Just Fishing - Winter 2025 by JustFishing

HelloDarkness,myoldfriend...I’vecometotalkwithyouagain...Withinthesoundofsilence. (Simon & Garfield)

Idrop my line down a hole in the ice for walleyes almost every day in the winter planning to catch them with an aggressive, noisy, “Take No Prisoner” presentation. But I know that wishing and hoping are not patterns, so I often dance off the same sheet of ice at the end of many days, having caught every fish – or at least the majority – stealth rigging. There are simply too many times, too many places and too many situations when silence is golden for walleyes.

LAKE SHAPE MATTERS

I will never forget the early years on Lake Winnipeg, joining ice fishing trailblazer, Roger Stearns, ripping raucous Live Target Golden Shiners for humongous walleyes. We rarely saw another angler and the action was insane as we hauled whopping great walleyes up ten inch holes, their massive black and yellow flanks rubbing against the sides of the ice. It was so good, I could scarcely wait to take my new found noisy contrivances to other frozen lakes and rivers. But when I did, I was surprised to discover they were anything but predictable. Sometimes the action was lights out crazy and comparable to Lake Winnipeg. Other times, much less so.

On my home waters of Lake of the Woods, for example, ripping cacophonous crankbaits is typically mediocre at best. Yet, when I yanked the same baits in the Bay of Quinte, in southern Ontario, the results were brilliant. Ditto, after I shared my early results with the Matity brothers, Jeff and Jason who ice fish for walleyes on Last Mountain Lake in Saskatchewan. They experienced similar ear-piercing results, highlighting how noisy presentations prevail predominately on flat, featureless, structure-sketchy walleye waters.

By: Gord Pyzer

I suspect it is an evolutionary response to the way walleyes forage in dissimilar frozen lakes, rivers and reservoirs. In the flat unbroken Tweedledee Tweedledum systems, they rely as much on their sense of sound as they do on sight, to home in on dinner. Not so much, however, in the

complex structured Shield-type lakes where the bottom is as jagged as a cross-cut saw blade and structures are much more confined. In the uniform plate-shape prairie-type bodies of water, the walleyes are roaming pack predators, while in the Shield lakes they’re surprise attack meat-eaters.

“Sound is the fastest reaching sense for walleyes,” says Saskatchewan based fisheries biologist and longtime Just Fishing friend, Jeff Matity. “They can hear and feel the sound and vibration of a lure long before they see it. That is why rattlebaits are a premium option when you’re searching for walleyes. But once you locate and engage them, I think sound

can turn off otherwise interested fish that are looking for more fine-tuned cues.

“That is why I’ll use a rattlebait to help me locate walleyes on my Last Mountain Lake milk run of long-trusted waypoints, but it (sound) is secondary when it comes to putting trophy fish on the ice at prime times and in lowlight conditions. That begs the question: Why? I believe big walleyes that are hunting will actively investigate a noisy lure, but lacking the proper triggering qualities, they won’t move the final few feet – or inches – to carefully inspect, smell and taste it. Anglers want to have everything in a single lure, but most of the time there is no such thing.”

A Line From “Big” Jim

By the time this issue is live we should just be out of the holidays and I’m thinking ice fishing will be in full swing if the weather forecasts play out as advertised. I have seen an alarming number of videos of vehicles and anglers through the ice this year and it is frankly it is kind of alarming to me. I know there isn’t a person amongst us that really thinks they are going to end up in the water, but you can certainly take more care and if travelling by foot early in the season, the proper use of a spud is a must, and don’t think for a second that it is foolish to wear a life vest if you can’t afford a floater coat or full suit.

Once you are safely on the ice, you’ll be able to make use of the great information in this issue. We have a great amount of info from a world-class group of anglers and writers. Tim Allard explores drop speeds, something that’s often overlooked. Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson confirms that Ice Season is Back, while covering several aspects to improve your ice success. Dan Notarianni tells us how & why we should take kids ice fishing... something dear to my heart. Noel Vick goes over how to Stay Safe on Big Water Ice, which even in mid-winter can pose huge problems. Veteran ice Guru Brian “Bro” Brosdahl shows us the Ease of Ice by teaching you how to be comfortable and catch fish. And then Ice Master Matt Johnson shows us how to Turn Negative Fish Into Biters. Last but certainly not least Jeff Matity talks Horizontal vs Vertical Presentations, which can be a critical decision.

For those dreaming of warmer weather, we have added a couple of get-away pieces including David Chong with Arizona Dreamin’, and B.A.S.S. Elite angler Bernie Shultz shows us some winter options for Bass Fishing Florida. If indoor activities is more to your liking this time of year,Chef Tait shares a secret recipe for baking trout with a peach fennel & ginger slaw that’s fit for a king or queen.

Please be safe out there folks, icey water can be very unforgiving in just seconds... We need our ice anglers safe, warm & with lots of bites... Catch & Release is just as crucial in winter as in summer, so please limit your catch and only harvest what you plan to eat immediatley...

Enjoy now... “Big” Jim

Unsolicited articles are accepted and will be considered for publication provided they are

and have not appeared in other publications.

Publisher

“Big” Jim McLaughlin

Managing Editor

Tammy Wight

Digital Marketing

RYP.Media

Contributors

Gord Pyzer

David Chong

Tim Allard, Cameron Tait

Jeff Gustafson, Jeff Matity

Matt Johnson, Brian Brosdahl

Daniel Notarianni

Box 214

Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0

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

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

On the Cover: Main photo – Jamie Stothart, founder True North Baits, The Ease of Ice, Photo – Heather Brosdahl, Turn Negative Fish Into Biting Fish, Photo – Matt Johnson, Making Memories On Ice, Photo – Daniel Notarianni. Whispers For Walleyes, photo – Jason Matity.

(Whisper for Walleye continued from page 3.)

Over simplifying the response of walleyes to noise and neglecting the immense triggering qualities of silent seduction is a mistake many ice anglers make, according to Matity. He says the unnatural sounds emitted by our noise makers arouse the fishes’ curiosity. But bigger walleyes, in particular, recognize the racket differently from a perch digging out chironomid larvae from the sediment of the lake or a panicked crayfish sprinting away and wedging itself into a crevice between the rocks. Walleyes connect these latter musical notes as honest-to-goodness feeding opportunities, even when they are unable to see them. So they come in with exponentially charged expectations… not curiosity.

FLASH DISPLACES NOISE

Another discovery I made early on in the noise making winter walleye game is that in lakes with more structure and cover, flash typically triumphs over sound. It is especially true in walleye waters that lie somewhere along the continuum, between pancake flat and mountain like craggy. Then, vertically jigging a small to moderate size VMC Tingler or Williams Wabler, Nipigon or Syclops spoon with the treble removed, a Fastach clip added and a minnow head skewered onto the shank of the reattached hook sparkles with success. Intriguingly, and without any prompting, Matity says the same thing.

“The majority of the time I sacrifice sound for sight appeal, scent and flavour,” he says.

“Especially, at first ice. I cut two holes about four feet apart so I can fish in tandem. But I don’t actively jig both baits at the same time. I’ll use a big 3/4-ounce Super Glow coloured ReelBait Flasher Jig dressed with a strip of cisco belly in one hole and a small 1/8-ounce Flasher Jig tipped with a shiner head or perch eye in the other. I hop the big jig up high, with long falls and concussions into the bottom. Big walleyes will locate and respond to this stimulation. The attracting jig will prompt closer investigation and the smell and taste of the bait will often seal the deal. The high hops also charm ciscoes that are exceptional walleye attractions. You can engage them and keep them playing around your lures.”

“All the time this is happening, I rest the small jig on the bottom to cancel out any target confusion. Even though you can have two baits in the water, I only keep one in play. It reduces the risk of a walleye splitting its attention between two baits and losing interest. So, when the big bait fails to trigger a walleye, I’ll rest it on bottom and bring the small lure into the strike window. This smaller offering is all about sight and flavour and coverts

(Continued on page 6.)

NEW J-FLUORO LEADER

(Time to Weed Out Walleye continued from page 42.)

Just Fishing 38

many walleyes that were first attracted by the flash and subtle vibration of the larger offering. Applying Walleye Formula Pro-Cure BaitWax to the flasher jig’s willow blade is a secret we’ve kept under wrap for years.”

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!

FORWARD FACING SONAR

In winters past, I kept my attracting phase jigging hole and triggering phase dead stick rod close to one another in typical two timing fashion. But with the advent of forward facing

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

sonar, I’ve been experimenting the past couple of winters with increasing distance. Many days last ice season, for example, I spaced the holes 10, 20, 30, even as much as 40 feet apart. Then I monitored the activity on my Helix 12 connected to a Humminbird LIVE imaging transducer set on down mode. It was amazing watching walleyes advance toward the lure I was jigging, only to pull into the rest stop and eat the deadsticked minnow.

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

(Sidebar) SILENT SEDUCTION

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

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.

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

It was so eye opening that many days I set two dead stick rods spaced widely apart and monitored the action live, from centre stage, on the Helix screen. I could clearly see walleyes approach the minnows – at much faster speed than I ever imagined – follow them as they quivered and panicked and then wolf them down when they ran out to the ends of their leashes. I could even glance over to

Sun protection is also vitally important – save your skin with a Fish Monkey performance face guard and stubby guide gloves.

Good Luck Ripping and Rigging walleye from the weeds!

Fish them fast, fish them slow, fish them high, fish them low. Rapala Jigging Rap-style lures are G.O.A.T.S. Quite possibly the best winter walleye lure of all time because they tick off so many critical boxes. Truth of the matter is I never go ice fishing for walleyes without at least one rod rigged with a Jigging Rap. They fall fast, look like baitfish, swim erratically and can be tipped with a minnow head or fished plain Jane. And, while they lack the noise-making quality of rattlebaits, they have an unmatched natural resonance that walleyes can’t resist. The mid-size W5 and W7 models are silent walleye assassins.

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

the hole that was about to have the minnow eaten and watch the deadstick rod twitch and then buckle over. It proved beyond a shadow of doubt, that walleyes are so finely tuned into their environment, that even in dark, stained and murky water, under overcast and cloudy conditions, with a foot or more or ice and snow, they have absolutely no trouble, whatsoever, finding our silent baits.

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.

(Whisper for Walleye continued from page 4.)

JUST WHISPER

Early morning, late afternoon, and cloudy overcast weather are the perfect conditions to whisper for walleyes. These are the prime times when the fish are most active and less wary. But I’ve watched walleyes scatter on LIVE imaging when someone dropped a pail on the ice or drilled a hole over their heads. I can only imagine how these same fish would react to a vigorously jigged lure with BBs clamouring inside it. Many days, a whisper is enough.

WHISPER TO WALLEYES

As a matter of fact, we can so easily attract walleyes to our lures by whispering to them most days that we can spook and drive them away using more clamorous presentations. “In-Fisherman television host, Doug Stange, joined me on Last Mountain Lake for two days of filming,” recalls Matity, “and we stacked several dozen walleyes up to 10 pounds on the ice using loud forceful presentations. But the weather was hospitable, we were able to spread out and there was just the two of us jigging.

“A day or two after Doug left, I hosted Tom Gruenwald from H.T. Enterprises and eight pro staffers on another media project. Same time, same place, but the weather crapped out on us. The temperature plummeted to -25 °C, it was frigid, and we were forced to fish bunched up tightly using the truck as a windbreak. In three days of fishing, the best I did was six walleyes on the last day. Even then, I out fished the entire group.

“Ten ice anglers, fishing within arms length of each other, in the shelter of a big truck, using boisterous tactics attracted several walleyes, but we could only trigger a few smaller fish. I guess you could say that loud boisterous displays are like fertilizer. Spread them out thinly for the best results. Concentrate them too closely together, and you can burn your spot.”

