VOL. XXXIII No. 1
WINTER 2026
MOVING!
KEEP
•3 SUTHCHERTHE ISINGNOAS
•30MULTI-SPECIES MAYHEM!
•18GRICEANFISD HISLNGAM
•8 UNOFEXPELACTKEEDTRGEOUNIUS T
Plus More Great “Stuff” Inside!
SAFE ICE
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SAFE ICE!
There’s N0 Such Thing As
A A
s our unseasonally mild autumn draws to an end, anglers’ thoughts turn to either winter vacation in warmer climates or ice fishing. As the temps continue to drop, we need periods of calm weather for that first skim of ice to form and then we’ll be off to the races! Sadly, every year there are numerous incidents of ice anglers going through the ice during the ice fishing season, some with tragic results. The most important thing that ice anglers must remember is that “There’s NO Such Things as SAFE Ice!”. You always must respect Mother Nature & the Ice!
By: David Chong
a bit regardless of the colour. During early, late ice or on bodies of water that you’re not familiar with ice conditions, there are some safety rules that one should follow.
1) Walk in single file maintaining a reasonable distance between anglers. In extreme early or late condition, having a rope connecting each angler is also a good idea. Quality floatation wear like the Striker Apex suit provides an ice angler piece of mind when venturing out on the
Whenever you’re venturing out onto the ice either by foot or machine, the standard guide to follow is:
During mild spells in early or late season situations, understand that the ice thickness can change dramatically from the time that you head out and when you are heading back in. If there are pressure cracks involved those pressure cracks often will expand during the day.
Less than 4” – STAY OFF the Ice! 4”-5” – Venture out only on foot! 5”-8” – ATV or Snowmobile 8”-12” – Car or Small truck 12”-15” – Medium – Full Sized Truck Learn to read the ice as well. Clear black ice is by far the strongest ice. White/grey ice is less so, while pie ice which occurs when ice forms, breaks up and reforms can vary in thickness. Ice thickness can fluctuate quite
Once you’re into the prime ice fishing season, these pressure cracks can form
When heading out on early ice, single file with the lead person spudding their way out! Cleats are critical as well at this time especially when there is little or no snow.
2) The lead person must always have an ice chisel and they should be spudding their way out, checking the ice thickness every few feet. 3) If the spud is not going through, stop occasionally and check the ice thickness with your auger. 4) Once you reach the area that you wish to fish, don’t set up right beside each other, spread out to distribute your weight.
Pressure cracks are quite variable, opening & closing, depending on the temps. If they open up and freeze over then the thin ice is a potential danger! (Continued on page 4.)
Winter 2026
Just Fishing . 3
LL
A Li ne From “Big” Ji m
ooks like we eventually have a somewhat normal winter underway and that is awesome news for ice anglers that in some areas of the country have been feeling a little left out in recent years. Major ice fishing destinations are already buzzing and its not even the end of the year yet... Safe ice is the number one concern for any angler and David Chong is gonna cover that in depth to hopefully help make you safer this winter. Then we have Gord Pyzer teaming up with Liam Whetter where they share The Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout that is an absolute must read regardless of what you fish foe. Far north guide Ryan Gregory goes over the Great Slave Lake Grand Slam as traveling to more remote destinations to ice fish grows annually. Our very own Bassmaster Classic Champion Jeff Gustafson walks us through getting ready for 2026 and it sure is interesting to see how these high level anglers prepare for the next season. Daniel Notarianni helps fly fishing anglers Fighting the Winter Blues, and there is certainly lots to do. We are adding a new segment to Just Fishing where Jen Watson who is an RMT will try to keep us in shape with some training options for common injuries that plague anglers every season. Jen is also a high level angler who competes in every aspect of sport fishing. Pike, Ciscoes and Burbot are the target in Multi Species Mayhem with Jeff Matity, who is a force to be reckoned with in any fishing situation. “BRO” gives us Zombie Crappies, which roam basin areas... but can be caught if you do a few simple things. Tim Allard teaches us that moving while ice fishing can certainly pay off big time... Rounding out this issue is Target Walleye and our very own Chef Cameron Tait offers up a fantastic recipe for Perch Bouillabaisse to warm you up after a long day on the ice. Happy New Year to all... and as always be safe...and please remember – No Ice Is Safe Ice?
“Big” Jim
Unsolicited articles are accepted and will be considered for publication provided they are original and have not appeared in other publications.
Publisher “Big” Jim McLaughlin Managing Editor Tammy Wight Digital Marketing RYP.Media Contributors Gord Pyzer & Liam Whetter David Chong, Tim Allard Jeff Gustafson Cameron Tait Jeff Matity Jen Watson Brian Brosdahl Daniel Notarianni Ryan Gregory Box 214 Seeley’s Bay, ON K0H 2N0 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.
IN THIS ISSUE SPECIAL FEATURES No Such Thing As Safe Ice.........................3 Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout............8 Great Slave Lake – Ice Fishing Grand Slam....18 Getting Ready for 2026..........................22 Fighting the Winter Blues..........................26 Preventing Neck Strains in Anglers................28 Multi-Species Mayhem!...................................30 Zombie Crappies.............................................36 Thoughts On Ice Moves..............................40
DEPARTMENTS A Line From “Big” Jim ...........................4 For the Love of Cooking.........................46 Tubman’s Tips & Techniques ..................47 Target Walleye Report............................48
On the Cover: Main – Adam Pugh, ice-fishing guide & owner/operator Lake Temagami’s Loon Lodge (loonlodge.com), No Such Thing As Safe Ice!, Photo – David Chong, Multi-Species Mayhem, photo – Jeff Matity, Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout, Photo – Liam Whetter, Ice Fishing Grand Slam, Photo – Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures. Just Fishing . 4
(There’s NO Such Thing as SAFE Ice! continued from page 3.)
another variable that you have to account for. Especially when the weather fluctuates, pressure cracks can form, open up and then freeze over. The ice thickness may be over 12” but where an opening from a pressure crack has frozen over there may only be 1”-3”. Even in the middle of the ice season, you should never become too complacent when it comes to ice safety. There are many situations that can occur that may endanger your well being. There may be holes of varying sizes created previously by other ice anglers and not marked properly when they left. Hopefully none of these are large holes cut by chainsaws. When they freeze over you never really know how thick the ice really is. Aside from some of the rules that we’ve touched on, we’re going to talk about safety gear that every ice angler should have when venturing out onto the hardwater. In our opinion the most important piece of safety gear is a flotation suit. A flotation suit gives you that piece of mind, if you happen to go through the ice for whatever reason, it will keep you afloat and give you the opportunity to get out back onto solid ice. One-piece suits like the Mustang Integrity HX Flotation Suit have been a mainstay amongst ice anglers for many years. Two-piece suits that are made up of a jacket and a set of bibs have become much more popular in recent years. The Mustang Classic Flotation Jacket & Bibs and the Mustang Catalyst Flotation Jacket and Bibs are excellent offering from this iconic Canadian We cannot stress how important company. These are also flotation suits are when ice fishing! Canadian Coats Guard Retired sports writer, Mike Hayakawa certified as PFD’s so you takes no chances when heading out can also use them during for a day of Lake Simcoe Perchin’! early spring or late fall open water excursions in the boat. Brands such as Striker have taken the ice fishing world by storm because of the comfort level of their flotation suits. All of their flotation suits are two piece and all contain the same amount of flotation; they do vary in the amount of insulation that they have so some are warmer than others. These are by far the most comfortable lightweight flotation suits that we’ve ever worn. The one feature that we’ve never seen on any other flotation suits that is truly awesome, especially for height challenged ice anglers, is the adjustable inseams on the bibs. There is up to 4 inches of adjustment on their bibs and Striker has “TALL” models for those with extra long legs! There are so many great features on the Striker flotation wear that if we addressed every one of them, it would be another full article. (Continued on page 6.)
Winter 2026
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50 Just Fishing . 21 Spring 2024 Just Fishing 48 Fall Winter 2020 (There’s NO Such Thing ascontinued SAFE Ice!from continued from page 4.) 2019 43 23 36 Spring 18 32 28 26 Winter Summer 2019 20 Fall2025 2023 2018 22 Just Fishing .. 36 38 Winter 2022 Fall 2021 have atrout set and thatwhitefish, have the fish pointed ends ofduring the picks protected by (Time to 2025 Weed Out Walleye (3 Seasons on the Ice continued from pagepage 4.) 42.) Lake that suspend the winter, usually need to adapt. For example, longer lines, farther 36 18 Just Fishing . 20 Just Fishing The forementioned spud bar/ice chisel is. 7a critical piece of safety a retractable sleeve which helps you from stabbing yourself.
IColour love fishing where you get walleye trophy pike casting, get a lot more active as be the snow melts more lights starts to fishing in low light hours. Or and finding makeslocations a big difference andcan walleyes tend toand have different Ice picksand should always worn around your neck or kept in an equipment which serves two purposes. Obviously, it is used to out of the same I’llI jig with a patterns Buck-Shot apenetrate broken edge in late the milfoil or clearing bysightbe the ice in the Thesecaused fish are feeders andtoif preferences fromholes. lake toOften, lake so willfor usewalleye bright colour on easily accessible pocket on season. your flotation suit. They’ll no good check for thin weak ice but can also be employed to clear out old bottom. Spoon andare fordark mystained secondand line,natural I’ll soak a bigincisco tip-up hard lakes that colours clearunder lakes. aRippin’ they can see better, they’re going to eat better. holes. The HT Premium Ice Chisel is great choice because it carries you if you go through the ice and your picks are somewhere in the for On sometend waterbodies we even lakewarmer trout inwater these jigspike. and plastics to work better withrun 70into degree your tackle the weight (Approx. 7 lbs.) that is needed for a spud bar to work bottom Lastly, ofdon’t forgetbag. to bring your Frabill when jigging the rippin’ jig through vegetation, so be prepared for shallower areas. Obviously, the ice conditions can change quickly late in the season properly and it also breaks down into two pieces making it easier Conservation Series net as there are some hog crushing strikes from walleyes. Theyfoam have handle to hit hard catch it! when they weather really starts tothe warm paymost attention to the If you do happen to break through the up, ice,sothe the important to transport. It also has a rubberized thatto has a heavywalleyes on the weed edges. Get one with The couple years I’ve north to the Red Lake ice conditions thingand is not panic. Get back to the strongest ice that when it’s time to to dutylast wrist strap of attached to it.beeninheading handle. Youto don’t want lose your Anglers should also try cranking plastics: Just pitch out let it telescoping you’re aware of which is usually the ice that you’ve just area for a late season ice trip and the fishing has been excellent with spouse’s stop going out there, don’t take any big walleye of the year! sink and crank it back. Northland Fishing Tackle’s Mimic Minnow walked over. Use your ice picks to help pull yourself up plenty walleyes and pike. I’m forwardtail to making While of you’re walking out, thrust is big arguable thelooking best paddle plasticit chances. onto the thicker ice while kicking with your feet to help your ice chisel into the ice ahead laterhasthisa Sun protection is also I have used on thehappen market.again The tail force yourself out oftothe hole that– you’ve of you with a reasonable amount vitally important save fallen through. season. I love jumping available ice light, fast wag that looks like a fleeing baitfish The equipment Once you’re your on topskin of the ice stay spread out on your of force to test its thickness and with a Fish on my and anglers today isandascrawl gooduntil as you ever.reach – it was definitely one snowmobile of my go-to belly what youguard feel is icestubby thick quality. Make sure that you have Monkey performance face and getting in tried the remote Over the enough past twenty years the baits last summer. I have larger to support weight. Then it is critical to get the strap on the ice chisel wrapped guideyour gloves. water that is seemingly improvements in mapping, sonar, paddletails with less success – walleyes don’t somewhere warm before hypothermia kicks in. around your wrist just in case you everywhere up there. I’ve tackle and even snowmobiles to getRipping and Rigging walleye want to be kicked in the face when they are Good Luck encounter really thin ice and your experienced some topeating. In terms of jig head size for Minnesota around, have made it easier to find A throw rope (50-100 is extremely useful in the case from thefeet) weeds! entire spud bar goes through it. and the Dakotas, 1/4 oz is a great size for notch walleye and lake and catch more fish under the ice. where someone else falls through. The Rescue Throw If your ice chisel goes through the most target depths. You can tip it with a chunk of crawler or small don’t forget trout fishing but the pike Bag from out HTAnd Enterprises works great as you hold on to Have a great season there! ice, pull it out and back up slowly minnow, but I don’t usually have to in northern Minnesota. onthrow socialthe bag to the person in the fishing end of adventures the rope and fishing is as good as I’ve to follow my in the same direction that you Ice picks such as these retractable ones distress. It is bright orange so it is easy for that person ever seen on a number of media! accessed theinvasive ice. Editor’sto Note: Jeff Gustafson grew In terms of species, you should the alert that some safety frombeHTonEnterprises are essential locate/catch it. The fifty feet of hi-vis rope allows you waters. is simply a up on the shores of that Lakeperson of thewithout endangering yourself. lakes are changing and becoming cleargear due to theThere introduction anytime you head out to on the ice. to get help to Ice picks are another essential ton of water to fish and a Woods in the Kenora, Ontario.Brian He has“Bro” Author: zebra mussels. These are filter feeders that make the lake clear and About piece of ice safety equipment; bunch of big pike. I think made his living in the fishing community since he was a teenager Brosdahl, is of a fishing guidedevice and promoter. fish lakes areout getting a lot moretoweed growth Some type sounding can definitely be and a life saver thesespookier, will helpwhile you other pull yourself if you happen go through asofa the tournament angler,and guide, outdoor writer fishing it’s justinvasive far enough north One most recognized respected than normal due to Eurasian Water Milfoil. This weed can especially if you are he venturing out– alone. whistle like Classic the ice. Many ice fishing tackle companies havejustice picks promotor. InNorth 2019 is competing onBro, the A Bassmaster Elitea Series anglers in America that the fish don’t get grow fast to the surface in mats, pushing out existing weeds such as available in their lineup and they’re all pretty good. HT does as in addition (Continued on page to competing events in Ontario. You can find7.) he’s known, is ain several multispecies a lot ofonpressure it’s cabbage. Milfoil weed edges change and expand a weeklyand basis. Just Fishing . 6 angler his influence and on his website him onbest socialknown media for at @gussyoutdoors Winter at: 2026
With all of these rechargeable devices, a portable lithium power 8-pound Flu Traditions (Targeting Fall Walleyescontinued in Cdn. Lakes cont. from Box page 22) fromNed Outdoor Adventure Power (formerly LakeSufix Simcoe (Panfish Fox 40 whistle or other safety whistle attached to your flotation pack (Ned This,Pandemonium That! continued fromfrom pagepage 50.) 22.) line twist and prev important to keep them all charged up. 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Goa an for those following. “We were always comparing said “We woul Early to mid-fall Fishing & Boat Show or CanCast. These are so handy, not I use green braided line. Its thin diameter cuts the water Spring There areSunline other SX1 dangers Gather around the campfire andashare stories. Many anglers up a foot orand two, then immediately plummet They also introduced amany new looking to plan one email back forth 4-5 times day, for weeks on end, over times toget behave on lb Sunline FC fluorocarbon leader that’s super clear and only can you charge all devices from it but you can them that with may an be 8encountered been fishing here since they were kids because their families many years.” to bottom, kicking up your a cloud of sand/muck good getaway trip jighead, the Micro Shad HeadZ The air and is crisp yet abrasion-resistant. I wear Fish Monkey Stealth Dry Tec gloves and with a Glow Cup to charge glow-in-the-dark baits. have been coming hereoccurs. foryour generations. 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Good luck! spinning rod, medium power with moderate them ideal for a vertical presentation such as used in ice fishing. their smallest plastics as Ned this, or Ned that.”water, providing fi repeat the downstream walk. As a which general action, is rule, ideal for fishing Jigging and the ability to and this for allmy PLEASE –goes WAIT FOR ICE! Follow, and fishing adventures YouTube, Raps. Ilike team itshare with aGOOD Daiwa Fuego 2500on StingerZ, Tiny TicklerZ, Baby BallerZ, Micro Shad Jigging with Humminbird The SO, WHAT EXACTLY andGoat, catchTikTok, fish. 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Head jig weighing 3/32, 1/16, or of all specie About the Author: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, more catch you help a Canada’s taut line on fishthat and soften Bumble Beetake arehooked all colours I’ve usedlure with greatfish success in opes of top competitive tournament your jig. St. Croix Legend 1/32 It doesn’t long oz. with half ofpromoter. afor 5” all Yamamoto Senko Al Lindner ranks a is a fishing guide and One of the action in cold water. water orThat the hardwater! Again, please note that these are anglers. 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I Shiners think thaton is St. another message – the fish rods don’t while outNorthland on the ice. We’ve also have had key days where bite indestructible and have the greatest buoyance o ready deploy. necessarily follow rules. and you don’t want to leave them turns on tojust beforethedusk all plastics. Ned catches as many as 180 bas Zman biting, so you stay out a little longer. As you start losing daylight, on a single Zman worm! Ned’s involvement i OG The underwater world holds many River mysteries that fascinate me as a Rolling everything looks starts looking different. In these situations, it is Mushroom the research and development of Ned products a scientists and angler. Sometimes that Jig Head veryRainy easy River to turned around and get lost, so having a fully charged can get extremelyfascination rough at the Gap, Four or Zman resulted in the Zman Finesse T.R.D. Serie can lead to Mile someBay minor long GPS straight where northwest wind blows. I have (The Real Deal), the first pre-cut or pre-forme cell the phone, andstretches a headlamp isthe essential. Using your maps or frustrations when I can’t figure out spent many days fishing in rough water during cold weather and it’s Ned Rig worms and finesse bodies. The Finess where fish you are or get path them Navionics app on your cell phone willthekeep onhow the to right Zman hard to beat a windshield this time of year. This is one of the many TRD eliminates the need to cut a 5” ZinkerZ i to bite – but that is what keeps me back to your vehicle. TT Lures reasons I choose a Lund 2075 coming Pro V boat with a Mercury 300 Pro half and comes poured in a 2 3/4” worm. Read NedlockZ back for more! HD XSaid for kit guiding, tournaments and fun fishing anytime. I to go! No cutting needed!” So, I asked Gord A first with an emergency blanket alonganywhere, with handwarmers “IFHead IT SWIMS... WE FISH FOR IT...AND HELP the best all-roun Jig stay comfortable all day, no matter the winds and the waves. When “What would youWILL consider Abouthand the Author should always be in your ice gear. Of course, warmer packs YOU CATCH IT! GetFishing Fishing’s Magic!” the struggle is real, Spot-Lock into the wind and hide behind your Ned Rig ‘Cuz today?” are handy, inexpensive and easy to use. Just open them up and give Dr. Steven Cooke is a professor Jeff & Jason Matity windshield! it a few shakes to activate them and beResearch surprisedChair howathot andyou’ll Canada Zman came out with the ZinkerZ and, now Visit our “When YouTube Channel theyI have actually get. They’re available in bulk from Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca). an AFTCO Barricade rainsuit and, evenpacks in the rain, ICostco, am dry the pre-cut Finesse T.R.D., that just perfected it to no end. Whe SUBSCRIBE Canadian TireI know and Amazon. there are Ambassador rechargeable He alsowho a Science as a cork. I am not In the addition, onlyis one fishes in inclement you&fished it on any of the for ZmanFREE!! Shroom mushroom head jigs, lithium battery powered hand many warmers that are readily available on was the Ned Rig personified. All of the colours and subtle hues tha for #Keepemwet Fishing. weather. I have witnessed anglers boat big walleyes at the same time I am! the market as well. YOUTUBE.COM/MATITYSGETFISHING Zman and others have in their line-ups can cover any water clarit
(There’s NO Such Thing as SAFE Ice! continued from page 6.) (Staying Current on River Walleyes continued from page 28.)
