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WITH A FOCUS ON BASS & WALLEYE – BUT WITH ACCESS TO ALMOST ALL PRODUCTS!

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9 –

WALLEYE PATTERN

ciscoes – that some anglers know better as lake herring and tulibees –but what about shiners? They just may be the biggest secret to unlocking the locations and presentations to the best walleye fishing of your life.

We interviewed Dr. Paul Cooley on our Doc Talks Fishing podcast and it was mind-blowing. Paul is the renowned fisheries scientist who first detailed the walleye shiner connection that occurs wherever shiners exist – which is just about everywhere – but especially on flat, featureless, relatively large lakes.

It really is the conditions that are the setup to this and the time of year when the shiners come ashore.

ashore to spawn. So they’re coming up on these beaches and they’re spawning in shallow water. And what we have found is that it takes about two days of relatively calm weather. It doesn’t have to be perfectly calm. Just not a lot of way of wave action because the fish literally want to get on the sides of the sandbars.

In these nondescript lakes, Cooley told us that you often find walleye in shallow water over smooth bottomed habitats. The last place most anglers ever look for the fish. The lakes are shaped like bowls, he said, and the walleyes are roamers. But there’s one time of the year when the shiners come ashore and the walleyes follow them in and go berserk.

“I was in university, working with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Freshwater Institute,” Dr. Cooley told

“If you’re a local, you can key onto it pretty easily because you’re sitting on the lake. But if you have to choose your days, it all depends on the wind. The time of year when the shiners come ashore is when the spring is transitioning into summer.

“The lakes are starting to set up their thermal structure. The trees are vibrant green. Everything is just growing and you’re moving out of spring and into summer. And that’s when the shiners are coming

“The walleyes are in less than waist deep water. We’ve actually seen them crossing sandbars in schools in two feet of water. We pulled up on a beach one day around 10:30 in the morning. It was 28 °C , glass calm and not a breath of wind. I was putting our lures on, we hear this sound, and my wife, Cathy says, “What’s that?” Being the scientist, I said, “it’s just the lake giving off gas”. But what it was, was thousands of shiners jumping for their lives. You could see the walleyes, you wouldn’t see the fish itself,

A Line From “Big” Jim

Looks like we are on the back end of a winter that started late here in the east, but is going out swinging with everything its got. I am watching the snow fall as I write this in early April.

Most of the consumer shows have come and gone. The high point for me was having the honour of presenting Dave Chong with the Rick Amsbury Award of Excellence at the Spring Fishing & Boat Show. Then, hosting my Kids Casting Pond at the Ottawa Boat & Outdoors Show for the 30th year. The entire show rocked with great boat sales and an ever expanding sport fishing area that was packed the entire event.

The Spring issue of Just Fishing is due up just in time to get you thinking of open water fishing. If you looking to improve your success on the water, take time to make a few notes from what you read in this issue and be sure to take it to the lake or river this year. We have retired TV personality Ron James updating us on his new venture in life, revolves around the growing striped bass fishery down east and how you can become part of it.

There is piles of walleye content from some of the best that exist... Al Lindner teaches us to Play the Wind for Walleye, then Dave Chong remembers the original Canadian Bassmaster, Hank Gibson at a time when Canuck anglers are tearing it up down south. Our own Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson talks to us about the benefits of fishing with a guide, which is informative to say the least. Our resident fly fishing expert Dan Notarianni shares 5 Must Have Flies for Spring Trout and there’s Jeff Matitiy’s tongue in cheek piece – Girls Rule... Boys Drool... For the Love of Cooking with Chef Tait is cooking us up something yummy. Target Walleye and a new feature turning Trash to Treasure rounds out the Spring issue. So sit back and enjoy!

Please fish safe this summer and take a kid or an old dawg like me fishing this summer.

“Big” Jim

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

Publisher

“Big” Jim McLaughlin

Managing Editor

Tammy Wight

Contributors

Liam Whetter & Gord Pyzer

Al Lindner, Tim Allard

Jeff Gustafson

David Chong

Cameron Tait, Brian Brosdhal

Jeff Matity, Ron James

Daniel Notarianni

Brett McComas

Box 214 Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0.

Phone: (613) 387-8735

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

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

On The Cover: Main – Ron James, photo – ronjamesoutdoors.com, Sonic Stimuli 4 Walleye, photo – Cameron Boake, Spring Panfish, photo – Brian Brosdhal, Ever Fished With A Guide? – Jeff Gustafson, Playing the Wind for Walleyes, Photo – Al Linder.

(The Most Overlooked Spring Walleye Patterns continued from page 3.)

but in the shallow water, you could see strings of shiners going from left to right. And these fish were coming in like sharks. For five hours we got sunburned catching walleyes up to 29 inches.

“The beach was three kilometres long and it was loaded with shiners. And you could look down the length of the beach and see minnows jumping for their lives. And the walleyes were coming in at 20 kilometres-an-hour just slamming these schools. It was a spectacle to see.”

What I especially found intriguing was listening to Dr. Cooley explain the best beaches to find the shiners spawning and therefore, the best spring walleye fishing. They have absolutely no weed

growth or isolated boulders. He says weeds and rocks are indications that you’re in a “low energy environment” and not where sand deposition is occurring. So if the beach has weeds it is not the best habitat.

“The ideal beaches tend to be crescent-shaped,” says Cooley. “They tend to have a predictable edge and the walleyes are working this edge. If you’re walking in the water you’re on sand. Sometimes you’re sinking a little bit in mud. Those tend to be flat shelves. When you walk down a beach, every step you take, you’re getting a little bit deeper, a little bit deeper. And I think that’s why they really prefer these environments.”

When you listen to Dr. Cooley explain the walleye pattern on the podcast, you’ll become as excited as we were, and want to get out at the crack of dawn to take advantage of the fishing. But Cooley says sleeping in is a much wiser strategy.

“The best fishing is in the middle of the day,” he told us. “There have been times where we say, okay, let’s get out at daybreak. And you know what? We’ll fish for three hours and almost catch nothing. Ten or 11:00 o’clock is when people come out on the beach, the shiners move in and the fishing starts.

“There have been times, of course, we’ve had to leave because it’s so hot you get sunburned. Other times we say, okay, we did really well yesterday, let’s get an early supper and go out at four o ‘clock. And then in the evening it slows down. So lunchtime is the best time to catch walleyes on the beaches.”

(Continued on page 6.)

FEEL CONNECTED.

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

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

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

Of course, listening to Dr. Cooley tell us about the amazing fishing you can enjoy on these shiner spawning beaches, it was only natural that we asked him to tell us about the patterns he uses to catch the fish. The important ingredient he told us is trolling a dark coloured lure that stands out from the crowd – remember there are millions of shiners on the beach – and that oscillates, vibrates and scrapes the sand. Surprisingly, too, he doesn’t let out a lot of line.

“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.”

“If the pattern is really happening,” says Cooley, “you can troll your lure 10 feet behind the boat and it doesn’t matter. When it’s sort of half on / half off, we’re typically troll 100 feet behind the boat moving in an S-pattern. And even if you’re catching fish on your first pass, keep going down the beach. The best school might be at the other end.

“The biggest fish are in the biggest schools. So, at least for the first few passes when you get there, even if you’re catching fish, trudge forward. Don’t stay on the fish because there’s probably somewhere else where it’s actually a bit better.

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

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

“Eight-pound test line and lures that get down about four feet deep are perfect. So shallow water lures that oscillate a lot and make noise. I don’t typically use baits with rattles in them in these conditions because the bill or lip of your of your diving lure is going sand anyway and making tons of noise in the shallow water.”

IN THE WEEDS

Flats

Of course, as good as trolling is, Cooley says when the walleye bite is hot and heavy, you can also cast. Which is what he does when he wants to catch a few fish himself.

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.

Like Mitchell, Takasaki is enamoured by the explosion of fresh weed growth that occurs during the summer peak period, when

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

(Continued on page 8.)

TRENTON

“As the guy driving the boat, when everybody’s catching so many walleye, all I’m doing is being the net man and taking care of everybody’s fish. At least this way I can get a cast or two in. My wife and I were out one day last summer and this pattern was smoking. We were catching so many fish I couldn’t remember what direction I was trolling. Eventually I said, let’s turn off the motor and fish here.”

Now, one last walleye/ shiner beach secret. We’ve found the pattern prevails in the spring even on heavily structured Shield-types lakes, so long as they have the pure sand beaches that Cooley describes. We launched one day last spring, for instance, around 11 o ‘clock and when we got to our favourite beach, where we often take the pontoon boat and swim, it was onesies and

You can listen to the entire Doc Talks Fishing podcast with Dr. Paul Cooley by clicking HERE

Editor’s Note: “Liam Whetter is a passionate multi-species angler from Northwestern Ontario, always chasing the next bite no matter the season. He’s all about the pursuit, from frozen lakes in the dead of winter to remote backcountry waters. With a fascination for aquatic biology, he’s nearly as obsessed with understanding fish as he is with catching them. Whether it’s big fish, wild places, or the stories that come with them, his experiences on the water fuel his storytelling, capturing the adventure, the work, and everything in between.”

(The Most Overlooked Spring Walleye Patterns continued from page 6.)

Almost Almost

Jumbo perch can save the day when crappies & bluegills are finicky!

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

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.

I love big slabs on light tackle!

About the Author:

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.

situation. When people ask my what I think fish mistake the Ned Rig for my response is, ‘I don’t care what they mistake it for, as long as they’re biting it’.” Gord added, “If we’re fishing the clear waters of Whitefish Bay on Lake of the Woods, I like natural and neutral colours versus some of the brighter twotone colours in Kenora’s algae stained waters.”

FISH IT RIGHT: RETRIEVES, RODS, REELS & LINE

Note that crappies and bluegills are not coming in to spawn right after ice-out. Spawning temperatures are in the low 60s for crappies and low 70s for bluegills. They are coming in to feed after a

long winter. If temperatures rise in the high 50s, panfish start swarming creeks, river mouths, boat harbors and shallow bays. In the 50s-40s temperature range, they stage outside of these areas on the aforementioned flats.

Some lakes have bite windows where the panfish are active in the morning and evening. Other lakes bite all day. Gin-clear water and lack of cover make for finicky panfish.

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

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.

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

Gauge the lure size along with temperature readings. If the water is warmer, go for larger Tungsten Feather Jigs with 2-3 wax worms or a crappie minnow. If the water is cold, pack ice fishing tackle like Northland Fishing Tackle’s Flat Fry Jigs, Mud Bug, Gill Getter and plastic pre-rigged Bloodworm Tail with a single wax worm or micro crappie minnow.

I use a St. Croix 7-foot Legend Elite Panfish rod for casting dropshot or slip bobber. I go to a 6-foot rod for vertical fishing. All rods are paired with a SEVIIN GS Series 750-sized reel, which keeps the combo light and helps with finesse panfish

BRO PRO TIP

Perch fishing can be fast and furious which means handling lots of fish. I wear Fish Monkey Stealth Dry-Tec Gloves because I’m able to bait my hook and handle fish on nasty cold days without removing them. On cold wet days, I also wear an AFTCO Reaper Windproof Jacket layered under my Fortress Rainsuit.

(Continued on page 52.)

Use Sunline 5-lb. Sniper for jigging, slip bobber and drop coloured neon hooks size 6 and 8 for drop shotting wax worms or crappie minnows. Sometimes adding a contrasting coloured 5mm bead in front of the hook helps trigger bites. This is a great

A tungsten sinker is the best choice when using a dropshot. Tungsten is 30% heavier than lead allowing you to have a smaller profile sinker for the weights you need. Tungsten sinkers come in many shapes and sizes. Cylinder shape

line twist and prevent cut-offs from toothy critters like pike.

Zman ZinkerZ

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

or teardrop work the best. One-sixteenth, 1/8 and 1/4 will cover water depths from 10-30 feet.