Or, to put it another way, there are times when silence is golden for walleyes

About the Author – Gord Pyzer:

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

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

Transparent Red Tail’s

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

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

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

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

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

Sharing the joys of fishing has always been a passion of mine, which is why supporting the Ontario Women Anglers’ mentorship

FLASHER

Original

Super Glow Series Tournament Series Pro Staffer Jason Matity’s –GetFishing.ca Trophy Walleye caught on

LINDA GALLUS

ARIZONA DREAMIN’

By: David Chong

AAs the temps continue to drop many Canadians thoughts turn to winter sports such as skiing, skating, snowmobiling and the ever so popular ice fishing! I absolutely do love my ice fishing and enjoy it immensely but every now & then a little

getaway down south for a little fishing fun is good for the soul. One of my favourite states to go to for some good old fashion dry heat is Arizona. And definitely one of the bodies of water that I’ve always wanted to fish, has been Lake Havasu and I was lucky enough to do so this year.

Lake Havasu offers many fishing opportunities both from a boat and from shore. It is truly awesome to visit a region and state where they actually welcome anglers.

The Arizona Game & Fish Department not only creates and improves fish habitat constantly but also maintains numerous public assessable fishing piers & areas. Habitat improvements may consist of manmade structures or simply evergreen trees. GPS locations of these improvement sites are available to the public at their website – https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/ hatcheries-fisheries-management/fisheriesmanagement/reservoir-fish-habitatlocations/

For Canadians visiting Arizona for some winter time fishing, a non resident fishing license is required. If you are there later in the summer, you don’t require a license if you’re fishing on public water during their

FREE Fishing Day, which generally takes place on the 1st Saturday of the National Fishing & Boating Week, which in 2025 is June 7th. Youth under the age of 10 don’t require a fishing license.

The cost of a 1-day non-resident license is $20 USD and an annual non-resident fishing license is $55 USD, which is valid for 365 days from the date of purchase.

(Continued on page 10.)

Smallmouth bass are plentiful on Lake Havasu. The current lake record is over 6 lbs.!

This chunky Lake Havasu Bucket fell prey to a Lucky Craft LV500!

So, if you planning on fishing for 3 days or more then you’re better off purchasing an annual license. Full details of Arizona Fish & Wildlife Fishing Regulations can be found at https://www.eregulations. com/arizona/fishing. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-line at https:// www.azgfd.com/ or at local tackle stores such as Bass Tackle Master located at 260 London Bridge Rd. in Lake Havasu City. Bass Tackle Master offers a great selection of fishing tackle with just about anything that you might need to get out fishing.

The Site Six fishing pier is a popular public fishing area located right on the island in Lake Havasu City! There is also a beautiful multi lane FREE ramp located there!

Lake Havasu is a 78.10 km² (19,300 acres) reservoir on the Colorado River formed by the Parker Dam. Located on the Arizona-California border with Lake Havasu City on its eastern shore. Its name is derived from the Mojave word for blue in 1939 and you’ll clearly understand the reason for this name when you actually see the lake. Lake Havasu is 26.3 miles (42.3 kms.) long and its widest point is 2.85 miles (4.59 kms) , has an average depth of 35 ft. (11 m.) with a maximum depth of 90 ft. (27 m.) . Lake Havasu’s shores are located in the transition zone from the higher Mojave Desert to the lower Sonoran Desert and the Californian Colorado Desert eco-regions.

Different fish species that you could fish for on Lake Havasu include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, common carp, channel catfish, flathead catfish, yellow bullhead, bluegills, Redear sunfish, green sunfish, black crappie, white sturgeon and rainbow trout. There are several endangered & protected species, razorback sucker, flannelmouth sucker, roundtail chub and bonytail chub, which must be released immediately if you happen to catch one. I was lucky enough one day to land the Havasu Trifecta by catching a largemouth bass, smallmouth bass & a striper in the same day!

Lake records include a 11.375 lbs. largemouth bass, a 6.28 lbs. smallmouth bass, a 36 lbs. striped bass, a 42 lbs. Common carp but by far the most impressive record to me is the 6.3 lbs. World Record Redear sunfish caught on May 4th, 2021 by Thomas Farchione! Weighed in on a certified scale at Bass Tackle Master, this monster sunfish measured 17 inches in length and had a 20-inch girth! This is what first put Lake Havasu on my radar as a “Bucket List” destination.

Also known as a Shellcracker, the Redear sunfish’s favourite food are snails but when invasive Quagga mussels appeared on Lake Havasu in 2007, they provided the Redear sunfish another endless food source. A Shellcracker has specialized teeth in it throat that

(Continued on page 9.)

(Arizona Deamin’ continued from page 8.)

GET THE DROP ON WINTER FISHING

allows it to crush and consume crustaceans and invasive species such as the Quagga mussel. With this additional food source, the Redear sunfish quickly grow to record proportions. Unfortunately, I wasn’t on Lake Havasu at the prime time for these monster sunfish, April and May are the definitive months to target these beasts.

This region of Mojave County and Lake Havasu City receives on the average 290 days of sunshine annually, so you’re almost guaranteed beautiful weather for your trip or at least for the majority of it. To get there you have a couple of options, you can fly into Phoenix, Arizona or Las Vegas, Nevada. From Phoenix it is just over a 3-hour drive (193 miles/310 kms.) and from Las Vegas, the drive is slightly less, 2 hours 19 mins. (151 miles/243 kms.). If you really love to drive it’s only 2,326 miles/3,744 kms. or roughly a 36-hour drive LOL!

An awesome ramp located at Take Off Point located in the south end of the lake by the Parker Dam.

There are plenty of options for accommodations in Lake Havasu –many hotel chains, resorts and AirBnB’s available. For grocery shopping, there is a Basha’s, Albertson’s, Safeway and Walmart to chose from or you can load up at a Costco in Phoenix before heading over like we did. Some of the must-see sights to take in include the historic London Bridge, which was purchased from the City of London, England by Robert P. McCulloch in 1968.

There are also 28 lighthouses that are located on Lake Havasu. Each lighthouse is a scaled-down replica of famous lighthouses located around the world.

One real cool thing about this region is the number of shore fishing opportunities there are. There are impressive fishing piers, complete with rod holders, fish cleaning stations, picnic tables, solar powered lighting and sun protection at most of them.

One of 28 replica lighthouses on Lake Havasu! This one is a replica of the Point Gratiot Lighthouse located in Dunkirk on the south shore of Lake Erie!

Some of the most popular public fishing areas are:

•Site Six (also a great FREE launch facility here) – 591 Beachcomber Blvd. (on the Island, across London Bridge)

(Continued on page 12.)

For more info visit: Daiwa.us

(Arizona Dreamin’ continued from page 10.)

Zman

Coppertreuse PurpleHaze

Early to mid-fall is one of my favourite times to be on the water each year. The air is crisp yet not cold, boating traffic and angler competition are at a minimum, and big fish of all species bite, feeding to stock up energy reserves prior to a long, cold northern winter. That’s a combo you just can beat anytime, anywhere!

Jigging Rapalas allow you to fish aggressively beneath the boat in deep water, providing fish-triggering lure action and the ability to move quickly to locate

About the Author:

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

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.

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.

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

There are stunning views to be taken in while in Mojave County and on Lake Havasu!

(Continued

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.

for FREE! Many of these launches have life jacket loaner stations, rest rooms, bags for garbage and even boat cleaning stations to help prevent the spread of invasive species!

If you don’t want to fish from shore or have access to some type of watercraft, there are several guide services that you could hire out. A couple of good guide services on Lake Havasu Ron’s Guiding Service are Capt. Ron Ratlief and G2 Fishing Guide Service. You can reach either one of them on their Facebook pages, Ron at https://www.facebook.com/Nitro2015.8.2.21/ and Glen Levison from G2 at https://www.facebook.com/glen.levison

The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge has several public fishing piers like this one available for use FREE of charge.

Even when hiring a guide down south, when ever possible I like to travel with my own gear. Since I discovered the Daiwa Artido-TR travel rods, that’s what I usually travel with down to Florida, Arizona, California, Texas etc. with. Although they’re 3-piece rods, they feel almost as good as one-piece rods and are available from a 7’6” ML spinning rod to a 7’6” MH casting rods. They come packed in a sturdy tubular travel case, which you can actually fit 2 rods into and they fit my fishing bag nicely.

When I pack 2 rods in a tube, I can pack as many as 8 rods in my fishing travel bag, which has 4 compartments. Two rod tubes will fit into the 2 outer compartments and my Daiwa reels and tackle with go into the 2 inner compartments where they are protected.

Fishing tackle options and presentations are widely varied, which is why its great to have a tackle store such as Bass Tackle Master https:// www.basstacklemaster.com/ . While fishing on Lake Havasu, I managed to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass on drop shot rigs, Z-Man Ned Rigs, Chatterbaits and a Lucky Craft LV500, my favourite lipless crankbait! Other popular presentations on Lake Havasu are jerkbaits, Larger glide baits and flipping baits such as flippin’ jigs & Texas rigged plastics.

If you are targeting some of the obscene gigantic sunfish located there, Z-Man Micro Finesse baits on a Micro Shad JigHeadZ or a 3 1/2” Z-Man Trick ShotZ drop shotted on a #2 Owner Sniper Finesse hook & a 1/4 oz. Ultra Tungsten drop shot weight should do the trick. If you really want to tips the scales in your favour, tip your lure with a piece of nightcrawler. Larger Redear sunfish are quite often caught by bass anglers, even attacking crankbaits that anglers are using to target bass.

(Continued on page 15.)

(Arizona Dreamin’ continued from page 12.)

There are plenty of manmade fish holding structures, which the Arizona Fish & Wildlife has distributed throughout the lakes to target. Or you can fish shallow areas and flip Tule patches or even troll for stripers! The lake has lots of different types of structure that you could look for fish. There are ledges, humps, submergent vegetation, bulrushes & cattails.

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.

To locate schooling bass, learn to be a bird watcher, aerial diving gulls or terns usually indicate baitfish being forced to the surface by predators like stripers, buckets or smallies! You should also find many bays loaded with different species of Grebes, Coots or Mergansers, which are usually a good indicator of the presence of baitfish. And if they are diving, that’s even a better sign.

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.

There are numerous vantage point to capture breath-taking sunset photos!

Not sound like a broken record but it is definitely sad to see back home in Southern Ontario where anglers are treated as 2nd class citizens in spite of the economic impact that the fishing community makes. The facilities and amenities that are afforded anglers and boaters here are top notch. Down here the government puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to providing fishing and boating opportunities, taking care of our environment and fish habitat. Again, it was truly awesome to be somewhere where you’re appreciated and feel wanted.

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

In summary, Lake Havasu is great place to visit, it offers some great fishing and boating opportunities. Lake Havasu City is a rapidly growing city with a population approaching the 60,000 mark. The tourism industry is the mainstay of this pleasant little city, lots of great restaurants and places to stay. One of the coolest places that we’ve stay at is the Heat Hotel located right beside historical London Bridge. It is very modern and there are docking spaces available for guests.

Residents here are friendly and helpful. If the rest of the family doesn’t wish to fish all the time, there are plenty of things to do! The waterfront around London Bridge and the Rotary Community Park both have nice clean beaches and walking trails. There are many nearby hiking trails for hikers of all skill levels. Lake Havasu City’s amenities are plentiful.

Enjoy the sunshine and fishing!

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!

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

NO SHORTAGE OF “NED” BAITS

So, why all these “Ned” products by Z-Man and other companies?

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

• Charlie Brewer's Original head • Charlie Brewer's Spider Head • Z-Man Football NedZ • Z-Man HeadZ • Z-Man Finesse

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

n the vertical game of ice fishing, the way a lure falls plays an important role in attracting fish and triggering them to bite. Part of an angler’s job is experimenting with drop speed, along with different falling actions and distances, to determine what fish prefer on the given day. What follows is a discussion on when different drop speeds are effective, a look at the different falling action of various lures, and other considerations for fine-tuning a bait’s descent to catch more fish.

QUICK DROPS

It’s no secret northern pike can be attracted and riggered by lures jigged aggressively. To a pike, a lure darting up erratically and then quickly scurrying to bottom mimics a fleeing baitfish. This sight is often too much for pike to resist and they quickly launch an attack. But pike aren’t always the most accurate predators. I’ve watched them on an underwater camera sprint in and completely miss a Jigging Rapala or a spoon. They don’t give up, though, and often return to try again. Make it easy for them by adding a pause of several seconds after the lift-fall jigging sequence.

