Just Fishing - Fall 2025

1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4

The Jigger is a traditionally balanced ball head style jig with a center of gravity located below the hook eye and along the shaft of the hook.

"THE NEDDER"

1/16, 3/32, 1/8 3/16, 1/4, 3/8

"THE ROLLER" "THE SWIMMER" "THE JIGGER"

1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4

"The Roller" is a top heavy, unstable jig with the center of balance located forward of the hook eye and above the hook shank.

"DISCO BALL"

The Nedder is a traditional mushroom style ned head style jig with a center of gravity that has a design enhanced to reflect FFS.

1/8, 3/16, 1/4 3/8, 1/2

The Disco ball is a traditional round drop shot weight designed to enhance the reflection of FFS. Available with Tie on or Line grip swivels.

3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4

"The Swimmer" is stable when being pulled forward or bounced, It's center of gravity is behind the hook eye and in line with the shank.

"#2 PENCIL"

1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 1/2, 5/8, 3/4

The #2 Pencil is a traditional pencil drop shot weight designed to enhance the reflection of FFS. Available with Tie on or Line grip swivels.

ODDBALL

TACTICS FOR

MMI like to imagine a lake being a bathtub and visualize draining half the water out of the lake. Those steep breaking shorelines that would still be in contact with the remaining water are prime fall musky hot spots. Using your electronics, you’ll also be able to see suspended bait with both traditional 2D sonar and side imaging. If you see bait balls, you are definitely fishing the right shoreline.

When I fish these breaks, I key in on subtle irregularities. There are small points, turns, event boulders or trees. All of these are areas to make sure you make a few more casts. Boat control is everything. Position your boat close to the break and have one angler make casts at a 45-degree angle or even parallel to the break, while the other angler makes traditional casts to the bank and picks apart the irregularities.

Shimano Tranx 400

I slow my retrieve way down in late fall. I don’t use any high-speed reels at this time and the Shimano Tranx400 is my go-to reel for all fall casting applications. Slowly crank deep-diving crankbaits, like a Depthraider or a Llungen Lures 50 caliber crank. I also prefer to fish glider jerkbaits such as a Chaos Round nose glider, ensuring I give the lure a couple longer pauses during the retrieve. Of course, you can’t ignore big soft plastics such as Medussas.

FALLEN TREES

By: Jim Saric

usky anglers dream of late fall muskies. Cold, wind, snow and big muskies is the mantra of all die-hard musky hunters. Afterall, there are many giant muskies caught in late fall, as they are generally at their heaviest. However, just because they may be feeding doesn’t mean they are easy to catch. In fact, fall muskies can be the hardest to catch, as the days are shorter, and the feeding windows are smaller. In mid-summer there may be several feeding windows every day that might last 30 minutes to over an hour. In late fall, there may only be two windows each lasting not much more than 30 minutes. So, despite most casual anglers believing fall is musky time, it’s not easy!

Fall musky fishing is often associated with trolling, fishing livebait, or casting large soft plastics, yet there are other options available that used to be “traditional”, but now have become overlooked and what some may call “odd ball” yet, these tactics can definitely put more muskies in your boat this fall.

STEEP BREAKING SHORELINES

As water temperatures drop into the low 50s and 40s steep breaking shorelines, particularly those with sand and gravel, are magnets for late fall spawning baitfish such as cisco or whitefish. Muskies that spend much of their entire season following these baitfish will now frequent these same areas. I many cases this may be the only time of the season when these big muskies are accessible. Now, not all steep breaking shorelines are created equal. Look for those adjacent to the deepest basins in the lake.

We often drive by fallen trees in summer and occasionally make a few casts, but rarely to those trees produce. However, in fall, those

A Line From “Big” Jim

It’s hard to imagine that in recent days the temperature have made it into the high 20’s. But hey, I am not gonna complain one bit! To take advantage of this great weather, we have you covered for everything this fall... From muskies, steelhead, walleyes and even how BASS Elite angler Bernie Schultz changes from one boat to the next every year.

Jim Saric the Musky Hunter shares some odd ball techniques to get you bit moving through fall. Liam Whetter & Gord Pyzer team up to walk you through fall fishing with big bites. “Gussy” – our own Bassmaster Classic Champion, shares a bunch of tactics he uses just about everywhere and for all species of fish.

Our Ice Preview section gets you thinking ahead to the hard water. Features include “Bro” on Early Walleye & Tim Allard explores the Future of Ice Fishing & What it Looks Like. Chef Cameron Tait created a great fall dish –Walleye Chorizo Paella, to warm you up from a long fall day on the water.

Then The Walleye Boss himself – Al Lindner, gives us lesson on fishing Fall River Walleyes. Next Dr Steven Cooke his associates Julie Clausem & Davis P. Phillipp get us up to date on the Latest & Greatest on Black Bass Management – it’s a very interesting read. Plus our resident fly fishing Guru –Daniel Notarianni, walks us through the fall steelhead season. Rounding out the content we have a great submission from Tradition’s Media – Best Walleye Plays, featuring tips to capitalize on some of the best fishing we see all year!

Please do me a favour and make sure everyone in the boat has their life jacket on before you leave the shore – I have seen so many anglers out this fall with kids buckled up big time, but Mom & Dad aren’t wearing one... you owe it to yourself and those around you.

Be safe!! “Big” Jim

(Oddball Tactics for fall musky continued from page 3.) trees can now produce muskies. Why fallen trees suddenly produce in late fall, I am not sure. I think it may be a result of the muskies roaming more, as their summer home range is broken down and fall turnover has ended. Regardless, these fallen trees, particularly near deeper water become musky magnets. Big trees with big branches extending into deeper water where your boat might be in 15-20 feet of water or more, are textbook fall musky trees.

Jim Saric with a big fall

caught in the evening. Despite the cold, last light is primetime in fall.

Unsolicited articles are accepted and will be considered for publication provided

Publisher

“Big” Jim McLaughlin

Managing Editor

Tammy Wight

Digital Marketing RYP.Media

Contributors

Liam Whetter & Gord Pyzer

Tim Allard, Jim Saric

Bernie Schultz

Al Lindner

Jeff Gustafson

Daniel Notarianni

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Cameron Tait

Dr Steven Cooke

Box 214 Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0.

Phone: (613) 387-8735

Email: info@justfishing.ca

www.justfishing.ca

All Rights Reserved

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

On the Cover: Main – Bob Mahoney – photo: Chris Gilles, Fall Fishing

Success – photo: Liam Whetter, Targeting Oddball Tactics for Fall Muskies, Scott Schuster, Tactics to Catch More Fish, – photo: Jeff Gustafson.

The great thing about fishing trees in fall is that they are easy to identify and don’t take long to fish. Some water have a few trees, others have multiple shorelines with trees, regardless you need to make some casts to them in fall, as now is the time when muskies are using them. I had a stretch of shoreline trees in a Wisconsin lake years ago that I won lots of muskies during tournaments, because it was always good for at least one musky. The consistency of some trees is absolutely incredible.

Boat control is critical. Set up so you are not too close but can make casts parallel to the branches. Cast to the outer edge of the tree first then work the sides. Try a couple casts to the front and sides and if there’s no response move to the next tree. I don’t think you need to spend more than five minutes casting to any tree.

I prefer to fish trees with either glider jerkbaits like a Chaos Tap Dancer or a minnowbait such as a ShallowRaider or Grandma. Keep the lure close to the branches and these erratic lures will produce some flash between the branches and get a musky hiding in ambush to respond. I’ll also cast a soft plastic such as a Medussa along the outer edges as it can drop fast and get closer to a musky hiding deeper beneath the tree.

CHAOS MEDUSSA

In fall, if I drive by a tree that I think might hold a musky, I’ll stop and fish it. It may be your best five minutes of the day!

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(The Walleye Storm

(The

(Oddball Tactics for fall musky continued from page 4.)

DEAD WEEDS

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.”

In late fall in many lakes, particularly those that are shallower than 30 feet, the weeds turn brown and appear dead. Anglers tend to avoid them, with the perception that the dead weeds won’t hold muskies. Often anglers will avoid these shallower, stained waters in fall, in favour of those clearer and deeper. However, although the shallow weed tops may be dead, the deeper portions are alive and thriving. Regardless in many shallow lakes this weed cover may be the only available cover, and muskies will still use them to freeze.

“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.”

Scott Schuster with a giant caught fishing over some “dead” weeds.

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.)

As water temperatures drop, muskies use ambush spots along the edges of decaying weeds to feed on prey. The key areas along these “dead weedbeds” are inside turns or areas where the deep water swings close to the weed edge. These inside turns always have green weeds and area often the “spot-on-the-spot” when fishing a weed bed in fall.

“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.”

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.

“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.

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

For lures, I rely heavily on jerkbaits such as Chaos Navins and Round nose gliders, soft-plastic swimbaits such as Posseidens, and large shallow-running crankbaits such as ShallowRaiders. The key is a slow but erratic retrieve with multiple pauses. Also, don’t ignore a Medussa or a jig while focusing on the deeper weed edge, if the muskies aren’t responding to other shallower presentations

Be sure and give these options a try this fall, and you might catch your personal best musky.

Editor’s Note:

Like Mitchell, Takasaki is enamoured by the explosion of fresh weed growth that occurs during the summer peak period, when his go-to presentation many days is pulling a crawler harness behind a bottom bouncer at 1 to 1.5 miles-an-hour. “I love it when the weeds form a distinct breakline in 10 to 15 feet of water, says the 1998 PWT Classic Champion. “But if you’re getting hung up and it is difficult to get the bouncer through the vegetation, switch to a bullet weight. I’ll also pull shallow running cranks over the tops of the weeds. And on a really good weedline, I’ll stop and toss a jig tipped with a minnow or leech into the pockets.”

(Continued on page 8.)

Late fall musky fishing is about quantity, but quality. The biggest muskies of the season are available, just be sure not to ignore some oddball, but obvious spots. I have caught hundreds of muskies from such spots all across the musky range. Although lure choices and approaches may change over time, some tried-and-true spots still produce.

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.

Jim Saric is an American professional angler, best known as the publisher, editor and owner of Musky Hunter Magazine, the largest musky fishing publication in North America. He is the Host and Executive Producer of The Musky Hunter television series, the first television show ever dedicated solely to the hard-to-catch musky.

(Continued on page 27.)

(

( SUCCESS ) ) )

By: Liam Whetter & Gord Pyzer

FFor a lot of anglers autumn is a time of plenty, when the fishing shifts into high gear. But for others, it is a head scratching time of confusion when they wonder where the fish they were catching all summer have suddenly gone. The bearer of good news or bad tidings – depending on your perspective – is fall turnover, a phenomenon that begins in early autumn and concludes by freeze up.

We had the distinct pleasure of chatting with Dr. Heidi Swanson, Associate Professor at Wilfred Laurier University and the Jarislowsky Chair in Sustainable Water Futures on our Doc Talks Fishing podcast and asked her to clear up the confusion associated with fall turnover. What Heidi has to say will dispel so many myths and put more and bigger fish in the net.

IT STARTS WITH STRATIFICATION

“For lakes to turn over, they first have to stratify,” she explains. “You have different layers in the lake that are different temperatures. Lakes that are most susceptible tend to be lakes in the temperate zone, so not arctic and not tropical. They also have to be of sufficient depth to stratify and then turn over.

As Dr. Swanson explains in the podcast – (link at end of article) – many of the lakes we fish stratify into three distinct layers in the summer, with the bottom layer – the hypolimnion – becoming starved of oxygen in many productive systems. During turnover, however, oxygen is restored throughout the water column by mixing, so fish can return to deeper structures that have been out of bounds.

“The other thing that can happen during stratification,” says Dr. Swanson, “whether oxygen is depleted or not, is that there’s all this decomposition going on in the sediment. So there’s a whole bunch of algae and other organic matter that has fallen to the lake bottom and microorganisms rework that organic matter and refresh the nutrient supply. That nutrient supply can be trapped down there in the hypolimnion until turnover. And then you mix all of the nutrients back into the water column.”

“The thing about stratification is that it’s based on density differences. Water that is a different temperature is a different density. And that’s why (in the summer) we get this top layer, the epilimnion, that is the warmest. The metalimnion is where the temperature decreases really quickly. And the hypolimnion is the coolest water at the bottom of the lake.”

“A rule of thumb is about six metres (20 feet) or more. Turnover is really important because if a lake is stratified for part of the season it means that there’s water that’s not interacting with other water in the lake. So nutrients and oxygen can get stuck in different layers. What turning over does is mix everything in the water column and that is going to affect where fish are going to be in different seasons.”

BARRED FROM ENTRY

Most anglers know the middle band of water better – the one Dr. Swanson calls the metalimnion – as the thermocline, and in the summer it is typically thin, often only about ten feet thick. But it blocks

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or restricts the upper warm surface water from mixing with the bottom cold basin water. So it acts like a glass ceiling that stops warm water loving species like walleye, bass, muskies and pike from going deep and cold water loving lake trout, salmon, cisco, burbot and whitefish from coming shallow.

“There are two things that can prevent fish from moving,” says Dr. Swanson. “One is the thermal preference of the fish. So our warm and cool water fish are more likely to be in the epilimnion and our cold water fish are more likely to be in the hypolimnion or the bottom waters, unless the hypolimnion is oxygen depleted. And in that case, those cold water fish have to hang as close as they can to where they can find a balance between cool water and enough oxygen.”

As we enter autumn, however, the stratified lakes that we’ve been fishing all summer long start to break down and we enter the beloved – or the dreaded – fall turnover. So, what the heck is happening?

