Just Fishing Summer - 2024

STRATEGIES Season Making STRATEGIES Season Making

Ncontrol the weather. You might plan a trip based upon moon phases and a “normal” summer only to end up with a situation where an early or late spring may have the muskies change location. Muskies are extremely susceptible to weather, so you need a strategy to deal with change. While filming The Musky Hunter television show, I rely on years of data from my fishing logs, moon phases and insight from local guides and resorts to help plan my trips.

Generally, by April 1st our schedule is set and there is no chasing of hot bites during the season, or sending in a scout team to dial-in the pattern. We arrive and have to deal with the existing conditions, and try to catch muskies. Filming the television show reminds me of years past when I used to fish tournaments, as the approaches and mental highs and lows are similar. It’s all about adjusting and managing your time.

A few summers back Tom Sullivan and I arrived at one of our favorite summer haunts only to find that big rains and a cold spring had muddied the water and delayed weed growth. On top of that, the weather forecast changed, predicting 3 days of giant wind. There is no question we were bummed about the situation, but we changed our mindset and expectations to making the most of the trip.

Our approach was to focus on spots that were fishable and use some bigger and bolder coloured baits. Over the next few days, we ground it out and managed two bites per day, including boating a couple 50 inchers. Given the wind, we only had a handful of spots to

fish each day, so we cycled through them switching lures and changing approaches fishing them deeper and shallower each time. The pattern was simply fishing hard, staying focused, and being ready for that key bite during a moon period. It was extremely important to be fishing key spots during prime daily moon periods.

It’s crazy how the moon can influence musky behavior, and if you don’t use the free Musky Hunter TV app that highlights the best musky periods for each day, you are making a tactical error. Particularly on tough trips. Knowing when to be on your best spot can make or break your trip.

A successful musky season relies on having an arsenal

of strategies in your mental hard drive, and the willingness to adjust. Here’s a few strategies that just might make your musky season.

DROP TO 9s

As many of you are aware, I am a big fan of fishing large, double-10

caught grinding it out during a moon phase.

Tom Sullivan with the musky

Jim Saric with a musky caught under windy conditions.

A Line From “Big” Jim

So nice to see summer here in full force and the fishes are making anglers happy just about everywhere. I have basically heard nothing but good so far and with the summer peek period just kicked in for most species it will only get better. If you are getting bit, or aren't, we have got you covered to either catch more fish or just start catching some fish... period!

The pages of just fishing are absolutely packed with great content produced by some of the best anglers and/or writers on the planet just for you. The Musky Hunter himself Jim Saric will get you bit like no other summer with solid techniques for Canadian waters, the legend, Al Lindner spills the beans on Summer Crappie in Weedy Lakes – proving once more that crappies aren't just an early spring bite. Canadian angling guru David Chong takes you into the thickest, meanest junk you can find Punchin' for Giant Largemouth affectionately referred to as Donkeys!! BASS Master Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson tells you how to get bit without using forward facing sonar. Then Daniel Notarianni adds some excitement to your fishing day with Gar on the Fly. Gar are a heartstopping freshwater fish and hard to beat on any tackle.

Tim Allard goes Off Shore for Smallies, which is definitely thee go too method moving forward... no pun intended. Mr Gordon Pyzer shows us how to light it up for Trout with some different methods that have success written all over them for sure. Chef Tait serves up some Salmon Chowder that will certainly have you looking for seconds. BRO gets us hooked up with Micro Walleye Techniques for this summer or any other time for that matter. Next up is the Jeff Matity who takes you Ned Rigging and Beyond, which is one of the most used techniques today. Last but not least Mr Goby himself Martin Draeger shares an in depth look at how Gobys have changed the Great Lakes fisheries and how to capitalize on that.

This lineup will get you bit for sure... so don't forget to practice catch & release to help insure the future of our fisheries.

Fish safe this summer & take a rug rat fishing... you will not regret it!!!

“Big” Jim

(Season Making Musky Strategies continued from page 3.)

bladed bucktails when fishing any big-musky water. This lure has proven itself time and time again as a trophy musky weapon. There is no question that when the muskies are active there simply isn’t a better lure to cast. However, we know the muskies aren’t always active. Over the last several years, I have observed a trend that when the muskies are located around shallow cover, downsizing to a size 9 blade such as a Junior Cowgirl or IC9 is usually all it takes to start getting musky action. It’s interesting that downsizing to size 8 blades hasn’t seemed to have the positive response that the 9 blades have produced.

Currently there are lots of guides and savvy weekend warriors utilizing double 9s. So, I would make a point of bringing a few along on your trips this summer. I prefer to add an extra 1/2 ounce of weight to my double 9 bucktails, as it allows me to make longer casts, fish them fast and keep them just under the surface or slow them down and run them deeper. If the muskies on your water normally chase and eat double 10s, but aren’t responding, try dropping to a double 9 blade.

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

Contributors

Gord Pyzer, Al Lindner, Jim Saric, Tim Allard

David Chong, Jeff Matity

Brian Brosdhal

Jeff Gustafson, Cameron Tait

Daniel Notarianni

Box 214 Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0.

Phone: (613) 387-8735

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

All Rights Reserved

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

On The Cover: Main – Jim Saric – Season Making Musky Strategies, photo: The Musky Hunter Outdoors, Al Lindner – Crappies In Weedy Lakes, photo: Lindners Angling Edge, Gord Pyzer – Outlier Trout Tactics, photo: Gord Pyzer Outdoors, Jeff Gustafson, No Forward Fing Sonar? photo: Jeff Gustafson Outdoors, Tim Allard, Tracking Down Bronzebacks, photo: Tim Allard Outdoors.

EXTEND THE SPOT

We all spend time on the water trying to find spots holding muskies. We may get information from others who fish the same water, guides, resorts, etc. If you are on a trip and find a bay, shoreline, or point that is consistently holding muskies, most likely you’ll have accumulated a lot of waypoints around a sweet spot. This really is the goal, as we move from spot-tospot and develop a milk route of sweet spots. When you think of run-and-gun musky fishing you often think about pulling up to a spot, making a few casts on the sweet-spot and moving to the next. It’s a matter of playing the percentages, and making quality casts near the precise areas where you have previously caught muskies and/or had muskies follow. I am all about this approach when the muskies are really biting or if you are fishing the last hour of light.

Throughout the day, if I am approaching a spot where I have seen or caught muskies, I make a point of trying to extend the spot. If a spot seems to recycle rapidly, meaning muskies tend to show up most of the time you fish the spot, it could be you have encountered a pack of muskies working the spot. So, rather than pulling up right to the sweet spot, extend the spot by starting 50-100 yards from your cluster of waypoints. It’s amazing how utilizing this approach will let you find where other muskies are holding nearby. In the evening, you can now return to multiple waypoints on a spot where you spotted or caught muskies.

Steve Smith with a big musky caught fishing an adjacent reef.

ALL PRODUCTS ARE MADE WITH EXTREME CARE AND PRECISION. DOMINATE BAITS HAS TAKEN YEARS TO DEVELOP THE BEST FORMULAS POSSIBLE. ALSO, WE USE THE FINEST SCENTS AND SALT THAT WE CAN OBTAIN, TO INCREASE YOUR CATCHABILITY!!!

to the braid to provide an invisible connection to the superline, cushion hooksets and help prevent bite-offs from larger fish.

Also, if you are fishing in the evening, and the spot is frequently fished by others, more than likely the area you found that extends the spot will not get fished.

changed, and the muskies were not using

remarkable distances, feel bites and set

WHAT’S YOUR BODY

Perch continued from page 22.) FIND YOUR NEXT FISHING VACATION with FISHEASY.CA Search by

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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.

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

About the Author: Al Lindner ranks among the most renowned fishing industry. Averaging about 180 days Al is hailed as one of the world’s best all-around Al’s long and honoured career as an author, radio & TV fishing show host, video producer, tackle manufacturer, lecturer and champion the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

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

(Jumbo

Jim Saric with a beauty caught right at dark.

you can’t fish your best spots. You might try getting up early before the wind gets to strong to fish those spots, or try and fish them at dark, when the wind settles. However, on some days the early morning or late evening options doesn’t happen.

Spawn Walleyes continued from page 41.)

lures are best for the particular spot you are fishing that have those traits.

That means trolling. Be it power trolling to cover water quickly or finesseful trolling, methodically scratching fish-after-fish from a small area, Rob finds the fish and then makes them bite.

From burning on the surface to deadsticking on the bottom, the Big Hammer is versatile and productive.

Therefore, the biggest females get huge. They can and will be eating full grown ciscoes and suckers approaching 20” in length. These female walleye are the titanic beasts surpassing 30” – 10-lbs. – that anglers flock to LML to cross paths with. Any missing link in the food chain, or hardship during yearly growth spurts, seriously impedes maximum growth potential. Therefore, genetics aside, trophy walleye are not born, they are created... By their environment!

Rob has been fishing the lake for 60-plus years and has been outfitting for over 3 decades. He knows his lake, his fishery and the daily, monthly and yearly patterns of his walleye. His aura is infectious and time spent around him is good medicine! No lie – Rob has never “zeroed” with a guided group of guests in over 30 years! That’s right! No no “banana curse”, no “wieners for supper”! He must be a magician... Right? No... He’s The Magnificent German Leprechaun, remember!! Not convinced? Well, if it takes a “school of hard knocks” story to convince you, please oblige me, here...

Big Hammer Swimbait –Bay Smelt colour on a Hammerhead jig & PRO-CURE Super Gel –Anise Plus formula.

at your favourite spots, select a few that have a potential in either a big south or a big north wind. When you get to the lake and drive by them on your way to fish your A spots, but make note of the weed growth, type of rock, etc. Keep the spot in the back of your mind, and don’t be afraid to drop a few waypoints on sweet spots. Then when the wind blows, you’ll have a few spots in mind that may be productive.

The Storm 360GT is anchored by the exquisite 3/8 oz. 3D acrylic head with ultrarealistic eyes and 60-degree, 7/0 hook that reaches out toward the nose for a superior, well-balance, straight-retrieve presentation. The dense, rubber-like body withstands a barrage of toothy attacks. Swim through

On windy days stick to the spots that are fishable and work them several different times. Assume that a few of the spots are holding muskies and work the edges, the thick cover and change casting angles. It might be that you are fishing the same spot three or four times each day, so experiment with lures as well. While on the subject of lures in a big wind, remember to use big, bold baits. You need the lure to get noticed and the muskies to be able to feel the bait. So, consider what

ZMAN HerculeZ in Opening Night colour.

Mythical Methods: Here are two examples of Rob’s simple genius, straight forward, finely tuned trolling tactics that are easily repeatable for maximum success. Like Rob, my rods are longhandled, graphite/composite rods with Cabela’s 20-Series DepthMaster reels and 20 pound test Sufix 832 line. These are quality, affordable, invaluable tools.

to get down to the level of the fish and root them out of the rocks. Drag, rip or swim in shallow to mid-depths. Incredibly durable. I have my original HerculeZ that I fished all season last year. I caught 53 fish, on this one bait, without having to do any repair to it! LocTite SuperGel is the correct product for touching up ElaZtech.

Every musky season is different, as is each trip. As musky hunters we all meticulously plan, review maps, research waters, and stock up on the best lures we believe will be most productive. However, when the weather conditions aren’t in your favour, focus on the spots that are fishable, and you’ll be more prepared. Also, when the fish are biting, look for adjacent spots or extend the spots. You’ll turn your day into a multiple musky day, as you’ll spend more time on quality spots, and less time running.

Plane Over Unfished Waters: A trade secret, trolling planer boards, multiply the efficiency of a trolling spread by taking lures off to the sides of the boat. Fish are spooked into their path. Consequently, trollers can effectively fish three different depths simultaneously by setting out a shallow, medium depth and deep diving Rapala lure on the shallow-set planer board, hand-held rod behind the boat and deep-set planer board out deeper from the boat, respectively.

(Continued on page 44.)

“Big 3” Swimnait Side-By-Side Comparison

Big Hammer, Storm 360GT, ZMan HerculeZ

Editor’s Note:

STORM 360GT Searchbait in Smelt colour.

shallows and let the tail call in fish from nearby. When they approach, the ribbed body holds a lot of scent that seals the deal. Amazing search bait!

When you’re faced with a day with giant winds, remember to be safe. It may be that

The Lesson: Back in 2008, I hosted my first G&S guided group. Having guided in some of the best lakes in Northern Saskatchewan, I was eager to tame some prairie giants for my guests. However, it took me a week scratching, gouging and even some gnashing-of-teeth to keep up to Rob and his group’s fish numbers and size. I was obsessed. I ran each day over-and-over in my mind, to pinpoint the source of Rob’s success. Then, it hit me... Rob operates on one primary principal to allseason success. What is the secret? It is “magnificently” simple. Rob “power fishes” to locate and catch fish during the whole open water season. You guessed it...

•Body – flat sided, plastisol round, ribbed, tough oval, fins, ElaZtech*

•Tail – Patented “Square tail” Oversized bulbous round rectangle, finned

The ZMan HerkuleZ owes its snag-resistance to its buoyant ElaZtech plastic. The fact that it sits hook-up, nose down when resting on bottom, makes it an extremely valuable tool when it is necessary

Jim Saric is an American professional angler, best known as the publisher, editor and owner of Musky Hunter Magazine, the largest musky fishing publication in North America. He is the Host and Executive Producer of The Musky Hunter television series, the first television show ever dedicated solely to the hard-to-catch musky.