Winter 2026 Spring 2023 Summer 2019
Just Fishing Fall 2023 . 24
JustFishing Fishing.. 29 .35 7 Just Just Fishing
The Unexpected Genius of
M M
ost of us think we know lake trout. We picture them cruising the frigid black depths beneath our boots following schools of ciscoes and smelt, smashing our silvery gold spoons and white tube jigs in the winter, bulldogging toward the bottom. They’re iconic, powerful, cold-water specialists.
By: Gord Pyzer & Liam Whetter “Most people imagine lake trout as simple cold-water predators, but they’re a lot more sophisticated than that,” says Verstee. “They’re constantly gathering information, learning from their environment, and adjusting their behaviour in ways we never really appreciated.”
What we don’t picture is a creature of surprising intelligence. But that’s exactly what fisheries scientist Evan Versteeg has uncovered in his fascinating research into lake trout cognition. After interviewing him in Episode #30 of our Doc Talks Fishing podcast, we realized his work doesn’t just add new scientific understanding – it fundamentally reshapes how we, as anglers, should think about the species.
Fisheries Scientist Evan Versteeg
trout behaviour is almost entirely instinct. I wanted to know if that was really true – or if these fish were making decisions.” To find out the answer, he designed a series of cognitive tests that allowed him to isolate their key mental abilities: learning speed, memory retention, spatial reasoning, and adaptability. The results shocked him. “In some of our trials,” he says, “the trout were forming associations way faster than we expected. They weren’t just reacting – they were learning. And once they learned something, they stuck with it.”
This kind of cognitive Author & Doc Talks Fishing Host Gord Pyzer ability is well documented in warm with a BEHEMOTH Lake Trout. water species like smallmouth b a s s As the trout guru explains it, everything a n d l a r g e m o u t h b a s s . But in a coldfrom where they go, to how they water specialist like lake trout it wasn’t hunt, to why they sometimes become the conventional wisdom at all. Yet, trout “uncatchable,” begins to make sense once after trout demonstrated they could form associations quickly, retain them and we understand the mind behind the fish. then modify their behaviour when the conditions change. And they remember How Smart Can A Lake Trout Really Be? like elephants. Versteeg’s journey started with a simple but bold question: Do lake trout actually think?
Lake Trout Remember – For A Long Time
Indeed, one of the most striking “So much of what we assumed about parts of Versteeg’s research was the them,” he says, “was based on the idea that strength of a lake trout’s memory. (Continued on page 10.)
Just Fishing . 8
Winter 2026
(The Mentee-Mentor Relationship continued from page 52.)
“Big” Jim says, “Fish Hit It Like It Owes Them Money!”
program isforcontinued important tofrom (The Long Cast Pike page (Food Thought from page 18.) (Giant Mid-Summer Pike continued from page 6.) (Strategies for Walleyes On Ice cont. page 16.) (Colouring continued from page 12.) (End Your Season with acontinued Bang continued from26.) page 8.) page 8.) (TheFor Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout continued from
me. Many ladies don't finned in the 12” – 24” range inIorder tospeed reach maximum Ibecame knowprey my local lakes Here, I stretch quite asize. bit. has put countless walleyes Instead, they kept coming back with an eagerness to expand their crawler popular several years back. hadthe caught abarrier couple of small shorter game of cat-and-mouse. know where to well. start, “When a fish remembers an experience weeks later with As schools of suckers complete their spring spawn in the shallows In shallow water, as deep as 10-15 feet, I actually get my boat up onto into the boat. Ditto, a firetiger knowledge and meet other women anglers. Friendships and mentor- bass it inshows practice but on the second day of the three day tournamentno Ifwhat a on fish interest, keep equipment to use and retreat to relatively reinforcement,” marvels out loud, “thataround tells there’s aInlot Raphold or Acme HyperGlide. plane and it athe its lowest speed... 13-14 mph. mentee relationships developed in time and in 2019, we started a Jigging tweaking things until theyplanning Mike threw it on aEven windy point and caught a pairyou of four pound or weeks where toout go. 2012 “Best New Walleye Lure” Two later, on the other hand, deeper water, their #1 deep water I drop from plane down to 9 mph Speed-mapping is best more going onmay in that brain ever gaveWe them credit for.” chew. formal mentorship program for members ofbythe organization. smallmouths at the same time, than it wasweincredible. caught several worse, they never Gordon Pyzer when the perch decide it is now time when the water is flat and there is no bouncing of the bow to jostle predator follows them. other bigexperienced fish in the tournament on an umbrella rig and since then I have the in the for them tomake nest, they relocate the transducer from its optimal, parallel angle with the bottom. I can’t Suckers a great If a walleye is still hesitant, always have one tied on in the fall. And is catching notsoft just about whereinthe trout previously found food. thrillitpick of a fish! adjacent warm, bottom, weedy always day, and mapping choppy water is usually the norm. living among I useforaging evenmyless vertical I started mentoring as a It includes like past successes, dangers, bays, and the walleyes follow For this, I adjust my tactics athem bitDrop-Shot taking a big failures “sausage and shaped” bite the stalks and leaves movement. Athings slight flick Drop a Our award winning lures just keep Girl Guide leader when in hot pursuit. As the movement spatial layouts, profitable movements and yes, even negative out of a shoreline and working from the perimeter inward. I still do the of the rod tip is deadly. It of(Bass Fishing cabbage weeds. continued from page 32.) getting better - the proof is in the they had a fishing badge. begins, you will notice that the shallow-water speed-run with the wind; but, hold steady against the experiences like being caught and released. When you hear At other end of enough the spectrum is a drop-shot rig that canthe give asuckers, bait just catch. Without or presentation walleyes areerratic spread out. When this So many girls learned to current. Wherever you are using them, – RICK OLSON breeze, with a reduced speed for the deep-water stretch. speed and motion to will produce really well for bass but other species like walleye and Prototype© Spoons himshould explain itmake in the podcast, you start to understand why lake other plentiful forage try to some contact with isyou the nderstanding you will your bait in tie acase, knot, use aput bobber, photographic the dreaded fall turnover, andtoknowing howofyear tothe deal with stimulate a strike. Shaking crappie as well. Consisting of a weight tied the bottom line species, such as ciscoes trout follow surprisingly consistent seasonal routes, after the bottom. Crankbaits ricocheting off the front of far more fish and catch them and put a worm on a 4: Map-Blemish Fix fish patterns it, can spell the difference between a lure couple seconds, and then hook tied into the line they about aren’t 12”-24”guessing above the– weight or smaller lake trout, bottom isfor oneaaof top triggering functions year. According tolivewell. Versteeg, faster trolling athe bottom bouncer and w/ UV finish success and an empty Walleyes hook. It's the same for any newbie as just getting startedthey’re be then pausing it briefly is also (with a palomar knot). We will attach a variety of soft plastics tocan the there be no pike. of thesewill baits. PROTOTYPE SERIES™ During your learning curve, you will end up “washing out” on acoloured turn or crawler harness with a blend of chartreuse, orange, red and green ® remembering. are directly affected by this naturally tough. Mentors share knowledge and enthusiasm and mentees deadly. This makes Still, the pike-suckerhook butblades if youWhat prefer usesee liveisbait you can to PROTOTYPE SERIES™ – Fergie Specials on a speed run. youtotipped will amimic blemish thatattach lookssome like ameat “blackColorado and beads, that again perch. occurring, seasonal phenomenon, learn by doing. There's nothing like aaday on the water to relax My top crankbaits for bass around home are and treble hooks dance, activates cabbage connection is the hook as well. – Plane Jane hole” on your map. fixtheis Balsa simple: pull up on any black-hole and can make for of toughest the Bagley Sunny Bsome andThe the Diving and enjoy the thrill of the anticipated call "got one!" rattles in noisy baits, adds flash, a major predator/prey “hover” in the middle of it. The hole will begin toweed shrink rapidly as the Trolling the same spinner combination alongDoug lines is aanother “New” 1/4-oz fishing conditions you’ll face during Rob Schulz & IN-FISHERMAN, Editor-in-Chief, Stange with B1. These crankbaits run true every time and CLT 1, 3 & 5 and makes lures seductively sway & 1/2 oz sizes relationship in North productive pattern as the weather, water and perch spawn heats up. In the fall I’m going to be using minnow imitating plastics, adjusting mapping unit continually truths the data and, finally, morphs into theif the entire open water season. As water will putpivot. fish in the boat. Fish them on a seven 47” Last Mountain Lake monster pike. on the spot.And 3 sizes and Think of shaking a bait like jogging There “New” Colours NATALIE HATHAWAY America. Pike asummer feeding strategy can and rely on size to fillof their temps reach their high, a they the cabbage bed is you’ll pinch yourself to make sure you’re colour of of the surrounding map… voila! the size the bait to the fish that I’m chasing the the foot crankbait rod (Ineed likeexpansive, the G. Loomis IMX6 colours inside lures would stall. Turning in the opposite direction snapped is dreaming movement happening, but the lure is not travelling very far.the This layering process occurs, with the end re-localized PRO 845C CBR) with 12 fish pound Seaguar not ifthink you remove the bouncer and trollbass the spinner rig without bellies. In mid-summer, their prey is and specific. forage that I the are focused on. For and big walleyes Gussy withthe Bass Fishing Legend motionless, suspended lures forward and brought moving lures to My grandpa introduced me to fishing when I was a wee little one keeps thean bait appealing while staying a small strike zone. fluorocarbon. Forupper fishing, I like sult being layer, and a in any weight over topswarmer of the Even more precise and deadly Rick might a tournament larger four orweeds. five inch jerk shad typeClunn bait but foris BEFORE use AFTER aIlower sluggish crawl before stopping. SPIN DOCTORS itcooler until I met my Aaron Hathaway, 17 years tobut change my hooks to Gamakatsu G-Finesse Andwood not thisswim kind of Turnover! layer, separated by a husband, quickcasting awasn't perch-coloured original floating Rapala Minnow, Shad Rap or vegetation, jigstwo can to swim PRESENTATION WILL ULTIMATELY crappies or which pressured bass and walleye ISWITCH might use –aSEPARATE smaller ORIGINAL treble hooks, are extremely sharp, Tail Spinners™ MAKE A QUICK ly changing narrow band, known as the Rippin’ Rap bait. overenough the emerging tops. Theallkey is stuff adjusting thegenerating speed through of this with ease, Rob imparted of thisweed stop-start-suspending presentation to three inch “New” Chrome Bringing SUCCESS FROM STRESS super strong, light wire hooks. – Fergie Special thermocline. This deeper, cooler, bottom layer, can quickly become totally (Continued on page 54.) you our ofthe your retrieve so that you scrape the tops and stalks of the vegetation reaction strikes with a quiet, subtle moving Switching from one bait to another can fool walleye. When jigging with lures that his fish were seeing the same triggering presentation void of oxygen, and will eliminate any use. Trying to pull fish from dead Original FLASHER JIGS Fergie Specials™ bait. Think aboutas places whereany you might with the lure, then letwere itJigs suspend orwith floatrod up slowly, a walleyes rush upuse Aas lot ofcan pike anglers on spinners (bucktails and tandem-spins) an attractor bait, like arely Rapala Rippin’ Rap, Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Roger and Gary doing and reel...without pause Try Swim I’m predominately using Z-Man Elaztech baits on my drop-shot rigs water be a complete waste of time. a frog, a swim jig might be a better option. Plane Jane Spoons™ and devour it. Furthermore, Try it this season, ascovered theSpoon sun sets atopristine late spring / minnow like Original Rapala minnows fish Ice weeds. Spoon, Sebile Vibrato, VMC Rattle oron Williams Jig, IThey always for casting! Rob 10-20 times ORBD or because thebaits plastic isand buoyant causing it toapproximately sit horizontal in the water EasyJigs™ Twist-off Flasher early summer evening you will discover the meaning of delirious. Prior to the start of my fishing career However, I rigged personally do not like using spinners orfirst Rapalahave another rod with ainofboards finesse bait. This could bethe a cover small tube The purpose of the program is to: A:) support new/newer anglers work! the water I did with the Some planer spreading his are set to an Fish finders display density of objects, well as changes in density, which My experience and look more realistic. myasfavourite baits Finesse & Lytle’s body Secrets™ the U.S. back in 2012, I had never used a style plugs that sport multiple, fish-damaging treble hooks. Why? jig, jig and finesse minnow, darter or a compact tungsten spoon. swath! Thus, ended the lesson! got my trolling & B:) provideTransparent new fishing Our opportunities to experienced anglers that enormous Award Winning makes up a40-foot thermocline. The upper warmer layer, isIless dense than with a swim jig the was ShadZ, 3.75” and the Jerk ShadZ baits. G. Loomis makes rods BIG OR GO HOME swim jig. They areSteakZ a skirtedGO jig but slightly so good ... Well, I’ve witnessed many fish hooked deep on these baits with back in 2013 at cooler bottom layer. It’s this change in density that will show up on a rear-end in gear and haven’t looked back since! would like toRed learn about aLures new type of fishing they notwould”! ©yet tried different than the flipping jigs that have just getting in all of theirfish line-ups designed for no drop-shotting withLake light actions Spoons “if keep fish could ask forhave itPrototype they Tail’s Aggressive frequently have qualms hitting a larger lure. Chickamauga, electronic graph, and it looks like a constant, narrow band. Some lakes are one, two or all three hooks of the treble hook in their throat or gills. photographic fish But I used have confess, as as I enjoy catching numbers of nice size or to target a new species. better – the proof is beenyou fortoyears. Swim jigsmuch typically so don’t tear thequickly small hooks out ofnever the fishes mouth. Ifthe I could patterns w/ UV finish where there was When fish hesitate, reel the one lure, then drop finesse so shallow and windswept they may thermocline. The big lakea Much damage is done, notthat when fish the bait from the walleyes, typically males, my idea ofupthe heaven isstrikes catching and releasing the Rob’s Rules: REELBAIT Tackle Co. have an eye positioned more towards the give you one tip for drop shot fishing, use a small, light wire hook spring shad spawn in the catch. circulates every time you get aand decent wind, and thespecial temperature remains bait.of Offering walleye ahook smaller snack can tease them intofeeling eating. almost female fish. There is something about side; but, a fish follows the lure, then lunges and engulfs the front the when jig,always a lighter wire Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced theSeward, suspension of the giant, 133 Seward Street, NE 68434 going on around 5: Hugging Curves that will help your presentation look more lifelike. I’m usually using relatively consistent from top to bottom, throughout the entire season. Where regulations allow, soaking a real minnow on a jig in one hole, they are designed to be swam through all awhole bite, setting the hook for a the treble hooks oftenshallow thing. When thisand happens, end upgrass. deep www.reelbait.com 402.643.4127 The program after only a few months BUT we are restarting it now! Periods of flat dead calm conditions, combined with the heat of summer, #1 or #2 hooks most of the time. These are small hooks which makes kinds of shallow cover. while jigging an aggressive bait in the other to attract fish is a great (Sidebar) split second thinking that you’ve in the soft throat/gill tissue. The general rule that I adhere to when mapping is to “run parallel” with bass were right in push surface temps into the range of bathwater. But that’s asand far as itdeadgoes, Especially following the passing of frequent weather systems on big the light rods mandatory you want tomaps avoid losing fish. combination. The lure catches aggressive walleye, the NEW snagged aaction rock or log. Then youifthe the grass, plucking Tournament the contours. Now, on the “sausage shaped” you cannot avoid CISCOE CONCERNS and will last the next good wind mixes everything up. Getting involved Series in this sport and finding mentors can be challenging feel The effectiveness ofmoney swim comes Super Glow Author &until Doc Talks Fishing Co-Host Liam Whetter witha the another water, the smart is on trolling: stick mops-up the hesitant biters. Position the finesse bait or two the head shakes andjigs nothing off plentiful When fish come in with the hooks in their lip but are bleeding from “contour cutting”, which is slicing up and down changing waterfoot depths. Series from their ability to slide through all kinds at times for women for a host of reasons. We are fortunate to have a budges offgills, bottom, or just above where you regularly mark fish on the sonar. We’re losing ciscoe populations Avoid the temptation shake the heck out of your rod when you’re shad. There aren’t except size ofto your eyes GIANT Trout. What the transducer signal, finder-computer and mapping image will the this isthewhat has happened. The gills tore and fish is now of cover that would give other lures a Lake What happens then and do the fish experience thethe same negative breadth of female fishers within Ontario Women Anglers who want and 1) In spring, use shallow running lures and fish from the surface at an alarming rate as the climate you know... this isn’t bottom! fishing a drop-shot. Get the bait to the bottom and drag it along, (Continued onare page 36) create isthat a Reeds, “dragging” effect of the image. I think ofnot! it like a not perfectly tough time. lily submerged bleeding out! For thispads, reason, many conservation-minded outfitters (Continued on page 20.) effects the fall turnover brings? Absolutely It’s just the down; do not dredge messy, muddy bottoms. In summer use deeper warms, and the impact on the to help others. They are able to provide safe, supportive one-on- designating imparting some light shakes every once in a while. I almost always drawn water-colour contour map thatcauses youstrictly have dragged a wet paintbrush fact that a lake turnover, that tough fishing conditions, but theirwill top trophy waters as “single-barbless hook” walleye populations thatdown feed on divers and make hard-bottom contact often. SPATAL MASTERS THE DEEP in the past, and itdropping one experiences for other women who may just be starting out I’ve use 3/8 oz weight that is heavy, but I OF want thetemperatures. bait toreplaced get to moreawritten likely due to so, the rapidly water Thewith body across and, in doing dragged clean contour lines out of sync waters. Now, all baits can have the trebles removed and with them is concerning. Losing their the map. case today, thatwaste theto Pro Staffer or just want to learn more and, hopefully instill the confidence remains temperature of aTo fish subject it’s environment, andcarefully rapid changes the bottom quickly and not any time. original fix,isand, return these “drag marks” and run athe single-barbless hook ofto–course, fish can be hooked deep on Jason Matity’s – More amazingly still, it appears that lake trout may be capable principal food source in deeper, 2) Use suspending lures all season long to achieve the ever-productive most overlooked – and cherished in water temp can shut fish down, and it may take some time for their in newer anglers to pay it forward as a mentor one day – Tanya single GetFishing.ca the contour. ByHowever, running the contourthat several times, you will “tighten up” hooks. anything increases the odds of a clean, cooler, main lake habitats Trophy Walleye of strong spatial reasoning. early season trophy walleye pattern (i.e., Rob’s hard zig-zagging maneuver to work suspending stall body to adjust. The turnover usually coincides with the first hard frost MacLean, the drag marks to accurately represent thethe true Fall offers some of thetobest fishing of year and we have aforced longIf of caught on aMentor, Ontario Women Anglers live-release of top-end, breeding-stock fish iscontour. worth your effort. means the walleyes are is being the first person fish the jerkbait gives his stop-and-go presentation that is so deadly). fall, but not always. Some years, the change is so gradual that it becomes ReelBait Pulsating & fuller winter ahead us isso layer your confidence bait a One spinner or minnow bait, Start by Short Shank relocate totothat’s shallower warmer main lake that most difficult to structures pinof down. ofup, theto indicators lookfine. for,map,” is water Flasher jig “You can almost think of them as having an internal he EQUIPMENT EXPECTATIONS To participate in the program, women must be a paid member of the folks dress warm and get out there. ohooks removing the trebles and replacing them drops with single to on less nutritious won’t visit for atthe least another temperature. When surface temperature between 10-15 Celcius, 3) By trolling a shoreline with a water spread of feed lures of Siwash known diving says. “They know where structure is, preyactivity move, where club. A mentor may offer 1:1 or small group instruction. Mentors month. Trust your electronics to show you species like yellow perch. Worse as seen on salmon spoons andtoturnover plugs. For me,how the swimbait iscan the top you can figure in the zone. Walleye range You will feel alone out A boat engine isyou’re not cheap operate. Over asimultaneously. season of colouring curves, you are able to sample several depths Also, and mentees are paired up depending on their fishing interests, here the productive corridors are – and they navigate that threestill, perch inhabit warm water so the fish and you will enjoy those from bad to good, depending on how severe, and how quickly water casting bait I use on all waters. For the record, I will state here that because everyone knows that sessions, I spend several hundred dollars on premium gas; as well planer boards, like Rob’s favourite, Church ® organizers the the walleyes are forced to turn up location and availability. All of the mentors and temps cool off. A gradual slide can make for better fishing. last few trips in the boat. walleyes are still shallow. And Ias, feel the swimbait is universally more effective in fishing all pike dimensional environment with a and lot of precision.” Evinrude Fuel Conditioner Evinrude E-Tec XD100 oil Tackle TX-6,2+4 gives impressive horizontal their metabolic rates and expend involved in the program are volunteers. They are not guides and, to be fair, most of them are, just situations, spring through fall, than any other bait. to keep my engine running perfectly. The way I look at it, my sport coverage. C 1 to 5 Much of the late summer and early fall action can occur after dark,upand much more energy catching not the big females that leave the although are they are not compensated for their time, there is an of choice is not free. However, the information that a lake gives 3 sizes While itareas isthings shocking the There first time youless hear himwalleyes say this, is even tough. still might be awholesome few thatitiswill much Editor’s Note: Jeff Gustafson quickly, migrating WHAT SIZE? WHAT TYPE? once Iwhen discover herget secret spots and the migration routes of the meals. fish understanding that mentees should6 colours offer some assistance with spawning 4) Pike will follow lures for a long way. surrender toonwater anglers willing toattention give upItus athat sleep. option, would exactly behaviour many have observed many times ReelBait islittle aI losing battle, fisheries grew deep upathe the ofscent, Lake ofof their refugias where priceless! Also, theshores care give toAnother my boatas and motor costs for fuel, boat launches, bait, etc. Mentees are expected to to Adding quality baitsand like Pro-Cure Pro Staffer be avoiding the negative effects of the turnover by trying to find a lake that managers are finding throughout My favourite, lure is a large swimbait in the 5” to 6.5” range. I prefer with ourdevote sonar units. Wethey seeI put aSuper trout hesitating, energy thecan Woods ininthe Kenora, Ontario. when mapping the fallthat (before her toaapproaching, bed for the winter) ordown. in Pike/Musky Ice Gel or Anise-Plus Gel, bring their own equipment and tackleJefftoMatity outings, unless otherwise they – hasn't turned yet, or one already has had week or two to settle the southern walleye range. athe jig with an added swimbait tail such asawinter the largest STORM consume to(when production of He has made his living in the repositioning, circling, then finally a360GT strike. spring Igo wake herand up from her slumber) istotime andthe GetFishing.ca gives pike a the scent trigger that makes bigcommitting arranged with the mentor. The first ones tothe are the shallow lakes, as they cool fished quicker than Search bait and venerable Big Hammer swimbaits, on 1/2, more eggs. And they gain this with a Chunky fishing community since he was money well invested. As Versteeg explains it, they’re not wandering, they’re evaluating. difference over the course of aasday. CHBD deeper varieties. There may be much as two weeks difference. Walleye nourishment by focussing almost solely on swimbait soft, silvery, pelagicoffer ciscoes, 3/4a orteenager 1oz. Hammer These two designs the asblessed a Heads. tournament And they seem with thethat ability to anticipatee where their To find out more information about this program, visit: https:// shiners and rainbow smelt. shape, texture, sizes and colours combine to create a package DON’T’ TAKE WORD FOR SUPER-PRO angler, guide, outdoor writer andbut Medium depth The final option is to not gotrigger at all, fun is that? Fishing isTIPS fun, even 5) Trolling with aMY hair on what youIT: GPS www.ontariowomenanglers.ca/mentorship prey will be rather than just reacting in the moment. AVAILABLE IN CANADA runner that closely imitates the prey big pike feed on. Namely, long slender fishing promotor. Inwww.bohonisenterprisesinc.ca, 2019 he when it’s tough. Dealing with theisfallwhere turnover to be a real chalbutton can reveal daily hotspots thecan provespecializes Darrin Bohonis, of in baitfish are sothe important that I look for them onglasses, myrewarding. sonar screen To Find A Retail Outlet Near You Check Out Our Dealer Locator On Our Website The fish! Eluded toon earlier, staring through our polarized we often lenge, and overcoming tough conditions can be extremely competing Bassmaster pike are holding and help you visualize how pike are setting up on a LINDA GALLUS Humminbird products and has spent more time mapping than most more thancommon forchange the white walleye themselves. Now, two critical details: pay observe suckers and/or northern hog-nose suckers “When you the rules on them, they don’t just keep doing the Eliteof Series intoaddition toatcompeting insee several events ina suspending, Ontario. piece structure. This information helps you produce “milk run” experienced folks have spent fishing, period! logs 100’s special attention the depth which you theHe balls of bait in the cabbage beds. Tosocial imitate them, colours inannually browns oronwhitish Visit – – same thing,” he says with a sense of profound respect for the fish. Sharing the joys of fishing has always been a passion of mine, and You can find him on media at @gussyoutdoors and his for casting, later. of hours behindare thenearest wheel, mapping.–Here his piles words of underwater wisdom: thenhues locate the structures reefs,are rock and grey terrific. website Signat: upwww.gussyoutdoors.com. to receive FREE Target Walleye/Ice which is why supporting the Ontario www.mepps.ca Women Anglers’ mentorship (Continued on page 29.) (Continuedemails onpage page15.) 12.) (Continued on page 9.) (Continued on
REPORT
U U
COMET LONGTAIL
TURNOVER BLUES
®
COMET
www.reelbait.com
Just Fishing Just Fishing 10 Fall 28 18 Just2021 Fishing.....814 36 Just Fishing Just Fishing 20 10
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1 2 3 4 5
TROLL FIRST; CAST SECOND
www.targetwalleye.com
(Continued on page 21.) Summer Summer 2021 Winter 2026 Just Fishing .2021 53 2022 Spring 2020 Fall 2021 Spring 2021
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((The Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout continued from page 10.)
(Sidebar)
“They explore. They try new strategies. Some become more cautious, others get more aggressive. You can see distinct personalities emerge.”
Gear That Matches the Mind of a Lake Trout
If you’re like us, listening to Versteeg explain the remarkable adaptability of lake trout, your mind wanders back to so many previous ice fishing encounters. Like the days when the trout raced up to your lure but wouldn’t hit it. When highly “educated” fish had seen too many lures and when the bite windows shifted unpredictably. As Versteeg explains it, lake trout are not locked into instinct. They’re actually problem-solvers responding to changing conditions.
If lake trout are smarter, more adaptable predators than we once believed, then we need to change our gear to match that level of sophistication.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR ANGLERS So, once we accept that lake trout are smarter than we gave them credit for, how do we change our approach on the ice to target them more effectively? Well, understanding that their movements are intentional and not random is a good start. Just Fishing . 12
• The best sonar you can afford will let you read individual trout personalities – aggressive, cautious, curious – and adjust instantly.
• Carry lure extremes including aggressive spoons, heavy tubes and Bondy-style baits – as well as small subtle finesse paddletails and hover-type minnows.
• Quick-change terminal tackle like fast-act clips
and pre-tied leaders let you shift presentations before trout “learn” your patterns.
• Natural lure colours are best when lake trout
are cautious but don’t hesitate to switch to novel hues when you need to disrupt learned avoidance. And last but not least...
• Use high-contrast baits when you’re fishing in
deep water. High-contrast lures help trout evaluate and then commit. (Continued on page 14.)
Winter 2026
NO MATTER THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER THE CONDITIONS.
NO MATTER WHAT
STRONGER - SMOOTHER - THINNER MICROFILAMENT BRAIDED FISHING LINE
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(The Unexpected Genius of Lake Trout continued from page 12.) (Sidebar)
The Winter Brain Boost
One of Evan Versteeg’s most surprising discoveries is that lake trout brains actually grow bigger in the winter. As the lakes lock up and light fades, the key regions of their brain tied to memory, navigation and sensory processing become bigger – a seasonal upgrade known as neuroplasticity. “It’s almost like they install new hardware for winter,” says Versteeg.
Why the boost? Winter is a mentally demanding world: prey is scarce, the environment is darker and more uniform, and mistakes carry higher costs. Lake trout rely heavily on enhanced spatial memory and fine-tuned sensory awareness to survive. For anglers, the takeaway is simple but profound: winter lake trout aren’t dulled by the cold. In fact, they’re sharper, more attentive and more responsive than at any other time of year. Even tiny changes in your presentation matter, because the fish are mentally primed to notice. “If a lake trout is somewhere, you can bet there’s a reason for it,” says Versteeg. It could be they’re following a temperature gradient, prey pathway or structural corridor, but whatever it is, it is likely a memory-based route. And they remember negative clues just as well. “It doesn’t take many bad experiences before they start avoiding certain cues,” he says. “They learn what not to do just as fast as what works.” This likely explains why the first ice laker bite is usually so good, but then fades quickly as we get into the season. And let’s not forget those trout that wouldn’t commit when we spotted them on the sonar screen and required us to scale down our offerings to finally get them to bite? “When something breaks the pattern, that’s when you get their attention,” Versteeg says.
Individual Trout Have Personalities And what was his favourite finding about one of the coolest fish to catch in the winter? That lake trout have individual personalities. “We saw bold trout, shy trout, explorers, stay-athome types – these are individuals with consistent behavioural tendencies,” he says. Which helps us again make sense of the chargers, the followers, the hoverers, the drifters and the committers that we see on our sonar screens. Different trout demand different tactics. (Continued on page 16.)
Just Fishing . 14
Winter 2026
SIM SHAD
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to the cushion hooksets and help help these the hook farhowever, out from itthewas boat, and impart points, a lesson in Also, if you fishing in the evening, BE A STUDENT OF THE GAME – to the superline, superline, hooksets and head, etc.) and are your imagination isfrom your only (Unexpected Genius of cushion Lake Trout continued page 14.) https://youtu.be/qqGTzPt6TIQ?si=gRv_Fpause, reposition, and then follow your lure with eerie deliberation, you’ll know perfect lure action. Just remember that prevent bite-offs from larger fish. searching for adjacent spots to capitalize and the spot is frequently fished by others, perfect lure action. Just remember that MWF CAN LEAD THE WAY prevent bite-offs from larger fish. limitation! R0DB5GuY3exactly what’s happening. You’re encountering of the most intelligent fish in spring, cold water typically favours slow the situation. We checked the adjacent more than likely the area you found on spring, cold water typically favours slowFishing one is a learned sportextraordinary. and passion to be After listening to Versteeg’s mind-blowing — DAIWA PROCYON AL &PROCYON PROCYON MQmakes THE PHYSIQUE IS INTHE THE FRAME freshwater. And that every lake trout moment all the more that extends the spot willDAIWA not get PROCYON fished. bays, to moderate lure action interspersed with and they all were holding muskies. — AL & MQ THE PHYSIQUE IS IN FRAME For reference, light line to Gord is 6 pound to moderate action interspersed with (Cash-in on green baitslure for walleye cont. from page 21) Sidebar: a great angler must be a life-long pursuit. research it’ssee clear that lake trout So, even if–you another angler fish-deserve Different location, buta attract, the same result! long pauses to first then trigger fish test Fused braid on 7’6” GLoomis NRX FIND YOUR NEXT FISHING VACATION long good pauses first attract, trigger fishThere are gimmicks that can distract you. aretobladebaits, likethen a Berkley farthe more respect than the you old stereotype Also FIND YOUR NEXTyou FISHING VACATION ing sweet spot, know can OTHER COLOURS rod. For Ned, the line choice is the into striking. (Sidebar) MWF is no gimmick. MWF is a fundamental in metallic perch or same; a ThinFisher into striking. FISHEASY.CA of “simple deepwater cruisers.” Truth be return later with because you have muskies with FISHEASY.CA but, wielded on a 5’4” Z-Man Drew NOT TO BE IGNORED and blueprint for successful multiHeddon Sonar with green prism tape. adjacent to the sweet spot waiting Five Ways to philosophy Fish Smarter told, they’re thinkers, learners, strategists, Cast AIR ROTOR Reese Ned Rod. For myself, a ML 6’6” species angling. Join Gord, Ned, and the out the lure, let it get to bottom, AIR ROTOR When you locate active biters, either drop Pearl, silver, and shad coloured softfor you to catch them. When you locate active biters, either drop AIR BAIL navigators and individuals. Jim Saric with a 13Fishing OMEN rod with similar braid or snap it up, and let it sink back to bottom. greats that came before AIR BAILus in the most hands1. Fish the “Decision Zones,” Not Just the Depth your anchor or, preferably, engage the Spotplastic minnows and swimbaits as DIGIGEAR beaut y caugh your anchor or, preferably, engage the Spott #4 monofilament catches me a the bunch. Walleye typically strike during drop. on, light-line, DIGIGEAR well as hard-baits replicate baitfish. Lock feature feature onbait your Minn Kota trolling ADJACENT right at dark. also eat the offus the floor. “The more we learn SPOTS about trout cognition, They’ll multi-species, Lock on your Minn Kota trolling Versteeg’s work shows that lake trout constantly evaluateblack/grey-pearl, trade-offs – for example, Black-gold, and energy I find, less is more... Trying to forcemotor to hold the boat in place while fun fishing the more complex these motor to hold the boat in place while While on we therealize subjectjust ofhow extending costdoesn’t versus reward. 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AIR AIR BAIL BAIL PROCYON AL SPINNING AIR ROTOR ROTOR && AIR relating toflooded flooded wood w Science & Education, Jeff uses this training a powerful trigger forVIDEO relating tofinishes wood or orwee aare particular point, look for anwalleye. adjacent unnatural looking can drive incredible.” TOUGH DIGIGEAR to become familiar with the concept of the TOUGH DIGIGEAR Start with your highest-confidence presentation and your cleanest approach – especially in incover... his joboror as a hadn’t Fisheries Professional & Several favourite soft-plastics contain cover... they hadn’t come in they yet,yet, andand wew youtomake make repeated casts around boat. bay hold muskies, particularly ifthethe For moreinfo info visit:around Daiwa.us you repeated casts the boat. For more visit: Daiwa.us walleye wild,Educator and who’s to come arguein with ever-so-important, Do Nothing retrieve. Amazingly, all of the other four points held green Outdoor (specializing in fishing via fleck in their bodies. 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This ison that down difference converts lookers into hookers. themininany any conditions. receipt inincase you’re stopped the MNR/ drop into depressions ororby holes the receipt case you’re stopped by the MNR/ drop down depressions holes on the them soft-plastic. “JUMB O” O” Yellow Per “JUMB Yellow PLAN FOR A BLOW often most pronounced during twilight OPP or All OPPnear orYork York Regional All3 3agencies agencies flats thebutRegional mouth ofofPolice. aPolice. flats mouth abay. bay. from Lake from and at near night,the also applies when fishing Lake All you dodois isexperiment aSimco bit AllFAITH youneed need experiment aSimc be IN GREEN will enforce any regulation violations! Whether you are fishing in summer or will enforce any regulation violations! deep, in overcast conditions, or in turbid Editor’s Note: Gord Pyzer & Liam Whetter determine where and how deep they’re bitin determine where and how deep they’re bi fall, more than likely you aredown going toLogically, In case, when they drop toward water conditions. I know going green matches In any any case, when they drop down toward and what approach they are responding Bait Company Mini Goby a Great LakL and what they orare respondin Bait Company or a Great encounter atthe least one of your onthat Gord Pyzer is the 2009 Inductee –days Canadian Angler Hall of ofapproach Because ofof size ofof the yellow perch Because the size the yellow perch that the pigmentation manyMini type Goby of walleye bottom and display a basically negative bottom and display a basically negative best. Always Finesse Drop Minnow. I generally stay wi Of all trip, the glow in collection, a7’7’ML Fame, Fishing Editor –my Outdoor Canada Magazine, Field best. Always your wherelures the wind will strong. Finesse Drop I generally stay we’re targeting, Ithey recommend atbe least ForMinnow. the entire interview forage – but, maybe my fondness for we’re targeting, I recommend at least ML feeding attitude, are unlikely to pursue feeding they are unlikely to pursue anatural Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon in supergood game Editorrods –attitude, In-Fisherman Magazine & MPH Television, Co-Host –colours, These are the days with 15-25 colours, although will be be thot anatural good game fisheries scientist there Evan although there will power like the Daiwa Aird-X models, emerald is partly my Irish heritage shining power rods like the Daiwa Aird-X models, glo firetiger has been the most productive baits moving laterally about their heads. You In-Fisherman Ice Fishing Guide Television, Co-Host – the baits moving laterally about their heads. You plan winds. Often the gusts are higher. for allVersteeg click chartreuse, HERE. days pinks plan for allbright dayswhen when the bright chartreuse, pink through. which are great value. Pairing one ofofthese which are great value. Pairing one these over the years, which partly relates to how The Real Fishing Radio Show, Host – Fish Talk with can possibly still catch them by hunkering These are the days where your species, in any can possibly still catch them by hunkering oranges will slay’ em! Sometimes runnin species, oranges– in willany slay’ em! Sometimes run rods aon sized spinning reel long itswith been the market and, thus, inRadio mya slip rods with a1000/1500 1000/1500 sized spinning reelPresident “The Doc”, Outdoor Journal & “A” spots are often not fishable. down with an anchor and fishing with conditions. down with an anchor and fishing with a slip a “Donkey Rig” similar to to one thatthat wewe ru No matter the reason, green baits a “Donkey Rig” similar one tackle collection. spooled up with 6-8 lb. braid Canadian Angling Adventures Ltd. and spooled up with 6-8 lb.test test braid anda a4-6 4-6 conditions. Actually, any open-water wind-exposed consistently put fish inget my boat. for iceice fishing will get you numerous doub fishing will you numerous do lb. leader got lb. test test fluorocarbon leader andyou’ve you’ve got for spot mayfluorocarbon not be fishable. So,and you’ll needPerhaps it’s best to leave it at that and headers. On the top hooks, a Mini Min About the Author: Whetter aPerch” passionate multi-species angler from On the top hooks, a Mini M headers. aaLiam perfect outfit. The longer About the Author: to rely on“Jumbo your is“B”, “C” and even your perfect “Jumbo Perch” outfit. The longer not overthink it. FIN or Micro Grubby Grumpy Ba Northwestern Ontario, always chasing the next bite FIN orno Grubbyfrom from Grumpy rod allows for greater casting and “D” spots catch muskies. Indistances summer, Al Lindner ranks among the most renowned inMicro thethe rod allowsto for greater casting distances and leaders Al Lindner ranks among the most renowned leaders in matter the season. He’s all about the pursuit, from frozen Company work great well creatu the big winds are Averaging usually and in fishing industry. about days a year on the water, Company work greatas as wellas as cre you’re also able to upup aabout lot more line fishing industry. Averaging 180 days a year on the water, you’re also able totake takesoutherly aremote lot180 more line About the Author: Tim Allard is a full-time, awardlakes in the dead of winter to backcountry waters. baits like True North Baits, Mini M’eh Fl the the winds are northerly. Al isissetting hailed as ofofthe best all-around baits anglers. like True North Baits, Mini M’eh when hook! winning outdoor journalist and author/photographer Alfall hailed asone oneusually theworld’s world’s best all-around anglers. when setting hook! With a fascination for aquatic biology, he’s nearly as Al’s and honoured asasan syndicated of the book, Ice Fishing: The Ultimate Guide. Al’s long long and honouredcareer career anauthor, author, syndicated obsessed with understanding fish as he is with catching them. He’s regular numerous American Iffishing toNorth fish 10’1 While planning for your trip and radio && TV show host, video producer, guide, My go-to isisfishing some type of jig, IaIfuel like tocontributor Ifyou youtohappen happen tolocate locate fishover over radio TV fishing show host, video producer, fishing guide, Liam’s experiences on the water his storytelling, My go-to some type of jig, like to print and online publications. From panfish to northern looking at the map, besides looking tackle lecturer and tournament angler has spanned 35presenta years 15’, any ice fishing presentatio combined an oz. Tungsten ball jigjig tacklemanufacturer, manufacturer, lecturer andchampion champion tournament has 35 yearo 15’,virtually virtually any ice fishing capturing the1/8 adventure, the work, and everything combined an 1/8 oz.Ultra Ultra Tungsten ball pike, Tim fishes whatever heincan,angler whenever hespanned can. the most revolutionary years in sportfishing. between.” theeither most years in with GrubZ, (Continued onasportfishing. page 7.) (Continued on page 2 with eitherarevolutionary a221/2” 1/2”Z-Man Z-Man GrubZ, aGrumpy Grumpy (Continued on pag Just Fishing 22 16 Just Fishing. ..22 24
Summer 2024
Fall 2024 Spring 20 Winter 2026 Spring 20
NOW FEATURING
ICE FISHING GRAND SLAM By: Ryan Gregory, Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures
LOOKING BACK
For me, it was proof that this incredible lake has no equal in North America and the magical moments come together often, you just have to be out on the lake and ready for the experience to happen at any moment.