Fishing in deep water is another example of where a fast-falling lure is advantageous. Consider a midwinter scenario involving bottom-oriented walleye on a deep, mid-lake hump. The twilight bite is about to begin, and will likely last about 45 minutes. Using a slow-sinking lure in this scenario wastes precious time. A fast-falling lure is better, on the other hand, infiltrates the strike zone quickly and, in turn, maximizes the number of fish one can catch before fish shut down.

Many times, it’s hard to beat a straight-style jigging spoon for this type of fishing situation.

Northland’s Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is a fast-falling lure that’s ideal for quickly getting down to deep fish.

Lures like the Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon have a restrained falling action. This characteristic encourages them to sink faster than a slab-style or a bent spoon. Of course, there’s a time and place for these spoon varieties (details below).

Once the straight spoon gets into the strike zone near bottom, try banging it on the floor a few times, then shaking it to activate its rattles and attract fish. Next, comes a swift rod snap to move the bait a foot or two before letting it free-fall, then pausing briefly. This assertive jigging sequence not only draws-in walleye (and curious perch, crappie, and pike, too), but frequently triggers aggressive fish.

Sometimes, though, a fast, long-falling lure is unappealing for neutral or inactive fish. A clue of this occurring is when a fishfinder shows fish

Slowly lowering a tiny ice jig and plastic on a controlled drop is often key for attracting and triggering shallow panfish.

moving away (i.e., weakening signal) when a lure falls fast. Here, one can try shortening the lift and reducing the distance the bait falls. If ineffective, another option is switching to another fast falling lure with a different profile and action, or controlling the spoon’s fall-rate (see next section).

Fast First, Then Slow Down

In certain situations, a walleye or other fish positioned far from a fast-falling lure can be initially attracted by the commotion. Yet, when the fish gets closer, it becomes uninterested in the rapid dropping action.

One remedy for this type of situation is reducing the lure’s fall rate by lowering it on semi-slack or tight line (i.e., a controlled fall).

Mike Bredlaw with proof a slow-falling lure can be critical to catching crappie, especially when fish are suspended high in the water column.

NO MATTER THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.

NO MATTER WHAT

STRONGER - SMOOTHER - THINNER

(The

(When

the species and the quality of the bedding/water/temperature of our worm farm. To keep a healthy environment, all the worms need is fresh wheat bran about once per month and the prudent use of Waterbeads. No other food is necessary!

This is done by keeping the rod tip high af ter jigging a bait upwards. Then, as the lure begins to fall, lower the rod to give the bait a moderate-to-slow fall.

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

What sometimes causes an issue, though, is slowing a lure’s fall dampens its action. To compensate, an angler can add light shakes to maintain the presentation’s appeal. Control the lure’s fall until is above the fish’s depth as displayed on the sonar.

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

Eventually, yellow mealworms will shed into a PUPAE on any given instar and remain dormant as it metamorphoses into a BEETLE. Once one yellow mealworm pupates, the entire colony will quickly follow. This is the perfect time to do a bedding change and wait for the pupae to become adult beetles. Several hundred pupae will translate into an equal number of adults. So, you have to decide how much you want to expand your operation.

Another reliable ice fishing strategy is letting a lure fall quickly to bypass unproductive water. Then slowing down the closer you get to the fish. This method often yields good results when yellow perch and crappie are cruising deep flats. I often use a tungsten jig tipped with a finesse plastic or some Gulp! Maggots.

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

BEETLES – will emerge from the pupae in a few weeks and must be given their own bucket or container with fresh wheat bran and a few WaterBeads. They do not need any food beyond moisture. 50 darkling beetles are enough to start a colony and the ratio of male-tofemale sexes is random enough to expect a 50:50 ratio.

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

After about a month, you can run your fingers through the beetles’ bedding to see if there is any movement indicating micro-tiny larvae. Most worm farmers keep the beetles in with the larvae and let them expire to fulfil a typical 6-8 month life cycle. I do not! Larvae are eating machines and will eat other larvae, pupae and will burrow into the adult beetles’ exoskeleton and kill them…eating them from the inside-out!

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

SALVAGE YOUR BROODSTOCK!

Refer to HOT TIP section below for my method.

VMC’s Tingler Spoon has a wild, erratic action and a slow fall, and can be just what triggers big perch some days.

as easy as grabbing whatever rod, reel, line and lure combination you need and having at it. Spy baiting is a perfect example. Every serious bass angler knows about it by now, but to spy bait well, and more importantly, ensure a decent to excellent landing ratio, you have to spend the time required to dial things in. So use your fun fishing days to experiment with different rod actions and line pairings to achieve greater success.”

Remove adult beetles on a strict 30-day time limit. The beetles will not be riddled with micro-tiny larvae and will survive, thrive and produce 100’s of eggs in the new environment with fresh wheat bran. While not perfectly enumerated, I have found 50 healthy beetles will produce approximately 1,000 larvae per month.

An alternative to controlling a lure’s fall via line tension is using a bait designed to sink at a moderate-to-slow pace. Lures with an unhurried drop can be good picks when fish are shallow, inactive, or both. Given shallow fish can be skittish, a lazy drop is less obtrusive. A delayed drop also gives the impression of a vulnerable, easy meal, and keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. These attributes can tease bites from inactive fish uninterested in chasing a rapidly moving bait. With this in mind, here are several presentations with a knack for falling with less urgency.

“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

strategy when using most lipless crankbaits for pike and walleye. Adding shakes while lowering the lure helps fish launch an accurate attack. It also prevents certain baits from tumbling over and treble hooks tangling in the line, which can happen when allowed to fall on slack. Jigging different baits just under the ice and watching their sinking action is a way to learn whether a lure performs well when falling on slack, or is

A real close up of a mass of superworms.

A slab-style spoon’s beveled edges cause it tumble as it falls and, in turn, gives it a less hurried fall rate than a straight spoon. A few reliable slab spoons are the Northland Macho Minnow, VMC Flash Champ, and Luhr Jensen Cast Champ.

: 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

(Continued on page 8.)

(Continued on page 30.)

Spoons with a moderate curve, elongated bodies, or wings also take longer to drop than straight models. Some I’ve had good results are the Lindy Flyer Spoon, McGathy’s Slab Grabber, and Acme Vingla.

Thin, ultra-light spoons are another lure category deserving mention here. I first realized the potency of these fluttering, flashy, slow-sinking lures fishing crappie in a river back bay. I had been jigging a straight, 1/16-ounce spoon and catching the occasional fish. Then, I switched to a gold, 1/16-ounce Williams Wabler. Being a wider, thinner spoon, the Wabler took longer to fall. Suddenly, instead of trying to tease bites from fish, crappie were racing in to smash the slow falling spoon. Not only did I catch more fish, but the Wabler stimulated bigger fish to strike.

The slow, spiralling fall of this Berkley PowerBait

Line Considerations

Recently, I’ve experienced similar results for crappie and perch using the VMC Tumbler and Tingler spoons. Thin, slow falling flutter spoons also appeal to walleye, pike and other predators.

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!

Anglers fond of catching panfish should own vertical, “tear drop” style ice jigs. These jigs kick out to the side and flutter as they fall, giving them a different action and a slower fall than round headed ice jigs. I frequently tip them with a few live maggots, Gulp! Maggots, or a finesse plastic worm. Vertical jigs are great in shallow water, but I regularly use them in depths up to 20 feet.

Weight Selection

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.

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.

The Golden Treasure: 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...

Naturally, making adjustments to the weight of the lure being used is an easy way to fine-tune a presentation’s fall rate. For instance, at times the 5/16-ounce Jigging Shad Rap is the better choice, while in other scenarios the slower falling 3/16-ounce version get more bites.

Line diameter plays less of a role on drop-speed than adjusting lure weight, but it remains an another important detail to be mindful of when really getting down to tweaking the nitty-gritty details of a presentations. Braid is a good choice when a fast fall is desired (and ice build-up doesn’t create problems). A walleye lure fished on thin-diameter, 8-pound braid (equivalent diameter of 3-pound monofilament) will fall faster than when fished on 8-pound monofilament. Conversely, there are times when using monofilament provides added drag to make a presentation appealing to fish. There’s plenty of room for experimentation, such as using 4-pound mono instead of 2-pound to reduce the drop speed of a light panfish jig.

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.

Similarly, the fall rate of a soft plastic is easily adjusted using different jig head weights. One great ice bait for perch, crappie, walleye, pike and more is a tube jig, as its spiralling, falling action replicates a wounded minnow. For panfish, using a 1/16-ounce jig works when perch and crappie want a moderate falling tube. When fish are hesitant, though, the lazier drop of a 1/32-ounce tube is tough to beat.

Going lighter also often also means downsizing the presentation. This in and of itself is another smart strategy for coaxing bites from hesitant customers.

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...

This ice season try using lures with different fall rates. Pay attention to the fall-rate characteristics that triggered a strike, then fine-tune your presentation accordingly. Do this and you’ll quickly find yourself catching more fish.

15th, 2025

G&S Exclusive Tactics: 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

Tim Allard of Ottawa, Ontario is a hard-water expert and author /photographer of the multiICE FISHING –, available at fine book stores, select outdoor shops & internet retailers.

(Continued on page 51.)

SIM SHAD

t seems like the open water seasons just go by quicker and quicker every year. I don’t know if it’s because I keep having more and more fun every year or why that is, but this past season just seemed to fly by. All of the sudden, it’s time to put the boat away and dig the auger out. Fortunately, like many of you, I’ll embrace the winter and get after it on

resorts that remain open and can put you up in top-notch locations and there are fisheries that offer unique fishing opportunities for species like brook trout, whitefish or burbot that don’t get as much attention as the more popular lake trout, pike, crappie and walleye.

Since I have been fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, I’m down south for much of the winter so I don’t get out on the ice as much as I used to but I still try to get in one good trip somewhere, in addition to all the fishing I get to do around home on the Woods. Before I started fishing in the U.S., I would be on the ice all winter, guiding and fishing nearly every day.

Across the Sunset Country Region, there are so many great places to go. Remote back lakes that are fly-in only during the summer months. There are

My getaway trip over the past few years has been up to the Red Lake area, a few hours north of Kenora. We stay at a place called Five Lakes Lodge and have access to some of the best lake trout, walleye and pike fishing I have ever experienced. There is so much water to explore up there. We have had some tough days too, but we’ve also discovered some great bites that I can’t wait to revisit.

The Red Lake area is snowmobile country, which I understand not everybody has access to. Growing up, we never had a snowmobile so we spent a lot of time fishing lakes we could walk into or we fished near the ice road on Lake of the Woods. The Red Lake area does offer snowmobile rentals, which is something that I think is becoming a bit more common, so that is Crappie fishing is fun throughout the ice season because they are usually easy to catch.

Big pike are more plentiful in remote waters.

critters like pike.

outside the boulder zone, you can use an upward flick of your wrist, followed by a drop of the rod tip, to make the lure jump up a foot or two, then immediately plummet to bottom, kicking up a cloud of sand/muck every time contact occurs. This really triggers strikes from aggressive walleyes trying to clobber the lure before the lure escapes on the next jump. Be sure to try the new Rapala Jigging Shadow Rap as well for a different fish-triggering action.

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

to the lineup with a couple of new plastics, the Baby

helped coin the name of the lure in honour of his excellent friend, Ned, who has turned it into a lure of extreme value with a cult-like following. “We were always comparing notes” said Gord. “We would email back and forth 4-5 times a day, for weeks on end, over many, many years.”

A closeup of the Yellow Perch Ultra Tungsten Ice Jig tipped with a Clam Motor Oil Jamei XL

“Outside of the little group that Ned founded and called, ‘The Finesse News Network’, it flew under the radar for nearly 20 years”, Gord told me during our conversation. “So, it is anything but ‘new’, although the fishing community is buzzing about the lure as the ‘hot new thing’. As a matter of fact, a lot of what are being called Ned Rigs these days are very far from accurate.” Gord further explained, “Many companies are calling any number of moon shaped jigs as Ned jigs. Likewise, company after company has named their smallest plastics as Ned this, or Ned that.”

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!