•Weight – lead heads, 5/0 hook 3/8 oz. Rattle, acrylic, 7/0 hook** 3/8 oz., belly, 5/0

•Colours – 57 total (swimbait.com) 10 colours (rapala.ca) 8 (zmanfishing.com)

•Durability – soft, needs glue***, very tough, head/jig fit well nearly indestructible

•Fishability – catch-all, 4 season, shallow/medium depth, spring, incredible in rocks

G&S Exclusive Tactics: Rob pulls Rapala crankbaits behind the smallest Offshore Tackle or Church TX-6 planer boards. We find these little 6” boards indispensable in exploring the hangout of giant, lethargic walleye lounging in “no man’s land”. The “near-edge” is the often-ignored, limited open water immediately out from the top edge of a drop off – out over the

•Where to find? – www.basspro.com – www.cabelas.ca

(Continued on page 51.)

Jim Saric with a IC9 monster.

(Hammer Tough on Post

summer or not! Some of these factors are whether it was an early spring, water temps, how much sun we have etc.

Floating weed mats are real attractive real estate for largemouth bass as they are generally homebodies. As homebodies, they like to have a roof over their heads which make them feel secure, comfortable with shade & lower water temps as well as provide them ambush cover. If the floating weed cover is not crazy thick, they’ll explode right through it to feed on frogs, insects & other critters. That being said, keep in mind, not all floating weed cover is created equal!

So, what factors are key in differentiating a good slop mat from a not so good weed mat. Firstly, any overhead cover can hold a good fish but there are definitely keys to some being better or more attractive than others. Firstly, there has to be enough depth beneath the mat for a fish to swim as some mats are packed so tight in shallow water that the weeds extend all the way to the bottom. Hard bottom underneath the weeds seems to be more attractive to big fish.

for SWAMP DONKEYS for SWAMP DONKEYS DONKEYS

By: David Chong

Lately, the biggest news & controversy in the sport of bass fishing has been Forward Facing Sonar! Here is a presentation that requires virtually no electronics, something that you can do in areas that you can actually find with your own eyes! Punching weed mats, prop chop, slop or whatever you would like to call floating piles of weeds can be a lot of fun and at times very productive especially for big largemouth bass or “Buckets” as they’re affectionately called! These mats will move around, set up or be displaced depending on winds & currents.

These weed mats can form in corners of man-made structures like docks, in pencil reed beds, cane beds, laydown trees, around lily pad beds, just to name a few areas! Literally they can form anywhere floating weeds can get trapped and accumulate. Sometimes they’ll cover an entire small bay. Around cane beds, the cane can be beaten down by critters and form great cover around them. Weed mats will change throughout the summer and can be vastly different year to year! There are lots of factors that can determine whether it will be a good “Punchin’”

A mixture of green and older brown weeds is something you should look for, as the brown weed denotes that the mat has been there for a while and sometimes fresh green blow-in has not been there long enough for fish to have discovered it. A lot of anglers like to fish the “Cheese”, which is the yellow-green algae that forms around weed mats that have been there for a while.

Part of the fun of Punchin’ cover for BUCKETS is you often don’t know what you have until you clear the weeds away!

Lily pads beds with blown in slop are generally always more productive than just plain lily pad beds. Slop blown into the corner of a dock, overhanging Willow trees or laydown trees create other productive scenarios for Hawg fishing success. Your powers

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.

Simple shines!

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.

A Black Blue Fleck Palmetto BugZ rigged with an 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook & a 3/4 oz. Ultra Tungsten Flippin’ Weight fooled this Swamp Donkey hiding beneath a floating mat!

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

of observation are essential to success when fishing weed mats and heavy cover. Noticing something that is a little different than everything else around often will get you that bigger bite in these shallow water situations.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

school spinnerbait!

When the weeds are not overly thick and even a little loose, you can throw a frog over top of it and fish may explode and grab it. Or if they happen miss it, at least they’ve shown themselves and you know where they live! This is one aspect of team tournament fishing, where working together is essential. One angler will throw a frog and work it over top, bird dogging fish for their partner. If a fish comes up through the mat and they get the frog, that’s great! But if they come up and don’t get it, then the other angler needs to get back in there with a punch bait as quickly as possible! Often that fish that didn’t get the frog will eat something that falls through the mat almost immediately!

exciting to know that you might have found the winning fish. When I’m around home and away from the tournament scene, that rush

know are good and catch fish but if you want to up

A tasty meal for a Big Ole Bucket tempting fate on top of a floating weed mat!

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.

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

“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

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

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.”

: 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.

The author’s favourite punching bait, a Z-Man Palmetto BugZ on a 4/0 Owner Jungle Flipping Hook & an Ultra Tungsten Flipping Weight!

This type of fishing is slow & methodical, requiring patience but that patience can pay off big time. Junk fishing heavy cover is one of my favourite ways to target Buckets. Anytime you feel something different

(Continued on page 8.)

(Continued on page 10.)

(Continued on page 8.)

the weight of your bait feels like it has changed, set the hook as hard as possible and hang on! When dealing with larger weed mats, don’t be in a rush to pull your bait out if you don’t get bit right after penetrating through the cover. Sometimes, you need to shake your bait a little or just deadstick it beneath the mat because the fish may have to come a distance after hearing or noticing a potential meal fall into their realm.

Gear-wise for this type of fishing requires heavy equipment!

A Daiwa Kage 7’4” heavy power, extra fast action rod paired with a Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F reel is my combo of choice, both for frogging, punching & flippin’ applications. The Tatula Elite P/F, beast of a reel is spooled with 60 lb. test FX2 Frogging & Flipping braided line. If you’re taller in statue, then a Daiwa Kage 7’6” heavy power fast action might be more suitable for you. Both rods have backbone galore to drive those heavy flippin’

hooks home. They also have enough power to hold those big girls until you can haul that bundle of weeds into the boat.

This gear is an absolute necessity as there will be times when the weeds are so thick that when you get bit and set the hook you are not able to pull that swamp donkey through. In that case your best course of action is to pin that fish up against the weeds and maintain pressure until you scoop that fish along with the massive pile of weeds into the boat. If you can, get your net beneath all those weeds & just lift everything into the boat. Once it’s all in the boat then you can slowly open up your surprise and hopefully it’s a “Donkey”!

Presentations and lures to be used in flippin’ or punching cover are plentiful. One of the most indispensable aspects for this type of fishing is the use of tungsten weights & jigs. Tungsten is an extremely hard and dense material, which allows for a physically smaller sizing, making it easier to go through heavy cover.

(Punchin’ for Swamp Donkeys continued from page 9.)

CUSTOM CANADIAN RODS

CANADIAN TO THE CORE

DAIWA CANADIAN RODS FEATURE

Smooth Cut-proof Titanium Oxide Ring Guides

V-Joint Ferrule Construction for smooth stress free distribution

Daiwa Original Slider Reel Seats (on Trout models)

For more info visit: Daiwa.us

WUltra Tungsten Da Bomb Punch Jig works great around cover as well!

Around looser cover, the Ultra Tungsten Arky Jig catches BIG’UM’s!

If the weed cover is thick, you might have to fire your Texas rigged bait up into the air and it hopefully it 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 literally get on top of them when presenting your baits.

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

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

(Punchin’ for Swamp Donkeys continued from page 11.)

(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.

“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.”

“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.”

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.

“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.”

“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 were catching so many fish. I felt like a commercial fishing operator out on the ocean.”

IN THE WEEDS

To peg or not to peg, this has always been the age-old question when it comes to Texas Rigging. For punching, it is imperative that your bait is pegged in order to make sure that it penetrates the cover along with your flipping weight. You can do this with Ultra Tungsten Pegs or Stoppers. I prefer pegs but both will do the job. If you’re using the Ultra Tungsten Pegs, insert them into your weight from the bottom, there is a notch in the disk for your line to sit in.

A fully dressed PUNCHIN’ package with an Ultra Tungsten Ultra Punch paired with an Owner hook & Z-Man Palmetto BugZ!

Like Mitchell, Takasaki is enamoured by the explosion of fresh weed growth that occurs during the summer peak period, when his go-to presentation many days is pulling a crawler harness behind a bottom bouncer at 1 to 1.5 miles-an-hour. “I love it when the weeds form a distinct breakline in 10 to 15 feet of water, says the 1998 PWT Classic Champion.

No matter how thick a mat is, a bass beneath knows when something has fallen onto or penetrated the cover. Usually, their curiosity and opportunistic feeding instinct will draw them over to the bait. Because of the toughness of Z-Man’s ElaZtech material, it is difficult to use them with screw lock hooks or add rattles & nail weights to them. Z-Man’s NEW Rattle Snaker now enables you to add rattles easily to your ElaZtech bait addressing that sound factor. With a rattle in your bait, once you’re through the cover and on the bottom, you can shake your bait to help draw fish over. The Rattle Snaker can also be used to add nail weights for Neko-Rigging as well.

“But if you’re getting hung up and it is difficult to get the bouncer through the vegetation, switch to a bullet weight. I’ll also pull shallow running cranks over the tops of the weeds. And on a really good weedline, I’ll stop and toss a jig tipped with a minnow or leech into the pockets.”

To create a different look, you can use Ultra Tungsten’s Ultra Punch which is a skirted punch weight instead of a regular flipping weight. The Ultra Punch is available in weights all the way up to 1 1/4 oz. and when the skirt flares, it bulks up your bait once it’s through the cover.

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. (Continued on page 27.)

An explosion of fresh weed growth is a favourite of former PWT Classic Champion Ted Takasaki. (Continued on page 14.)

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

GO WHERE THE FISH ARE

WORTH THE FIGHT

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

ALL-NEW QUEST SERIES

Mother Nature may be tough, but the all-new QUEST ™ Series from Minn Kota ® is tougher. These brushless motors don’t back down from a fight, built rugged with run-all-day battery life, integrated Humminbird ® sonar and game-changing power to push through to the spots where you can really prove your mettle. Choose between the all-new Ulterra ® QUEST – featuring push-button Auto Stow and Deploy – or Terrova ® QUEST for battle-tested toughness.

YOUR QUEST

It can be used with all your favourite Texas Rig baits. Black, Black-Blue and Northern Craw, which is similar to an Okeechobee Craw are all awesome colours available in the Ultra Punch. These weights were crazy popular a few years back but trust me they still work.

The old phrase “go with the flow” is well-stated when you are fishing waters with current. There are a lot of ways to fish for walleyes. Some anglers control drift downstream.

The more water you cover, the more fish that are in your jig’s strike zone. SpotLock anchoring on Minn Kota trolling motors allow you to anchor anytime with the push of a button. The trolling motor will keep you on that spot until you disengage. With the SpotLock Jog feature, you are able to micro-move your position until it is in the strike zone. From a fixed position, anglers can

Using a punch jig like Ultra Tungsten’s Da Bomb, which are available in weights from 1/2 oz. up to 1 oz. is another great way to fish heavy cover. Da Bomb’s bullet shaped head allows it to penetrate cover better than most jigs. Rattles and trailers can be added to complete a tasty offering. The skirt on Da Bomb is made of “Living Rubber” and is wire-tied. Living Rubber produces a wild amount of action even when just sitting on the bottom. Trailers that can be used include Z-Man’s Hella CrawZ & BatWingZ. Match the colour of your trailer to your jig for a natural presentation or contrast them in stained water to make them more

Lay down cane is a magnet for BIG BUCKETS!

Editor’s Note

David Chong is widely recognized as one of Canada’s top competitive tournament anglers. He is also an avid multi species angler and is a strong advocate for affordable, accessible angling for all! David loves sharing his vast fishing knowledge and stories with anglers of all ages, beginners and pros alike!

Forward-facing sonar is dominating bass and walleye tournament competition but you can still catch fish without it on your boat, the same way we have for many years.

OOver the past few years there has been an explosion in the use of forward-facing sonar (FFS) by anglers who fish for everything. It’s not just the tournament folks using it, but ice anglers, musky anglers and especially crappie anglers, who were amongst the first to really expose the technology.

NO FORWARD SONAR? YOU CAN STILL CATCH FISH... NO FORWARD SONAR? YOU CAN STILL CATCH FISH...

By: Jeff Gustafson

The

In the tournament world, it’s tough to compete at certain times of the year without FFS but can you still catch fish if you don’t have it on your boat? Absolutely. Here is how to get it done if you’re hoping, not scoping.

Obviously, whenever fish are in deeper water or suspended, FFS is going to be tough to compete with. If you don’t have the technology on your boat, I’m not saying you have to hit the bank, but if you’re fishing deeper, you want to be more specific about where you drop a line. That means, getting right on top of the sweet spots.

The mapping that we have today is excellent for many bodies of water, especially those covered on the new Lakemaster VX cards. These map cards, available for Ontario, as well as other provinces, offer highly detailed mapping so it’s now much easier to get on the sweet spots on offshore structure. On Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake, where I fish the most, this mapping makes life much easier on the water. Every hump and bump is on that map.

When I say the sweet spots, I’m talking about the top of the hump,

The Smeltinator/ JerkShadZ combo is tough to beat.

the tip of the point or pinch point on a saddle. Those high percentage places that are always going to hold fish. Taking it further, being patient and idling around on these locations, keeping an eye on your sonar and Side-Imaging if you have it,

Smeltinator Underspin walleye

can give up more detail on the juice spots. These could be weed clumps or edges, brush piles, rock piles or even single isolated boulders, which always hold fish.

(Continued on page 18.)

Lakemaster mapping is so good, it shows us where the sweet spots are on offshore structure. (Photo: Kobie Koenig)

Smeltinator jig and Scented Jerk ShadZ remains my top choice for fishing deeper water for most species. (Photo: Kobie Koenig)

NEW FOR 2023

Shimano engineers designed the cutting-edge NANOARMOR technology with nano-level ridges on the line’s surface for increased knot strength and toughness.

