What separates Lindy rigging from other walleye presentations is the use of a sliding weight. A jig has the lead molded onto the hook, a split shot rig has the spilt shot weight pinched securely on the line, a bottom bouncer has the leader tied directly to the trailer wire. The sliding weight on the Lindy rig can be used to let the fish run. I use the words “can be” because there are many days on the water when rigging, where you do not have to feed line. Let me back up and explain rigging to those of you unfamiliar with rigging. Again the key component to a rig is that the fishing line slides through a hole in the weight. So when a fish bites and you feed line to the fish, the line glides uninhibited through the weight, and the fish feels the weight far less than if the weight was ... [ 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 ]
Crankbaits For Cold Water Bass – Spring Bass Fishing Tips
The beginning of spring is here, however the deep chill in the air would lead you to believe otherwise. The nights are still cold but the warmth of the daytime sun makes up for what the chill of the night has taken. This is an excellent opportunity to chase after some pre-spawn bass. This is a transition time of year for the lakes and ponds. A time when the water temperatures are beginning to rise and the weed growth is very sparse and small. A lake or pond goes thru this spring transition or “turn over” just as it does in the fall. The warm water is at the bottom and the cold water is at the top. During this turnover period the water begins to mix and it can create quite a mess of the water. Prior to this transition however, the bass can become quite active and feed heavily on ... [ Read More ]
Spring Time Panfish.
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 ]