“During fall turnover, the surface waters start to cool, especially at night,” says Dr. Swanson, “and as the surface waters cool, they will sink to the bottom. That starts to break down those density gradients that set up the stratification in the first place.

“Together with that, fall tends to be when we get storms and wind that act to mix the whole water column. So in a typical temperate lake, all of the bottom waters come to the top and all the top waters go to the bottom. If you were to take a temperature profile from top to bottom and an oxygen profile, which is just as important, you would find a straight line from top to bottom.”

One of the things that Dr. Swanson emphasizes throughout the podcast is that water is most dense – heaviest – when it is 4° Celsius in temperature, so it sinks. But does it have to be 4° C to initiate fall turnover?

“That is a great question,” she says. “Four degrees is this magic number because it’s the temperature at which water is densest. But you can get fall turnover at eight degrees celsius, you can get it at 11 degrees. It’s the temperature at which the whole water column is the same. And that’s when it’s going to turn over.”

GOODBYE THERMOCLINE

The important takeaway to understanding fall turnover is that the thin glass ceiling that we talked about earlier, the metalimnion or thermocline is eroded away. And with the blockage removed, water throughout the column is able to mix. “That’s the start of fall turnover for sure,” says Dr. Swanson.

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(Fall

“It will erode the top of the thermocline, so the metalimnion – or the middle layer of water – will get narrower and narrower.

“The other thing that’s important to remember is that in a textbook example, it will show that middle layer, the thermocline and the three layers of water being very stable. But they move a lot. There are internal waves and currents within the lake. And you’ll see the thermocline layer going up and down with sushing waves. The layers won’t mix with each other, but the depth where the thermocline is will change from day to day and week to week. And then, when you get into fall time, that’s when the actual size of those layers is going to start to change.”

down at the bottom, walleye, bass, yellow perch, crappies, will associate with the basin – even small pockets of deeper water – searching for that stable four or five degrees Celsius water.

“That’s exactly it,” says Dr. Swanson. We call it inverse stratification because in the summertime the warmer water is on top of the cooler water and then in the wintertime the cooler water, as long as it’s less than four degrees Celsius is on top.

“Fish are poikilotherms. That means they’re cold-blooded. Some people would say they’re the same temperature as

Once the thermocline is eroded and removed during fall turnover, for the first time since spring, the fish in your favourite lake are free to wander and explore any depth. It is why you can often catch trout in the shallows, while the bass and walleye are out in deeper water. There is no thermocline – or glass ceiling –hindering or stopping their movements.

But fall turnover does something else. By the time it is complete, in November and early December, the warmest water is now at the bottom of the lake and the coldest is up at the surface. In other words, the exact opposite of the summer. So it sets up where we’re going to find the fish in the winter.

As Dr. Swanson explains, the ice on our lakes is floating and it is a good thing that it is otherwise they would freeze from top to bottom. But with the coldest water now at the surface and the warmer water

their environment. So a warm water fish or a cool water fish like a bass, northern pike or musky is going to look for the warmest possible water there is.”

You can listen to the entire podcast with Dr. Heidi Swanson, who also explains spring turnover. Fall turnover is a dynamic process, but once you get a handle on it, it is guaranteed to put more and bigger fish in the boat for you.

To the entire fascinating interview with Dr. Heidi Swanson click 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.”

SEASON TO SEASON

BOAT TO BOAT

By: Bernie Schultz

Apros go through a process of unwrapping and prepping their boats for resale. And it’s not always because they want to.

Certain sponsors – particularly those in the marine industry –require us to upgrade our equipment each year. They expect us to run their newest products and, in some cases, prototypes. Testing equipment is part of the job, and there is no better way to give new products a workout than under tournament conditions.

Like other anglers on tour, once I’m comfortable with the way a boat is set up, I don’t want to make many changes… and that includes moving into a new rig. But in keeping with sponsors’ expectations, it’s a must. And before moving into a new rig, there’s considerable work to be done.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

My first consideration is making sure the boat, trailer and engine are all in tiptop shape… electronics too. Once I’m confident those are taken care of, the next step is saving my waypoints. Although hundreds are of no further use, many still are. To save them, they’re downloaded onto a memory card and stored until the next boat arrives.

Once that’s done, then it’s a matter of removing all of my tackle and gear. And believe me, that’s not a quick process. Like many old school pros, I’m guilty of carrying way too much tackle, but I feel it’s better to have too much than not enough.

Next comes the wrap. Removing it from the boat and trailer usually takes the better part of a day, maybe two, depending on the amount of glue residue. On rare occasion, a buyer may ask that the wrap remain intact. Some like the notoriety of owning an Elite Series wrapped boat. Others want it for the extra layer of protection that vinyl can offer. It not only guards against scuffs to the fiberglass, it also screens potentially harmful UV rays. Whenever I’m asked to leave the wrap intact, it makes the job that much easier.

then the livewells, compartments, hull, engine and finally the trailer and wheels. I want the boat to look its best, as if I were buying it.

Once it’s sold, then it’s a matter of making the transaction legal… transferring the title and warranties to the new owner. I always buy an extended warranty on the outboard so that the buyer has a few extra years of added protection.

ON TO THE NEXT ONE

I’m a creature of habit. Once I’m comfortable with a specific boat and layout, I try to stick with it. Not only does it keep things familiar, it makes the reorder process a lot simpler.

Before selling a boat, saving and clearing the waypoints is a top priority.

I was obsessed. I ran each day over-and-over in my mind, to pinpoint the source of Rob’s

Then, it hit me... Rob operates on one primary principal to all-

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

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...

www.baitcasters.ca

Unfortunately, things sometimes change and we’re forced to adapt.

Those of you who have followed my career know that I represented Ranger Boats for

decades. But after the brand was purchased and many of its key people replaced, the relationship no longer felt the same. I was signed by Forrest and Nina Wood, and they treated me like family… Randy Hopper as well. When they and so many loyal employees were gone, so was my desire to represent the brand.

few more button pushes my Minn Kota Ulterra front trolling motor deploys and is anchored on the spot. This allows us to fan cast Mimic Minnows in the target fishing zone. Sounds easy, right? Just try not to run over your walleye spot. Monitor an anchor within a reasonable casting distance.

Some schools of fish bite until you catch them all. Other times, you catch a handful and the rest swim away. When the fish scoot away, I tell my clients, “Time to move! We don’t need a full pint of blood from one patient. We can just take a few drops of blood from a bunch of patients.” Hint: “patients” are schools of fish.

Shortly after announcing my departure, I received an offer from Caymas Boats. In fact, it was company founder Earl Benz who called me. Flattered, and knowing his character and reputation throughout the industry, it was an easy decision to make. And once again, I would be working with a family-owned business.

Speaking of schools, I like to make sure I’m sitting on a school of walleye, not rough fish. This is when I deploy my Aqua-Vu HD7 underneath my Lund 219 GL . Then I use a 7’ St. Croix Legend X Medium Extra Fast with 10-12lb. Sunline SX1 braid with a 2-4ft. 8lb. fluorocarbon leader. I use a small swivel or back-to-back uniknot to tether the two lines together. No need to add scent or bait in most situations. It is a visual strike that is triggered.

Having that background and a passion for fishing, he decided to enter the bass boat market. His former brands include Stratos and Triton – two highly successful companies, which he developed and eventually sold. Today he builds

When swimming the top of the weeds, a drop shot keeps the plastic tail at the walleyes level all the time. The swivel on the Gamakatsu Finesse Drop Shot Hook keeps your line straight and your lure level, which keeps spin to a minimum. Pitch the drop shot in the same way you would throw a Mimic Minnow or a Rumble Bug. Cast and let the sinker hit the bottom. With the rod slightly up to keep the line tight, roll the reel handle, pull and pause creating a fleeing-bait action.

For those unfamiliar with his name, Earl Bentz began his career as a test driver and professional speedboat racer for Mercury Marine. Over his career, he set many records, while winning countless races. Off the water, he was integrally involved in various aspects of marine design and product development.

Summertime heat reaction bites get better. It is surprising how well the fish bite in extreme heat. I know this because I don’t guide at night and find success during the day. I am a fan of cooler weather but I do survive the summer heat with my AFTCO Samurai Hoodie – super thin and very comfortable – along with my Fish Monkey Stubby Guide Gloves and face mask. Summer temperatures can flirt with 100 degrees and lakes

Once the glass work, carpet and deck installation are complete,

be calm and glassy feeding you high doses of sun rays. I protect my skin with these types of clothing.

comes the

what he considers his finest boats, by the finest craftsmen. And after having run three different Caymas hulls in as many years, and observing their production process firsthand, I’m in complete agreement with that assessment.

ORDER & DELIVERY

This year, I decided to try their new CX20 Pro. It’s a foot shorter than my previous models, but still has the same layout and features.

The ordering process started with my dealer – Black Label Marine in Ocala, Florida. They are the largest Caymas dealer in the country and located close to me, which makes things a lot easier. I also like the people there, some I’ve known for years. Working with their team, we went through a checklist of options and features. Once every aspect of the build was considered and agreed to, the application was submitted to Caymas. When the paperwork was approved, a work order was then put into place with an expected completion date of six to eight weeks.

During that time, I sent product requests to my other sponsors –among them Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, DD26 Fishing, Battery USA, Garmin and my title sponsor, Power-Pole. Each of these companies sent the requested equipment to either Caymas or Black Label Marine, depending on the rigging requirements.

Once the boat left the assembly line, it then went through a rigorous inspection process. After Caymas quality control signed off on the build, it was then vacuum-sealed and made ready for shipping. My dealer performed the remaining rigging and prep, then the boat was ready for wrapping.

For that, I rely on “The Wrap Pros” at BB Graphics in Ocala. They do quality work in a timely fashion. Once the wrap was applied, I then loaded all of my gear and headed to the water for

“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!

Marine.

“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.”

break-in. In all, it’s about a 10-week process. And when finally completed, it’s a combined feeling of relief and gratitude.

So when you see a Mercury-powered Caymas, wrapped in black with Power-Pole “CHARGE” logos down each side, you’ll know it’s me… hopefully carrying a livewell full of big fish to weigh-in.

See you there…

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.

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.

Screwy 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.

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.

Editor’s Note:

“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.

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.

Bernie Schultz competes on the Bassmaster Elite Series and serves as a columnist to Bassmaster.com & InsideLine. net. He’s also an educator and promoter of angling, representing many of the biggest brands in fishing –including Mercury Marine, Caymas Boats, Power-Pole, Fuji Rod Components, Shimano, Yamamoto, Hildebrandt, Garmin Electronics, T-H Marine, Power Pro and Don’t Die Lithiums. You can visit him at: www.bernieschultzfishing.com and on Facebook at “Bernie Schultz Fishing.”

“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.

Boat Clean and Operation Bait Bucket in the Lake Simcoe watershed.

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

March 29th 2026

peterborough memorial centre & Kinsmen Civic Centre

Top Fishing Brands, Bait Makers, Seminars, Boats and More!

WBy: Jeff Gustafson

hile I don’t guide as much as I did when I was younger, over the course of the year, I spend time on the water with a lot of different anglers, of all skill levels and one challenge is to try and get baits in people’s hands that they can catch fish with, that aren’t too difficult to use. The following are three of my favourite tactics for putting a bunch of fish in the boat. Rig each of these correctly and you’re going to catch some fish with them.

MARABOU JIG MADNESS

This is not meant to just be a column for bass anglers. While the marabou jig that I’m going to talk about first is mostly a bass bait, walleye, crappie and even

The marabou or “fluff” has been popular with bass tournament anglers in Northwest Ontario since the early 2000’s, when anglers like Norm and Dave Lindsay, Joe Pritchett and Hiram Archibald were winning most summertime events. Eventually the secret got out and local anglers started tying their own.

These are light jigs, ranging in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an ounce, with the ends of marabou feathers tied to them. A 3/32 is in between and is probably the most popular size. The key with the fluff is to never really let it hit the bottom. You’re going to need a soft rod and light line to cast these jigs but if you put them in front of a smallmouth, they usually bite it. I like to use them for sight fishing cruising bass in shallow water as well as cast them around weed clumps, boulders, logs or docks, cover that could be holding fish.

Whitefish are suckers for a marabou jig & a small swimbait.

reel spooled up with 8 lb. Power Pro braid with an 8-lb. Mastiff fluorocarbon leader, attached by an FG knot.

Cast these jigs out, and slowly reel them back to the boat, trying to keep them in the middle of the water column. If the water is eight feet deep, reel them at around four feet. You don’t need to impart a lot of action on these jigs, just let their subtleness do its thing.

SMALL SWIMBAITS FOR SUCCESS!

The popularity of small swimbaits by smallmouth and walleye anglers has been

You can’t cover a ton of water with these light jigs but if you cast them at the sweet spots, you’re going to get some bites. Northland Fishing Tackle has built a really nice marabou jig on a Gamakatsu hook, made for tournament anglers. It is one of the best ones you can buy and you get two jigs per pack.

I throw my hair jigs on a 7’6” G. Loomis NRX+ rod (901), which is long and soft to really launch those jigs out there. I like a 3000 Shimano Exsence

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around for much of the past decade but I think it’s slowed up a little bit over the past couple of years as more anglers are using straight-tailed minnow baits instead of swimbaits with a moving tail. The minnow baits are the most used baits in conjunction with forward-facing sonar, which is the reason for the switch to the

The Z-Man TRD GobyZ is a small swimbait that is great to crawl along the

lot, the truth is, swimbaits are easier for the average angler to use because they have a better ability to attract fish from a wider area and you simply just cast them out and reel them in. The key is to figure out which part of the water column you want your swimbait to work through. Are you fishing for fish that are suspended in the water column or on the bottom? Sonar helps us figure this out and sometimes we work it out through trial and error.

more subtle bait. Are there times when swimbaits with a moving tail are a better option?