HHI incorrectly categorized these burbot as spawned-out or immature males. Finally, it became clear that these big burbot couldn’t be spawned out males. This group were fullgrown fish, over 4 pounds. Baffling, their gonads were tiny, pinkish, ribbon-like, and under developed. Was this the group of fish that Sam also called males? I’m not sure; but, about 80 percent of the fish that son, Ben, and I harvested in 2008 were these, so called, “males”.

ey fall trollers – water temps are finally starting to dip! Instead of tying on any ol’ crankbait, did you know you can use water temp to tell you which exact styles to run.

Dr. Vaughn Paragamian... Science

Bridges the Gap

Brad Hawthorne’s logged a zillion hours pulling cranks in the fall, so it’s the first thing I asked him about when I had the chance to hop in his boat:

I sought out Dr. Vaughn Paragamian from the Idaho Fish & Game Department who had this to say: “Those fish are ‘nonbreeders’. Eelpout, like sturgeon, do not all spawn every year. Individuals rest on alternate spawning seasons.”

So why are resting fish active on the spawning grounds, I wondered?

He always starts early fall with #5 Rapala Shad Raps ‘cuz they’ve caught more fish than any other bait in his boat…especially while water temps are 60650F. Bump up to a #6 or #7 as temps reach the lower end of that scale.

Once the water hits 57-620F – and the weather is cooperating – he’ll put on BIG ol’ bent-lip #9 Shallow Shad Raps. Everything is going shallow and putting the feedbag on, including perch this size….

Original Jointed Minnows are one of his favourite overlooked fall trolling baits when temps are in the 50-570F range and fish are on the chew. They run 5-7’ outta the package, but Brad will pinch on a small splitshot up above the bait to get ’em down to the 8-10’ range.

T“Eelpout rest only as far as gamete production is concerned. Unlike sturgeon that avoid spawning activity during their resting year, the entire eelpout population participates in the yearly spawn, in one form or another. Many males and females are mature non-spawning fish with underdeveloped gonads, easily mistaken as spent or immature males when cleaned. Only under a microscope slide, can oocytes be seen in the ovaries of females and spermatozoa in males,” revealed Paragamian.

During our conversation I shared that many of these non-breeders were very emaciated with sunken eyes, reduced girth and shrunken, pale-coloured livers. “Although an individual non-breeder will eat chum on bottom, for example, without any available food on the

T(Slip Float Refresher cont. from page 12.)

(A Soft Spot for Walleyes continued from page 11.)

(No Forward Sonar? You Can Still Catch Fish... continued from page 16.)

(Dailing-In Depth Control for Walleyes continued from page 7.)

“Pay

This rigged with a Scented Jerk ShadZ is d-e-a-d-l-y for

If you’re going to fish offshore, find

(Sidebar)

Frigid temps: Original Floaters are tough to beat. Brad’s caught fish on ’em in water as cold as 42 degrees. #PolarPlungeStatus More details straight from Mr. Fall Cranky himself in this video. (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=RLYu8tPpv8U)

sonar to locate and catch walleye scattered on flats, relating to a weedline, or stationed on a sand bar, to name just a few areas. Hit spot-lock to hold the boat in place, cast the rig over to fish, and watch the float for a bite.

careful attention

When you’re out on Laker-Whitefish grounds and you see fish feeding off the surface from the many insect hatches that occur in the spring, you can rest assured that these are probably Lakers whether it’s over 70-80 FOW or not. Using forward facing sonar like a Garmin LiveScope setup can help you spot these cruisers from

“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

(The Serge in Forward Facing Sonar continued from page 18.)

DO WALLEYE SCENTS MAKE

his can be a frustrating time of year to track down a limit of tasties. Fish are on the move, but they’ll be migrating to predictable areas and eventually schooling up hard.

Ted Takasaki, Scott Richardson and Greg Bohn combined forces to give us and Yoda some fall-transition secrets. Full write-up archived here, few excerpts below:

“Baitfish will only stay in weeds as long as they’re very green. Once weeds start to die off... baitfish and walleyes start to leave those shallow-water weed areas.

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

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

“Once fish are deep, they’re not

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 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,

looking, then a half hour to 45 minutes fishing.”

You’re making a mistake if you’re not using soft plastic baits infused with scent. That is the clear message from Pure Fishing’s Dr. Keith Jones, who invented PowerBait and has carefully studied how fish use their sensory channels. In order to determine if it should eat something, Jones says a walleye has to touch it, smell it, and taste it. He also says oil-based scents don’t work, as fish can only detect water soluble odours. Lastly, Jones says walleye specific scents are better than forage (shad, nightcrawler) based elixirs.“The foundation in our walleye impregnated Power Baits represents the “meat and potatoes that appeals to most predatory fish,” says Jones. “But then we spike it with walleye specific enhancers. Things we’ve learned that

Chatterbaits shine for covering water for bass, walleye and pike.

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

“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.”

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

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 they saw a fish!

Lake Simcoe Guru, John

Now, there is no question that when you are fishing for walleye, as 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.

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.

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’.

doing the heavy lifting with a Lake Simcoe Northern Pike!

Sharp-shooting’s an assertive fishing style. It relies primarily on 2D or down-view sonar to get directly over walleye, then quickly dropping a fast-sinking presentation while staying over fish using the main engine or a trolling motor’s spot-lock feature. Jigging Raps, bladebaits, and drop-shots are popular artificial choices, but a slip float has long been the gold standard for live-bait tactics and often called “power corking” or “power bobbering”.

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.

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 ....

DON'T OVERLOOK DROP-SHOTTING

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

choice for most species but I’ve always got a Ned rig and a drop-shot rig ready to go as well. Sometimes fish, and I’m talking about walleye, smallmouths, lake trout, they want minnow imitating baits higher in

They are generally super aggressive at this time while they’re trying to bulk up and recover from the rigors of the spawn! They also grow to that trophy 40 plus inch range and can be over 20 plus lbs. Cooks Bay is probably home to the largest number of pike on Lake Simcoe. At this time, they can be found in the lower end of

Ditto, in the spring or anytime for that matter when walleyes are roaming the flats, feeding on yellow perch and whacking crawler harnesses. Scented soft plastic crawlers almost consistently catch more and bigger walleyes than live crawlers owing to the fact that the perch and panfish can’t nip, snip, squeeze or otherwise pull them apart. So you spend the bulk

bottom, while still allowing for a steady retrieve to activate the plastic’s boot-tail, cover water and trigger reaction strikes.

“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 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.”

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.

Pugh’s half-hour fishing timeline refers to a large bite window courtesy of decent numbers of walleye. At the other end of the power corking spectrum is waiting a minute or two when hovering over an individual fish or smaller pod. If things don’t happen fast, reel up and head to the next spot.

Consider signing up to receive FREE Target Walleye/Ice emails

Getting on top of lake trout on offshore 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 www.gussyoutdoors.com.

from Northland brings the noise with a glass rattle and audible carry through water, all without killing its famous action. Anglers have long noted the benefits of vibration and additional sound in their baits, as fish cue on auditory clues to both help them locate and target 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.”

DOUBLE TROUBLE

(Continued on page 20.)

(Continued on page 44.)

“The easiest way to do the whole thing is with a jig head,” Nelson said. “If fish aren’t shy and are eating it, 75 percent of the time that’s what I run. A jig keeps the hook away from the

MANOTICK BAIT

I try to keep things simple when it comes to lures and presentations for Pike but one important piece of equipment that you must use is some form of leader. A Stringease titanium tippet/leader measuring anywhere from 6-12” is sufficient. These tippets consist of a 20-30 lbs. test titanium wire attached to a Fastach snap only and there is no swivel on it. These tippets are perfect for jerkbaits such as the Lucky Craft Lightning Pointers that I like to use when targeting Pike. Normally adding a regular wire leader in front of a jerkbait

Nelson prefers a leech in summer. When walleye are fussy, he switches from a jig to a more finesse and free swimming leech on a 4 or 6 octopus hook. This is presented below 12 to 18 inches of 10-pound fluorocarbon tied to a swivel. Above on low-stretch, 10-pound monofilament is a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce egg sinker, large float, bead, and a bobber stop.

(Continued

Whyte

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

Northland Glo-Shot

Northland Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow

(Burbot Beyond Belief continued from page 42.)

GOBY TUBE JIG HEADS

Available for standard and mini sized tubes

MICRO TUBE JIG HEADS

For micro and panfish tubes

MINI TUBE JIG HEADS

For 1.75” to 2.75” tubes

“THE DREDGE” DROP SHOT

Snag resistant, No line twist, Softer feel

Available in tie on or line grip swivel

TUBE JIG HEADS

For 2.75” to 4” tubes

POW-R -Ned

Micro, Standard and Maxi sizes

NEW J-FLUORO LEADER

I love fishing locations where you can get walleye and trophy pike out of the same holes. Often, I’ll jig for walleye with a Buck-Shot Spoon and for my second line, I’ll soak a big cisco under a tip-up for pike. On some waterbodies we even run into lake trout in these shallower areas.

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!

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

Lake trout and whitefish, fish that suspend during the winter, usually get a lot more active as the snow melts and more lights starts to penetrate the ice late in the season. These fish are sight feeders and if they can see better, they’re going to eat better.

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.

Put more fish in the net with Limestone Lures Gear up for spring!

save 15% by using code: “just fishing” at checkout and and

The last couple of years I’ve been heading north to the Red Lake area for a late season ice trip and the fishing has been excellent with plenty of walleyes and big pike. I’m looking forward to making it happen again later this season. I love jumping on my snowmobile and getting in the remote water that is seemingly everywhere up there. I’ve experienced some topnotch walleye and lake trout fishing but the pike fishing is as good as I’ve ever seen on a number of waters. There is simply a ton of water to fish and a bunch of big pike. I think it’s just far enough north that the fish just don’t get a lot of pressure and it’s the right type of water for them to get big.

Often, people getting annoyed with me when they get in my boat and fish with me because I like to fish fast. I’m really big on covering water and finding biting fish, no matter what species we’re after. If I see a fish with my eyes or on my electronics and it doesn’t bite, I’m not going to sit there and make repeated attempts to try and make it bite, I’m going to find another one and hopefully I’ll have better luck with it. I always remember where I see fish and I’ll come back to them but I’m of the opinion that once a fish knows you’re there or knows something is off, your chances of catching it decrease significantly. Let them set back up on the spot and relax,

then sneak back up on them and you have a good shot at hooking up.

Since I want to cover water, I’m obviously big on casting and fishing with moving baits but I always keep a variety of rods rigged up in my boat. Having a few jigs

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.

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

Obviously, the ice conditions can change quickly late in the season when they weather really starts to warm up, so pay attention to the

Watching how your bait performs in the water before you fish it to make sure everything is working properly is important.

The equipment available to ice anglers today is as good as ever. Over the past twenty years the improvements in mapping, sonar, tackle and even snowmobiles to get around, have made it easier to find and catch more fish under the ice. Have a great season out there!

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 to follow my fishing adventures on social media!

Editor’s Note: Jeff Gustafson grew

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

We rely on our electronics big time to help us find fish. (Photo:

tipped with plastics always ready to go is a big part of the program for all species.

(Continued on page 21.)

(3 Seasons on the Ice continued from page 4.)

(No Forward Sonar?You Can Still Catch Fish... cont. from page 18.)

Kobie Koenig)

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.

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

Other times we score, and we score big!

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.

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.

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

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.

anglers who seek water” each day

They’re so confident patterns they’ve they’re satisfied gun, hitting as many locations as possible.

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

Editor’s Note:

When All Fails

What

about

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) +L (location) +P (presentation) =S (success) is still relevant. The combination of location and then choosing the best presentation is the way to go.

those

a pattern fails

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

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.

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.

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.

Flats

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.

Rather than fishing aimlessly down a stretch of bank, something a bit more promising. If it’s a reservoir nothing figured out, I try to put myself where there’s and fewer distractions – like the backs of creeks main river. I know by keeping my head down and picking smaller areas apart, the odds of running into fish –fish – can be better. On a natural lake or river system, concentrate on super thick cover, fishing solely for resident Are these strategies guaranteed to salvage a bad day? they have bailed me out on numerous occasions.

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

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

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.

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

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

Follow Bernie Schultz on and website

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

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

Bernie Schultz competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series as a columnist to Bassmaster.com and InsideLine.net. an educator and promoter of angling, representing biggest brands in fishing – including Mercury Marine, Boats, Power-Pole, Fuji Rod Components, Shimano, Hildebrandt, Garmin Electronics, T-H Marine, Power Die Lithiums. You can visit him at: www.bernieschultzfishing.com

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

Tracking Down

By: Tim Allard

Fsmallmouth bass orient around deep structures and schooling baitfish found in or near lake basins. Exploring these areas takes grit. Open-water smallmouth are transient and their feeding activity oscillates between seeing-red aggressive and very choosy about what they’ll strike. Here’s a breakdown of how forage and structure influence smallmouth offshore locations, along with tactics for catching suspending and bottom-oriented bronzebacks.

FIND THEIR FOOD

The angling cliche that 90 percent of the fish live in 10 percent of the lake often rings true for offshore smallmouth. Many lake basins and around deep structures areas are void of life. Avoiding ghost towns is easily done with electronics, which will also help get you within casting distance of the offshore food chain.