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NED RIG?

in deep water, although their increased bulk and water resistance usually do not allow you cover water as quickly when using Jigging Raps. Experiment see what works best.

you can get into areas that are remote and have great fishing, like most communities do around our region. As a general rule, and this goes for all species, the less that they get fished or receive pressure, the

them ideal for a vertical presentation such as used in ice fishi

Jigging Rapalas allow you to fish aggressively beneath the boat in deep water, providing fish-triggering lure action and the ability to move quickly to locate

what I think fish mistake the Ned Rig for my response is, don’t care what they mistake 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.”

Highly detailed mapping lets us fish directly on the sweet spots.

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

I like to use a 7’ 1” St. Croix Eyecon spinning rod, medium power with moderate action, which is ideal for fishing Jigging Raps. I team it with a Daiwa Fuego 2500 reel spooled with 8-pound-test Advanced Sufix monofilament to provide a little line stretch to cushion hooksets, help maintain

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

The StingerZ, Tiny TicklerZ, Baby BallerZ, Micro Goat, Shad FryZ and LarvaZ are all deadly on panfish whether rigged on a Micro Shad HeadZ or tipped on a spoon or other jigging type lures. Coconut Ice Glow, Pearl, Purple Death, Space Guppy, Electric Chicken and Bumble Bee are all colours that I’ve used with great success in open water or on the hardwater! Again, please note that these are all made from the same ElaZtech material that their famous TRD Ned Finesse

“The Original Ned Rig was the actual you got from the pairing of a Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head jig weighing 3/32, 1/16, or 1/32 oz. with half of a 5” Yamamoto Senko worm. That was the original and the marriage of the two components and their resulting characteristics

“The Original Ned Rig was the actual rig you got from the pairing of a Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head jig weighing 3/32, 1/16, or 1/32 oz. with half of a 5” Yamamoto Senko worm. That was the original and the marriage of the two components and their resulting characteristics

The use of electronics on the ice will help you catch more fish of all species.

About the Author:

“After that, the YUM Dinger expanded the lure persona with the comparatively lighter, more buoyant 5” YUM Dinger cut in half. It was about half the weight of the Senko, due to much less salt. Many anglers thought that would make it poorer. But, once the YUM Dinger was fished and most of the remaining salt dissolved, it has more buoyancy and the tail wiggled a bit.

If the mood of the fish that you’re on ever goes super negative, there are a few things to try before abandoning them to locate more aggressive fish. If the fish are proving to be super tight-lipped,

small barrel swivel and about 16 inches of

help us catch more fish on the ice. Staying on top of new trends

FISH IT RIGHT: RETRIEVES, RODS, REELS & LINE

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 fishing it from top to bottom and cover the bases. And while 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

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.

(Continued on page

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 or open water. Matitysgetfishing.com

“Everything changed when Zman produced the Zero worm, made from their proprietary ElaZtech material, for Strike King. After the Zero’s success, Zman made their own ZinkerZ under the Zman banner. This super-buoyant, 10X tough worm greatly improved the Ned Rig.”

YOU are invited to come along for the ride…

“IF IT SWIMS... WE FISH FOR IT...AND WILL HELP YOU CATCH IT! GetFishing ‘Cuz Fishing’s Magic!”

“Finally, Zman tackle took the lead with their ElaZtech ZinkerZ worms that are nearly indestructible and have the greatest buoyance of all plastics. Ned catches as many as 180 bass on a single Zman worm! Ned’s involvement in the research and development of Ned products at Zman resulted in the Zman Finesse T.R.D. Series , the first pre-cut or pre-formed Ned Rig worms and finesse bodies. The Finesse TRD eliminates the need to cut a 5” ZinkerZ in half and comes poured in a 2 3/4” worm. Ready to go! No cutting needed!” So, I asked Gord, “What would you consider the best all-round Ned Rig today?”

“Finally, Zman tackle took the lead with their ElaZtech ZinkerZ worms that are nearly indestructible and have the greatest buoyance of all plastics. Ned catches as many as 180 bass on a single Zman worm! Ned’s involvement in the research and development of Ned products at Zman resulted in the Zman Finesse T.R.D. Series (The Real Deal), the first pre-cut or pre-formed Ned Rig worms and finesse bodies. The Finesse TRD eliminates the need to cut a 5” ZinkerZ in half and comes poured in a 2 3/4” worm. Ready to go! No cutting needed!” So, I asked Gord, “What would you consider the best all-round Ned Rig today?”

Jeff & Jason Matity

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“When Zman came out with the ZinkerZ and, now, the pre-cut Finesse T.R.D., that just perfected it to no end. When you fished it on any of the Zman Shroom mushroom head jigs, it was the Ned Rig personified. All of the colours and subtle hues that Zman and others have in their line-ups can cover any water clarity

Just Fishing . 35

Just Fishing . 29

Live sonar, li year because it’s fun and above all, it’s

Jig Head

NedlockZ

Jig Head

Zman

Mushroom Head

Jig Head

Head

allows us to increase our efficiency out there because we can look an area over pretty quickly and see if there are fish around or not. We can also watch how these fish interact with our baits and then decide if we need to make changes to our presentation.

Finally, when it comes to new tackle, we’re seeing better quality in terms of getting more lifelike soft plastics, better paint jobs on spoons and jigs and better components on everything. We now have quick-strike rigs made from heavy fluorocarbon that offer more finesse than a wire rig, yet have a longer lifespan as well.

TIE ON A SPOON

Over the years of writing for Just Fishing, I’ve made it well-known that when it comes to catching perch and walleye, which I enjoy fishing for the most during the winter months because of the fast action, I almost always use a Northland Buck-Shot Spoon. These spoons have been around for over 25 years and are effective because they are in a profile that fish like, they have a subtle rattle that gives them the ability to attract fish from a farther range and they are available in an assortment of colours to cover most situations.

Spoons have been used for decades by ice anglers because they are heavy so they get down quickly in deep water, they have the ability to generate a reaction strike with their wild movements and again, the profile of a spoon can match that of nearly any baitfish. I have caught everything under the ice on a spoon, from crappie to lake trout to pike, whitefish and even burbot. Whatever species I’m chasing, I’ll have a spoon tied on at least one rod.

A few alterations that I’ll make to my spoons to increase my odds of getting bites and landing more fish include adding a split ring to the line tie if there isn’t one already. This will give the spoon more action and help you land more fish. I’ll often upgrade the treble hooks on my spoons for sharper, stronger ones than the cheap stock hooks that most spoons are equipped with.

Sometimes we need to add a larger treble hook for big fish like pike or lake trout or a smaller hook for panfish.

Today, we now have spoons that are built with tungsten, giving them a smaller profile than traditional lead spoons. The paint jobs continue to get better and the actions continue to improve as manufacturers play with shape and weight distribution.

Wherever you fish on the ice this winter, you better have a spoon tied on!

Spoons should be a part of every anglers ice arsenal.

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

Not every child is the same – some are all about action and want to catch fish after fish, while others might be just as content exploring, snacking, and admiring the formations of air and cracks in the ice. The beauty of ice fishing? It caters to both. Whether you’re catching perch left and right, just watching fish dart around an underwater camera, or making snow angels and snow men, ice fishing offers a winter escape like no other.

THE FIRST TIME ON ICE

I’ll never forget taking my boys ice fishing for the first time. Having grown up in sunny Florida, they’d never even seen winter. So when we geared up with snowsuits, boots, and gloves and headed out on Lake Couchiching, they were buzzing with excitement.

We trekked onto the ice, and as I started unpacking the sled, I turned to see my youngest lying flat on the ice, wiggling back and forth. “What are you doing?” I asked, amused. His reply? “Cleaning the ice for the hut!” He didn’t realize I had a shovel, but his enthusiasm was infectious.

That day, we drilled holes, set up chairs, and used a borrowed underwater camera to watch perch dart in and away from our lures. The boys were mesmerized, and snacks – jerky, chips, grapes, and thermos of hot cocoa – kept the energy high.

A TRADITION EVOLVES

Fast forward a few years, and our ice fishing trips look a bit different. The boys are older and savvier, knowing how to use the gear and even venturing off to explore on their own. Our meals have also evolved – we now bring a camp stove and cook right on the ice. One of our favourites? Camp bread with honey butter.

The night before, I mix dough in a ziplock bag (flour, water, yeast, and a pinch of salt and sugar) and prep a container of one to one honey and butter. On the ice, we flatten the dough, fry it in a pan, and dip the warm bread into melted honey butter. It’s a meal that warms you right to your soul.

THE JOY OF SIMPLICITY

When fishing with kids, the simpler, the better. Forget complicated rigs –- short rods with straightforward setups like a

SlabGrabber or an Ultra Tungsten jig and Anglers Choice soft-plastic combo work wonders. I always bring one “dead stick” rod with live bait for bonus shot if a predator comes around. And yes, tangles lines will happen. A lot. Just roll with it – it’s all part of the fun, and use mono line as it untangles easier.

Giving kids a sense of independence also works wonders. Drill a few holes over a weed flat or near a drop off, and let them choose where to fish. Encourage them to hop around and experiment – it’s a fun way to teach decision-making with instant rewards. Safety is non-negotiable. Everyone wears ice picks and I teach them how to use them. I always pack spare socks, gloves, and hats, plus hand and toe warmers for extra comfort.

When we packed up, we headed home to whip up perch tacos, which became a new family tradition.

(What’s

spots and they aren’t there, start fishing the sand. As the transition is getting underway, it’s still common to find walleyes 15’ or less.

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

Ice cleats are a must to prevent falls, while falling through the ice is a risk we all think about, slipping and falling on ice hurts

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

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

FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING

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

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

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

Bassmaster Elite Series competitors posting photos and videos 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.

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,

“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 humps.

FLX-30 BB flasher/ fish finder featuring – 7 frequencies from 160 300 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,

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

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 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 screen. They didn’t want to put their bait in the water until

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!

received a message from a reader last fall about catching big smallmouth, largemouth and northern pike. He had been unsuccessful 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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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 very easy to spot on these electronics.

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.

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

“Walleyes begin to move deeper as water temps drop toward turnover (begins at 620F or so). Instead of looking for fish to be on top of structures, look deeper.

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

HUMMINBIRD MEGA-LIVE

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 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.

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’.

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

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.

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 .... whatever bites.

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 .... whatever bites

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

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.

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

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 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.

more… I can promise you that, and if you do not believe me ask Dave Chong, he can vouch for my pain! Be prepared, but don’t let it overshadow the joy of the day.

ON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT

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

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.

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

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 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

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

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.

“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.”

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

“Because more and more walleyes show up on these few spots, more 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.”

BELIEVE THE DOCKTALK

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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.

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

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

Stakeouts with my AQUA-VU revealed ciscoes making forays to 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.

shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. 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 @

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

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.

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

will never forget interviewing Kevin Van Dam, the winningest angler 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.”

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

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

(Continued on page 44.)

MANOTICK BAIT

competition – whoever catches the biggest fish chooses the post-fishing (spoiler: it’s almost . Play fun little pranks like releasing the fish in their hole instead of yours when they are not paying attention, and celebrate

Where You’re #1

We have worms & all sizes of

“Big” Jim’s Hand-tied Bucktail Jigs

MANOTICK BAIT

When you’re ice fishing with kids, you’re not just angling –you’re guiding, teaching, and bonding. It’s less about the fish and more about the experience. If they want to fish, great. If they want to build snowmen, that’s great too. Follow their lead, and

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

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

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

(Continued

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

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

(Continued on page 19.)

Glow in the Dark ice fishing

Just Fishing .

Summer 2020

on page 19.)

Northland Glo-Shot Spoon

Northland Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow

Bondy Bait – Bondy Bug

Canadian Baits Ice Spikez

Canadian Baits Paddle Tails

IImay be great up until a coldfront hits, but once the high pressure and frigid temperatures set in, the bite can instantly disappear. If that same front stalls in the center part of the state – which many do – it can actually improve the bite in South Florida.

t’s common knowledge that Florida offers year-round angling opportunities. The Sunshine State is saturated with lakes, rivers, ponds and streams, and nearly all provide prime fishing habitat, no matter the season.

In many instances, that habitat is quite similar to what you have in Ontario. We have lots of docks, shallow, weedy flats, lily pad fields and various forms of reeds – cover types that lend themselves to the same basic tactics used to catch largemouth bass in Southern Ontario.

