Just Fishing - Fall 2024 by JustFishing

Lake Nipissing Ice Fishing Bungalows

Ice fishing bungalow vacation packages are usually available from January 1 until March 15th. Typically we catch walleye (pickerel), perch, pike and whitefish. The Ice Bungalows are equipped to prepare and cook meals and have washroom facilities. The Ice Bungalows are equipped with propane direct vent furnaces and 1 has a cozy wood stove for those who prefer the ambiance of a wood fire!

Other services include taxi services and ice hut towing are also available across Lake Nipissing in the winter months.

By: Gord Pyzer

FFall is big fish time when you can stack the odds in your favour to catch some of the biggest walleye, bass, lake trout and northern pike that prowl your favourite lake, river, reservoir, pit or pond. And with the elimination of the thermocline that restricted their movement in the summer, there are no barriers stopping the fish from using every structure and cover option available.

Fall is also when the fish gather in ever greater numbers, fattening up like bears. In fact, survival hinges on the fish putting enough fuel in the tank to avoid perishing over the winter.

Last, but by no means least, you can get up late in the fall, launch the boat at noon and still have the lake to yourself. What is not to like about it, right? Still, making the most of your fall day on the water is about paying attention to critical seasonal details. And if you restricted me to only one rod, reel and lure to catch each species, I’d break the glass and grab these.

LAKE TROUT

Lake trout are deviants because unlike the other fish that spawn in the spring, lake trout lay their eggs in the fall, typically in October when the water temperature dips into the low to mid-50° F (10° – 14° C) range. It is a broad span, reflecting the fact that the eggs will lie dormant over the winter and not hatch until the following spring. It is also a signal that the changing photoperiod in

September, when the fall equinox occurs, is as much of a trigger to spawn as the temperature of the water.

It is important to remember, too, that the lake trout season typically closes across the country at the end of the month to protect the fish when they are up shallow, vulnerable and laying their eggs. But the days leading up to the final curtain call can be a slugfest.

Indeed, creel surveys show that female lake trout comprise up to 85-percent of the catch in September. The big girls are feeding heavily to complete the egg maturation process and the cold water loving predators are moving shallower to do it.

Notice that I said “shallower” and not “shallow”.

The best September structures tend to be sunken humps, rock piles and underwater points that top out in the 50-foot range. They also have sharp edges that break precipitously into deeper water. And the best structures lie adjacent to the shorelines strewn with baseball- and basketball-size boulders that the fish use to lay their eggs.

Interestingly, too, my favourite way to catch the fall bruisers that you can often see on your sonar screen, involves neither casting nor trolling. Instead, I open up the bail on my favourite 7’ 2” medium heavy action spinning rod or push the button on a similar size baitcasting outfit spooled with 10- to 14-pound braid, outfitted with a two foot long 12- to 15-pound test monofilament

or fluorocarbon leader. You can use a swivel to connect the lines, but I like an Alberto knot. I let the four- to six-inch long soft plastic paddletail or straight tail swimbait that I’ve secured to a 3/8- to 1/2-ounce long shank jighead plummet straight down. But I don’t let it fall too close to the trout. Instead, I hover it several feet about their heads. If they don’t wallop it on the initial fall, or pause, I will lift it up and down once or twice and let it hover again, all the while monitoring my sonar screen.

Look... Here she comes... Got her!

A Line From “Big” Jim

Hard to imagine I am sitting here as we finish off the fall issue and its 26oC outside and no real chance of a first frost in the near future. Good thing is, it makes it more comfortable to fish what I feel is the best time of the year to whack a pile of above average fish. Fall fishing although tough at times, has the power to make a whole season of mediocre angling a distant memory. Especially, if you have the knowledge and more importantly, apply it every time you hit the water.

Speaking of knowledge, we have you covered for some great fall fishing for a variety of species. So settle in and gain some valuable knowledge from anglers that have paid their dues and reap the benefits nearly every time they hit the water. Starting off with Sir Gordon Pyzer giving you the goods to get fall trout pike and a lot more. Then smallie icon David Chong offers up Part 1 of a 2 part series on Monster Great Lakes Smallies and how you can get in on these special fish. Then colour enters our pages as veteran outdoor writer Tim Allard teaches us about the colour GREEN and its different shades that should be in our boxes at all times.

Daniel Notarianni takes us through a couple of seasons for Steelhead on the fly, which is certainly an art at his level. The PreIce section features our buddy BRO on first ice and how to prepare to fish it... then Tim Allard steps up again on how important aquatic vegetation is when you ice fish... it’s a real eye opener.

Our very own Snow Leopard Jeff Gustafson takes us on a ride for big fish this fall. Then last but certainly not least thee BOSSMAN himself AL LINDNER takes us through fall smallmouth in Canadian Lakes to be sure you get bit this fall. All this, plus our regular features such as For the Love of Cooing with Cameron Tait will get you through the fall nicley.

Be safe & take a kid fishing!! “Big” Jim

Unsolicited articles are accepted and will be considered for publication provided they are original and have not appeared in other publications.

Publisher

“Big” Jim McLaughlin

Managing Editor

Tammy Wight

Digital Marketing RYP.Media

Contributors

Gord Pyzer

Tim Allard

Al Lindner

Jeff Gustafson

David Chong

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Cameron Tait

Daniel Notarianni

Box 214 Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0.

Phone: (613) 387-8735

Email: info@justfishing.ca www.justfishing.ca

Reprinting or reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden, except by written permission of the publisher.

On the Cover: Main – Bob Mahoney – photo: Chris Gilles, In Case of Emergency Break Glass – photo: Gord Pyzer, Steelhead on the Fly – photo: Daniel Notorianni, Let’s Catch Big Fish this Fall – photo: www.gussyoutdoors.com,

(In

SMALLMOUTH BASS

Renown smallmouth scientist and friend, Dr. Mark Ridgway has tracked smallmouth bass from his Harkness Research Laboratory in Algonquin Provincial Park, as part of the longest continuous census of an animal population on Earth and he says the fish are modifying their fall feeding habits.

“Adult smallmouth bass are remaining inshore during the fall in clear contrast with what they were doing in the early 1990s,” says Ridgway. “We are now finishing a data summary of a study using depth-sensing tags. The bass are moving deeper through the fall equinox but they are certainly not at their winter locations as I recall in the 1990s when I first started looking into this phenomenon.”

According to Ridgway, the fish are lingering longer in shallow water, taking on what he calls an “extra cost”. It may be a disadvantage to the fish, but it is a boon for the angler.

Indeed, for the past several seasons, when many folks have been waiting impatiently for the fish to show up on their traditional deep fall haunts, some friends and I have been enjoying outrageous action casting prop-baits around rocky main lake shoals and pencil reed flats.

To get in on the dogfights, watch the weather for an extended period of warm, sunny, calm conditions.

One or two days will bring the bass up charging, but four, five or six days will blow your mind and ache your elbow. And forget about being subtle. You want to make your lure hop, pop, chug and spin like crazy. The fish are bunched up, feeding aggressively, so play to their competitive spirit. It is the antithesis of how you often fish a surface bait early in the season.

(Continued on page 6.)

I spool a high speed 6:1 or faster baitcaster with 12- or 15-pound test Maxima Clear monofilament (it floats and stretches) and my favourite lure is the Rapala X-Rap Prop. I cast it as far away from the boat as possible and work it aggressively with a back-and-forth walk-the-dogtype retrieve with only slight pauses. When the conditions are right, the more erratically you present the lure, the more bass you will catch.

NORTHERN PIKE

Three things position northern pike perfectly for you in the fall. The first is “turnover” that chills the shallows and pushes the pike out to rocky transitions. I call them “bus stops” and the best way to think about them is to visualize the bottom of your favourite lake as an ocean. The shallow shoreline waters represent the continental shelf, while the main lake basin epitomizes the abyss. Now, pinpoint all of the key structures – main lake points, rock piles and shoals that are situated in locations where the shelf breaks sharply into the void.

past, so let me tell you about my preferred trolling approach.

I like to spool a 7’ 6” to 8’ moderate action muskie rod with 25-pound test Maxima Ultragreen monofilament line. Yes, you read that correctly – monofilament line. Like most muskie and pike anglers I made the switch to braid when it first came along and loved the fact that it allowed me to get my lures down deeper with less line trailing behind the boat. And hook sets were instant and positive. There was only one thing missing. My strike ratio went down.

You can refine your search even further by highlighting the structures that are also associated with current, typically at the entrance and exit of any channels or necked down areas where the wind whips through and moves the water. Now, expose these same structures to moderate wave action and you’ve created a fall pike paradise.

My favourite presentation is typically casting 4 1/2 – or five-inch paddletail swimbaits sporting embedded jigheads, but I’ve outline the tactic many times in the

When I discussed this with some of the best toothy critter trollers, they confessed to seeing the same thing. And like me, many had returned to using monofilament line or at least very long mono leaders. Lake Michigan charter boat captain, Tim Dawidiuk, called it paying “mono attention” and attributed his superior catch rates to “harmonics” or the way his lures responded to the line.

Whatever the reason, I am sold again on using monofilament to troll the large lipped crankbaits and minnowbaits (Rapala Deep Tail Dancer, Husky Magnum, Super Shad Rap) behind the boat. The pike seem to like it as well. The only other thing you have

(When

Patience and multiple casts are often the key to getting these fish to strike!

to remember is to keep the lures banging bottom. No, I take that back, banging is too subtle a word to describe the crashing, smashing disturbance that you want to create.

couple of practice days continuing to explore new water and look for untouched fish. We’ll fish some of the past good spots during the tournament but usually you will never win on the same places. You can still catch fish off the old spots, but new, fresh ones are always the best.

X-Raps until after one cast, I ripped the lure down, paused for a second or two, ripped it down again and then laid my rod against the gunnel of the boat while I poured a cup of coffee. My rod almost flew out of the boat when a four-pound plus smallmouth ate the bait sitting dead still in the middle of the water column. Now, I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night, so I quickly cast out the jerkbait again, ripped it down and then let it pause interminably. Another smallmouth destroyed it. Then another, and another, and another until Doug shook his head in mock disgust – or maybe it was real – and made note of the Painfully Protracted Pregnant Pyzer Pause. But that one simple change, facilitated by listening to the bass, turned an otherwise ho-hum day of fishing into a stellar success story.

I typically will pick a contour line I want to troll, let out enough line to get the lure down and then work around the structure. If I don’t get a bite or catch a fish, I will move out five to ten feet deeper or shallower and repeat the scenario, all the while watching the tip of my rods, locked in holders, as they whipsaw back and forth, signalling that the lure is careening off rocks, logs and whatever else is littering the bottom. Eventually, for a split second, I’ll see the lure swim free and then... Pow... fish on!

Simple shines!

One of the most important components of your gear when targeting pike is some form of wire leader. I prefer the Stringease titanium leaders or tippets when pike fishing as they are super light and strong. Some anglers like using heavy fluorocarbon leaders but I’ve seen big pike bite through 50 lb. test fluorocarbon leaders like nothing. Also, I don’t find pike are typically line/ leader shy. Whether you use a leader (with a swivel and a snap) or a single strand tippet, which only has a snap/Fastach will depend on the lure that you’re throwing. The one caveat about using a single strand titanium tippet is that if it gets kinked, replace it immediately as it will break!

One of the best feelings I get in fishing is when I figure out a new bite or a new hotspot. When I’m prefishing for a tournament, it’s

The sharp sides of structures allow the fish to make quick daily movements up and down, according to the wind, waves, weather, light and forage conditions. Eventually, too, when fall transitions into winter, the slalom-like

Sometimes little details like adding a red coloured treble to your lure can trigger that big bite!

WALLEYE

While all the fish relocate in the fall, walleye take it to the extreme. There is nothing faint or restrained in their change of habits or habitats, so you have to be flexible and change right along with them, or suffer the consequences.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Of course, monitoring the success of your favourite tournament angler is fun, but emulating a winning presentation can be frustrating, because there is always more to it than first meets the eye. As Gustafson has already told us, he spent 20 years perfecting the moping technique and tried it repeatedly – and unsuccessfully – at different events and couldn’t make it produce... until he did.

From ice out in the spring and throughout the summer months, walleye are locked into the relatively narrow, shallow water zone above the thermocline, where they patrol the broad, moderately flat sides of structures.

Once on the water, start with faster horizontal presentations until you determine the mood of the fish and to cover water. My favourite horizontal lures are an in-line spinner, a lipless crank bait, Chatterbait or the old school spinnerbait!

exciting to know that you might have found the winning fish. When I’m around home and away from the tournament scene, that rush might come from catching a big musky in a new area or finding a school of crappies in an area that they weren’t known to pop up in.

options in an inline spinner. Locally made Beaver Lures also makes some great in-lines in a pike size, which is slightly smaller than the traditional Muskie-sized products. Because in-lines are notorious for twisting up your line, I’d run a 18” Stringease 50 lb. test titanium leader when using them. A Daiwa Tatula SV 8.1:1 reel spooled up with 30 lb. test Sunline SX1 braid on a Daiwa Tatula 7’3” MH fast action rod is a great combo to throw these in-lines on. The retrieve for these lures is simple, just chuck & wind and you can control the depth they run at with the speed that you retrieve it at.

Now, one final fall principle to remember: the fish are looking for substantial meat-andpotato meals. Fall is big bait / big walleye season and few lures deliver better on this score than a long slender stickbait like the F13 Jointed Rapala. It is a fall walleye catching machine.

“That is how you should spend your fun fishing days,” says Strub, who has over 200 top ten tournament finishes to his credit. “But remember, anything new these days

A 500 series Buchertail in a Perch finish with a brass blade, Firetiger or Clown are all great

isn’t as easy as grabbing whatever rod, reel, line and lure combination you need and having at it. Spy baiting is a perfect example. Every serious bass angler knows about it by now, but to spy bait well, and more importantly, ensure a decent to excellent landing ratio, you have to spend the time required to dial things in. So use your fun fishing days to experiment with different rod actions and line pairings to achieve greater success.”

When it comes to noise & vibration attracting lures, it’s hard to beat a lipless

Editor’s Note: Jeff Gustafson grew up on the shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. He has made his living in the fishing community since he was a teenager as a tournament angler, guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. The most recent highlight of his career is winning the Bassmaster Classic.You can find him on social media at @gussyoutdoors and on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com.

But I can read your mind. Whoa, you’re is the solution to catching fall walleye, why choose a floating lure that only dives down five to ten feet? It is for two reasons. First, the stand the test of time action of the original floating Rapala is astonishingly lifelike. There is something special

(Continued on page 8.)

Sometimes it’s nice to get out on the water and just pull up to the places we know are good and catch fish but if you want to up Spring 2023

(Continued on page 10.)

members of the fraturnity creating the creature baits such as Bobby Garland’s tube and Guido Hibdon’s Guido Bug. years later, the 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, half, and rigged onto a light Gopher mushroom-head, achieved incredible multi-species success. After that the stickwormplastic would be the go-to plastic for what now being called jigworm fishing by this of pros, including Ned and Gord.

note, the YUM Dinger worm, cut to 2.5 to length became the new standard despite Original Senko’s super-fish-catching ability. turned out that the Senko’s ultra-soft material less durable than the YUM and other similar These were the first steps toward building economy into the jigworm presentation.

(In Case of Emergency Brake Glass continued from page 9.)

Z-Man lineup of Micro TRD plastics Micro Finesse Ned heads

are there? Well, the day I interviewed Ned, I skimmed through the Bass Pro website to see how many Ned Rig products I could find. I found 111 Ned-named products… and that did not include all the jig sizes and body colours! But really, who cares when the Ned name is creating such a plethora of premium light-line fish catching gear!

(The Walleye Storm Before the Calm continued from page 24.) every day around deep structure and cover, using slow moving finesse presentations that rely heavily on live bait. But it is rarely the best strategy during the summer peak period.

Having said that, however, the distinguishing feature of trolling with lead core is that it is highly speed dependent. I like to troll slowly in the fall, at speeds generally between 1.50- and 2.0 miles-an-hour, (depending on the water temperature and stage of the season), so if I speed up or slow down – even slightly – I will fine tune the amount of line I let out.

NED & THE FUTURE OF MWF

“A lot of things work at this time of the year,” says Mitchell, “including trolling and casting crankbaits. It depends on the specific body of water that I am fishing, but I really like swimbaits and paddletails on prairietype lakes.”