No big reveal, here; an offshore home is where smallmouth spend a lot of time. They eat in the area and mill around when not actively chasing forage. These places can be fished throughout the day and offer good odds of contacting bass. A 20 to 30 foot flat containing a few islands or humps, and baitfish, crayfish, or other forage is an example. Long underwater points and sizeable humps are also good.

Conversely, a restaurant won’t hold smallmouth for as long. Bass come to eat, then split. These kill zones showcase the transient nature of offshore smallmouth. Timing is everything at a restaurant. At some eateries bronzebacks punctually arrive at certain times, making the popularity of certain spots as predictable as the early morning double-double rush at your local Timmies. Wind is another factor, causing certain wave-hit structures to fill with baitfish and smallmouth. Restaurants come in many shapes and sizes. They include isolated humps, sand bars, rocky reefs rising out of deep water, points pushing into deep basin, lake narrows, and rock walls. A key attribute of a restaurant is its structural composition gives bass an advantage, letting them herd, trap, and attack baitfish within a confined space.

THE GAME HAS CHANGED WITH FORWARD SONAR

The arrival of forward-facing sonar has brought big changes to the hide-and-seek game of offshore fishing. Quickly moving along with the trolling motor while using Garmin’s LiveScope to look around makes quick work of eliminating unproductive water and finding smallmouth homes and restaurants. Once baitfish and bass are located, I cast towards them and can tweak tactics based on who fish react to the presentation. Scanning around has also revealed plenty of hidden gems, such as small, isolated rock piles on a flat and subtle fingers leading off of a hump. This said, side-scanning and traditional, 2D sonar remain important tech in my boat for exploring water.

Smelt, shad, alewife, ciscoes, perch, and other suspending baitfish are common food for offshore smallmouth. The challenge with fishing around open-water baitfish is they’re constantly moving, which means smallmouth are also nomadic. The more you fish offshore, the greater your understanding of how, when, and why this predator-prey relationship unfolds in your local lakes. Offshore smallmouth also eat crayfish and gobies, which are homebodies compared to suspending baitfish. Areas where smallmouth snack on these floor-dwellers are more predictable places to find and catch bass throughout the day.

OFFSHORE STRUCTURES INFLUENCE BASS WHEREABOUTS

Previously, offshore smallmouth tended to get less angling pressure compared to bronzebacks calling shallow flats and shoreline home. Not anymore. Forwardfacing sonar combined with growing angling pressure are influencing offshore presentations and tactics. As smallmouth grow accustomed to certain presentations, the challenge of catching offshore bass grows.

FAST TACTICS TO GET IT DONE

Good places to start are 18 to 35 foot humps, saddles, points, bars, and flats in or next to 40- to 60-foot basins. Structures attractive to smallmouth often divide into two categories, which for simplicity sake I refer to as either a home or a restaurant.

Fast retrieves with jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, umbrella rigs, swimbaits, and topwaters regularly put suspending, offshore smallmouth in the boat. The flash, noise, and commotion of these baits gets the attention of smallies and helps trigger strikes. Brisk presentations are useful, too, for covering the vast areas one encounters offshore.

(Continued on page 24.)

The author with an offshore smallmouth fooled by CrushCity’s The Jerk on a jig.

Garmin’s LiveScope showing baitfish

REALITY TV.

It’s showtime. New MEGA Live Imaging™ delivers the edge-to-edge clarity you need to see exactly what’s below the surface in real time, with no gaps in coverage and MEGA Imaging® detail across the entire view. Want to know if a certain area is worth fishing? You can be absolutely certain with crystal-clear, live sonar returns of fish, structure and your lure, in Down, Forward or Landscape Mode. There’s no image like it. For real. Learn more at Humminbird.com/MEGALive

MEGA Live Imaging is an optional accessory compatible with all APEX™, SOLIX® and select HELIX® Series control models.

A gar and crappie suspended in a fallen tree.

Retrieving the lure above bass is critical to being in the strike zone when smallmouth are looking up to feed on baitfish. For newcomers, it may seem out of place to rip a shallow-running jerkbait over 30 feet of water, but any uncertainty tends to fade after the first rod-jarring bronzeback attack.

SEALING THE DEAL ON SUSPENDING SMALLMOUTH

When suspending bass are moody and uninterested in fast presentations, a dose of finesse is rarely a bad thing. Spybaits remain potent for clear-water smallmouth. Long casts and slow retrieves are the way to go with this lure when you’re a bass neighbourhood or have spied fish with electronics.

A 3-inch swimbait is also reliable. Fire it out, count it down to where bass are in the water column, and reel at a moderate to slow pace. Adding a small twitch or speed burst with the reel handle is worth trying now and then as the erratic display it gives the bait is known to trigger following smallmouth.

Specialized swimbait jig heads are handy, too, for getting fickle bass to nibble.

Scroungers, ChatterBait-style jig heads, and underspins create extra vibration, while enhancing action. Bladed jigs also add flash, an important visual for baitfish-hunting smallmouth.

A 5-inch stickbait wacky-rigged on a weighted hook is a good for clean-up when a feeding frenzy winds down. In scenarios where you might have got fish initially on reaction baits, a stickbait can get a few more fish before everything shuts down. I suspect bronzebacks cruise around looking to pick off any injured baitfish and are easily duped by the quivering stickbait. I do best with white, pearl, and other light colours.

Reeling a swimbait, then stopping so it pendulums down is another trick to try.

Today, it’s hard to write about catching suspending smallmouth without referencing moping and, in turn, tapping Jeff Gustafson who won the 2023 Bassmaster Classic using this technique as well as pitching a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator head to fish he marked using his Humminbird MEGA Live sonar. Gustafson has shared details of his tactics in Just Fishing’s pages before. Here’s a quick recap and you can get more details reading back issues of the magazine.

“Generally, if fish are deeper than 15 to 18 feet, I like to use this (moping) technique. Anywhere they are focused on bait above them in the water column, it’s going to be an effective technique – think anywhere bass eat smelt, cisco, alewife, perch, etc,” Gustafson said.

Keeping the jig above the fish is a must and often involves studying what’s below the boat using sonar. The more you can hold the bait still in the strike zone, the more bites you’ll get.

(Continued on page 26.)

Berkley MaxScent General on a jig

Business Since 1973 Serving the Sportsmen & Sportswomen in the Durham Area from Our Expanded & Renovated Store in Oshawa.

Playing devil’s advocate, I asked Gustafson how effective he finds the technique in clear water. His response:

“In really clear water, smallmouths know your boat is overhead down to at least 30 feet. Once fish have been caught or schools have been disrupted, they smarten up. This is where forward facing sonar like Humminbird Mega Live is really helping us out because we can now pitch at fish in front of the boat and catch an extra or two before getting on top of them. Sometimes you have to get over them to really hang that bait in their face, but sometimes they’re active enough to just take a run at your bait moving

is raising the trolling motor, running to the next spot, and continuing with a fast, snap-jigging approach.

FINESSE TACTICS FOR BOTTOMORIENTED BRONZEBACKS

Moping is an effective technique anywhere bass eat smelt, cisco, alewife, perch, etc.

FAST FOOD ON THE FLOOR

A lake with abundant gobies or crayfish prompt smallmouth feeding near bottom. Depending on how a lake’s fishing, imitating floordwelling forage is a good strategy when smallmouth are down in the water column and not actively feeding on suspending baitfish.

When fast tactics fall short try slowing down and knocking on doors with a finesse bait. I’ve had good success dragging and bouncing a 1/4-ounce Ned rig along bottom. A tube jig presented in a similar methodical manner fools bronzebacks as well.

Snap-jigging is one way to cover water and trigger reaction strikes from bass relating to flats, points, and humps. Tube jigs, crayfish or creature baits on football jigs, bucktail jigs, bladebaits, and spoons are good picks from late summer on. Make a long cast, let the bait get to bottom, snap it up, and let it fall. Repeat. Play around with height and speed to learn what bass like best.

Don’t be shy to mix-up tactics. It’s common to arrive at a spot and quickly catch the area’s more aggressive bass before snap-jigging’s effectiveness wanes. Sometimes the secret to keeping your rod bent is using a moderate, hopping retrieve or dragging the bait. Another option

Another winner is a jig with a 4- to 5-inch shaky worm or stickbait, like Berkley’s MaxScent General. Shake and drag it along bottom, then soaking the bait for a short time. A little hop can sometimes pique fish interest, but often bass respond best to the worm crawling along the lake bed.

Smallmouth also have a hard time resisting a 3- to 4-inch finesse plastic on a drop-shot. Start with a shake-pause presentation, and refine as needed based on bass interest. Finesse football jigs are also good. I find it hard to go wrong with Nishine’s version tipped with a grub, small worm, or finesse swimbait.

Smallmouth are a cagey breed and finding them offshore demands legwork and determination. The tradeoff for the toil, though, is the opportunity to catch giant bronzebacks, which in my book is certainly well worth the effort. What about you?

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.

Jeff Gustafson won the 2023 Bassmaster Classic using the moping technique.

Outlier Tactics

Outlier Tactics

IIam not a morning person, but what I am watching unfold in front of me makes getting out of bed in the early morning darkness worthwhile. The sun is poking its head over the blue horizon and waking up the big brook trout cruising the shallow margins of the lake. I can see small scouting parties of two and three fish advancing along shore, their reddish-orange bellies contrasting brilliantly with their snow white trimmed black fins. It is a sight to behold and I wonder if I should disturb it with a cast.

Oh, what the heck.

I pitch my lure beside the half submerged bald branches of a red pine tree that toppled over and into the water long ago. A stout speckled trout hears the subtle splash and feels the ripples. It whirls around immediately, spots the falling lure and charges without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, I feel it hit, set the hook and watch the water boil. Is there anything more profoundly Canadian? I could be on any trout lake in the country, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

MIRACLE MARABOU

For many strange, varied and related reasons, the marabou jig craze gained its Canadian foothold on my home waters of Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods, in Northwestern Ontario, over two decades ago. Because the immense border waters are so close to so many visiting American anglers – and rimmed with fishing lodges – it was only natural that Mid-West finesse techniques would find their way here first. But it didn’t take long for the savvy guides who escorted their guests out onto the water to modify and improve the lures they saw work such wonders. It remained the best kept bass secret for years, until the word finally started leaking out.

I could just as easily, too, have picked up one of the fly rods I have with me in the Frog Boat, but I chose the spinning outfit because it is much faster, more accurate and, more days than I care to admit, more productive. Oh, yes, and my lure of choice?

A minuscule 1/16-ounce black marabou jig. The same deadly piece of fluff that has taken the smallmouth bass world by storm the last seven or eight years.

I remember presenting fishing seminars at the 2016 Spring Fishing Show in Toronto and detailing the baits for the very first time in the huge glass-lined Hawg Trough. There were 17 bass swimming in the aquarium and over the two seminars I landed 27 fish. That was only possible by hooking many of the same bass on back-to-back days.

But here is the irony: when I climbed down the steps from the trough after each seminar and was greeted by the folks who rushed to the stage to see the miracle lure I was using, the most common refrain was: Wow, that is a trout bait.

Truth of the matter is that marabou jigs don’t distinguish. They are equal opportunity fish catchers that attract and trigger trout, as well as, and often better than, smallmouth bass. I am sure I would have come to this conclusion on my own, but it was my good friend, Ned Kehde, of Ned Rig fame, who put me on the fast track to trout success. Ned and I were staying at Big Cedar Resort on Table Rock Lake in Missouri of all places, fishing for bass. But over dinner one night, he told me about the accidental rainbow trout he was catching back home in Kansas, using the same marabou jigs.

Because fishing opportunities and lakes are limited on the Great Plains, fisheries agencies often stock trout in bass waters for anglers to catch during the colder water fall, winter and spring periods. And while Ned was targeting bass with the jigs, he couldn’t keep the rainbows from taking the bait. Now, as they say, I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. I brought home Ned’s observations, fine tuned and adjusted the jigs to suit our local trout waters and met with sweeping success.

BALANCED AND LIGHT

The key is keeping everything balanced and light, tying the fluff around a quality 1/16- to 1/8-ounce mushroom or ball head jig poured on a small short shank razor sharp #4 or #6 jig hook. You can buy ready made marabou jigs from many companies, but there is only one – “Big” Jim’s Jigs handmade by Jim McLaughlin –that is as good as what you can make yourself after carefully selecting choice marabou plumes featuring delicate whisker-like fibres.

techniques such as hover strolling, mid strolling, and bottom strolling. Suited for baits ranging from 2” to 7”.

I like to say, too, that any colour hair jig will work, so long as it’s black. And it is true when you’re fishing for smallmouth. But I’ve had many days swimming fluff for brookies, rainbows and splake when olive, brown and especially, green pumpkin produced more

• High center axis to encourage rolling action

• High knot position for stable rolling action

• “U” edge bait keeper to prolong bait life

• Round bend hook with Super Needle Point for easy hook sets on subtle bites Available in the following hook sizes and weights

OWNER AMERICAN CORPORATION

(714) 668-9011 Fax: (714) 668-9133

the hook tightly behind the hair, and add a drop of super glue to the shank to hold it in place. It adds more weight and flares out the hair like the mane on an angry lion. The trout hate it.

All that is left is to tie it onto a seven to seven-and-a-half-foot long medium light- to light-action spinning rod with a 2500 series reel loaded with a quality four- to six-pound-test gel-spun super fine line. I finish it up with an 18-inch long monofilament or fluorocarbon leader of the same strength as my main line. Early in the morning and later in the afternoon and evening, there is no deadlier approach than casting the jig around shoreline cover. Fallen trees are obvious, but swimming a marabou jig over the sunken stumps and logs that litter the area in front of a beaver lodge is doubly deadly.