Florida is also considered a premier destination for trophy-size fish. For that reason, many northern anglers plan annual pilgrimages to the state’s storied waters – like Kissimmee, Okeechobee, the Harris Chain, St. Johns River, Headwaters and others. And if their timing is right, many get the opportunity to hook into the fish of a lifetime.

When severe fronts push all the way through the state, they are usually short lived. After a few days, temperatures to the south will quickly rise and fishing conditions will return to normal. And not all cold snaps will kill the bite. In fact, the first few cool spells can actually improve it. But once water temperatures fall into the 50s and a severe front sweeps through the state, you’re looking at a serious challenge.

For those that like fishing in current, our state features countless rivers and creeks on which to explore. And they can provide safe harbor when the weather turns sour.

The most famous is the St. Johns River, which flows from Blue Cypress Lake, 300 miles north to Jacksonville, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Considered one

But not all who make the trek are rewarded... especially in the dead of winter. Florida –like many other angling destinations – can be unpredictable. Coldfronts, hurricanes, droughts, even fishing pressure can negatively affect our fisheries. So to improve your odds, let’s discuss a plan to thwart these potential setbacks.

Florida lakes are veritable salad bowls, full of all types of vegetation. Learn to sort through it by targeting points, pockets, holes and seams where different grasses mix.

The bottom line is this; try to incorporate a long-range weather forecast in your travel plans. If rescheduling is an option, use it. If not, and you’re confronted with a severe front, there are still ways to make it a productive trip. Florida offers a wide range

of Florida’s premier bass fisheries, it features numerous connecting streams and riverine lakes, plus a plethora of canals. On the Gulf Coast are countless tidal rivers, including the Suwannee, Homosassa, Apalachicola, Withlacoochee, Hillsborough and others. All offer bass anglers the chance to test their skills in current. And if faced with a severe cold front, there is no better place to find more stable conditions than in a tidal river.

Lakes, too, can offer opportunities to find current – especially when there is sufficient rainfall. Inflow occurs through feeder creeks, locks, spillways, drainage canals, etc. And no matter how insignificant the flow, Floridastrain largemouth tend to group up where new water enters any lake or pond.

Stillwater Lakes

Let’s assume you’re on a lake with zero current. What then? In the dead of winter, oftentimes your best bet is to seek out protected shorelines. Banks that face to the south can help to block northern winds, but be sure to test other parts of the lake you’re on, as wintertime wind patterns can cycle quickly. Many of Florida’s lakes feature canal systems, which can provide maximum protection from cold, blustery winds. Even better, they can be extremely productive. Our bass will seek out these protective waters during the winter, many times in preparation of an early spawn.

Feeder creeks, too, can offer safe harbor during severe fronts. Some are fully navigable, while others may require some ingenuity to access. No matter how seemingly insignificant these inflows might seem, don’t overlook them. They could hold the largest fish in the lake during winter. Weedy flats are another good bet this time of year. Fields of submerged hydrilla, peppergrass and lily pads can hold massive numbers of bass, some of which could be trophy sized. Shell beds, too, can be quite productive in the winter. Find them on hard bottom, particularly near in and outflows, or outside points of emergent grassbeds.

Tools for the Trip

Again, what works in Ontario can also produce in Florida. Lipless and shallow-running crankbaits can be very effective in and around grass or over muscle beds. When I’m fishing submerged hydrilla or eelgrass, I want the lure to make intermittent contact with the cover. Ripping it through stranding grass can trigger bass into biting, and the strikes can be vicious. Among my favourites are Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps in variations of chrome or gold and Shimano Macbeth series crankbaits in red, shad or chartreuse.

Docks and cypress trees are another good bet. For whatever reason, bass tend to hold on wood in cold weather. Floating rafts of thick, matted vegetation can also be good. Wintertime bass seek shelter beneath canopies of matted hydrilla, hyacinths, duckweed, water lettuce, even mud tussocks, and they are often among the biggest in the lake.

Shimano’s World Minnow & World Diver jerkbaits are good choices when water temperatures plummet. Fish them slowly with long pauses between pulls.

Chatterbaits, crankbaits & Senkos are always on the menu for Florida’s winter bass.

When the grass is too thick for a crankbait, I’ll switch to a white, black and blue or green/pumpkin Chatterbait tipped with matching Yamamoto Zako trailer. A tandem, willow-leaf spinnerbait is another great choice.

(Continued on page 31.)

Swimming worms like Yamamoto’s Speed Senko are excellent for combing through shallow, weedy flats. Just chunk & wind.

My preference is for those I designed for Hildebrandt, including The Blade and Tin Roller – both in the 1/2-ounce size, alewife colour pattern. Jerkbaits are another excellent choice for wintertime bass. I like Shimano’s World Diver & World Minnow in variations of gold and silver. There’s something about their Flash Boost and Scale Boost features that make them irresistible to bass, especially when water temperatures plummet.

If you’re out ahead of a front and the conditions are balmy and warm, by all means try topwaters. Poppers and prop baits can be excellent

choices in pre-front conditions. Fish them slowly with plenty of patience. They can produce throughout winter, so long as the water is reasonably warm and clear. Florida bass love to feed up and topwaters fished patiently can trigger the big ones.

Swimming frogs and toads like the Frog Factory Ribbit are also good producers, as is a Yamamoto Speed Senko. All of these are excellent for covering water, especially over shallow, weedy flats. When the bite gets really tough, that’s when I pull out the big rod and punch through matted cover with a compact, heavily-weighted flipping bait – like a Yamamoto Flappin Hog or Fat Baby Craw, either in junebug, black with blue or some variation of green pumpkin. If that fails, I’ll go to a lightly

Editor’s Note:

weighted Texas-rig or wacky-rig Senko, or a Roboworm on an 1/8-ounce shaky head or drop shot rig. The key with any of these is to fish super slow, dead sticking them around likely targets – like pad stems, dock plings, seawalls, cypress trees, shell beds or open holes in the grass.

I’m sure all of these lures and techniques are familiar to most of you, so use them with confidence... as if you were on your own water. And remember to work around the conditions. Do that with some patience and you’re likely to hook into the biggest bass of your life.

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

(Bass Fishing Florida continued from page 30.)

fast, where you need to drive your machine through a lot of water before you hit solid ice. So, you have to be very cautious. You can’t really trust any of it.”

“The biggest thing is staying away from shallow water. That could be at the access at the

2) Choose the Best Access:

“Your southern accesses will generally be better than northern accesses due to sunlight exposure. But it also depends on the body of water you›re on. Here on Devils, a lot of access points require you to travel over a lot of shallow water before you get to the deeper water. On the newly flooded lakes out here, those accesses can become very iffy, very

boat ramp; be a shallow rock pile that comes up to three feet or less; or, where vegetation reaches up to the ice surface. Especially with sunlight penetration, shallow water heats up a lot quicker, melting ice from the bottom and the top.

On Devils, we deal with a lot of shallow roads that can warm up and melt fast. Obviously, crossing those areas can be risky. For me, I avoid any areas that are shallower than three or four feet when it comes to ice travel.”

3) Hire a Guide:

“If your goal is to catch fish and minimize hassle and safety concerns, then hiring a guide on any big lake makes sense,” says Sprengel. “We monitor the ice

by: Noel ViCK

situation every day and know where not to go. That’s not as easy for anglers just visiting to determine on their own.”

Devils Lake Conditions: Early February

“We had just came off probably four or five days of sunny weather in the 40s. But surprisingly, the ice conditions are dealing fairly well,” says Sprengel. “We basically lost all our snow, which created some water on the ice in a few areas. And the landings have deteriorated in some areas. But, at the end of the day, we’re in pretty good shape compared to what we could be.”

Sprengel says while the past few days have been warmer, they’ve had foggy conditions without the sun, which has kept the ice firm despite losing snow. They’ve also had nighttime lows below freezing, which has acted as a stabilizer.

Timing Is Everything

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

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

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

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

“Surface ice doesn’t start to melt until about 1 pm in the afternoon, but the conditions are changing every day. Each morning out will be different than the day before – access points, areas with cracks, best places to cross, etc. Although we have 22- to 30-inches of ice throughout most of the lake – a solid base layer – things can change pretty fast, especially when you factor in moving water and ice melting from both the bottom and the top.”

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.

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

(Pike

Sprengel says unseasonably warm weather has kept Devils Lake ice fishing tourism down a bit, even though they have probably the best ice south of the Canadian border. is kind of cautious, which is good – and the decrease in angler numbers has taken a lot of pressure off the accesses. Those are the first areas to get really beat up,” says Sprengel.

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.

Flats

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.

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.

Despite the lack of snow and thicknesses that imply bigger rigs, full-size truck traffic is not currently encouraged, although some anglers are doing so. For Sprengel, he operates a Polaris Ranger Side-by-Side Crew Cab (with studded tires) Mitchel Voyager two-man flip-overs behind for clients to fish out of while he continues scouting.

With your electronics over you make If with sock. Great going I into had While presentation your the upwards the

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

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.

(No Forward Sonar? You Can Still Catch Fish... continued from page 20.)

& Walleye Mashup! continued. from page 36.)

(Monster Great Lakes Smallies continued from page 15.)

Lake Erie Footballs smile

Where To Start Fishing On Devils Lake

Even though Devils Lake is 50 miles east to west and 30 miles south to north, Sprengel fishes all of it in order to find the best perch and walleye bites for Perch Patrol customers. “I’ll start by putting clients on walleyes during the morning on one side of the lake and then we’ll perch fish the afternoon on the other side,” says Sprengel.

He says that a lot of it depends on the weather and sun conditions. “It’s a day-by-day thing. I typically fish walleyes in the morning. If it’s dark, foggy, or cloudy, walleyes will move up into water as shallow as four or five feet, or slightly deeper around 10- to 12 feet.”

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. 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.

Sprengel says success comes with knowing when to fish different parts of the lake. “The northern and western part of the lake has a lot more stained water. On sunny days, those are good walleye areas because of the reduced water clarity. The water clears up the farther you travel east. There can be good walleye bites in the east, too, lengthened with some cloud cover throughout the day.”

Hoodie,Whitewater Fishing Torque heated vest, Great Lakes Rain Bibs and waterproof boots with midweight socks.

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

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

(The Walleye Storm Before the Calm continued from page 24.)

“The big thing for me is a hoodie and the Whitewater Torque heated vest,” offers Sprengel.

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!

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

• Charlie Brewer's Original Slider head • Charlie Brewer's Slide Spider Head • Z-Man Finesse

2006, everything changed when, at a B.A.S.S. event, the G.O.A.T., 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!

Again, at 200,000-plus-acres, Sprengel says there can be lots of bites going on in all directions, you just have to stay mobile and find them. And then you have to dial in on the patterns to catch the walleyes or perch in those areas.

Mid- to Late-Season Perch

Sprengel says the jumbo perch bite was really good prior to the recent warm-up. Now those fish have migrated into deep, 30- to 50-foot basins, expansive areas that are made easier to cover with forward-facing sonar, but still require a lot of hole drilling.

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

Sprengel is looking for the perch travel routes, areas where he and his clients can intercept big schools of fish.

“This time of year, Devils Lake perch are always cruising. I utilize two rods: one with some kind of rattle spoon and a waxworm to call them in and then a second rod with a tungsten jig and waxy to seal the deal – especially on those days when they’re sluggish.”

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.

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 prairie-

NED & THE FUTURE OF MWF

Dressing for Late Ice Bites

Recommended Wear: Thinking of ice fishing Devils Lake this month? Know that it will be warmer than average for the next week and very comfortable. You won’t need to dress like an astronaut to stay warm. Sprengel’s system for warmer days?

A base layer: Merino wool long underwear top and bottom, Sweatpants over base layer, Whitewater Fishing Buoy

Football NedZ • Z-Man Micro Shad

HeadZ • Z-Man Finesse EyeZ jighead

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

“I wear the vest every day. The mornings are still a bit cool –or you’ll get cloud cover and it’s still damp – so having the button to engage the heating element is nice. Then I shut it off when I get warm moving around to scout areas. Once you try the vest, it is one piece of clothing that won’t leave your arsenal.

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

“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.”