My first summer operating Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures has been truly incredible, a childhood dream of fulltime fishing, come true. The excitement of introducing anglers to Great Slave Lake’s – lake trout, northern pike, inconnu, and Arctic grayling for their first time. My summer guiding season was packed with The Grand Slam is quickly becoming energy, long days, unforgettable fishing and a benchmark for my clients, but it has proven to be a difficult challenge to new friends from around the world. accomplish, often missing one fish species to I’ll never forget the look on my guest’s face complete the slam, which is generally due to when they landed fish after fish, on one the weather, but it’s all part of the challenge. particular trip we had a 3 hour show down Some come to chase big trout, some enjoy with a giant school a hungry lake trout. the thrill of sight-casting for giant Pike in the We lost count in the first hour of quadruple shallows. Others choose to hunt down the headers and landing a few over the 20-lb mark, with some just shy of Thirty. I have never worked so hard taking fish off the line in all my life. A quick change up from Downriggers, to casting and jigging Bucktails was all it took to light them up and all 4 anglers were giggling in excitement as they dropped their line back down and instantly caught another big fish.
that fish is on the other end of the line, its truly spectacular. Winter is just around the corner here now, but the story doesn’t end when the water freezes. Out on Great Slave Lake, the Grand Slam lives on through the ice.
The Winter Grand Slam The Winter Grand Slam swaps Arctic Grayling for Burbot, a species that thrives in the deep, cold water of Great Slave, but is often found up shallow under the cover of darkness adding to the ultimate four-species challenge under the ice.
LAKE TROUT:
The top predator in the Arctic and #1 species targeted by anglers through the ice in the North. Often found in deep water, but here you can find big Lakers roaming the shallows hunting for something bigger to eat, than just a little minnow. So, don’t be concerned when you see that we are setting up shallow. These are not your typical Trout, they are the wolves of the Lake and when you connect with one in shallow water, it’s a battle that elusive inconnu, a giant predatory whitefish you will not soon forget. If the big lake willing to chase down muskie sized baits, Trophy fishing is not your cup of tea, we also have backcountry wilderness lakes, full of while growing to lengths over 50 inches. nice sized Trout and spectacular scenery all Pursuing the slam is a great way to get a around us. taste for the different fishing opportunities NORTHERN PIKE: up here, but if you’re after a Trophy, its best to buckle down and target a single species. Often targeted later in spring when they Trophy hunting often involves big game begin to move into the spawning bays, these tackle with hours of boredom, for moments feisty creatures are not shy and can be found of panic! When it all comes together and out feeding on schools of bait alongside the (Continued on page 20.)
Just Fishing . 18
Winter 2026
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situation. When people ask my rZ continued eSlam cut-offs from soft plastics provide lift-drop lurecarrying action (Ice Fishing from page 18)flavour. Zinktoothy worms or spikes for more scent and If you’re nGrand a m Z whatalthough I think fish mistake the at a busy boateulaunch. use two Amped Outdoors 36 e wax inI deep theirLithium increased swith atrout. bait container worms, Maggots or spikes, keep that tr uncommon rnot Itopis forwater, a few pike e p Ned for Rig fortrolling my response is,do‘I C amp hour batteries volt, 50 in tandem my motor bulktrout and water resistance usually container close to your body so your body heat and can to show somewhere up when your fishing, but don’t care water what they mistakeasit a second deep cycle for my graphs. one of my favourite not allow you cover as quickly keep Often the most effective presentation e what you’re zwiggly! if allthem day lively action after, H&ais for, as we long as they’re biting it’.” ewhen wateremploying each urpleyear. P when using Jigging Raps. Experiment to live bait is to dead stick your lure and let the have no shortage of feisty pike Gord and with added, “If we’re fishing the tlive cold, boating traffic Years of experience taught me that I don’t want anything whatlocation, works best. bait doadjustment its job! see a slight to our we waters of Whitefish clear nhooked are at aupminimum, to my starting battery except the outboard motor. will have you into some all-day action Bay on Lake of and the ecies bite,next feeding tolast you’re Lithium batteries many more charge So, time outwith on the ice don’t ignore these of the averaged sizedthat fish,longer that are great for Woods, I like natural and and rves prior to a long, discharge cycles, plus they are lighter than lead acid batteries feisty members of the sunfish family, they’re a blast to catch! kids or those new to ice fishing. If you’re neutral colours versus That’s a by combo you Oh, andtrophy way, if youwe haven’t the price is the more affordable than whenfocus they first hit the market. after sized pike, change some of the brighter twoanywhere! tried before thesetoare some in thethem spring and start target trophy sized thatin areKenora’s moving tonepike colours of the tastiest fish that you’d catch There are many open water into the shallows to get ready to spawn, thewaters.” ice melts. algaeonce stained low youthe ice. toonfish llow through opportunities the river waters Tip ups and dead bait are the ticket! boat Good in deep intheApril. luck on your FISH IT RIGHT: triggering lure action Until we see you on on the INCONNU: spring adventure! I’llout see you RETRIEVES, RODS, ve quickly to locate ove hardwater, the water! stay safe, Fish Hard REELS LINE to fish are highly sought after, being rare and&difficult &These Dream Big!!!!! times. canbegrow very large sizes, I find don’tatthink theThey rig can fishedtowrong. You can dragmeasuring it, shake About the Author: out at over 50” they are not scared to chase down a big it, count it down and swim it. Just use a systematic method of e Author: Editor’s Note bait. onlytop challenge isis they don’t the stopbases. moving, BrianThe Brosdahl, a cover fishing it“Bro” from to bottom and Andthey whileneed on David Chong is widely recognized ong the most renowned fishing and continuous overpromoter. theirGord gillshad to breath. So,gems theseofguys are the subjectguide offlow presentation, some real advice, as one of Canada’s top competitive g“The industry. Averaging One of the most recognized most interesting retrieve that I’ve been writing about, where always on the move and can show up at any moment chasing a tournament anglers. He is are alsoin an on the Al issmallmouth hailed anglers andwater, respected crappies and involved is the “Bivins’ Bounce”. school of bait. avid multi species angler and is est all-around anglers. Terry Bivins is a retired NASCAR driver from the states and he is an Bro,affordable, as he’s aNorth strongAmerica advocate– for edIt’s career author, syndicated & TV fishing show host, known, istoan aangling multispecies best known for his influence on hardas tell thefordifference between a trout and anon inconnu accessible all!angler Davidradio (Continued page 52.) ngas guide, tackle manufacturer, lecturer and tournament the sport ofthem ice fishing. can be booked forspoons, guided tripswhen at:of loves sharing his vast knowledge andchampion stories with anglers we fish bothfishing theHe same with jigs and but 35you years of the most revolutionary years in sportfishing. bbro@paulbunyan.net orscales brosguideservice.com. all ages, beginners pros alike! at the bottom of your hole, the see those giantand silver intensity of the entire experience can be electrifying, knowing
what you have just accomplished, but hang on, they fight like crazy in the winter and with a paper thin mouth and fierce head shake, they are known for getting off right at the hole.
BURBOT: The night stalker, often targeted on overnight adventures, especially after dark, but can be found active early morning and throughout the day mid-winter and into the spring when they are preparing to spawn, under the ice. If your camping out and you intend to get some sleep, don’t leave your line in the water or you won’t catch a wink. Often referred to as Poor Man’s Lobster, these swimming morsels are hard to beat when it comes to eating fish. They have a mild white flesh and you can pull up a limit in short order and nothing beats jigging burbot all night long under the dancing Northern Lights! Join us for an evening fish into the night, once these guys move up shallow it can be non-stop action, all night. Very few places in the world allow anglers the chance to complete this type of Slam on Ice – and Great Slave Lake is one of them.
Overnight on the Ice To really capture the Slam experience in winter, I filmed an overnight adventure for my YouTube channel, Fish’N the Arctic. Spending the night out on the lake, with nothing but a heated shack, a snow machine, and the glow of a heater, was both humbling and unforgettable. Each fish came with its own challenge, but on this day, I had the Slam complete before the sun hardly broke the horizon. It was a personal best, as much as it was an angling bucket list complete. (Continued on page 21.)
Just Fishing . 20
Just Fishing . 23
Winter 2026
(Ice Fishing Grand Slam continued from page 20)
That solo overnight made me realize something. The Slam isn’t just a summer goal, it’s a year-round quest. We don’t offer any overnight trips yet, but maybe in the spring when the sun comes back and it warms up a bit, we might have something in the works to camp out on the ice.
Ice Fishing with us When you book a winter Ice Fishing trip with Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures, you get more than just drilled holes in the ice with a stick and string. We provide experienced fishing guides, heated ice fishing shelters, heated transportation Click here across the ice and all the to watch fishing gear you’ll need to chase multi-species, video or the raw cold of the Arctic, but also the warmth of the sun, good meals, hot drinks, and a guiding style that keeps the fun front and center.
My First Winter Slam I’ll never forget my first experience ice fishing on Great Slave Lake. It was a cold December day; the sun was up around 10 am and I was on the ice with my new Skidoo. Playing it safe I stayed close to shore and drilled a hole to check the ice. It was only 12ft deep, but the screen was lit up like my simulator was stuck on. I dropped my jig to bottom, lifted up and it was game on! I managed to drill a hole right in the middle of a school of fish that pushed some bait up against the rock wall and where feeding heavily. Too my disbelief as the fish rose through the hole it was a giant inconnu. The day continued with more inconnu, followed by a big pike a lake trout and a burbot at dark! My grand slam was complete in one try, without even realizing it. Moments like that are why I love fishing. The Slam can be tough to accomplish, but when it happens, it’s unforgettable.
Slam Rewards & What’s Next Just like in summer, completing the Slam in winter earns more than bragging rights. Every client who accomplishes the Slam is entered into a draw for a free 1/2-day trip in 2026, or you can apply your Slam rewards toward a full-day or multi-day Adventure with us. The North is calling, are you ready for an ice fishing experience unlike anywhere else. We offer various packages to choose from, catered specifically to your experience level. Select the Just Fish’N package and we will enjoy the day just having fun and catching fish and learning how to Ice Fish. Bump it up a level with the Trophy package and we get serious and bust out the Extra Heavy Ice Fishing gear and go chase down a Trophy sized fish on Great Slave Lake in our custom Dockmaster Ice Shack and Can-Am Defender Side by Side. Follow the journey on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ fishnthearctic Winter 2026
Just Fishing . 21
g ttin Ge ttingg Gettin Ge r Fo y ad Re For y ad Re Ready For O
26 2026 20 26 20
By: Jeff Gustafson
ne thing about fishing is, the fish don’t The Classic was another tough event for me. O always bite. I learned that as a kid, We had crazy winds throughout practice as most of us do but I was reminded of it and that made it tough to move around and over the past year as I struggled my way through the Bassmaster Elite Series season. It was my worst season since I joined the Elite Series in 2019 and when it wrapped up in August, I was glad to head home. Since then, the goal has been to work on my game and get ready for 2026.
The season got off to a rough start in Florida, a state where I enjoy fishing but have had some mixed results over the years. I’ve had a few good tournaments down there but plenty of bad ones as well. It can be so easy there if you locate areas that are holding big bass but if you don’t, fishing fast and covering water like we do in most places is almost the cardinal sin. Florida bass can get temperamental and want a slow presentation, especially under cold front conditions. I went off of a few clues that I got in practice in those first couple of tournaments and simply didn’t catch the size of fish I needed to. The Bassmaster Classic took place at Ray Roberts Lake in Texas in March. Prior to the practice starting for the biggest tournament of the year, my buddy Bryan Gustafson from Lake of the Woods Sports Headquarters came down to spend a week fishing with me in Texas and we had a great time. We spent a few days on Lake Fork and fished some smaller lakes in Texas. March is a great time to fish down there if you want to catch a big bass. They are in the prespawn stage and the big ones just seem to show up. We caught quite a few seven pounders and the biggest one I got was a 9-08 on a jerkbait.
The struggles continued as we moved into the spring where I just missed the day three cut at events in North and South Carolina. The Lake Hartwell tournament was disappointing because I had a good practice and it is a lake that I have success at before. I really enjoy fishing there, just didn’t catch enough quality to really be a threat this time. The reality is the competition has gotten so good that if you make a mistake, you’re going to pay for it. The last stretch of the season was better, where I made the cut in three of the last four events but it was too little, too late. We get points based on where we finish in each event and to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, you need to finish in the top 40 in points at the end of the year. I ended up in 80’s, something I’m not proud of and not something I want to make a habit of. 2026 will be my first time missing the Classic since I started on the Elite Series in 2019.
sample different areas of the lake. I ended up settling into an area where I was catching some fish but it didn’t seem to have the big kickers you need to win a tournament in Texas. After these events where you don’t get the results you want, you try to learn Missing this one is a heart-breaker because the tournament is back in Knoxville, on the Tennessee River, where I got both of my pro level wins. An Elite Series event in 2021 and the Classic in 2023. I think at the start of the season there was some added pressure, knowing we were going back to Knoxville, especially after the tough start in Florida and maybe that had some influence on how I was fishing.
My biggest bass of the year, a 9-pounder on a jerkbait.
from your mistakes and I think I recognized some of the mistakes that I made, mostly related to not covering enough water in practice and not spending more time utilizing techniques that had a better chance at putting big fish in the boat.
A few big bites in Florida prefishing route for the Elite Series events did not translate into big bites during competition. (Continued on page 24.)
Just Fishing . 22
Winter 2026
& March 29th 2026 peterborough memorial centre & Kinsmen Civic Centre Top Fishing Brands, Bait Makers, Seminars, Boats and More!
WW W. CAN CASTS H OW.CA
(Getting Ready for 2026 continued from page
At the end of the day, if you want to fish competitively at a high level, there are no excuses. You have to do your job. At the conclusion of the 2025 season in late August, our 2026 schedule was announced and my focus moved to preparing for that. I decided I would fish as much as I could this fall and just work on my game. For me, that means utilizing my electronics A deccent finish to the Elite as much as possible, incorporating Series season will hopefully techniques that I don’t use often, like translate to a better start in The goal for the 2026 season is to get back on the throwing oversized swimbaits and 2026. Bassmaster Classic stage. glide baits and just being on the water. Next to getting a lot of time on the tournament waterbodies, which I don’t really get to do because timeframe, mixing in a few guide days here and there through I live so far from most venues, I believe just being on the water the week and spending at least a couple of days prefishing for each event. The results were pretty good with a couple of wins somewhere is the best way to improve your game. and second place finishes as well as a couple of tournaments We have a great bass tournament scene across Northwest Ontario that didn’t go the way we wanted. Overall, I was happy with and it really ramps up in the fall with events happening every how everything went this fall and I’m feeling good about how weekend from the start of September through mid-October. I’m fishing. I fished tournaments six weekends in a row during that The key now for me is to translate the good vibes into the new year and get off to a better start to the season. For the first time in my career, we don’t have an event in Florida. As I mentioned earlier, I love fishing in the Sunshine State but my results there haven’t been the best so maybe that’ll be a blessing. Instead, we’ll start the season in February at Lake Guntersville, Alabama, where there is a good chance we’ll face cold weather, which I’ll welcome. Guntersville is a great fishery with a lot of big largemouths. It’ll take big weight to have a good event there. The goal for the 2026 season is simple, get back to the Classic. Doing that will require more consistency and better decision making than I had this past season but I’m excited for the challenge and to show everybody out there that I’m not done yet! 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. Just Fishing . 24
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W
(Fly-Fishing Edition)
By: Daniel Notarianni
W
inter is a magical time to play outside… for some people. For others – especially those of us who live for rising trout and flowing winter means the fishing slows down or stops altogether. Maybe your home waters get capped with ice, maybe the trout are moving slower than honey left out in the cold, or maybe the season in your area is closed. Whatever the reason, winter can feel like a forced separation from your favourite pastime. But fear not! Just because the temperatures plunge doesn’t mean your fishing spirit has to. Here are a few ways to keep the winter blues at bay and stay connected to the fly-fishing world.