• Charlie Brewer's Original Slider head • Charlie Brewer's Slide

Spider Head • Z-Man Finesse

2006, everything changed when, at a B.A.S.S. event, the G.O.A.T., VanDam, gave Ned a green pumpkin coloured, Strike King worm to experiment with for the still-secret jigworm program. Zero worm, manufactured for Strike King by Z-Man, was made proprietary, 10X strong, buoyant ElaZtech plastic. This lure the new tactic to the moon and back as Ned cut the worm into 2.5” pieces, affixed it to two 1/16 oz. red Gopher mushroom and put it to the test. Ned and his partner caught 103 bass, one walleye and a hybrid striper in one afternoon. What was incredible; what blew Ned away was that, after such front-line abuse, the ElaZtech was still in perfect condition!

THEE NED: 1/16 oz mushroom head with 2.5” of ElaZtech Stickworm

Nothing was the same after that and Ned’s relationship with Z-Man became more formal as he worked with them to produce ElaZtech of many sizes, shapes and colour schemes, including more jig styles. Most recently the Micro Finesse Series are most adored for the small hooks in the jigs and the triggering ability of the Ned bodies.

Many lead core anglers also employ long (20- to 50-foot) monofilament, fluorocarbon and gel spun leaders. I can understand doing that for lake trout and salmon in crystal clear water, but for fall walleye in the dingy coloured lakes that I typically fish, I have never found that a 12- to 17-pound test leader longer than about ten feet or the length of the rod produces any more fish. Still, experiment with your leader length if you’re spotting fish on your sonar screen but not getting strikes.

Football NedZ • Z-Man Micro Shad

HeadZ • Z-Man Finesse EyeZ jighead

NO SHORTAGE OF “NED” BAITS

why all these “Ned” products by Z-Man and other companies? word, Marketing! Oh, My! As mentioned, Z-Man Fishing recruited Ned to help them develop a formidable arsenal of Midwest Finesse jigs and plastics… All under the strategic name of NED products. It was simply brilliant and very quickly followed by all fishing tackle companies across the USA! Finally, MidWest Finesse fishing was, in a big way, mainstream! Indeed, now unincumbered by the narrow definition of the Ned Rig, the MWF program allows for all shapes and sizes of jigs, body materials and are limitless.

My all-time favourite Texas-rigged plastic is a creature bait from Z-Man, the Palmetto BugZ. The Palmetto BugZ is bulkier yet still streamline enough to snake through most cover. It is salt-impregnated and has a ribbed body which provides more vibrations, traps air bubbles and holds scent longer. This bait has probably accounted for more big buckets for myself in recent years than any other lure. Employing an Ultra Tungsten flippin’ weight anywhere from 5/8 oz. up to 2 oz. along with a snelled 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook, this package just outright catches them. Black Blue Fleck & California Craw are my 2 personal favourites when it comes to colour. The NEW Gremlin is similar with a smaller profile body but more appendages and should be deadly as well.

“I remember fishing the summer peak for walleyes in the new feeder lakes that are connected to Devils Lake. As Devils Lake kept growing, it flooded and connected a lot of shallow wetlands. At first, these wetlands were full of small pike, but as they grew bigger in size and deeper, we speculated that there were walleyes in them.”

“At first, we started catching them through the ice, but then we began exploring the lakes in our boats. The fishing reminded me of what you would expect on a high end fly-in fishing trip to Canada. Huge numbers of stupid and aggressive walleyes that were often over twenty-five inches in length. The fishing was so incredible that we would anchor in one spot and catch over thirty fish without moving the boat.”

And by all means, go with your favourite fall presentations, if they are different from mine, because variety is the spice of life. But if you’re having trouble finding and catching fish, and it is an emergency, well, then, break the glass and grab one of these tactics.

The incredible durability of the ElaZtech products opened the door to what Ned’s newest project, Frugal Fishing. Frugal Fishing is using products and tactics to get the most out of a fishing session while spending the least amount of money. Such fishing puts more anglers on the water more often, with quality tackle for maximum success and the healthy enjoyment of the outdoors with the least amount of out-of-pocket expense. I find this brilliant and feel that Ned’s approach is simple genius, expanding on the purest fundamentals of Midwest Finesse fishing. As mentioned, the newest Z-Man products that Ned is enjoying, right now, are the Micro Finesse heads and bodies. I know they work all season long for perch and walleye in my waters. You can join me as a subscriber to Ned’s MWF Newsletter by dropping Ned your email address at: nkehde@gmail.com

Weed mats blown into over hanging trees are always worth flipping!

ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

Today, there are no real challengers to the Ned bass-tackle explosion than, perhaps, the Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) lures.

To peg or not to peg, this has always been the age-old

(Continued on page 48.)

“We caught so many walleyes that I quit using lures with treble hooks, so I could release the fish faster and save my hands from getting cut up so badly. I would rig my clients up with a big swimbait and have them cast and retrieve it along shallow weed edges. I would, also, typically tie on a two foot long, 30-pound test titanium leader so I could grab it with gloves and shake off the walleyes because we

2009 Inductee, Canadian, Angler Hall of Fame, Fishing Editor, Outdoor Canada Magazine, Field Editor, In-Fisherman Magazine & Television, Co-Host, In-Fisherman Ice Fishing Guide, Television, Co-Host, The Real Fishing Radio Show, Host, Fish Talk with “The Doc”, Outdoor Journal Radio & President, Canadian Angling Adventures Ltd.

Having several rods rigged is Nussbaum’s summer peak game plan as well, because he says you can catch the fish so many different ways.

About the Author – Gord Pyzer:

of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation) and

Great Lakes & St. Lawrence River smallies are built like “BRICKS”!

This September smallmouth bass weighed in at 7.44 lbs.

If your lucky enough to get a calm warm September day on Lake Erie, the fishing can be tough but the rewards are worth it!

Steve Hawkins with 29.90 lbs. in 2007, Barry Graves & Jason Gough 29-lbs. in 2009 and then in 2010 Mark Moran & Joey Muszynski smashed that mark with a 31.5-lbs. sack of Simcoe Bronze. And since then, with proliferation of round gobies in Lake Simcoe, it’s been giant sacks every fall. So as the days shorten, the temps drop and the leaves continue to fall our thoughts should turn towards monster football shaped smallmouth bass.

found around rock piles, shoals, tapering points, sharp breaks/ledges or anywhere else that schools of bait are going to hold along with gobies and crawfish. Deep bottom transitions can be a sneaky pattern that they can be found on. They can school up in large numbers. In the fall on the Great Lakes, it’s not unusual to encounter 100 fish days in the fall.

With the introduction of Forward-Facing Sonar (FFS) like Garmin’s LiveScope, it definitely takes a lot of the guess work out of locating these fish. And it is absolutely mind blowing when you see a good fish on your LiveScope, throw to it and it swims over and eats your bait while you’re watching it but it doesn’t always work that way. What LiveScope can do for you is not only

ANYTHING LESS AND YOU’LL FACE THE BACKLASH

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locate the fish, give you an idea of the size & species that they are but they can give you a lot info on how the fish are behaving. You can see how they react to your presentations, enabling you to either adjust or keep doing what you’re doing

. LiveScope also shows you what the bottom composition is before you’re on top of it! With Garmin’s latest LiveScope Plus and the LVS34 transducer you should be able to see fairly clearly 100-120’ in front of you. Now, one of the failings of LiveScope or any FFS unit is if the fish are super tight to bottom, it’s really hard to see them. If I see marks on the bottom that look like a boulder or a rock pile, I’ll throw at it even though I don’t see a bass. You’d be surprised at the number of times that as my lure is falling, a fish will lift off the bottom to check it out, giving itself away!

With increased line capacity for larger bait applications

Dressing properly in the fall while pursuing these Football shaped Smallies definitely will make your day more enjoyable! Absolutely love my Striker Denali insulated rainsuit in the autumn months.

I prefer to target these deep fish as I do believe that they can school up in much larger numbers than the shallow fish. Larger numbers not only up my chances for a big fish but it also creates that competition factor, which can make them more active. Presentations that work well on them at this time of year are fairly simple, drop shot, tubes, Ned rigs, swimbaits, jig & minnow, jigging spoons and blade baits. Other presentations that can play are

Carolina rigs, Alabama rigs, deep diving crankbaits and deep diving jerkbaits.

For many years, the tube jig was king on many larger bodies of water! Although not quite as killer as they had been in the past, they still have their day and are definitely a favourite of mine. There are your traditional 3.75”– 4” salt-impregnated tubes, which are still a great smallie bait. They come in a wide assortment of colours but because of the abundance of round gobies in the Great Lakes starting with a goby imitating colour would be a great choice.

So much so that local tackle manufacturer, Angler’s Choice has numerous options for goby coloured Ammunition Tubes, CB Goby, Magic Goby Swirl, GP Goby, St. Clair Goby, CL Goby, Cooper Goby, Canadian Goby, Goby & Natural Goby. They’re all slightly different and as with many lure selections, you have to find your confidence colours because the more confident that you are in your colour the more success that you’ll have with it!

These tube jigs can also represent a crayfish to a hungry smallie so Northern Craw, Misty Craw & Crayfish colours wouldn’t be a bad choice either. Now being salt-impregnated this will encourage the fish to hold on to your tubes long enough to get a good hook set in!

(Continued on page 15.)

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(Monster Great Lakes Smallies continued from page 12.)

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W

(Punchin’ for Swamp Donkeys cont. from pg. 10.)

You can also inject scent or fish attractant into you tube such Bait Fuel or Liquid Mayhem to make it even more attractive. Being a gel scent, you can also apply Liquid Mayhem to the outside of the tube as it adheres nicely to your tube. The type of scent is up to you. I honestly feel that as long the scent masks foreign odours to the fish, then it’s done its job. So, with Liquid Mayhem, Shad, Crawfish or Garlic Crawfish are all great choices but use the one that you have confidence in.

Around looser cover, the Ultra Tungsten Arky Jig catches

will penetrate the cover like a bullet! If not, your other options are to pull down on your bait when it is at its apex, increasing the speed that it hits the mat at. Or you can reel your bait up to your rod tip then use your rod to push through the cover. Once you feel that your rod tip

is through then hit the free spool to allow your bait to fall. With heavier cover fish tend to be less spooky so you can get on top of them when presenting your baits.

The weight of tube jig that you insert into your tube will depend on the depth that you’re fishing and the weather conditions. When fishing deep I rarely go lighter than 1/4 oz and will go all the way up to 3/4 oz.

The key with fishing a tube is to maintain bottom contact so if the winds happen to pick up as they often do in fall, you’ll have to use a heavier tube jig to stay in touch with the bottom. The shape of your jig head can vary dependant on what you’re trying to imitate. If you’d like your tube to resemble a goby then a football-style jig or a goby-style jig from another local tackle manufacturer, Beaver Lures would be in order. These jigs will give your tube a bulbous head similar to the round goby. Whatever jig head you use make sure that it has a stout premium hook like the Gamakatsu found on Beaver Lures’ Goby jig head.

Texas rigged baits are probably the most popular lures for punching and flipping heavy cover. The best baits are very streamline so they can slide through the cover better. A stick bait or Senko style bait like Z-Man Fishing’s ZinkerZ offers the least resistance in penetrating thick weeds. Other favourites of mine would be a Palmetto BugZ and the new Gremlin from Z-Man looks like it would work great for punching as well. Z-Man Fishing baits are made from a material called ElaZtech, unique properties of ElaZtech is that it is extremely buoyant, super tough yet soft & supple. As the bait penetrates the cover and reaches bottom, it will float off the bottom offer an enticing action and making it easy for a bass to find.

Z-Man Fishing’s ZinkerZ and FattyZ are both straight style worm baits with the FattyZ offering a slightly bulkier body and a bulbous tail! Texas-rigged with a 4/0 Owner Rig’n Hook and an Ultra Tungsten flippin’ weight, this package offers the least amount of resistance when going through heavy cover. Green Pumpkin/Orange, Hot Craw and traditional Black/Blue Laminate are all excellent colours depending on the water clarity. Ultra Tungsten flippin’ weights used can vary from 1/2 oz all the way up to 2 oz. depending on the thickness of the cover.

(Continued on page 16.)

(Continued on page 12.)

(Monster Great Lakes Smallies continued from page 14.)

Tournament partner & good friend, Steve Neveu proudly showing off a couple on Erie Footballs!

Steve Neveu & I celebrating a “DUB” on Lake Erie in November with a 28.9 lbs. sack of fish!

assume we’ve discovered a solid pattern – one that’s led to some key areas where the fish are sure to replenish. And let’s assume we have the right lure and technique for making them bite. What happens if, for some inexplicable reason, the fish won’t cooperate? We know they’re there, but something has changed. This happens a lot, even for the pros. And how they react will ultimately determine their chances for success.

The equipment that I use for tube on big water is a 7’2” Daiwa Tatula MH power spinning rod with a Tatula MQ 3000 sized reel spooled up with 10-lbs. test Sunline SX-1 Hi-Vis Yellow braided line and a 15 – 20-foot length of 10-lbs. test FC Leader Fluorocarbon material. I will drop the FC Leader Fluorocarbon material down to 8-lbs. test if the fish are spooky or appear to be line shy. But for me this is not a finesse presentation. I’m looking for more aggressive feeding fish and want as much in my favour as possible when fighting them.

Some days, especially if there is a little bit of wind and the conditions are good, the fish just bite and on those days, I’m throwing the hardware. The crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters and Chatterbaits. These are baits that make some noise and have the ability to grab a fish’s attention. When they are biting these kinds of lures and I’m talking all species, it’s a fun way to fish and you are able to cover a lot of ground. I think these baits give you the best shot at catching the biggest fish of all species as well.

Crankbaits are a great way to cover water and get bites from a variety of species

Same goes for your spinnerbaits. If they wire is bent, they’ll run sideways and not look as good. Whatever bait you choose, make sure it’s working properly and you’re going to increase your odds of hooking up.

Remember, finding the fish is always the most important element to catching them. It doesn’t matter what lure you have tied on the end of your line, if fish don’t see it, you can’t catch them. Years later, the Lindner’s famous F (fish) =S (success) is still relevant.

Yamamoto’s Speed Senko are great for covering water, especially when grass is nvolved.

locations. It should work a large scale. In fact, big tournaments are won anglers who seek fresh, water” each day of the event. They’re so confident in patterns they’ve established, they’re satisfied to run gun, hitting as many similar locations as possible.

When All Else Fails

If I feel that the fish are on a crawfish bite and on the skittish side, then I will downsize to a NetBait 2.5” Mini Tube or a Great Lakes Finesse 2.5” Juvy Craw combined with a Great Lakes Finesse Mini Pro Tube Head. The GLF Mini Pro Tube Heads are available in weights from 1/8 oz. right up to 1/2 oz. Favourite colours in the NetBait Mini Tube include Dark Melon Purple, Star Warz, Dark Melon Gold Purple and Ten Point. In the GLF Juvy Craws, Green Pumpkin Orange Belly, Green Pumpkin Purple and Green Pumpkin Red are definitely favourites. With these slower finesse presentations, fish attractants and scents are probably even more important as the fish will have more time to examine your offerings.

When I find are area with these baits that is holding fish or I see some fish under the boat on my sonar, that’s when I’ll bust out the jigs and slower presentations.

Same goes if we are fishing in tough conditions. Maybe we’re getting hit with a cold front or fishing pressure is high. You probably need to add some finesse to your presentation. Knowing when to make those moves and when put down the bait that “always works” comes with experience and being open minded when you’re on the water.

Other times we score, and we score big!

So do you change lures? Maybe. Or, what about changing the angle of your retrieve? That might work also. But often it boils down to just one simple factor, and that’s timing.

and then choosing the best presentation is the way to go.

Editor’s Note:

Another relatively new product that I’ve been playing with is the Fish Formula Bait Pop, which incorporates Fish Formula scent and taste along with SparklScales. Applied to your bait it makes it more visible on your FFS unit! I was a little skeptical at first but after trying it out, I do believe that I’m seeing my bait better on my LiveScope. So, for those of you who are having a tough time locating your lure on your FFS unit, you might want to give this product a try.

What about those times a pattern fails completely?

Well, that’s when a good back-up plan comes in. Although it not get you to the winner’s circle, it might make the difference cashing a check or watching from the bank. The bottom line putting fish on the scales, regardless of what it takes. Believe even the most consistent pros are sometimes lost. Their primary pattern craps out and they’re left with nothing... not even a up plan. In situations like these, many competitors will pick area and just go fishing, throwing at anything and everything that looks good. And this sometimes works, but not very often.