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

As far as ice bibs are concerned, I’ve been wearing the uninsulated Whitewater Great Lakes bibs I wear in the boat during spring and fall tournaments over my base layers, sweatpants, and hoodie. That keeps my outfit lightweight, warm, but not too hot – and I can move around really well,” concludes Sprengel.

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

“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.”

ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

To learn more about Whitewater Fishing visit; whitewaterfish.com

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

To peg or not to peg, this has always been the age-old Weed mats blown into over hanging trees are always worth flipping!

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

(Continued on page 48.)

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

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

About the Author – Gord Pyzer:

Just Fishing . 47

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

advanced and makes for comfortable outings, there’s something to be said for keeping it simple.

Your House is Your Castle

Watched this Walleye slither through the dense weeds to hit my Northland Tungsten Buckshot on my Humminbird Xplore & MEGA LIVE 2 mounted on a Fish Armor Shuttle w/ Telescopic pole.

I have a hard house on wheels and several houses with skids and tow bars – but my favourite is an Otter flip-style insulated portable and sometimes just a bucket to sit on. While luxury RV-style wheel houses with generators can provide comfort on the ice for days or even a week, you also need more ice and probably a plowed road. You may choose to clear your own area or use a private access plowed road. Either way, you’re trying to find a parking spot, which may be limited – and may or may not be near habitats where fish live. Some end up parking on structure in good areas. Others are in no-man’s land. Some get a good spot to catch fish at night and bring portables and machines to move during the day. While the accommodations may be plush for an ice outing, I like freedom to explore the whole kingdom.

Back to Basics

During early ice, I walk on small lakes (and even big lakes) for miles RAZRing holes with a small Otter utility sled and minimal fishing gear. Some years, the ice freezes slower so I end up doing more walking to spots and fishing as close as possible. Other years, the ice thickens faster allowing more machine and vehicle travel.

snowmobile. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I set Heather up on a good spot in the fish house, while I look for a new favourite spot, sitting and fishing on my machine. I mounted my Humminbird Xplore 10” graph on a Fish Armor Light Shuttle with a MEGA Live 2 attached to a telescoping downrod transducer that all slides and locks into a holder to look around for fish or use in down mode to see fish activity levels. MEGA Live is hooked up to ethernet so I can still use a 2D transducer if needed.

My Otter Monster Box is on the back of my machine with the essentials organized and snow-free: • Tackle boxes stuffed with Northland Tackle • St. Croix Custom Ice rod combos with Sunline FC ice line spooled from 1lb. to 5lb. test, 8lb. and 10lb. SX1 green braid • iFishPro tip-ups • Amped Outdoor 14-volt 32Ah lithium batteries for light and electronics • Extra Fish Monkey gloves (Yetis and Woolys) • AFTCO Reaper hoodie • RAZR augers. The 6” bit is on my brushless drill tucked in the attached Otter ice auger shield. The other 8” bit is a spare stuffed in the Monster Box. • Tasty deer sticks and coffee.

This is easy to load on and off of a light trailer or even in the back of a pickup truck bed. And you can move fast with less gear hanging on the outside. Just drill, search and drop the lure. In comparison, during open water season with a boat you need a dock, good drop off and parking for a long trailer. Wind and waves are also big factors on open water. On the ice, wind is less of a deterrent because there are no waves tossing you around. However, ice anglers should watch out for cracks and pressure ridges on extremely windy days.

There are many bodies of water you can only access with a snowmobile; some lakes are only accessible on a snowmobile trail.The good news is that a used utility

sled costs less than an electric bike. And the best new super long track sleds on the market are a small percentage of cost compared to a new fishing boat.

FIND YOUR NEXT FISHING VACATION

FIND YOUR NEXT FISHING VACATION with FISHEASY.CA

more than likely the area you found that extends the spot will not get fished. So, even if you see another angler fish ing the sweet spot, you know you can return later because you have muskies adjacent to the sweet spot waiting for you to catch them.

ADJACENT SPOTS

Bro Pro Tip: Put carbide studs on snowmobile tracks. You will need them if you hit slush pockets in the snow, naturally caused by cracks and ice expansion, drilled holes, and plowed road banks during deeper snowfalls. When a snowmobile track hits a slush pocket, it digs down to the ice and slips on smooth ice. Studs will grip and help pop back up on top. This is a similar reason as to why UTVs and ATVs on tracks get high centered and buried in slush pockets –they have no teeth for the slippery ice.

as a template for searching other schools of fish. Walleye are fun to catch and can run large in size during early freeze up. With the fall bite continuation, you will see fish on your locator come up to your bait and most will strike.

Jim Saric with a beauty caught right at dark.

Location is essential for catching daybiters; if they’re under your ice hole, they will bite. This means RAZRing more holes and covering more water, not just shoreline drop-offs but hard to soft bottom areas near shore. Rocks and vegetation definitely helps. Shoreline connected points and high spots near the steepest edges on humps and bars are ideal areas for sunset – the “hour of power.”

Search by region, fish species, accommodation type, amenities and more!

While on the subject of extending the spot, an often more effective approach is looking for adjacent spots that might hold muskies. Last summer one early evening we found muskies relating to points that were relatively sharp breaking and not a “traditional” summer spot. After catching one musky for such a spot, we visually looked around and drove to four adjacent points that looked similar both visually and on the map chip.

Early Winter Fish Locations

I am often asked where the fish are and how they’re biting when I’m at shows or gas stations and on social media. So, I have to know! Past information is valuable only if your past information is from fall fishing. As a basis to start, I go to where I have found fish in the late fall and use these locations

Water depth can be shallower. Even during the day in winter, try 10 feet or less if youare fishing low-traffic areas. If there is any type of traffic, depths in the teens to twenties would be a better choice.

For more info visit: Daiwa.us

Search by region, fish species, accommodation type, amenities and START YOUR SEARCH NOW!

START YOUR SEARCH NOW!

Taking a Crappie break!

Amazingly, all of the other four points held muskies that evening, and it was a great end to the day. The next day the pattern from the point. Also, if there is an adjacent point nearby that could hold muskies as well.

My rods are tied with Northland Tungsten Buck-Shot Rattle Spoons tipped with a minnow head. I also like Tungsten Slim Spoons as my search baits and “hour of power” spoons. They drop fast – one with a load rattle, the other with a flicker blade. I use a deadstick if I find a spot to hang out for a while with a classic live bait presentation. This means a chunky fathead or rainbow on a red #4 Gamakatsu Octopus hook with one or two split shot. No need for heavy line on your deadstick. You will get more bites on 4- 5lb. Sunline clear fluorocarbon.

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

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 quickly past the fish to get a response.

GLOWING SUCCESS

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

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

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

biting fish.

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

the lake has to offer. A small percentage of lakes will hold panfish buried in the weeds in shallower depths from nine to 20 feet. If the growth is green, they move to the outer weed line at dark hunting insect life. For both crappie and bluegill, I use a Tungsten Flat Fry Jig with waxie or maggot, or pre-rigged plastics such as the Broom Bug or Pin Fry which imitates bloodworms and young-of-the-year minnow hatches.

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

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

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 family business, GetFishing.ca) to reach 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 cover... or they hadn’t come in yet, and 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

Plan Ahead & Keep it Simple

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.

Perch on weed edges and flats on or near the walleye areas are a bonus. On more than half of the lakes in the north country, crappies and bluegills will hold in the muddy basin – not always super deep, sometimes in the high teens or twenties for depth.

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

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

Every day I see anglers bring too much stuff and only use a portion of it. For social outings, you will need it all and then some – but if you bring less, you can cover water, fish more and catch dinner! If the gear you bring doesn’t fit in or on your Otter Monster Box, leave it in the garage. Believe me... I have been guilty of bringing too much stuff but I like catching fish more than packing and unpacking!

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

Occasionally, crappies will be over 30 feet. Bluegills tend to be creatures of edges, stocking the drop-off bottom edge or holding to the deepest weed growth

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

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

Have a safe ice fishing season! See you out there! Follow my adventures on the Bro Road Show podcast and at store visits, seminars and shows. You can also find me on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

About the Author:

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.

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!

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

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

Editor’s Note: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, of MAX, MN, is one of the most

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Continued on page 7.)

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 the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

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

(Jumbo Perch continued from page 22.)

“JUMBO” Yellow

Saltwater Tough Aluminum Frame

(Jumbo Perch continued from page 22.)

(Continued

Another Beautiful “JUMBO” Yellow from Lake Simcoe!

with Cameron Tait

For the Love of COOKING COOKING

The foods you eat are always much more interesting when the flavours are prominent and vibrant. In this case there is a bit of spice up front with refreshing accents at the finish.

Also, what makes food distinctive and memorable is the nuances of spices, and contrasting hints, for this recipe there is a flavour marriage between the trout, fennel, peach and ginger ingredients.

This mildly spicy trout recipe is terrific anytime, especially on a cold winter’s evening.

BAKED TROUT, PEACH, FENNEL & GINGER SLAW

(Yield: 2-4 Servings)

INGREDIENTS:

1 Trout, skin on, rib cage & pin bones removed

1 Lemon, thinly sliced

Salted Butter, 6 thinly slices

3 TBS Cajun Seasoning

SALAD:

4 Peach Halves, canned or Fresh, thinly sliced

250ml Fresh Fennel, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1 Roasted Red Pepper, thinly sliced

1/4 Red Onion, thinly sliced

15ml Parsley, chopped

1/2” Fresh Ginger, peeled & grated

45ml Olive Oil

15ml Fresh Lemon Juice

Kosher Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 425°f, prepare vegetables and set aside. On a baking sheet, place trout skin side up on to parchment paper, make one-inch shallow cuts in skin (to prevent fillet from curling). Lay lemon slices on top of trout, then butter slices, sprinkle Cajun seasoning on top. Place trout in oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes. In the meantime, place all salad ingredients in a mixing bowl, toss well and check seasoning.

When the trout is finished, place slaw on top of trout and serve immediately.

Happy Cooking!

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

TRENTON

Turn Negative Fish Into

Ctake some real effort. You have to pull out all the stops. Top anglers have several tricks to get the fish to bite when they don’t want to.

Fish are simplistic for the most part. They need to eat to survive. The idea of dropping down a tiny bite-size morsel for the fish to eat seems easy enough, but what about when those fish snub the bait and turn away an easy meal? Do we just sit it out or tell our friends the fish are not biting? Definitely not! It’s time to dive into the bag of tricks and pull out methods that work.

Oftentimes we are quick to change the size of the presentation we are using, but we don’t have to always follow the

will bite if the bait is presented in the right manner and action.

Switching to a plastic, whether scented or not, can trigger even the most skittish of biters. The finesse tails available today – like the Maki Polli and Niku Bolt Minnow – quiver ever so slightly and can force negative fish into a feeding frenzy. One trick with these finesse tails is to never stop the bait from moving. I encourage you to keep the plastic constantly quivering even when a fish begins its staring contest.

The fish will commit if it feels it has a suitable dance partner. Change your jigging sequence and you’ll induce hunger. Also keep in mind the option of changing the direction of movement both up and down, meaning working the entire water column even when a fish is present on your flasher. Dropping the bait below a negative fish and holding it motionless can trigger a strike too.

We are too quick to stop the bait once a fish moves in and that can sometimes be the biggest mistake we make. Look for soft and subtle baits and don’t neglect the offerings loaded with tentacles. Yes they might break off, but when the going gets tough you need to only plan for one bite at a time.

Another way to entice those negative biters is to keep things natural. By this I mean offer something in a dark brown, purple, black or blood red in colour. Leave the glows at home and “match the hatch.”

The ice fishing community is so saturated with glow options that we now feel we’re doing something wrong if we don’t fish them. I’m not saying forget the glows completely, but I challenge you to try more natural colours when seeking that extra bite.

Small blood-red noodle plastics can effectively imitate blood worm. Black jigs

can easily resemble a variety of aquatic insects. These are just a few options of natural baits, look in your tackle arsenal and find more. Fish simple and slow, and give the fish what they already eat in the natural environment.

Probably the most effective trick when nothing seems to work is to just simply pack up and move. Moving can mean to a new spot on the lake or to a new lake altogether. Don’t fall victim to sitting in one spot if the fish are not biting. I can assure you that there are biting fish somewhere, you just have to take the initiative and go find them.

