Modern day society continues to push the mentality of doing things “big” and bold. “Go big or go home” is no longer just a term used on the sports field, but also rather in the office, at the factory, or even in the classroom. We are wired to take things to the max and “push it to the limit.” But what about fishing? Or better yet, what about those first few weeks after ice-out when the panfish are still in “ice mode” trying to find their appetite? “Go big or go home” might send you off with the latter, but “go small or go home” could be the ticket to an amazing day on the water. So what does “ Go Small or Go Home ” mean exactly? For me, it means keeping you ice fishing tackle with you when you first hit the open water scene. When you sit back and think about it, you just finished ... [ Read More ]
Turkey Patterning Tips
Now that the weather is starting to warm up and spring is here, a turkey hunter's thoughts turn towards chasing turkeys. It's often a lot of work to get that big tom into shotgun range. On top of that - these birds are tough to put down! You want to do everything in your power to make sure that when the opportunity presents itself that you're able to get the job done quickly and cleanly. Turkey patterning is probably the least fun part of turkey hunting. These turkey loads pack a wallop! But it is an important duty of yours as an ethical turkey hunter to do what you can to make a clean kill. Here are a few tips to get you started and make the process more efficient. Guns: Most people who hunt turkeys do not have a customized turkey gun. Rather, most use guns that they already use to ... [ Read More ]
Jigging for walleye Ten Tips to Catch More Walleyes with Jigs
By Jason Mitchell Jigging for walleye the most versatile method in any walleye fishing technique guid, and jigs are the most versatile tool in angler’s tackle box. Like any technique, In walleye jigging there are details and nuances that can make you successful or unsuccessful. If there is one aspect of jig fishing that is often overlooked, it would be the importance of versatility. There is not necessarily a right or wrong way to fish a jig. When the fish are biting, you can fish a jig in a lot of different ways and get bit. When conditions get tougher however, we often see a particular stroke or jigging style produce and catching fish is all about locking into that specific mojo. The best jig anglers can tap into that mojo. The cadences and strokes can vary ... [ Read More ]
Lessons Learned From the Lake Commandos
What happens when you dump two expert anglers on unfamiliar water and tell them to conquer it … and each other? A Texas buddy of mine and I pulled up to a bar that started in 19 feet of water and topped out in 5. We were both fishing a Carolina rig, and both using a Berkley Chigger Craw for bait. So why did he catch five bass in the next 10 minutes while I remained skunked? It’s hard not to be fascinated with the factors that affect fishing success. And as much as one tries to break things down to key elements such as bait selection, speed, location, color, etc., the more frustrating it can be—the number of possible combinations is endless. When we launched Lake Commandos our goal was simple: to highlight the thought processes successful anglers use when developing effective ... [ Read More ]
marine battery charger |No Time for Downtime
No Time for Downtime by Ron Anlauf There is no fun to be had when equipment malfunctions or breaks down, especially when you’re trying to spend some quality time on your favorite body of water. It’s even worse when you’re miles from anywhere and there’s no immediate help available. Unfortunately it happens but a lot of the problems can be avoided with a little preparation and upkeep. One of the more common issues includes power or the lack there of. Without it there’s no way to start today’s bigger engines and a jump from a charged battery may be the only way to get going. You might be able to jump from a trolling motor battery if you have cables along. Or maybe pull a battery and replace the dead one but you better have a few tools ... [ Read More ]
The Perfect Turkey Hunting Plan
I love to turkey hunt but, for me, sitting for long periods is a challenge. When I first started turkey hunting, I’d hunt in the same spot until about nine o’clock and then head home. On the way home, I’d see toms strutting everywhere. Through observation, I soon realized something was wrong. Since this time of 'enlightenment', I've developed a solid turkey hunting plan that is carried out in phases. The plan has worked very well for me and hopefully it will for you too! The key to the plan is, each phase of the hunt consists of the time of the day that typically corresponds to certain turkey behaviors. I hate wearing a watch, but when I am executing my hunting plan, I use the clock on my cellphone to keep me on track, work my hunting phases, and remain disciplined. If I get bored or ... [ Read More ]
Walleye Fishing – Early Season Blockbusters
Some of the earliest open water walleye fishing opportunities occur each season on river systems and flowages or bottle neck areas that open up because of current. Open seasons and open water are necessary and there are so many good early season fishing opportunities. The Mississippi River, Rainy River, Fox River and the Missouri River all come to mind. Each of these fisheries are drastically different with different terrain features, different forage and ultimately different fishing strategies. While there are differences from one fishery to the next, there are also many similarities. The beauty of fishing rivers is that fish location does get dictated by current… or a lack there of. Across the board on a variety of river systems, we find ... [ Read More ]
Better fishing thanks to MN DNR musky study
The MN DNR musky study involves collecting information and studying musky populations; measurements are recorded, sex of the fish is identified, and an electronic tag implanted in the fish is scanned, before it is returned to the lake. One day, it could take an angler's lure and provide a long-remembered thrill. This process allows the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to make well-informed decisions about how to stock musky and manage harvest. “As anglers head into the musky season that began June 4, they are enjoying opportunities that came about largely due to research-based management,” said Don Pereira, fisheries section chief. “Better information can lead to better fishing in a state that’s already a renowned musky fishing destination.” The DNR studies musky in a ... [ Read More ]
Minnesota state park bike trails offer tune up stations
Purchased as part of the Pedal Minnesota (www.pedalmn.com) initiative, which strives to make Minnesota the “Bike Friendly State”, Minnesota state park bike trails are available at several state parks and trails. The stations are equipped with basic bike maintenance tools, including air pumps. Funding for most of the stations was made possible through a grant from the Federal Recreational Trails Program and matching state funds. One station was purchased by the Gateway-Brown’s Creek Trail Association and another by the Preston Community Foundation and the Preston Tourism Board. “These stations are a convenient amenity on our trails,” says Andrew Korsberg, DNR state trail program coordinator. “They make it easy to pump up tires or do some light maintenance on your bike while out on a ... [ Read More ]
New rules for Mille Lacs bass could attract more tournament action
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today announced a change in fishing regulations that could see more Mille Lacs bass tournaments coming to the area. The rule change, announced today by DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr, will allow anglers to sort bass that are shorter than 18 inches, and keep the largest fish – a rule change that is essential in securing national bass tournaments. Anglers on other lakes in Minnesota already can sort bass that they catch. But currently, anglers on Mille Lacs Lake cannot sort fish they have kept by releasing a smaller fish from a livewell and replacing it with a larger fish. The rule change announced today will allow anglers to sort smallmouth and largemouth bass before reaching their possession limit of six fish. The no-cull rule will remain ... [ Read More ]