With these lures you can scope out fish and target them using your electronics. Or you can locate the fish or structure with your electronics and take advantage of any wind that you have to drag over these fish. Sometimes longlining while dragging will often get you bites that you wouldn’t normally get. Windy conditions also make it more difficult to target specific fish using your LiveScope. If the wind is particularly strong you can slow yourself down with your trolling motor or go old school and throw out a drift sock. Another old school accessory that is very useful out on the Great Lakes are rod holders. Not only will it can save your rod from going overboard but trust when I say “Rod Holders catch fish!” I can’t count the number of times that I or my partner put our rods into a rod holder while netting the other’s fish, then turn around and had a fish on that rod.

Timing is everything. And it’s the angler who figures out the right timing who will ultimately excel. That’s why many pros make brief, repeated stops on the same locations. They’re trying to hit them at the most opportune time, hoping to trigger a key fish or perhaps a whole school of fish into feeding. Some refer to it as “rhythm”, and when it’s working, there’s no better feeling.

Flats

One of the perks of using FFS is that you are able to watch your lure or bait in the water and sometimes that can tip you off if it is not working correctly. What I mean is if you’re throwing a crankbait that is supposed to dive to ten feet and it’s only going to four or five, it’s probably not working properly. Maybe it needs and adjustment but you learn that instantly by watching it on the screen. With some of the soft plastics, if they aren’t rigged up perfectly straight, which is important, you’ll notice that they spin and twirl as they’re sinking, which is not natural. Not only will the fish probably not like it, you’re going to twist the heck out of your line.

Walleye and pike can also be caught trolling minnowbaits and crankbaits. This includes running a bait over the top of weeds, along a deep weedline, or through water just beyond the weed edge.

Jeff Gustafson grew up on the shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. He has made his living in the fishing community since he was a teenager as a tournament angler, guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. In 2019 he joined the Bassmaster Elite Series and has found some success chasing bass around the United States, including an Elite Series win in 2021 and a Bassmaster Classic win in 2023. In between competing in the U.S. tournaments, you can usually find him around Lake of the Woods, fishing for all species, all year round. You can catch up with Gussy on social media at @gussyoutdoors and on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com.

So, make sure your baits are all perfect before you start fishing with them. The plastics are straight on the jig, test the crankbaits near the boat and make sure they are diving straight down and not running off to the side.

I’ve had some incredible days fishing flats where pike and walleye were feeding on yellow perch and other baitfish.

What if a pro has no key spots to cycle through? Is it possible to remain competitive by running a pattern throughout a lake or

Another option when they’re on a crawfish bite is to use a Ned Rig with a Z-Man Fishing TRD CrawZ rigged on 1/5 oz. TT Lures NedLockZ Jig head. Canada Craw, Bubble Gut, Molting Craw and Mud Bug are all great colours to try in the TRD CrawZ. Equipment for these finesse style lure consists of Daiwa Tatula Elite Cody Meyer Signature Series 7’ ML Finesse spinning rod paired with a Daiwa Ballistic 2500LT reel loaded with 8-lbs. test Siglon PEx4 Orange braided line and a 6 or 8-lbs test Sunline FC Leader Fluorocarbon material. Always be mindful of which combo that you’re using with what lbs. test line and set your drag accordingly. These fat smallies have lots of fight in them with the colder fall water temps.

While you’re dragging out there, don’t be afraid to vary your presentation by popping and lifting your rod up and then allowing your lure to naturally flutter down to the bottom. Because of the Round Goby’s lack of an air bladder, they often will swim upwards but once they stop swimming they will slowly fall to the bottom. You can also speed up your retrieve by pulling your rod forward and then deadstick your bait until the boat’s drift catches up with it. That short deadstick moment can sometimes get a following fish to bite.

Rather than fishing aimlessly down a stretch of bank, I suggest something a bit more promising. If it’s a reservoir and I nothing figured out, I try to put myself where there’s less and fewer distractions – like the backs of creeks or far up main river. I know by keeping my head down and picking smaller areas apart, the odds of running into fish – even quality fish – can be better. On a natural lake or river system, I concentrate on super thick cover, fishing solely for resident Are these strategies guaranteed to salvage a bad day? No. they have bailed me out on numerous occasions.

While flats by nature are fairly uniform areas, there will be specific features where fish congregate. Examples include isolated piles, patches of grass, a slight depression in bottom, where point extends off a flat, and the ledge where the flat drops into water. Cover water until you figure out what spots are holding fish. Then dissect these zones by experimenting with different lures and trying different casting angles to maximize the number of fish you catch.

Deep Structure

So next time you’re faced with an unfamiliar lake or river, your homework ahead of time. Then, when you’re on the water, try to be methodical in your search. If given the chance, pattern fishing can work. It’s just a matter of determining the right and cover.

There are plenty more deep-water presentations that you should add to your arsenal but I can’t write a book here so you’ll have to wait for – Part 2

In the meantime “Fish Hard! Dream Big!” and we’ll see you on the water!

Editor’s Note:

Follow Bernie Schultz on Instagram, Facebook and through website

On large, deep lakes, walleye and pike frequently relate to mid-lake structures and feed heavily on cisco, smelt, and open-water baitfish. These locations typically begin producing in early summer as lake temperatures warm, prompting populations of walleye and pike to leave shallow areas for deeper, cooler water.

Casting jigs is productive on deep, sandy humps and structures with minimal snags. Craggy, rocky bottoms are another matter. These are better fished vertically jigging a spoon, bladebait, or a soft-jerkbait on deep structure.

Trolling a deep-diving crankbait is another good strategy an effective way to cover a lot of water. Pulling the bait through deep water and then across the top of a hump can trigger strikes.

Bernie Schultz competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series and serves as a columnist to Bassmaster.com and InsideLine.net. He’s an educator and promoter of angling, representing many of biggest brands in fishing – including Mercury Marine, Caymas Boats, Power-Pole, Fuji Rod Components, Shimano, Yamamoto, Hildebrandt, Garmin Electronics, T-H Marine, Power Pro and Die Lithiums. You can visit him at: www.bernieschultzfishing.com and on Facebook at “Bernie Schultz Fishing.”

(Pike & Walleye Mashup! continued. from page 36.)

Lake Erie Footballs like these always bring a smile to my face!

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A gar and crappie suspended in a fallen tree.

$CASH$ In On Green Baits For

Confession time: I have an affinity for green walleye baits. I’m not obsessed, mind you. No need to lump me in with those extremely cheerful Emerald City residents from the Jolly Old Land of Oz. I frequently catch walleye on other colours (see sidebar) But, one night while organizing tackle in preparation for a walleye outing the next morning, I found myself muttering out loud: Tim, what’s with all the green baits?

Perhaps, it’s time to answer this question.

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

Imitating walleye forage is a big reason I fish a lot of greenish baits. Kermit from The Muppets sang it best: “It’s not easy being green.”

Imitating walleye forage is one reason to go with a green bait. Kermit sang it best: “It’s not easy being green.” Walleye greedily gobble-up green frogs. And, opportunity knocks loudly every fall when frogs leave forests and fields to overwinter in the mucky bottom of lakes and rivers. Walleye wait in ambush near the water’s edge and can be caught using various froggy looking lures.

Perch are another major food source for walleye. Despite their mustardy moniker, yellow perch have plenty of olive and

By: Tim Allard

sides at a certain angle.

There are plenty of other forage fish with green accents that walleye eat.

The ROM Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Ontario describes many shiners and chubs with backs featuring olive, green-gold, green-yellow, pale-green, and olive-brown colourations. Sides and bellies are typically lighter silvers and whites, of course.

Various greens also contribute to the camouflage of many invertebrates scurrying within a walleye’s world. Crayfish and mayfly nymphs can range

importance of mimicking a fish’s food in order to fool them into biting. In my experience, using a green lure in many waterbodies at certain times of the year is a smart strategy for getting a walleye’s attention and triggering bites.

from olive to brown. As do some leeches. Needless to say, I catch a lot of walleye fishing a green pumpkin tube.

When one considers the above listing of forage, it’s not hard to appreciate why green hard- and soft-plastic baits are appealing to

BRIGHT IS RIGHT

Before I knew the term “confidence bait,” I had one for walleye. As a novice angler, a 3-inch chartreuse Mister Twister Curly Tail Grub on a jig could do no wrong in my eyes. I figured since I could see the vibrant colour in the dingy water of the Ottawa River, so could the walleye.

I was aware, too, of the powerful attraction created from the tail’s vibrations. In fact, this lure, along with the 4-inch Twister Tails still catch walleye. Initially, I was a die-hard, 100 percent chartreuse grub fanatic, but soon broadened my collection to include twister tails with chartreuse flake, white-chartreuse, or black and brown with chartreuse tails.

(Continued

Berkley Gulp! Minnow Grub

ZMan Jerk Shadz Glitter Done

Traditions

(Cash-in

In the Spring rivers are traditional destinations to shake the postwinter cabin fever out of your blood. Meet with friends and family for a remote northern getaway. Get on the water for walleyes. Gather around the campfire and share stories. Many anglers have been fishing here since they were kids because their families have been coming here for generations. And you never know if Old Man Winter will stick around or if Mother Nature has something else in mind.

Old habits die hard. Years ago, when Berkley released the Gulp! Alive! Minnow Grub I stocked up on chartreuse and immediately began catching walleye with these soft-baits from the Ottawa River all the way up to the Gouin Reservoir. The PowerBait Pro Twitchtail Minnow in chartreuse black-fleck and chartreuse orange is another good one.

boulders, stumps, and other obstacles. A deep crankbait’s large lip helps it travel over most objects with minimal snags. “In some situations you’re so deep it may only hit a few times, but when we’re talking the meat and potatoes of the method, I want to crank it down, keep it down, and then grind it off bottom,” Cousvis said.

I have seen people trying to launch boats that are frozen to their boat trailers because the air temperature is in the single digits. I have also seen summer-like weather and sunburned faces. there is a snow squall or a heatwave, you will find Heather and I chasing that 30-incher on a river somewhere in April. Good luck!

The crank’s commotion and bottom disturbance certainly attract fish. But, bass see red when a crankbait hits and deflects off of an object. The sudden change in speed and direction, triggering reaction

Another bait I’m a huge fan of is the AuthentX Moxi. This is a thin, hybrid bait that’s part curly tail, part worm, and part finesse swimbait. It’s hugely popular when fished on a jig for cold-water walleye in the Midwest regions of the United States. The chartreuse 3-inch version, along with purple/chartreuse tail and purple crackle/ chartreuse tail have proven absolutely deadly when nose-hooked on a drop-shot rig. Swimming or drifting this set-up has put a lot of walleye in my boat over the years.

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“When a crank pops up off cover, this gives it an action like it was stunned,” Cousvis said. “Stop it for a second and let it float up two to three inches. Strikes come after the crank hits or the retrieve starts again.”

GET IN DONE WITH FIRETIGER

Firetiger is another pattern with a good amount of green that walleye like. How can you argue with a lure with a lime and chartreuse back, a yellow and orange belly, and black stripes for contrast?

Jason Matity & Jeff Matity are helplessly, hopelessly addicted to the sport of fishing. The only thing they like better than catching big fish is helping others catch big fish. Whether it’s trolling for northern pike and walleyes, to jigging for trout, burbot and perch, pitching jigs to bass, or dunking crawlers for carp and catfish, they are Saskatchewan’s multispecies fishing authority whether on ice or open water. Matitysgetfishing.com

YOU are invited to come along for the ride…

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Shimano World Crank –Another Favourite of Craig Lister.

Crank Considerations

In my eyes, firetiger is like a perch neon-sign. It’s a loud paint job ideal for getting a walleye’s attention and triggering strikes. I’ve caught walleye mid-day in clear water on this pattern, but generally I find firetiger fishes best in dirty and turbid water, overcast conditions, and during dusk and night.

The Rapala Deep Tail Dancer in Bleeding Tiger and Bomber Deep Long A in Bengal Fire Tiger are two examples of diving lures responsible for netting a lot of walleye in my boat over the years. I also have firetiger soft-plastics, jigging spoons, bladebaits, and tailspins, like the Jackall Deracoup.

NATURAL PERCH LOOKALIKES

Effectively dredging a crank on bottom requires specialized equipment, beginning with a collection of crankbaits suitable for fish along bottom at a range of different depths. For example, the Berkley Dredger series includes six lures with diving ranges spanning 8-10, 9-11.5, 12-15.5, 16-19.5, 2022.5, and 22-26 feet. Rapala DT (Dives-To) models hit 10, 14, 16, and 20 foot depths. Nothing wrong either with mixing various brands’ baits for various depths – see sidebar for suggestions.

Working Different Depths

As much as I like firetiger for waterbodies containing perch, there are times when it is not the best option. This is common during the day in clear water systems. Here a better choice is likely a more natural perch pattern or other realistic baitfish paint job.

The potency of using a natural looking perch lure played out in my boat last fall when fishing a clear water lake. Schools of yellow perch were roaming on mid-depth sand and mud flats. This, in turn, attracted walleye and northern pike. Being curious, my partner and I experimented with many different types of presentations. The results of our inquiry quickly confirmed our initial thinking that walleye were uninterested in gaudy, bright baits and instead preferred natural lure finishes. One effective tactic was snapjigging a gold yellow perch Rapala Jigging Rap on the flat as well as down the drop-off ledge.

The more you use deep crankbaits, the more you’ll get a feel for when to pause the retrieve and when to keep going. It’s apparent when a crank crashes into a boulder or a big stump, warranting a pause to let the buoyant bait time to float up and away from the obstacle before recommencing the retrieve. More, when steadily grinding along a uniform, rocky bottom add the occasional pause to try and prompt a bite from any bass that might be following.

I have also done well in similar scenarios hopping, snapping, and swimming a jig with a Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ in various colour options featuring green, such as Glitter Done and Perfect Perch. The latter admittedly having a lot of orange in it but the back contains green accents and green fleck.

OLIVE OFTEN OUTSTANDING

“I like to have two or three rods with lures with different diving depths to figure out feeding depth,” Lister said. “Some days you might catch bass all over, but other times they might only be biting in 18 to 22 feet and that’s it.” Working with your fishing buddy to hit different depths is a good strategy to cover ground and develop a pattern. Lister and I did this one day in August when casting to rocky points, spines, and humps. He would cast a Jackall Digle 05 to work around 15 feet, while I used a Berkley Dredger to cover 18 feet or more.

Retrieve Particulars

Green olive is another tone walleye love. One of my bestproducing bucktail jigs, tied by none other than “Big” Jim himself, features roughly 35 percent black hair for the back and the rest is olive. The pattern doesn’t look like anything specific, but for hungry walleye it can represent a baitfish, crayfish, leech, nymph, or another olive-hued snack. I’ve caught a ridiculous amount of weed-living walleye from this little gem.

Generally, a slow to moderate retrieve is best for maximizing a deep crankbait’s action. A baitcaster with a low to medium gear ratio keeps the tempo in check, and provides the torque needed for retrieving a big-lipped lure. In addition to slow reeling along bottom, Lister occasionally sweeps the rod back, then catches up with the slack line using the reel as he moves the rod forward. “It changes up the cadence and can fire them up,” he said.

Generally, I fish a bucktail at a fast to moderate pace, snapping and hopping it along bottom. But, slowing down and tipping one with a leech or worm is a great way to finesse walleye.

Cousvis says an unhurried retrieve prevents overworking a bait and maximizes the lure’s bottom contact. A sluggish swimming crank is also recommended for bass in cold water. Cousvis doesn’t shy away from speed when up against clear-water smallmouth, though. He’s quickly worked a Deep-Six across bottom over offshore rock piles, ridges, and points in 10 to 12 feet to spark feeding responses from big bronzebacks. The number of deep diving crankbaits capable of operating high speeds is limited, however.

Speaking of finessing walleye, ever try to catch them during a mayfly hatch? It’s an uphill battle. One of the better presentations I’ve found is slowly fishing a 1/16 to 3/16-ounce olive marabou

A crankbait’s path along bottom and through a bass’ strike zone can influence whether or not fish bite. Adjusting boat position and

(Continued

Ottawa G. Loomis / Shimano pro Craig Lister with a deep weedline beauty caught on a Jackall Digle.

Berkley Dredger

Rapala Deep Tail Dancer in Flash Yellow Perch

or bucktail jig on its own or under a slip float. Tipping these jigs with a piece of a real worm or leech, or a piece of scent-loaded Berkley Gulp! is a good idea.

A SEA OF GREEN

custom-painted

I’ve hinted at this already, but I catch a lot of walleye using two-tone and multicoloured soft-baits with green accents. Naturally, I hoard these like a packrat. Emptying out one of my tackle bags used to store minnows and flukes reveals a sea of green. Inside there are Angler’s Choice Wally MinRs in firetiger and dorado, Berkley PowerBait Minnows in chartreuse shad and emerald shiner, Rapala CrushCity The Jerk in Pearl Watermelon, Zoom Flukes in baby bass, Fin-S Fish in chartreuse ice, and Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZs in various green variations.