Making small moves across a piece of structure is a great way to start. Followed by more drastic moves where you take the cruise across the lake to a whole new pattern. And if all else fails, hop on the road and attack a new body of water. The old saying “don’t beat a dead horse” can sometimes ring true when sitting out on the ice. Move and be the mobile ice angler I know you can be.

While our days might not always be plentiful, we still can expect to catch fish regardless of the conditions. With a little patience and adjusting, we can entice even the most negative fish into biting. Change your action, string up a finesse tail and dust off the black jigs: the fish are waiting.

Editors’ Note: Matt Johnson is the Clam Outdoors Pro Staff Director and guides in Central, MN. You can learn more about Clam at www.clamoutdoors.com or find Matt at www.mattjohnsonoutdoors.com or Matt Johnson Outdoors on all social media.

(Biting Fish continued from page 42)

The nose-down bait, receives what would be an expected approach & strike.

The pike edges near, at a distance.

Next, the pike might deliberately glide straight to the bait.

Presentations...

Vs.

Once committed, the pike keys keenly on the head of the bait

The How & When for Sumo Pike.

(as played out on the Aqua-Vu screen for you to watch and weigh-in on).

jig-and-minnow into a deadly marionette and coax tight lipped perch and walleyes into tonight’s dinner.

Still, his fishing buddy might stack a quick limit of eaters (or trigger the trophy of the day) using a more aggressive slight of hand via a straight-body spoon. Thus, it would seem (and I highly recommend) that the proper balance of horizontal presentations and vertical presentations will achieve maximum success while ice fishing.

Below, please join me in a discussion and parade of images from the GetFishing video library. Here, we’ll discuss observations and thoughts developed from fair-chase documentation of pike feeding behaviour, in their murky dwellings, throughout the ice season.

To the nose-down faithful, I would describe nose-down as the way I fish my herring at first ice and, again, at last ice. To my horizontal rigging brethren, I would suggest for midwinter, during the doldrums of February, horizontal is the way to go (most of the time). So, why the different orientation?!?

At first ice, truly giant pike, walleye and lake trout are still frequenting the main lake points and hard bottom shoals where ciscoes and whitefish just finished spawning. Spawning is hard on any fish species. Considerable mortality naturally occurs, post-spawn. Add injuries accumulated, the whole while, by big predators and it takes its toll.

EASY PICKINS OR PROWLING FOR PREY

The most controversial topic pertaining to dead bait fishing for pike is... What’s best?... horizontal presentation of the bait or nosedown, vertical, orientation? Well, this is how

To see this action live?

Visit: https://youtu.be/spzwaL4ayQs

Many ciscoes die and either sink or float (head down) within the water column. Pike become fat and sassy on expired ciscoes. Too, in the spring, after the shoreline melts and the ice sheet lifts, buoyed by in-flowing melt water, another dead bait bonanza is available to the pike.

Many suckers, perch and other fishes that got trapped during freeze up, experienced winterkill in shallow sloughs. These dead fish

DETROIT RIVER DINNER BELL

Black & Blue Plum Crazy Blue Ghost Pearl Purple Ghost Pearl Green Pumkin Pearl White

Fire Tiger Plum Crazy Bubble Gum

Blue Glow Green Glow

Wonderbread Glow

Bait is fished head down.

To see this action live? Visit: https://youtu.be/CljIfhwLdf4

Pike cautiously approaches & continues slowly but steadily.

(Horizontal

float about nose down since the head is the densest/heaviest part of the fish. For big gravid female pike the timing couldn’t be more ideal. They leisurely feed on carrion to finish egg development before the spawn.

During the winter months, when the winter doldrums take over. Begining after the ciscoes’ postspawn dispersal, when they go pelagic, and before any hint of spring warmup, the dead of winter takes hold. For anglers, this period of winter seems like it takes forever.

For pike and lake trout, this is still a time of plenty as they feed and even grow below the ice. Their favourite meal is now swimming out over open water, and they go on the hunt!

The ciscoes that were structure oriented in November into December are now anywhere. Top to bottom and basin to beach, they are only governed by the location of their pelagic

The pike keys on the head of the dead bait. The pike positions itself for a clean “scoop” of the bait from head first.

Horizontally planned baits worked for Ben Matity’s 44” pike during the January thaw.

food, microscopic zooplankton. The pike pursue them at any depth, along any structure, anywhere within the water column.

Challenge met, pike hone their skills to track, target and kill like no other time of the calendar year!

MIDWINTER PIKE PROSPECTING

So, how do we catch them?

The vertical bait presentation & pike sequence is more simple than the horizontal. This pike seems to immediately know the bait fish is dead & the murky water hides the pikes presence and / or encourages the pike to eat the prey without hesitation.

Well, an obvious idea would be to find the ciscoes; but that would equate to finding a needle in a haystack! Another option would be to abandon the ciscoes and focus on the next best thing... perch. I like this option because who doesn’t want to fish for perch while waiting for a top-up flag to pop?

Perch patterns often revolve around basin areas where the depths hold the warmest water. Depths, more than 30 feet, mean perch are often rooting in the basin mud for chironomid larvae and other delectables. Where perch are, pike will follow. Tip-ups set within the bottom two feet are an excellent option to snipe pike while scratching together a nice catch of perch.

While perch fishing, always keep an eye on your fish finder for signs of ciscoes. For example, while fishing 30 feet of water, keep an eye out for fish activity within the top half of the water column. For example, if you notice target-after-target coming through at 12 feet down, reel up to this level and try to catch whatever those fish are.

(Continued

(What’s

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

FLX-30

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

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

FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING

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

If you hook a ciscoe, and you want a shot at the biggest pike in your lake, forget the perch! Fish the ciscoes, hard! Also, bring that dead bait from the bottom to about 8 feet below the hole! Actively engage the ciscoes and keep them in a frenzy. No other presentation in the winter puts you in a better chance of attracting a monster ciscoe-eater to your dead bait.

“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

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

TIPS FOR SETTING UP

HUMMINBIRD MEGA-LIVE

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

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

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

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

Big, old pike have years and years of experience. Therefore, pike have learned how to adjust to the visual cues of a dead fish, head down, versus a potentially-live fish, sitting horizontally. Midwinter “hunting mode” of pike means they are used to tracking, assessing and killing their prey. They seem to switch from the early season “scavenger mode” where nose-down dead baits make up a significant part of their diet.

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

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

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

Bottom line, as long as the fat reserves in their liver hold up, they can stay.”

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

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

Glo-Shot Stick colours to match conditions.

HORIZONTALLY

Glo-Shot Stick colours to match conditions.

Time and time again, we’ve experienced pike attracted to a horizontally-presented herring. However, pike body language and curiosity with each bait orientation shows a totally different strategy, while investigating this “live-looking” bait versus a

Non-Breeders On Duty – More Bark Than Bite

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

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

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.

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

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.

ON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT

HERRING & VERTICAL PLACED HERRING ARE NOT “CREATED EQUAL”

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

“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.

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

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

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 @

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

To avoid the dock talk

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

(Continued on page 44.)

MANOTICK BAIT

Bucktail Jigs

8 AM – 7 PM

MANOTICK BAIT

Just Fishing . 43

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

(Continued on page 19.)

each trip with a mix of vertical and horizontally oriented baits.

About the Author: Jeff Matitdy

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.

Winter

their Glow in the Dark ice fishing plastics including

Northland Glo-Shot

Northland Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow

Magz Goby

Bondy Bait – Bondy Bug

Canadian Baits Ice Spikez

Canadian Baits Paddle Tails

TIPS TECHNIQUES &

The best time for winter walleyes

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

TAgreat time to catch winter walleyes is during the month or so after when safe ice first forms. Walleyes now are often still feeding aggressively before the tougher bite of mid-winter usually sets in. Here are some suggestions for finding and catching walleyes during this often-productive period.

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.

Finding walleyes is obviously a key to fishing success, regardless of the season, they are pursued. I target lakes at early ice that had a good fall walleye bite as the fall open-water action usually continues to early ice. On some of the shallow “prairie lakes” I fish, that usually means walleyes holding on the edges of flats with remnant weed growth.

These are hard-sided houses, yet very lightweight so I can fish from the comforts of a “permanent” icehouse while still having the lightweight and maneuverability of a portable ice shelter.

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.

Being on the right spot at the right time and fishing comfortably will up the odds for angling success considerably. The use of the right fishing lure is also important. For me, the right lure is a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head. The always reliable jigging lure at early ice. The Super-Glo Perch pattern in the 1/8-ounce size has long been my favourite.

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.

On bigger, deeper lakes it often means targeting the points and turns along flat edges that drop into deeper water, or classic off-shore structures like sunken humps and islands. Some of the same GPS coordinates that mark productive spots from fall open-water fishing trips can often be used at first ice as well!

The afternoon “daylight-to-dark” period, is usually when the best fishing action occurs, regardless of the lake was chosen. If possible, it is best to try to get on the ice as early as possible to get holes drills, houses set, and lines in the water to avoid spooking shallow walleyes when they get active. Incidentally, this year I will be fishing from the revolutionary new hybrid wheel/skid CORE ICE house when pursuing walleyes through the ice.

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,

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.

In the last couple of years, however, I have experienced days where spoons with a more fluttering action work well. Last winter I had a chance to sample the all-new Glo-Shot™ Spoon . This spoon has a fluttering action when it falls, but comes with interchangeable Glo-Shot™ Sticks that add to the spoon’s attraction during low light periods, times when walleyes often bite best.

Courtesy of Northland Fishing Tackle

These fish are often simply aggressive. You’re not working with much water so when these fish come in and punch a spoon or glide bait 3′ from the end of your rod, the hits feel electric. The fish fight hard and are still full of energy when you bring them topside.

1 REPORT

SSHOW JASON MITCHELL TARGETS SHALLOW-WATER WALLEYES.

ome of the very best walleye patterns on many different systems across the Midwest – particularly at early-ice – are happening in less than 6’....

As always, there’s a lot more info in Jason’s full Virtual Angling write-up here, but gonna plop a few excerpts below to get you started:

Jason: Shallow is relative... 10’ might be shallow on some bodies of water... other fisheries the basin or deepest water available might only be 10’. We often catch walleye in shallow water, but how shallow? A mistake I’ve made over and over in my own life is sometimes not fishing shallow enough.

If you see extremely shallow patterns unfold on a fishery during the open water period, you better anticipate some of the same skinny water patterns under the ice.

The toughest conditions seem to line up with a little bit of clear ice in clear water. These fish seem to be the most sensitive. Catching fish in shallow water during these conditions is often a low light affair and you must make a conscious effort to be quiet. Drill your holes ahead of time and keep your lights limited to head lamps that you can turn on and off. Take your ice cleats off and try not to make a lot of noise, settle down into an area and let the fish come to you. Tip-ups and extra lines set remotely can be important. The bite will often occur in the dark.

Stained water, cloudy ice and simply more ice however can make these fish much more tolerant of noise and what you can get away with. Not all shallow walleye patterns require stealth mode but universally, a lot of big vehicle traffic seems to shut down every shallow walleye bite we have ever seen. Therefore it is so important to be the angler that finds the fish first. With shallow walleye, you won’t get there in time if you are waiting for reports.

A challenge when fishing for walleye in such shallow water is simply dumping fish at the bottom of the hole when they hit the ice. Can also be a challenge navigating big fish up a hole when dealing with less than 6” of ice. These fish can back up and leverage their tails against the bottom of the ice. Almost must just plan to get your hands wet for big fish where you reach down below the ice and simply pin them to the side of the hole or get ahold of the gill plate.

Upsize those treble hooks on your lures (when fishing skinny water). Take about any spoon or glide bait and double the treble hook size. Seems like overkill but that larger hook and wider gap will keep fish pinned up much better when they hit the bottom of the ice. When dealing with a few feet of water, these fish will often hit the bottom of the ice basically when you set the hook. This isn’t a situation necessarily for finesse unless you are using live minnows below tip-ups and are simply letting the fish swallow the minnow.

2Couple of Jason’s favourite skinny-water baits are the Clam Tikka Mino

& the Leech Flutter Spoon (bottom/left). Would love to know how many fish he’s caught on these specific ones! #ChewedUp

EVER TRY OVERSIZED PANFISH JIGS FOR WALLEYES? IT WOULD BE A LOT COOLER IF YOU DID!