TIE FLIES (a.k.a. Winter Therapy) Winter is prime fly-tying season. It’s the perfect time to restock the boxes you swore you’d keep full last summer… and then absolutely did not. As a guide, I burn through flies faster than my clients can point out every branch on the river, so winter becomes my unofficial mass-production season.
tie more than five of the same pattern before getting distracted. And if boredom strikes, there’s always the YouTube rabbit hole. New patterns, new techniques, and the occasional video where someone ties a fly so perfect you briefly question your life choices (I am looking at you Davie McPhail). Learning fresh patterns during the winter not only keeps things interesting at the vise, it makes you a better tier overall – your pheasant tails will thank you.
JOIN A FLY CLUB Whether it’s the Izaak Walton Fly Tying Club, HAFFT, Headwaters Fly Tiers, KW Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, or another local group – fly clubs are a winter lifeline. They’re filled with passionate anglers who love to swap stories, show off new patterns, and occasionally debate the correct number of wraps you need on a whip finish. Most clubs host monthly meetings, invite speakers, organize fly-tying nights, and get involved in conservation projects. Winter is often when the planning for river-rehab projects begins.
Even better, many clubs participate in off-season community events. Teaching a total beginner how to cast or helping someone The Best Part? There’s get ready for their first fish next season is one of the best ways no rush. No late-night to recharge your own fishing spirit. Surround yourself with fishy “I have a trip tomorrow, people and suddenly winter doesn’t feel so long. why didn’t I tie these earlier?” panic. HIT THE FLY SHOPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS Just you, some coffee… or a scotch, and a If being a “shop bum” were a job, I’d be full-time. And honestly, chance to finally in Southern Ontario we kind of have to be – because (Continued on page 27.)
Just Fishing . 26
Winter 2026
(Fighting the Winter Blues continued from page 26.)
And If All Else Fails… Embrace the Crazy!
we’re not exactly spoiled with traditional fly shops. We’ve got a couple proper fly shops and a handful of tackle stores that carry fly gear, which makes the ones we do have feel even more important. Luckily, those shops work hard to keep the stoke alive all winter with tying demos, product knowledge events, classes, and the occasional full-blown celebration. Grand River Outfitting and Fly Shop in Fergus runs events all winter long – tying demos, small-group lessons, and workshops. Come summer, their Grand Event is always a highlight.
Bochek. (Please do. For science.)
When the winter starts getting to you, focus that energy somewhere harmless and fun. Maybe write jokes about guys who troll and send them to Brent
The point is: winter doesn’t have to disconnect you from the sport you love. Between tying, clubs, events, film festivals, and the occasional chilly day on the water, there are tons of ways to stay engaged and get ready for spring. So don’t sulk. Stay fishy. Spring will be here before you know it.
About the Author – Daniel NotariBeyond the local shops, winter is show season. In February, the Ottawa Boat & Sportsmen’s Show will feature a fly-fishing section, and in March the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is bringing back the River and Fly Fishing Area. Think casting lanes, tying demos, tie-alongs, and seminars from some of Canada’s top anglers. Across Canada and the U.S., fly-fishing shows pop up all winter long, and they’re one of the best ways to shake off the seasonal slump. If you ever need a boost to break through the winter blues, spending a day at a show surrounded by fellow anglers, gear, films, and seminars will do the trick every time.
Plus – fly-fishing film festivals! This year I’m hosting a few,
with Toronto’s screening happening right at the Sportsmen’s Show. Nothing warms the soul like watching big fish eat big flies on a big screen.
GO FISHING ANYWAY Yes, it’s winter. Yes, it’s cold. But if you’ve done all the above and you’re still feeling down… well, sometimes you just have to layer up and get out there. Pick your days. We get plenty of milder winter stretches, and with good merino socks and solid base layers, you can be surprisingly comfortable on the water. And if open water is scarce? Give ice fishing a try. Perch and panfish can keep you busy, the action’s usually hot, and nothing hits quite like a mid-day on-ice fish fry. Winter 2026
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!
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Preventing Neck Strains in Anglers P P By Jen Watson:
roper biomechanics is crucial when performing the movements we rely on for fishing; casting, maintaining balance and coordination, hooking, and reeling in those personal bests. After talking with many anglers, I often hear about the toll their bodies take, while out on the water, rotator cuff issues, low back issues, tendonitis in the elbow and wrist, neck strain to name a few.
How to: In a seated position sitting up straight in a neutral position look forward. Begin by slowly looking up towards the ceiling until you feel a gentle stretch in the front of the neck.
Considering this information, I felt there may be a need for guidance on how one could take responsibility in their own self care and thus encouraging injury prevention. This is the first article of a series on therapeutic exercises anyone can add to their daily routine promoting injury prevention while out on the water.
every other day.
With the increasing popularity of forward-facing sonar technology, many anglers are spending more time in a fixed, “looking down” position. Posture like this increases stress placed on the muscles in both the front and back of the neck causing strain and biomechanic imbalances.
Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and return to the neutral seated position. Repeat this three times a day every other day.
Scalene Stretch: Hold for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times a day,
How to: In a seated position
sitting up straight and in a neutral position looking forward, begin by rotating your head so your nose is pointed towards your shoulder. While facing your shoulder, begin tilting your head towards the ceiling until you feel a gentle stretch in the front of the neck. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and return to the neutral seated position.
When the neck is held in this fixated position, the posterior neck muscles are forced into a lengthened position, causing overstretching and weakness within the muscle. Conversely, the anterior neck muscles are shortened and contracted, which makes them tight and prone to strain. Over time, these muscle imbalances can reduce mobility, impair posture, and increase the risk of injury. Good news! With these three simple exercises incorporated into Repeat this three times a day every other day and repeat to your daily routine, you will restore opposite shoulder. Should you require a deeper stretch, assist the balance to these muscle groups and movement with your arm as shown in the illustration. reduce the pain experienced.
TARGETING THE ANTERIOR TIGHT MUSCLES
TARGETING THE POSTERIOR LENGTHENED MUSCLES
Since the posterior muscles are lengthened, strengthening them Because the anterior neck muscles restores that proper muscle balance and posture. are contracted when looking down, lengthening these muscles is important to maintain full mobility. Chin Tucks: Aim to perform 8 – 10 repetitions, 3 times daily, every other day. Neck Extensions: Hold for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times a day, every How to: Lie on a mat on the floor in the face up position. Place a rolled towel under your neck optimizing the support. other day. (Continued on page 29.)
Just Fishing . 28
Winter 2026
Why? The spinning offering literally emulates All walle deep water abyss. For example, walleye may a dying minnow. Back in 1991, during my He puts e formative years in the Fish Behaviour Lab, at there is no use the top of an 8onfoot tocontinued gather before (Staying Current Riveredge Walleyes from page 28.) Tra heading shallower to feed on the 6-8 foot flat. the University of Saskatchewan, I marvelled barotraum at the efforts of mostInminnow species. hook lure off the bottom to wait for the strike. Pounding thedying bottom too much the Spring rivers are traditio throughcabin the water! guib will call the bellies sturgeonnow to bite. Likewise, with full, they can They literally corkscrewedwinter fever outRob’s of your a swimbladder gather on the same structure before returning I hypothesized that it was for a remote northernParting getawaw causing the corkscrew behaviour. I use deep-water Sunline SX1 sanctuary. green braided line. 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With drop jigs off, with out ina open water. other shiner words,work of extremely this fish-catcher: 1) The business end is Carefully Whistler jigs, useinstead short pulls forward with your rod tip and let it drop they go horizontally of disappearing be torela C the specially-curved hook;I 2) attached to the trying have seen people back for about 3 orthem 4 seconds. The8next repeat the motion but3) with a freewheeling That me into the depths. To fish along this foottime, monofilament harness; boat trailers because the air te 3 toyour 4 feet of line. callexample, this walkingswivel. the dog deep wewY drop let off,outrun boat and, Ifor 4) downstream. After that, theI beads, spinner have also seenblade summer-like rather not hook a 50.) big tooto far from the boat downstream (The Leprechaun continued fromRS, page a Magnificent #7 would Rapala Shad Rap 50 walleye feet back Why? The spinning offering literally emulates All to walleye 20” or over are sexually and clevice are secondary the action of the there is a snow squallAlone! or a matu hea StK soabyss. I reelForinalong the Whistler and start verticalworm frominon the boat andmythenHe puts a dying minnow. Back 1991, during every big matureIts fish back! Likewi walleye bump run.jig Next, deploy the corkscrew-producing hook... deep waterbottom example,this walleye may chasing that 30-incher on a rive formative years in thedownstream Fish Behaviour walk. Lab, at there is no fishing beyond 30 feetsacrifice deep to redut repeat use top of an 8on foot tocontinued gather before Current Riveredge Walleyes from page 28.) anthe(Staying identical Shad Rap, 50 feet behind one of the gotta spin! 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ItAnd is invaluable been coming here for generations. you never know About the Author: Brian “Bro” your Legend never have to take when baiting on jigs; jig. they areSt. Croix Fluorocarbon finishing with a genetics... high-speed system, will not use onlythem deepoff sanctuary; but, minnows since barometric pressure changes with depth with superior is) way too 30 valuab year OldSpinner Man Winter stick around or if (It Mother Nature hasO With the Cabela’s Death ifRoll Rig will is a fishing guide and promoter. thin, waterproof and warm. Northland Whistler jigs and Thumper THURSDAY EVENINGS instead suspend, at the level of the shallow to be caught only weight. once. You wanna be a pr Elite let’s 7’swivel Medium Fast connected bottom bouncer something elsetoin mind. asneutrally reference, investigate theExtra anatomy Staffer, and, for a fish towater. remain effortlessly most recognized andfishrespected rainbow or aInfrozen extremely well. With drop jigs off, with out ina open other shiner words,work Carefully release all mature properly a of this fish-catcher: 1) The business end isand North America – Bro, asScience is and theletCadillac thishook jigging From thisfor basic he’s kn buoyant, theiruseinstead swim Whistler jigs, short pulls forward (internal with your rodlungtip it drop they go horizontally ofbladder disappearing be torespectful... Comeboats Outthat Thursday the specially-curved hook;I 2) attached to the trying have seen days, people launch are frozen toknow their multispecies angler best approach. On windy I back for about 3 or 4 seconds. The next time, repeat the motion but his job leader, anything can bethe airmeans into the organ) depths. Tomust fish them along thisabsorb 8 foot monofilament leave is in&the like actively or excrete harness; 3) with freewheeling Evenings Share boatatrailers because That temperature single digits. I 3 toyour 4 feet of line. callexample, this walkingswivel. the dog downstream. on the sport of ice deep influence water fish drop let off,outrun boat and, Ifor shorten upthe toI beads, ahave 6’ for less wind Educato 4) After that, spinner added. The Death Roll’s also seenblade summer-like weather and sunburned faces. Whether Your Favourite Fish air between the air bladder and the blood. would rather not hook a big walleye too far from the boat downstream He can be booked for guided Alone! Kill a big a #7 Rapala Shad Rap RS, 50 feet back to and clevice areon secondary to the is action of the busines drag the rod tip. there a snow squall or a heatwave, you will find Heather and I Stories. Check Out the beads and spinner have sobottom I reel horizontally inalong the Whistler and start verticalworm fromon thethe boat and then Moving isNext, immediate and more today and bbro@paulbunyan.net or luck! bros bump this run.jig deploy corkscrew-producing hook... Its walleye chasing that 30-incher on a riverNew somewhere in April. Good interest Regis Enjoy repeat downstream high attracting qualities sacrifice the thrillTackle. of vice.com. anenergy identical efficient. Shad Rap, 50 feet behind one ofonthe gotta spin! Why not stay the edge? walk. Refreshments tomorrow.” the planer boards and send it out, over openUpstream for aggressive fish; much triggering Follow, like andbut, sharenot my as fishing adventures on YouTube, TikTok, The The edge iscontinued often a crowded, high-traffic Jigging Humminbird I tiewith my own rigs using the new Gamakatsu &wary Snacks. water,(Inadjacent to the 8 foot edge. News from page 48.) power as a colourful 5 and mm bead for fish.to Twitter, Instagram Facebook! MEGA Live Imaging in forward (What canfor I do? continued from page 14.) nutrient inputs by working with farmers Spin Bait hook. Like the Death Roll hook, area other fish and anglers. Suspended, About the Author: Sometimes it is just goFrustrated againstAngler the continued flow onfrom a river. To (On Being A Competent Fishbetter Biologistto &A page 34.) viewingit includes mode will prepare swivel. From this, I the attached Why horizontal? We from knowpagevertical Jeff Matitdy (Target Walleye 38.) keep out of Zman streams, that means blissfully, incontinued the open water adjacent toathe get in any condition, try slow a go-to 2livestock to 3worm oz. bottom you as will the walleye approaches My is can the Finesse fish.inbites As scientist much to learn from anglers anglers run dragging four foot leader ofand 15 pound Sufix movements the awater columnI have take effort A“Bro” Fishing IndustryTRD. Professional for near About theminnow Author: Brian Brosdahl, PARTNER WITH ALLIES – Conservation is we have better water quality in lakes. Better feeding shelf is a brilliant strategy that seems your jig. St. Croix Legend bouncer with a Northland Butterfly Blade Harness and a finishing with a unlikely high-speed since barometric pressure depth Fluorocarbon certainly learnchanges from with scientists, but those interactions topromoter. 30 years asof athe Fishing Guide & Promotion It’s a ready-to-go option that IOne trim to length is are a fishing guide and Elite 7’ Medium Extra Fast rarely quick, cheap or easy. That means you swivel connected to bottom bouncer weight. Staffer, with in Bachelor’s Degrees in bo and, for aor fish remain effortlessly neutrally means more healthy plankton most recognized andthe respected anglers atoto crawler with apiles simple bead onTo a Rap, short 2water toI am 3 feet of Sunline FC unique big walleye. Your Shad help anyone catch more fish! say that aquality frustrated angler before threading onto Spin Bait hook. Use is the Cadillac for this jigging WHO IS TARGET WALLEYE? From this basic hook and Science & Education, Jeff uses this training North America – Bro, as he’s known, is a buoyant, their swim bladder (internal lungcan’t gofluorocarbon itbyunderstatement. alone. Successful conservation and plant communities that support leader with aapproach. Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hook. Big best is an There arefools days –anything and we all them – where moving at their level, often multispecies angler known hisgamefish Onthese windy days, Ihave two-tone options having distinct to light his job as for adark Fisheries Professional & Outdoo leader, can be like organ) must actively absorb or excrete work is walleyes thecan’t outcome of partnerships that influence the all sportEducator of ice fishing. Ioften simply get a bite. Ishorten have all the necessary equipment, Ionread pass up fat rainbow sucker minnow or creek chub up to aThe 6’ for less wind (specializing in fishing via fami communities. Look beyond thetrips easy actions added. Death Roll’s colour schemes that airbeauties. between the aircan’t bladder and the ablood. He can be booked for business, guided at: when GetFishing.ca) to reach out to anyon drag on the edge rod tip.of bring together individuals andmore organizations ofWalleye the blogs and magazines, Ithe spent 11 years doing university level beads and spinner have Target – Walleye during open water and all species slowly dragging upstream on a current seam at .5 mph. Moving horizontally is immediate and that are often confused as conservation –fish.to receive m bbro@paulbunyan.net or brosguideserenergetically corkscrew he Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ontario Ministry interested in learning about Register @ paddletales.com high attracting qualities vice.com. education focused on fish, and forbythe last 12 years I have been with diverse interests. Screwy Spindoctor Secrets: energy efficient. Whymostly not stay onbrought the edge? This will create strikes. Just remember, its bottom bouncing and during hardwater – is to you Al Lindner, Jay Kusuch as as installing fish attractors – andflash instead create a strobelike of Upstream of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) have renewed their partnership to for aggressive fish; but, not much triggering The edge often from a alongside crowded, high-traffic a professor of fish biology. When Iiscontinued guide Rob not bottom dragging. Touch the sinker onby the bottom every now (In TheChris News page 48.) mar, Philen, Brett McComas and diehard fish-heads power asAwareness a other colourful 5 mm bead for wary fish. think about what you do to protect and counter hues akin (What canfor I do? continued page 14.) nutrient inputs working with farmers to can colour area other fish anglers. deliver Ontario’s Invading Species (ISAP). Sometimes it from isand just better toSuspended, goFrustrated against the flowwell on a river. To Program (On Being A Competent Fish Biologist &A Angler continued from page 34.) Angling clubs and anglers would do at G&SMarina.com, I have as and then to make you are near the This a the greatentire approach (Target Walleye continued from page 38.) keep livestock out ofisZman streams, that means likeget you! blissfully, in athe opencondition, adjacent to the restore ecosystem. bites in any try to slow dragging a go-to 2bottom. to 3worm oz. bottom toaquatic the dark back vs white Jason Matity & That Jeff Matity are helplessly My is can the Finesse TRD. fish. As scientist Iwater have much learn from anglers and anglers Yet, I think what matters most is time on the water. I can look at a water tofeeding engage lake associations and other PARTNER WITH ALLIES –strategy Conservation is we have better water lakes. Better The & MNRF Renewed many as 4iswith guests pulling spinner after aaand cold front or if the river islike And there areIintrim times when shelf brilliant that seems bouncer with aOFAH Northland Butterfly Blade Harness and aunlikely minnow hopelessly addicted to the sport of certainly learn from but those interactions are toquality It’s amurky. ready-to-go option that length belly of a minnow. will make Brett McComas is the main body say –Your wow, that looks text book bass habitat –tothings and not The ISAP ascientists, collaborative initiative led by the OFAH toUse prevent the fishing. introduction rarely quick, cheap or is easy. That means you The only thing they like better means more healthy plankton or ato crawler with apiles simple bead a Rap, short 2water toIrivers. 