And don’t even get me started on my Ned rig bait collection.

Reviewing all these soft-baits reveals two broad categories. There are bright, bold green baits intended to standout and get a walleye’s attention. Then, there are more natural colour combinations where the greens are more subtle and trick walleye through their realistic appearance.

GLITTERING GREEN UPS THE ANTE

The trend continues with worms. Trolling a green pumpkin or a watermelon pearl Berkley Gulp! Nightcrawler on a worm harness is a reliable presentation for summertime walleye. A 4.5” Roboworm Fat Worm in bold bluegill (brown, black, and lime) is another great pattern for drop-shotting walleye. A trimmed down Mister Twister Phenom in perch another good option.

Flashy green baits are great when walleye are eating emerald shiners. I’ve had success catching walleye on deep flats, sand bars, and points using a Luhr Jensen Krocodile spoon in chrome with a neon green side stripe.

(Continued on page 22.)

Bandit Deep

by Wackm Tackle

Berkley ThinFisher

Bandit Deep custom-painted by Wackm Tackle

Jim Saric with a beauty caught right at dark.

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The presentation causes the straight, Slider worm to coast or slide through the water giving off the ultimate impression

from the point. Also, if there is an adjacent point nearby that could hold muskies as well.

(Jumbo Perch continued from page 22.)

If necessary, reposition the boat to contact additional biters. You can very effectively cast and retrieve an X-Rap in high winds that would otherwise drift a bobber rig too quickly past the fish to get a response.

metallic squares reflect light, mimicking the sparkle off of a baitfish’s scales and giving the bait a natural appearance. It may seem like a small detail, but you’d be surprised how even a small amount of glitter can make a big difference in the number of bites you get.

additional biters. You can very effectively cast and retrieve an X-Rap in high winds that would otherwise drift a bobber rig too quickly past the fish to get a response.

GLOWING SUCCESS

So often, maximizing your day and catching another musky can happen by simply fishing an adjacent spot. When you catch a musky and/or have a few follows and it seems like the activity level has increased rather than run far away, check an adjacent spot. You’ll spend less time running and more time fishing and most likely catching!

PLAN FOR A BLOW

The last category of lures to showcase are those with green and chartreuse glow paint finishes. Whether open-water fishing or ice-fishing, there have been countless times when a glow bait has caught more walleye than a non-glow version. This is often most pronounced during twilight and at night, but also applies when fishing deep, in overcast conditions, or in turbid water conditions.

bobber and live minnow, dangling bait in their faces for an extended It’s not easy – but better than

bobber and live minnow, dangling bait in their faces for an extended It’s not easy – but better than going

This spoon is well known as an ice-fishing bait, but it is equally phenomenal when vertically jigged from a boat for walleye relating to deep structure.

Admittedly, during cold front conditions, crappies may not be on the chew. Fish are likely to drop back out of the shallows, toward deeper water. They might hold in deeper weeds or along the remnants of last year’s deep weed line. They may simply drop down into depressions or holes on the flats near the mouth of a bay.

A Fishing Industry Professional for 30 years as a Fishing Guide & Promotional Staffer, with Bachelor’s Degrees in Science & Education, Jeff uses this training in his job as a Fisheries Professional Outdoor Educator (specializing in fishing family business, GetFishing.ca) to reach to anyone interested in learning about

In the past, anglers used to crappies were either “in” spring, meaning they were relating to flooded wood cover... or they hadn’t come in yet, still out deep, not worth trying to they eventually came shallow. we know better. Crappies can be moving somewhere in between,

In the past, anglers used to say crappies were either “in” or spring, meaning they were up relating to flooded wood cover... or they hadn’t come in yet, still out deep, not worth trying to catch they eventually came shallow. Nowadays, we know better. Crappies can be in, moving somewhere in between, displaying

There are lots of great presentations that will work on these massive perch at this time and of course live bait such as emerald shiners always work. A standard dropshot rig works great with any type of live bait that you may wish to try! Just make sure that you obtain your minnows in the proper Fishery Management Zone and keep your receipt in case you’re stopped by the MNR/ OPP or York Regional Police. All 3 agencies will enforce any regulation violations!

Glow chartreuse jig heads are also worth having in your tackle box. Using one gives a presentation an extra bit of oomph. This can help attract walleye when using live-bait, such as tipping a jig with a leech or nightcrawler. The same rationale applies when pairing a green glow jig head with a soft-plastic.

Of all the glow lures in my collection, a Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon in superglo firetiger has been the most productive over the years, which partly relates to how long its been on the market and, thus, in my tackle collection.

In any case, when they drop down toward bottom and display a basically negative feeding attitude, they are unlikely to pursue baits moving laterally about their heads. You can possibly still catch them by hunkering down with an anchor and fishing with a slip

Logically, I know going green matches the pigmentation of many type of walleye forage – but, maybe my fondness for emerald is partly my Irish heritage shining through.

Because of the size of the yellow perch that we’re targeting, I recommend at least 7’ ML power rods like the Daiwa Aird-X models, which are great value. Pairing one of these rods with a 1000/1500 sized spinning reel spooled up with 6-8 lb. test braid and a 4-6 lb. test fluorocarbon leader and you’ve got a perfect “Jumbo Perch” outfit. The longer rod allows for greater casting distances and you’re also able to take up a lot more line when setting hook!

Whether you are fishing in summer or fall, more than likely you are going to encounter at least one of your days on your trip, where the wind will be strong. These are the days with 15-25 MPH winds. Often the gusts are higher. These are the days where your “A” spots are often not fishable. Actually, any open-water wind-exposed spot may not be fishable. So, you’ll need to rely on your “B”, “C” and even your “D” spots to catch muskies. In summer, the big winds are usually southerly and in the fall the winds are usually northerly.

determine where and how deep they’re and what approach they are responding best. Always a good game plan for all species, in any conditions.

About the Author:

No matter the reason, green baits consistently put fish in my boat. Perhaps it’s best to leave it at that and not overthink it.

While planning for your trip and looking at the map, besides looking

About the Author: Tim Allard is a full-time, awardwinning outdoor journalist and author/photographer of the book, Ice Fishing: The Ultimate Guide. He’s a regular contributor to numerous North American print and online publications. From panfish to northern pike, Tim fishes whatever he can, whenever he can.

My go-to is some type of jig, I like to combined an 1/8 oz. Ultra Tungsten ball jig with either a 2 1/2” Z-Man GrubZ, a Grumpy

Bait Company Mini Goby or a Great Finesse Drop Minnow. I generally natural colours, although there will days when the bright chartreuse, oranges will slay’ em! Sometimes a “Donkey Rig” similar to one that for ice fishing will get you numerous headers. On the top hooks, a Mini FIN or Micro Grubby from Grumpy Company work great as well as baits like True North Baits, Mini M’eh

Bait Company Mini Goby or a Finesse Drop Minnow. I generally natural colours, although there will days when the bright chartreuse, oranges will slay’ em! Sometimes a “Donkey Rig” similar to one for ice fishing will get you numerous headers. On the top hooks, a FIN or Micro Grubby from Grumpy Company work great as well baits like True North Baits, Mini

My go-to is some type of jig, I like to combined an 1/8 oz. Ultra Tungsten ball jig with either a 2 1/2” Z-Man GrubZ, a Grumpy

If you happen to locate fish over 15’, virtually any ice fishing presentation

Al Lindner ranks among the most renowned leaders in the fishing industry. Averaging about 180 days a year on the water, Al is hailed as one of the world’s best all-around anglers. Al’s long and honoured career as an author, syndicated radio & TV fishing show host, video producer, fishing guide, tackle manufacturer, lecturer and champion tournament angler has spanned 35 the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

If you happen to locate fish 15’, virtually any ice fishing presentation

(Continued

biting fish.

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GAR ON THE FLY

By: Daniel Notarianni

FFor many anglers, salmon are just the “opening act” of the migratory fish season in the Great Lakes region. They’re fun, but let’s be honest –steelhead are the real stars. As summer fades and salmon make their way up the spawning rivers, steelhead aren’t far behind. Hooking one on a fly rod feels like a tug-of-war with raw energy! While I occasionally use centerpin or conventional tackle, this article focuses on catching steelhead with a fly rod.

FLY RODS & REELS FOR STEELHEAD

You don’t need an elaborate setup to catch steelhead. In the Southern Great Lakes region, many rivers aren’t ideal for traditional spey fishing, but they’re perfect for a single-hand fly rod. I use a 9- or 10-foot, 7-weight rod paired with Scientific Anglers Anadro Indicator line, which excels at handling clunky rigs, mends easily, and casts most setups. It also lets me switch between nymphing and single-hand swinging effortlessly. A large arbor reel with a solid drag system is essential – steelhead are called “silver bullets” for a reason!

SWINGING STREAMER FLIES

To avoid using split-shot, which for the record I hate using, I opt for

a poly leader to get the fly down. It’s much easier to cast than a rig heavily weighted with split shot. I attach 10 or 12-lb. tippet to the poly leader. One of my top flies is the White Death, which mimics dead or dying shiner and is especially effective when steelhead first enter the rivers. It’s essential for fishing Lake Erie tributaries. Another favourite of mine is the egg-sucking leech, which I tie like a spey fly with a bead as the egg and larger hackle, which provides extra movement without adding bulk, making it particularly deadly in murky water. Other key streamer patterns include Woolly Buggers, Muddlers, Slump Busters, and Hobo Speys. I favour either muted or bright colours –black, white, olive, or pink.

NYMPHING FOR CLEAR WATER STEELHEAD

As the water becomes lower and clearer in late fall and winter, streamers can sometimes be too aggressive. In these conditions, I swap the poly leader for a tapered 9-foot leader,

(What’s Hot On Ice continued from page 37.)

“If you’re fishing summer spots and they aren’t there, start fishing the sand. As the transition is getting underway, it’s still common to find walleyes

add a long 6- or 8-lb tippet, with an indicator. Instead of adding shot, which I hate, I fish two flies, which is legal in most areas I frequent.

spawning shoal, itself, these guardian fish fast for weeks and weeks, never leaving the eggs,” explained Paragamian.

My favourite rig is an egg pattern paired with a size 8 or 10 Copper John, weighted with

FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING

“They start to move out to more open-water areas at first... sliding out around deep water: sandbars that come out from shore and drop to deeper water, sand flats, sand points and sand

Bassmaster Elite Series competitors posting photos and videos on their social media pages of multiple of these transducers on their boats, it has made me consider if I’m making a mistake? We’ll see how the season goes.

How you set the hook depends on its size, diameter and thickness and when it is small, thin and razor sharp, a smart sweep of the rod tip is all that is

How you set the hook depends on its size, diameter and thickness and when it is small, thin and razor sharp, a smart sweep of the rod tip is all that is required to nab every fish.

FLX-30 BB flasher/ fish finder featuring – 7 frequencies from 160 to 300 kHz, 140 interference rejection options, target ID down to 1/4”, Digital depth displat, Day & Night display settings, Battery status & low-battery alert, 3 power level settings & zoom zones. Plus Vexiar’s exc;usive broad band Ice-Ducer transducer & float, 12 volt, 9 amp-hour, Vexilar Lithium battery, fully automatic charger, Soft Pack carry case, adjustable rod holder, external power posts for accessories and a custom Vexilar tackle box. For more information,

TIPS FOR SETTING UP

predatory responses in the form of reaction strikes. It’s heavy zinc frame fishes great both vertically or when casted, making it a truly versatile offering for a number of species. visit: https://www.northlandtackle.com.

HUMMINBIRD MEGA-LIVE

My opinion on all of this is that it’s okay to have fun and catch more fish. Embrace the technology, learn from it and teach new anglers how to use it. I had several days last year where I had kids in the boat with me and I showed them how it works, then they were almost glued to my side for the rest of the day, watching the screen. They didn’t want to put their bait in the water until

I received a message from a reader last fall about catching big smallmouth, largemouth and northern pike. He had been unsuccessful in his efforts and asked if I’d help him zero in on the key depth. I flipped him back a note asking what species, in particular, he was targeting. He

Glo-Shot Spoons are a killer on crappies, perch, walleyes, pike and trout. Cast or vertically jig... the S-curve design and light, lead-free construction excels with twitches, lifts and falls.

Now, there is no question that when you are fishing for walleye, as a case in point, that you may catch a bonus smallmouth, largemouth or northern pike. Maybe even several. But is it a huge mistake to assume it will happen and thus, go fishing without a specific species in mind.

With social media so prevalent these days, it is easy to get caught up in the hysteria associated with a hot lake or new bait. Some folks will even post the waypoints of popular fishing spots. But if you know about it, so do tens of thousands of other anglers.

The new Magz Goby 3” soft plastic bait offers a realistic baitfish appearance and action to entice even the most finicky fish. The 3” Goby is great for both summer & winter fishing and for all game fish. Its soft body and active tail bring the Magz Goby to life! For more information, visit: https://magzmfg.com.

“So, non-spawning guardian fish stay on the shoal, defend territory, and fast to the point of near starvation. Why?” I wondered out loud. “Well, why do most organisms on earth do outrageous things in the name of procreation?” retorted Paragamian. “One word: hormones. It’s primarily light and temperature, as well as other environmental cues that begin the cascade of hormones causing this behavior. There must be a mechanism by which they ‘know’ it is time to leave before their bodies give out completely. Bottom line, as long as the fat reserves in their liver hold up, they can stay.”

All of that being said, there is some responsibility amongst anglers utilizing live sonar to not exploit the fish by catching and keeping too many or even by catching too many fish in deep water, where they can’t be released. Crappies are especially susceptible to exploitation because they group up in large schools and they almost always suspend at least a few feet above the bottom so they are very easy to spot on these electronics.

“Walleyes begin to move deeper as water temps drop toward turnover . Instead of looking for fish to be on top of

I like to take all of the range settings out of auto and set them in manual mode. This keeps the range the same all the time so it’s never jumping around. My forward range is usually set to 90 feet, which is about the length of a full cast. I move the down range around to fill up the screen with the water column, meaning, if I’m fishing in 20 feet of water, I’ll probably set my down range between 22 and 25 feet. Then adjust as you go shallower or deeper.

Sharing reliable, guarded, insider information with one or two trusted friends is a good thing, but relying on second, third and fourth hand accounts of dock talk

Glo-Shot® Sticks boost fish attraction in low-visibility situations. Change

Glo-Shot Stick colours to match conditions.

I use to accompany the Conservation Officers and fisheries technicians who worked for me and we would pull alongside anglers and do a creel survey. I was always amazed when the folks in the boats were asked what they were fishing for and they replied ....

Non-Breeders On Duty – More Bark Than Bite

“They will be in spots like the sharper breaks or on mid-lake humps that top out at perhaps 20’, rather than 15’, or in holes in soft-bottom flats where depth drops from 15’ to 20’.

If the fish start to disappear, we’ll see more rules and regulations that nobody wants, so take care of the fish and have some fun out there.

If the fish start to disappear, we’ll see more rules and regulations that nobody wants, so take care of the fish and have some fun out

I like to take all of the range settings out of auto and set them in manual mode. This keeps the range the same the time so it’s never jumping around. My forward range usually set to 90 feet, which is about the length of a full cast. I move the down range around to fill up the screen with the water column, meaning, if I’m fishing in 20 feet of water, I’ll probably set my down range between 22 and 25 feet.

Glo-Shot Stick colours to match conditions. Tip with live bait or IMPULSE® soft plastics. Glo-Shot Spoons are available in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-ounce weights, with red treble hooks in #12, #10 and #8 sizes, respectively. Hooks are rings for added action and fewer lost fish. Sticks are non-toxic, easy to activate and glow in vivid colour for eight hours. They are light enough not to affect lure action and are also great for lighting up a variety of bobbers, hooks and jigs.

Tip with live bait or IMPULSE® soft plastics. Glo-Shot Spoons are available in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-ounce weights, with red treble hooks in #12, #10 and #8 sizes, respectively. Hooks are rings for added action and fewer lost fish. Sticks are non-toxic, easy to activate and glow in vivid colour for eight hours. They are light enough not to affect lure action and are also great for lighting up a variety of bobbers, hooks and jigs.

The Anglers Choice Single Egg pegged just above a small hook imitates the real deal and rarely deep hooks fish, great for catch-and-release.

ON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT

“Walleyes become more selective about where they stage. They generally locate on a spot-on-a-spot. For example, if they’re on a mid-lake hump with scattered boulders, they will be on the boulders. If all rock, look for the patch of sand. If all sand, look for the rockpile.