Over a decade ago, my first introduction to quality swimbaits was using oversized versions for bass on southern U.S. reservoirs, early in my professional career. Around that time, Keitech swimbaits from Japan became popular and remain so today. They came in a variety of sizes to match forage in all bodies of water. Eventually I started using Z-Man swimbaits, which come in a variety of sizes. Their durability, because of the Elaztech material that they are made from is an advantage and they swim really nice.

While I use the straighttailed minnow baits like the Jerk ShadZ a

The straight-tailed minnow baits are more subtle and usually have to be put closer to the fish to get their attention. This is what makes them a great bait to use with forward sonar. The key with fishing a swimbait are to match the jig head to the depth that you’re fishing and make sure you get the bait rigged up nice and straight so it swims naturally.

I always match my swimbaits up with a Smeltinator jig to give them a natural look and because we have a variety of hook sizes and weights to match any swimbait. For under 12 feet, I like a 1/4 ounce jig and for deeper than 12, I’m going with a 3/8 ounce. If you’re fishing deeper than 30, consider a 1/2 ounce jig. A 2/0 hook is going to be the best size for three-inch baits and you can choose bigger hooks for bigger swimbaits.

While we’re mostly talking tactics for walleye and bass in this column, I keep swimbaits in my arsenal for crappie, lake trout, pike and musky as well. Just match your bait to the forage that the fish are eating.

(Continued on page 23.)

DROP-SHOT IN DEEPER WATER

The drop-shot rig has been a popular finesse rig for bass anglers for years but it’s become more popular amongst the walleye crowd as well. If you’re unfamiliar with the dropshot, it’s a rig where a small hook is tied to the line with a weight tied beneath it, at the end of the line.

The drop-shot gives us the ability to “hang” a bait in front of fish near the bottom. Utilizing a small hook and bait, you can present the ultimate finesse rig. A heavier weight allows you to get these small packages down to the fish efficiently.

For smallmouths on deep structure or boulders, a drop-shot rig is hard to beat

In our part of the World, the best presentation is usually with a small hook that we can nose hook our baits with but you can use a worm style hook to Texas-rig your baits and make them weedless as well. I almost always use a #1 Gamakatsu G-Finesse

Drop-Shot Hook: The drop-shot hooks is a light wire hook that is extremely sharp yet strong. Obviously, you want to use a lighter fishing rod to match the presentation. I use the G. Loomis NRX+ 822 DSR, a 6’10” rod designed for fishing a drop-shot rig.

The drop-shot rig is deadly for big walleye!

It’s a beautiful fishing rod that also shines for fishing a small jig and live bait for walleye.

Z-Man makes a number of great drop-shot baits that work well thanks to the Elaztech material that they are made from. This material is buoyant, so the baits naturally float up above the bottom. You also don’t lose the baits as often as you do with regular soft plastic when you nose hook them. My favourite baits are the Finesse ShadZ, Trick ShadZ and Jerk ShadZ.

The drop-shot shines for fishing specific pieces of structure like the top of a hump, end of a point or around pieces of cover like a boulder, weed clump or bridge piling. Simply let the rig get to the bottom and slowly drag it along. It’s harder than you think but avoid shaking and twitching your fishing rod to impart action. Less action is usually better with a drop-shot rig. The weight bouncing and moving along the bottom will give your bait the subtle moves that it needs.

NEW FOR 2025

For under ten feet of water, go with a 3/16 ounce weight, a 1/4 ounce for ten to 20 feet and a 3/8 ounce weight for water deeper than 20. These are all popular, proven tactics by anglers that guide and fish tournaments across Canada.

Have a great time on the water!

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.

My ice fishing tradition is going to shallow lakes that freeze first with a group of friends before machine travel. We target active feeding walleyes on foot and have never been disappointed.

ACTIVE WALLEYES: Walleyes are feeding right now. This is a continuation of their

The most interesting was a person fishing on shore with a hole drilled three to four feet away catching walleyes on a steep break on a reservoir. I have also caught walleyes hundreds of feet from shore on many different bodies of water. Some fishing areas require longer walks based on depth, weeds, rocks or edges.

choose from an assortment of colours for the aforementioned lakes. I had a chance to use some of the new Tungsten spoons and caught lots of walleyes with them – as you will, too! They have a solid feel and a loud rattle that absolutely brings walleyes in angry.

I use Sunline fluorocarbon primarily through the ice; it wicks less water than braid and has a better sink rate than mono. When you are fishing straight down, sink rate is everything. Plus, it is abrasion-resistant for the sharp edges of drilled holes. Use fast snap clips on your line to change spoon colours quickly. Or tie with a loop knot if you have a hot colour. When I’m fishing outside my house, my favourite rod is a St. Croix Custom Ice 36” Spoon Hopper.

When you drop the spoon down, there are different approaches. You can let it hit the bottom or stop a foot or two above the bottom, then start with a two-foot sweep and a pause – or a light hop or double hop. The pause allows the fish to grab the injured spoon bait presentation before the prey flees capture.

We are finding out more and more on different bodies of water, and walleyes may be farther off the bottom than originally thought.

I have fished from the bottom of the ice down and caught walleyes in less than 15 feet halfway down. On large bodies of water, I have caught them in the upper third. Anglers fishing dark stained waters, they are mostly bottom dwellers

SIMPLE BOTTOM TRANSITIONS:

A modern marvel for anglers fishing on the ice first was Lakemaster maps. Before that, there was a blank screen GPS where you had to discern what the icons meant. Now we have map cartography in one-foot increments; you are able to see where you’re located with the bottom of the lake highlighted to help you narrow down the search. You can also create maps on the Humminbird Xplore for lakes that don’t have them. A close second is MEGA Live-2 Forward Viewing, which allows you to see fish in the area swimming under the ice. Also, I’m able to put MEGA Live in Down Mode and three clients are able to see their lures and fish swimming on one screen.

The third marvel is MEGA 360 Imaging with a near-photographic image of the landscape below the ice around you. Rocks and weeds are great, however it’s likely these areas are already drilled and fished. Hard to soft bottom transitions often get overlooked and are teeming with walleyes. The hard-packed sand gravel, Chara bed, or sometimes just a handful of clam shells sitting on top or half-buried, is a good spot for walleyes to ambush perch, shiners, darters and crayfish – but is also a landing area for mud-born insect larva spilling over from a muddy basin. MEGA 360 shows hard to soft bottom areas. The hard areas show as a brighter solid image. The mud shows up as a darker stratified area. I snip these areas out in the fall but find many of them while ice guiding and filming.

Bro Pro Tip: Make sure you have good batteries for your electronics and always carry a spare. Keep them wrapped up in a pack or box to keep them as warm as possible. I use Amped Outdoors lithium batteries. They never fail me, are very affordable and outlast old-style wet cell batteries.

REACTIVE BITES: The reason I walk long distances during early ice is to rip a spoon and have a reactive bite from a walleye. The jolt on my St. Croix rod drives me no matter how much snow or slush impedes my travel. Setting the hook and landing a fish through a RAZR’d hole is my passion and after I have released the fish I want to repeat the experience.

Good luck, be safe on the ice, drill and test before you walk or ride a machine! See you out there!

Editor’s Note:

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, of MAX, MN, is one of the most recognized and respected anglers in North America. Bro, as he’s known, is a multi-species angler best known for his influence on the sport of ice fishing. He can be contacted at bbro@paulbunyan.net or online at Brosguideservice.com for winter and summer guide trips or to book Bro for a seminar.

there ’ s more to

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WHAT DOES THE future OF

WHAT DOES THE future OF WHAT DOES THE Look Like?

IIwas 12 years old when I started ice fishing. I tried to keep warm in downhill skiing outerwear and rarely drilled more than a dozen holes with my hand auger. Looking back brings fond memories of catching northern pike, yellow perch and walleye. Those times were a far cry from where we are today, and I can’t help but wonder where ice fishing gear, electronics and tactics will go next.

What follows are some musing on ice fishing’s future. Ideas are based on what’s trending and conversations I’ve had with hard-water pros over the years.

LOVING LITHIUM ICE DRILLS

Electric ice augers continue to create a lot of buzz in the fishing industry – and rightly so. The lithium-powered ice drill boom shows no sign of slowing down. Case in point, StrikeMaster’s new Maven Lithium 40V, which is lighter, faster and more powerful than its predecessors. Ion, Eskimo and Jiffy are other brands offering lithium ice drills.

Lithium ice augers are extremely quiet and useful for staying stealthy. Electric augers are ready to go with a push of a button, drill extremely fast and, aside from battery recharging, are very low maintenance. Electric ice augers are lighter than gas-powered drills, and there are two subcategories to discuss in this respect.

There are the full-sized electric augers hovering around 20-lbs, and then there are the ultra-lightweight models, weighing between 13- to 15-lbs. You get more holesper-battery, along with a few other perks, with the heavier option, but also more weight and, generally, a bit of a higher price tag. Which electric auger is best for

you depends on your wants/needs and angling style.

Looking to the future, I suspect we’ll see electric ice augers continue to get lighter and drill more holes per battery charge. It also won’t be long before these two subcategories merge. Another thing likely to unfold is for ultra-light ice drills, like the StrikeMaster 6-inch, 13.3-lb. Lithium 24V, to take a bite out of the popular setup where a professional-quality, 18- or 20-volt, lithium, brushless drill is used to power an ice auger assembly.

Examples of the latter being the StrikeMaster Lite-Flite Drill Unit,

By: Tim Allard

K-Drill Ice Auger, Jiffy Torch and Eskimo Pistol Bit. These brushless setups are unlikely to go away completely since they fill the specific needs of some anglers.

Forward-facing sonar isn’t going anywhere

At this point, most anglers I know use forward-facing sonar on the ice and in the boat. We’re already seeing forward-facing sonar’s influence on hard-water tactics, and believe we’re entering an era of enhanced precision. Let me explain.

With forward-facing sonar, an angler is able to scan a “sonar spotlight” 360-degrees around the ice hole simply by turning the transducer’s ice fishing pole mount. Generally, I scan with a 100 to 140 foot range in Garmin’s LiveScope Forward when searching for fish in open areas, but drop down to 70 feet or less when scanning weedbeds.

Being able to quickly survey so much water – and only need to drill one hole to do it – is

Garmin LiveScope

Ice Fishing Bundle helps find fish faster and provides real-time intel on how fish are responding to your presentation.

(What does the future of ice fishing look like? continued from page 30.)

hugely advantageous. Anglers no longer need to drill 100+ holes in a day. A more precise approach can be used and, in turn, moves become more calculated, hole drilling is minimized and, on average, finding fish a much faster process.

Along with powering ice drills, most serious ice anglers are relying on lightweight, long-running lithium batteries, like the Dakota 12V 10Ah & 23Ah models seen here, for powering portable sonars & less on SLA batteries (right).

Once fish are found, these cutting-edge transducers allow the angler to switch from a forward-looking to a downward view.

The additional information from Garmin’s LiveScope Down has helped me trigger more fish and catch ones I likely wouldn’t have with a traditional 2D sonar display. This doesn’t mean 2D ice fishing sonar units are obsolete. Far from it, in fact. At this point, a 2D unit is smaller, lighter and, therefore, easier to carry around and hole-hop with compared to many forward-facing portable units.

What’s really interesting to observe is how efficient a fishing party can be at catching fish when an angler with forward-facing sonar is able to simultaneously jig in a hole while occasionally scanning the area, and then direct other anglers using 2D sonar where to move to follow fish travelling through the area.

I did this last year with my kids. After using LiveScope to understand how panfish were relating to isolated weed clumps, I drilled-out holes at specific spots and positioned the ice sled, auger and chairs to serve as landmarks to make it easier for me to direct my kids to specific area. When fishing with friends, we rely on hand signals and the clock-code navigation technique. “Fish at 10 o’clock, 70 feet out,” for example.

EXPECT MORE HEATED CLOTHING OPTIONS

Battery-heated clothing has been popular with hunters for quite a while and is gaining traction among ice anglers. This change is occurring, in part, thanks to lithium battery packs that are lighter and run longer than the NiMH batteries previously powering heated clothing.

Years ago, I got a look at the benefits of heated clothing in 2023 while trolling the Bay of Quinte with fishing guide, Greg Amiel (fishing4tails.com), who stayed toasty warm wearing a Milwaukee Tool M12 Heated Hoodie for one of his top layers. Greg adjusted the heat settings between low, medium and high throughout the day to keep comfortable. I immediately thought of the benefit this would have when ice fishing. Not long after my outing with Greg, I learned about Norfin’s Explorer Camo Heat Float Bibs and Extreme 5 Heat Liner jacket, and then about Whitewater’s Torque Insulated Heated Vest. Heated vests are also popular with hunters chasing game in cold weather.

(Continued on page 32.)

Instead, they kept coming back with an eagerness to expand their knowledge and meet other women anglers. Friendships and mentormentee relationships developed in time and in 2019, we started a formal mentorship program for members of the organization.

(The

(What does the future of ice fishing look like? continued from page 31.)

The purpose of the program is to: support new/newer anglers & B:) provide new fishing opportunities to experienced anglers that would like to learn about a new type of fishing they have not yet tried or to target a new species.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of the program after only a few months BUT

To participate in the program, women must be a paid member of the club. A mentor may offer 1:1 or small group instruction. Mentors and mentees are paired up depending on their fishing interests, location and availability. All of the mentors and organizers involved in the program are volunteers. They are not guides and, although are they are not compensated for their time, there is an understanding that mentees should offer some assistance with costs for fuel, boat launches, bait, etc. Mentees are expected to bring their own equipment and tackle to outings, unless otherwise arranged with the mentor.