MID-DAY MAGIC

If you enjoy fishing for trout, you know that at high noon, especially in the warmer summer months, the fish will typically pull out into deeper cooler water and drop down closer to the bottom. Many anglers also think the fishing gets tougher at lunch

Fluorocarbon to minimize cut-offs from toothy

Zman ZinkerZ Coppertreuse PurpleHaze

one of my favourite the water each year. not cold, boating traffic competition are at a minimum, species bite, feeding to reserves prior to a long, That’s a combo you anywhere!

allow you to fish the boat in deep fish-triggering lure action move quickly to locate

the Author:

Heavy hair jigs or jigheads tipped with soft plastics provide lift-drop lure action in deep water, although their increased bulk and water resistance usually do not allow you cover water as quickly as when using Jigging Raps. Experiment to see what works best.

situation. When people ask my what I think fish mistake the Ned Rig for my response is, ‘I don’t care what they mistake it for, as long as they’re biting it’.”

Gord added, “If we’re fishing the clear waters of Whitefish Bay on Lake of the Woods, I like natural and neutral colours versus some of the brighter twotone colours in Kenora’s algae stained waters.”

FISH IT RIGHT: RETRIEVES, RODS, REELS & LINE

time, but I beg to differ. It actually bunches up and concentrates the trout, creating a highly competitive atmosphere that you can exploit for all that it is worth. Especially, if there is a slight breeze blowing parallel to a shoreline that features a shallow – knee to waist deep – boulder-strewn flat or sparse weed or reed bed. The bigger and more isolated the structure is the better, but it must jut out and dip quickly into the main lake basin. When I am fly fishing a spot like this my favourite tactic is to drift a balanced leech under an indicator, but the purist in me hates to admit that a marabou jig is

I like to anchor the Frog Boat – a canoe or kayak works just as well – from the stern, so that I am casting down wind and aligned with the sloping break. I also never use an indicator or float. Instead, I cast the jig parallel to the edge of the drop, working each successive cast out further, away from the lip, and deeper. By counting down your jig after each cast, you can accomplish two things. The first is saturating the water column from top to bottom. The second is when you catch a trout, you can replicate the count – and hence the depth – on each followup presentation

among the most renowned fishing industry. Averaging on the water, Al is hailed best all-around anglers.

I don’t think the rig can be fished wrong. You can drag it, shake it, count it down and swim it. Just use a systematic method of fishing it from top to bottom and cover the bases. And while on the subject of presentation, Gord had some real gems of advice, “The most interesting retrieve that I’ve been writing about, where crappies and smallmouth are involved is the “Bivins’ Bounce”. Terry Bivins is a retired NASCAR driver from the states and he is an

honoured career as an author, syndicated radio & TV fishing show host, fishing guide, tackle manufacturer, lecturer and champion tournament 35 years of the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

(Continued on page 52.)

INCREDIBLE NED

I mentioned my friend, Ned Kehde earlier, because the Ned Rig for which he has become justifiably famous has stunned the bass fishing world, accounting for literally millions of dollars in winnings for so many tournament bass anglers. Well, guess what? I have yet to find a trout species that won’t devour the thing.

One last marabou trout detail: don’t be in a rush. The lure is so subtle that if you retrieve it too quickly it will rise up towards the surface on a path that resembles the right angle of a 45-degree triangle. What you’re trying to accomplish instead, is straining a specific horizontal zone within the water column, each time you

A 1/16-ounce mushroom head is my go to jig. They are in a class of their own, especially when you team them up with a 4-inch Hula StickZ or Rapala Crush City Ned BLT. (I always nip off an inch converting it to a slightly smaller 3-inch stick). What makes the incredibly soft squishy baits so effective is that they are buoyant –they float – so when you let your jig fall to the bottom, the tail stands up, sways and waves effortlessly.

Better yet, when you retrieve them back to the boat, the tail doesn’t droop, but rather glides in a life-like horizontal manner. Being as effective as they are, I could care less about the fact that they’re also durable, but you can catch 100 sharp toothed trout on a single bait and you’ll swear you have never used it. Trout relish these things.

I fish the durable stretchy baits on the same early morning and late afternoon shoreline feeding flats that I swim my marabou jigs. And I love working them down the sloping breaklines at mid-day. But I retrieve my Ned rigs very differently than the miracle marabou ones.

The first contrast is that I catch far more trout on hair jigs by imparting no additional or extraneous motions whatsoever. None. I cast it out, count it down and swim it back to the boat slowly. The less you do, the more you catch. Not so with a Ned rig. After pitching it out, I almost always let it fall to the bottom. Then I lift up my rod tip slowly feeling for a trout that might have hit it on the drop or sucked it up from the mud. If I don’t feel any weight, I start a slow swim, pause, glide, shake retrieve. A couple of turns of the reel handle as I slowly lift up the rod tip, pause, and let the jig pendulum towards me, while I shake it ever so subtly.

When the trout are being stubborn, on the other hand, I like to cast it out, let it fall to the bottom, and then drag it slowly a foot or two before I deadstick it in the mud for five, six, even seven or eight s econds. When you go to drag it the second, third or fourth time, you typically tighten up on a trout. Uncanny, too, how many trout eat it on the initial drop.

off the bottom to wait for the strike. Pounding the bottom too much will call the sturgeon to bite.

Slow Death Trout

If you’re a purist, best turn your head away now. But if you enjoy catching trout, especially as you leisurely paddle a canoe or kayak around a stunningly serene, spruce and pine-studded lake, troll a crawler dressed #4 or #6 Tru Turn hook behind a light 3/4- to 1-ounce finesse bottom bouncer, three-way rig or Slinky. The key is leaving a longish tag when you tie on the hook, so when you thread on a nightcrawler, all the way up to cover the hook eye, the tag end locks it in place.

I use Sunline SX1 green braided line. Its thin diameter cuts the water with an 8 lb Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader that’s super clear and abrasion-resistant. I wear Fish Monkey Stealth Dry Tec gloves and never have to take them off when baiting minnows on jigs; they are thin, waterproof and warm. Northland Whistler jigs and Thumper jigs with a rainbow or a frozen shiner work extremely well. With Whistler jigs, use short pulls forward with your rod tip and let it drop back for about 3 or 4 seconds. The next time, repeat the motion but let out 3 to 4 feet of line. I call this walking the dog downstream. I would rather not hook a big walleye too far from the boat downstream so I reel in the Whistler jig and start vertical from the boat and then repeat the downstream walk.

boulders, stumps, and other obstacles. A deep crankbait’s large lip helps it travel over most objects with minimal snags.

surface activity – trout sipping in flies – while relying on the blade bait for the bulk of the heavy mid-day lifting. Simply find a good looking soft bottomed area and cast the compact lure as far as you can using a 6’ 10” to 7’ 6”medium or medium-light action rod spooled with six-pound test mono, fluorocarbon or microdyneema super line.

“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.

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.

The key is letting the lure fall all the way to the mud bottom, regardless of the depth. Now, engage the bail and retrieve the blade bait at the speed where you first feel it start to vibrate. Don’t hop it, pop it or jerk it – just keep it wobbling side-to-side like the first emerging mayfly of the day, swimming slowly but frantically to the surface.

Now, clip off all of the worm except for an inch trailing behind the hook. It rotates in a circular compact corkscrewing motion as you slowly paddle around the lakeshore, looking, smelling and tasting like an emerging brown mayfly struggling to get to the surface to fly away. But there is not a chance

Jigging with Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging in forward viewing mode will prepare you as the walleye approaches your jig. St. Croix Legend Elite 7’ Medium Extra Fast is the Cadillac for this jigging approach. On windy days, I shorten up to a 6’ for less wind drag on the rod tip.

Upstream

When I am fishing Ned rigs on sloping break lines, on the other hand, I prefer to position the boat so I am casting in towards shore, up and over the edge of the break and onto the shallow rock, weed, reed flat. Then I will swim, glide and shake the jig over the lip and down the drop. The biggest difference, I suppose, is that I use marabou jigs to cover many different depths in the water column, while I tend to keep my Ned Rigs close to the bottom.

(On Being A Competent Fish Biologist & A Frustrated Angler continued from page 34.)

TROUT TOFFEE

fish. As a scientist I have much to learn from anglers and anglers can certainly learn from scientists, but those interactions are unlikely to help anyone catch piles more fish! To say that I am a frustrated angler is an understatement. There are days – and we all have them – where I simply can’t get a bite. I have all the necessary equipment, I read all of the blogs and magazines, I spent 11 years doing university level education mostly focused on fish, and for the last 12 years I have been a professor of fish biology.

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!

And hold on for dear life!

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 strikes.

Follow, like and share my fishing adventures on YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

About the Author – Gord Pyzer

“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.”

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.

Sometimes it is just better to go against the flow on a river. To get bites in any condition, try slow dragging a 2 to 3 oz. bottom bouncer with a Northland Butterfly Blade Harness and a minnow or a crawler with a simple bead on a short 2 to 3 feet of Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader with a Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hook. Big walleyes can’t pass up a fat rainbow sucker minnow or creek chub slowly dragging upstream on the edge of a current seam at .5 mph. This will create strikes. Just remember, its bottom bouncing and not bottom dragging. Touch the sinker on the bottom every now and then to make you are near the bottom. This is a great approach after a cold front or if the river is murky. And there are times when crankbaits just work better on rivers. I keep my rod locker ready with Northland Rumble Shiners on St. Croix Eyecon trolling rods ready to deploy.

The most challenging trout bite you’re likely to face as a spin fisher is when you find the fish actively feeding on or just under the surface, slurping up hordes of emerging mayflies, caddisflies and midges. They are so fixed on the abundant insects that they seemingly turn a blind eye to everything else. I relish this bite so much that I almost always have a fly rod rigged with floating line in the boat with me, ready to cast an emerger or dry fly to the fish. But all is not lost, by any stretch of the imagination. Especially when you see the thin skin-like cases of insects that have hatched –usually the previous afternoon and evening – littering the surface.

Yet, I think what matters most is time on the water. I can look at a water body and say – wow, that looks like text book bass habitat – and not catch a thing. And then throw a random cast and hook a bass where they “aren’t supposed to be”. I think that is another key message – fish don’t necessarily follow the rules.

Rolling River

The big hexagenia limbata are the darlings I die to see, as they are sweet, plump, juicy trout toffee. In my neck of the wood, the prime hatches occur in late June and early July with clouds of mayflies – many anglers call them shad flies and fish flies –swarming lakeside light standards on even-numbered years, when as many as 120 nymphs per square metre emerge like ghosts from the soft lake basin.

About the Author

The underwater world holds many mysteries that fascinate me as a scientists and angler. Sometimes that fascination can lead to some minor frustrations when I can’t figure out where the fish are or how to get them to bite – but that is what keeps me coming back for more!

Rainy River can get extremely rough at the Gap, Four Mile Bay or the long straight stretches where the northwest wind blows. I have spent many days fishing in rough water during cold weather and it’s hard to beat a windshield this time of year. This is one of the many reasons I choose a Lund 2075 Pro V boat with a Mercury 300 Pro XS for guiding, tournaments and fun fishing anywhere, anytime. I stay comfortable all day, no matter the winds and the waves. When the struggle is real, Spot-Lock into the wind and hide behind your windshield!

Dr. Steven Cooke is a professor and Canada Research Chair at Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca). He is also a Science Ambassador for #Keepemwet Fishing.

I have an AFTCO Barricade rainsuit and, even in the rain, I am dry as a cork. I know I am not the only one who fishes in inclement weather. I have witnessed many anglers boat big walleyes at the same time I am!

I look for mud and clay bottomed areas of the lake, in front of weedy bays, coves and shoals and prospect during the morning and mid-day hours with a small #3 or #4 brown or copper coloured Mepps or Blue Fox spinner. The other bait I rely upon mightily is a 1/4-ounce Acme V-rod blade bait in Big Muddy and Goby One colours. I like to cast the inline spinners in and around shoreline cover, especially, where I am seeing intermittent

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 (Deep

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…

Jeff & Jason Matity

Crankin’

Ottawa G. Loomis / Shimano with a deep weedline Jackall

with Cameron Tait

For the Love of COOKING COOKING

There is simply nothing more enjoyable than a freshly made bowl of chowder, no matter the season, it’s just that good!

The key to making this dish is well… nothing, have fun and be creative if missing any ingredients. This simple yet bold soup can be both for a starter or as a main course, best of all there is only one pot to clean up after.

No salmon, no problem, substitute with trout, walleye, pike or even a mixture of all, the more the merrier. This hearty soup will most certainly be an instant family favorite as it is in my house.

SALMON CHOWDER

(Yield: 4 Servings)

INGREDIENTS:

30ml butter

2 Carrots, thinly sliced

2 Celery, diced

Half Yellow Onion, diced

3 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped

1 Liter Chicken Stock or Water

500ml Whipping Cream

METHOD:

10ml Paprika

Kosher Salt & Pepper

30gr Salmon Fillet, one inch dice

2ml Dried Dill

15ml Fresh Lemon Juice

30ml Cornstarch

15ml Cold Water

GARNISH:

16 Grape Tomato

15ml Olive Oil

Pinch Salt & Pepper

4 Bread Slices

15ml Balsamic Vinegar

For the garnish, toss tomato in olive oil then place in oven set to 400’f, bake bread slices at the same time. In a heavy pot set to medium heat, add butter, carrots, celery, onions, and garlic, sweat for five minutes.