Finally, knowing the purpose of non-breeders’ presence - territorial egg guarding – explains why, as individuals or as a mob, they shun creature that dares invade their claim. Ciscoes are their primary antagonist, the target of the non-breeders’ disdain

Finally, knowing the purpose of non-breeders’ presence - territorial egg guarding – explains why, as individuals or as a mob, they shun every living creature that dares invade their claim. Ciscoes are their primary antagonist, the target of the non-breeders’ disdain and fury.

To be successful, you have to focus in on a specific species, learn as much as possible about its lifestyle, habits, behaviour and seasonal preferences. Then you need to use the information to select prime locations, the best lures and optimal presentations. To do otherwise is to take a shot in the dark, which almost always misses the mark. Leave the hail Mary passes to the last minute desperation plays for

“Because more and more walleyes show up on these few spots, more and more of the lake holds no fish. It’s easy to be skunked if you don’t pay attention to subtle differences on the structure.”

In forward mode, you have some different options for setting up the transducer. I like to run my transducer in 40 degrees (pointing down more) when I’m fishing deeper water or more vertical, under the boat. When I’m fishing in shallower water or doing a lot of casting and fishing higher in the water column, I like to run it at the 60-degree setting. From the pointing down position, 40 degree is four clicks and 60 degrees is six clicks.

shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. He has made his living in the fishing community since he was a teenager as a tournament angler, guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. In 2019 he joined the Bassmaster Elite Series and has found some success chasing bass around the United States, including an Elite Series win in 2021 and a Bassmaster Classic win in 2023. In between competing in the U.S. tournaments, you can usually find him around Lake of the Woods, fishing for all species, all year round. You can catch up with Gussy on social media at @ (The

from Northland brings the noise with a glass rattle and audible carry through water, all without killing its

Stakeouts with my AQUA-VU revealed ciscoes making forays to the bottom to gobble up eggs and then retreat, vertically, to just below the ice. When so incensed, frenzied ciscoes will attack lake trout- sized jigs. On a united front basis, the burbot chase allcomers away from the bottom. But, because they won’t leave their eggs, they won’t chase vertically. This makes the ciscoes’ game plan nearly perfect and their siege is relentless.

If you were amongst the very first anglers to fish Slow Death for walleye, Ned Rigs for bass, Bondy Baits for lake trout and big double bladed Cowgirls for muskies you know the heart stopping feeling of riding the roller coaster to fishing success.

a glass rattle and audible carry through water, all without killing its

The Bondy Bait Company to the point where they now have over 100 dealers. Jon loves to fish, but he also loves tinkering with new lure designs and with new fishing concepts and techniques. His latest addition to the lineup, the 1.75” Bondy Bug Panfish Bait is sure to have fish salivating. The Bondy Bud is available in 30 mouthwatering colours and comes in a 20 pack. For more information, visit: https://bondybaitcompany.com.

prey of all kinds. The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow still sports its trademark action, darting and swimming like a dying minnow, which triggers

I will never forget interviewing Kevin Van Dam, the winningest angler in bass fishing history, immediately prior to one of his four Bassmaster Classic victories. He had sequestered himself, miles away from the tournament venue, at his brother-in-law’s house. When I asked him To avoid the dock talk

(Continued on page 44.)

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I count myself among the blessed to have been at the forefront of each of these trends. Unfortunately, nothing good ever lasts. Despite unbelievable efforts by a select few anglers to keep each one of the techniques under wraps, the secret got out and loose lips sunk

Each body of water is different and often requires some adjustments to the sensitivity and contrast. Typically, I like to run my sensitivity high, between 16 and 20 (the highest setting). The higher the sensitivity, the more detail you’ll see. With the contrast, the higher you set that, the more the screen will clear up, but you’ll filter out some of the weaker signal returns, so it takes some playing around. Usually I’ll run it between 8 and 10, but will turn it up if the screen is displaying a lot of “clutter”. Those are the only settings I ever really play with on my Mega-Live.

Each body of water is different and often requires some adjustments to the sensitivity and contrast. Typically, I like to run my sensitivity high, between 16 and 20 (the highest setting). The higher the sensitivity, the more detail you’ll see. With the contrast, the higher you set that, the more the screen will clear up, but you’ll filter out some of the weaker signal returns, so it takes some playing around. Usually I’ll run it between and 10, but will turn it up if the screen is displaying a lot “clutter”. Those are the only settings I ever really play with

It is why, when you read about a technique for the very first time in a reliable source – like the pages of Just Fishing! – or hear about it from a trusted friend, you need to assess it immediately, perfect it quickly, add it to your arsenal and then milk it for all that it is worth, because every innovation will become commonplace, the fish will become conditioned to it and something better will replace it.

Makers of custom hand made injection and hand poured soft plastics Canadian Baits brings you a variety of quality custom baits at and afforardable price. This Canadian company offers swimbaits, craws / creature baits, ice fishing / micro, finesse worms and more. Great prices on their Glow in the Dark ice fishing plastics including

It is why, when you read about a technique for the very first time in reliable source – like the pages of Just Fishing! – or hear about it from trusted friend, you need to assess it immediately, perfect it quickly, add it to your arsenal and then milk it for all that it is worth, because every innovation will become commonplace, the fish will become conditioned

their Glow in the Dark ice fishing plastics including

Northland Glo-Shot

Northland Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow

Magz Goby

Bondy Bait – Bondy Bug

Canadian Baits Ice Spikez

Canadian Baits Paddle Tails

IN THE NEWS

2024 Kayak Fishing Life 4th Annual Benefit Event for “1Door4Care’ at CHEO

TThe 2024 Kayak Fishing Life 4th Annual Benefit Event for “1Door4Care’ at CHEO was a HUGE success!! Together it raised $42,670.00 for the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario!

There are so many people to thank for making this event what it is from our sponsors to our volunteers to our our Admin team, who work on the event year round: Serge Paradis is the Lead Judge and Coordinator, Casey Ryan is Assistant Judge and Coordinator, Jason Brock is the Assisant Director and Treasurer and Eron Dodds the Founder/ Director.

Combining the entry fees, fundraising link, raffle draws, parking fees and bbq funds generated a substantial amount of funds. Media exposure from 96.1 FM (pre and post event), The Eganville Leader newspaper and the Lanark Era newspaper was very much appreciated!

In the inaugural year this event was to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, which raised $6045.00 with 60 anglers present. The 2nd year the event partnered with CHEO and raised over

$22,000 for ‘Tiny Hearts’ with 92 anglers. The 3rd year again partnered with CHEO we raised over $27,000 for ‘Urgent Needs’ with the field capped at 100 anglers.

This year’s event was CHEOs 50th Anniversary and we raised over $42,000 with the field capped at 100 anglers for a huge infastructure project called ‘1Door4Care’ – a 550 million dollar complex being built at CHEO!

Each year the derby is hosted at the White Lake Marina compliments of friends Pete and Andra Bettencourt who generously donate the parking fees each year. The event is always capped at 100 anglers to accomodate parking at the Marina. Registration opened in February and sold out in 6 days this year!

The 4th Annual Kayak Fishing for Life was very lucky to have over 60 sponsors supporting this event. Absolutely amazing!

This Benefit Event is 100% non for profit and based on comraderie, good will and a genuine love of the sport. Giving back to the communities that CHEO supports is what it’s all about. It is an honour to do what we can as a group of like minded individuals coming together for a wonderful cause.

From our KFLBE team and all those families and children that benefit from the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario – we thank everyone who participated, fundraised, sponsored and promoted this special event! We consider every single one of you a Hero For CHEO!

The 2025 event is slated to be bigger and better and we are already working on making it another success in support of the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Sincerely, Eron Dodds Kayak Fishing Life Benefit Event for CHEO Founder and Director

Produced

varies from north to south It can be 10-20 degrees warmer in southern province than north. The same applies to the western and eastern locations. It is all latitude! The ice is obviously thicker and older in areas where the temperature is lower – and shallow lakes and bays freeze first.

Please follow ice safety instructions, bring a tape measure, flotation, etc. If you are unsure, there is a wealth of ice safety tips online. Ice reports have become very popular and are widely viewed.

I enjoy checking ice around the state with my safety gear in hand. When I find four

CATCH WHAT I WANT OR CATCH WHAT IS BITING?

bass, northern pike, jumbo perch and some shallow-lake bluegills and crappies. As deep waters freeze, we can target walleyes.

There are a few tricky spots around the Midwest where anglers fish on small bays off main lakes, sloughs, oxbows, six feet from the shore and even between boat harbor docks. You don’t need a machine to access these areas. Early ice on foot is stealthy with minimal ice fishing gear. No machine or boat payment necessary. This is one of the reasons why it’s one of the fastest growing segments of fishing. It’s an affordable outdoor activity for the whole family.

When the ice is safe on known walleye lakes, anglers don’t mind dragging out gear on foot dragging Otter sleds full of gear because early ice the walleye bite can be fantastic!

The reward for the walk is a fresh meal of walleye at the end of the day. Windy days on large lakes can push new ice around and completely open up the lake, so the freezing process has to restart.

Keep your mind open to other great bites that are available in your area.

EARLY ICE NECESSITIES

Some of my early ice necessities include:

· An Otter Utility Sled

Humminbird MEGA Live ice bundle with the Lakemaster screen on. I can peek back at the screen as I’m pulling the sled out to my spot. Marked tracks on the Humminbird screen will help you stay on the same ice you drilled and tested going in even during white-out conditions.

(Continued on page 32.)

. Northland Fishing Tackle Tungsten Rattling Buck Shot Spoons & Tungsten Mud Bugs & Gill Getters

Amped Outdoors 12-volt 32-amp hour lithium batteries run my Humminbirds all day long

· AFTCO fishing apparel

· Fish Monkey Wooly gloves; I also have a pair of Yeti gloves for single digits or below

A couple of St. Croix Custom Ice Pan Dancers and Dead Eye rods for live bait rigging

iFish Pro tip-ups

· An assortment of Gamakatsu Octopus-Style hooks in various colours and sizes

A couple of search bait rods rigged with Sunline Fluoro Ice.

A pocket box with Northland Glass Buckshot Bro Bug spoons and Coffin spoons for big bites; Tungsten Mud Bug, Gill Getter, Flat Fry Jig, and of course Tungsten-rigged Mayfly, Larva and Mini Smelt for panfish/perch bites

· RAZR Synthetic Lite auger on a brushless hammer drill

Two RAZR pucks – one stuffed with wax worms and maggots in the other

A small cooler with crappie and fathead minnows

· An Otter Vortex Hub shelter fits in the middle of the sled

This may sound like a lot but it all fits and the sled pulls with ease. There are times fishing early ice when it’s just nice to have a Vortex Hub set up on a spot that is consistent or has an evening bite. Insulated hub houses have come a long way and most of the time a heater isn’t even needed in the Otter Hub.

I set up my wife, Heather, like an armed fishing guard with MEGA Live, I am a less patient fisherman, I travel around RAZRing holes looking for my next new favorite spot. To stay warm and keep sweating minimal, I wear an AFTCO Reaper Pullover Hoodie when I’m on the move. If Heather starts catching fish, I tiptoe back and enjoy the comfort fishing. As the evening bite fades, I go back to making my rounds hole hopping.

MY NEW FAVOURITE SPOT

I have fished some legendary spots throughout Canada, Minnesota and surrounding states – however, you can be on the “best spot” or “favourite spot” at the wrong time. We have all heard, “You should have been here!” or “You’re a little early.” All fish have reasons why they inhabit specific early ice spots. Forage is number one, followed by cover. But sometimes we can’t be there when they are actively feeding or schooled up.

Some areas like weeds, rocks and moderate depth basins will load up with schools of crappies or bluegills. Other areas will have walleyes. If you are not finding the fish, don’t just look to the middle or other side of the lake. You may have already walked past the fish on your way.

For example, walleye fishing is slow many times. No one is catching any on a spot. Then, three or four days later everyone is catching walleye on that same shoreline break – only to find out that somebody hammered them on the inside of the drop even inside the weeds in 2-4 feet of water.

Similar to walleyes, panfish do not know they have to be somewhere. Another example: crappie and other panfish anglers may be set up in the usual first basin spot punching hole after hole and finding nothing but tiny perch and a few micro-crappies. They later find out the fish were hiding in dense weed mats that were frozen and hanging from the ice in shallow water.

There is nothing more fun than finding a school of fish where no one else is fishing. Wherever I find them is my new favourite spot!

Good luck! Have fun catching on early ice! Maybe we’ll see you out there.

Editor’s Note:

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, of MAX, MN, is one of the most recognized and respected anglers in North America. Bro, as he’s known, is a multi-species angler best known for his influence on the sport of ice fishing. He can be contacted at bbro@paulbunyan.net or online at Brosguideservice.com for winter and summer guide trips or to book Bro for a seminar.

Situating a tip-up around weed edges is a reliable way to catch pike, walleye, and other predators.

Marking weed edges from a boat is a good practice, but there’s no getting around the legwork of drilling holes to fine-tune position. Fortunately, today’s electric augers, such as the StrikeMaster Lithium 40V seen here, help relieve much of the burden.

Finding lush aquatic vegetation can be like striking gold when ice fishing. Get on the right veg at the right time, and you can experience stellar catches of yellow perch, crappie, walleye, northern pike, and several other fish species. On the flip side, certain wintertime scenarios see fish push away from plants. To help make sense of when to lean-in to weedy areas and when it’s better to explore other locations, here are some ice-fishing concepts and scenarios to keep in mind throughout the hard-water season.

AUTUMN OPEN-WATER HOMEWORK

Locations containing healthy vegetation where you caught walleye, pike, and panfish from the boat in November and December are good places to visit once safe ice arrives. A few inches of ice has little impact initially on life underwater, so it’s likely fish may be where you left them in autumn, or at least not very far away.

A bonus is many productive early-ice vegetation areas are near shore, which is

where the safest ice tends to form first. Another perk is the fall feeding binge can extend into the initial weeks of the hardwater season, and often yields excellent fishing action.

MIDWINTER CHANGES

Productive first-ice spots ripe with greenery may lose their shine after a few weeks. One reason this may occur is groups of fish leave weedbeds and move to deeper areas after the early ice period. During mid winter, expect to find a lot of perch, crappie, walleye, and pike positioned around drop offs, deep flats, or mid-lake structures, like humps.

Absolutes are rare when talking fishing, of course, and certain fish populations will have already made the transition to deeper habitat by late autumn. It’s also inaccurate to think of weedbeds as midwinter ghost towns. Some fish may stick around fulltime, but in my experience these are smaller specimens. Yet, just because the bigger fish left, doesn’t mean they won’t return.

TIMING A WEED BITE

An increase in plankton activity occurring around the dawn and dusk timeframes can stimulate feeding throughout the food chain.

attract fish during the day. For example, I’ve had many good midwinter outings fishing the edges of deep weeds and nearby water during cloudy, low pressure conditions.

Think of these type of weedbeds as food shelves active fish use for getting an easy meal. These dine-and-dash sites may occur along the outside edge of weedbeds, which offered good first ice action. Isolated weed clumps close to deep flats and basins also deserve attention.

Not every aquatic shrub rooted beside a drop-off is going to be a productive location, however. Good fishing areas tend to contain several habitat elements. Fish tend to concentrate and move around using points, turns along a drop-off, old creek channels, and another structural pathways.

Garmin’s LiveScope System live-scanning sonar modes (Down pictured) make it easier than ever to find openings within

GRASS & CHARA CONSIDERATIONS

Tall, thick weedbeds containing sizeable plants, like cabbage or milfoil, aren’t the

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Just Fishing . 22

only green spaces you’ll find fish in winter. Some of my best spots for yellow perch and walleye are mid-depth flats lined with short, thin sand grass. Chara is another good find. Crayfish and other invertebrates love hiding in the nooks and crannies of this short-growing, tumbleweed-like plant.

Colour makes a big difference and walleyes tend to have different preferences from lake to lake so I will use bright colour patterns on lakes that are dark stained and natural colours in clear lakes. Rippin’ jigs and plastics tend to work better with 70 degree warmer water when jigging the rippin’ jig through vegetation, so be prepared for crushing strikes from walleyes. They have to hit hard to catch it!

Perch gravitate to the above areas to feed on various edibles, which attracts larger predators, including walleye, pike, and lake trout. A sparse blanket of vegetation can also be an important find when ice fishing for brook and rainbow trout.

