Devils Lake just keeps getting better.

Thanks to a consistent mix of all year-classes. The OutdoorsFIRST write-up quotes anglers describing the fishing as “phenomenal, incredible, top-notch, and a crown jewel.” Sounds pretty dang good to us!

6. SD: More walleye in Sharpe than expected.

Hate when that happens….

7. MN: Zeebz found in two new lakes.

Ten Mile and North Star. Just a matter of time….

8. MN: Cormorants still suck.

9. Bass Pro-Cabela’s deal should close Sept 25.

10. Rec. fishing up 20% in 10 yrs.

Headline of the Day

Get ready for a walleye slugfest.

That’s a Steve Wright post talking about the Bassmaster AOY tourney on Mille Lacs. Couple quotes from those professional bass-heads:

> Jason Christie: “We need to be having a walleye tournament because I know how to catch them. There are some hammer walleye in here.”

> Brandon Palaniuk: “You can catch a lot more walleye than smallmouth right now. It’s crazy.”

*Note: neither were asked about walleye fishing in Mille Lacs…they brought it up.

Tip of the Day

Robert Claus talks about the importance of “matching the hatch” and a few things he does to switch it up when walleyes aren’t exactly jumping in the boat:

Meme of the Day

Hopefully “it” has some #11 Original Floaters…”clown” color of course lol:

Today’s Zander Candy

Pontus and David smacked this paunchy pair of zandebeest that went 20.29 lbs (36.61″) and 18.74 lbs (35.43″). Sheesh:

Who else added a European zander trip to their fishing bucket list?

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Who is Target Walleye/Ice?
Target Walleye/Ice — walleye during open water and all species during hardwater — is brought to you by Al and Ron Lindner, Jim Kalkofen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish nuts like you! #fishheads
Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye/Ice. 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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