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.”

Anglers Please Note: Detroit River has lots of suspended walleyes so fish them where you see them in the water column.

Remember that crappies and bluegills in the basin on clear lakes can be boat-shy in the spring. This is when water is at its clearest

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.

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

Coppertreuse

My weapon of choice is a St. Croix Legend Elite 7’ Medium Extra Fast spooled with Sunline SX1 10lb. braid in green or hi-vis yellow. Top it off with 2-3ft. of Sunline FC 8lb. leader. It prevents ripping the walleye’s mouth and allows you a break spot if you are snagged.

High or Low Water

PurpleHaze

“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.”

“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 (or renamed) 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. Whether 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!

to the lineup with a couple of new plastics, the Baby BallerZ and Micro Goat. They also introduced a new jighead, the Micro Shad HeadZ in black, pink, chartreuse and glow finishes. The Micro Shad HeadZ are available in 1/32 oz., 1/16 oz, 1/8 oz. and 3/16 oz. sizes and are poured on a 90-degree jig hook. The location of the line tie on the top of the jighead makes them ideal for a vertical presentation such as used in ice fishi

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!

Spring runoff can create high water on rivers at times, the launches can be under water, which obviously makes launching difficult.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE NED RIG?

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 and catch fish.

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

FISH IT RIGHT: RETRIEVES, RODS, REELS & LINE

“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 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

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.

About the Author:

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.

small barrel swivel and about 16 inches of

“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,

Jig Head

(Continued on page 52.)

any part of the lower untit or hydrofoil find clearer water for your best opportunities, please note Rainy River is alot darker water than the Detroit River so you don’t have to see quite as far 6” in good for the Rainy. Detroit is gin clear but gets muddled from wind and waves lightly cloudy is ok if its keep searching you might be surprised

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

Inclement Weather

“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.”

Some lakes have crappies, bluegills and jumbo perch. This gives options! If the crappies and gills are slow, go to the surviving weed edge to catch pre-spawn perch allowing a successful day when one of the three species bites. Jumbo perch always seem to cooperate during adverse weather. Perch numbers are strong; there are simply more jumbos on most lakes than crappies and bluegills. A Northland Tungsten Crappie King Fly Jig tipped with 2-3 wax worms or a small fathead minnow will tempt a fat perch. Bright colours are best when fishing perch and their target zone is the bottom two feet of the water column. Short dropshot will also work on windy days. Go to slip bobber on calm days.

YOU are invited to come along for the ride…

This is the time of year when winter can bounce back for a day or two. On the other hand, there could be a heatwave. Up or down extreme barometric readings may turn the fish off, as well as muddy water on these rivers. But you can’t catch the fish at home. In my opinion, the worst bite in a boat on early open water is better than not going at all! I just make sure I’m prepared.

Zman TT Lures

Zman OG Mushroom Jig Head

Better Than Basic

NedlockZ HD Jig Head

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

I always have my AFTCO Reaper Hoodie and my Hydronaut heavy-duty waterproof suit ready to go in the giant storage compartment in my Lund GL 219 I wear my Fish Monkey Stealth Dry-Tech or Wooley Gloves all day. I never have to take them off while baiting minnows, pitching and handling fish, too.

“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?”

Does anyone remember using a rope with an anchor? There have been many advances with fishing technology. Anchoring on a school of panfish is a simple push of the Spot-Lock button on my Minn Kota remote and the trolling motor will hold me there until I hit the button to disengage.

“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 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?”

Amped Outdoors offers 24-volt and 36-volt lithium batteries. I have two 36-volt batteries and their performance is unparalleled. This keeps my trolling motor running all day in the wind, which is incredibly important for success on my guide trips.

Jeff & Jason Matity

Visit our YouTube Channel & SUBSCRIBE for FREE!!

YOUTUBE.COM/MATITYSGETFISHING

“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

Don’t forget to check your batteries before you hit the water. Start your outboard motor for a quick second and then test your trolling motor batteries. This is best done at home rather than

The new Humminbird XPLORE graph with MEGA Live 2 can see fish and lures at great distances. The mapping allows you to highlight potential flats that could hold crappies and

Just Fishing . 35

Just Fishing . 29

with Cameron Tait

For the Love of COOKING COOKING

This classic French dish was initially only adored in upscale, fine dining restaurants. Trout are a species of freshwater fish found in a multitude of lakes and rivers throughout Canada. Besides being a superb sport fish, trout are exceptionally high in amino acids, a 4-ounce fillet contains over 60% of your daily intake for protein.

Health benefits aside, trout is a very straight forward fish to fillet and cook with a multitude of flavour possibilities. In this recipe there is a delicate flavour balance between the trout, the salty capers, the creamy butter, and the light acidic touch of fresh lemon, flavour perfection!

TROUT ALMONDINE WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE

(Yield: 4 Servings)

INGREDIENTS:

4 x 4oz Trout Fillets, Skin on, pin bones removed

Pinch Kosher Salt & Pepper

30ml Canola Oil

125ml Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine

3 Cloves Garlic, Chopped

30ml Capers

DIRECTIONS

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

1/4 Cup Butter, Diced into cubes

45ml Slivered Almonds, Toasted

15ml Fresh Parsley, Chopped

Kosher Salt & Pepper to Taste

Lightly score the skin side of the trout with a sharp knife, season with salt and pepper. Using a non-stick pan set over medium-high heat, add canola oil and place trout skin side down, sear until trout skin is crispy then flip over and reduce heat to medium. Add white wine and garlic to the pan, let wine reduce by half then add capers and lemon juice. Bring liquid to a simmer, add lemon juice, butter and almonds, swirl pan to melt the butter. Add parsley and adjust seasoning if necessary, serve immediately.

Cheers!

Cameron’s tip: Be cautious not to overcook the trout as it can be dry when cooked for an extended period of time.

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.

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AAs a teenager, my goal was to be a fishing guide. At the time, it was probably a bigger dream than winning the Bassmaster Classic for me. I had been around some of the top local guides on Lake of the Woods at area bass tournaments and I just thought they were the coolest guys. What a job it must be to take people fishing was what my perception was at the time.

EVER FISHED WITH A GUIDE? EVER FISHED WITH A GUIDE? EVER FISHED WITH A GUIDE?

I did get my wish of becoming a fishing guide and it opened a lot of doors for me over the years. The question I have for those of your reading this is how many of you have spent a day in the boat or on the ice with a guide? The rest of this story is going to cover some of the advantages to hiring a guide on your next fishing adventure and some of things you should know, as a customer.

The story of my first guide trip has been covered before so I’ll make it brief. When I was 14 years old, I begged then owner of Ash Rapids Camp on Lake of the Woods, Roger Clinton, to give me a job. I understood that I would have to put in my time doing work around the camp and eventually I would get my shot. That shot came earlier than expected one day in June when another guide didn’t show up. I was a skinny, geeky looking kid at the time and I’m sure the guests were far from impressed when I jumped in the boat and drove away from the dock but I took them to my best spots and we had a good day.

Throughout high school and university, working as guide was a great summer job. I was on the water all the time and I worked at a number of different camps each summer. Most on “the Woods” but I did spend time on Rainy Lake and at a few fly-in outfits as well. I wanted to fish as many tournaments as I could on the weekends so I just floated around to different camps to work when they would have busy weeks. It also allowed me to fish a variety of different waterbodies, which no doubt helped me become a better angler. Eventually I started my own guiding business and started running my own trips.

By: Jeff Gustafson

If you’re traveling and unable to bring a boat or your own fishing gear to a location, hiring a guide is the easiest way to get out on the water with someone who is knowledgeable and can show you a good time, maybe even teach you a thing or two. Over the years I have fished with guides many times, especially on saltwater trips where I have almost zero knowledge or proper equipment. I’ve fished with guides at some unique locations like the Fraser River in B.C. where we fished for sturgeon and the on Nipigon River where we caught beautiful brook trout. Catching redfish with a guide while I was in Charleston, South Carolina was a really memorable trip.

Sunset Country lake trout – a unique species for many anglers.

A good day taking people smallmouth bass fishing.

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!

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

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...

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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:

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.

Plane Over Unfished Waters:

for touching up ElaZtech.

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.

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

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...

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

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

(Hammer Tough on Post Spawn Walleyes continued from page 41.)

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If you’re reading this column, you probably spend some time fishing and know the expense of the boats and all of the equipment involved in fishing today. While it’s true that you can still fish on a minimal budget, to get out and really experience a special day on the water, going with a guide who has all of the equipment is an important part of the experience.

sitting on your spot or see them posting pictures of fish on social media from the places that you took them.

In most cases, it’s worth having a conversation with your guide about fishing these locations in the future. They might tell you to go ahead or they might tell you to look for similar locations, which in most cases, especially on a place like Lake of the Woods, are not hard to find. Just have some respect for the time and work that your guide has put in to show you how to catch fish. Usually as a guide, it’s pretty obvious if our guests are looking to poach our spots or areas for their own use and if we get that vibe, we’re probably not going to take you to the good spots. Just something to keep in mind.

Around Lake of the Woods, the going rate for a fishing guide for the day is between $750 -1000. When you consider the cost of a boat, gas, tackle, bait in some cases, insurance and other expenses, the guides aren’t making as much money as you think with the significant daily rates. Expect to pay good money to go with the anglers that know what they’re doing. They will show you best time.

A lot of anglers hire guides on water that they have some familiarity with as an educational experience and that’s great. You can learn some of the specific tricks that these anglers are using to find fish and catch them. As electronics become more advanced, there are quite a few guides who are now offering electronics classes to teach and, in some cases, even set your units up for you so they are working their best.

One thing to keep in mind if you do hire a guide on a body of water that you are going to fish on your own, is to respect the locations and information that they are going to share with you. Nothing infuriates a guide more than taking some guests out and then returning days later to find them

I have had some nightmare guests over the years but the majority are awesome to spend the day with. One time I had a group of anglers on an ice fishing trip for a couple of days. We had great fishing and caught walleyes, crappies and lake trout on Lake of the Woods. A month of two later a friend informed me that a bunch of my fishing spots were marked on one of the popular mapping apps. Someone from that group shared

all of the locations that I took them to on an app for everybody to see. Not cool. I’ve only had one occasion where the guests from a multiple day trip didn’t pay and one other occasion where some guests tried to leave without paying before a friend who was helping on that trip confronted them and they paid up.

A guide can teach you how to get the most out of your electronics.

Redfish in South Carolina.

Lake Nipigon brook trout with guide Gord Ellis.

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

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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.

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Sharing reliable, guarded, insider information with one or two trusted friends is a good thing, but relying

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Practicing my shore lunch as a young teen.

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

WANT

These are a few of the things that drive every fishing guide crazy.

Don’t get in the boat with mud or excess dirt on your shoes. Our boat is our office and we’re going to be cleaning it up after you leave.

Don’t reel your bait into the tip of the fishing rod, ever! My guests get to use top of line G. Loomis rods and it drives me nuts when they just reel a jig into the tip of it and throw it down.

Listen to what your guide tells you. As I mentioned, we want you to catch fish more than you want to catch fish… if we tell you to cast in a certain direction or jig your bait a certain way, let us help you.

For what it’s worth, kids are much better listeners than adults.

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.

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.

more importantly, their social

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media, where they are likely going to be posting some of their catches and experiences. If a guide has been at it for a while, they’re probably doing it because they love to be on the water and share their experiences with others. Many of the mediocre guides come and go within a few years because it’s not an easy way to make a living when you consider all of the expenses, the shorter seasons and weather that they have to deal with, especially in Canada.

(Continued on page 19.)

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Guide trips are a great way for businesses or corporations to treat their employees or customers to a good day on the water. Around Lake of the Woods, there are a bunch of good guides that have to ability to accommodate larger groups, offer a shore lunch where everyone can get together to eat and just have fun as a large group. Something to consider if you’re looking to show people important to you a good time.