Anglers should also try cranking in plastics: Just pitch out let it sink and crank it back. Northland Fishing Tackle’s Mimic Minnow is arguable the best paddle tail plastic I have used on the market. The tail has a light, fast wag that looks like a fleeing baitfish – it was definitely one of my go-to baits last summer. I have tried larger paddletails with less success – walleyes don’t want to be kicked in the face when they are eating. In terms of jig head size for Minnesota and the Dakotas, 1/4 oz is a great size for most target depths. You can tip it with a chunk of crawler or small minnow, but I don’t usually have to in northern Minnesota.

need to adapt. For example, longer lines, farther casting, and fishing in low light hours. Or finding a broken edge in the milfoil or clearing caused by hard bottom.

Lastly, don’t forget to bring your Frabill Conservation Series net as there are some hog walleyes on the weed edges. Get the one with the telescoping handle. You don’t want to lose your spouse’s big walleye of the year!

Fall 2021

The VMC Tingler Spoon’s wide-wobbling action gives it more hang time in the strike zone for triggering bites when fishing along weed edges and openings within weedbeds.

WEEDS CAN POINT TO OTHER PRODUCTIVE LOCATIONS

Sun protection is also vitally important – save your skin with a Fish

Monkey performance face guard and stubby guide gloves.

In terms of invasive species, you should be on the alert that some lakes are changing and becoming clear due to the introduction to zebra mussels. These are filter feeders that make the lake clear and fish spookier, while other lakes are getting a lot more weed growth than normal due to Eurasian Water Milfoil. This invasive weed can grow fast to the surface in mats, pushing out existing weeds such as cabbage. Milfoil weed edges change and expand on a weekly basis.

When fishing short-growing vegetation on shallow flats in clear water, take the time to look into the water or use an underwater camera to study the area’s makeup. I suggest this because sometimes specific pieces of habitat have an X-factor quality appealing to fish. When sand or mud flats have limited patches of sand grass, these rare green zones can hold more fish than other areas. Conversely, when grass or other weeds abound, look for isolated rock piles, boulders, sand patches, depressions, and other anomalies on the bottom.

But it’s not the end of the world! Walleyes love milfoil and seem to thrive on the clear, zebra mussel-infested lakes. As anglers we just

And don’t forget to follow my fishing adventures on social media!

A Custom Jigs & Spins Ratfinkee tipped with maggots fooled this weed-living crappie at late ice.

I’ve experienced many instances where vegetation was not the final destination where fish ended up getting caught. Instead, plants provided a clue of where to look next, and helped find fish holding in nearby deeper areas. This has played out many ways, including: walleye and pike relating to humps and other basin structures, crappie and bluegills found at the soft-bottom base of various drop-offs, and yellow perch cruising mid to deep flats.

Good Luck Ripping and Rigging walleye from the weeds!

About the Author: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, is a fishing guide and promoter. One of the most recognized and respected anglers in North America – Bro, as he’s known, is a multispecies angler best known for his influence on the sport of ice fishing. He can be booked for guided trips at: bbro@paulbunyan.net or brosguideservice.com.

(Ice Fishing Patterns continued from page 34.)

(The

(End

Instead, they kept coming back with an eagerness to expand their knowledge and meet other women anglers. Friendships and mentormentee relationships developed in time and in 2019, we started a formal mentorship program for members of the organization.

(Ice Fishing Patterns continued from page 35.) beyond the clumps in 12 feet as well as working another nearby soft-bottom flat in 19 feet.

WINTER’S END

Drop a Drop-Shot

The purpose of the program is to: support new/newer anglers & B:) provide new fishing opportunities to experienced anglers that would like to learn about a new type of fishing they have not yet tried or to target a new species.

To participate in the program, women must be a paid member of the club. A mentor may offer 1:1 or small group instruction. Mentors and mentees are paired up depending on their fishing interests, location and availability. All of the mentors and organizers involved in the program are volunteers. They are not guides and, although are they are not compensated for their time, there is an understanding that mentees should offer some assistance with costs for fuel, boat launches, bait, etc. Mentees are expected to bring their own equipment and tackle to outings, unless otherwise arranged with the mentor.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of the program after only a few months BUT

Getting involved in this sport and finding mentors can be challenging at times for women for a host of reasons. We are fortunate to have a breadth of female fishers within Ontario Women Anglers who want to help others. They are able to provide safe, supportive one-onone experiences for other women who may just be starting out or just want to learn more and, hopefully instill the confidence in newer anglers to pay it forward as a mentor one day –MacLean, Mentor, Ontario Women Anglers

To find out more information about this program, visit: https:// www.ontariowomenanglers.ca/mentorship

became popular several years back. I had caught a couple of small bass on it in practice but on the second day of the three day tournament Mike threw it out on a windy point and caught a pair of four pound smallmouths at the same time, it was incredible. We caught several other big fish in the tournament on an umbrella rig and since then I always have one tied on in the fall.

TURNOVER BLUES

I know my local lakes well. Here, I stretch the speed barrier quite a bit. In shallow water, as deep as 10-15 feet, I actually get my boat up plane and hold it at its lowest planning speed... deep water I drop from plane down to 9 mph Speed-mapping is best when the water is flat and there is no bouncing of the bow to jostle the transducer from its optimal, parallel angle with the bottom. I can’t always pick my day, and mapping in choppy water is usually the norm. For this, I adjust my tactics a bit taking a big “sausage shaped” bite out of a shoreline and working from the perimeter inward. I still do the shallow-water speed-run with the wind; but, hold steady against the breeze, with a reduced speed for the deep-water stretch.

current. Wherever you are using them, you should try to make some contact with the bottom. Crankbaits ricocheting off the bottom is one of the top triggering functions of these baits.

crawler has put countless walleyes into the boat. Ditto, a firetiger Jigging Rap or Acme HyperGlide. Two weeks later, on the other hand, when the perch decide it is now time for them to nest, they relocate in the adjacent warm, soft bottom, weedy bays, and the walleyes follow them in hot pursuit. As the movement begins, you will notice that the walleyes are spread out. When this is the case, you will put your bait in front of far more fish and catch them faster trolling a bottom bouncer and crawler harness with a blend of chartreuse, orange, red and green coloured Colorado blades and beads, that again mimic a perch.

At the other end of the presentation spectrum is a drop-shot rig that will produce really well for bass but other species like walleye and crappie as well. Consisting of a weight tied to the bottom of the line and then a hook tied into the line about 12”-24” above the weight (with a palomar knot). We will attach a variety of soft plastics to the hook but if you prefer to use live bait you can attach some meat to the hook as well.

During your learning curve, you will end up “washing out” on a turn or on a speed run. What you will see is a blemish that looks like a “blackThe fix is simple:

finned prey in the 12” – 24” range in order to reach maximum size. As schools of suckers complete their spring spawn in the shallows and retreat to relatively deeper water, their #1 predator follows them. Suckers make a great living foraging among the stalks and leaves of cabbage weeds. Without suckers, or other plentiful forage species, such as ciscoes or smaller lake trout, there will be no pike. Still, the pike-suckercabbage connection is a major predator/prey relationship in North America. Pike need a feeding strategy they can rely on to fill their bellies. In mid-summer, their prey is localized and specific.

The arrival of late ice to fertile waters can see many fish to inhabit vegetation again. Warm, inflowing meltwater, containing oxygen can rejuvenate the shallows and stimulate activity throughout the food web. Compounding this is the fact many fish spawn in spring in shallow water. Increasing daylight signals winter’s impending finale. This prompts northern pike, walleye, and panfish to stage near and within shallow, often weedy, areas.

program is important to me. Many ladies don't know where to start, what equipment to use or where to go. Even worse, they may never have experienced the thrill of catching a fish! I started mentoring as a Girl Guide leader when they had a fishing badge. So many girls learned to tie a knot, use a bobber, and put a worm on a hook. It's the same for any newbie as just getting started can be tough. Mentors share knowledge and enthusiasm and mentees learn by doing. There's nothing like a day on the water to relax and enjoy the thrill of the anticipated call "got one!" shorter game of cat-and-mouse. If a fish shows interest, keep tweaking things until they chew.

Rob Schulz & IN-FISHERMAN, Editor-in-Chief, Doug Stange with a Mountain Lake monster pike.

“hover” in the middle of it. The hole will begin to shrink rapidly as the mapping unit continually truths the data and, finally, morphs into the voila!

NATALIE HATHAWAY

As the hard-water season draws to a close, anglers may find fish returning to the same places where they were at early ice. This is especially common in tributary-fed bays, holding massive weedbeds, plenty of food, and suitable spawning grounds. If fish aren’t in the bay, look for them around nearby points, sand bars, and drop-off bends framing the fertile shallows.

If a walleye is still hesitant, I use even less vertical movement. A slight flick of the rod tip is deadly. It can give a bait just enough speed and erratic motion to stimulate a strike. Shaking a lure for a couple seconds, then pausing it briefly is also deadly. This makes tipped treble hooks dance, activates rattles in noisy baits, adds flash, and makes lures seductively sway and pivot. Think of shaking a bait like jogging on the spot. There is movement happening, but the lure is not travelling very far. This keeps the bait appealing while staying in a small strike zone.

In the fall I’m going to be using minnow imitating plastics, adjusting the size of the bait to the fish that I’m chasing and the size of the forage that I think the fish are focused on. For bass and big walleyes I might use a larger four or five inch jerk shad type bait but for crappies or pressured bass and walleye I might use a smaller two to three inch bait.

inside lures would stall. Turning in the opposite direction snapped the motionless, suspended lures forward and brought the moving lures to

PRESENTATION WILL ULTIMATELY SEPARATE SUCCESS FROM STRESS

My top crankbaits for bass around home are the Bagley Sunny B and the Diving Balsa B1. These crankbaits run true every time and will put fish in the boat. Fish them on a seven foot crankbait rod (I like the G. Loomis IMXPRO 845C CBR) with 12 pound Seaguar fluorocarbon. For tournament fishing, I like to change my hooks to Gamakatsu G-Finesse treble hooks, which are extremely sharp, super strong, light wire hooks.

Trolling the same spinner combination along weed lines is another productive pattern as the weather, water and perch spawn heats up. And if the cabbage bed is expansive, you’ll pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming if you remove the bouncer and troll the spinner rig without any weight over tops of the weeds. Even more precise and deadly is casting a perch-coloured original floating Rapala Minnow, Shad Rap or Rippin’ Rap over the emerging weed tops. The key is adjusting the speed of your retrieve so that you scrape the tops and stalks of the vegetation with the lure, then let it suspend or float up slowly, as a walleyes rush up and devour it. Try it this season, as the sun sets on a pristine late spring / early summer evening and you will discover the meaning of delir

nderstanding the dreaded fall turnover, and knowing how to deal with it, can spell the difference between success and an empty livewell. Walleyes are directly affected by this naturally occurring, seasonal phenomenon, and can make for some of the toughest fishing conditions you’ll face during the entire open water season. As water temps reach their summer high, a layering process occurs, with the end result being an upper warmer layer, and a lower cooler layer, separated by a quick ly changing narrow band, known as the thermocline. This deeper, cooler, bottom layer, can quickly become totally void of oxygen, and will eliminate any use. Trying to pull fish from dead water can be a complete waste of time.

Try Swim Jigs

Sidebar:

MAKE A QUICK SWITCH

Rob imparted enough of this stop-start-suspending presentation to the lures that his fish were seeing the same triggering presentation as Roger and Gary were doing with rod and reel...without any pause for casting! Furthermore, Rob covered approximately 10-20 times the water I did with the planer boards spreading his set to cover an enormous 40-foot swath! Thus, ended the lesson! I got my trolling rear-end in gear and haven’t looked back since!

Prior to the start of my fishing career in the U.S. back in 2012, I had never used a swim jig. They are a skirted jig but slightly different than the flipping jigs that have been used for years. Swim jigs typically have an eye positioned more towards the front of the jig, a lighter wire hook and they are designed to be swam through all kinds of shallow cover.

A lot of pike anglers rely on spinners or minnow baits like Original Rapala minnows to fish weeds. They work! However, I personally do not like using spinners or Rapalastyle plugs that sport multiple, fish-damaging treble hooks. Why? Well, I’ve witnessed many fish hooked deep on these baits with one, two or all three hooks of the treble hook in their throat or gills. Much damage is done, not when the fish strikes the bait from the side; but, when a fish follows the lure, then lunges and engulfs the whole thing. When this happens, the treble hooks often end up deep in the soft throat/gill tissue.

My grandpa introduced me to fishing when I was a wee little one but it wasn't until I met my husband, Aaron Hathaway, 17 years

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

I’m predominately using Z-Man Elaztech baits on my drop-shot rigs because the plastic is buoyant causing it to sit horizontal in the water and look more realistic. Some of my favourite baits are the Finesse ShadZ, 3.75” SteakZ and the Jerk ShadZ baits. G. Loomis makes rods in all of their line-ups designed for drop-shotting with light actions so you don’t tear the small hooks out of the fishes mouth. If I could give you one tip for drop shot fishing, use a small, light wire hook that will help your presentation look more lifelike. I’m usually using #1 or #2 hooks most of the time. These are small hooks which makes the light action rods mandatory if you want to avoid losing fis

But I have to confess, as much as I enjoy catching numbers of nice size walleyes, typically males, my idea of heaven is catching and releasing the giant, almost always female fish. a bite, setting the hook and for a split second thinking that you’ve snagged a rock or log. Then you feel the head shakes and nothing budges except the size of your eyes and you know... this isn’t bottom!

Especially following the passing of frequent weather systems on big water, the smart money is on trolling:

Switching from one bait to another can fool walleye. When jigging with an attractor bait, like a Rapala Rippin’ Rap, Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon, Sebile Vibrato, VMC Rattle Spoon or Williams Ice Jig, I always have another rod rigged with a finesse bait. This could be a small tube jig, jig and finesse minnow, darter or a compact tungsten spoon.

Fish finders display density of objects, as well as changes in density, which makes up a thermocline. The upper warmer layer, is less dense than the cooler bottom layer. It’s this change in density that will show up on a electronic graph, and it looks like a constant, narrow band. Some lakes are so shallow and windswept that they may never thermocline. The big lake circulates every time you get a decent wind, and the temperature remains relatively consistent from top to bottom, throughout the entire season. Periods of flat dead calm conditions, combined with the heat of summer, push surface temps into the range of bathwater. But that’s as far as it goes, and will last until the next good wind mixes everything up.

The effectiveness of swim jigs comes from their ability to slide through all kinds of cover that would give other lures a tough time. Reeds, lily pads, submerged

Vegetation doesn’t need to be golf-course green to hold fish in winter. My rod has been bent by various species that were foraging around brown-leaved, still-standing plants. Fallen down, brown, slimy plants are likely to be less appealing, but appearances can be deceiving and there are always exceptions when forage is a factor.

The general rule that I adhere to when mapping is to “run parallel” with the contours. Now, on the “sausage shaped” maps you cannot avoid “contour cutting”, which is slicing up and down changing water depths. What the transducer signal, finder-computer and mapping image will create is a “dragging” effect of the image. I think of it like a perfectly drawn water-colour contour map that you have dragged a wet paintbrush across and, in doing so, dragged the clean contour lines out of sync with the original map. To fix, return to these “drag marks” and carefully run the contour. By running the contour several times, you will “tighten up” the drag marks to accurately represent the true contour.

Aggressive fish frequently have no qualms hitting a larger lure. When fish hesitate, quickly reel up the one lure, then drop the finesse bait. Offering walleye a smaller snack can tease them into eating. Where regulations allow, soaking a real minnow on a jig in one hole, while jigging an aggressive bait in the other to attract fish is a great combination. The lure catches the aggressive walleye, and the deadstick mops-up the hesitant biters. Position the finesse bait a foot or two off bottom, or just above where you regularly mark fish on the sonar.

Avoid the temptation to shake the heck out of your rod when you’re fishing a drop-shot. Get the bait to the bottom and drag it along, imparting some light shakes every once in a while. I almost always use a 3/8 oz weight that is heavy, but I want the bait to get down to the bottom quickly and not waste any time.

Other productive late ice locations may be distinct from early season hotspots. Extremely shallow areas within reedy bays may not be popular locales in December or January, but can be excellent areas for catching panfish within the final weeks of the ice season. Standing cattails and other reeds, as well as broken plant stocks lining the bottom, create a cover-rich environment. These areas warm up fast, attracting panfish looking to feed on minnows, nymphs, and other invertebrates. Fishing can be fantastic in these areas, but be aware ice conditions can change fast, so safe ice fishing practices are essential.

THINKING ABOUT FISHING TACTICS FOR FISHING VEG

– Fish buried in weeds

EQUIPMENT EXPECTATIONS

down; do not dredge messy, muddy bottoms. In summer use deeper divers and make hard-bottom contact often.