To find out more information about this program, visit: https:// www.ontariowomenanglers.ca/mentorship

LINDA GALLUS

Sharing the joys of fishing has always been a passion of mine,

Getting involved in this sport and finding mentors can be challenging at times for women for a host of reasons. We are fortunate to have a breadth of female fishers within Ontario Women Anglers who want to help others. They are able to provide safe, supportive one-onone experiences for other women who may just be starting out or just want to learn more and, hopefully instill the confidence in newer anglers to pay it forward as a mentor one day –MacLean, Mentor, Ontario Women Anglers

MANY BAIT TRENDS WILL CONTINUE

Drop a Drop-Shot

became popular several years back. I had caught a couple of small bass on it in practice but on the second day of the three day tournament Mike threw it out on a windy point and caught a pair of four pound smallmouths at the same time, it was incredible. We caught several other big fish in the tournament on an umbrella rig and since then I always have one tied on in the fall.

crawler has put countless walleyes into the boat. Ditto, a firetiger Jigging Rap or Acme HyperGlide. Two weeks later, on the other hand, when the perch decide it is now time for them to nest, they relocate in the adjacent warm, soft bottom, weedy bays, and the walleyes follow them in hot pursuit. As the movement begins, you will notice that the walleyes are spread out. When this is the case, you will put your bait in front of far more fish and catch them faster trolling a bottom bouncer and crawler harness with a blend of chartreuse, orange, red and green coloured Colorado blades and beads, that again mimic a perch.

If you find yourself fighting the cold when ice fishing, you’d be well served to add the latest generation of heated clothing into your cold-weather wardrobe. Ewool, Fieldsheer, Kombi, Mobile Warming and Outdoor Research Several are just a few other brands offering heated jackets, vests, tights, gloves, mitts and socks.

TURNOVER BLUES

current. Wherever you are using them, you should try to make some contact with the bottom. Crankbaits ricocheting off the bottom is one of the top triggering functions of these baits.

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 plane and hold it at its lowest planning speed... 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.

At the other end of the presentation spectrum is a drop-shot rig that will produce really well for bass but other species like walleye and crappie as well. Consisting of a weight tied to the bottom of the line and then a hook tied into the line about 12”-24” above the weight (with a palomar knot). We will attach a variety of soft plastics to the hook but if you prefer to use live bait you can attach some meat to the hook as well.

finned prey in the 12” – 24” range in order to reach maximum size. As schools of suckers complete their spring spawn in the shallows and retreat to relatively deeper water, their #1 predator follows them. Suckers make a great living foraging among the stalks and leaves of cabbage weeds. Without suckers, or other plentiful forage species, such as ciscoes or smaller lake trout, there will be no pike. Still, the pike-suckercabbage connection is a major predator/prey relationship in North America. Pike need a feeding strategy they can rely on to fill their bellies. In mid-summer, their prey is localized and specific.

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: “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!

I don’t have a crystal ball to see what groundbreaking ice fishing lures will come out in the future, though suspect many potent presentations will continue trending upwards. Here are just a few examples. Lures designed to swim to the side are must-haves these days. The Rapala Jigging Rap and Swedish Pimple Vingla are legendary for having this kind of but new gliding lures continue arriving. Case in point, the Rapala Jigging Shadow Rap and Acme Hyper T Tungsten Jig, which has moulded rubber wings.

program is important to me. Many ladies don't know where to start, what equipment to use or where to go. Even worse, they may never have experienced the thrill of catching a fish! I started mentoring as a Girl Guide leader when they had a fishing badge. So many girls learned to tie a knot, use a bobber, and put a worm on a hook. It's the same for any newbie as just getting started can be tough. Mentors share knowledge and enthusiasm and mentees learn by doing. There's nothing like a day on the water to relax and enjoy the thrill of the anticipated call "got one!" shorter game of cat-and-mouse. If a fish shows interest, keep tweaking things until they chew.

Rob Schulz & IN-FISHERMAN, Editor-in-Chief, Doug Stange with a Mountain Lake monster pike.

NATALIE HATHAWAY

Trolling the same spinner combination along weed lines is another productive pattern as the weather, water and perch spawn heats up. And if the cabbage bed is expansive, you’ll pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming if you remove the bouncer and troll the spinner rig without any weight over tops of the weeds. Even more precise and deadly is casting a perch-coloured original floating Rapala Minnow, Shad Rap or Rippin’ Rap over the emerging weed tops. The key is adjusting the speed of your retrieve so that you scrape the tops and stalks of the vegetation with the lure, then let it suspend or float up slowly, as a walleyes rush up and devour it. Try it this season, as the sun sets on a pristine late spring / early summer evening and you will discover the meaning of delir

If a walleye is still hesitant, I use even less vertical movement. A slight flick of the rod tip is deadly. It can give a bait just enough speed and erratic motion to stimulate a strike. Shaking a lure for a couple seconds, then pausing it briefly is also deadly. This makes tipped treble hooks dance, activates rattles in noisy baits, adds flash, and makes lures seductively sway and pivot. Think of shaking a bait like jogging on the spot. There is movement happening, but the lure is not travelling very far. This keeps the bait appealing while staying in a small strike zone.

Gussy with Bass Fishing Legend Rick Clunn

inside lures would stall. Turning in the opposite direction snapped the motionless, suspended lures forward and brought the moving lures to

MAKE A QUICK SWITCH

PRESENTATION WILL ULTIMATELY SEPARATE SUCCESS FROM STRESS

In the fall I’m going to be using minnow imitating plastics, adjusting the size of the bait to the fish that I’m chasing and the size of the forage that I think the fish are focused on. For bass and big walleyes I might use a larger four or five inch jerk shad type bait but for crappies or pressured bass and walleye I might use a smaller two to three inch bait.

My top crankbaits for bass around home are the Bagley Sunny B and the Diving Balsa B1. These crankbaits run true every time and will put fish in the boat. Fish them on a seven foot crankbait rod (I like the G. Loomis IMXPRO 845C CBR) with 12 pound Seaguar fluorocarbon. For tournament fishing, I like to change my hooks to Gamakatsu G-Finesse treble hooks, which are extremely sharp, super strong, light wire hooks.

Try Swim Jigs

nderstanding the dreaded fall turnover, and knowing how to deal with it, can spell the difference between success and an empty livewell. Walleyes are directly affected by this naturally occurring, seasonal phenomenon, and can make for some of the toughest fishing conditions you’ll face during the entire open water season. As water temps reach their summer high, a layering process occurs, with the end result being an upper warmer layer, and a lower cooler layer, separated by a quick ly changing narrow band, known as the thermocline. This deeper, cooler, bottom layer, can quickly become totally void of oxygen, and will eliminate any use. Trying to pull fish from dead water can be a complete waste of time.

Observing lures using an underwater camera as well as with LiveScope Down, I’ve seen how a bait with a horizontal swim can activate the appetite of neutral fish as well as trigger strikes from pressured fish. Additionally, getting a lure away from the beam of sunlight shining down an ice hole, the pinging sonar beam and other overhead noise is going to increase your chances of getting wary fish to bite. This is especially relevant in shallow water.

Rob imparted enough of this stop-start-suspending presentation to the lures that his fish were seeing the same triggering presentation as Roger and Gary were doing with rod and reel...without any pause for casting! Furthermore, Rob covered approximately 10-20 times the water I did with the planer boards spreading his set to cover an enormous 40-foot swath! Thus, ended the lesson! I got my trolling rear-end in gear and haven’t looked back since!

Prior to the start of my fishing career in the U.S. back in 2012, I had never used a swim jig. They are a skirted jig but slightly different than the flipping jigs that have been used for years. Swim jigs typically have an eye positioned more towards the front of the jig, a lighter wire hook and they are designed to be swam through all kinds of shallow cover.

A lot of pike anglers rely on spinners (bucktails and tandem-spins) or minnow baits like Original Rapala minnows to fish weeds. They work! However, I personally do not like using spinners or Rapalastyle plugs that sport multiple, fish-damaging treble hooks. Why? Well, I’ve witnessed many fish hooked deep on these baits with one, two or all three hooks of the treble hook in their throat or gills. Much damage is done, not when the fish strikes the bait from the side; but, when a fish follows the lure, then lunges and engulfs the whole thing. When this happens, the treble hooks often end up deep in the soft throat/gill tissue.

My grandpa introduced me to fishing when I was a wee little one but it wasn't until I met my husband, Aaron Hathaway, 17 years

vegetation, wood – swim jigs can swim through all of this stuff with ease, generating reaction strikes with a quiet, subtle moving bait. Think about places where you might use

I’m predominately using Z-Man Elaztech baits on my drop-shot rigs because the plastic is buoyant causing it to sit horizontal in the water and look more realistic. Some of my favourite baits are the Finesse ShadZ, 3.75” SteakZ and the Jerk ShadZ baits. G. Loomis makes rods in all of their line-ups designed for drop-shotting with light actions so you don’t tear the small hooks out of the fishes mouth. If I could give you one tip for drop shot fishing, use a small, light wire hook that will help your presentation look more lifelike. I’m usually using #1 or #2 hooks most of the time. These are small hooks which makes the light action rods mandatory if you want to avoid losing fis

Switching from one bait to another can fool walleye. When jigging with an attractor bait, like a Rapala Rippin’ Rap, Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon, Sebile Vibrato, VMC Rattle Spoon or Williams Ice Jig, I always have another rod rigged with a finesse bait. This could be a small tube jig, jig and finesse minnow, darter or a compact tungsten spoon.

Will micro hair jigs continue to grow in popularity? Seen here is the VMC Tungsten Roach Jig.

But I have to confess, as much as I enjoy catching numbers of nice size walleyes, typically males, my idea of heaven is catching and releasing the giant, almost always female fish. a bite, setting the hook and for a split second thinking that you’ve snagged a rock or log. Then you feel the head shakes and nothing budges except the size of your eyes and you know... this isn’t bottom!

Fish finders display density of objects, as well as changes in density, which makes up a thermocline. The upper warmer layer, is less dense than the cooler bottom layer. It’s this change in density that will show up on a electronic graph, and it looks like a constant, narrow band. Some lakes are so shallow and windswept that they may never thermocline. The big lake circulates every time you get a decent wind, and the temperature remains relatively consistent from top to bottom, throughout the entire season. Periods of flat dead calm conditions, combined with the heat of summer, push surface temps into the range of bathwater. But that’s as far as it goes, and will last until the next good wind mixes everything up.

Especially following the passing of frequent weather systems on big water, the smart money is on trolling:

Flutter spoons are another lure category anticipated to grow. These curvaceous, bent lures have marvellous movement characteristics. Their high-action and erratic movements cause them to fall at a slower rate and stay in the strike zone longer than straight spoons. Some will slide sideways when falling on slack line. All these traits prove valuable for triggering fish.

The effectiveness of swim jigs comes from their ability to slide through all kinds of cover that would give other lures a tough time. Reeds, lily pads, submerged

Aggressive fish frequently have no qualms hitting a larger lure. When fish hesitate, quickly reel up the one lure, then drop the finesse bait. Offering walleye a smaller snack can tease them into eating. Where regulations allow, soaking a real minnow on a jig in one hole, while jigging an aggressive bait in the other to attract fish is a great combination. The lure catches the aggressive walleye, and the deadstick mops-up the hesitant biters. Position the finesse bait a foot or two off bottom, or just above where you regularly mark fish on the sonar.

Expect bait manufacturers to continue refining lure designs with various striketriggering components.

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.

Avoid the temptation to shake the heck out of your rod when you’re fishing a drop-shot. Get the bait to the bottom and drag it along, imparting some light shakes every once in a while. I almost always use a 3/8 oz weight that is heavy, but I want the bait to get down to the bottom quickly and not waste any time.

down; do not dredge messy, muddy bottoms. In summer use deeper divers and make hard-bottom contact often.

EQUIPMENT EXPECTATIONS

Use suspending lures all season long to achieve the ever-productive (i.e., Rob’s hard zig-zagging maneuver to work suspending jerkbait gives his stop-and-go presentation that is so deadly)

Fall offers some of the best fishing of the year and we have a long winter ahead of us so layer up, dress warm and get out there. Trust your electronics to show you the fish and you will enjoy those last few trips in the boat.

When fish come in with the hooks in their lip but are bleeding from the gills, this is what has happened. The gills tore and the fish is now bleeding out! For this reason, many conservation-minded outfitters are designating their top trophy waters as strictly “single-barbless hook” waters. Now, all baits can have the trebles removed and replaced with a single-barbless hook and, of course, fish can be hooked deep on single hooks. However, anything that increases the odds of a clean, live-release of top-end, breeding-stock fish is worth your effort. If your confidence bait is a spinner or minnow bait, that’s fine. Start by removing the trebles and replacing them with single Siwash hooks as seen on salmon spoons and plugs. For me, the swimbait is the top casting bait I use on all waters. For the record, I will state here that I feel the swimbait is universally more effective in fishing all pike situations, spring through fall, than any other bait.

What happens then and do the fish experience the same negative effects that the fall turnover brings? fact that a lake will turnover, that causes tough fishing conditions, but more likely due to the rapidly dropping water temperatures. The body temperature of a fish is subject to it’s environment, and rapid changes in water temp can shut fish down, and it may take some time for their body to adjust. The turnover usually coincides with the first hard frost of fall, but not always. Some years, the change is so gradual that it becomes difficult to pin down. One of the indicators to look for, is water temperature. When the surface temperature drops between 10-15 Celcius, you can figure you’re in the turnover zone. Walleye activity can range from bad to good, depending on how severe, and how quickly water temps cool off. A gradual slide can make for better fishing.