LIVE BAIT & TACKLE

At the end of the day, fishing is fishing. We are trying to catch a living creature that has to decide to bite. Over the years I’ve had plenty of tough days on the water with paying guests in boat but regardless of how the fishing goes, we always try to have fun. Sometimes that means chasing something other than the target species to get some action or exploring new water to make something happen. Just remember that your guide probably wants you to catch fish more than you want to catch fish.

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.

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Shore lunch in Sunset Country.

in my eyes – a show that’s as entertaining as ever and still growing strong.

But after decades of nonstop travel and filming, it was time for a change. My beautiful wife, Kim, and I had built a blended family of four incredible kids, all of whom are now grown and pursuing their own dreams. We wanted to slow down, to find a place where we could put down roots and live a simpler, more intentional life. That place turned out to be New Brunswick.

FISH TV became a household name, and I was proud to be part of a show that not only entertained but also educated and inspired anglers everywhere.

To this day, FISH TV and its host, Leo Stakos remain the gold standard

We fell in love with the rugged beauty of the Miramichi region, its pristine rivers, and the warmth of its people. We bought a little homestead on thirteen acres, complete with a few cows, a flock of chickens, and our loyal farm dog, Mich – short for Miramichi, of course.

It’s a peaceful life, one that allows us to connect with nature and each other in ways we never could before. And yet, even in this slower pace, my passion for fishing burns as brightly as ever. The Miramichi River is a special place, not just for its natural beauty but for its incredible fishery. The river is legendary for its Atlantic salmon, but it’s the striped bass that have captured my heart in recent years.

There’s a remarkable story behind their resurgence. Decades ago, overfishing and habitat degradation nearly wiped out the striped bass population in the

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warrant a return visit at dusk.

“bait of the year” a couple of times because they are versatile baits that will put big bass in the boat.

This provides them with an array of options to hunt prey and to rest. Change your focus from not only learning individual spots but to understanding the broader area in which a high percentage spot is contained.

the hundreds per bait for some of the custom made hard bodied lures.

Year 1 of the Next Cast Youth Fishing Program a Huge Success!

Pull the nylon tape to retrieve the power cord from the sonar end. This process is easier with a friend pushing the power cable and feeding nylon tape from the battery’s end. Wrap knots with painter’s tape for security.

(Dawn Breaks on the Miramichi continued from page 22.) is always a good starting point. But if the fish aren’t there – at least now... or yet – don’t waste your time fishing there; move back out deeper to find them. This necessitates a casting approach to cover water and locate active fish, rather than fishing a sit-and-soak bobber tactic in known, fish-holding cover.

(Sidebar ) Rigging is fun, but if you’d rather catch fish instead or aren’t keen or electrical work, leave the task to the experts. Marinas and specialty tackle

Ironically, the same invasive species that these fish are feeding on, round gobies, are quick to pounce on eggs and bottom fry if the guarding male smallmouth is angled. In my opinion, we might want to re-think this situation if we want to maintain the quality of these fisheries because it is clearly not consistent with our approach to managing bass in inland lakes in this region.

I4: Unwrap painter’s tape and untie the sonar cord, pulling enough for mounting and operation needs.

You’re On My Spot!!

sonar and fish-finding tools that provide a real-time view of the underwater landscape. These technologies take fish detection to the next level, allowing you to observe fish movements and structure in unprecedented detail. Adjust your technique based on their response. Understanding the underwater environment can be a game-changer.

Today, the river is thriving, and the spring run of striped bass is nothing short

The best baits have a natural appearance and a lifelike action, which local anglers are finding work really well for catching pike and musky in Canada. Many swimbaits are designed to mimic shad, a wide-bodied baitfish common in most southern waters but designs are available to imitate every baitfish and prey fish you can think of including small trout, perch, bass and suckers.

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Miramichi. It was a dark time for the fishery, and many feared it would never recover. But thanks to strict conservation measures, habitat restoration efforts, and the dedication of local communities, the stripers made an incredible comeback.

n 2017, the Next Cast Youth Fishing Program launched with the focus of educating 10 to 13 year old children from the community. We’re not only teaching them how to fish but how to explore, face new challenges, meet new

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bait down in the water. Catching a trophy fish on a lifelike swimbait is a fun and effective way to do it.

your rod a jolt to rip the weeds that might have got caught on a blade. A bait casting reel with a high gear ratio will allow you to reel in quickly to trigger a bite but also to take up the slack when smallmouth decide

Chatterbaits are a great bait for fall largemouth fishing because they shine for use around sparse grass where it grows on the hard bottom areas mentioned above. Think places that are a little to clogged up to throw a crankbait effectively. The effectiveness of these bladed jigs is that they can be easily ripped from grass and that is one of the key triggering qualities to get bites.

While extraordinary, these tungsten lures are, at their core, bait-delivery systems. The main attraction is still live bait or attractive plastics in a variety of body styles and colours.

Gruenwald rigs a minnow on a style jig. The design keeps the bait off bottom and visible to fish.

Start trolling by first watching the spoonfly rig at boat side to check that it’s running properly. This also gives you clues on the setup’s speed limitations. After gathering this data and you’re confident the rig’s running

On popular musky waters close to major cities in the US, it’s commonplace to find four or five boats working a well-known spot while two or three more wait their turn. Luckily in Canada, we rarely encounter this level of competition but certain systems get pounded regularly. Having to share primo musky turf with other anglers is happening more frequently.

These are also very easy baits to use. Cast them out, let them get down in the water column for a few seconds and then start your retrieve. Much like a crankbait, I like to pause them a couple times during the retrieve to catch any potential followers, but for the most part these are cast and wind baits.

When it comes to catching a trophy pike, ice season is the best time to catch one and using a tip-up with a quick-strike rig like a Northland Predator Rig tipped with a dead cisco or herring is the number one way to catch one. It’s proven, hands down, across the ice belt. Set your bait about a foot above the

tournaments in North America over the past few years than any other bait. It features premium components, starts to vibrate as soon as it hits the water and is a proven fish catcher. The CrossEyeZ Chatterbait is a new one that was released in 2020 that features a wire weed guard, designed for use around wood. You can keep the weed guard or pull it out and you have a great bait that has a quality hook and is more affordable than

Fishing the graveyard shift from sundown to sunrise is popular on heavily pressured systems in the States. Chucking musky baits in the dark is a whole different game and safety is the operative word. Familiarity with the water, proper lighting, and a minimalist

If you have fished in any Canadian bass tournaments you have likely heard of marabou jigs and their use by anglers. Over the past decade the secret has gotten out on these little jigs, whose origin in tournament fishing started

Of course, these swimbaits will work in traditional pike and musky locations but an often-overlooked place to cast for these big predators during the spring and summer is to fish shallow cover like docks and trees hanging in the water, a top tactic amongst Lake of the Woods anglers. Muskies in particular will patrol a piece of cover like a dock and a lifelike minnow imitator swimming up along the side of it is an easy meal. Cast parallel to the dock and retrieve your swimbait about a foot beneath the surface at a slow and steady rate.

environment

Year 1 of the Next Cast Youth Fishing Program

Bite size is the right size for spring panfish!

5: Tie off the nylon fish tape at both ends, leaving in place for future rigging needs.

Visualize pods or schools of roaming crappies, slowly cruising their way across remnant weed growth, somewhere along a path between the shallows and the first drop-off to deep water. The more active they are, the more they’ll tend to ride above the cover and strike a moving bait. The less active they are, the more they penetrate down into the cover, although they may rise up to strike a bait moving overhead at the right speed and depth. The challenge is to slowly move your boat along this path, fancasting in all directions, seeking to

Jeff Matity with yet another jumbo perch –getfishing.ca.

If avoiding the “weekend warrior” brigade isn’t an option, all is not lost. Many musky anglers aren’t morning people. Being on your first spot at daybreak is a solid strategy. Even though muskies are more active as the day progresses peaking in the hour or so before and after sundown, quality fish can certainly be caught at dawn.

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lures, your choice of line and wand is critical. Premium Sufix monofilament or Fluorocarbon, rated at 2, 3 and, at most, 4 pound test fish tungsten gems to their maximum effectiveness. Solid graphite or noodle fiberglass rods such as HT Sapphire and Ice Blues rods, respectively, have served me very well.

Drilling holes in a boat makes most anglers a tad anxious. Installing a

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Z-Man offers a wide selection of different Chatterbaits to choose from. Serious bass anglers have certainly heard of the Jack Hammer. The high-end model that

For many years, I always incorporated maggots or minnows into my ice fishing strategy to increase my odds. It was the only time of year when I found that live bait really made a difference in my a scientific approach to develop their products.

Most days my dead-stick rod’s rigged with a minnow on a teardrop jig, like a Lindy Frostee or Custom Jigs and Spins Demon. These long, thin jigs flicker as the minnow swims. A split shot six to 10 inches above the

Over the years, anglers have become more confident in fancasting 1/16-ounce jigs and softbaits in these conditions, basically swimming the jig across and above the weed tops. Cast out, hold your rod tip high, and simply use a slow retrieve to tease the bait back to the boat. Hits can range from sudden tugs to the line barely getting heavy, depending on how active the fish are.

simply click on an icon attached to each body of water in the province and get a listing of the fish species in that particular lake.

Use stout line, 16 – 20-lb. fluorocarbon, as it

Word to the wise... When fish are very active, don’t abandon your larger lead head jigs or spoons that attract with size and flash. Always gauge fish attitude and match with proper presentations. Match aggressive with size and aggression of your own. However, when you see perch or walleye, on your Humminbird or Aqua-Vu underwater camera, that torture you with their unwillingness to commit, take a page out of Tom’s book and go small and heavy.

tell when the blades stop turning. Always keep a firm grip on you rod, the strikes are vicious. Before setting the hook, I’ll take up the slack quickly allowing the rod to load up and then I’ll pull back on the fish. The days of slack-line setting are dead! Not only do you lose fish, but you run the risk of breaking your line from a powerful hook-set.

In summary, I’m not trying to say that the sky is falling here. I am simply trying to provide a balanced scientific perspective about what we know and don’t know about these unique smallmouth bass populations. My information is primarily based on Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River, but much of it probably also applies to other smallmouth fisheries where round gobies are now abundant such as Lake Erie, St Clair and Simcoe. If we want to enjoy these fisheries for as long as possible, it essential that we pay close attention to the things that science is telling us about them.

And Once Again, Be Safe!

I tip my Chatterbaits with a Z-Man Razor ShadZ, a bait designed to be used on bladed jigs. I have been throwing them on a G. bladed jig rod with a Shimano Metanium MGL150HGB reel spooled up with 20-lb. Seaguar

For larger soft plastic swimbaits, you want to make sure you use an adequate hook so find yourself some large 8/0 – 12/0 wide gap, screw-lock hooks. I like to use the screw-lock hooks with some weight attached to the shank

Ironically, the same invasive species that these fish are feeding on, round gobies, are quick to pounce on eggs and bottom fry if the guarding male smallmouth is angled. In my opinion, we might want to re-think this situation if we want to maintain the quality of these fisheries because is clearly not consistent with our approach to managing bass in inland

Gruenwald style jig. bottom and

DIY rigging saves money, but it also gives valuable intel. Troubleshooting an issue’s faster knowing how the boat’s rigged.

Do not ever horse the fish to the boat just because you are fishing with heavier gear, they’ll make you pay the price every time. If I know that fish is over 4-lbs., I’ll take

You can also see which lakes are stocked with trout and the numbers that have been stocked in those lakes. You can look up lake or zone-specific

excellent success in these conditions tossing small, neutrally buoyant minnow baits like #4 X-Raps. Unlike the previously mentioned baits, these lures suspend when you pause your retrieve. Retrieves run the gamut from an aggressive twitch-twitch-twitch pause, to a slow pull with the rod tip, then pause while reeling up slack. Experiment to determine the most produce cadence. The key in all cases is how the bait hangs motionless and vulnerable when not moving, tempting a crappie below to rise, investigate and perhaps strike.