Add chicken stock, cream, paprika, salt and pepper, bring to a simmer then add salmon chunks and stir to combine, let simmer for 20 minutes.

Add dill and lemon juice into pot then combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl, stir into soup to thicken. Garnish with tomatoes and crouton, sprinkle with balsamic vinegar. Cheers!

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.

Micro

By: Brian Brosdhal

clouds of smoke in the distance. But as you get closer you notice these clouds are all over around the shoreline plus some in the middle of the lake. These are vertical columns of mosquito-like flying insects. Ah, summer’s first hatch has begun!

POT OF GOLD

There are several insect hatches on lakes throughout the summer. In fact, hatches like the mayfly should be called the June and July fly. Hatchlings at one inch to 1-1/2” overfeed walleye populations to the point where they are unable to eat. Walleye bellies are full, throats are full and their mouths are red and sore. Then the flies come out of the water attracted to light cover decks, docks, porch lights and everything else around the lake. But that’s a different story. Let’s talk about the midge fly.

as simple bloodworms in the lake’s mud basin, living in their little worm tubes throughout the winter months. They feed on decaying matter blowing down from dying weed beds. In fact, they clean up the decaying weed matter like tiny vacuums. These small, red delicious worms support the winter appetite for every species of fish in the lake.

This time of year, bloodworms swim to the surface shedding their skin and turning into a flying insect. They assemble in vertical smoke-like columns, living three to five days in the air consuming nectar, mating and dropping their sinking eggs back

Large hatches bring big schools of eater walleyes to precise locations adjacent to the lake’s muddy basin. I have found enormous schools of 15-18” walleyes around the hatch areas. You will know when you’re close; your boat will be covered with harmless little black bugs that are squishy and easily flatten to a tiny ink stain on your clothing, boat and sunglasses, and splatter on your hat and face. Can’t miss it! (My Lund’s full windshield saves my client’s faces and clothing.)

These areas are not far from the lake’s weed beds. Usually near a steep drop-off and a windbreak area where fragile bugs can hang out together. I highlight the contours on the Lakemaster map on my Humminbird SOLIX. Shading the weed beds in a lighter green color and deeper water blue really narrows down the chase. I use Side Imaging to look for the big school of eater walleyes. Don’t be surprised when you find the aforementioned area holding walleyes year after year around that time.

MATCH THE HATCH

From opening season of walleye to the midge fly hatch, using a spottail shiner on a Northland Fishing Tackle Tungsten jig was automatic for enticing and catching shallow to mid-depth walleyes. However, now spottail shiners are more difficult to find; shiners have spawned and left for deeper depths and bait shops have run out. Walleyes slightly reluctant to drop into deeper depths have turned their sights to the delicious little black worms with wings that are billowing out of the bottom. Midge flies to walleyes are like popcorn to people; you can eat but never get full.

That’s why the midge fly hatch is a positive hatch. It schools up a number of walleyes and doesn’t fill them up!

TIME TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I have an assortment of rods tied with a three-pronged approach for when I find a school of walleyes this time of year.

BRO TIP:

Don’t run your sonar or other machines off your starting battery. Have a designated battery for your electronics. I use Amped Outdoors lithium batteries for my electronics and trolling motor. Side Imaging and Forward Mode will show more detail and last longer. Choose 12volt, 100 or 160 amp hour depending on the number of graphs and sizes. I use two 36-volt trolling motor batteries specially designed for trolling motors with heavier gauge wiring.

1.) Northland Lite-Bite Bobber with 1/8th oz. Northland Tungsten jig and half a crawler of fluffy leech. I spot the fish on my Humminbird MEGA Live and pitch past the walleyes with my bobber rig, then pull my presentation slowly up to the fish.

2.) On windy days, the bobber blows away too fast so I use my Drop Shot Stealth Rig. I walk it right up to the fish keeping my fishing rod elevated and the drop shot weight size at 1/4 to 3/8oz. depending on wind speed.

3.) One of my favourites is Northland’s Eye Candy Jig Crawler on a Tungsten long- or short-shank jig. The Eye Candy Jig Crawler is different from anything I have ever used. When you pause your jigging stroke, the tail floats up giving it life. I soak my Eye Candy Jig Crawlers with fish scent such as Pro-Cure or Dr. Juice. When experimenting, only add scent to one or two tails at a time until you find a scent they love. (I found out the hard way what happens if you choose one the fish don’t like.) Let them marinate before the fishing trip, soaking up the scent so it stays on the tail. Try different jig and tail colours until you find the hot combo. One of my best colours on a gin-clear body of water was a sunrise jig with a purple chartreuse tail and black jig head. Black tail was a close second.

BRO TIP:

Short-shank jigs gives the jigging crawler more flexibility and more movement. Don’t be afraid to try it!

THE SET-UP

1.) For my slip bobber set-up, I use a St. Croix Avid 7’1” medium fast with a Seviin GX2000 reel spooled with Sunline 10-lb. SX-1 green braid. Tie a one-inch Northland Lite-Bite Bobber (has brass grommet for braid) to a brass or tungsten sinker size 8 and a swivel with three to four feet of Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader and 1/16oz. Tungsten jig head.

2.) For the drop shot rod, you need backbone with a sensitive tip. That’s St. Croix Avid 7’3” medium light extra fast and Seviin GX200 reel spooled with Sunline 10-lb. SX-1 green braid with a back-to-back uni knot and 10-lb. Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader with a 1/4oz. tungsten sinker. At the bottom, tie a loop of line at the distance walleyes are holding. For example, if the walleyes are four feet off the bottom, the loop is four feet above the sinker. Add a #4 Gamakatsu hook and coloured bed on the live bait loop knot finger. Pssst… this is Bro’s Stealth Rig!

3.) My pitching combo is a St. Croix 6’10” medium extra fast with a Seviin GX1000 spooled with Sunline Super Natural mono or braid, three to four feet of Sunline 8-lb. FC fluorocarbon leader and 1/8 to 1/4oz. Northland Eye Candy Jig Crawler.

DAY BITE

Walleye activity ramps up in the evenings near sunset, however I’m a big fan of fishing during the daylight hours where I’m able to keep an eye on other boating traffic. And some really good patterns emerge for the day bite. Prepare ahead of time for ways to keep your boat where you need it to stay. I have a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor with Spot-Lock to anchor up or downwind of the walleye school in most windy conditions. I’m using Minn Kota’s Quest series trolling motor which is very quiet and efficient with big torque. On calm days, I love to use my 15’ Talon shallow water anchors to hold near walleye schools without sound or turbulence. I have two Talons so I don’t spin in a circle on variable windy days. The days of dropping huge lead anchors, letting out rope and repeating are gone. Now we can just push a button and Minn Kota keeps us there as long as we need.

Pitch at the fish, try my three-pronged approach, grab some Northland Tungsten jigs and Eye Candy – and for added insurance, I never go without the walleye’s three food groups: leeches, crawlers and minnows. Yes, this adds a little more expense but it’s a more important purchase then wasabi nuts and energy drinks.

FINAL THOUGHT

BRO TIP:

Mother Nature is moody. Dress for the sun and rain. I use Fish Monkey Stubby Gloves and Face Guards to protect myself from the sun – and also miscast jig hooks. Sunscreen kills live bait and deters walleye bites so I like these alternatives for my face and hands. For rainwear, I choose the AFTCO Barricade bib and jacket.

I’ll leave you with this parting story. I had a Northland Tungsten Jig and Jig Crawler for the Last 14 Days on guide trips. I retied after northern pike frayed the line, but the jig worked the entire time. Some days we had to switch to a bobber. Other days it was the stealth rig, but it didn’t shrink much at all hooked on the lure keeper on my St. Croix rod. It was out in the weather and water every day until a small hammer-handle pike bit my line and swam away with it. Lucky.

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.

Ottawa and Toronto, you encounter many waters that are less rocky and more fertile, supporting considerably more weed growth. Rather than crappies being limited to bays and bay mouths like they are in more rugged northerly waters, they are likely to spread to additional lake areas surrounding the main basin.

Moderate-depth basins of 40 feet and less, surrounded by areas of rooted weed growth like coontail and

if crappies are feeding nearer to bottom, rather than suspended.

tops and the surface. Plus, there’s usually some open space between clumps of coontail or individual strands of cabbage where you can work a lure down between the greenery.

The fish are likely to be less active during the day, hunkered down in the shade beneath the fronds and leaves. But come evening, about the time the sun sinks to the tops of nearby trees on shore, the fish begin poking their noses out from below the cover, rising above the weeds or slightly outside their deeper edges. Now actively feeding on fry and insects as dusk approaches, they become very catchable.

Use the countdown method –“One thousand, two thousand, three thousand, etc.” – allowing small jigs sink to different depths, before swimming them back to the boat. Tiny, 1/32- to 1/16- ounce jigs sink about a foot per second. Experiment with different depths until you determine the level where crappies are active.

As the spring spawning season concludes and conditions progress into early summer, crappies leave shallow bays and shorelines, on their way to deeper, main-lake, summer locales. During this transition, the fish in natural lakes encounter developing weed beds atop the flats. Crappies commonly begin loosely gathering in the deepest weed growth bordering the first drop-off to deep water.

By mid-June, this cover is growing, although likely not yet reaching all the way to the surface. The result is clumpy weeds bordering the drop-off, with a foot or two of open water between the weed

Cast a 1/32-ounce jig or jig & plastic tail combo above the weed tops, using light spinning tackle with 4- to 6-pound-test line. Cast out, let the jig sink a few feet to a level just above the weeds, and reel it slowly back to the boat with your rod tip held upward at about the 2 o’clock position. Most hits occur as light thumps; sometimes, the line simply getting heavy. Light spinning gear with 4- to 6-pound test line is ideal.

If you’re fishing well before sundown and the fish aren’t yet active, let the jig sink a bit deeper and try to work it between stalks and fronds of weeds. Crappies will move out from below the cover, out to the sides of it, to attack a jig passing nearby.

Weedy lakes in southern Canada host superb crappie fishing during summer.

If the fish are active, try casting 1 1/2-inch, minnow-shaped, neutral-buoyancy crankbaits like #04 Rapala X-Raps, alternately swimming and pausing them just above the weeds. At rest, these baits suspend just above the crappies’ noses, tantalizing them to strike.

This high-riding pattern lasts until the weeds begin rising to and poking out of the surface, generally toward the end of June. At this point, summer fishing becomes heavily oriented to the outside edge of the deep weeds, particularly where twists or turns in the weed line occur, or where thicker clumps of weeds along the outer edge draw tight clusters of crappies.

In summer, crappies are heavily light-sensitive, aggressively feeding from dawn to midmorning, in the evening from pre-dusk to nightfall, and potentially through the night. During the day, they may tunnel beneath the fronds of the deep weed line and remain largely uncatchable until light levels diminish.

Should the fish appear to be active outside the ragged deep weed line, cast parallel to and just outside the weeds. Let your jig sink to the level of active fish, which could run anywhere from near surface to near the bottom. On one cast, let the jig sink to a 10-count, and then slowly reel it back to the boat, holding your rod tip at a slightly upward angle. On the next cast, let it sink to a 15-count, and keep experimenting until you establish the depth of the active fish.

Don’t add a lot of erratic action to the jig; a simple, subtle swim works best. Experiment with sink time until you establish a zone of activity, all the while expecting the magic depth to progressively shift shallower as daylight fades.

Now, here’s the kicker: Schools of crappies can also feed across basin areas adjacent to the weeds. The fish alternately key in on schools of minnows, insect hatches, and digging insect larvae out of soft mud basins adjacent to the weeds. Note that all summer basin activity occurs in the warmer, well-oxygenated above the thermocline. And that when crappies move out of the weed edge to feed, they are likely to suspend somewhere from about 8 to 18 feet below the surface, depending on water clarity. The clearer the water, the deeper crappies tend to suspend.

Schools are easy to spot on your electronics, appearing as large clouds of decent-sized fish around halfway down to the bottom, patrolling along the general drop-off area. If they’re eating bugs rather than minnows, however,

expect to catch them much closer to the bottom, perhaps a short distance out over the soft basin.

If you see deeper fish spread out across basin areas, consider slow-trolling small, diving crankbaits at or just above their depth, perhaps even adding planer boards to spread your lines to cover wider swaths of the basin. Use just enough speed to wiggle your lures and you’ll be in the crappie zone – and likely enjoy bonus catches of walleyes, perch, bass and pike.

About the Author:

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 years of the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

INTRODUCING

By: Daniel Notarianni

the water for any signs of activity, ripples, shadows, or even the bottom moving. The gar blend in so well with the rocky bottom you really have to take your time and go slow. I saw some shadows in the distance and decided to head in that direction.

GAR ON THE ON THE FLY FLY GAR ON THE FLY

I slowly waded through the water, being careful not to make too much noise and scare away any gar. I spotted a large gar swimming just below the surface, took a deep breath and readied my fly rod. I carefully cast my line, making sure it landed in front of the gar’s path but not on the gar to avoid spooking it.

IIwoke up early in the morning, excited and ready for a day of sight fishing for gar in shallow water. I had heard that they are a challenging and thrilling experience on fly gear. I grabbed my fly rod and some streamers I tied specifically for gar fishing and headed to the lake, hoping to catch some of the formidable fish that lurked beneath the surface.