By trolling a shoreline with a spread of lures of known diving curves, you are able to sample several depths simultaneously. Also, planer boards, like Rob’s favourite, Church Tackle TX-6, gives impressive horizontal coverage.

5 4

WHAT SIZE? WHAT TYPE?

principal food source in deeper, cooler, main lake habitats means the walleyes are forced to relocate to shallower warmer water to feed on less nutritious species like yellow perch. Worse still, perch inhabit warm water so the walleyes are forced to turn up their metabolic rates and expend much more energy catching much less wholesome meals. It is a losing battle, as fisheries managers are finding throughout the southern walleye range.

For example, feather-dressed treble hooks are trending, and most recently seen on VMC’s Rattling Roach Spoon with its marabou teaser tail and Clam’s Leech Flutter Spoon with its feathered treble. Both lures also have significant fluttering action, and check more than one box for lure trends discussed here.

I’ve written in the past, and it remains the case today, that the most overlooked – and cherished –early season trophy walleye pattern is being the first person to fish the main lake structures that most folks won’t visit for at least another month. You will feel alone out here because everyone knows that the walleyes are still shallow. And to be fair, most of them are, just not the big females that leave the spawning areas quickly, migrating to their deep water refugias where they can devote the energy they consume to the production of more eggs. And they gain this nourishment by focussing almost solely on soft, silvery, pelagic ciscoes, shiners and rainbow smelt.

Soft-bait applications are also going to become increasingly important in winter. Some of my best outings in recent years have been thanks to Berkley’s MaxScent Flatnose Minnow, which doesn’t get a lot of airplay for its hard-water prowess. Rigging an entire minnow on a jig has been a fairly foolproof live-bait alternative for finessing walleye.

4) Pike will follow lures for a long way. Adding a quality baits scent, like Pro-Cure Pike/Musky Ice Gel or Anise-Plus Super Gel, gives pike a scent trigger that makes a big difference over the course of a day.

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) the spring (when I wake her up from her winter slumber) money well invested.

Much of the late summer and early fall action can occur after dark, and even when things get tough. There still might be a few walleyes that will surrender to anglers willing to give up a little sleep. Another option, would be avoiding the negative effects of the turnover by trying to find a lake that hasn't turned yet, or one that already has had a week or two to settle down. The first ones to go are the shallow lakes, as they cool quicker than the

DON’T’ TAKE MY WORD FOR IT: SUPER-PRO TIPS

5) Trolling with a hair trigger on you GPS button can reveal daily hotspots where the pike are holding and help you visualize how pike are setting up on a piece of structure. This information helps you produce a “milk run” for casting, later.

The final option is to not go at all, but what fun is that? Fishing is fun, even when it’s tough. Dealing with the fall turnover can prove to be a real chal-

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:

My favourite, lure is a large swimbait in the 5” to 6.5” range. I prefer a jig with an added swimbait tail such as the largest STORM 360GT Search bait and the venerable Big Hammer swimbaits, fished on 1/2, 3/4 or 1oz. Hammer Heads. These two swimbait designs offer the shape, texture, sizes and colours that combine to create a package that closely imitates the prey big pike feed on. Namely, long slender fish! Eluded to earlier, staring through our polarized glasses, we often observe common white suckers and/or northern hog-nose suckers in the cabbage beds. To imitate them, colours in browns or whitish grey hues are terrific.

The baitfish are so important that I look for them on my sonar screen more than for the walleye themselves. Now, two critical details: pay special attention to the depth at which you see the balls of bait suspending, and then locate the nearest structures – reefs, rock piles and underwater

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 is competing on the Bassmaster Elite Series in addition to competing in several events in Ontario. You can find him on social media at @gussyoutdoors and on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com.

Panfish sized plastics will unquestionably continue being key baits for ice fishing. These plastics run the gamut from ultra-realistic imposters to appendage-clad Frankensteins. In my experience, having some buggy looking tied on can help get bites from fussy perch, crappie and sunfish. Z-Man’s recently released Micro Finesse Bait series have produced well.

(Continued

(Continued on page 9.)

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Spring 2020

NO MATTER THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.

NO MATTER WHAT

STRONGER - SMOOTHER - THINNER

LOOKING TO ICE FISHING RODS & REELS

It’s safe to presume ice fishing rods will continue to following in the footsteps of the sensitivity, performance and durability advancements we’re seeing with open-water products. This is the result of better components, as well as overall improvements to blank design and materials, such as nanotechnology resins. Unique reel seat and handle designs recently seen in new open-water rods may also offer clues of what the future holds for ice fishing rod ergonomics.

as brands continue to refine backbone power with ultra-sensitive, responsive tip sections, which are seen in everything from premium noodle-style rods for panfish and finesse walleye presentations as well as predator rods.

SETLINE RENEWAL?

The trend of longer ice fishing rods also shows no signs of slowing down. This is supported by the increasingly more spacious internal dimensions we’re seeing in flip-over and pop-up shelters. Ice shelter designs are updated regularly using customer feedback, and no doubt have included requests for more internal room to allow for longer rods

The appeal of custom ice rods shows no signs of slowing down.

The Bullwhip from Tuned-Up Custom Rods is a favourite of the author.

I’m particularly intrigued to see what ice rod action is going to look like in a couple years,

In many fishing zones, anglers can use more than one line on the ice, and doing so is an easy way to cover more water and catch more walleye, pike and perch. Rail and thermal tip-up designs have remained fairly stable for well over a decade, but recently two other set-line categories have come into the limelight.

Rattle reels are seeing a resurgence. The latest generation of rattle reels have been upgraded for better overall performance, ease of use and enhanced strike detection, along with more versatile mounting capability. Examples include Rapala’s SmartHub Rattle Reel and Eskimo’s E-Hub Rattle Reel.

Set-line devices made to use in conjunction with ice fishing rods continue gaining momentum among the ice angling fraternity, (Continued on page 36.)

(The

striking a cord with those who prefer playing fish using a rod instead of hand-lining. The i-Fish Pro 2.0 is one popular choice I keep hearing more about each year.

Recently, I’ve experienced similar results for crappie and perch using the VMC Tumbler and Tingler spoons. Thin, slow falling flutter spoons also appeal to walleye, pike and other predators.

Auto-setters, like the Jaw-Jacker and new Predator Tip-Up from Clam, do the work for you, setting the hook on your behalf when a fish strikes. Be sure to read fishing regulations to learn whether auto-setters and fishing multiple lines is permitted where you plan to fish

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!

BASECAMP STRATEGIES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE

Anglers fond of catching panfish should own vertical, “tear drop” style ice jigs. These jigs kick out to the side and flutter as they fall, giving them a different action and a slower fall than round headed ice jigs. I frequently tip them with a few live maggots, Gulp! Maggots, or a finesse plastic worm. Vertical jigs are great in shallow water, but I regularly use them in depths up to 20 feet.

The Golden Treasure: 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...

online videos discussing the importance of using carbon monoxide detectors in the shelter, cold-weather sleeping best practices and having lights outside to improve the shelter’s visibility during the night. Use common sense and do your research should you decide to give this a try.

Line Considerations

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: Here are two examples of Rob’s simple genius, straight forward, finely tuned trolling tactics that are easily repeatable for maximum success. Like Rob, my rods are long- handled, graphite/composite rods with Cabela’s 20-Series DepthMaster reels and 20 pound test Sufix 832 line. These are quality, affordable, invaluable tools.

Weight Selection

Ice anglers using hub-style insulated shelters as a basecamp is something we’re going to see more of in the future. The concept centres around setting up a large ice shelter on a prime fishing spot for an extended period of time. This might be half a day, a full day or, in some cases, more than 24 hours. The roomy shelter offers a place to warm-up, store gear, sit and eat, and actively fish in when not hole-hopping around outside.

Naturally, making adjustments to the weight of the lure being used is an easy way to fine-tune a presentation’s fall rate. For instance, at times the 5/16-ounce Jigging Shad Rap is the better choice, while in other scenarios the slower falling 3/16-ounce version get more bites.

Line diameter plays less of a role on drop-speed than adjusting lure weight, but it remains an another important detail to be mindful of when really getting down to tweaking the nitty-gritty details of a presentations. Braid is a good choice when a fast fall is desired (and ice build-up doesn’t create problems). A walleye lure fished on thin-diameter, 8-pound braid (equivalent diameter of 3-pound monofilament) will fall faster than when fished on 8-pound monofilament. Conversely, there are times when using monofilament provides added drag to make a presentation appealing to fish. There’s plenty of room for experimentation, such as using 4-pound mono instead of 2-pound to reduce the drop speed of a light panfish jig.

Overnighting on ice is becoming more common. Clam’s X-600 Thermal hub shelter is marketed for this with a description stating, “This shelter is also perfect for ice camping anglers who are looking for a warm shelter to use as basecamp or even stay overnight out on the ice.”

Similarly, the fall rate of a soft plastic is easily adjusted using differ- ent jig head weights. One great ice bait for perch, crappie, walleye, pike and more is a tube jig, as its spiralling, falling action replicates a wounded minnow. For panfish, using a 1/16-ounce jig works when perch and crappie want a moderate falling tube. When fish are hesitant, though, the lazier drop of a 1/32-ounce tube is tough to beat.

I’ve never spent a night on the ice, so won’t get into too many details here, but it’s important to recognize the activity brings unique ice-safety risk factors. I’ve been pleased to see several

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 all- season 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 above are just a few projections of where modern ice fishing might be going next. There’s no denying technology will be front and centre, but advancements in ice-fishing outerwear is also expected. Certain, too, is the ever-present parade of new baits will continue. These things and more will unquestionably lead to anglers discovering new tactics, as well as refining existing strategies, to catch

Going lighter also often also means downsizing the presentation. This in and of itself is another smart strategy for coaxing bites from hesitant customers.

Plane Over Unfished Waters: A trade secret, trolling planer boards, 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.

This ice season try using lures with different fall rates. Pay attention to the fall-rate characteristics that triggered a strike, then fine-tune your presentation accordingly. Do this and you’ll quickly find yourself catching more fish.

G&S Exclusive Tactics:

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

Tim Allard of Ottawa, Ontario is a hard-water expert and author /photographer of the multiICE FISHING –, available at fine book stores, select outdoor shops & internet retailers.

(Continued on page 51.)

For the Love of COOKING COOKING

You can probably tell I enjoy “one pot” recipes by now. They can b e cooked in your kitchen, on an open fire or the back of the tailgate. Other than the obvious, being easy to clean up after and most importantly all the flavours are all married together in one vessel. This style of cooking goes back many hundreds of years, for good reason, it just tastes terrific.

A Paella has many complementing flavours. A touch of heat, a hint of smokiness finishing with a bold punch with the chorizo and tomato. The key to this dish is proper heat management. Medium-high to sear the chorizo and fish then low and slow to cook the rice, peppers, and the seasoned broth. No walleye to use? No problem, use perch or even pike.

WALLEYE

CHORIZO PAELLA

(Yield: 4 Servings)

INGREDIENTS:

30 ml Olive Oil

3 Walleye Fillets, diced into 1” chunks

125 ml Bait2go Crispy Cajun Seasoning

2 Chorizo Sausage, casing removed

1 Red Pepper, sliced

125ml Leeks, sliced

10ml Garlic, chopped

DIRECTIONS:

125ml Long Grain Rice

250 Tomato, canned chopped

250ml Chicken Stock

2 ml Chipotle Tabasco

5ml Chili Powder

Pinch Salt

70 ml Green Peas

Prepare all ingredients and preheat oven to 300f. Toss walleye chunks in the Bait2Go seasoning. Add oil to a 10-inch cast iron pan, heat to medium-high. Sear to a light brown on both sides and set fish aside. Add chorizo to pan and cook for two minutes, then add peppers, leeks and garlic, sauté for another three minutes. Add rice and stir to coat, add tomato, chicken stock, chipotle sauce, chili powder and salt, bring to a simmer stirring often. Add seared walleye on top, cover with foil or lid. Place in oven and cook for 30 minutes, add peas to warm.

Happy cooking!

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.

By: Al Lindner

MMany anglers picture Canadian river walleyes living in relatively small, shallow rivers winding through untold miles of remote, pine-studded wilderness. Yet Canada also features assorted large rivers with strong walleye populations. From the prairies to the bush, significantly large rivers are likely to host good walleye numbers, with the potential to grow walleyes to trophy proportions. It’s only where these rivers flow too far north into extremely cold climates that walleye size dwindles and numbers dissipate.

BIG RIVERS

Let’s describe large rivers as those having plenty of depth and miles of unobstructed

sections where you can run a fishing boat without the constant fear of smacking your propellor on shallow rocks. Anything less than that falls into a small river classification where fish location and tactics may vary. Dams may be present, creating impounded sections immediately above the dam and tailwater areas with a deep-water scour hole immediately beneath the dam.

In some, like the Rainy River along the U. S./Ontario border, shallow, rocky shoals at some point prevent boat traffic from passing upstream, although walleyes are free to swim past the shoals and move as far upstream as the dam forming Rainy Lake. In essence, these are “lake walleyes” from Lake of the Woods making a spring spawning migration up into the Rainy River, behaving like “river walleyes” during the duration of their visit before returning downstream to the big lake. Big walleyes again reenter the river in fall, following a huge migration of spottail shiners upstream into the flow.

In similar rivers, walleyes make upstream migrations in fall to deep tailwater sections below dam areas, or to deeper water areas formed at channel bends, holes below bridge pilings and islands, and at tributary intersections with the main river. The river may ice over in midwinter, but there’s plenty of depth and current to facilitate walleye survival until spring thaw. Think 15- to 20-foot holes and long intermediate stretches of 8- to 10-foot depths.