BullFly jig completes the realism of the snaketongue-like, forked hackle tail and bristly hackle collar. My brother, Jason, has timeafter-time salvaged a tough day searching out deep water perch from the vast lake basin. His metallic-red Bullfly with two red maggots and a shot of Pro-Cure Water Soluble Fish Oil fools gorgeous buffalo-humped perch. The reason for the Water Soluble Oil instead of our Pro-Cure Super Gel is because natural materials like hair and feather are easily matted down and smothered by the gel while the Water Soluble Oil is light and fly-friendly. It milks away clean and will not muck up your tungsten flies.

(2) Hanley, M (2016) Changes in the Ecology and Abundance of Smallmouth Bass in Lake Ontario: 1958-2014*. Queen’s University MSc thesis.

The model for the program was to combine local youth with local businesses and to offer an outlet with the opportunity to learn. Studies have shown that fishing and the outdoors have been recognized as a benefit when it comes to

Many apex predators in nature hunt in no or low light conditions. Power fishing productive areas before the sun tops the tree line can

A reliable sonar unit gives you insights into the movements of fish, helping you tailor your approach to their behavior and increasing your chances of a successful catch.

magical. As the air turns crisp and the leaves blaze with colour, the stripers bulk

(1) Nelson EJH, Holden J, Eves R, Tufts B (2017) Comparison of diets for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass in Eastern Lake Ontario using DNA barcoding and stable isotope analysis. PLoS ONE 12(8): e0181914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.

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While backwaters offer walleye fishing opportunities in winter, rivers as a whole are dangerous territory. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, folks, stay clear away from fast flow areas, such as the main channel, and exercise caution at

Always details...

with a live release bass fishing tournament.

through mid-October and over the past five years I have even won a few big bass awards with big fall largemouths that I have caught on Ned rigs.

Always a story for another day. Stay tuned!

*Data analyzed in this thesis was collected by the Lake Ontario Management Unit, Ontario Ministry of

Crappies have relatively large mouths, and #4 X-Raps resemble the 2-inch forage minnows common in their diet. Large bluegills are likely to strike them as well, even though their mouths are smaller. Bass have even large mouths and

the water column, imitating a leech or small invertebrate. I have tried every colour from olive to brown to orange, but black remains the most widely used and the colour

About the Author: Jeff Matity

the ticket for shallow water trolling without getting snagged. More line is better when a lake has enough shoreline. Long-lining also

Southern anglers, in particular, use spinner jigs like Beetle Spins in these conditions, which provide the option to pause and let

Disconnect batteries and shut off the boat’s master power when rigging. When done, connect wiring and power-up electronics and

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Most days a minnow Frostee or These long, swims. A split hook pegs While backwaters are dangerous clear away

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tournaments for a number of years. Just Fishing . 12

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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 learning about fish.

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could be holding a smallmouth and swim it past, never letting the jig touch the bottom. A 7’ – 7’6” medium action G. Loomis rod, a Shimano Stradic CI4 reel spooled with eightpound Power Pro braid is the ticket for casting

The program was structured around 6 weeks of in-class teaching, using a curriculum, which provided the hands on knowledge and tools for each child to practice the sport. in-class sessions, 10 with a live release bass

What’s important to remember about this trolling set-up is it’s weighted. Stopping or

I’m probably going to lose some street cred with the hardcore largemouth anglers out there but the Ned rig is not only a deadly smallmouth bait, it catches largemouths as well. We have tournaments going on across Northwest Ontario on most weekends

they’re so valuable to the reel! I also allow for a very small amount of slip in the drag, it’s a must if you have any hope of landing that fish as you need a little bit of give to pop that hook point into the mouth of that smallmouth. I sometimes like having my reels super-tuned by adding ceramic bearings as it adds to casting distance. Careful though, be sure you are not voiding the warranty on your reel.

My top bait choice is also my top smallmouth bait, a Z-Man Hula StickZ. It’s a four inch straight tailed worm that has a few tentacles on the end. It was the first bait a friend turned me onto for this technique back in 2016 and I have never really used anything else because it has worked so well for me.

fish producers that span decades. These locations attract musky boats like honey attracts flies. Expand your options by finding secondary locations away from the crowd. If you choose to fish behind another boat, use different presentations than

fishing gear, pack essentials: first dry clothes, warm drinks, snacks, and an Otter Outdoors portable shelter for frigid days. Consider bringing along a

Because of their light weight, marabou jigs must be fished slowly. I like to cast past a likely boulder, log or clump of weed that

Virtually every musky lake or river has prime areas. Some have reputations as

each, I’ve learned a few tricks to improve my spinnerbait game. As a writer, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best anglers and hearing them speak

Teams of 2 were drawn from the participants, and then paired with one of the 10 anglers who were assigned the task of guide and mentor. They were responsible for each child’s safety and to assist them in implementing what they had been taught in class. These volunteers gave up a day out of their personal lives. Not only

(Continued on page 20.)

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to a new found hobby, it also opened him up to trying new things. This essentially has changed his entire outlook on how the world is. He’s not

Switch to a glide bait or a Shadzilla if other anglers are throwing blades or top-waters.

One tip for rigging is to always put a dab of super glue on the collar of the jig to hold to

(Continued on page 22.)

(Continued on page 23.)

(Continued on page 37.)

In addition to catching smallmouths, marabou jigs are phenomenal crappie jigs and usually out fish live bait in my boat. When crappies move shallow to spawn in the spring, marabou (Continued on page 33.)

(Continued on page 38.)

Teams of 2 were drawn and then paired with were assigned the task They were responsible and to assist them in had been taught in class. up a day out of their

(Photos: Bernard Clark)

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

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It’s my way of ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to experience the same sense of wonder and connection that I feel every time I’m on the water.

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Mich for a walk along the river, or simply sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, watching the sun rise over the Miramichi.

As I sit in my boat, feeling the familiar weight of a striper on the line, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that brought me here. From the lakes of Ontario to the far corners of the world, and now to this little slice of paradise in New Brunswick, fishing has been the thread that’s woven through every chapter of my life. And now, with Ron James Outdoors, I have the privilege of sharing that passion with others, of introducing them to the beauty of the Miramichi and the thrill of the catch.

The Miramichi isn’t just a river – it’s a story of renewal, of resilience, and of the enduring connection between people and nature. It’s a story I’m proud to be part of, and one I’ll continue to tell for as long as I’m able. This is my home, my paradise, and my greatest adventure yet.

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THE ORIGINAL CANADIAN C ANADIAN

By: David Chong

IIn 1968, bass tournament fishing pioneer, Ray Scott officially formed the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society or as it is commonly known today as B.A.S.S.! He had a vision of a membership organization fueled by the competitive spirit of bass fishing! Over the years, B.A.S.S. has been responsible for many improvements in the sport. In 1972, Scott implemented the “Don’t Kill Your Catch” campaign and required that all angler’s boat be equipped with an aerated livewell. The catch & release ethic created by this caught on like wild fire and today the mass majority of bass anglers practice it.

Fifty plus years later along with B.A.S.S. Nation, B.A.S.S. is the largest and preeminent tournament organization in the world. There are B.A.S.S. Nation federation world-wide including Canada. The B.A.S.S. Nation is grass roots organization that promotes tournament fishing, conservation & youth programs. The Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation was founded in 1995 and is currently made up of over 25 clubs including a kayak chapter.

The Bassmaster Classic, B.A.S.S.’s championship is widely considered to be the most prestigious bass tournament in the world. Annually each B.A.S.S. Nation federation holds a qualifier/qualifiers as an avenue for grass roots anglers to possibly have a chance to complete in the Bassmaster Classic. This annual Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation is titled the “Hank Gibson Provincial Qualifier Tournament” in honour of Hank Gibson. While at the 2024 Hank Gibson Provincial

This first recipient was 2023 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson. Gussy won the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River. He just competed in his 6th Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas on Lake Ray Roberts.

I felt that it was important that everyone on the Canadian competitive fishing scene knew who Hank Gibson was and what a pioneer he was in the sport in Canada. I was able to get a hold of his son, Jeremy who was instrumental in providing me a great deal of background on Hank. Born on October 14, 1954, Hank grew up in Richmond Hill next to the Summit Golf & Country Club. In his youth, Hank fished and duck hunted at the family cottage in Keswick where he would later operate Hank’s Kitchen from 1994 to 2000.

A screen capture of Hank from the Bassmaster TV show that aired on TNN for many years! This was Hank’s 10 lbs. 13 oz. “Big Fish” from the 1991 Bassmaster Florida Top 100 event on the St. John River.

Qualifier Tournament, while mingling with other competitors, I asked several of them if they knew who Hank Gibson was and the majority of them had no clue. I thought that this was unfortunate as Hank Gibson was the “ORIGINAL Canadian Bassmaster”!

More recently the Canadian Angler Hall of Fame, honoured Hank Gibson by creating a new award, the Hank Gibson Memorial Award. This award will be presented annually to a Canadian angler who has made significant achievements on the professional fishing scene.

A promo photo signed by Hank for Minn Kota!

These 2 Lake Temiskaming beauties help the author qualify 3rd on Team Ontario in the 2024 Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation Hank Gibson Provincial Qualifier.

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I fondly remember dropping into his restaurant where he served some great diner food to grab a bite and talk a little fishing. I was always in awe of his Bassmaster plaques and awards that he had on display there.

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Along with his love of the outdoors, Hank was a talented scratch golfer and hockey player. He played junior hockey on the Richmond Hill All-Stars and was even invited to a tryout for a Toronto Maple Leafs farm team at one point. He was a man of many interests which included snooker, darts, painting and playing guitar. Gifted with incredible eye hand coordination, he combined this with an analytical and studious mind to try and become the best at whatever he attempted.

Hank attended Humber College in a business program and while he competing on the Bassmaster circuit, he was a partner in Plumbing Mart store. As with many tournament anglers even today, being an entrepreneur allowed him the flexibility to pursue his “Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams.” aspirations on the Bassmaster stage. At the same time while he was competing on the Bassmaster Invitationals and Top 100 events, he had a television show that aired on Global for a season, “Hank Gibson’s Fishing World”. Hank was not only a Bassmaster but he was a multi-species angler who loved fishing for anything with fins and swam.

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getting his gear organized and ready until about midnight. He would sneak in about 4 hours sleep, then get up to load his truck, Ranger bass boat and drive down to Florida, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Missouri, Maryland or New York, wherever his

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!

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

Hank was a multi-species angler as well and his television show “Hank Gibson’s Fishing World” aired on Global for a season.

It was a lot to manage in those days. Jeremy remembers him getting home from the Plumbing Mart at about 7:00PM in the evening,

Havasu is a 78.10 km² (19,300 reservoir on the Colorado River formed by the Parker Located on the Arizona-California border with Lake City on its eastern shore. Its name is derived from the word for blue in 1939 and you’ll clearly understand reason for this name when you actually see the lake. Havasu is 26.3 miles (42.3 kms.) long and its widest point miles (4.59 kms) , has an average depth of 35 ft. (11 m.)

Whenever he would get there, he would visit the local tackle store to pick up his licence plus charts of the bodies of water he was on and check into his hotel. He would then practice for 2 days, compete in the tournament for 3 or 4 days, hopefully cash a cheque and then hightail it home.

