Spring Time Panfish My favorite time of year is quickly approaching. The time when the Red Wing Black Birds start arriving, when the call of the Loon greets my morning, and the chill of the crisp morning air hits my face as I launch the boat on to one of my favorite crappie waters. YES, I love chasing springtime crappies! Typically they are eager to bite if you put in the time to pattern them at this time of year. I usually start my open water fishing within 3-4 days of the ice melting off my favorite lakes. Shallow, dark bottom bays will attract the ‘bugs’ and minnows…and the crappies and ‘gils will follow as they are interested in putting on the feedbag before the spawn. A few people have the misconception that the fish are spawning during this early period, because when they clean ... [ 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 ]
The Skinny on Bulls – Late Season Panfish Ice Fishing Adjustments
Some of the shallowest panfish we catch each winter happen in March during late ice on many fisheries. Fun sight fishing patterns often emerge. Fish can sometimes be found in a few feet of water under the ice. Shallow weed patterns often come alive at late ice. Many anglers assume that aquatic vegetation has to be green and vibrant in order to hold fish. While still green weeds do hold fish, dead stands of weeds will also hold fish if the weeds provide cover and there is good oxygen. When the ice begins to rot along the shorelines and water begins to seep into the lake along the shorelines, shallow water can be extremely productive. One of my absolute favorite locations for looking for shallow water bluegills at late ice is really shallow pencil ... [ 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 ]
Overcoming the Classic Cold Front Bass Fishing
JOHN MURRAY'S TAKE ON COLD FRONT BASS FISHING, WARMING TRENDS AND EARLY SPRING Professional bass angler John Murray is no stranger to producing a livewell full of fish under pressure, despite the many curve balls Mother Nature can toss at him. More than $1.8 million in winnings earned over a 27-year tournament career is proof he can pick the right bait from his Plano tackle totes, no matter the circumstances. At this very moment, the 48-year old Arizona inhabitant is concentrating on every cast as he fishes his sixth Bassmaster Classic, which is being held on Alabama’s 69,000-plus-acre impoundment known as Lake Guntersville. The weather early on during pre-fishing was anything but stable, as last week’s arctic plunge with associated snow and ice did not spare the Lake ... [ Read More ]
Second state-record fish caught this month!
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed the catch of a new state-record white perch on Friday, Jan. 24. This is the second state record caught in the month of January. The white perch was caught by Aaron Slagh of Holland, Mich., on Tuesday, Jan. 21, on Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County, MI at 11 a.m. The fish weighed 1.93 pounds and measured 13.25 inches. Slagh was ice fishing with a spoon when he landed the record fish. The record was verified by Rich O’Neal, a DNR fisheries biologist, at the Muskegon field office. The previous state-record white perch was caught by Kyle Ryan of Reese on Lake Huron in Tuscola County on July 13, 2002. That fish weighed 1.88 pounds and measured 13.25 inches. “It was just another normal day on the ice for me, as I get out as much as I ... [ Read More ]
Fort Peck Walleyes “The Final Frontier for Fishing”
Fort Peck walleyes - "The Final Frontier for Fishing" By Carl Madison Today’s anglers are more mobile than ever before. Destination fisheries off the beaten path are enticing the curiosity of more and more anglers and this is true for ice anglers as well. Have rod, will travel. Anglers are exploring remote lakes on the Canadian Shield and driving considerable distances to reach water that has incredible fishing potential with light fishing pressure. Such a destination fishery that continues to attract attention for big fish potential is Fort Peck walleyes in the Reservoir in eastern Montana. Fort Peck Walleyes It is a massive impediment on the Missouri River that is noted for producing huge walleyes, northern pike and lake trout for ice anglers. Walleyes over twelve pounds are ... [ Read More ]
Otter Thermal Stay positive in negative temps – fish in an Otter!
When the high temp is a negative number, Brad Hawthorne is positive his clients appreciate his full-thermal Otter portable ice houses. “I’ve got 15 Otter Lodges out there on Upper Red Lake right now,” says the ICE FORCE pro and fulltime fishing guide. “The windchill is 43 below, but it’s 86 degrees in those Otter shelters – we’ve got a thermostat in one, so we know. It’s absolutely beautiful in ‘em. Even in a deep freeze like the one blanketing the Ice Belt of late, the coldest Hawthorne’s clients will ever be is on the ATV ride out onto the ice. Once they’re inside an Otter and fishing, they’re comfortable and content. “In any other type of portable shelter when it’s this cold, condensation is just instant, and it will get cold inside,” Hawthorne says. “With the Otters, we don’ have to ... [ Read More ]
Using Your Vexilar to the Fullest
ICE FISHING by Matt Johnson We’re all familiar with 3-color flashers. We’ve used them for years and they have become a foundation for most ice anglers. Having the ability to “see” what’s below you and react accordingly is something most of us would never forfeit. It’s to the point now that if we leave our Vexilar at home then we turn around to get it. Fishing is just not the same without your flasher staring you in the face when battling with a finicky fish. But do we really use our Vexilar to its fullest? It’s not just a tool that shows the bottom, the fish and your jig, it’s much more than that… Whether it’s an FL-8, FL-18, FL-12, FL-20 or FL-22, your Vexilar has fast-become your best friend on the ice. Seeing that green flicker turn into an orange line followed by a solid ... [ Read More ]
Innovative Leadcore Improves Catch
Unique applications of the so-called ‘big fish’ line for crappies, perch and bluegills by Mitch Eagan Certainly, the best way to decode what fish are keen on is covering as much water as possible with a multitude of baits. Unfortunately, though, it’s tedious and time consuming – virtually unrealistic. Meanwhile, back on earth, trolling, by far, is the best way to find fish while eliminating unproductive water. But by pulling lures with a conventional rod, reel and line combo, it’s physically impossible to sample the entire water column. And this time of year, fish of all species can be anywhere – high, low, or somewhere in-between. Fall is the perfect time to break out the leadcore line. With this one crucial piece of gear, lures of any stripe can be fished down to whatever depth ... [ Read More ]