The gar noticed the bait and began to approach it cautiously… I was holding my breath while I kept that bait moving. Prey usually doesn’t sit still waiting to be eaten... Then, the gar’s

then the fight was on. The gar put up a fierce fight, running, jumping and thrashing, but I eventually managed to bring it in close enough to get a hand on it. You definitely do not want to net these toothy critters, or get your hands too close to it’s mouth!! I landed this beautiful gar, and yes, I think they are beautiful. The spots, bizarre mouth, and awesome looking scales that feel like plates of armour are so unique! As I released the fish back into the water, I felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I spent the rest of the day sight fishing for gar in shallow water, enjoying the thrill of the chase and the peacefulness of the lake. It was a day I would never forget, and I couldn’t wait to do it all again.

I did some research to see what flies most anglers use and I stumbled upon an interesting way to catch gar. The most common suggestion was not your typical lure or bait, but rather a piece of yellow utility rope, without a hook attached! The rationale behind this unconventional choice lies in the gar’s unique biology. With its long, narrow mouth, the gar lacks the traditional “soft spots” where a hook could easily penetrate.

Once I arrived I put my wet wading boots on and started slowly stocking the shallows. The water was crystal clear and I surveyed

mood changed and it snapped its beak like mouth and took the fly. I waited for the gar to turn so I could strip set the hook without pulling it out of the gar’s mouth,

Furthermore, unlike other predatory fish like pike or musky, which possess sharp edged teeth capable of slicing through fishing lines, the gar boasts needle-like teeth with sharp points that easily tangle in the rope. However, as with any method, there are potential drawbacks to consider. If the line ends up breaking during the fight, it may result in a tragic fate for the gar, as the rope may never come out.

June 29 – July 7

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.

TIPS FOR SETTING UP HUMMINBIRD MEGA-LIVE

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.

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.

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

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.

After carefully considering the characteristics of the rope fly and the dietary preferences of gar, I decided to create my own fly. Drawing inspiration from a variety of fly patterns, I opted to tie the fly on a small articulation shank as the foundation. To attach a hook, I utilized a loop of 50 lb. power pro braid – a technique borrowed from steelhead anglers who employ this method with intruder patterns. I incorporated a tail made of flash or EP Fibres and a dubbing loop filled with EP Fibres in a contrasting colour for the head of the fly. The dubbing loop head helps to impart bulk

8The 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.

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.

ON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT

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.

that when the gar strikes, the hook effortlessly swings into action, effectively sticking into softer areas. This is an easy fly to tie! I can easily whip up a half dozen of them in an hour, and if you skip the dubbing loop it gets even faster! You can Crete the head by tying in EP Fibres on the top and bottom of the shank, or hollow tie them in and I am pretty sure it will work just as well as a dubbing loop! ng enough material to produce push in the water and a silhouette that looks like bait fish. The EP Fibres also give the fly some buoyancy,

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.

line, but there is a lot of abrasion between the rocks and the fish fishing, so you need a tippet that can hold up to that abuse. I like to use ten or twelve pound Diawa J- Fluoro fluorocarbon as a leader. It is stiff so your fly won’t swing around and foul and it is abrasion resistant! I carry some extra treble hooks with me, along with hook cutters and pliers. You do not want to get your fingers close to the gar’s mouth… they will cut you up pretty bad! And if the fish gets that hook deep you are better off cutting the hook and replacing it than trying to get it out with pliers.

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.

(Continued on page 19.)

When targeting gar I use a 7 WT fly rod with Scientific Anglers Amplitude Infinity or Amplitude Bass Bug lines. They really let me load up the fly rod with a little bit of line off the end of the rod…which is a situation you find yourself in often when you are wet wading while sight fishing for gar. I put on a poly leader that sinks at two or three inches per second. The gar don’t cut your

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

While gar may not be the most widely celebrated sport fish, there are countless reasons why I believe they deserve more recognition. They are an easily accessible species, consistently exhibiting an aggressive nature, thriving in warm water environments, and providing a thrilling experiences while you are stalking and fighting them. It’s a little perplexing to me that gar fishing hasn’t gained a more prominent following. Imagine those moments when you find yourself feeling restless during scorching mid-summer days, when the river temperatures are too hot to pursue trout or it is too hot outside and you are lacking the enthusiasm to go bass fishing in a boat all day. That’s when you should consider wet wading shallow flats and embarking on an exciting gar fishing adventure.

Take a chance, and you might just discover a whole new level of enjoyment on the water!

About the Author –Daniel Notarianni:

Born in Southern Ontario, Daniel founded Live 2 Fish in 2012 and his passion for fishing and the outdoors has taken him all over North America as a guide, writer, photographer and educator. From small creek brook trout and Great Lakes bass to snook in the surf and peacock bass in the swamps, Daniel loves catching fish!

Bondy Bait – Bondy Bug

Canadian Baits Ice Spikez

Canadian Baits Paddle Tails

&

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

The Tokyo Rig: A Game-Changer for Heavy Cover Largemouth – part 1

TThe Punch Rig: Perfect for Flipping

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.

in Dense

Cover: Another effective rig for fishing in dense cover is the punch rig. This rig consists of a tungsten weight, a rubber stop knot, and an extra-wide gap hook. The punch rig is particularly useful in areas with bull rushes, lily pads, and other vertical weeds. To fish with the punch rig, simply drop it to the bottom, shake it in place, and reel it up quickly for the next flip. This technique is highly efficient for catching bass in dense cover conditions. The punch rig’s design minimizes the chances of the fish getting off the hook, even when they swim sideways and get caught in the weeds.

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.

One rig that has gained popularity recently is the Tokyo rig. While some bass pros may dismiss it as a fad, it is incredibly effective in deep, dense weed fishing situations. Unlike other rigs, the Tokyo rig allows you to present the bait in a variety of ways, making it versatile and efficient.

The key to the Tokyo rig’s success lies in its design. The tungsten weight attached to the rig sinks quickly and accurately, thanks to the line tracking behind it. Once it reaches the bottom, the rig positions the bait slightly above the weed bed, making it more visible and enticing to bass. Additionally, the Tokyo rig is known for its excellent hooking ability, ensuring a higher chance of landing the fish.

The punch rig’s versatility allows it to be used in shallow to mid-range depths, making it suitable for various emergent vegetation scenarios. Whether you’re fishing around lily pads, coontail, or maiden cane, the punch rig is a reliable choice.

Jigs: Ideal for Patchy Habitat & Clean Pockets

One of the main advantages of the Tokyo rig is its ability to navigate through dense weed beds. In the summer months, when angel hair (a fine filamentous moss) covers the deep weed beds, traditional jigs or punch rigs can get easily tangled. However, the Tokyo rig’s unique design prevents the bait from getting caught in the weeds, making it the ideal choice for fishing in these conditions.

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.

While the Tokyo rig shines in dense weed cover, it can also be effective in other scenarios. It has proven successful in fishing around emergent vegetation such as bull rushes and cattails. The rig’s ability to attract fish and its versatility make it a top choice for anglers in these situations.

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… go figure. Here are a few good guidelines to use to begin your search,

Jigs are another popular choice for fishing in dense cover conditions. They excel in patchy habitats where the weeds grow up, creating clean pockets and edges. When fishing with a jig, you have the option to fish the bait for a little distance along the bottom, triggering the fish to bite.

While jigs can also be used in other scenarios, such as flipping and shaking them in place, they truly shine in patchy conditions. Their ability to imitate prey and their versatility make them a go-to lure for many bass anglers.

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.

Drive In To Summer

VMC Tokyo Rigs

MidWest Finesse...

great Charlie Brewer belong in the libraries of every jig fisherman. However, for the readers of Just Fishing, I have a special treat. I had the pleasure of interviewing two of the living legends that were there during many decades of perfecting those tactics.

First, my friend and Hall of Famer, Gord Pyzer, sat down with me for a phone

call to discuss my Summer 2022 contribution to Just Fishing, page 50, titled “Ned This; Ned That” at http://justfishing.ca/2022current-issues/ Within that story, Gord revealed to me that the venerable Ned Rig is originally, specifically, defined as a 1/16 oz Original Gopher mushroom head jig (red) with half of a 5” green pumpkin Yamomoto Senko.

2 3/4” Finesse TRD to match their various ‘Shroom heads,” explained Gord, “it just perfected the Ned Rig, to no end. The perfect sized Finesse TRD eliminates having to cut 5” worms to size. Super easy!”

With so many finesse jigs and body styles being introduced to the market each year, I proposed these many baits be called Next-Ned baits since they owed their existence to the humble lure. Gord and Ned would finally educate me to understand that all the hot, new offerings technically belong under the expansive Midwest Finesse umbrella. Any number of light-line presentations, fished using the established “6 Retrieves of the MWF program” catch so many fish, of so many species that the tactic is now a universal fish catcher anywhere fish are in water of about 20 feet or less.

NED KEHDE: WISDOM & HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

I have been a Ned Kehde fan for decades having read his articles in In-Fisherman magazine. So, the chance to interview Ned, himself, was extremely cool and educating. Ned’s recollection mirrored Gord’s historical review of the overall Ned story.

NED’S MWF SUMMARY: In the mid-1950’s, Chuck Woods’ split-tail beetle was the first legitimate Midwest Finesse lure. To this category of baits, Chuck added the beetle spin and Puddle Jumper. In those early years, Chuck and other insiders started cutting straight-tail worms to size and shape.

jigworm combo... 56 year design in the Charlie Brewer Slider worm & much newer ReelBait Transparent Flasher jig.

Ned Kedhe in his Z-Man colours

The above combo catches quality walleyes

The same combo catches Master Angler Sask. Bass

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

Of note, the YUM Dinger worm, cut to 2.5 to 3-inch length became the new standard despite the Original Senko’s super-fish-catching ability. It turned out that the Senko’s ultra-soft material was less durable than the YUM and other similar baits. These were the first steps toward building economy into the jigworm presentation.

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

Spider Head • Z-Man Finesse

Football NedZ • Z-Man Micro Shad

HeadZ • Z-Man Finesse EyeZ jighead

In 2006, everything changed when, at a B.A.S.S. event, the G.O.A.T., Kevin VanDam, gave Ned a green pumpkin coloured, Strike King Zero worm to experiment with for the still-secret jigworm program. The Zero worm, manufactured for Strike King by Z-Man, was made from proprietary, 10X strong, buoyant ElaZtech plastic. This lure took the new tactic to the moon and back as Ned cut the worm into two, 2.5” pieces, affixed it to two 1/16 oz. red Gopher mushroom heads 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; but, 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 plastics of many sizes, shapes and colour schemes, including more jig head styles. Most recently the Micro Finesse Series are most adored by Ned for the small hooks in the jigs and the triggering ability of the Micro Ned bodies.

NO SHORTAGE OF “NED” BAITS

So, why all these “Ned” products by Z-Man and other companies? One 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 bass 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 shapes are limitless.

So, how many MWF-style jig and body combinations 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!

NED & THE FUTURE OF MWF

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

ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

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

(Continued on page 48.)

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

Still, I would argue that FFS lures are more and more specific and convergent than the ever-expanding Ned/MWF heads, body shapes, revolutionary patented plastics materials and colour palettes.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Z-Man’s ElaZtech material has had some noteworthy followers. I find, the Crush City by Rapala a stand out with the release of their own super-duty, durable baits called TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer). Gord considers the Crush City Ned BLT to be the best wintertime throwback lure for lake trout fishing. I find the deeply ribbed body with its dorsal wingpad looks very, very dragonfly larva-like and underwater, the ribbed body waggles in place when resting on bottom. Too, the Crush City Freeloader is a tapered-tail that works on walleye, perch and bass whether on the VMC Ned jig or on any other rig we’ve used.

of a 3-inch minnow gliding its way through the environment. It takes some practice and discipline to the fight the urge to jig, pop, stall or otherwise work the bait. The Original 1/16 oz. Slider head is belly-flat which helps its bottom surface trap, cup and ride on the water throughout the retrieve. The 4-inch Slider worm is straight and subtly waddles through the water pushing just enough water to draw attention from the fish and give the illusion of life.

Just cast, and either retrieve immediately keeping track of how many seconds it takes per handle turn (i.e., 1-mississippi, 2-mississippi, 3-mississippi… in one handle turn) or count the lure down if fishing deeper before starting the retrieve. Regardless, it is usually slowing down the retrieve that gets fish to bite versus a quick cast and retrieve. Remember, the light lure and subtle worm need to Slide with minimal action to best trigger a strike and, with practice, the lure can travel along, just above or “polishing the rocks”. Deadly!

Add regular plastisol products, in a rainbow of colours to the worms, crayfish, singletail and multi-limb creatures, swimbaits or tube baits out there and... the sky is the limit! Further, multiply the multitude of soft baits by growing light-tackle head options (i.e., football, darter, shad, weedless, round head, etc.) limitation!

WHERE TO START? POLISH THE ROCKS WITH SLIDER FISHING

to the braid to provide an invisible connection to the superline, cushion hooksets and help prevent bite-offs from larger fish.

“These lures cannot be fished wrong as long as you fish light line and lighter jig heads”, advised Gord. Ned’s 14-minute mini-seminar on the Six MWF Retrieves is very informative and a video I review is called “The Ned Rig

This setup allows you to toss these lures remarkable distances, feel bites and set

Only After my companion has a few Slider fish under his/her belt, I add the Swim and Shake retrieve and others. Fishing finesse baits slow enough is the hardest thing for people to master be that with a straight worm or a marabou jig.

WHAT’S YOUR BODY TYPE?

About the Author:

Jeff Matitdy

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

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

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

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

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

The Ins & Outs of Early Spring Crappies cont. from page 21.)

(Jumbo Perch continued from page 22.)

The Author’s Brother Jason jig worming with Crush City Freeloader bait.

FEEL CONNECTED.

