Got your wish list put together for this summer? All your 'must visit' lakes? The Midwest is ground zero for walleye fishing popularity, so take a look at Jason Mitchell's top 10 walleye lakes and see which ones you need to check out. Midwesterners love their fish with the white tipped tails and luckily, there are several great walleye fishing destinations across the northern tier of the United States. Healthy fish populations, trophy fish potential and catch ability all factor into some of the best walleye water we have seen in our travels that in our opinion offer some of the best walleye fishing in the region. Of course, we couldn’t put every great walleye fishery on this list, and the list is in no particular order, but these are some top-notch fisheries that are fishing extremely ... [ Read More ]
Bass fishing at night The Hunt For Giant Night Bass
Season within season, chasing giant large mouth and small mouth bass during night hours offers you the chance to increase your total numbers of the largest bass in any system more than 60% no matter where you fish. Brett's bass fishing at night In this piece, veteran trophy bass hunter and stealth night fishing specialist Brett Richardson, examines the predominant season with season aspects of targeting monster bass taking you through an entire season on the water. Migrations, Locations, weather elements, bite window increments, vertical post-front bassing and the stacking factor, zoning A-D column bass locating throughout the entire water column, along with calculating prime time pre- moon phase bite windows are all pieces of the puzzle to boat huge bass ... [ Read More ]
Keeping it Wacky with a Wacky Rig
The question comes up often - and who can blame: “if you could only pick one presentation for bass fishing, what would it be?” I’m sure the answer to this question is different for everyone and can sometimes be determined on the body of water most frequented, or the region you’re fishing in. The answer might be a swim bait for those anglers looking to target giant California bass, or it might be a live Redtail minnow for those searching for trophy smallmouth bass on the Mississippi River, but regardless of the answer, confidence plays an important role. For me, confidence comes in the form of 'being easy', not just in terms of catching fish, but easy for friends and clients to use and catch fish on as well. And when you’re talking about an easy, productive option from spring to fall, ... [ Read More ]
Better Bang for Your Bass, No Trouble – Minnesota Bass Fishing
For all the press the southern states get for bass fishing, here’s a dirty little secret many of us already know: Minnesota bass fishing is some of the best you'll find in the country for both largemouths and smallies. You might not catch a 12-pound fish, but solid numbers of 3- to 5-pound fish are everywhere in Minnesota’s waters – and under-utilized in the land where walleye is king. What I’m talking about is the MN DNR’s recent announcement of a special Catch & Release bass season. What this really means is we finally have the opportunity to fish during a time when bass are heavily schooled and on the spring feedbag prior to the spawn. Yep, it’s time for live action and lots of it – and a great opportunity to introduce kids to fishing. This Saturday, May 9th, through regular ... [ Read More ]
First Spring Bass Migrations – Giant Bass
Just weeks after ice-out (May in Northern Minnesota), or frigid open waters, the first spring migrations of giant bass begins. I’ve been following these first movements of giant bass for five decades, and specifically target the largest bass in any systems I fish during this time frame of initial migrations. Largemouth bass and Smallmouth bass annual movements take place from main lake basins to migratory routes, and eventually to secondary staging areas. Many anglers fail to realize the potential of the off-shore main lake basin program for early season giants. In states that have open bass seasons early in the year, or special catch and release programs, targeting these first initial big bass movements can bode well for boating some of the heaviest bass of the year. The instinct to ... [ Read More ]
Getting No where Fast !
There comes a time when you just have to stay put, especially if you’re trying to put a hurt on a boat full of walleyes, work a bedded bass, or maybe keep chucking a bait at a monster musky. In this fast paced world of run and gun techniques and chasing down active fish; there are times when you might fly right on by the best thing going which might not be going anywhere all! Anchoring up or dropping the hook is what we’re really talking about, which can be the perfect method for extracting fish when you’ve got them pinned down. Likely “pinned down” hop spots include rocky reefs and weed flats in natural lakes, timber and weed flats in freaks of nature like Devil’s Lake in North Dakota, and wing dams on bigger rivers. The common denominator in all of the above is that you’re ... [ Read More ]
Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion
This Northwoods gem offers world-class muskie fishing, plus great opportunities to catch walleyes, northern pike, crappie and more. The channel that separates Lake Vermilion's Ludlows Island from Lake Vermilion’s south shore isn’t terribly wide, but when you step aboard the classic wooden boat that shuttles guests to Ludlow’s Island Resort, you step into another world – a world strangely distant from modern day worries. A self-contained island resort with waterfront cabins connected by woodland trails, Ludlow’s has been operated by the Ludlow family for more than 70 years. Despite stretching over more than 40,000 acres, northern Minnesota’s Lake Vermilion seems intimate in most places because of the 365 islands and 1200 miles of shoreline that break up the lake’s clear but dark waters. ... [ Read More ]
4 Bass fishing tips – Bass on a Tightrope
Bass on a Tightrope - Bass fishing tips by Matt Johnson We make mistakes as anglers, and oftentimes it’s those mistakes that make us better. We try certain tactics, tie on certain baits, fish certain spots, and sometimes no matter what you do things don’t seem to go your way. Don’t get discouraged. Bass fishing can be a game of “walking the tightrope,” where sometimes you have no choice but to focus to stay on path. Understanding that there are situations where you need to buckle down and take things slow in order to achieve a result can be the difference between falling off the rope and making it to your goal. So slow down, take a deep breath, and focus on the little things produce that big outcome. 4 Bass fishing tips Boat position can make all the difference. If I had to pick ... [ Read More ]
Ignite a new passion for the sport: take a kid fishing!
Want to take a kid fishing and introduce them to the joys of your favorite sport? You can make sure that everyone has the first of many great days out by taking care of a few simple things before you hit the water. “A lifelong interest in fishing can be ignited or extinguished in a few introductory fishing trips,” Ledermann said. “And let’s face it, kids have plenty of competing ways to spend their time these days. That’s why it’s so important to have a game plan before heading out.” Remember that it's going to be far less fun for everyone if the kid is cold, hungry, insect-bitten, bored, frustrated, or beholden to an adult who can’t put down their own fishing rod. “Fun and safety are the most important considerations while bringing kids fishing,” said Jeff Ledermann, angler ... [ Read More ]
Secrets to Spring Slabs – by Ron Anlauf
Taking on big slab sided crappies is a respectable challenge and can be a real gas when you put it all together. Catching early season crappies is simple and easy enough but we’re talking real slabs (those in the thirteen to fifteen inch and beyond range), and they’re not everywhere. But the fact is they do exist and they can be caught if you have a little inside information. When it comes to producing behemoth crappies less is usually more. The lakes that hold big numbers are more likely to produce smaller fish. Probably big enough to put in the pail and that’s perfectly fine, but were not looking for the run of the mill keepers here. Our target is the largest of the species and it’s the lakes that have fewer fish that harbor the real monsters. Some of the best include medium to clear ... [ Read More ]