3area feet ofof Sunline FC unique big walleye. Shad local stewardship groups toon identify help anyone catch more fish! To say that am aquality frustrated angler before threading onto the Spin Bait hook. crankbaits just work better on I keep my rod locker ready harnesses. During a hot bite, our WHO IS TARGET WALLEYE? catch a thing. And then throw awe random cast and hook aforests bass where they for fish, loons, than to catching big fish is helping others can’t gofluorocarbon itby alone. Successful conservation man for Target Walleye He was and plant communities that support gamefish leader with a these Gamakatsu Wide Gap Hook. Big isand an understatement. There are days – Finesse and all have them –better where moving atspread their level, often fools these Partnership on ISAP (Preventing Neck Strains In Anglers continued from page 28) of invasive species to Ontario’s and waters and protect two-tone options having distinct dark to light YOU are invited come Incorporating three exercises will not only prepare for common interest. Even groups that may be with Northland Rumble Shiners on St. Croix Eyecon trolling rods The Zman plastics cling to to goal is to achieve a 100-fish day catch big fish.you Whether it’s trollingafor work is the the outcome of partnerships (In News continued from page “aren’t supposed to be”. I that think that is another key message –that fishactions don’t Ioften simply can’t get a bite. have all the necessary equipment, I read all walleyes can’t pass up aI36.) fat rainbow sucker minnow or creek chub communities. Look beyond the easy beauties. kayakers, swimmers colour schemes when discovered in Brainerd, MN after The Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association northern pike and walleyes, to(CFSA) jigging fo Ontario’s biodiversity. The program provides information and guidance to industry, in conflict at times can find common ground bring together individuals and organizations of the blogs and magazines, I spent 11 years doing university level the hook remarkably well. Target Walleye – Federation Walleye openofit water and all ready to deploy. slowly dragging upstream on the edge a that current seam atspecies .5confused mph. with multiple trophies mixed are often as conservation – necessarily followduring the rules. energetically corkscrew he Ontario of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the Ontario Ministry day on the water, but will also; reduce discomfort, launched Keep Canada Fishing totrout, unite theand nation’s 8 million burbot perch, pitching jigs to and education mostly focused on conservation fish, and for last 12 IJay have been with diverse interests. Screwy Spindoctor Secrets: years of wondering how ininstead the This will create strikes. Just remember, its bottom bouncing andanglers. citizens, communities, and both government and non-government agencies to issues around broader aquatic issues. during hardwater –Resources is brought toForestry youFISHING bythe Al Lindner, Kusuch asyears installing fish attractors –By and They do not disintegrate create a strobelike flash of bass, or dunking crawlers for carp and of Natural and (MNRF) have renewed their partnership to throughout. How? Precision anglers. informing anglers of current and potential and KEEP CANADA a professor ofdragging. fish biology. When I guide alongside Rob not bottom Touch the sinker onthink the bottom every now mar, Chris Philen, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-heads about what you can do to protect andlive catfish, they are Saskatchewan’s multicounter colour hues akin Without partnerships, aquatic conservation is threats affecting recreational fishing undertake prevention, monitoring, control, and outreach activities. With $275,000 deliver Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program (ISAP). heck people break into the fishing improve neck function, mobility, and posture. The underwater world holds many mysteries that fascinate me as a with every strike as worms do. Finally, Rolling River control, all 4 This lines baited Angling clubs anglers would dobottom. well atboat G&SMarina.com, I the have as and then and to make you while are nearkeeping the is a great approach species fishing authority whether on like you! restore the entire ecosystem. That toaquatic the dark back vs white and access to public waters, our goalice Yet, Ifunding think whatFishing matters most isand time onthe the water. I can look at athe scientists and angler. Sometimes that eep Canada the national todoomed. engage with lake associations other in provided by MNRF 2021-2022 fiscal year, the will the addition of any Pro-Cure SuperGel scent biz. He’s in itwater now, still can’t many as guests pulling spinner after aand cold front or ifthat theisriver is murky. And theremake are for times when orOFAH open water. Matitysgetfishing.com and in4ISAP the water. belly of abut minnow. will Brett McComas is the main is to motivate anglers to take action on body say –collaborative wow, looks like text book bass habitat –things and not The is a initiative led by the OFAH to prevent the introduction Rainy River can get extremely rough at the Gap, Four Mile Bay or voice of Canada’s anglers, and we local stewardship groups to identify area of fascination can lead to some minor About the Author crankbaits just better on rivers. I keep myoffor rod locker ready harnesses. During aAnd hot bite, our makes walleye slurp the without continue towork increase awareness the environmental, economic, andworm social impacts catch a thing. then throwspecies a random cast and hook aforests bass where they matters of importance toride… the future of better fish, loons, answer that question…. Brett is man for Target Walleye He was and spread of invasive to Ontario’s and waters and to protect YOU are invited to come along for the lead the effort to preserve your right to common interest. Even groups that may be the long straight stretches where the northwest wind blows. I have with Northland Rumble Shiners on St. Croix Eyecon trolling rods The Zman plastics cling to goal is“aren’t toExclusive achieve a 100-fish day frustrations when I can’t figure out supposed to be”. I think that is another key message – fish don’t In closing, DO SOMETHING! And if you fishing and conservation. kayakers, swimmers G&S Tactics: Watch walleye eating These artificially intelligent discovered inone Brainerd, MN hesitation. after Editor’s Note: Working towards certification as a of invasive species and engage the public in prevention and early detection measures. Ontario’s biodiversity. The program provides information and guidance to industry, sustainably fish on our lakes, oceans, in with conflict at times can find common ground Dr. Cooke is a of those guys who majored the hook remarkably well. ready to deploy. multiple trophies mixed necessarily follow the rules.fishing in rough spent many days water during cold weather andthem it’s where the fish are or how to get and anglers. follow some of the guidance provided here, rivers andrigs streams. of wondering how inadaptations the spinner at youtube.com/matitysgetfishing citizens, communities, and years both government and non-government agencies to around broader aquatic conservation issues. time in the water / fish in They not increase disintegrate throughout. How? Precision professor fishthere inthat marketing, only because hard to beat a windshield this time of year. This isisdo one ofof the many RMT through the College Massage Therapists to bite –of but that what keeps me We’re also your voice on Parliament Without partnerships, aquatic conservation is undertake prevention, monitoring, control, and outreach activities. With $275,000 heckRiver people break into the fishing that “something” will hopefully benefit fish The underwater world holds many mysteries fascinate me as live aboat with every strike as worms do. Finally, Rolling toKeep see on-the-water footage showing how boat control, all the while keeping 4 lines baited the execution. Hill. For example, we worked closely In 2021-2022, the ISAP will be delivering digital outreach through Facebook, Canada Fishing is dedicated to ecology at Carleton reasons I choose a Lund 2075 Pro V boat with a Mercury 300 Pro doomed. scientists and angler. Sometimes that ininaquatic funding provided by the– MNRF forinindirectly. the 2021-2022 fiscal year,as the will with coming forthing more! no such aOFAH “fishing the addition any Pro-Cure SuperGel scent biz. He’s itwas now, butback still can’t the Ontario Federation of Anglers and the water. and ecosystems even walleye follow aextremely spinner harness, for aofeconomic, promoting the importance andfascination benefits of Ontario, Jen Watson presents five part series Rainy River can get rough atifthe Gap, Four Mile Bay or a can lead to some minor About the Author University (www. Instagram, and Twitter (@invspecies), hiring a team of summer staff to deliver makes walleye slurp the worm without continue to increase awareness of the environmental, and social impacts for guiding, tournaments and funare fishing anywhere, I & Hunters to inform all parties answer thatrarely question…. Brett istime…. anytime. degree” at the Pot of Gold? Walleye canMPs livefrom ofExclusive recreational fishing towalleye Canadians itXS comes to ecosystems, the long straight stretches where northwest wind blows. I Bottomless have frustrations when I There can’t figure out remarkable distance, before biting. InWhen closing, DO SOMETHING! And ifthe you “IF ITTrojan SWIMS... WE FISHcontained FOR IT.. G&S Tactics: Watch eating hesitation. These artificially intelligent ofspent invasive species and engage the public inguys prevention and early detection measures. about the Horse agenda fecpl.ca). He ismeetings, Dr. Cooke isget aevents one of who majored community-based initiatives, attending and/or receiving reports stay comfortable day, nothose matter the winds and the waves. When with primary focus of fellow anglers. the economy. many days fishing in all rough water during cold weather and it’s where the fish are oreducating how to them follow some of the guidance provided here, for several decades. A female’s egg quality relationships linear. About the Author spinner rigs ata youtube.com/matitysgetfishing adaptations increase time in the water / fish in isand ahard combination of visual appeal, vibration thereby in the defeated Bill C-246, YOU CATCH IT! GetFishing ‘Cuz professor ofthe fishthere in marketing, only because to beat a windshield this time of year. This is one of many an avid angler to bite – but that is what keeps me the struggle is real, Spot-Lock into the wind and hide behind your Squeeze your shoulder blades together, which retracts the shoulders, thattoGet of suspect invaders through the Invading Species Hotline (1-800-563-7711) or the “something” will hopefully benefit fish see 2021-2022, on-the-waterthe footage showing how the boat execution. to fish ethically in improves her whole prevention lifeprotecting and heryour jobright eating In ISAP will beVno delivering digital outreach through Facebook, ecology at Carleton and scent that elicits a strike. The him at brett@targetwalleye.com The goal to guide people through injury techniques, reasons Iand choose ais Lund 2075 Pro boat with anatural Mercury 300 Pro and In coastal inland regions, limiting coming back for more! was such thing as a “fishing Dr. Steven Cooke is a professor andwalleye aquatic ecosystems – even if indirectly. advises windshield! follow a spinner harness, for a hiring our and national waters. Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (eddmaps.org), continuing University (www. Instagram, and Twitter (@invspecies), aSloteam staff tocan deliver forwords, guiding, tournaments and funare fishing anywhere, anytime. I andWalleye or permanently banning angler access suckers is FISH vitally important toAstheatonot-for-profit Inremarkable other doing Xrarely will rarely ensure phenomenon that made the Original degree” at the time…. Bottomless Potofcarp ofsummer Gold? live itXS comes to ecosystems, allowing you to perform the tuck without overcompensating your When distance, There “IF IT SWIMS... WE FOR IT...AND WILL HELPon funding organization, wewhile rely from and Canada Research Chair at governments around the globe on fisheries fecpl.ca). He ismeetings, community-based initiatives, events and/or receiving reports while tackling common overuse injuries experienced, on stay comfortable allbefore day, nobiting. matter the winds and the waves. When to public waters and fisheries isattending being support efforts to eradicate water soldier from Ontario. The ISAP will also beoutsupport for several decades. A female’s egg quality entire ecosystem. Rob has a strict Camp relationships linear. Visit our YouTube About the Author that we will have the outcome Y. Ecosystems is Death apromoted combination of visual appeal, vibration our partners and the invaluable YOU CATCH IT! GetFishing ‘Cuz Fishing’s Magic!” hook a universal catch-all has not an hide avid angler Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca). is Spot-Lock intoInvading the wind and behind your asinvaders a real, new way toBarricade ‘protect’ Istruggle have an AFTCO rainsuit and, even in rain, Iand am dry ofthe suspect through the Species Hotline (1-800-563-7711) or conservation. the management HeLakes istoalso a this fight. improves her whole lifethe and her job eating and scent that elicits a strike. The natural Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com of our followers continue delivering aquatic invasive species outreach as part of the binational Great AIS movement. Policy where pictures and measurements are are complex and pathways of action tend Dr. Steven Cooke is a professor Jeff & Jen Jason Matity and advises windshield! the water. aI–am brand ambassador for Tackle is alsoww anfo fish populations habitat often where no problems been well explained. The curved hook must & for SUBSCRIBE Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (eddmaps.org), and continuing to Depot, He is also aeven Science Ambassador as a that cork. know not the only one who fishes inScience inclement carp and suckers is vitally important to the In phenomenon other words, doing XI As will rarely ensure Ambassador made the Original and Canada Research Chair atcampaigns governments around theof globe on fisheries exist. This newthe approach ignores proven science based fisheries Landing Blitz, and through the delivery oftaken like Operation Clean and fishing is a trophy fish so that hisBoat guest can still toDeath be indirect. For example, ifSlowe can cool support efforts to eradicate water soldier from Ontario. The ISAP will also be marry with properly energetically entire ecosystem. Rob has aCanada strict Camp Visit our YouTube that we will have the outcome Y. Ecosystems for #Keepemwet Fishing. Keep Fishing reminds usChannel that recreational hook aAFTCO universal catch-all has to not weather. I bait have witnessed many anglers boat big walleyes at the #Keepemwet Fishing. Carleton University (www.fecpl.ca). I have an Barricade rainsuit and, even in the rain, I am dry avid angler participating in both kayak and boater and non-boater management and conservation. He is also a management methods that maintain healthy fish populations, delivering aquatic species outreach as part of the binational Great Lakes AIS Policy where pictures measurements are get aand replica for their wall. heritage are complex and pathways of tend lake inflows by planting trees and reduce Operation Bait Bucket in the Simcoe valued Canadian outdoor activity and we eachwww have a been well explained. The curved hook must & for SUBSCRIBE for FREE!! corkscrew the He is also aLake Science Ambassador as cork. Iin know Iwater. am notaction the only one who fishes in inclement Consider signing up to receive FREE Target Walleye emails time Iinvasive am! Visit –asame –watershed. make conservation priority and allow for sustainable fishing Science Ambassador YOUTUBE.COM/M ORDER ONLINE AT: www.blackflylures.com and athrough delivery campaigns like Operation and of trophy fish so that hisBoat guestClean can still to be Landing indirect. Blitz, For example, if wethecan cool oftaken (The Magnificent Leprechaun continued from page 50.)
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Visit – www.targetwalleye.com – www.targetwalleye.com Once in this position, begin performing your chin tuck by slowly tournaments. Jen can be reached at: sheshooked90@gmail.com.
to play to protect it for future generations. marry with theI bait to many energetically for #Keepemwet Fishing. haveproperly witnessed anglers boat big walleyes at the role to weather. continue. #Keepemwet Fishing. Just Fishing . 18 get a replica for their wall. lake inflows by andLake reduce Just Fis Operation Bait Bucket in the Simcoe watershed. www.blackflylures.com corkscrew in the water. Fall 2021 Consider signing up to trees receive FREE Target Walleye emails same time Iplanting am! Spring 2023 YOUTUBE.COM/MATITYSGETFISHING Summer 2019
“Over the course of 28 years,Just weFishing have. 18successfully raised bringing your chin towards your chest, once your chin is brought Fall “Over 2021 Spring 2023 Summer 2019 course ofof28invasive years, we have successfully raisedour membership the the profile species among profile invasive species among our membership and theofbroader outdoors community – anglers, hunters, to the chest return slowly to the starting position and repeat. the and the broader outdoors community – anglers, hunters,
Perform 8-10 tucks three times a day every other day.
trappers, cottagers, and property owners. trappers, hikers,hikers, boaters, boaters, cottagers, and property owners. Everyone needs needs to be engaged ensure they their part Everyone to be toengaged todoensure they do their part to prevent the introduction and spread and of invasive species” to prevent the introduction spread of invasive species” said Angelo Lombardo, OFAH executive director. said Angelo Lombardo, OFAH executive director.
Just Fishing . 12
JustFishing Fishing. 23. Just
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“Despite the COVID-19 challenges of the last 16 months, we“Despite have beenthe ableCOVID-19 to continue that great work. The last 16 months, challenges of the 2021-2022 work plan remains focused on engaging people we have been able to continue that great work. The virtually, and where and when possible, in person, mobilizing them to take deliberate actionsremains to preventfocused the spreadonofengaging people 2021-2022 work plan invasive species.” virtually, and where and when possible, in person, mobilizing
to take deliberate actionsFederation to prevent “Wethem are proud to partner with the Ontario of the spread of invasive species.” Anglers and Hunters to raise awareness of invasive species and take steps to prevent their introduction and spread,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, “WeResources are proud to partner with the Ontario Natural and Forestry. “We applaud the work of Federation of Hunters to raise of invasive species theAnglers OFAH to and conserve and protect our awareness natural resources andand curbtake the ecological economic impacts of invasiveand The steps to and prevent their introduction spread,” saida realistic goby baitfish Magz Goby offers appearance and action to entice even the most species across our province.”
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Just Fishing . 29
PIKE, CISCOES & BURBOT:
“B
By: Jeff Matity – GetFishing.ca
“B
est day ever!”, came the tiny voice in his car seat behind me. Not only did it warm my heart; but, it was a huge departure from how he felt two hours earlier. You see, my son, Ben, was 3 years old, and his now intense desire to fish for walleyes was underdeveloped. On this mid-March day, the wind was blowing and heavy clouds added to the chill of the day. Ben faithfully accompanied me, this Saturday, to ice fish the river mouth area on our home lake. The walleyes were active the previous weekend and had produced a quick limit of eater walleye for us. This day, however, was tough. Ben stared at the Humminbird flasher screen with me for an hour before his little fingers were so cold, he fought hard but was
Ben, 5 years old, with one of the first fish of his burbot career.
Jeff “aka Professor Pout” with REELBAIT Flasher jig/cut ciscoe caught burbot during filming for IN-FISHERMAN Ice Guide 2010. Yes, this program has been working for us for over 15 years!
unable to hold back the tears from the pain of the cold and frustration of the walleye bite. I decided to shift gears and go for a drive to warm us both up. Unfortunately, this being the early 2000’s, it did not take long for us to notice a pile of discarded burbot on the ice. I knew from my early years that in March, where you find one burbot you find many. Burbot being a fish that spawns under the ice in February through April, concentrate in specific areas. We used our regular 1/4 oz Green Glow ReelBait Flasher jigs and salted shiners in the holes that were still open. Ben was fascinated by the four burbot left to waste on the A burbot slurping a REELBAIT Flasher ice and he petted jig with cut ciscoe. them lovingly with his knitted mittens. It didn’t take long before I caught the first one and Ben hooked and landed the next two. Always wanting to keep a few, Ben asked if we could take them home and that day was the first of many that him and I spent together with his “New Favourite fish”!
BURBOT AVENUE… WHERE ALL THE FINEST MEET Jeff with 46” BONDY pike caught while targeting burbot.
Starting as early as the January Thaw, burbot housekeeping activity near spawning sites sets the stage for the most exceptional big pike fishing of the year. (Continued on page 32.)
Just Fishing . 30
Winter 2026
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Fall 2021 Fall 2021 Winter 2025
(Multi-Species Mayhem continued from page 30.)
Burbot stake their claim on the pieces of structure where they will ultimately carry out the spawn. Where I live, these are main lake, hard bottom, sugar sand shoals that gradually slope towards the abyss to an edge that drops precipitously to the deep basin. Once the burbot arrive, any minnows, suckers, perch, crayfish or any other potential egg eater either abruptly leave or are eaten. After this purge, two distinct groups of adult burbot emerge. The primary residents of the shoal are the non-breeders that spawned the previous year and are in charge of holding the territory predator/egg-stealer free. These fish do not leave and, since they ate the cupboards bare, they do not feed for an extended period of time that experts estimate is weeks instead of days. The other group of burbot are the Note the predator marks (likely pike punctures) spawners that are on what appears to be an otherwise healthy enormous from their fish. They are a sought after prey, often having heavy cargo of eggs predator marks from every kind of predator. and milt. In fact, no Just Fishing . 32
Little Ben – All grown up. Last season, with his 25 pound pike that was targetted using the burbot/ciscoe/pike program.
other species of fish has males with the equivalent volume of testes as do the females’ ovaries! While many anglers are searching deep water structures for big pike or wait, fruitlessly, for pike to come to them within shallow water pike-spawning areas, my crew and I have been fishing our biggest pike of the year for weeks. (Continued on page 34.)