Built for experienced hands, G. Loomis designs tools for anglers demanding performance with purpose. For those who believe innovation is the only path to excellence. Steeped in experience gained from handcrafting rods in the United States for over four decades, the revamped GLX BASS series represents tangible proof of our disciplined philosophy of “continuous refinement.”

Revolutionizing Great Lakes Fishing for Bass, Walleye & More!

TThe Great Lakes and many inland lakes and rivers are now teeming with the invasive round goby. This small but impactful fish has become a primary food source for a variety of predatory species, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, lake trout, yellow perch, burbot, and whitefish. Recognizing this shift, many bait manufacturers have started producing goby bait styles and accessories. However, GRUMPY Bait Company has taken the lead by offering unique, purpose-designed goby baits that give anglers the edge in various fishing situations.

Goby Facts – Did You Know?

Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth bass anglers have started using goby baits in a wide variety of ways. By mimicking the primary prey, anglers are seeing improved catch rates,

By: The Grumpy Bait Company

larger fish, and more aggressive strikes. As noted in the report of the Lake Erie Forage Task Group, “Smallmouth bass diet percent occurrence in 2022 was dominated by Round Goby (87%) , which is typical for the species.”1 This comes as no surprise to many bass anglers who are seeing bass spitting up goby in their live wells during tournaments.

One effective search technique involves using the popular GOLIATH SWIMGoby from the Grumpy Bait Company This goby-style swimbait gives anglers complete control when trying to locate fish quickly in depths ranging from 4 to 25 feet of water. The paddle tail was designed to work at slow or fast retrieves, helping anglers to control their depth without sacrificing body and tail action.

Successful anglers often vary their retrieve rates, incorporating frequent pauses and maintaining a bait depth of 1 to 2 feet off the bottom. As an added benefit, the bait is not confined to any particular jig style or weight. Anglers are free to use any style jig including ned jigs, swimbait jigs, and round nose jigs. The key is to match the correct weight to the depth and keep the bait close to the bottom where goby are found.

“The incredible tail action and side-to-side body waggle of the Goliath Swim-Goby has made this bait a highly versatile bait that virtually any level of angler can learn to use,” says Martin Draeger, Founder of Grumpy Bait Company.

“Goby-dragging,” a technique coined by Grumpy Bait Company, is another effective

method for catching smallmouth bass. This technique involves dragging the goby bait along the bottom to stir up sediment and bottom debris, mimicking a fleeing goby that bass cannot resist. Whether casting from shore or slow drifting in a boat, the Goliath Swim-Goby design is well-suited for this approach due to its flat belly and upward-facing hook position that reduces snags and keeps the bait correctly aligned. When using this technique, it’s essential to maintain constant contact with the bottom. Disrupting the bottom not only makes the bait more visible but also triggers predatory instincts in fish. Bass will literally follow the silt trail until they see the goby bait.

The reliance of large adult smallmouth bass in Lake Ontario on round gobies during the summer months underscores the importance of anglers adopting goby baits. Anglers targeting these fish can capitalize on this preference by using goby imitations to match the hatch. As noted, “Large adult smallmouth bass (SMB) in Lake Ontario now feed almost exclusively on round goby during the summer months,” published in, “Comparison of diets for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Eastern Lake Ontario using DNA barcoding and stable isotope analysis.”2

3.6” Goliath Swim-Goby (Great Lakes Goby – 075)

Martin Draeger, Founder of Grumpy Bait Company.

Largemouth Bass: Many anglers may be surprised that largemouth bass are also adding round goby to their diets. While largemouth bass diets are more varied than smallmouth bass, the inclusion of goby baits into an angler’s arsenal can provide effective bait alternatives when fish are in a negative bite situation. As noted in the Report on the Lake Erie Forage Task Group, “Largemouth bass diets are more varied than smallmouth bass, with ten distinct prey species identified in 2022. Round Goby (49%) and Gizzard Shad (27%) made up the majority.”3 With goby representing a large percentage in this study, anglers can be more confident in adding a goby imitation baits to their largemouth bass tackle box.

For largemouth bass, the Goliath Swim-Goby is a highly effective cast and retrieve bait that can be easily worked above weed beds or along weed edges. The bait is also a valuable add-on to chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and swim jigs, adding extra body and tail movement to these setups with a goby twist. By incorporating gobystyle swimbaits for largemouth bass, anglers can enhance the attractiveness of their presentations and increase their chances of landing a trophy.

Walleye: Walleye, a key target species in the Great Lakes, have also turned to round goby as a major food source. As noted in the publication, Feeding ecology of the walleye, a resurgent piscivore in Lake Huron after shifts in the prey community, 4 “An examination of 336 walleye stomachs in 2022 revealed that round goby was the dominant diet item, accounting for 57% of the contents in the 49 stomachs that contained food remains.” Anglers are also frequently reporting the stomach contents of walleye containing round goby at various times of the year. This shift in feeding habits highlights the importance of including goby baits when fishing for walleye.

Another popular goby bait, the Goliath Goby, is ideally suited when vertical jigging for walleye, smallmouth bass, lake trout, whitefish and jumbo perch. The bait is purposely designed with a

(Goby Baits continued from page 50.)

3.3” Goliath Goby (Lake Simcoe Goby – 020) Jay Hiuser, Tournament & Avid Angler.

vertically aligned caudal fin and two dorsal fins. This design completely removes the problem of tails getting caught on the hook, which is a common problem found when vertically jigging traditional swimbaits. The design is ideal for deep-water jigging or when jigging in fast-flowing rivers such as the Detroit, St. Clair, French, and St. Lawrence rivers. The goby bait profile, coupled with a large selection of realistic colours, has made this a top goby bait for several years and continues to be a top bait for walleye anglers in the Great Lake region, including northern lakes!

“Over the years, I’ve tried many new baits. In spring 2023, I started using GRUMPY gobies for St. Clair River walleye. Since that first trip on the St. Clair, their goby baits have become my go-to for Great Lakes walleye and bass. Most recently, I used them in the far north for pike and walleye. Even though there were no gobies in the lake, the walleye and pike could not stay off my line! What a game changer this versatile bait has been,” says Jay Hiuser, Tournament and Avid Angler.

Rigging Goby Baits – Versatility to Improve Your Catch Ratio

Goby baits can be highly versatile, allowing anglers to rig them in various ways to target different fish species under diverse conditions. Some pre-rigged goby baits already integrate the jig, offering anglers convenience out of the package, while others such as Grumpy Goby’s, allow anglers complete flexibility in the way they rig and present their goby baits in varying conditions on the water. This adaptability makes them a cost-effective choice, ensuring maximum value for each dollar spent. Whether fishing in deep or shallow water, or needing to switch techniques, there are a number of options on the market to allow anglers to present their goby baits in multiple ways, enhancing their chances of success.

Grumpy Bait Company Recommended Rigging Techniques: Round Nose Jig, Ned Rig, Round Jig, Trailer for Swim Jig, Drop-Shot Rig, Weedless Jig, Trailer for Chatterbait, Trailer for Spinnerbait, Float Fishing and Ice Fishing Rigs.

Goby Fishing Techniques:

In the diverse and challenging waters of the Great Lakes region, versatility and adaptability are key to successful fishing. Grumpy Bait Company’s goby baits are engineered to excel across a full range of fishing techniques, ensuring that anglers can maximize their effectiveness no matter the conditions. From the precise control needed in vertical jigging to the dynamic action required for cast and retrieve, and the subtle finesse of goby-dragging, anglers now have many options at their fingertips. Here’s how to leverage these versatile baits to boost your catch rates and make the most of every fishing trip.

Vertical Jigging: The Goliath Goby and Round Goby are specifically designed with vertical tails to improve bait alignment while vertically jigging. This technique is ideal for targeting fish in both

rivers and lakes, in open water and through the ice. Anglers can use a variety of jig styles to present the goby bait vertically, making it an attractive option for walleye, lake trout, perch, and whitefish.

Cast & Retrieve: The Goliath Swim-Goby, for instance, is perfect for casting and retrieving. Designed to prevent body roll and including a swimbait style paddle tail for incredible action, extra thumping and vibration, this bait works well in shallow waters (4-25 feet) and can also be effective when gobydragging in depths up to 50 feet.

Goby-Dragging: This technique involves dragging the bait along the bottom, mimicking the natural movement of gobies. It’s particularly effective in deeper waters, up to 50 feet. Both vertically designed and paddle tail style baits work effectively.

Conclusion:

The round goby has become a significant food source for many predatory fish species in the Great Lakes region. Leading the goby bait revolution, companies like Grumpy Bait Company have developed goby baits that cater to the needs of modern anglers. By utilizing various rigging techniques and fishing methods, anglers can improve their catch ratios and make the most of the goby infestation. Whether you’re vertically jigging, casting and retrieving, or goby-dragging, there are now a multitude of goby baits designed to help you succeed on the water.

“Goby baits have been a game changer for our customers and have helped thousands of anglers in Canada and the USA expand their fishing arsenal and catch more and bigger fish. With our wide range of goby baits and dozens of colour patterns, anglers are now able to present anatomically correct, realistic goby-style baits using a variety of fishing techniques. The facts speak for themselves - Great Lake fish eat goby, and if you haven’t jumped on the goby craze, you might want to try,” says Martin Draeger, Founder of Grumpy Bait Company.

For more information or to find more details about references made in this article, please visit www.grumpybaits.com. As the goby specialist, we offer more goby styles and colours than any manufacturer across North America.

References:

1 - https://www.glfc.org/pubs/lake_committees/erie/FTG_docs/annual_ reports/FTG_report_2023.pdf

2- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal. pone.0181914

3- https://www.glfc.org/pubs/lake_committees/erie/FTG_docs/annual_ reports/FTG_report_2023.pdf

4- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eff.12315

Author, Martin Draeger. Founder, GRUMPY Bait Company, FISHBUOY Fishing App

By: Brett McComas

Great Forward-Facing Sonar Q&A

1 REPORT

Session with Dylan Nussbaum - Part 1

Icame across this great Z-Man Blog post called “Not Another Forward-Facing Sonar Story” that’s picking the brain of walleye pro Dylan Nussbaum. Gonna drop a few excerpts below, but the full Q&A is for sure worth a read.

Dylan: “We watch videos and read so much about fishing with sonar these days, but I think there’s a lack of content really explaining how and why we do what we do when we’re up front, crouched over a screen, flicking baits and setting hooks. Sure, I use FFS to catch big fish and win tournament money, but the truth is, it’s also an awesome learning experience and honestly, one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to catch ‘em.”

Z-Man: Seems like the power of FFS has shined through at recent walleye tournaments. Most eye-raising are the big water tournaments, like on Lake Erie, where trolling methods that cover large swaths of water are gradually being supplanted by casting a single lure to a single fish spotted on sonar. Why are anglers adapting?

Dylan: Beyond the fun factor, of course, it all boils down to the fact FFS helps us pinpoint and cast to individual big fish, one-on-one with a favorite lure, as opposed to towing lures around the general vicinity of a school, hoping one will eventually eat. In tournaments, we’re looking to put five big fish in the boat each day, rather than seeking limits of smaller eater sized fish.

So, even in inland seas like Erie, we’re able to use electronics to find general fish-holding zones – often well off-structure – and then zero in on larger, individual walleyes. We saw it at the last two national tournaments on Lake Erie, where many of the top ten placing anglers opted to go ‘scoping rather than trolling. Even amid infinite volumes of potential fish-holding water, a single angler wielding FFS and the right skills can sometimes catch more big fish than the trollers, who cover ten times more water, faster.

Z-Man: Tell us about the baits you’re casting with FFS fishing.

Dylan: Right now, it seems like everyone’s throwing a jig and Scented Jerk ShadZ, which has become the default FFS lure, especially early and late in the season. The 4” Jerk ShadZ delivers the perfect bait-sized profile. I’ve thrown it at every tournament this year. The ElaZtech material is so soft and it’s buoyant, too... moves differently than any other fluke-minnow bait I’ve used. Get it nice and straight on a jighead and watch the bait as you reel in. If it’s rigged right, you’ll get this killer crankbait-like action, a subtle wobble and shimmy that can’t be duplicated because of its superplastic material.

I think the buoyancy is a huge advantage for suspended fish because it keeps the bait up and almost hovering in place. You benefit from a slowed-down drop, so it’s not falling past fish too fast. Underwater, the bait’s buoyancy also keeps it perfectly aligned at that ideal horizontal angle on a jighead. Also, I can use a heavier jig for casting distance, but still benefit from a slower, more seductive rate of fall.

On bottom, the Jerk ShadZ’ tail stands up, remains visible and looks alive. In all cases, I love the Jerk ShadZ in tournaments, because this optimal bait (and hook) angle basically guarantees I’ll sting 95-percent of the fish and right in the roof of the mouth. You almost never lose a fish on this set up, either. Feel that thump and you got ‘em.

Z-Man: What about the durability of the ElaZtech material. Why is this important?

Dylan: The fact I can fish with one bait all day and never have to worry about the tail getting ripped off by a short biter or nipped in half by nuisance fish...that is huge. I’m never fishing and wondering if my bait looks right or if it’s been destroyed, so every cast is pure confidence. Add a single drop of Loctite Gel Control before threading the bait on the jig and you’ll essentially create a bulletproof lure that lasts all day long

Z-Man: Any guidelines on your preferred bait colours for FFS fishing?

Dylan: In clear water, I’m throwing natural baitfish patterns like Bad Shad, Disco Cisco or Perfect Perch. If the water’s stained to dirty, I do especially well with Pro Yellow Perch or plain old Pearl. (Btw here’s those colours in order from top-tobottom)