When fish come in with the hooks in their lip but are bleeding from the gills, this is what has happened. The gills tore and the fish is now bleeding out! For this reason, many conservation-minded outfitters are designating their top trophy waters as strictly “single-barbless hook” waters. Now, all baits can have the trebles removed and replaced with a single-barbless hook and, of course, fish can be hooked deep on single hooks. However, anything that increases the odds of a clean, live-release of top-end, breeding-stock fish is worth your effort. If your confidence bait is a spinner or minnow bait, that’s fine. Start by removing the trebles and replacing them with single Siwash hooks as seen on salmon spoons and plugs. For me, the swimbait is the top casting bait I use on all waters. For the record, I will state here that I feel the swimbait is universally more effective in fishing all pike situations, spring through fall, than any other bait.

(Continued on page 20.)

Use suspending lures all season long to achieve the ever-productive (i.e., Rob’s hard zig-zagging maneuver to work suspending jerkbait gives his stop-and-go presentation that is so deadly)

Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year and we have a long winter ahead of us so layer up, dress warm and get out there. Trust your electronics to show you the fish and you will enjoy those last few trips in the boat.

What happens then and do the fish experience the same negative effects that the fall turnover brings? Absolutely not! It’s not just the fact that a lake will turnover, that causes tough fishing conditions, but more likely due to the rapidly dropping water temperatures. The body temperature of a fish is subject to it’s environment, and rapid changes in water temp can shut fish down, and it may take some time for their body to adjust. The turnover usually coincides with the first hard frost of fall, but not always. Some years, the change is so gradual that it becomes difficult to pin down. One of the indicators to look for, is water temperature. When the surface temperature drops between 10-15 Celcius, you can figure you’re in the turnover zone. Walleye activity can range from bad to good, depending on how severe, and how quickly water temps cool off. A gradual slide can make for better fishing.

By trolling a shoreline with a spread of lures of known diving curves, you are able to sample several depths simultaneously. Also, planer boards, like Rob’s favourite, Church Tackle TX-6, gives impressive horizontal coverage.

5 4

WHAT SIZE? WHAT TYPE?

4) Pike will follow lures for a long way. Adding a quality baits scent, like Pro-Cure Pike/Musky Ice Gel or Anise-Plus Super Gel, gives pike a scent trigger that makes a big difference over the course of a day.

I’ve written in the past, and it remains the case today, that the most overlooked – and cherished –early season trophy walleye pattern is being the first person to fish the main lake structures that most folks won’t visit for at least another month. You will feel alone out here because everyone knows that the walleyes are still shallow. And to be fair, most of them are, just not the big females that leave the spawning areas quickly, migrating to their deep water refugias where they can devote the energy they consume to the production of more eggs. And they gain this nourishment by focussing almost solely on soft, silvery, pelagic ciscoes, shiners and rainbow smelt.

Straight-falling lures are critical to avoid unwanted snags when fishing in thick vegetation. Vertical and horizontal jigs tipped with live-bait or a plastic are good options. A straight spoon with a conservative falling action is another must-have. I’m a fan of rattle spoons. The vibrations help attract a fish from far away. The sonic output also helps stimulate the acoustic senses of nearby fish with an obstructed view due to the cover.

A boat engine is not cheap to operate. Over a season of colouring sessions, I spend several hundred dollars on premium gas; as well as, Evinrude 2+4 Fuel Conditioner and Evinrude E-Tec XD100 oil to keep my engine running perfectly. The way I look at it, my sport of choice is not free. However, the information that a lake gives up once I discover her secret spots and the migration routes of the fish is priceless! Also, the care and attention that I give to my boat and motor when mapping in the fall (before I put her to bed for the winter) the spring (when I wake her up from her winter slumber) money well invested.

DON’T’ TAKE MY WORD FOR IT: SUPER-PRO

The baitfish are so important that I look for them on my sonar screen more than for the walleye themselves. Now, two critical details: pay special attention to the depth at which you see the balls of bait suspending, and then locate the nearest structures – reefs, rock piles and underwater warms, and the impact on the walleye populations that feed on them is concerning. Losing their principal food source in deeper, cooler, main lake habitats means the walleyes are forced to relocate to shallower warmer water to feed on less nutritious species like yellow perch. Worse still, perch inhabit warm water so the walleyes are forced to turn up their metabolic rates and expend much more energy catching much less wholesome meals. It is a losing battle, as fisheries managers are finding throughout the southern walleye range.

Much of the late summer and early fall action can occur after dark, and even when things get tough. There still might be a few walleyes that will surrender to anglers willing to give up a little sleep. Another option, would be avoiding the negative effects of the turnover by trying to find a lake that hasn't turned yet, or one that already has had a week or two to settle down. The first ones to go are the shallow lakes, as they cool quicker than the

My favourite, lure is a large swimbait in the 5” to 6.5” range. I prefer a jig with an added swimbait tail such as the largest STORM 360GT Search bait and the venerable Big Hammer swimbaits, fished on 1/2, 3/4 or 1oz. Hammer Heads. These two swimbait designs offer the shape, texture, sizes and colours that combine to create a package that closely imitates the prey big pike feed on. Namely, long slender fish! Eluded to earlier, staring through our polarized glasses, we often observe common white suckers and/or northern hog-nose suckers in the cabbage beds. To imitate them, colours in browns or whitish grey hues are terrific.

The final option is to not go at all, but what fun is that? Fishing is fun, even when it’s tough. Dealing with the fall turnover can prove to be a real chal-

Darrin Bohonis, of www.bohonisenterprisesinc.ca, specializes in Humminbird products and has spent more time mapping than most experienced folks have spent fishing, period! He annually logs 100’s of hours behind the wheel, mapping. Here are his words of

5) Trolling with a hair trigger on you GPS button can reveal daily hotspots where the pike are holding and help you visualize how pike are setting up on a piece of structure. This information helps you produce a “milk run” for casting, later.

Jigging a rattling lipless crankbait within an opening within a weedbed is also something to try. You’ll learn pretty quick if there are any aggressive walleye, pike, or big panfish nearby. High-action lures can be used within open areas weeds, and sometimes the flashy, tumbling action of these baits helps attract and trigger fish. The trick is controlling their action to prevent them from constantly

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Spring 2020

Just Fishing . 14

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(Bass Fishing continued from page 32.)

Gussy with Bass Fishing Legend Rick Clunn

NO MATTER THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.

NO MATTER WHAT

STRONGER - SMOOTHER - THINNER

getting hung up in the weeds. Using portable sonar to monitor a lure’s position throughout the jigging sequence is a big advantage in this regard.

When using live-bait under a tip-up or deadstick rod in a weedbed for walleye or panfish, it’s important to limit a minnow’s swimming range. I often use a light teardrop jig, followed by a split shot about six inches above the hook. This rigging allows the minnow to kick around enough to get noticed, but keeps their leash pretty short and stops them from being able to hide among plants.

FISH RELATING TO VEGGY EDGES

Most ice lures work well when fish are relating to the open-water areas found along the outside edge of a weedbed or the water above the top of weeds. These areas offer more space for baits to perform, allowing you to use gliding lures and flutter spoons with little need to restrict their action.

One way to attract fish suspending over a weedbed is to flash the hole. This technique is done by jigging a metallic spoon, like a nickel or gold Williams Ice Jig, from the lower portion of the ice hole to a foot or so below the ice. The light reflecting off the spoon and the ice attracts and stimulates fish.

When pike are active and cruising a weedbed, try positioning a dead-bait a couple feet above the tips of vegetation. Keeping the bait up high makes it easier for pike to detect the offering because the baitfish will standout as a dark silhouette against the bright sheet of ice. The high visibility of this set-up also has the power to draw out pike buried deeper in vegetation. Deadsticking a minnow along a weedline is a reliable way to catch walleye and panfish along the edge. Drill a hole just outside the weedline, so the bait is easily seen and unable to hide in the greenery.

MORE TACTICS TO CONSIDER

Productive spots within a weedbed can replenish with new fish in time. When a hot hole goes cold, move on and explore other areas. There’s always the option to return later. You’ll know pretty quick if new tenants have arrived.

You’ll sometimes snag a plant when fishing weeds. If this happens, first gently shake the bait a couple times. Then hold it still. This may be enough to free the lure. The maneuver also has the potential to trigger onlooking fish to bite. Several times I’ve had panfish peck a snagged jig off a plant like it was picking fruit off a tree. If it’s a doozy of a snag, the plant might get uprooted. This commotion is likely to spook fish. Relocate to give the spot some time to settle down before coming back.

The way fish relate to aquatic vegetation throughout the winter varies, and can be influenced by the waterbody you’re fishing, the target species, fauna type, phase of the ice-fishing season. To catch more and bigger fish from fertile lakes and rivers, anglers are well served to determine the location of popular weedbeds, and then consider these features and foraging sites when devising angling strategies.

LET’S CATCH BIG FISH THIS FALL

By: Jeff Gustafson

Ian eye but if there is something for anglers to look forward to, it’s that we have some of the best fishing of the year coming up over the fall season. Canadian fish know that we have a long winter coming so they want to load up the calories in preparation.

Virtually all species are aggressive and looking for food. Across the Sunset Country Region, we have excellent fall fishing opportunities for walleye, bass, pike, musky and crappie, right up until freeze-up.

Walleye on the minnows

During the summer months, I spend most of my time targeting walleye in shallow water, where their primary forage is crayfish. As we move into the fall, I tend to start fishing a little deeper and I feel like the forage

preferences for walleyes really turn to baitfish like perch, shiners, smelt or cisco, depending on the waterbody. My presentations change to match those baitfish.

proven to be a killer for walleye when they are focused on eating minnows, especially in the fall. The baits come in several sizes so I’ll try to match up the plastic to the size of the baitfish that I feel like the fish are focused on. Obviously, if the fish are eating larger ciscos, I’m going to go with the five-inch Z-Man bait, but if they are smaller perch or shiners, I’ll go with the 3.5” version.

When it comes to choosing a jig head, I’m going to use a 1/4 ounce jig for 20 feet and less but if I’m fishing deeper than 20, I’m going with a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator to get down to the fish a little bit quicker. You truly don’t need to use meat on your jigs in the fall, walleyes get in the mood to bite and will have no problem munching on some plastic. Just make sure it’s rigged up nice and straight so it swims naturally. My favourite combo for fishing the jighead/ minnow combo is a G. Loomis NRX+ 842 SJR rod, Shimano Stella 3000 reel spooled with 8-lb. Power Pro and an 8-lb. Mastiff fluorocarbon leader.

Smallmouth shallow & deep

When most folks think of fall smallmouth they think fishing deep with minnow imitating baits over top of structure like points or humps. That is a proven method that is effective from late summer, through to freeze-up. My go-to bait combo for years has been a Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ rigged up on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jig. Some days the colour matters, but on most, any of the natural minnow shades will work. Gussy’s Blue Glimmer is my favourite on the plastic, while the Gussy’s Shad Smeltinator is designed to match up perfectly to that bait.

Other baits that can be effective for smallmouths when they are on deeper structure in the fall include umbrella rigs, flutter spoons, swimbaits and a drop-shot rig.

We have a number of tournaments throughout September and into early October across Northwest Ontario on a variety of waterbodies. Since I was a kid, I have fished in as many of these events as I can, I live for the competition and I really enjoy the fall fishing. Over the past several years I have found myself fishing shallower in these fall events more and more every year.

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The bass are less pressured and sometimes you’ll run into some of the biggest fish in the system.

I’m still fishing structure but I’m targeting shallower reefs or shoreline stick-outs. Fish can come from three to ten feet. I like to target largemouths as well and that depth is where you’re going to find them and that’s probably how I got turned on to how many smallmouths stay shallow, just running into them while I’m trying to catch largemouths. Crayfish and minnow imitating baits are part of the arsenal. If you can find some vegetation, like coontail, that stays green well into the fall, you’re probably going to find some fish around it, especially if it’s growing around some rock.

The baits I’m going to have tied on for catching the shallower bass include wacky rigs, tubes, crankbaits and Chatterbaits. Don’t overlook a topwater, even into mid-October. You’re not going to get as many bites as you will earlier in the season but you can catch some big ones.

Pike on the rocks

When most anglers think of pike fishing, they probably think about fishing around some sort of vegetation and throughout much of the open water season that is certainly where you’re going to find numbers of fish. Most likely if you are going to target pike, you probably want to catch some big ones and fall is my favourite time to catch them.

Fishing as many bass tournaments as I do, I certainly have moments in the summer when pike get on my nerves (when they bite off my expensive bass baits), but in the fall I have had some of my best guide trips ever when we have targeted pike and caught a bunch of big ones.

large baitfish and they like to hang out around prominent structure that is close to deep water.

The key in the fall is to fish main lake or main basin structure. Reefs, points and wind-blown rocky shorelines can all be good and while you can catch them in relatively deep water, I focus all of my action on 15 feet and less. These bigger pike are eating

I mostly use oversized bass jerkbaits, like 120 or 130 sizes, but you can catch them on other minnow imitators like swimbaits and smaller musky baits. Something about the erratic action of a jerkbait just gets pike all fired up.

If you’re going to get serious, you probably want to upgrade the split rings and treble hooks on your baits. If they are bass baits, these pike www.limestonelures.ca

will tear them up. Gamakatsu makes 2X versions of both that I upgrade to. I like to use a medium heavy baitcasting combo that is still light enough to not wear you out if you’re throwing it all day. My personal choice is my favourite bass casting rod, an 893 NRX+, a 7’5” rod that allows long casts and has some absorption to fight big fish.

better than most fish because they are almost always suspended off the bottom. They can be found with both traditional 2D sonar as well as with Side-Imaging. On the soft bottom areas where they are typically found in these basins, they’ll show up as small dots on the SI.

These pike let you know if you’re in the right area really quick. Cover water until you find a zone with fish. It’s a great way to have a fun day of fishing in the fall. You even have a decent shot at hooking up with a musky of two if you’re fishing water that has them. I find the bite starts up in mid-September and really goes good through October.

CRAPPIES IN THE BASIN

Crappies are probably the least exciting of all the fish to chase in the fall but they are fun to catch and a great fish to eat if you want to keep a few. The best way to find crappies in the fall is to look in the basins of the bays or lakes that they live in. The same areas where they will show up throughout the winter.

The crappie bite typically gets good in mid-September and is good right up until freeze up. Obviously, the electronics that we have available to us now make it easier to find and catch crappies. Crappies show up on our electronics

Once you know an area has them, if you have forward-facing sonar, that really makes it easy to find exactly where they are.

Small jigs tipped with plastic work great once you find crappies, there is really no need to use live bait. Most days they are eager to bite. My rule is to always keep your jig above the jig if you’re able to watch it on your electronics. Crappies look up most of the time so if you do that and make them swim for it a little bit, they’re most likely to bite. This same rule applies to all fish really, something we’ve really learned with the use of forward sonar.

It’s a long winter, so get out there and enjoy every day in the boat that you can this fall. It’s a great time to be on the water.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Gustafson grew up on the shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. He has made his living in the fishing community since he was a teenager as a tournament angler, guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. In 2019 he joined the Bassmaster Elite Series and has found some success chasing bass around the United States, including an Elite Series win in 2021 and a Bassmaster Classic win in 2023. In between competing in the U.S. tournaments, you can usually find him around Lake of the Woods, fishing for all species, all year round. You can catch up with Gussy on social media at: @gussyoutdoors and on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com.

By: Al Lindner

the mega-school. This makes for great fishing, but also comes with the potential for overfishing and damaging adult fish populations. Catch-and-release is thus highly advised, while the fish are so vulnerable to overharvest. Fortunately, most bass anglers view smallmouths as sportfish, rather than as food fish, and release all or most of their catches.

Fall rule of thumb: The heavier the clothing you need to stay warm and comfortable, the deeper you may need to fish — just not too deep!

There are many ways to catch fall smallmouths in deep water, but the times are changing. Let’s take a quick look at the historical progression of techniques, from old-school and traditional to modern and cutting-edge.

Fall smallmouths: not too shallow, not too deep, but just right.

deep-water smallmouth fishing. Note that most of these methods are fished vertically in 35 feet of water or less for smallies, but will produce walleyes in 40-to 50-footplus depths, even though no live bait is involved:

• Subtle, 4-inch, straight-tailed plastic worms, dropshotted about 16 to 18 inches above bottom.

• Jigging Rapalas, vertically jigged 1 to 2 feet, onand-off the bottom.

• Jigging 4-inch, soft plastic, forked- or split-tail minnow tails 1 to 2 feet, on-and-off bottom.