Jigs in various forms have always been the mainstays of fishing for river walleyes. Vertically fishing jigs on and off the bottom, lifting to avoid snags, then briefly dropping to make sure it’s near bottom, is the essence of classing river tactics.

Spinning gear does the trick for walleye jigging & crankbait techniques.

In recent times, vertically jigging a jig tipped with a minnow has been joined by substituting lifelike, soft plastic bodies for the minnow, largely for convenience but also because they’re deadly effective. In most cases, a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig is ideal for the depths and current strengths where walleyes are likely to be found. In stronger currents and deeper water such as in the Detroit and Winnipeg Rivers, jigs from 1/2- to 1-ounce may be necessary to maintain bottom contact and control of your lure.

Traditionally, a 3-to 4-inch minnow is added to a hair or marabou jig to enhance scent and profile. Many anglers have switched to adding a 3- to 4-inch colourful, soft plastic grub or minnow-imitating tail, which can also be fished on a plain jighead (no hair, feathers or marabou). White or silvery tails mimic minnows.

Hi-vis colours like orange or chartreuse are easy for walleyes to see in dingy water. Carry a selection and experiment to see what works best.

(Let

Should the rest of the river be shallow enough to potentially isolate and trap fish in ice in some areas, other walleyes will likely move downstream into the first available safe, deep-water sections. These often occur as small impoundments formed by dams.

Timing Is Everything

I like using 6- to 8-pound test line on 7-foot, medium-power, fastaction spinning rods for jigging. St. Croix’s Avid series has long been a favourite, paired with a Daiwa Fuego LT spinning reel.

new lakes, species and techniques, but it gave her an opportunity to network with other anglers and get the word out about Mindful Fishing. The program gives clients a chance to give their mind a break and concentrate on the moment. She matches the fishing experience with their personality and budget.

Blade baits are historic jigging options for river walleyes. Lures like the original Heddon Sonar have been joined by modern variations like Rapala’s Rap-V to provide more flash and vibration for triggering strikes in stained water.

(Baits you need to have tied on continued from page 20.)

fisheries where finesse tactics have typically dominated.

Longline trolling crankbaits through intermediary sections between holes, using diving crankbaits to crawl lures along or just above the river bottom, provide great ways to catch migrating fish moving between deeper holes. However, as these stretches eventually ice up in late fall, focus your efforts jigging in ice-free areas until ice cover thaws in spring.

SMALL RIVERS

Author Tim Allard Following the Flow

Mindful Fishing is a volunteer initiative and it has been only recently that Christine has been able to access some funding to help with the expenses. “The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) allows those with disabilities to fish without a license but what are we doing for those with invisible disabilities like mental health challenges or those on WSIB?” asks Lapeer. Focusing on the clinical component of this type of therapy, she is trying to convince the Operational Stress Injury Clinic in Kingston to identify fishing as a recognized form of therapy as forest therapy is. “As a licensed psychotherapist, I am able to access some financial support through the Blue Cross Wellness Fund run through Veteran’s Affairs which helps me take out veterans on the water.”

Small rivers have markedly less depth and current than larger ones. Think long stretches of 3- to 6-foot water and 10- to 12-foot holes at channel bends. In some stretches, you must keep an eye out for riffles and current seams indicating shallow rocks that could demolish your propellor if not careful.

the clacker add sound, the disc also protects the bead from being shattered by the heavy punching tungsten weight he uses.

While sinker’s commotion and noise gets a smallmouth’s attention, it’s trailing bait that triggers the strike. A potent combination, indeed. Experimenting with leader length is also part of the game. Savoia likens it to how smallmouth can be particular about a specific tag end length when drop-shotting. When drifting he may use leaders from from two to eight feet, but cautions longer ones are more likely to result in snags.

Prior to the arrival of fall, many fish relate to current breaks around shallow points, shoals, bridge pilings and such throughout the entire river. Cast crankbaits along and across visible current seams. If fish aren’t up shallow along edges, longline troll crankbaits through deeper stretches for less-active fish lying in the basin

Christine stresses that she is not a guide but she does put in a lot of time scouting new lakes and fishing spots that she can bring people to. “I try to teach people to be independent on the water/ice and share knowledge like basic knot tying, how to use an auger, backing up a boat and whatever else they may be interested in learning. There’s such a feeling of accomplishment and empowerment when people I take out fishing learn and put their knowledge into practice on the water,” states Christine.

Using a heavy hook may also increase snags, pulling the bait closer to bottom, says Chong. With an appropriately weighted hook, the bait rides up off bottom, staying away from snags while being easier for smallmouth to eat.

“Just before COVID-19 hit, we were able to take out about 10 people. I knew first responders were getting burned out with all that the pandemic brought with it. Fortunately for us, boat launches were not closed in Frontenac township and we were able to provide a safe place to go fishing. In 2020, we got 20 people out on the water/ice.” Sometimes, people ask Christine if she’ll go out on their boat and on the body of water that they have access to.

Once colder weather arrives in earnest, such rivers experience both upstream and downstream fall walleye migrations. Some fish are likely to move upstream to dam areas with a deep scour hole below the dam, and into moderately deep holding areas within a few miles of the dam. Limited areas may remain ice-free even in winter due to current flow.

(Continued on page 45.)

Refining these details is important because part of a Carolina rig’s potency is its snag-resistance. A flipping, bullet, or egg weight combined with a Texas-rigged plastic sidesteps snags fairly well Just Fishing . 42

Thus, a dual setup occurs. One involves fishing dams as tailwater areas as described above. The other involves fishing impoundments with at least some noticeable current present in some areas.

Okay, now lets assume we’ve discovered a solid pattern – one that’s led to some key areas where the fish are sure to replenish. And let’s assume we have the right lure and technique for making them bite. What happens if, for some inexplicable reason, the fish won’t cooperate? We know they’re there, but something has changed. This happens a lot, even for the pros. And how they react will ultimately determine their chances for success.

As fish moving downstream enter the top end of an impoundment in early fall, look for them to set up along shoreline structures swept by the river channel and current.

Using these big baits is one of the weaker parts of my game but it’s something I’m going to continue to work on a little more moving forward. Some of my best friends out on the Bassmaster Elite Series are incorporating these big baits into their program at most fisheries and catching big fish on them.

“So far, I’ve taken out police and correctional officers, firemen, ambulance drivers, veterans, and women”, she says. “It is a 50/50 split between male and female clients and I’ve had a couple of families out as well.” Christine often promotes Ontario Women Anglers and its various initiatives, like the Master Angler program, to the women she takes out. She has also had a couple of first responders participate in tournaments with her and, once she has her summer tournament schedule, she will invite clients to join her in the tournament experience. But, at the same time, she needs to be mindful of her own self-care and not burn herself out. She tries to per client to get them started.

Toss diving crankbaits like Shad Rap Elites across shallow points with cover like weeds or rocks. Vertically jig the adjacent drop-off edge with jigs, vibrating baits like Rippin’ Raps, or Jigging Raps.

Last year I started using them a little bit more around home and caught some of my biggest smallmouths and largemouths on six- and seven-inch glide baits. These are generally for use in shallow water but anglers are weighting them to use deeper in conjunction with forward sonar.

90% of her time is talking to people about getting out fishing. Some are nervous and don’t know what to expect. She also has health professionals that would like to refer their clients to her program and is in need of a logo, a website and a marketing plan so she can better promote Mindful Fishing.

Other times we score, and we score big!

As fall deepens, walleyes are likely to move farther downstream into the deeper, wider, main part of the reservoir and set up on structure like the points of islands or mid-lake humps where at least some current is present. Chances are there will be a river channel present where slightly deeper water sweeps up against such areas. Vertically jigging in 12 to 15 feet of water

Christine plans to host a fun tournament this year as a fundraising and promotional initiative for Mindful Fishing. It is her hope that she can get 10 boaters with two people per boat involved in the tournament. If anyone is interested in volunteering as a boater or in some other capacity, please contact Christine at: christinecarter12@gmail.com “I’m still shocked as to how generous people are and of how many people want to volunteer and get involved. It means so much to me.”

So do you change lures? Maybe. Or, what about changing the angle of your retrieve? That might work also. But often it boils down to

SMALL RIVERS CONNECTING LAKES

The thing with these big baits is they have the ability to capture the fish’s attention and then how you work the bait is the triggering mechanism to get them to bite. With the soft-bodied swimbaits, it’s generally a slow and steady retrieve, incorporating a few changes in speed with your reel. With the glide baits, you actually use your reel to move the bait, not the rod, like you would with a jerkbait. You make quick turns with the reel handle to move the bait, causing it to glide back and forth. I have been throwing these baits on heavier G.Loomis baitcasting rods, with 2025 pound fluorocarbon. A flipping stick will work but I just got my hands on the IMX-PRO 966 SWBR, an 8-foot rod designed for throwing these baits and it is sweet!

Many lakes in central and eastern Canada are connected by small to miniature rivers that join countless others as they eventually flow either south into the Great Lakes or north into Hudson Bay.

Timing is everything. And it’s the angler who figures out the right timing who will ultimately excel. That’s why many pros make brief, repeated stops on the same locations. They’re trying to hit them at the most opportune time, hoping to trigger a key fish or perhaps a whole school of fish into feeding. Some refer to it as “rhythm”, and when it’s working, there’s no better feeling.

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.

A Beauty Pike Caught On A Swimbait.

Two weeks before COVID-19 hit, Christine and her family moved to Charleston Lake. “Because of everything we have gone through with COVID-19, people have a better understanding of the challenges associated with mental health. More people have taken to the outdoors as a way of therapy. COVID took away access to a lot of activities like golf, gyms, hockey, dance classes, etc. but fishing was never removed.” Moving to the water was the best thing that happened for Christine. Although she felt vulnerable the time and describes her mental health as fragile, she was able to keep herself well during the pandemic and avoid additional injury.

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

Throw these big baits around shallow cover like trees, docks, boulders and points.

(Continued on page 40.)

What if a pro has no key spots to cycle through? Is it possible to remain competitive by running a pattern throughout a lake or

“I completely credit fishing and being out in nature,” she explains. Christine is very open about her injury and mental health struggles

women and children outdoors and on the water. She is the first female

Fishing . 46

FALL RIVER WALLEYES

A river may pass through dozens of lakes on its way to the sea – some relatively small, some large. Local habitat and climate determine the extent of the walleye population in any given stretch.

In many cases, rivers traverse miles of shallow, fertile habitat with weeds, which is better suited to supporting pike rather than walleyes. Walleyes are more likely to occur in the lower stretches of rivers where they meet lakes. Shallow, rocky spawning areas in shoals and below waterfalls draw seasonal concentrations of spawning fish in spring. The rest of the year, walleyes are like to drop out of shallow, warm rivers and take up positions ranging from immediately below the river mouth spilling into the lake, or potentially out to mid-lake structures like points, humps in islands.

Technically, such populations are more akin to being “lake walleyes” as opposed to “river walleyes,” although any fish even temporarily up within a river behave like river walleyes elsewhere. Deeper pools within the river hold walleyes early in the year, and fish are ripe to be caught by casting jigs and softbaits from an anchored position, drifting them downcurrent to waiting walleyes. As the fish largely disperse from the warming river by early summer, the same tactics apply at the first deep-water section where the river empties into the lake. Beyond that, fish that disperse farther during into the lake the rest of the year are better targeted by vertical jigging or livebait rigging, casting or trolling crankbaits or bottom bouncer-spinner tactics.

Be they walleyes living full-time in rivers, or temporary seasonal visitors from lakes, all walleyes in rivers behave pretty much the same, relating to current breaks within the available depths and habitat. Rivers supporting good walleye populations tend to be stained in colour, and the fish tend to be relatively shallow – 10 to 12 (or 15) feet or less – even if deeper water is available. As much as vertical jigging tactics excel in rivers and make up how most anglers fish for walleyes, don’t neglect casting jigs or crankbaits into shallower areas adjacent to the current. Sometimes, they’ll surprise you at how shallow they may be, particularly toward sunset.

But that’s another story for another day!

About the Author:

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.

The latest & greatest on black bass science & management The latest & greatest on black bass science & management

BBlack bass – a generic term that includes largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and the currently proposed 19 black bass species of the genus Micropterus – are among the most prized freshwater gamefish on the planet. Not surprisingly, that also makes them among the most intensively managed and well studied. The history on the science and management of black bass is rich, with the first published tome from the late 1800’s by Dr. James Henshall’s “Book of the Black Bass”, that chronicled what we knew at that time about black bass.

Highlighting their prominence in fisheries conservation and management, three international meetings have been devoted to black bass. The first was in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1975, with the published proceedings “Black bass biology and management” edited by Stroud and Clepper. The second symposium was held 25 years later in 2000 in St. Louis, Missouri, with the published proceedings “Black bass conservaiton, ecology, and management” edited by Philipp and Ridgway and in keeping with the 25 year cycle, the latest one was just held in San Antonio, Texas in August of 2025. The purpose of this article is to fill you in on what transpired as well as the key take-aways from the various events at the Black Bass 2025 Symposium (BB2025).

Traditionally, scientific conferences mean scientists talking to scientists – 15-minute talks organized by topic on repeated for days. The format rarely fosters interaction or debate, and participants often leave without any clear direction of how all this science can effectively be put to use. This conference was different – by design. Two years in the planning, a dedicated sterring committee focused their efforts

on creating a conference program that had ample space for fisheries managers, academic researchers, bass anglers and the bass angling industry to participate.