Winter 2025
Expires Janu
ary 31, 2026
spots and they they aren’t spots aren’t days, it it add a and long or 8-lb tippet, with an indicator. prevalent these these buggy days,nymphs Bassmaster Elite Series competitors posting and with a bit of flash often make the Bassmaster Elite Series competitors posting photos and videos videos How you set thehook hook depends on its32.) size, diameter and thickness and How set6the depends on its size, diameter thickness and prevalent (Multi-Species Mayhem continued from page there,you start fishing the there, start fishing the spawning shoal, itself, these fish fast spawning shoal, itself, these guardian fish fast is easy to get caught up is easy to get caught up on their social media pages multiple of these on Instead of adding shot, which Iof hate, Iaafish two on their social media pages of multiple of transducers on when itOn is small, thinfrom and razor sharp, smart of the isispredatory difference. when itAs is small, thin and razor sharp, smart sweeptransducers the rod rod tip tip (What’s Hot On Ice continued from page 37.) (What’s Ice continued page 37.) responses ininthethe of of reaction strikes. It’s It’s heavy zinczinc predatory responses form reaction strikes. heavy sand. the transition is sand. AsHot the transition is Jeff with a burbo t form for weeks and weeks, never leaving the eggs,” for weeks and weeks, never the eggs,” in the hysteria associated How? Well, the intense interest in burbot avenue by pike is not in the hysteria associated their boats, it has made me consider if I’m making a mistake? all that is required to nab every fish. their boats, it has made me consider if I’m a mistake? flies, which is legal in most areas I frequent. all that is required to nab every fish. both or or when casted, making it a ittruly framefishes fishesgreat great bothvertically vertically when casted, making a truly FLX-30 BBflasher/ flasher/ fishfinder finder featuring –– 77 frequencies 160 FLX-30 BB fish featuring from 160 frame getting underway, it’s still getting underway, it’s still t on Bondy explained Paragamian. OUT &more FISH explained Paragamian. with oror new bait. withacaugh ahot hotlake lake new bait. of GET because of the burbot; but, the powerful frequencies draw that from abundant We’ll see how the season goes. We’ll see how the season goes. versatile offering for a number species. For information, versatile offering for a number of species. For more information, to 300 kHz, 140 interference rejection options, target ID down to tocommon 300 kHz, 140 interference rejection options, ID down to Some folks find walleyes common to tofind walleyes Junio r will Wabb ler.post My favourite rig isupon an egg pattern paired with even Some folkswill even post burbot eggs have ciscoes. Its true, marauding ciscoes affect visit: https://www.northlandtackle.com. visit: https://www.northlandtackle.com. 1/4”, Digital depth displat, Day & Night display settings, Battery depth displat, Day & Night display settings, Battery If you’re insize 15’ or less. ina1/4”, 15’ orDigital less. FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING FISH FOR WHATEVER IS BITING the waypoints of popular “So, non-spawning guardian on the 8 &orlow-battery 10 John, weighted with popular planning to release fish, beaching “So, non-spawning guardian fish stay onzones. the pike asopinion to buckaneers! Once ciscoes the burbot My onCopper all of this that it’s okay to infiltrate and catch My opinion ondo all of this is that it’s okay to have and catch the waypoints of status alert, 3power power level settings zoom status &sirens low-battery alert, 3is level settings & fun zoom zones. them on rocks orsettings mud out can seriously harm I Ilike to take all of3”if the range settings of auto and set se fishing spots. But you like to take allif of3” the range out of auto and fishing spots. But you shoal, defend territory, and fast to the & point of wraps and aEmbrace tungsten bead shoal, defend territory, and fast point of boudoir they stick around. Instead of leaving the area when more fish. Embrace the technology, learn from and teach new more fish. the technology, learn from it teach new The new Magz Goby soft plastic bait offers a realistic baitfish The new Magz Goby soft plastic bait offers a realistic baitfish Plus Vexiar’s exc;usive broad band Ice-Ducer transducer float, 12 Plus Vexiar’s exc;usive broad band Ice-Ducer transducer & float, 12 “They start to move out to “They start to move outnear to from Ithe received a message from a reader last fall catching big Iso received a message a reader last fall about catching big them. Mud in the gills can be al know about it, tens ofofeven know about it,so sododo tens them inin manual This keeps thethe range thethe same all starvation. Why?” I wondered wondered out loud. them manual mode. This keeps range same acts like shot. near starvation. Why?” Ifully out loud. anglers how touse use had several days last year IIcharger, had kids berserker burbot chase them away, the ciscoes retreat vertically, anglers how tolargemouth it.it. several days last year where had kids appearance and action tomode. entice the most appearance and action to entice even the most volt, 9fly amp-hour, Vexilar Lithium battery, automatic volt, 9open-water amp-hour, Vexilar Lithium battery, fully automatic charger, more areas more open-water areas atIatIhad smallmouth, and northern pike. He unsuccessful smallmouth, largemouth and northern pike. He had been unsuccessful fatal, even if the fish swims off thousands other thousands of other anglers. “Well, do most organisms on earth the so it’s never around. forward range is is “Well, do most organisms earth do Plus, steelhead will thetime time so it’s never jumping around. forward range in the boat with me and Iwhy showed them how then they just below the ice, as the burbot refuse to for than ado few in the boat with me and Iwhy showed them it key works, then they fish. The 3” Goby forfor both finicky fish.of The 3”anglers. Gobyisjumping isgreat great both MyMy Soft Pack carry case, adjustable rod holder, external power posts for Soft carry case, adjustable holder, external power posts for finicky first... sliding out around first... sliding out around in his efforts and asked ifI’d I’d helprod him zeroin inhow onchase depth. IIflipped in hisPack efforts and asked if help him zero on the depth. flipped initially delayed mortality is outrageous things in the name of procreation?” outrageous things in the name usually toto90 feet, which isall about length of aoffull cast. eat the Copper John! were almost glued towhat my side forin the rest day, watching &&set winter fishing and forfor all game usually set 90 feet, which is about length a full cast were almost glued to my side for the rest of more theprocreation?” watching summer winter fishing and gamethethe feet vertically from their precious eggs. accessories and acustom custom Vexilar tackle box. For information, accessories aasking Vexilar tackle box. For information, deep water: sandbars that deep water: that him back aand note asking what species, in particular, targeting. He him back asandbars note species, particular, he was targeting. Hesummer Sharing reliable, guarded, Sharing reliable, guarded, common. A net helps keep fish retorted Paragamian. “Onebait word:inhormones. hormones. retorted Paragamian. “One word: It’s Its body and active bring theto the screen. They didn’t want put their their bait the water until fish. Itssoft soft body and activetail tail bring thefill Ivisit: prefer weightless visit: https://www.vexilar.com I Imove the down range around to fill upup thethe screen with the the the screen. They didn’t totoput waterIt’s until fish. https://www.vexilar.com move the down range around screen with come out from shore and want come out from shore and replied .... “All ofthem.” them.” replied .... “All of MagzMagz GobyGoby insider information with insider information with out of the mud, shortens the Magz Goby to life! For more information, primarily light and temperature, well as other Magz Goby to life! For more information, primarily light and temperature, as as other they saw a fish! they saw a fish! egg patterns like Nuke Ciscoe, the key to the pattern, are the most important forage water column, meaning, if I’m fishing in 20 feet of water, water column, meaning, if I’m fishing in 20 feet of water drop deeper water,sand sand drop to to deeper water, one or two trusted friends one or two trusted friends fight,between and speeds the release. https://magzmfg.com. Northland’s Glo-Shot Spoonsthe are a that killerbegin crappies, perch, visit: https://magzmfg.com. Northland’s Glo-Shot Spoons are ayou killer onGiant crappies, perch, environmental cues that of environmental cues the cascade of Eggs, and Yarn Eggs species forpoints the pike wherever two coexist. female pike I’ll probably set my range 22up and 25 feet.feet I’ll probably set mydown down range between 22 and 25 flats, sand and sand flats, sand points and sand Now, there isno no question thatwhen when arebegin fishing forcascade walleye, as aavisit: Now, there is question that you are fishing walleye, as is a good thing, but relying is a good thing, but relying walleyes, pike and trout. Cast or vertically the S-curve walleyes, pike and trout. Cast or vertically jig... the S-curve It also gives you a safe place to hormones causing this behavior. must be All of that being said, there is some responsibility amongst anglers hormones causing this behavior. There must be All ofmy that being said, there iscatch some responsibility anglers need finish their own egg development and amongst the largemouth soft-finned, but secret weapon, humps. Then adjust as you gogo shallower or or deeper. humps. case in point, that you may abonus bonus smallmouth, or Then adjust as you shallower deeper. case into point, that you may catch aand smallmouth, largemouth orThe on second, third and fourth on second, third and fourth design light, lead-free construction design and light, lead-free construction Bondy Bait Company was started by Jon Bondy and was The Bondy Bait Company was started by Jon Bondy and was keep the fish while you take a utilizing liveciscoes sonar to not exploit the fish by keeping mechanism by which it and is time to utilizing live sonar not exploit the by catching and keeping atoamechanism by which ‘know’ isburbot time tofall high-calorie are the ticket. Offish course, if small anorthern plastic or glass bead. northern pike. Maybe even several. But is itthey huge mistake to assume pike. Maybe even several. But is itthey aa huge mistake to assume hand accounts ofofdock talk hand accounts dock talk excels with twitches, and falls. excels with twitches, lifts and falls. an outgrowth of of his his fishing guide an outgrowth fishing guide too many oreven even by catching too many fish water, where quick photo. leave before their bodies give completely. too or by catching too in deep water, where isInIn leave before their bodies give out completely. within their rifle sights, all the better. “Walleyes begin tomove move deeper water temps drop turnover “Walleyes begin toand deeper asas water temps drop toward turnover itmany will happen thus, go fishing specific species in It’s controversial with fly ®many it will happen and thus, go fishing without aafish specific species in mind. mind. ®without forward you have some different options for setting forward mode, you have some different options for setting Bondy Bait – mode, Bondy Bug to be avoided at all costs. Bondy Bait – Bondy Bug Glo-Shot Sticks boost fish attraction is to be avoided at all costs. Glo-Shot Sticks boost attraction business. Jon has made plastic baits business. Jon has made plastic baits 0be theycan’t released. Crappies are especially susceptible to they released. Crappies are especially susceptible to Bottom line, as long as the fat reserves in their Bottom line, as long as the fat in their F or so). Instead of looking for fish be on top of (begins at6262 (begins atcan’t or so). Instead of looking for fish to on top of anglers, but itF0be works! low-visibility situations. situations. Change up the like to run my transducer in 40 Dam inin low-visibility Change As upVan thetransducer. transducer. I“It like to run my transducer in degrees 40 degrees As Van Dam says, says,I“It since 1989 and, after countless hours since 1989 and, after countless hours exploitation because they group up instay.” large and exploitation because they group up in large schools and they they Steelhead liver hold up,they they can stay.” liver hold up, can look deeper. WHERE TO LOOK structures, look deeper. I use accompany the Conservation Officers andtofisheries technicians Istructures, use to to accompany the Conservation Officers and technicians Glo-Shot Stick colours Glo-Shot Stick colours match conditions. conditions. messes with your messes with yourhead.” head.” fishing doesn’t have to be complicated. These (pointing down more) when I’m fishing water orfish more of of hard work, hasdeeper grown the company (pointing down more) when I’m fishing deeper water orare more hard work, has grown the company ® almost always suspend atTip least few feet above bottom so they ® almost always suspend atTip least aafew feet above the bottom so they Freeloader. Two of our outsized burbot lures arenow thehave 4.4 oz Bondy who worked for meand andwe we would pull alongside and do aasoft creel who worked for me would pull alongside anglers and do creel with live bait IMPULSE with live bait or IMPULSE soft to the point where they over to When theWhen point where they now have over in the rivers under tounder eat before spawning, so get out there and show vertical, the I’m fishing in shallower Northland Glo-Shot vertical, theboat. boat. I’m fishing in shallowe Northland Glo-Shot Ben and Ibe spent a spot lotlike of time each season looking for Bark new burbot are very easy tospot on these electronics. are very easy to on these electronics. The Anglers Choice Single Saltwater Curly tail rigged either on “They will beinalways inspots spots like thesharper sharper breaks orin mid-lake humps “They will the breaks or humps survey. ISpoon was always amazed when the folks inon were asked Non-Breeders On Duty survey. ISpoon was amazed when the folks boats were asked Non-Breeders On Duty –themid-lake More Bark plastics. Glo-Shot Spoons available inin Mini Wobbler and a 8” Berkley plastics. Glo-Shot Spoons are available 100 dealers. Jon loves to fish, but he 100 dealers. Jon loves to fish, but hethe them some flies! Fly fishing for steelhead is a fun, rewarding water or doing a lot of casting and fishing higher in the water or doing a lot of casting and fishing higher in spots to add to our paper route. Most effort is spent searching DON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT DON’T BE FIRST IN AND FIRST OUT that out at perhaps 20’, rather than 15’, or1/4-ounce inwhatever holes soft-bottom style ontinkering a 7/0 VMC flippin hook that toptop out at were perhaps 20’, rather than 15’, in holes soft-bottom what they fishing for andthey they replied .... whatever bites. 1/16-, 1/8andor 1/4-ounce weights, with Egg pegged justinabove what they were fishing for and replied .... bites.a small 1/16-, 1/8and weights, with a 2-3 oz saltwater jig or drop-shot Than Bite Than Bite also loves tinkering with new lure also loves with new lure alternative to conventional gear and might just change how you the tip and bottom edges of main lake sand and gravel flats that water column, I like to run it at the 60-degree setting. water column, I like to run it at the 60-degree setting If the fish start to disappear, we’ll see more flats where depth drops from 15’ 20’. sinker. red treble hooks in#12, #12, #10 and #8 sizes, respectively. are If the fish start todrops disappear, we’ll see more flats where depth from 15’ toto20’. red treble hooks in #10 and #8 sizes, respectively. Hooks are 18-24” above an 8 oz. trolling hook imitates the realHooks deal and designs and with new fishing concepts designs and with new fishing concepts IfIfyou amongst thethevery first anglers to fish Slow Death for youwere were amongst very first anglers to40fish Slow for top out at lost 6-8 feet Finally, knowing the purpose of non-breeders’ non-breeders’ From the pointing down position, degree isDeath four see these powerful, silver rockets. Finally, knowing the purpose From the pointing down position, 40 degree is fou attached via dualyou split rings for added action fewer fish. and regulations that nobody wants, so attached via dual split rings for added action and fewer fish. rules regulations that nobody wants, so To be successful, you have to focus inon on a specific specific species, learn Torules beand successful, have to focus in adeep species, learn rarely hooks fish,lost great forasasand techniques. His latest addition to the lineup, the 1.75” Bondy and techniques. His latest addition to the lineup, the 1.75” Bondy walleye, Ned Rigs for bass, Bondy Baits for lake trout and big double walleye, Ned Rigs for bass, Bondy Baits forclicks. lake trout and bigdraw double and ideally drop The presence -territorial territorial egg guarding – and explains presence - lifestyle, egg guarding explains clicks and 6060 degrees is six clicks. Glo-Shot Sticks are non-toxic, easy to activate and glow in vivid clicks and degrees is six Glo-Shot Sticks are non-toxic, easy to activate glow in vivid “Walleyes become more selective about where stage. They racket and visual appeal offish these outrageous offerings take care of thefish fish and have some fun out “Walleyes become more selective about where they stage. They much aspossible possible about its habits, behaviour seasonal take care of the and have some fun out much as about its lifestyle, habits, behaviour and seasonal Bug Panfish Bait sure to fish salivating. Thestopping Bondy Budfeeling is ofis of catch-and-release. Bug Panfish Baitis is sure tohave have salivating. The Bondy Bud bladed Cowgirls for muskies you know the heart feeling bladed Cowgirls for muskies you know the heart stopping into colour for eight hours. They are light enough not lure action why, asindividuals individuals or asnot shun colour forlocate eight hours. They are to affect lure action why, asneed as aa quickly mob, they shun generally locate on ayou spot-on-a-spot. For example, on athe irate burbot out of the About woodwork! Ifcomes acomes picture is worth 1,000 generally on ayou spot-on-a-spot. For example, if they’re they’re on a available preferences. Then useenough theor information tothey select prime there. the Author preferences. Then need totolight use the information select prime there. ininroller 30 colours andand in ain20 For available 30mouthwatering mouthwatering colours a pack. 20 pack. For riding the coaster to fishing success. riding the roller coaster to fishing success. and are also great for lighting up a variety of bobbers, hooks and jigs. deepest basin of and are also great for lighting up a variety of bobbers, hooks and jigs. every living creature that daresinvade invade their Ciscoes mid-lake hump with scattered boulders, theywill will thedo boulders. every living creature that dares their claim. Ciscoes words, this video called Big Bondy Burbot is worth 10,000 hump with scattered boulders, they be on boulders. locations, best luresand and optimal presentations. To otherwise locations, thethe best lures optimal presentations. do otherwisemore Each body of water is different and often requires some Daniel Notarianni: Born in Southern Ontario, Daniel founded Each body of water is different and often requires some emid-lake https://bondybaitcompany.com. moreinformation, information,visit: visit: https://bondybaitcompany.com. the lake. If all rock, look for the patch of sand. If all sand, look the rockpile. are their primary antagonist, the target of the non-breeders’ disdain words on the subject… check it out here: If all rock, look for the patch of sand. If all sand, look for rockpile. are their primary antagonist, the target of the non-breeders’ disdain is to take a shot in the dark, which almost always misses the mark. Note: Jeff Gustafson grewup up on the thealways misses the mark. Live 2 Fish is Editor’s to take a shot inGustafson the dark,®grew which almost in 2012 andtohis passion for fishing and the outdoors has Note: Jeff on adjustments the sensitivity and contrast. Typically, e Editor’s adjustments to the sensitivity and Typically ® I Icount among blessed to to have been atcontrast. the forefront of of countmyself myself amongthe the blessed have been at the forefront The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow from Northland brings the noise with The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow from Northland brings noise with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzL1JVkZqSc shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. Leave the hail Mary passes to the last minute desperation plays for and fury. shores of Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario. Leave the hail Mary passes to the last minute desperation plays for and fury. taken him all over North America as a guide, writer, photographer Makers of custom e Makers of custom I like to run my sensitivity high, between 16 and 20 I like to run my sensitivity high, between 16 and 20 nothing good everever lasts. Despite eachofofthese thesetrends. trends.Unfortunately, Unfortunately, nothing good lasts. Despite afootball glass rattle and audible carry through water, allWe without killing its afootball glass rattle and audible carry through water, all killing its each “Because more and more walleyes show up on these these fewfish spots, more He has made his living the fishing community fast with more and more walleyes show up on spots, more He has made his living ininthe fishing community teams. teams. and educator. From small creek brook trout and Great Lakes bass hand made injection hand made injection g“Because (the highest setting). The higher thekeep sensitivity, (theefforts highest The higher the sensitivity, unbelievable byby a setting). select few anglers to