Preparing for tournaments back then was not quite as simple as it is today with all the technological advantages available to us, even for things as simple as buying your licence on-line. Never mind the charts available on-line along with tools such as Google Earth and all the videos available on YouTube. Then when

Lake records include a 11.375 lbs. largemouth bass, a 6.28 lbs. smallmouth bass, 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 on May 4th, 2021 by Thomas Farchione! Weighed in on a scale at Bass Tackle Master, this monster sunfish measured inches in length and had a 20-inch girth! This is what first Havasu on my radar as a “Bucket List” destination.

(Continued on page 29.)

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you get to the lake and on the water, your electronics provide you with detailed charting like Navionics, LakeMaster or C-Maps, Side & Down Imaging, 360 and of course LiveScope or forward-facing sonar. Just think about going to different bodies of water that you’ve never fished before without the use of the internet, digital mapping or the advancements that we’ve seen in our electronics these days.

I remember being in attendance when Hank was speaking at a Bass University Seminar weekend held out in Conestoga College presented by the fairly newly formed Ontario B.A.S.S. Federation. The speakers on day 1 were Rich Tauber, Ken Cook & Hank and on day 2, it was Zell Rowland, Larry Nixon & Bob Izumi. This seminar format became a template for our future “BassTalk” sessions.

Outdoor writer, Luigi DeRose of iBassin (http://www.ibassin.com/) remembers Hank fondly as Hank was the subject for his first article for Bassmaster. “Hank was very much a “POWER” fisherman!” stated DeRose. DeRose shared the memory of Hank working with Lonnie Stanley to help design the Stanley Vibra Shaft spinnerbait as well as Stanley’s Wedge blade. Later in his career, Hank also was an early adapter and user of the Slug-Go, the original soft jerkbait, becoming very proficient with it.

When it came to tournament fishing, Hank Gibson would keep his arsenal fairly simple. He was deadly with the blade, a white double willowleaf spinnerbait when retrieving with speed and slow rolling a single Colorado blade spinnerbait. His elite level eye hand coordination allowed him to cast it with deadly precision, putting it almost anywhere he wanted especially around cover. His other go-to presentations included a Texas-rigged worm, a tube jig and a Stanley flippin’ jig.

Hank competed in a total of 39 B.A.S.S. Invitational and Top 100 events in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He compiled 14 money finishes including 2 top 10 results and a Bassmaster Classic qualification in 1990. Again, the Bassmaster Classic is widely considered the “SUPER BOWL” or World Championship of bass fishing. Aside from the 1st over one million dollars in sponsorships and endorsements... with his Classic qualification in 1990, Hank Gibson became the first non-American and first Canadian to ever compete in the Bassmaster Classic.

(The Original Canadian Bassmaster continued from page 28.)

Hank zooming around in his Ranger bass boat.

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Although Japanese pro, Takahiro Omari became the first non-American to win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Wylie in 2004, another Canadian wouldn’t even qualify for a Classic until 2016 when Charles Sim qualified through the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. In 2023, Gussy became the 2nd non-American and first Canadian to win the Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River in Knoxville. Today, we have a great roster of Canadian Elite Series anglers including the latest member, Evan Kung. In Fort Worth, Cooper Gallant just competed in his 3rd Bassmaster Classic, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, Chris and Cory Johnston in their 6th with Chris and Cory both finishing in the top 10! Between them all, Canadians have produced 6 top 10 finishes in Bassmaster Classic’s including Gussy’s WIN! I definitely see another Bassmaster Classic Champion in Canada’s near future!

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Although Hank finished last in the field of 41 anglers in that Classic, he will be forever a Bassmaster Classic qualifier, which is no small feat in itself. In fact, there are numerous Classic qualifiers who finished last one year but won the title in another year. The most notable of these was Bryan Kerchal who managed to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic twice through the B.A.S.S. Federation ranks. In his first appearance on the

charged from 10th place on day 3 to capture his 4th and final Classic victory. Clunn weighed in 18 lbs. 7 oz. and overcame a 9 lbs. 6 oz. deficit behind Tommy Biffle. As well this was last event for 1989 Classic Champion, Hank Parker as he retired after this event.

Hank Gibson’s top finish during his Bassmaster career was a 4th place finish in a Florida Top 100 event where he took home $24,000 USD in cash and bonus winnings. According to DeRose, Hank accomplished that by targeting spawning bass on stumps in Rodman Reservoir. Part of his winnings in that event was $1,000 for “Big Fish” of the tournament, a beauty weighing in at 10 lbs. 13 oz.! Peter Thliveros won the event with Shaw Grisby finishing in the runner-up position. Paul Elias finished 3rd just ahead of Hank and won a Ranger Bass boat as a contingency prize and Hank won a truck as contingency prize. Now here is where it gets interesting, as DeRose recalls Elias was in need of a new truck and Hank’s boat was getting a little tired, so they traded prizes.

it. Fishing in his 17th consecutive Bassmaster Classic, Rick Clunn

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The entire time that he was giving his best on the B.A.S.S. circuit he also competed at home in Ontario with partners such as Keith Farmer and Todd Million. All the while maintaining different businesses, he spent as much time as possible with his children, Jeremy, Candice and Shawna. Jeremy affectionately remembers actually fishing a tournament with his dad when he was 11 years

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!

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WALLEYES4

explains walleye hear sounds via internal ear bones. They also detect, or “feel”, the displacement of water by way of the lateral line system, which is comprised of sensory cells running along a fish’s sides and at the

“The ears can detect sound at distances that can be quite far away,” Tufts stated. “The lateral line along the trunk detects acoustic signals at a much closer range , and the facial system is designed to obtain information from objects at very close range, such as directly in front

Acoustic senses help walleye track down prey in low light conditions.

Understanding Acoustic Senses

Bruce Tufts, Professor of Fisheries & Conservation at Queen’s University,

Now, consider the fact that a walleye’s ability to hear sounds and feel water movement are only part of its sensory faculties.

Using a jig with a belly blade, like this Northland Thumper Jig, or a rattling jig head, like this Acme Google Eye, are easy ways to add more vibration to your jigging presentation.

Walleye, like most freshwater predatory fish, Tufts says, “primarily rely on vision for feeding”. Combine powerful sight with the sophistication of the acoustic senses (not to mention smell and taste), and one begins to appreciate what makes walleye successful hunters.

To put this all together, let’s return to how a walleye might interact with a bladebait

using what we’ve learned from Tufts. Initially, the fish’s ear bones may allow it to hear the lure hitting bottom and the sounds it creates during retrieve.

Tracking the sound and moving closer, the walleye then sees the lure’s flashy, erratic movement. As the fish closes the gap, its lateral line system provides additional information influencing whether it will bite.

A thumping paddletail is a big reason swimbaits,

Tim Allard with a walleye fooled by a Rapala Rippin’ Blade.

like this CrushCity Heavy Hitter, consistently get walleye to bite. Tim Allard with a walleye fooled by a Rapala Rippin’ Blade.

(Sonic Stimuli 4 Walleyes continued from page 32.)

“Another obvious time when all of these acoustic senses become important is at night, or in highly stained water, when vision is limited by environmental conditions,” Tufts said.

Scenarios where a walleye’s visibility is reduced was a key detail in conversations with three angling experts on how they use rattling baits and vibration producing presentations to attract and trigger walleye. Here’s what they had to say.

I know my local lakes well. Here, I stretch the speed barrier quite a bit. In shallow water, as deep as 10-15 feet, I actually get my boat up onto plane and hold it at its lowest planning speed... around 13-14 mph. In deep water I drop from plane down to 9 mph Speed-mapping is best when the water is flat and there is no bouncing of the bow to jostle the transducer from its optimal, parallel angle with the bottom. I can’t always pick my day, and mapping in choppy water is usually the norm. For this, I adjust my tactics a bit taking a big “sausage shaped” bite out of a shoreline and working from the perimeter inward. I still do the shallow-water speed-run with the wind; but, hold steady against the breeze, with a reduced speed for the deep-water stretch.

Early Season Tactics

Cameron Boake, a Pure Fishing Ambassador from North Bay, catches walleye from shallow water on lipless crankbaits, rattling jerkbaits, and swimbaits from late May to early July on Lake Nipissing, Lake Temagami and other area lakes. During this time, walleye transition away from spawning areas, but remain shallow and orient around points, rocky humps, and cabbage beds as they slowly make their way towards the basin where they’ll spend the

During your learning curve, you will end up “washing out” on a turn or on a speed run. What you will see is a blemish that looks like a “blackThe fix is simple: pull up on any black-hole and “hover” in the middle of it. The hole will begin to shrink rapidly as the mapping unit continually truths the data and, finally, morphs into the voila!

in on the bait,” Boake said. “Chances are there’s lots of food in these areas, too. Competing against shiners and other

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

EQUIPMENT EXPECTATIONS

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

can help separate your bait from a giant school of shiners.”

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The loud rattling Berkley Warpig lipless crankbait is Boake’s preferred choice for aggressive walleye in dirty, turbid water conditions on Lake Nipissing. A straight retrieve is used over ultra-skinny rock structures. In 6 to 12 feet, he prefers yoyoing the crankbait, letting it hit bottom at the end of each fall. He notes flashy silver-blue or black-gold finish get more bites during the day.

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

Boake also catches his fair share of walleye casting rattling jerkbaits over shallow rock humps and emerging cabbage. He like a Berkley Stunna for Nipissing’s murky conditions and

(Continued on page 36.)

to the braid to provide an invisible connection to the superline,

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

WHAT’S YOUR BODY TYPE?

The bite continues throughout July, but the trick is finding the right

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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.

“The vibration off the tail and ribbed sides of this bait is more subtle and can get those slower fish to bite,” he said.

River Rumblings

“When I’m shallow and fishing weedlines, vibration is huge,” said Yannick Loranger, owner-operator of Ottawa River Guided Fishing based in Rockland. “I catch a lot of walleye on spinnerbaits. It’s not the norm for targeting walleye, but a 1-1/2 ounce spinnerbait puts big walleye in the boat better than most live-bait presentations.”

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

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

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

About the Author:

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!

Loranger likes the durability and the big double willowleaf blades of a Kicker Custom Lures spinnerbait for daytime tactics seeing him sift through shallow weedy flats and emerging weedlines where walleye lurk in the Ottawa River. He uses the heaviest weight he can get away with between 1/2- to 1-1/2 ounces based the weed cover he’s fishing. The vibrations produced by the spinnerbait’s blades give walleye something to target using their acoustic senses in the river’s murky, sediment-rich water where visibility varies from one to five feet.

bobber and live minnow, dangling the bait in their faces for an extended period.

“I’m always looking for weeds coming up halfway. If I can’t see weeds with my eyes but they’re

It’s not easy – but better than going home

on my sonar, I’m in the zone,” Loranger said. “There might be a couple clumps of cabbage coming up here and there, but I’m looking for stuff that’s fishable and

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

respond to the vibrations from 1/2-ounce Jackall Deracoup Tail Spinner and Mepps and Blue Fox #3 inline spinners. The steady thump from a trolled willowleaf or Colorado worm harness weighted with a couple split shots is another potent shallow, murky-water presentation.

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

Offshore Trolling Soundtracks

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.

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

Walleye start chewing spinnerbaits when waters get between 60F to 65F, typically around late June on the river.

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

Captain Paul Powis, owner J&P Fishing Charters and Guide Services, offers further insights on the vibration factor for walleye. Unlike the shallow structures and weedy cover plied by Boake and Loranger, Powis’ trolling game unfolds in Lake Erie’s open-water abyss.

If you happen to locate fish over 10’ –15’, virtually any ice fishing presentation

(Continued on page 25.)

Saltwater Tough Aluminum Frame

(Jumbo Perch continued from page 22.)

Another Beautiful “JUMBO” Yellow Perch from Lake Simcoe!

Just Fishing . 27

Yannick Loranger Operator of Ottawa River Guided Fishing.