That plan materialized, thanks especially to the efforts of Steve Bardin (Texas Pro Lake Management) and Tom Lang (Texas Parks and Wildlife), who made sure that various stakeholder groups were represented and invited. Beyond simply broadening who was in the room, this conference broke from the traditional model by incorporating interactive sessions (see below) and carving out space for lively discussion and debate.

The first interactive session was titled: “Future-proofing black bass fishing, management, and conservation”. Future-proofing concept acknowledges that the world is changing – whether through shifting public views on fishing, climate change, geopolitics, or emerging pathogens.

define where we want the fisheries to be in 25 years and beyond, and build a plan for success that takes into account the uncertainty ahead.

The format for this session included brief introductory presentations from various stakeholders, followed by a lively panel discussion that addressed specific topics and included plenty of questions and comments from the audience.

The challenge for black bass managers, researchers, anglers, and industry is to

One of the topics tackled was “When is technology too much and what, if anything, should we do about it?” Central to that discussion was live sonar technology. Another topic we tackled was stocking as a management tool and how that fit with prioritizing the protection of native fish (and their genes) as well as the need for keeping those fish wild.

Although those two topics are superficially full of conflicts, the discussions made it

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.

clear that there was common ground across the spectrum of participants. For example, all parties had concerns with the use of certain fishing technology, but the larger impacts have yet to be seen.

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.

Participants also agreed that there were still many biological questions that needed to be addressed. There was also recognition that although stocking has its place in the management toolbox, stocking bass into a self-sustaining, native population may not meet the future goals.

The next session, Building a Nexus among Science, Management, Angling, & Industry, highlighted the critical role every stakeholder must play in shaping healthy, sustainable bass fisheries. Eye-opening remarks and commentary made for an educational afternoon.

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.

Well-known voices – bass fishing podcasters, industry leaders, and managers like Gene Gilliland (B.A.S.S. Conservation Director) and Ken Duke (host of Bass After Dark) –delivered lively, passionate remarks, weaving in stories that kept the audience engaged and curious.

A key message from the session was clear: partnerships are essential. Managers noted that their work risks being dismissed if anglers don’t see its relevance, and they highlighted the ongoing challenge of explaining what fisheries biologists do and why it matters. Scientists echoed this struggle, emphasizing the difficulty of sharing their knowledge with anglers and the value of involving them directly in research.

TTScrewy 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. How? Precision boat control, all the while keeping 4 lines baited and in the water.

formative years in the Fish Behaviour Lab, at the University of Saskatchewan, I marvelled at the dying efforts of most minnow species. They literally corkscrewed through the water! I hypothesized that it was a swimbladder imbalance causing the corkscrew behaviour. A weak, easy target for the pike fingerlings occupying the same tanks!

The team selected one of their project idea to pitch to the broader group of participants.

Funds raised for the BB2025 are available to help launch some of those projects as “pilots”. Examples of themes that were explored included the pros and cons (from a management perspective) of catchand-release ethic, to evaluating the variation in regulations across the continent, to recruiting the next generation of responsible bass anglers by broadening both age and gender participation.

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!

The “magic” that happened in those small groups was palpable. Envision a roundtable that included a Fish Chief from a prominent bass state, a well known bass angler, a tournament organizer, an outdoor writer, a policy maker, a professor, a student, a private lake manager, and an outreach specialist all listening, learning, and sharing. We are still in the early stages of formalizing the project ideas that arose during that day, but you can be certain that some of them will transform from idea to reality in the next few months.

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

The OFAH & MNRF Renewed Partnership on ISAP

An enlightening panel discussion was held with bass centric podcasters and other fishing media gurus, who emphasized that their platforms were perfect for sharing bass science and management information with the masses. Those were the first steps in building the nexus.

G&S Exclusive Tactics: Watch walleye eating 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.

“Your Eastern

About the Author:

Dr. Cooke is a professor of fish ecology at Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca).

About the Author:

Jeff Matitdy

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.”

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.

As with all good conferences, there were ample opportunities to network and make new friends. A welcome event hosted by Livingston Lures and a closing event co-hosted by the Fisheries Conservation Foundation and the American Fisheries Society were the perfect places to make and solidify new relationships. In addition, there will be a scientific proceedings published in a peer-reviewed journal in the next year or so that will relate all of the information in the various BB2025 presentations.

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.

he 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 and spread of invasive species to Ontario’s forests and waters and to protect Ontario’s biodiversity. The program provides information and guidance to industry, citizens, communities, and both government and non-government agencies to undertake prevention, monitoring, control, and outreach activities. With $275,000 in funding provided by the MNRF for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the OFAH will continue to increase awareness of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of invasive species and engage the public in prevention and early detection measures.

The final symposium event was the one-day “Bass Summit”. Participation was limited to 150 individuals that consisted of anglers, industry representatives, fisheries managers and research scientist that worked together in problem solving exercises. The summit assembled small roundtable teams to discuss one of eight issues, and then work on developing solution oriented projects.

It is not an overstatement to declare that the most memorable aspect of the BB2025 was the time spent with other like-minded people all committed to bass fishing and bass conservation. Topics that we thought would be fairly divisive tuened out to be ones where we actually had lots in common, which made everyone there optimistic as we work to position bass fishing and bass management to be more responsible and sustainable in the future.

The Zman plastics cling to the hook remarkably well. They do not disintegrate with every strike as live worms do. Finally, the addition of any Pro-Cure SuperGel scent makes walleye slurp the worm without hesitation. These artificially intelligent adaptations increase time in the water / fish in the boat execution.

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.

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.

Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another 25 years for the next black bass conference!

Click on the Black Bass 2025 to watch the three opening Black Bass Plenaries by Steven Bardin, Steve Cooke, & Douglas Austen.

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

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.

Register @ paddletales.com to receive monthly Come Out Thursday Evenings & Share Your Favourite Fish Stories. Check Out the New Tackle. Enjoy Refreshments & Snacks.

FFall –

drop, and the fishing heats up. The season of abundance isn’t just for farmers’ fields; it’s a time when baitfish begin schooling in big numbers, and the predators move in. Bass, musky, pike, perch, and lake trout all slide into the shallows to gorge themselves on what looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet. In the rivers, brook trout and browns strap on the feedbag as grasshoppers and other terrestrials hit the water.

But for me, fall is all about the migrations – when salmon, steelhead, and brown trout leave the Great Lakes and push upstream toward their spawning grounds. It’s when those giant, lake-run fish arrive that my season truly begins.

A common misconception is that you need a two-handed “spey” rod to chase these migratory fish on the fly. Don’t get me wrong – swinging flies with a spey rod is an incredible experience. I own more rods than I care to admit (and I may or may not be ordering a couple 2 handed rods as I write this). But truthfully, you don’t need a two-handed rod to swing flies. I swing for migratory fish all the time with a singlehanded rod. With the right adjustments, it’s not only effective, but in many cases, it’s my preferred way to fish.

What Is Swinging?

Swinging is a method of presenting a fly –most often a streamer – across the river in or near a fish’s strike zone. The goal is to let

straightforward – it’s what they’re designed for. With a single-hand rod, it’s more of a challenge, but not impossible. You just need the right setup.

Gear for the Single-Hand Swing

For line, I’ve had great success with the Scientific Anglers Anadro. Its long and less time fiddling.

As for flies, I don’t overcomplicate things. For Great Lakes steelhead, classics like the Hobo Spey, Olive Bunny Muddler, Popsicle Spey, Egg-Sucking Leech Spey, and yes – even the humble Woolly Bugger – are hard to beat. I keep a few colours handy for different water clarities, but mostly I stick to a small rotation of confidence patterns.

Where to Swing

Fall steelhead and browns see plenty of eggs thanks to spawning salmon.

off the bottom to wait for the strike. Pounding the bottom too much will call the sturgeon to bite.

Pools below spawning runs often load up with trout gorging on this high-protein buffet, and in those areas, swinging isn’t always the most effective approach.

Traditions

boulders, stumps, and other obstacles.

A deep crankbait’s large lip helps it travel over most objects with minimal snags.

But eggs aren’t the only game in town. Migratory fish spread throughout the system, holding in runs, tailouts, and deeper pools. A swung streamer through these lies can draw crushing grabs –sometimes from feeding fish, other times from territorial fish lashing out of aggression. Either way, the take is unforgettable.

I use Sunline SX1 green braided line. Its thin diameter cuts the water with an 8 lb Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader that’s super clear and abrasion-resistant. I wear Fish Monkey Stealth Dry Tec gloves and never have to take them off when baiting minnows on jigs; they are Northland Whistler jigs and Thumper jigs with a rainbow or a frozen shiner work extremely well. With Whistler jigs, use short pulls forward with your rod tip and let it drop back for about 3 or 4 seconds. The next time, repeat the motion but let out 3 to 4 feet of line. I call this walking the dog downstream. I would rather not hook a big walleye too far from the boat downstream so I reel in the Whistler jig and start vertical from the boat and then repeat the downstream walk.

Why I Carry a Single Hand

Jigging with Humminbird

MEGA Live Imaging in forward viewing mode will prepare you as the walleye approaches your jig. St. Croix Legend Elite 7’ Medium Extra Fast is the Cadillac for this jigging approach. On windy days, I shorten up to a 6’ for less wind drag on the rod tip.

For me, the choice often comes down to the rivers I fish. Most are simply too small for a traditional spey rod. An 11-foot switch rod offers versatility, but I’ve swung flies for years with a standard 9-foot 7-weight – and it’s been more than enough.

fish. As a scientist I have much to learn from anglers and anglers can certainly learn from scientists, but those interactions are unlikely to help anyone catch piles more fish! To say that I am a frustrated angler is an understatement. There are days – and we all have them – where I simply can’t get a bite. I have all the necessary equipment, I read all of the blogs and magazines, I spent 11 years doing university level education mostly focused on fish, and for the last 12 years I have been a professor of fish biology.

The beauty of the single-hander is versatility. It’s the same rod I use to chuck streamers for bass and big browns. In the fall, I can swing a run, then quickly switch to nymphing or drifting an egg under an indicator without changing rods. One rod keeps me mobile, adaptable, and focused on finding fish.

Sometimes it is just better to go against the flow on a river. To get bites in any condition, try slow dragging a 2 to 3 oz. bottom bouncer with a Northland Butterfly Blade Harness and a minnow or a crawler with a simple bead on a short 2 to 3 feet of Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader with a Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hook. Big walleyes can’t pass up a fat rainbow sucker minnow or creek chub slowly dragging upstream on the edge of a current seam at .5 mph. This will create strikes. Just remember, its bottom bouncing and not bottom dragging. Touch the sinker on the bottom every now and then to make you are near the bottom. This is a great approach after a cold front or if the river is murky. And there are times when crankbaits just work better on rivers. I keep my rod locker ready with Northland Rumble Shiners on St. Croix Eyecon trolling rods

At the end of the day, keeping things simple means more time actually fishing – and isn’t that what we’re all out there for anyway?

Yet, I think what matters most is time on the water. I can look at a water body and say – wow, that looks like text book bass habitat – and not catch a thing. And then throw a random cast and hook a bass where they “aren’t supposed to be”. I think that is another key message – fish don’t

Rolling River

About the Author

Daniel Notarianni

The underwater world holds many mysteries that fascinate me as a scientists and angler. Sometimes that fascination can lead to some minor frustrations when I can’t figure out where the fish are or how to get them to bite – but that is what keeps me coming back for more!

About the Author

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!

Rainy River can get extremely rough at the Gap, Four Mile Bay or the long straight stretches where the northwest wind blows. I have spent many days fishing in rough water during cold weather and it’s hard to beat a windshield this time of year. This is one of the many reasons I choose a Lund 2075 Pro V boat with a Mercury 300 Pro XS for guiding, tournaments and fun fishing anywhere, anytime. I stay comfortable all day, no matter the winds and the waves. When the struggle is real, Spot-Lock into the wind and hide behind your windshield!

Dr. Steven Cooke is a professor and Canada Research Chair at Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca). He is also a Science Ambassador for #Keepemwet Fishing.

Old habits die hard. Years ago, when Berkley released the Gulp! Alive! Minnow Grub I stocked up on chartreuse and immediately began catching walleye with these soft-baits from the Ottawa River all the way up to the Gouin Reservoir. The PowerBait Pro Twitchtail Minnow in chartreuse black-fleck and chartreuse orange is another good one.

“In some situations you’re so deep it may only hit a few times, but when we’re talking the meat and potatoes of the method, I want to crank it down, keep it down, and then grind it off bottom,” Cousvis said.

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.

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!

The crank’s commotion and bottom disturbance certainly attract fish. But, bass see red when a crankbait hits and deflects off of an object. The sudden change in speed and direction, triggering reaction

Another bait I’m a huge fan of is the AuthentX Moxi. This is a thin, hybrid bait that’s part curly tail, part worm, and part finesse swimbait. It’s hugely popular when fished on a jig for cold-water walleye in the Midwest regions of the United States. The chartreuse 3-inch version, along with purple/chartreuse tail and purple crackle/ chartreuse tail have proven absolutely deadly when nose-hooked on a drop-shot rig. Swimming or drifting this set-up has put a lot of walleye in my boat over

“When a crank pops up off cover, this gives it an action like it was stunned,” Cousvis said. “Stop it for a second and let it float up two to three inches. Strikes come after the crank hits or the retrieve starts again.”

The more you use deep crankbaits, the more you’ll get a feel for when to pause the retrieve and when to keep going. It’s apparent when a crank crashes into a boulder or a big stump, warranting a pause to let the buoyant bait time to float up and away from the obstacle before recommencing the retrieve. More, when steadily

Firetiger is another pattern with a good amount of green that walleye like. How can you argue with a lure with a lime and chartreuse back, a yellow and orange belly, and black stripes for contrast?