Maybe accidentally....

Like Dylan Foui who was busy whacking crappies when this golden bruiser (they’re not all greenbacks in Manitoba) inhaled his panfish jig. Was able to wrassle’er in on 4-lb test with his Elliott Rods Inhaler:

But how about on purpose?

If you’re fishing on pressured waters or stuck in a brutal negative bite... try tying on an oversized panfish jig with a minnow head or finesse plastic. Sounds goofy, but it’s a little trick a handful of #dialed guides have been using the last few years on crowded lakes or in clear water.

(top/right)

The biggest 1/16-oz Clam Drop Jig XL (left) has just enough hook gap on that little #8 to fish with the pinched-off head from a fathead minnow. If you wanna bump things up to a full minnow – yet still have a super compact presentation – try the 1/8-oz Clam Drop Jig XXL (middle), which comes with a #4 hook.

I’ve busted-out that XXL with a small fathead during tough bites around here and it can legit be a trip-saver. The types of days where you can see fish spook (on your electronics) just from moving a jigging spoon. And I’m too stubborn to setup 2 deadsticks – I need to be working one haha.

Bonus points: Also helps keep the “dinky” panfish away. Nothing wrong with stumbling across a 14” crappie or 10” bluegill while chasing walleyes!

BRIAN ‘BRO’ BROSDAHL’S SET-LINE JUICE.

CCan’t talk ice fishing for walleyes without talking about those bonus setlines and Bro spills the beans in this In-Fisherman write-up, few excerpts below:

How long should you wait to set the hook on a tip-up?

Old-timers will tell you to smoke an entire cigarette after the flag trips, then set the hook. Of course, this can lead to gut-hooked fish, making release difficult. But there is a kernel of wisdom in this old-school approach.

“Bro: When a walleye hits, you need to give it a little time, especially if you’re using large shiners, suckers, or rainbows. Walleyes kill their prey, but they don’t have crusher pads in their throats like bass or catfish. Their throats are just a soft membrane, so they take their time killing prey before they swallow it. Often, during the killing process they squeeze the minnow until it stops moving, turn it in their mouth, then swallow it.”

Brosdahl believes too many ice anglers set the hook when the walleye is still in the killing stage and then the fish swims away unhooked, leading to frustration. While the walleye fully intended on eating the bait, it was just going through its feeding routine, and the hook was set prematurely. “Give the walleye anywhere from 30 seconds to over a minute, depending on the size of the minnow.”

He uses 50-lb braid so it doesn’t burn fingers when retrieving hand-over-hand. To the braid he attaches a barrel swivel, a

6- to 8-ft, 5- or 6-lb Sunline fluoro leader, and a neon-coloured slipbobber knot to mark his depth positioning. He also uses a medium-sized split-shot to pin the minnow in place.

At the business end, he snells a Gamakatsu Octopus Hook for smaller to medium-sized minnows... with bigger bait, he uses a Gamakatsu Walleye Wide Gap hook. “I like fluorescent and red hooks,” he says. “Sometimes I add a little bead above the hook for added attraction. You’re fishing vertically so you don’t have to tie the bead in. It just sinks down to the hook. Dorsal-hook a minnow and set it 6 inches off bottom. In gin-clear, zebra mussel-infested waters, I might run the minnow a foot and a half off bottom.”

deep water abyss. For example, walleye may use the top of an 8 foot edge to gather before heading shallower to feed on the 6-8 foot flat.

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

Likewise, with bellies now full, they can gather on the same structure before returning to their deep-water sanctuary. However, Rob has demonstrated to me, over-and-over again, that some of the biggest walleye in the system, will not use only deep sanctuary; but, instead suspend, at the level of the shallow drop off, out in open water. In other words, they go horizontally instead of disappearing into the depths. To fish them along this 8 foot drop off, run your boat and, for example, a #7 Rapala Shad Rap RS, 50 feet back to bump bottom along this run. Next, deploy an identical Shad Rap, 50 feet behind one of the planer boards and send it out, over open water, adjacent to the 8 foot edge.

Why? The spinning offering literally emulates a dying minnow. Back in 1991, during my formative years in the Fish Behaviour Lab, at the University of Saskatchewan, I marvelled at the dying efforts of most minnow species. They literally corkscrewed through the water! I hypothesized that it was a swimbladder imbalance causing the corkscrew behaviour. A weak, easy target for the pike fingerlings occupying the same tanks!

Traditions

All walleye 20” or over are sexually mature. He puts every big mature fish back! Likewise, there is no fishing beyond 30 feet deep to reduce barotrauma on all released fish. Finally, single hook lures are employed whenever possible. Rob’s guides adhere to this high standard.

But walleyes don’t always feed near bottom. Especially if you’re using forward-facing sonar like Humminbird MEGA Live, you might notice that walleyes are cruising 4-5’ off the bottom, so you need to set your bait accordingly. “You don’t want to fish under the walleyes,” Brosdahl advises. “You want your bait at their level or slightly above.

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.

With the Cabela’s Death Roll Spinner Rig as reference, let’s investigate the anatomy of this fish-catcher: 1) The business end is the specially-curved hook; 2) attached to the monofilament harness; 3) with a freewheeling swivel. 4) After that, the beads, spinner blade and clevice are secondary to the action of the worm on the corkscrew-producing hook... Its gotta spin!

“And here’s the kicker tip. If you’re fishing an 8-10’ flat, don’t be afraid to set one of your tip-ups just off the nearest drop-off over the 30-40’ water at the same depth as the shallower, adjacent flat. You’d be surprised how many walleyes don’t run along the bottom of the break to the basin. Instead, they suspend high in the water column at the same depth as the nearby flat.

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.

(What

(Target Walleye continued from page 38.)

Upstream

I tie my own rigs using the new Gamakatsu Spin Bait hook. Like the Death Roll hook, it includes the attached swivel. From this, I will run a four foot leader of 15 pound Sufix Fluorocarbon finishing with a high-speed swivel connected to bottom bouncer weight. From this basic hook and leader, anything can be added. The Death Roll’s beads and spinner have high attracting qualities for aggressive fish; but, not as much triggering power as a colourful 5 mm bead for wary fish

Parting words from the Magnificent One… “A fish-of-a-lifetime is an old but, still, sexually-prime fish. It is invaluable broodstock with superior genetics... (It is) way too valuable to be caught only once. You wanna be a pro? Carefully release all mature fish properly and be respectful... That means leave deep water fish Alone! Kill a big walleye today and sacrifice the thrill of tomorrow.”

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

A Fishing Industry Professional for

30 years as a Fishing

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 brosguideser vice.com.

If Brosdahl is fishing a clear lake where walleyes are fussy, he’ll rig a deadstick with a red #4 Gamakatsu Octopus Hook, often sizing down to a #6 or #8 if the fish are spooky.

Why horizontal? We know vertical movements in the water column take effort since barometric pressure changes with depth and, for a fish to remain effortlessly neutrally buoyant, their swim bladder (internal lunglike organ) must actively absorb or excrete air between the air bladder and the blood. Moving horizontally is immediate and more energy efficient. Why not stay on the edge? The edge is often a crowded, high-traffic area for other fish and anglers. Suspended, blissfully, in the open water adjacent to the feeding shelf is a brilliant strategy that seems unique to big walleye. Your Shad Rap, moving by at their level, often fools these beauties.

PARTNER WITH ALLIES – Conservation is rarely quick, cheap or easy. That means you can’t go it alone. Successful conservation work is often the outcome of partnerships that bring together individuals and organizations with diverse interests.

3 WHO IS TARGET WALLEYE?

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.

The OFAH & MNRF Renewed Partnership on ISAP

Target Walleye – Walleye during open water and all species during hardwater – is brought to you by Al Lindner, Jay Ku mar, Chris Philen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-heads like you!

Screwy Spindoctor Secrets: When I guide alongside Rob at G&SMarina.com, I have as many as 4 guests pulling spinner harnesses. During a hot bite, our goal is to achieve a 100-fish day with multiple trophies mixed throughout. How? Precision boat control, all the while keeping 4 lines baited and in the water.

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.

Angling clubs and anglers would do well to engage with lake associations and other local stewardship groups to identify area of common interest. Even groups that may be in conflict at times can find common ground around broader aquatic conservation issues. Without partnerships, aquatic conservation is doomed.

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

he Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have renewed their partnership to deliver Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP)

nutrient inputs by working with farmers to keep livestock out of streams, that means we have better water quality in lakes. Better water quality means more healthy plankton and plant communities that support gamefish communities. Look beyond the easy actions that are often confused as conservation –such as installing fish attractors – and instead think about what you can do to protect and restore the entire aquatic ecosystem. That will make things better for fish, loons, kayakers, swimmers

My go-to worm is the Zman Finesse TRD. It’s a ready-to-go option that I trim to length before threading onto the Spin Bait hook. Use two-tone options having distinct dark to light colour schemes that when energetically corkscrew create a strobelike flash of counter colour hues akin to the dark back vs white belly of a minnow.

The ISAP is a collaborative initiative led by the OFAH to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species to Ontario’s forests and waters and to protect Ontario’s biodiversity. The program provides information and guidance to industry, citizens, communities, and both government and non-government agencies to undertake prevention, monitoring, control, and outreach activities. With $275,000 in funding provided by the MNRF for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the OFAH will continue to increase awareness of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of invasive species and engage the public in prevention and early detection measures.

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!

In closing, DO SOMETHING! And if you follow some of the guidance provided here, that “something” will hopefully benefit fish and aquatic ecosystems – even if indirectly. When it comes to ecosystems, rarely are relationships linear.

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 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!

Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye He was discovered in Brainerd, MN after years of wondering how in the heck people break into the fishing biz. He’s in it now, but still can’t answer that question…. Brett is one of those guys who majored in marketing, only because there was no such thing as a “fishing degree” at the time…. Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com

In other words, doing X will rarely ensure that we will have the outcome Y. Ecosystems are complex and pathways of action tend to be indirect. For example, if we can cool lake inflows by planting trees and reduce

G&S Exclusive Tactics: Watch walleye eating spinner rigs at youtube.com/matitysgetfishing to see on-the-water footage showing how walleye follow a spinner harness, for a remarkable distance, before biting. There is a combination of visual appeal, vibration and scent that elicits a strike. The natural phenomenon that made the Original SloDeath hook a universal catch-all has not been well explained. The curved hook must marry with the bait properly to energetically corkscrew in the water.

The Zman plastics cling to the hook remarkably well. They do not disintegrate with every strike as live worms do. Finally, the addition of any Pro-Cure SuperGel scent makes walleye slurp the worm without hesitation. These artificially intelligent adaptations increase time in the water / fish in the boat execution.

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!

& 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.

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

For his deadsticking routine, he’s been using the same simple and economical technique for over 30 yrs. “While deadstick-assisting devices and baitfeeder reels have become all the rage, I prefer to deadstick the cheap and old-fashioned way. I put a rubber band on the handle of my St. Croix Dead Eye rod, flip the bail open, take a little bit of the line out, and tuck it under the rubber band – then, when the fish hits, it pulls the line out from under the rubber band and can run freely with the minnow.”

Bottomless Pot of Gold? Walleye can live for several decades. A female’s egg quality improves her whole life and her job eating carp and suckers is vitally important to the entire ecosystem. Rob has a strict Camp Policy where pictures and measurements are taken of trophy fish so that his guest can still get a replica for their wall.

In 2021-2022, the ISAP will be delivering digital outreach through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@invspecies), hiring a team of summer staff to deliver community-based initiatives, attending events and/or meetings, receiving reports of suspect invaders through the Invading Species Hotline (1-800-563-7711) or the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (eddmaps.org), and continuing to support efforts to eradicate water soldier from Ontario. The ISAP will also be delivering aquatic invasive species outreach as part of the binational Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, and through the delivery of campaigns like Operation Boat Clean and Operation Bait Bucket in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

About the Author Dr. Cooke is a professor of fish ecology at Carleton University (www. fecpl.ca). He is an avid angler and advises governments around the globe on fisheries management and conservation. He is also a Science Ambassador for #Keepemwet Fishing.

“Over the course of 28 years, we have successfully raised