Kicker Custom Lures Spinnerbait 1/2-oz. Jackall Deracoup Tail Spinner

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

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

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

FLX-30

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

Dr. Vaughn Paragamian... Science Bridges the Gap

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

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

So why are resting fish active on the spawning grounds,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING

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

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.

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,

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!

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

another lure is given the opportunity to produce. As you’d expect Powis carries plenty of deep-diving crankbaits. The Freedom Tackle Ultra-Diver Minnow and Shad, Rapala Deep Tail Dancer, and Yaleye-Fish Hooligan are just a few from his collection.

“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.

“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.”

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

Wolverine Tackle’s Silver Streak, Northern King’s NK 28, and Triple Threat’s trolling spoons also catch Powis’ loads of Erie walleye. No rattles here, though. Instead, Powis explains the spoon’s kicking action and its turbulence give these lures their sonic appeal. Powis also acknowledges the vibration advantages from the whirling blade on a worm harness. With both spoons and harnesses, there’s also an appealing flashy action accompanying vibration, not to mention the smell and taste of a nightcrawler on the harness.

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

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.

Non-Breeders On Duty – More Bark Than Bite

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

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

Glo-Shot Spoons are a killer on crappies, perch, walleyes, pike and trout. Cast or vertically jig... the S-curve design and light, lead-free construction excels with twitches, lifts and falls. Glo-Shot® Sticks boost fish attraction in low-visibility situations. Change Glo-Shot Stick colours to match conditions. Tip with live bait or IMPULSE® soft plastics. Glo-Shot Spoons are available in 1/16-, 1/8- and 1/4-ounce weights, with red treble hooks in #12, #10 and #8 sizes, respectively. Hooks are rings for added action and fewer lost fish. Sticks are non-toxic, easy to activate and glow in vivid colour for eight hours. They are light enough not to affect lure action and are also great for lighting up a variety of bobbers, hooks and jigs.

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

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

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

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

BELIEVE THE DOCKTALK

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.

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.

Consider signing up to receive FREE Target Walleye/Ice emails

from Northland brings the noise with a glass rattle and audible carry through water, all without killing its famous action. Anglers have long noted the benefits of vibration and additional sound in their baits, as fish cue on auditory clues to both help them locate and target prey of all kinds. The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow still sports its trademark action, darting and swimming like a dying minnow, which triggers

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

(Continued on page 44.)

Northland Glo-Shot Spoon

Northland Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow

Captain Paul Powis, Owner J&P Fishing Charters and Guide Services.

Tackle Ultra-Diver Minnow

Shad

In some scenarios a loud bait may be too much of a good thing, so to speak. My experience is sometimes lipless crankbaits and noisy, rattling minnow baits don’t interest walleye in clear water.

Boake also finds loud rattle baits aren’t as useful in clear conditions compared to murky water. Trust me, I’ve experimented. I’ve watched walleye snub different rattling hard-baits using Garmin’s Panoptix forward facing

sonar. Then cast a swimbait or a finesse plastic to the spot and caught fish. Take this with a grain of salt, however. I know anglers who incidentally hook big walleye chucking lipless cranks to weed edges for bass in clear water systems.

With this in mind, it’s a good idea to consider the wide spectrum of sounds and vibrations available from walleye baits on the market. In some instances, fish may respond best to a loud, hard groove, but there will other times when toned-down sounds and weaker vibrations prove more effective at generating strikes.

Lastly, remember vibrations don’t occur in a vacuum. A lure’s acoustic properties are only one piece of the puzzle. When figuring out the bite, anglers must also consider how walleye will use their other senses to size-up presentations and decide whether to bite or not.

Stimuli 4 Walleyes continued from page 38.)

1 REPORT

NED RIG SPRING WALLEYE FISHING –

By Brett McComas

PProbably my favourite way to catch walleyes! They’ll eat a Ned rig all season long 100% but here’s a few keys to my program for spring walleye fishing on shallow sand, before the weeds grow up.

I was catching ’em on a 3/16-oz VMC Ned Rig Jig (chartreuse) paired with a “green pumpkin goby” colour Z-Man Big TRD. There’s a zillion different Ned heads out there – few things that makes this one so fishy:

“A hybrid bend in the Ned Rig Jig’s 1X-strong, forged, finewire Vanadium Steel hook provides extra strength. A chemically sharpened needle point and a hybrid, wide gap ensures that bass (and of course walleyes!) stay buttoned...”

Its traditional mushroom style head and 90° line-tie = drags smoothly on bottom, does a great job of hopping over rocks, and creates more lift for your plastics so they stand up.

Comes in 4 sizes (1/16, 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 oz) and 3 colours (black, green pumpkin and chartreuse) . Love that all the sizes have a 1/0 hook, ‘cuz a lot of other jigs out there start bumping up the hook size the heavier they get... which is fine unless you’re trying to throw compact little baits like you typically want to with a Ned rig.

Doesn’t matter if it’s overcast or sunny... windy or glass calm... shallow or deep... Ned Rigs straight-up catch the snot out of walleyes all year round.

Whether you’re a beginner or pro, here’s 15+ tips and tricks to help step up your Ned Rig game for walleyes. Stuff I wish someone would have shown me YEARS ago.

2 HOW TO CATCH BIG EARLYSEASON RIVER WALLEYES

You dreaming of open-water yet? No doubt winter has taken its toll, and we’re jonesin’ to put fat ‘eyes boat-side! Lot of the lakes across the ice belt will be locked up for a while – say ’til July lol – but a handful of river systems are opening on up and can kick out pre-spawn giants like these:

We reached out to multi-species guide and big-fish junkie Doug Wegner to get his approach for early-season slaunches. Doug spends most of his spring trips on WI’s Fox River, but same type of deal can work on other river systems like the Rainy River, Mississippi, Peshtigo, etc.

LOCATION: Doug: “Some of the best areas to find early-season fish are sand or mud flats adjacent to the main river channel.. fish position themselves on top of these because they usually warm up the fastest.

“I also look for current breaks and seams close to the main channel... areas where walleyes can get out of the current and create natural ambush points.”

“Subtle bottoms transitions can be crucial on tough days (sand to gravel, sand to mud, etc). I rely a ton on Humminbird MEGA Side Imaging to find these transition areas quickly – saves a bunch of time – especially in stained water.

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. 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.

imbalance causing the corkscrew behaviour. A weak, easy target for the pike fingerlings occupying the same tanks!

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!

All

“Cast it out, let it hit bottom, then lift the rod tip to 11 o’clock... keeping the tip up as the bait swings back down. Drop the tip to 9 o’clock and repeat.

“The biggest mistake I see people make is dropping the rod tip as the bait falls – you don’t want a super sharp fall, rather a subtle swing. Most of the bites will come on that swing... you’ll feel the fish as you make your next lift.”

Looking to book a trip with Doug? Visit: https://www. instagram.com/dougwegner_fishing/, and maybe gitcha a spring melon like this.

PADDLETALES

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.”

“I also keep a really close eye on my temperature gauge. It sounds obvious, but there’s often pockets of water that will be 1-degree warmer and fish will load up. “I’m a firm believer that early-season fish move shallower with the sun – just because they’re walleyes doesn’t mean they’re scared of light. At the end of the day, they want to find the warmest water.”

(What

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.

3 COVERING WATER FASTER?

By Jim Edlund

OOPILGRIM POULTRY PALOOZA

Saturday Nov. 14th

(In

page 14.)

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

BAITS: “The first few trips of the season – when the water is still super cold – it’s tough to beat live bait. My go-to is a 1/4-oz jig tipped with a minnow. Stinger hooks help with the short strikes from lethargic fish.

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.

The OFAH & MNRF Renewed Partnership on ISAP

TScrewy 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. boat control, all the while keeping 4 lines baited and in the water.

Deep Fried Turkey cooked on site, Pro Staff, Specials & more...

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.

Effective Oct. 1 – April 1: Sun & Mon – Closed Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat: 9:00 – 6:00 Thurs: 9:00 – 8:00

n the natural lakes walleyes typically spawn in depths of 1-4’ over gravel bars, mixed gravel and sand flats, then when they’re done, they drop off to the edges. But “where they go next isn’t necessarily deep,” says Minnesota guide Brian “Bro” Brosdahl. “Male walleyes will linger near the spawning sites, and females will slip out into 4-12’. Some will slide farther down the break, but they’ll still move up mornings and evening to feed.”

(Burn Baby Burn continued from page 10.)

(Where Science & Fishing Meet continued from page 16.)

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

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.

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

The 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)

The ISAP is a collaborative initiative led by the OFAH to prevent the introduction

“As the water starts to warm (36 degrees Fahrenheit and up) I transition to plastics and hard baits. I like ringworm-style baits and paddletails… our water is pretty stained so I stick with orange and chartreuse for colours.” “As the water continues to warm up and the bay opens up, I’ll start focusing more on the area outside the river mouth.

closing, 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.

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

G&S Exclusive Tactics: 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.

If we look at the long history of commercial and recreational fisheries in North America, there is another important lesson that is relevant to this discussion. Many of the most famous stories in this history are about great fisheries that were lost because we believed that “no strong evidence for a problem” meant that there was no problem. Fortunately, we’re starting to learn that this isn’t the best way to manage and conserve fisheries.

and

Start trolling by first watching the spoonfly rig at boat side to check that it’s running properly. This also gives you clues on the setup’s

Once a smallmouth strikes, you can usually tell when the blades stop turning. Always keep a firm grip on you rod, the strikes are vicious. Before setting the hook, I’ll take up the slack quickly allowing the rod to load up and then I’ll pull back on the fish. The days of slack-line setting are dead! Not only do you lose fish, but you run the risk of breaking

of the otolith from one of these fish that we interpreted as 15 years old. The other two fish were 16 and 12 years old. The point here is that many of the really big fish in these populations are old. In fact, we are only now coming to the end of the first generation of smallmouth that have been eating round gobies for most

Do not ever horse the fish to the boat just because you are fishing with heavier gear, they’ll make you pay the price every time. If I know that fish is over 4-lbs., I’ll take my time getting it in and allow the rod to tire it out taking up line slowly and never allowing the fish to put slack in the line.

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.

“This where a Rapala Rippin’ Rap really shines. My go-to size is the #6, but I’ll bump up or down a size depending on depth. The retrieve is everything – think of it as ‘yo-yo-ing’ it back to the boat.

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.

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.

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

It is somewhat ironic that we’ve ended up with incredible trophy smallmouth fisheries in the Great Lakes because of the accidental introduction of an invasive species to these waters. Climate change also now seems to be providing these giant smallmouth with even better growing conditions. So, for the moment, it is actually “human error” that has created these unique bass fisheries. Unlike many historical examples, it would be nice if we could take full advantage of these special circumstances and strive for sustainability in these incredible fisheries rather than repeat mistakes we’ve often made in the past.

You can short and long line troll with this rig. Less line makes performing sharper turns easier, which is necessary when following a small lake’s shoreline. Less line’s also the ticket for shallow water trolling without getting snagged. More line is better when a lake has enough shoreline. Long-lining also helps troll deeper.

On some days Bro casts cranks, but says he prefers spinnerbaits for early -season ‘eyes. “I just love pitching spinnerbaits over new weed growth. Most anglers think they’re just a bass or pike bait –they’re deadly and I can cover new waters fast.” For a similar power-fishing approach but on a smaller scale, he attaches a simple hairpin spinner to a jighead and threads on his favourite walleye plastic.

(Flash Spoon & Fly Trolling Tactics continued from page 16.) www.blackflylures.com

As a smallmouth approaches the end of the fight, be careful as they are often good for one least surge with explosive quickness and power right at the boat. Patience is key and don’t swing them in the boat, it’s a great way

a very small amount of slip in the drag, it’s a must if you have any hope of landing that fish as you need a little bit of give to pop that hook point into the mouth of that smallmouth. I sometimes like having my reels super-tuned by adding ceramic bearings as it adds to casting distance. Careful though, be sure you are not voiding the warranty on your reel.