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 on ice or open water. Matitysgetfishing.com

YOU are invited to come along for the ride…

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

Jeff & Jason Matity

I have an AFTCO Barricade rainsuit and, even in the rain, I am dry as a cork. I know I am not the only one who fishes in inclement weather. I have witnessed many anglers boat big walleyes at the same time I am!

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IIof the best walleye fishing of the year

Submitted by: Traditions Media

t’s that time of year again. Kids are back at school, football’s started, and fish will soon be putting on the feed for the long, cold months ahead. And while the pull for the avid outdoorsman or woman can be to ready for birds, bucks, field, and forest, serious walleye anglers know it’s also time to be on the water.

While we’re in the summer-fall transition right now and fish are starting to make moves, the best walleye fishing takes place when waters hit the upper to mid-50s. This is when they begin aggressively targeting baitfish like shad, perch, and fallspawning tullibees (cisco), often roaming shallow from dusk and throughout the night.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Fall days can be epic, as long as you’re in the right place. Expect autumn walleyes to hold near main lake points, drop-offs,

and structures like rock piles and gravel bars near deeper water where they can ambush prey and rest to metabolize food.

Moving water is also a fall magnet, with walleyes chasing migrating baitfish into adjoining creeks and rivers on lakes. But, as mentioned, come nighttime, anticipate walleyes moving into as little as 2-8 feet of water near shorelines, especially windswept shores. On rivers, you will find the same phenomena, with walleyes intercepting food along shallow rock, creek inlets, river bends, wingdams, and riprap.

GET THE NET!

TROLL RIGHT NOW

The gold in a walleye goes deeper than its skin – it’s the meat. Prized for its fantabulous flaky white fillets, nothing’s more painful than seeing a walleye at boatside return to the depths for lack of a landing net.

EGO Fishing offers the most comprehensive assortment of specialized & sophisticated landing nets on the market. Typically, walleye enthusiasts opt for large to XL hoop sizes in the EGO S2 Slider series, meshing based on preference. The most popular netting choice, however, is PVC coated with a flat bottomed basket. The flat bottom cradles a fish for easier handling, while the PVC coating prevents physical damage to upsized walleyes that might qualify for release.

Also, the same PVC coating does a fine job of keeping hooks free from perma-snag.

Although it’s fallen by the wayside with FF sonar, trolling is still an incredibly effective way to catch walleyes, especially now with water temps sliding into the 60s and down into the upper 50s. You can still use your electronics, but rather than sniping individual fish, look for schools of baitfish cruising the open basins and either longline or use leadcore to pull crankbaits or spinners, the latter with a minnow instead of a ‘crawler, something a lot of anglers don’t do anymore.

JIGGING JUST PRODUCES

Again, during the day, use your electronics to find vertical structure, deep breaks, and vertically jig those areas. 1/4 - to 3/8-ounce jigs tipped with lively minnows are hard to pass up. On river systems, find current seams, pools, or eddies, and concentrate on boat control, keeping your line as vertical as possible or in position to pitch to promising areas.

Veteran Minnesota fishing guide, Tom Neustrom, is a master at jigging and loves what fall brings to his boat each year.

“When water temperatures drop from 70 to 75 degrees, that gets the walleyes moving.

cut-offs from toothy

Zman ZinkerZ Coppertreuse PurpleHaze

one of my favourite water each year. cold, boating traffic competition are at a minimum, species bite, feeding to reserves prior to a long, That’s a combo you anywhere!

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’.”

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 move back to jig fishing because you’re keying in on pods of fish again, and I think that’s the important thing to starts to drop the fish start to feed, so you really need to monitor

allow you to fish the boat in deep fish-triggering lure action move quickly to locate

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.”

Neustrom is a fan of jigging in fall because he can cover water

“In terms of depths, I ascribe to the spring forward, fall back saying, meaning move shallow during the day in the spring and move deeper during the day in the fall. We’re not in the six, eight, or ten feet we’d be jigging in the spring. I’m looking for fish in 25 to 35 feet of water in the fall during the day – as well as the edges of deep water to shallower water, say 12 to 20 feet of

the Author:

among the most renowned fishing industry. Averaging on the water, Al is hailed best all-around anglers.

FISH IT RIGHT: RETRIEVES, RODS, REELS & LINE

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

honoured career as an author, syndicated radio & TV fishing show host, fishing guide, tackle manufacturer, lecturer and champion tournament 35 years of the most revolutionary years in sportfishing.

(Continued on page 52.)

Famed Walleye Guide –

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl

Complete the Slam, and you’ll join a small but proud group of anglers who’ve done it all – in one of the wildest freshwater systems on the planet.

A Slam on Camera: Cooper Gallant’s Arctic Adventure: When Cooper Gallant – Bassmaster Elite angler – hit me up about filming a Great Slave trip, I knew we had to put him on the Slam. In his video series, Cooper takes viewers behind the scenes of his road trip to the NWT with his brother Colin. If you want a visual feel for the Slam and what our trips look like in the spring, his footage says it all.

Fishing with Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures

need the vibration to attract fish. And on lakes and rivers, chunky paddletail and jighead combos are also consistent producers, but you’ll have to experiment with the retrieve. Sometimes, walleyes want them ripped – other times fished on a moderate, straight retrieve. For the latter, underspin jigheads are recommended for extra flash and attraction.

Whether you’re flying in with a camera crew or booking a 4-day getaway with friends and family, I tailor each trip to your goals. The Grand Slam is always on the menu. We run out of Yellowknife, NWT, with a selection of boats capable of long runs across Great Slave Lake, into the east arm. You’ll still feel like you’re in the wild, we are just riding in luxury is all, shielded from the elements to help maximize your time on the water and spend less time worried about the weather.

CAST CRANKS

Zones we fish for the Slam: • Yellowknife Bay & amp; Yellowknife River – Trophy Northern pike, Inconnu, lake trout, whitefish, Arctic grayling, walleye and burbot. • East Arm –Trophy lake trout, trophy Arctic grayling, Inconnu, Northern pike.

• North Arm – Trophy Northern pike, Inconnu, walleye and burbot.

Casting crankbaits like Daiwa’s SC Shad, Rapala Shad Rap, and Berkley Flickr Shad provide another avenue to explore, working shallow flats and still-green weededges. And stickbaits like the Daiwa HMKL Minnow and Rapala Husky Jerks, well, they’re a staple for flinging in shallow water at night, which we’ll discuss later.

• Main Lake – Trophy Lake Trout and Inconnu.

LIVE BAIT RIGGING

PRO TIP: Best Slam window is mid-June to mid-August. This is our calmest weather period in the summer and longest sun light periods, where it is day light for almost 24hrs each day.

One of the deadliest ways for catching walleyes in fall on lakes? Rigging fat, lively creek chubs or redtails on a slip sinker rig. Drag slowly over breaklines or points.

Slam Rewards – Your Trip Could Earn You a Free One

Post-turnover – when dissolved oxygen is more evenly dispersed throughout all depths – walleyes can be literally anywhere. Most anglers still target steep breaks, sunken islands, points, etc., but Minnesota guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl is fond of fishing shallower.

Complete the GSL Slam solo or as a group during any YSA guided trips and you’re automatically entered to win a free 1/2-day trip in 2026. Complete the Trophy GSL Grand Slam with a lake trout, Northern pike and Inconnu over 40” in length and a 22” Arctic grayling and have your name entered to win a free (9hr) full day trip with us in 2026.

“A majority of my fall live bait rigging is done in 10’ and less,” said Bro. “Especially around rock, from softball – to Volkswagen- sized boulders to jagged shield rock. On rivers, you’re talking submerged riprap, wingdams, and other softto-hard bottom transitions.”

Coming This Fall: The Ice Slam: In the next issue of Just Fishing, I’ll be sharing the Winter Grand Slam – yes, all four species through the ice, in the same hole. Heated shacks, Side by Sides, and real Arctic survival strategies make it possible –and fun. You will almost forget it -50C outside!

Just remember to set the hook after a brief countdown and with a slow sweep.

The North doesn’t wait. Our fishing season is always open, but the prime-time windows to complete the GSL Slam are limited! Early booking Slam hunters get priority access to the best dates and zones.

Bro encourages anglers to use the first couple bites to determine the best hook-setting procedure. “If you get a bite and pull on it and the fish is already hooked, you know they’re eating it. Don’t overfeed the fish. There’s no reason to pull their butthole

Now! Slam Later! www.yellowknifesportfishing.com.

Rigging

from not only learning individual spots but to understanding the broader area in which a high percentage spot is contained.

way to do it.

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.

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.

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

You’re On My Spot!!

rather catch fish instead or aren’t keen or electrical work, leave the task to the experts.

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

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.

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.

out the mouth. Most of the time, I’m feeding them for around 5 seconds. The only exception is if I’m using giant chubs – then I’ll give ‘em a bit longer.”

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

We

Carry:

USE

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.

Restricted

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.

Crossbows & Compound Bows

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

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.

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

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

Bite size is the right size for spring panfish!

Bro continued: “When I feel a hit I’ll feed line, then I’ll check before I set the hook, pulling the chub a little bit – maybe a couple short pulls so the walleye eats it a bit more. I call this the ‘tease.’ Teasing walleyes a little bit really gets them to commit. Big walleyes are like ‘give me my steak back!’ Even in tournament situations when I watch guys feed fish for minutes,

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.

and Non Restricted Fire Arms – New & Used

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.

and to be notified in the event of a recall.

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

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

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

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

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.

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 fish species in that particular lake.

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

The exception is rigging during extreme high-pressure situations

“If they don’t eat after the tease, they’re typically small fish. But bug the big fish and they’ll gobble almost every time, even

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

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.

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.

The nice thing about walleye night fishing in fall is you don’t really need a boat, just a couple of spinning rods, a small box of stickbaits, pliers, your waders, headlamp, and a good net, like an EGO Large Wade model that will clip easily to a lanyard or over your shoulder. While all these methods will work for fall walleyes, this is our favourite!

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.

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

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

ORGANIZING ALL THAT TACKLE

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

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

And Once Again, Be Safe!

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.

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

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.

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

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

Marinas and specialty tackle style jig. bottom and Most days a minnow Frostee or These long, swims. A hook pegs While backwaters are dangerous clear away

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

(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.

with a Shimano Metanium MGL150HGB reel spooled up with 20-lb. Seaguar

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

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

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.

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

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

Fishing . 12

LEADER

Parallel Line System spooling (DPLS). Available in 2 spool sizes—100 yard spools (2lb -20lb) and 50 yard spools (25lb – 80lb)

with a live release bass fishing tournament.

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

Restricted and Non Restricted Fire Arms – New & Used Crossbows & Compound Bows

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

The aggregate of the aforesaid lures and terminal tackle would seem heavy enough to flip a boat. Truthfully, though, they can be stored and transported in two, maybe three 3700-size utility tackle trays – jig box, rig box, and hard bait box. Go ahead and mark ‘em

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 details... 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

In fall, with walleyes moving shallow after dark, casting stickbaits or swimbaits over sand, gravel, or sparsely weeded flats can be dynamite – again, especially areas where the wind has been blowing into for a sustained period or near creek mouths and points.

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

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

Ontario is a hard-water expert and authorphotographer of the multi-award winning available at fine book stores, select outdoor style jig. The design keeps the bait off bottom and visible to fish.

his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com.

Large Inventory • Hunting Apparel: Under Armour, Browning, Muck Boots

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

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

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.

approach to gear are mandatory. It’s worth the extra attention to detail. Rarely will you encounter another boat of any kind.

www.blackflylures.com ORDER ONLINE AT: www.blackflylures.com 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.

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

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

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

tournaments for a number of years.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Summer2015

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

been recognized as a benefit when it comes to

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

(Continued on page 22.)

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 37.)

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 23.)

(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

TIPS TECHNIQUES &

MAKE THE FERGIE WORK FOR YOU TOO!

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

TW

Wsimply 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.

By: “Big” Jim McLaughlin

hen I first laid eyes on a Fergie Special my initial thought was… “Ya ok – is this some kind of a joke or am I on Candid Camera?” Geesh… that sort of dates me now doesn’t it. Then Gord Pyzer sends over his contribution for an upcoming issue of Just Fishing and it’s pretty well telling me I was a moron – and since Gord is the Guru of Gurus to this Fergie Rookie… I take notice real quick.

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.

My first self taught lesson was with Marc Thorpe. We were fishing for Saugers in the St. Lawrence – then a few walleye’s here and there and then lakers on the Big Rideau and this guy was beginning to think there is a new “Kid” in town baby!

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 any given lake.

Most of my Fergie fishing has been done in water over 20 feet deep. The use of either Power Pro Super Slick braid or flourocarbon has gotten the job done real nice for me with the lines performing great on either type of tackle – (baitcasting and spinning). Basically heavier weights on casting equipment, and lighter weights on spinning.

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,

The Fergie seems to draw most of its strikes after a quick and hard snap, then allowing the bait to fall back down towards the bottom on a lightly controlled slack. Ideally landing right into the mouth of a waiting fish…

The use of scent was something I added, just to be sure there was an extra incentive for the hesitant looker responding to the Clacker system in the depths where noise has to be a primo factor for bites. Don’t try to add anything like a worm or a minnow, as the action you impart could tear it off real quick… that is the reason for adding scent.

My next Fergie trip will hopefully be for smallies on the Big Rideau…but then again I did get an invite yo go Chinook fishing on Wednesday – hmmmm...

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.

Give them a go this fall... www.reelbait. com