• Hovering (aka moping ) 4-inch soft plastic minnow tails a few feet off bottom, or a short distance above fish spotted on electronics.

WHAT WORKS - IS WHAT’S BEST!

No doubt, you’ll also catch fall smallmouths on 4-inch, straight-tailed jigworms, stubby Ned Rigs, slip bobbers dressed with live bait, vertically fishing jigging spoons, and any other tactic that penetrates down to bottom in depths of 25 to 35 feet where smallies congregate in fall and throughout winter. So, there’s no hard-and-fast rule as to which method will work best. Often, the best approach is something you have confidence in, and therefore not only enjoy fishing, but that you fish effectively under the conditions.

Sometimes, though, the fish show a distinct preference for, and a positive response to, one or two of these methods, and largely ignore others. Thus, when fishing for smallmouths at any time of year, come prepared to fish 8 to 10 different ways, and then let the fish show and tell you what they prefer by cooperating with your efforts – or not!

Often, it boils down to whether tempting bites or triggering strikes is foremost on the daily menu.

However... note that this list usually does not include some popular and effective methods that worked wonderfully well earlier in the year, at times when smallmouths were much shallower than they move by mid-fall fall.

Spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwaters, jerkbaits, straight-shaft spinners, fly fishing and other relatively shallow-water tactics are noticeably conspicuous by their absence from your typical mid- to late- fall lineup.

Very simply, they do not reach down to the deeper levels where smallmouths lurk

About the Author:

once the water turns cold. No problem. Just keep them safely tucked away in your tackle box for a seasonal reappearance next spring, once the ice melts and the shallows begin warming, triggering smallmouths to move shallow again and go on the bite.

1 WWONE OF AL LINDNER’S FAVOURITE WALLEYE BITES. – Brett McComas

e’re creeping into one of Al Lindner’s favourite walleye bites. The lakes haven’t turned over yet, but these colder nighttime temps have us in the first stages of the process... usually starts to occur around mid-Sept... A lot of the bait and fish that have been suspended start making a major migration back up into the shallows – in many cases in the same spots they were at in the spring – and it will just get better and better. Especially when they start bunching up on key (shallow) structures.

And that’s where Al gets cranky and hits ‘em in the face casting Rapala Shad Rap Elites. I love seeing how genuinely excited he still gets over catching a “big eyeball!”

ARE YOU REELING YOUR CRANKBAITS TOO FAST? 2

Man, this is a really great little tip from Korey Sprengel talking about how to dial in your crankbait speed, while casting.

Folks are (rightfully) uber picky when it comes to crankbait trolling speeds – a couple tenths of a mph can make all the difference between an okay day vs a great one. So why don’t we pay close attention to our crankbait speeds when casting? I suppose it’s because there isn’t a number on a screen staring you in the face that you can adjust up or down with the click of a button....

Korey says more often than not you’re actually reeling waaaay faster than you’d think, while casting cranks... hitting speeds you’d be appalled by if you were trolling – especially in the fall.

SO here’s a quick trick on how he dials in that crank speed, while casting by focusing on the feel of the bait and the load in the rod tip:

3

“WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MESS YOU HAVE EVER HAD IN THE BOAT WHERE THE ONLY ANSWER IS A PAIR OF SCISSORS?”

JJason talking: “You are looking at a mess! Hoping for a big walleye until this Mr. Whiskers started to roll below the boat. Three lines in a tangled mess and it is time to cut lines. What is the biggest mess you have ever had in the boat where the only answer is a pair of scissors? Remember if we can’t laugh at ourselves... we won’t have as much fun laughing at other people.”

No doubt!

That’s Jason Mitchell trolling himself into quite the predicament.

I actually had one of those moments “where the only answer is a pair of scissors” the other day when I buried a number 2 VMC RedLine Series Finesse Neko hook into the top of my foot after stepping too close to my dropshot setup on the front deck of the boat. Youch!

But honestly Mitchell’s mess looks sketchier HA!

TIPS TECHNIQUES &

Location... Location... Location...

TKNOWLEDGE IS KEY!

There’s more to walleye fishing than dragging a livebait rig with a redtail chub, putting a leech under a bobber, or pulling a spinner with a nightcrawler. We keep doing the same things the same way in the same places… nothing ever changes! It’s time to change the game. Try something different this year, get into doing something you’ve never done before. It’s going to change your entire outlook on walleye fishing.

he steps to follow in locating fish under the ice is no easy task. Anglers heading out on lakes with little or no ice fishing pressure are in for some plain old hard work. Few anglers relish the challenge of finding fish on a new lake. Most prefer “following the crowds” and let their eyes be their fish finders. To some, going from one group of anglers to another is their form of “recon”. If you ice fish, you may not want to join the crowd or at some time you will be faced with the challenge of being the only angler on the ice, so here are a few tips to remember the next time it happens to you and you want to find fish.

The topic of this week’s episode of AnglingBuzz TV is gonna be a popular one, it’s how to become a better walleye angler. Chances are, you’re probably familiar with our guest host this week. It’s Al Lindner, one of the best walleye anglers alive.

“You need to keep in mind that walleyes move around a lot, way more than most other freshwater gamefish. They’re constantly on the go. After the spot, every location they visit, everything they’re doing is based around available forage. It could be perch. It could also be shiner minnows, which is typical for spring of the year.

Your first step is to understand the kind of water you are going to fish. This will mean getting a lake map and looking at the types of structure you have available to you at this time of year. Remember, your ability to travel on a lake may be limited to foot power or poor ice conditions may limit the areas you can reach safely. It is always a good idea to know the roads and the various winter access points that surround any given lake.

“There are a lot of shallow water forage available and a bunch of walleyes up there chasing it down. There’s a great bite going on right now on the vast majority of the lakes that we fish for walleyes that are up in 15 feet and shallower. Keep in mind that where you find the forage, you’ll find the

When it comes to finding fish, every time you try to make rules as to where you SHOULD find fish, the rules change. Like catching sunfish at night, many would agree that sunfish don’t bite at night, but in some lakes, you don’t catch the really big ones until the sun goes down…

simply because you will need to start someplace. The more you learn by fishing, the more you can refine the rules that govern the lake you are on that day.

walleyes. You might find walleyes as shallow as 4-6 feet, even on clearwater lakes when the sun bright and the wind is calm. Keep an open mind!”

“It’s really simple. It’s boat control. That’s what separates good walleye angler from great walleye angler. In a given season, there are so many ways you can present lures to catch walleyes. Trolling is an example. Am I pulling boards, leadcore trolling, what about flatline trolling? Is it plugs or livebait and spinners? What about livebait rigging on the bottom or pulling a bottom bouncer?“Back trolling is an art in itself that people are not really, really good at, despite the fact that it’s been around for a long time. It’s still a fine-tuned system of boat control. Jigging, shallow and deep, boat control is critical. You might be Spot-Locked in a spot, working a school of fish and it is incredibly important to be able to duplicate your exact cast back-to-back-to-back on a school of walleyes. I can’t say enough about boat control. Again, that’s what separates a good fisherman from a great fisherman.”

“There’s no question that livebait fishing and walleye fishing has grown hand-inhand. It is a tradition that has been here for many years and for a lot of anglers, that’s a hard tradition to break. Now in the past 10 years, we’ve learned a whole lot more about triggering walleyes to bite on artificials. Ways you snap jig hair jigs or different kinds of plastics on faster moving baits.

Rippin’ Raps, vibrating blade baits, the list goes on and on. There’s methods of speed trolling with certain kinds of baits that you can tick bottom with, baits that have different reactions built-in. It’s the reaction bite that we’re learning and getting better at every single year. The game is changing in the world of walleye fishing and more anglers than ever are saying, ‘Wow, this really does work better than nightcrawlers, leeches and minnows!’”

Courtesy of: Lindner’s Angling Edge

Walleyes love deep, hard bottom areas. Crappies and perch love waters of over 30 feet with a super soft bottom, and sunfish love to hang off steep weedy break lines. Finding the right fish holding elements for the fish you are after is fairly easy with a lake map. If the lake has one deep hole, then you would start there for crappie. If a lake is a maze of structure, then it is best to break the lake into small regions that you can work without getting too confused. Your first goal on most lakes is to establish the edge of the weed line. Most winter lakes get far clearer then they do in the summer, and some of the biggest sunfish in the lake move into the old weed line for protection from predators. Checking the edge of the weed line is even better if you are near a point or inside turn where the deep water comes closest to shore.

SMOKED SALMON:

For the Love of COOKING COOKING

Smoked fish on a pizza? Why not, it’s delicious! Smoking f oods c an transform so many varieties of meat, fish and vegetables into a mouthwatering experience. This recipe is no exception when it pertains to flavour profiling. The fatty smoked Steelhead is perfect with sharp red onions, creamy brie cheese, tangy tomatoes and buttery avocados. If steelhead is not available, salmon is an appropriate substitute.

Trust me, once you’ve tried this recipe, pepperoni and mushroom will become a faint, flavour memory.

SMOKED

STEELHEAD PIZZA

(Yield: 4 Servings)

1.3 Kg (1 side) Steelhead Salmon Fillet, (skin on, pin bones removed)

125ml Kosher Salt

125ml Brown Sugar

5ml Garlic Powder

5ml Allspice

5ml Ground Cloves

DOUGH:

2 ½ cups Whole Wheat Bread Flour

5ml Salt

10ml Dry Active Yeast

5ml Chopped Garlic

5ml Dried Oregano

250ml Lukewarm Water

5ml Honey

15ml Olive Oil

TOPPINGS:

Pizza Sauce (of choice to cover dough)

1/2 Red Onion (thinly sliced)

200ml Grape Tomatoes, (cut in half, tossed with 30ml olive oil)

170g Camembert Cheese (one small wheel)

Smoked Steelhead Chunks

GARNISH:

1 Avocado, (cut into wedges)

Balsamic Glaze (found in grocery stores)

DIRECTIONS: Smoked Salmon – Mix all dry ingredients and sprinkle over salmon evenly. Wrap in cheesecloth, place on tray and chill for 6 hours. After, remove and gently rinse under warm water to remove dry ingredient rub. Pat dry and place in the fridge overnight, do not wrap! (needs to dry out to form a pellicle) Preheat smoker to 185oF then add smoking chips. Place steelhead in the middle and smoke for 1 to 1 ½ hours or till cooked till an internal temperature of 110oF, don’t overcook! Remove and chill. No smoker, no problem… just bake in 350oF oven till trout flakes apart with a fork? Dough – Add flour, salt, yeast, garlic and oregano in mixer or mixing bowl. Add honey and olive oil to the warm water, mix till honey dissolves. Add water mixture to the flour and mix with dough hook attachment or by hand. Once dough is together, knead for 5 minutes till soft and smooth. Place into an oiled bowl, cover and let the dough rise to double in size.

Preheat oven to 450oF, place oven rack on the bottom. Roll out dough to fit desired pizza plate, ¼ of an inch is best for thickness. Place garnish in order above and bake till crust is cooked and crispy, around 15 minutes. Remove from oven, garnish with avocado wedges and balsamic reduction and cut into wedges. Happy Cooking!

Editor’s Note: Avid outdoors person, competitive angler, 2-time gold medal winning chef at the Culinary World Olympics and educator Cameron Tait truly loves being in the outdoors. Cameron is an active member of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation, Walleye Anglers Assoc. of Manitoba, Central Walleye Trail and on the Pro Staff team for Alumacraft / Suzuki and Minn Kota / Humminbird. When not pursuing his passion for the outdoors, Certified Chef du Cuisine Cameron can be found surrounded by mouth watering food.

with Cameron Tait

GO WHERE THE FISH ARE WORTH THE FIGHT

YOU DON’T NEED COURAGE FOR THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS. YOU NEED QUEST.

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BEGIN YOUR QUEST

AAugust can be a challenging month for bass anglers. In some regions of the country, the heat index can still ride high, while in the Upper Midwest and East, weather patterns begin to change, especially toward the end of the month with cooler pre-autumn weather emerging and anglers watching significantly decreasing and increasing surface water temps changes day-to-day. It’s not uncommon to experience anything from the high 80s to the low 70s within days and the movement of cold and heat fronts in and out.

Northeast U.S.-based Whitewater staffer and professional MLF and NPFL tournament bass angler, Cole Harris, has dialed in systems allowing him to pivot quickly when one pattern falls apart, for both green fish and brownies right now that we should all consider.

“During August, largies stay pretty much positioned where there’s food and cover, so I’m rarely fishing more than 15 feet deep – and fishing shallow most of the time,” offers Harris.

“But smallmouths are all over the board. You could find them on a 25 foot hump one day and go out to your tournament the next day and they’re completely gone. They could be in four feet of water or 60 feet of water. They’re just moody, and I feel like it has a lot to do with night temperatures. Recently, for us the nights have been in the mid 50oFs and it’s like someone flipped the light switch, so the smallies have been on the move.”

Harris has been chasing largemouths, targeting milfoil and hydrilla with a jig.

“I’m a huge jig fisherman, I really love to flip,” says Harris. “Right now, I’m fishing anything from 8 inches of water to 15 feet. It really depends how they’re set up, but lately the largemouth bite has been great flipping a jig. Really, until we get into fall, these fish aren’t really in transition yet. Right now, you can find largemouths around weeds, docks, structure, and they’re not moving too far.”

from 3- or 4-feet to depths reaching 60 feet, depending on the day – as the fish can migrate back and forth daily, even hourto-hour, given weather, temperature, sun, barometric pressure, all on the chase for their preferred forage.

“When it’s sunny out, I’m targeting August smallies in six feet or less. They get shallow in the sun and hunt,” notes Harris. “Cloudy days I’ll be working anything from 15 to 60 feet.”

Smallmouth Baits #1: Drag A Jig Deep

Typically associated with deep largemouths situated over hard bottom or on ledges, one of Harris’ favourite smallmouth baits is a football jig, typically dressed with a creature/craw trailer trimmed down a bit to eliminate tail-biters and poor hooksets. Plus, he says, fish on Lake Champlain are conditioned given tournament fishing pressure and are hip to a lot of the commonly-used trailers, shying from overly long and bulky baits this time of year.

40 feet at full speed to hit a topwater bait is incredible. It’s the best thing in the world.”

On sunny days, Harris probes skinny water when smallies are on the hunt, just tailwalking topwater baits and covering water.

DRESS FOR THE COOL & HEAT

Harris is quick to point out that lately the nights have been cool – and the mornings, too, when he cranks up his motor to begin the bass chase – temps around 50 degrees.

“You can use pretty much any football jig, but I use the same Ark Flippin’ Jig I use for largemouths. With its head design, it’s good for flipping, dock skipping, even dragging. The big thing is getting the right size for the depth; I’ll throw anything from a 1/2- to 5/8-ounce most of the time,” notes Harris.

In terms of location, Harris says while most anglers – especially on Lake Champlain –will concentrate their smallmouth efforts on rock, he fishes “everything.”

“I like to find the boulders, the hard bottom, and then I like the grassy and harder-sand bottoms in between. When it comes to bottom type, I try to cover all the bases and don’t overlook grassy transition areas, either.”

SMALLMOUTH BAITS #2: TOPWATERS

Like largies, Harris says the August smallie bite can be epic on topwaters.

“Especially when it’s cloudy, I fish them in 40 feet, sometimes deeper. On forwardfacing sonar, watching fish come up from

“The Whitewater Torque Heated Vest lives in my boat year ‘round. I might not wear it all day, but it keeps my core warm with nothing more than a Whitewater Rays Performance Hoodie or Lightweight Tech Hoodie underneath.”

As the sun climbs higher and the day heats up into the 70s, Harris puts the Whitewater vest back in a boat storage compartment and fishes in the same hoodies, which provide UV sun protection and are breathable/moisturewicking.

And, he says, even when it gets hot, he’s still wearing Whitewater Prevail Pants, which he recently wore on the water in North Carolina in the high 90oFs and “didn’t get hot in the least bit”. Designed as the ultimate in fishing pants with UPF 50+ sun protection rating, their comfortable, cool, and have an athletic design. “They keep you just as cool as if you were wearing shorts with the side seam vent zippers but with no leg sunburn and fly/mosquito protection.”

About Whitewater: Whitewater performance fishing apparel gives anglers distinct advantages whenever Mother Nature’s unpredictability conspires to ruin angling adventures. Whether faced with wind, rain, snow, sun, or extreme temperatures, Whitewater apparel equips anglers with the ability and confidence to overcome the elements, so they apply their focus and energies on fighting fish, not the conditions. Whitewater is a brand by Nexus Outdoors, headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Learn more and order at whitewaterfish.com.