What’s important to remember about this trolling set-up is it’s weighted. Stopping or (Continued on page 20.)

As I was writing this column, my lab determined the ages of three smallmouth bass over 6 pounds from Lake Ontario (mortalities from this year’s TIO). I’m including an image

As a student of the game, I spend a lot of time on Youtube.com, Bassmaster.com, and watching Major League Fishing. From each, I’ve learned a few tricks to improve my spinnerbait game. As a writer, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best anglers and hearing them speak

Several years of field studies by my lab indicate that we are currently opening the angling season on Lake Ontario when many of these big old fish are spawning. The slow rate that Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River warm in the spring, compared to our smaller inland lakes, creates a situation where the current opening date of bass season does very little to protect these spawning fish. Bass anglers who fish these waters agree that huge numbers of smallmouth are still spawning in the first weeks of the current season.

(Continued on page 14.)

(Continued on page 20.)

More... Once you get a few bites, it comes down to boat control, especially in the wind. “You may only find fish on one scattered clump, so it’s precise pitching. That’s where the Talon and SpotLock really give you an advantage. An traditional anchor will work too...”

“Bro has another tip for windy conditions – reducing rod length to minimize drag, while maximizing sensitivity. “I’m using shorter 6’ 0” or 6’ 3” St. Croix rods with a thin-diameter braid and fluorocarbon leader, which still allows me long casts with shorter rods.”

(The Magnificent Leprechaun

50.)

walleye 20” or over are sexually mature. He puts every big mature fish back! Likewise, beyond 30 feet deep to reduce barotrauma on all released fish. Finally, single hook lures are employed whenever possible.

Photo: Bill Lindner

WWhile most anglers shy away from the wind, walleyes often flock to it, especially in shallow water. Learning where, when and how to safely and effectively fish in the wind will up your odds of catching walleyes.

WHY FISH WIND?

Wind-generated current moves warmer surface water, transporting it downwind and piling it into, across, around or through shallow areas that collect, confine or channel it past obstructions and cover. It concentrates plankton, which draws baitfish; and it both and attracts and activates walleyes in the shallows. It roils the water, stirs up bottom or shoreline particles, and diminishes light penetration. But not on the calm side of the lake!

Spring..: Think Wind & Waves Blowing into

Throughout their spring spawning cycle, most of the walleyes in any lake relate to 1) shallow areas with rock/rubble bottom conducive to walleye spawning; or 2) to areas with cover like rocks, weeds or wood that attract and hold baitfish from the tail end of walleye spawning through the transition to early summer. There’s little incentive for walleyes to move deep when warm water and most food sources remain fairly shallow. This is particularly true in cool, tannic-stained Canadian waters that warm slowly and experience slow fish dispersal from the shallows to classic summer habitat.

Snapjigging hair jigs, while longline trolling, fancasting, or drifting is great for covering shallow water, locating fish & triggering strikes in early season.

are likely to move shallow to take advantage of the conditions as well.

Early in the season, I like to cast or longline troll minnow-imitating crankbaits under these conditions, anywhere that 1) incoming wind blows into a shoreline or bay, or 2) across shallow rock or weed structure at the mouths of rivers or bays leading into the main lake. This allows me to quickly cover water and locate pods of active biters.

Walleyes are effective predators in lowlight or dark conditions, feeding through a combination of sight, sound, smell, taste, and sensing vibrations through their lateral lines. They remain welloriented to their surroundings in windy conditions. Baitfish, in comparison, are primarily schooling fish that rely heavily on eyesight. Wind diminishes their ability to function as a coordinated unit (schooled together for safety in numbers), making them vulnerable to predation. Walleyes instinctively know this and move shallow for the kill when the wind blows.

Many Canadian lakes have significant inflows and outflow, funneling current through them. Subtle currents in deep water remain somewhat of a mystery to anglers as to how fish like walleyes react to them. But in shallow and mid-depth areas, we can more easily see and sense what wind-generated currents are doing and how and where they may be influencing walleye location and behavior.

Shallow walleyes may not be overly active in the shallows during the day when the wind is calm and the sun bright. (They may not even be there at all!) But add a mix of cloudy and windy conditions to the equation, and shallow walleyes typically go on the chew. Fish from nearby deeper water

It’s tough to beat a neutral-buoyancy crankbait when shallow walleyes are on the chew. A little wind usually helps! Walleye fishing: It’s not just for deep water anymore!

Once found, either continue pitching neutrally buoyant cranks like X-Raps, or switch to jigs and soft plastic minnow imitations as you drift through prospective areas; or use your bowmount electric motor to systematically fish your way through them while casting or trolling. If the wind is too strong to do this, try faster drifts while snapjigging a hair jig on a long line, off the upwind side of the boat. Tossing out a drift sock can help slow your drift when the wind is howling.

Can a good thing be too much of a good thing? Admittedly, I’ve always preferred not to fish in big, rolling waves, even though the fish there might be snappin’. It’s challenging, uncomfortable, and requires a lot of focus and effort. Fortunately, you can usually shift to areas a bit less exposed to the wind that still experience the benefits of wind to activate walleyes in the shallows. Like moving farther

(Continued on page 46.)

Walleye fishing: It’s not just for deep water anymore!

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into a bay, or around the backside of a point where the wind and waves wrap around it. There will still be some current present there to attract fish.

Some folks like to anchor and fish slip bobbers with livebait like leeches or minnows on the upwind edges of points or humps where the wind is blowing in. I’m pretty impatient and prefer to keep moving to find fish, rather than waiting for them to come to me. I feel that there’s always somewhere that offers the right combination of windgenerated activity and safer, sensible fishing conditions without submitting yourself to the punishment of fishing in big wind and waves. Basically, I like fishing in some wind, up to the point that it’s no longer worth the effort.

Early Summer... Think Wind & Waves Blowing Into, Across, Around or Through

As the weeks move on, the water warms, conditions change, and both walleyes and the baitfish they feed on begin shifting toward shallow-to-mid-depth structures in the main lake; basically, the first likely habitat entering the main basin. As they do, many fish remain fairly shallow. Some may begin moving deeper, relating to the base of the first drop-off on major shoreline points or nearby humps that lie just a short distance from shore. Remember, it’s a transition, not a sprint to deeper water.

During this time frame, even walleyes that have dropped a bit deeper will likely be triggered to move shallow and feed when the wind blows. This occurs in obvious places like windswept points and shallow reefs with wind and waves blowing across them. Add to this perhaps less obvious, but logical, narrows between points, reefs or islands where the wind funnels current between structures. In these areas, walleyes can still be shallow along their upwind sides; however, there may be as many or more fish

About the Author:

concentrated in the down-current exit where moving water collects and passes through a gauntlet, washing plankton and baitfish through the opening. The nice thing is, such areas allow you hide behind a point or island to get out of the brunt of the wind, yet still experience the benefits of current flushing around the back side.

To fish these areas, use similar lures and casting or longline-trolling presentations like we mentioned earlier, particularly if the fish are relatively shallow. If fish are potentially a bit deeper in these main-lake areas, consider vertically jigging with jigs and softbaits; Jigging Rapalas or Rippin’ Raps; or try Rapala’s new Rap-V blade bait, which catches a lot of fish.

In the end, I’m not suggesting that you abandon classic, primarily walleye presentations like backtrolling jigs & minnows or soft plastics; or forward trolling bottom bouncers and spinner harnesses dressed with live nightcrawlers or soft plastic imitations. These are proven presentations that will never go out of style.

What I am saying is that wind activates shallow walleyes to bite, and that you can catch a surprising number of good fish up shallow, where and when the conditions are right. The rule is: It’s always worth a couple of casts to at least test the roiled waters. And if you toss or troll a fairly large lure like a crankbait, the odds are also good that, sooner or later, you’ll tie into a real whopper or two up shallow, rather than just down deep.

While pre-fishing and fishing numerous bass tournaments on Rainy Lake in Ontario, for example, I can’t count the number of times that contestants caught-and-released 9-pound, 10-pound, and occasionally even larger walleyes in the shallows – even in summer. And to make things even more headscratching, some of those giants were caught in weeds – which is another story best left for another day.

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

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GIRLS RULE...

WWhen it comes to the battle of the sexes, there is no contest. Ask almost any guide and he or she will tell you that women are often their best students. There are several reasons (excuses) why male guests get out fished by their female counterparts.

Now, before I get into this in more detail, I just have to say: fellas... relax, take heart, you are the master of your destiny and an intense desire to learn about fishing is the primary component to your journey in becoming the master angler that you can ultimately be. Guys, this article is meant to be a lighthearted jab at our over-inflated egos and identify why women are favourite clients to guides like myself and others.

MAMMALIAN SKIN WASH:

L-SERINE is less concentrated in women

First, let’s dispel the myth that women release lower levels of L-Serine through their skin than men and, therefore, do not scare the fish. This amino acid is the substance that washes off of our skin and is perceptible to fish.

Salmon are sensitive to this chemical because bears release the same substance

when they are in the water eating salmon. Thus, the mammalian skin-born amino-acid, L-Serine, gets much hype and is an excuse men use for getting outfished by women because women do release significantly smaller amounts of L-Serine through their skin than men.

often has lovely smelling SPF-50 lotion on her skin when we are out fishing. Many times, I have used the excuse that the lotion masks the L-Serine on her skin so the fish are less startled by her hook!

FISHING IS A LEARNED ART: Always Listen to your TEACHER

Any fish, other than salmon (and perhaps other species of fish living in a river during “bear season”) will never be exposed to L-Serine along with the alarm substance given off by a fish when its body is damaged by a predator. In other words, the first time a walleye gets a whiff of L-Serine, it is probably the day it is

Guys, too often we end up being our own worst enemy. We prepare for a trip with a guide or friend by pouring over past issues of Just Fishing magazine or binge-watch the current all-knowing YouTuber. The way I describe it is I absorb just enough information to sabotage my success!

For example, on an icefishing trip for lake trout, I prepared all of my 5-6” Zman and CrushCity plastics on heavy ReelBait Flasher Jigs for what I was sure would be lakers that were gobbling good-sized ciscoes. Well... while my guess turned out OK, my hosts, Gord Pyzer and Liam Whetter, had 6-times the action on 3-inch CrushCity minnows on light tungsten jigs!

Top student Lori Matity watches master teacher Gord Pyzer’s every move.

The teacher and student Gord Pyzer & Lori Matity.

The author’s mother-in law & top student Irene Jones.

Disclaimer: I have no quarrel with older folks nor people from Iowa. This is a true story where the names have been changed to protect the innocent. What I seek to impress upon you is that what you can learn from locals, professionals and people that basically have forgotten more than we will ever know is largely lost on those who decide ahead of time what, when and how they will catch their fish of a lifetime on big water they have never experienced.

The next day, when Gord and Liam took my brother, Jason, and I for crappies, I used one of Gord’s rods, knelt with Gord and watched the Humminbird Helix 7 screen and Listened!

Over the course of the day, Gord spent no less than 3 hours helping me identify, assess, hook and land crappies between 8” and 13.5”. Every chance I got I would watch, listen and execute Gord’s instructions on these picky plankton eaters. I grew some extra neurons that day and will cherish Gord’s graciousness always.

GUIDED CLIENTS: Old Mel versus Little Anna

Case in point, Old Mel, his son, Junior and his brother Reg drove all the way from Iowa to Last Mountain Lake where I greeted them the night before and discussed our plans for the next three days. Mel pulled out his heavy tackle box and showed me the many sizes and colours of Len Thompson spoons. He informed me that he would be catching monster pike on every cast. I told him to take them along; but, it was very early in the season and our success, so far, was on dead herring below a bobber.

The next day, the trio joined me at the dock and Mel was upset as he had lost two of his prized Len Thompson spoons, while casting in the marina.

Very long story short... I got the trio good fish every day with the largest walleye measuring 31.5” while trolling a Mac’s Smile Blade and a 41” pike caught drifting a dead herring below a bobber. Not once did I have cooperation nor appreciation from this group, which cost us time and possibly more trophy fish.

$10 CAN tip after 3 days of indentured servant-like service I was pleased to know I would never work for this group again.

Mel insisted on using the Len Thompson spoons and I indulged him by trolling outer bay reefs that contained small fish so he could finally catch a spoon pike. When I received a

Ashley Rae taught Ben Matity the finer points of fishing... and he listened?

Jeff makes a walleye jigger out of niece Sophie. (Continued on page 50.)

Grandma Irene Jones shows Ben how to catch the big ones.

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

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!

every day around deep structure and cover, using slow moving finesse presentations that rely heavily on live bait. But it is rarely the best strategy during the summer peak period.

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

NED & THE FUTURE OF MWF

Little Anna was the granddaughter of some folks from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. There were three anglers in the group. They had never been to Last Mountain Lake before. In fact, 9-yearold Anna had never cast a rod and reel before. She was keen and listened well when I taught her how to pick up the line with one finger, open the bail of a spinning reel and use her whole body to use a two-handed cast to toss a 5” Big Hammer swimbait.

Original Slider Brewer's Slide Finesse Micro Shad 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.

“Guys, this article is meant to be a light-hearted jab at our over-inflated egos and identify why women are favourite clients to guides like myself and others.”

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

“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.

lot of slack. Her first day was very intense and I was pleased with her progress.

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

After casting, I told her to close the bail with her hand before cranking the handle. Finally, I instructed her to tell me immediately if she got a wind knot or tangle. That was a lot to remember and to her credit she did her best to remember all the steps.

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 an emergency, well, then, break the glass and grab one of these tactics.

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.

Most importantly, she remembered to let me know, immediately, if there was a problem with her line. It didn’t take long before she had a tangle, and I went over the procedure to shut the bail by hand instead of cranking the handle since that was what caused the tangle. She went for the whole morning without a tangle and caught and learned to fight several scrappy, (Girls

About the Author – Gord Pyzer:

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

ACCELERATED EVOLUTION

The next day, I asked her if she would like to go through the casting instructions. She said “no” and I respected her decision even though I expected the same follies. I was wrong. She executed the casting instructions and only had a hiccup when the wind came up in the afternoon. One tangle was all it took for her to refocus and start firing the bait straight out, into the wind with short, controlled casts. Grandpa caught the fish of the day with a classic Last Mountain Lake 43” pike. She was so excited for day three that she was walking on Cloud 9 at supper time, around the campfire.

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

To learn more about Whitewater Fishing visit; whitewaterfish.com

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

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.

(Continued on page 48.)

Day 3 was Anna’s day! She literally had mastered the casting program as well as the hook-setting authority that is necessary with the 5” swimbait that had a stout 4/0 hook. The hook needs to be set on the strike; but, requires strong, steady pressure to move the hook into the fish’s jaw. While she may have missed a fish or two that day, I cannot remember. By the end of the day, Anna had claimed the bow of the boat and was firing darts, parallel to the water, into the teeth of the wind. Her reward was a 45” mo-gator, right at the buzzer, to end the day and the trip.

Two very different stories, same spot! The first, the group thought they knew more than the guide... they didn’t,which made it doubly difficult to achieve any success. The second, the group that listened and worked hard to improve, daily. Success was achieved on the first day because of their desire to learn and have faith.

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.

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.

About the Author: Jeff Matitdy

Just Fishing . 35 Fall 2024

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

creek and even get in on some early-season hatches with dry flies!

But with all that variety comes a problem – what flies should I bring? I used to pack everything I owned, but over time, I’ve learned that I don’t need to bring my entire collection (even though I still bring more than I need). That’s why I keep a “Go-Box” stocked with these five must-have flies for spring trout. These are my top picks to kick off the season.

BUNNY MUDDLER/ZUDDLER

This is a variation of the classic Muddler Minnow but with a rabbit zonker strip as the wing. It’s been responsible for some of my best fishing days, both in numbers

I fish the Bunny Muddler on a floating line with a Sonar Leader. This setup lets me fish it in multiple ways – swinging, tight-lining, dredging the bottom, or holding it in the current. One of my favourite tricks is to cast down stream and let the streamer hold in the current. The fly looks like a fish intruding into another fish’s territory, and if there’s a big trout nearby, it won’t tolerate the competition!

DOUBLE BUNNY STREAMER

When the Bunny Muddler feels too bulky, I switch to the Double Bunny. The movement of the rabbit strips is incredibly lifelike, and the fly’s subtle action often mesmerizes fish. The bold eyes make it

HAIR CADDIS

It doesn’t matter whether you use deer or elk hair – this classic dry fly is a musthave in any trout box! If I see fish rising or find a slow current

seam where I can let the fly swing and wake, I’m tying one on. Do the fish always think it’s a caddis? I don’t know, I have asked a bunch but none have answered yet! But try finding a brook or rainbow trout in a small, clear stream that can resist a waking caddis fly – I doubt you’ll have much luck!

PINK BEAD HEAD HARE’S EAR

The Hare’s Ear is one of the first nymphs most fly anglers learn to tie or end up buying, and for good reason – it catches fish! But with a few changes, it gets even better. I skip the wing case, and tie mine with a CDL tail, crystal flash ribbing, and a bright pink bead.

I dedicate more space in my box to this pattern than any other. It works on steelhead, browns, and brook trout, and it can be fished using almost any nymphing technique. Tight-lining is especially effective with this fly.

WOOLLY BUGGER

The Hare’s Ear is the first nymph most anglers learn about, but the Woolly Bugger is probably the first fly you have come to know. It’s the fly-fishing equivalent of a Senko – it just catches fish! Make sure you have some in black, olive, and white. If you want to make it even deadlier, tie up a few in black with oversized red or pink bead heads for an Egg-Sucking Leech variation. It’s an absolute steelhead slayer.

Fly fishing should be fun, and picking flies doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sure, it’s nice to have options, but having a few go-to patterns makes life easier and lets you spend more time fishing and less time debating which fly to use. Add some (or all) of these to your box, mix in your own favorites, and get out there to catch some spring trout!

About the Author – Daniel Notarianni:

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

RASH2 REASURET

Submitted by: Elysia Rourke

AAs with nearly all industries, brick-andmortar retail has experienced a seismic shift with the rise of e-commerce and the demand for the unparalleled convenience of shopping without having to get up from the couch. Despite this trend, the door hinges of local tackle shops remain well-oiled as seasoned anglers, weekend warriors, and newcomers alike make the effort to drop in – seeking advice and swapping stories with fellow enthusiasts, shop owners, and employees.

“We’ve been here for 23 years now, and you build a relationship with almost everybody that comes in,” says Michelle Chevrier, manager at Bait Casters, a family-owned & operated tackle shop located just outside of Carleton Place, Ontario. One of the first independent tackle shops in the Ottawa region, Bait Casters quickly became a go-to destination for local anglers.

Tackleshopsaretrustedsourcesofinformation and staples of their communities. They offer industry news, tips on fishing spots and targeting local species, updates on upcoming tournaments, and, of course, the latest product recommendations.

Greg Balardo, co-owner of Bill’s Bait and Tackle – a popular spot for lovers of the sport in the Hamilton area since it first opened in 1946 – echoes the same sentiment:

“Our staff are some of the best in the country for fishing knowledge. They’re phenomenal. We have a community going here – people come in to share information and to look at and feel the products.”

Sadly, stumbling upon someone’s discarded trash, while attempting to enjoy nature is an experience familiar to most. If current plastic

pollution trends continue, it’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our waterways than fish.

industry to hardbait lures made entirely from recycled ocean plastics.

“We wanted to ensure that anglers could make environmentally-conscious choices when it comes to their fishing gear, without having to compromise on quality,” says Gavin Maludzinski, founder of ReCast Fishing, based in the Nation’s capital.

“People would prefer to buy eco-friendly (lures), but sometimes it’s tough because those products are too expensive. The thing with ReCast baits is that they’re right in line price-wise with

“Our customers pay attention to the impacts on the environment because they’re out there directly in it,” says Michelle from Bait Casters.

Launched in 2021 via a crowdfunding campaign, ReCast Fishing introduced the

For those same anglers, equally important to purchasing high-quality fishing gear are the bodies of water they enjoy and their preservation for future generations.

traditional lures,” says Greg from Bill’s Bait and Tackle. “We’ve had multiple repeat customers coming back and buying them again after having success with them – especially for bass and pike.”

Hagar, owner of D&R Sporting Goods in Thunder Bay, which has been serving the community since 1974. The store has long been a trusted hub for anglers seeking expert advice and quality gear.

“Anyone that’s told the story of ReCast – it piques their interest, and then they’re sold,” says Adrian

directing 1% of company time, 1% of proceeds, and 1% of equity back to ocean plastic recovery and prevention efforts.

Neil Marleau, a member of Kayak Bass Canada from Ottawa, emphasizes, “Getting my first ReCast lure felt like finding a treasure – I almost didn’t want to use it. But after finally casting it and landing my personalbest largemouth, I couldn’t resist collecting even more.”

ReCast Fishing partners with coastal collection sites around the globe to gather, sort, and reprocess discarded plastic waste –ultimately repurposing it into a lineup of crankbaits, jerkbaits, rattlebaits, and poppers. In addition to organizing shoreline cleanups, ReCast Fishing embraces a “one-one-one” model,

About ReCast Fishing: At ReCast Fishing, we've cast our aspirations far beyond the shores. Our mission is to revolutionize the fishing industry by crafting high-quality fishing lures made exclusively from 100% recycled ocean plastics. We believe in creating a positive impact on our environment while delivering top-notch fishing gear to enthusiasts worldwide.

ReCast Fishing is more than a brand; it's a platform for change. We strive to inspire a shift in the industry towards responsible practices. By choosing ReCast, you're not just getting top-tier fishing gear – you're joining a community committed to making a positive impact on our planet. We are a Canadian company dedicated to redefining the fishing experience through innovation, awareness, and a deep respect for our planet.

TIPS TECHNIQUES &

bite-inducing cadence. And, he says, it’s the tail that does the heavy lifting.

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

Bro Tames New Hairy Tungsten

Rsimply 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.

TRenowned guideandpanfishgrandmaster,Brian“Bro”Brosdahl, instructs: “I’ll start by pitching the Tungsten Crappie King Fly without a bobber, let it fall naturally, always feeling for ticks and watching my line. That first drop is important. Panfish like when it first hits the water and drops. It’s natural. So be ready.”

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.

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

“I love how the hand-tied hair pulses in the water like real forage. You can catch loads of crappies without any live bait at all, which makes it efficient to fish. I mean, you catch one, reel it in, unhook, release, or throw in the livewell, and pitch it right back out there. When you’re on pods or schools of crappies that are moving, this kind of quick fishing can be key. This is exactly the bait to do that without any need for live bait or soft plastic.”

Once in the water, if not already consumed, Bro experiments with jigging sequences to find the precise,

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,

Bro adds: “Get a little wind and you can still cast these jigs straight,” he continues. They throw farther than lead and you have better control and sensitivity when using light line. You maintain a straight line to the jig to feel bites better and make reactive hooksets.”

Early in the spring, when panfish range shallow to feed and ultimately spawn, floats come into play. Bro will tie a Tungsten Crappie King Fly under a Northland Lite-Bite slip bobber, setting the jig down halfway through the water column. So, if it’s four-feet deep, the jig rests at two. After casting, it’s a cycle of light pops and slow drags. Panfish react favourably to this mellow approach, especially in cooler water.

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.

Courtesy of Northland Fishing Tackle