keep each one one of the the unbelievable efforts a select few anglers to each of the the famous action. Anglers famous action. since he was athe teenager asaatournament tournament angler, and more of lake holds nofish. fish. It’s easy to be skunked ifAnglers since he was athe teenager as angler, more of lake holds no It’s easy to skunked if you you Ifto you watch only one pike fishing video this season, Liam big, meaty lures snook in the surf and peacock bass in the swamps, Daniel loves and hand poured soft Stakeouts with my AQUA-VU revealed ciscoes forays to and hand poured soft Stakeouts with my AQUA-VU revealed ciscoes making forays to rand more detail you’ll see. With theand contrast, the higher techniques under wraps, the secret got out and loose lipslips sunk ships. more detail you’ll see. With the contrast, the highe techniques under wraps, the secret got out loose sunk ships. have long noted have noted the the Whetter, guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. In don’t pay attention subtle differences on the structure.” guide, outdoor writer and fishing promotor. In pay attention totosubtle differences on the structure.” Gord plastics Pyzer, brother Jason and I demontstrated the catching fish! Canadian Baits plastics Canadian Baits such as the 3/4 oz. the bottom to gobble up eggs and then retreat, vertically, to just the bottom to gobble up eggs and then retreat, vertically, to just ,don’t that, the more thethe screen clear up,Hook but bu BELIEVE THE DOCKTALK youset set that, the more screen will clear up, BELIEVE THE DOCKTALK benefits of vibration benefits vibration reasons you 2019he joined the Elite Series 2019 joined the Bassmaster Series behind the amazing ofwill the Circle brings you a variety of offor for brings you aa effectiveness variety ReelBait Flasher below the ice.When When soincensed, incensed,Elite frenzied ciscoes lake nbelow thehe ice. soBassmaster frenzied ciscoes will attack attack lakeinin ItItisiswhy, when you read about technique the very first time in a inso why, when you read about a technique the very first time a and sound and additional sound you’ll filter out some of the weaker signal returns, so you’ll filter out some of the signal returns, and has found some success chasing bass around United States, and has found some success chasing bass around thewith United States, program in WhetterFishing video: Best &– Safest Way To Catch quality custom baits atFishing! quality custom baits atweaker troutsized jigs. On a united front basis, the chase alljig cut ciscoe troutsized jigs. On a united front basis, the burbot chase allreliable source – like the pages of Just Fishing! or hear about it from a reliable source – like the pages of Just – or hear about it from a I will never forget interviewing Kevin Van Dam,baits, winningest angler I will never forget interviewing Kevin Van Dam, the winningest angler their as fish on their fish cue cue on Trophy As winter progresses Northland Rattlin’ itittakes some playing around. Usually runrun it between 8 8 Rattlin’ takes some playing around. Usually I’ll it between including an EliteSeries Series winand 2021 and Bassmaster Classic win in including anNorthland Elite win inin2021 and aaBassmaster Classic win in and afforardable price. Fish On Dead Baits (Circle HookI’ll Program) and afforardable price. comers away from the bottom. But, because they won’t leave their comers away from the bottom. But, because they leave their strips, salted trusted friend, you need to assess it immediately, perfect it quickly, add Puppet Minnow trusted friend, you need to assess it immediately, perfect it quickly, Puppet Minnow in bass fishing history, immediately prior to one four Bassmaster auditory to both help in bass fishing history, immediately prior to one of his Bassmaster auditory clues to both help Baits Canadian the2023. water gets competing even clearer, between competing theU.S. U.S.tournaments, tournaments, you can 2023. InIn between ininthe can usually usually https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1QPFbCo_YU and turn it up ifcompany the screen is displaying aBaits lota of and10, 10,but butwill will turn it up ifcompany the screen is Canadian displaying lotadd o This Canadian This Canadian seggs, eggs, they won’t chase vertically. This makes the it to your arsenal and then milk it for all that it is worth, because every Paddle Tails they won’t chase vertically. This makes the ciscoes’ it to your arsenal and then milk it for all that it is worth, because every shiners or the big Paddle Tails them and target Classic victories. He had sequestered himself, away from the them locate and target Classic victories. He had sequestered himself, miles away from the Consider signing up to receive FREE Consider signing up to receive FREE find him around Lake the Woods, fishing forall allspecies, species, all year find him around Lake ofofthe fishing for yearround. round. steelhead become pickier. “clutter”. Those are the only settings Iwill ever really play withwith offers swimbaits, craws “clutter”. Those are the only settings Iwill ever really play offers swimbaits, craws / fish using mouth of rWoods, corne in dvenue, hooke Pike ,game innovation will become commonplace, the/the fish become conditioned innovation will become commonplace, become conditioned game plan nearly perfect and their siege relentless. plan nearly perfect and their siege isis relentless. prey of all kinds. The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow still its trademark 5-7” Zman StreakZ tournament at his brother-in-law’s house. I asked him prey of all kinds. The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow still sports trademark tournament venue, at his brother-in-law’s house. When I asked him Canadian Baits Canadian Baits You can catch up with Gussy on social media at @gussyoutdoors and You can catch up with Gussy on social media at @gussyoutdoors and they’ve been seeing creature baits, ice fishing creature baits, ice fishing Pike are nutritious and delicious and harvested wisely are a on my Mega-Live. er minnow, my Mega-Live. with am Progr Hook Target Walleye/Ice emails Target Walleye/Ice emails Circle the t When Spikez itIceitIce and something better will replace it. when Spikez and something better will replace it. action, darting and swimming likeWhett atalk.” dying minnow, which triggers action, darting and swimming like atalk.” dying which triggers totoon why, he said .... “To avoid the dock why, he said .... “To avoid the dock XL and CrushCity on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com. on his website at: www.gussyoutdoors.com. / micro, finesse worms and more. Great prices onpage / micro, finesse worms and more. Great on19.) forg weeks, renewable resource. The key is to reduce waste while eliminating (Continued onprices page 19.) (Continued on (Continued on 2025. (Continued on page page44.) 44.) Fishin e spinners and eggs their Glow in in the Dark iceice fishing plastics including their Glow the Dark fishing plastics including potentially dangerous bones in the meat… Here is How: their 2.5” Ice Spikez and 1.5” Paddle Tails. For more information, their 2.5” Ice Spikez and 1.5” Paddle Tails. For more information, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD9185B7Nxw&t=125s visit: visit:https://www.facebook.com/canadianbaits. https://www.facebook.com/canadianbaits. As always, if you are going to harvest pike or burbot, “Limit your Up your catch numbers sizing down with thethe STH DartDart Minnow Up your catchKill numbers by sizing down with STH Kill; Don’t yourbyLimit”. Just Fishing magazine is Minnow the First this STH Co., thethe maker of the Drifter, has innovated this iceseason! season! 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bite. Many times, I have had crappies in this zombie state swim up and appear to fall asleep next to a set line with a minnow. I have dropped a small Northland Tungsten Buck-Shot Spoon in the hole next to it and immediately got a reaction strike from the crappie. A couple of wax worms or a small minnow head seems to be the trick. Glow colours like wonder bread or red glow can help, but on gin-clear lakes anglers should try other colours and patterns at night. You might be surprised how they react!
By: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl
The Tungsten Slim Spoon drops fast and has a small flicker blade; when the horde of zombie crappies come through, you have to get down there fast and entice them with shimmy movements and light flicker-blade clicks. While daytime crappies make anglers with forward viewing chase them around on the ice, sometimes in giant circles, at night in the muddy holes the zombie horde of crappies cruise in slow semi-circles through the insect-rich area. They are less spooky so anglers can set up a blockade of fishing lines to coax bites.
of miles by foot from shore and Razr’d nearly a thousand holes with my Razr Synthetic Ultra Auger. I’ve travelled multiple lakes pulling basic essentials in a Utility Sled. This is my definition of fun, but I’m ready to hit the easy button and bring more of my creature comforts such as a flip-over house or hub house.
on ice thickness. Last year we had temperatures pushing into the 80s in part of the north country with 60s and 70s to the north. The old saying is you get what you get from Mother Nature. Ice anglers must be their own advocates, drilling and measuring ice as you proceed using the ice safety-recommended guidelines.
Usually by January I am able to get around with machines, such as a snowmobile, four-wheeler and even a side-by-side UTV. Some years we drive small trucks and resorts have basic ice roads plowed. Machine travel allows me to cover two to twenty miles fast on the numerous 2,000-to-50,000-acre lakes – and even larger – in the north country.
Look for deeper holes or basin areas adjacent to expansive weed flats. Basins can vary in depths from lake to lake, for example. One lake I fish has a maximum depth of 19 feet and the crappies hold in 16 feet. That being said, we are not always fishing the very bottom of the basin. We are fishing the part of the basin that has the most insect-productive mud. I have seen lakes that chart
O
ne of my favourite things about winter is the accessibility of BEST BASINS O fishing spots that I didn’t have during early ice. I have the ice affliction bad! By this time of year, I have walked hundreds Over the past several years, the dart has been all over the target
A large percentage of the lakes have basin-dwelling crappies. They move away from hard-bottom shoreline edges and weed beds to deeper holes where the mud exists. The mud in the basin is fertile and teeming with life, such as young-of-the-year hatches from every species of fish and minnows plus bloodworms, mayfly larva and zooplankton. Black crappies are designed to survive in deep dark snowcovered lakes all winter long with the ability to eat minnows or sift out micro insects and zooplankton with fine gill-rakers that turn tiny things into a fat belly full of tiny things.
SUNSET CRUISE When the sun sets, crappies rise up in the water column following the insect life that swims up darting and floating. Crappies unhinge their jaws wide and swim forward, mouth open, cruising around slowly gathering piles of micro insects, then swallowing to ingest. You can really gauge a lake’s crappie population on your Humminbird Xplore MEGA Live 2 at dark when they seemingly come out of the woodwork and sometimes can be hard to coax to bite. I find a little noise can get their attention. Small spoons with a rattle or flicker blade will draw their attention and bring them to (Continued on page 38.)
Just Fishing . 36
Winter 2026
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(Let The Crappies Search Begin 44.) (Zombie continued fromfrom page 36.) other parts of the basinriver holes system? but that’s aAbsolutely! temporary Should the rest ofcontinued the river bepage shallow enough to potentially isolate BRO PRO TIP: I use a St. Croix Panfish holding pattern as they swimfishing the expanse to find and trap fish in feet ice in areas, other walleyes will likely move Pattern isn’t usually Timing Is as deep as 90 butsome theEverything crappies Ice Combo Ultra Light with 1 or 2lb. test the best possible hangout with aforage. downstream into from the “So first available safe, deep-water sections. restrictedloaded to just few far, I’ve out police and correctional hold in basins 28-38 feet.taken Okay, now lets assume we’ve discovered a solid pattern Sunline FC Ice and a Gamakatsu Micro V Crappies consistently show up in the same basin These often occur as small impoundments formed by dams. locations. It should work on officers, firemen, ambulance drivers, veterans, a that’s few lakes, find them –On one led toanglers some key areas wherehook the fish are sure with a split-shot and one or two wax hotspots year after year. Sometimes it takes a few a large scale. In fact, many and women”, she the says. “It lure is a 50/50 split in replenish. the 40s toAnd overlet’s 50-foot depths. to assume we have right extra days or even weeks the midwinter worms deadsticked at the level of the zombie Thus, a dual setup occurs. One involves fishing dams as big as tournaments aresettles won in. by between male and female clients and I’ve had I avoid baro-trauma (aka exploding and technique for making them bite. What happens if, crappies without jigging or moving. Leave it in who seek fresh, “new couple of families out involves as well.” fishing Christine Places that could hold a fish. If you anglers tailwater ason described above. The (Baits you needareas toas havemuch tied continued from page 20.) crappies) asareason, possible by chase fish other for some inexplicable the fish won’tother cooperate? SONAR SHARING a rod holder or iFish Pro rod tip-up spreading often promotes Ontario Women Anglers and water” each day impoundments with at least some noticeable current present in than bass, the same principles apply. Throw oversized of the event. staying in they’re thefinesse lowthere, 20-foot range. fisheries where tactics have typically We know but something has changed. itsfor various initiatives, like extra within legal Angler distances baits for more They’re confident at fish that on your electronics or modern in some areas.fishing Anglers deep shouldn’t dominated. This happens a lot, even the pros. And howlines they the reactMaster Oneyou of can my see favourite things insothe erathe of around fish holding cover and see how they react, program, to the women she takes out. She patterns they’ve established, bites. Do not set the hook – don’t tear the sort. Keep what you catch for a will ultimately determine their chances for success. ice be is surprised! that one sonar can help multiple anglers sometimes you’ll had apaper couple of impoundment first will responders satisfied run inanda Using big baits is one of thealso weaker parts They hook themselves. meal and move on tohas another bite As fishthese moving downstream enter the top endmouth. of an – even up to threethey’re or four! Drill to holes participate in tournaments with her and, once of my game but it’s something I’m going to gun, hitting as many similar perch or for walleye. insuch earlyasfall, look them straight line 2-3 feet apart and place the Last year I caught pike, lake trout and walleye on continue to work on a little more moving she has her summer tournament schedule, she locations as possible. toforward. set upSome alongof shoreline not just a bass Xplore thing. It’sonfuna Fish Armor my bestwill friends outclients on the to join her in the tournament oversized baits, so it’sHumminbird invite Sw imm Larger lakes with a good crappie ing throwing them, having that feeling that you’re wo rms structures swept by the like shuttle MEGA Live 2going on an extendable Bassmaster Elite Seriesexperience. are incorporating But, at the same time, she needs to to When All Else Yam am get an oversized bite. Just don’t be surprised when a oto population have fish that hold to the ’s Spe ed Sen thesechannel big baitsand intocurrent. theirbeprogram at of most river FishkoArmor Pro downrod in the mindful her own self-care and not burn Fails middle small fish, the size of the bait, takes a run at it too! are gre at for basin around multiple humps and cov erin fisheries and catching big fish on them. g wa ter, Toss diving crankbaits hole, adjusted to down mode. Then just herself out. She tries to keep it to one sessionespecially when bars,Shad especially these structures hold gra ss is aboutofthose times nvothe lved. What set a table in when your like Rap ifElites per aclient tomore get them started. The open water season is just sonar around on the top corner for Last year I started using them little bit vegetation in the summer. When weeds a pattern fails completely? portable fishincorporate house. Everybody can see across shallow points everybody in central Canada. Try and some around home and caught some of myfall, biggest die in late-summer through they Well, that’s when a good back-up plan comes in. Although may fish when they itcome 90% time is talking to people with cover like weeds or of of these baits into yourtheir arsenallure and and have athe great season With A Glideba smallmouths andsink largemouths on her six- basins and Gussy it Smallmabout outh. pulverize and to surrounding to the winner’s circle, might in getting outglide fishing. Some aregenerally nervous and don’t know what to notonget through. It’sit fun andmake can the get difference competitive theyou water! rocks. Vertically jig These the are seven-inch baits. creating food for insects to eat. A lot expect. She also water hasedge health professionals thatthem would like to refer from bank. which The bottom is as the fish is the deciding line toline bite! for use in shallow but anglers are weighting to use deeper in cashing a check or watching adjacent drop-off of insect life feeds onsonar. decaying matter Editor’s Note: their clients to her program and is in need of a logo, a website and conjunction with forward You will learn what jigging cadence will putting fish on the scales, regardless of what it takes. Believe me, with jigs, vibrating baits the basin;plan theysoare like janitors ainmarketing she canlittle better promote Mindful Fishing. Jeff Gustafson grew up on the trigger bitesometimes response. lost. Their primary even the most consistent prosa are like Rippin’ Raps, or The thing with these big baits they matter have the ability to capture the fish’s shores of Lake of the Woods cleaning up the mess. Plus,is this pattern craps out and they’re left with nothing... not even a backJigging Raps. in Kenora, Ontario. He has attention and thentohow you work the bait is the triggering mechanism is the best natural fertilizer. Some lakes Christine plans host a fun tournament this year a fundraising Cast crankbaits when river as walleyes moveto up One of themany best competitors things about plan. In situations like these, willhub-style pick an made his living in the fishing get to bite. With thecrappie soft-bodied swimbaits, it’sbig! generally a slow and promotional initiative for Mindful Fishing. It is her hope havethem a great nighttime bite on shallow onto shoreline weed and rock score we and , score we times Other houses is that there isn’t a floor so anglers community since he was a area and just go fishing, throwing at anything and everything and steady retrieve, incorporating a few changes in speed reel. As fall deepens, walleyes that she can 10 with two people per with boatyour involved structures. basin flats in get the lowboaters 20s even though teenager as a tournament Razr holes works, anywhere. I use With thetournament. glide baits, you use your reel to movein thevolunteering bait, not the rod,as that looks good. And can this sometimes but not verymultiple often. are likely to move farther in Ifactually anyone is interested thethe lake may hold super deepmake depths angler, guide, outdoor writer So do you change lures? Maybe. Or, what about changing the angle like you would with a jerkbait. You quick turns with the reel handle to strings of LED lights attached together downstream into the itdeeper, wider, main part ofcontact the reservoir and amove boater or100 in some other capacity, please Christine at: and fishing promotor. In 2019 he joined the Bassmaster Elite even over feet. theretrieve? bait, causing glide back forth. been throwing these of your Thattomight workand also. ButI have often it boils down to across the ceiling the hub andchasing plugged into anofAmped Rather than fishing aimlessly down abass stretch bank, Outdoors I suggest christinecarter12@gmail.com still shocked as to how Series and has foundofsome success around the set up on structure like the points“I’m of islands or mid-lake humps baits on heavier G.Loomis 12V just one simple factor, and that’s timing. 32Ah battery that I have tucked into one of the many United States, including an Elite Series win in 2021 and a generous people are and of how many people want to volunteer something a bit more promising. If it’s a reservoir andstorage I have where at least some current is present. Chances are there will be baitcasting rods, with 20TIMING IS EVERYTHING pockets in the hub. lights don’t seem to spook crappies Bassmaster Classic win The inI try 2023. Input between competing inthere’s the theless and get involved. It means so much to me.” nothing figured out, to myself where water 25 pound fluorocarbon. a river channel present where slightly deeper water sweeps upA U.S. tournaments, you can usually find him around Lake of the after dark on most lakes; they get used to it. (Pike & Walleye Mashup! continued. from page 36.) flipping Timing is everything. And it’s the angler who figures out the right While flats by nature are fairly uniform areas, there will be specific stick willofwork but and fewer distractions – like theround. backs creeks Some of the areas. best basin bites take a while to to set15 up.feet Every winter against such Vertically jigging in 12 water Woods, fishing for all species, all year Youofcan catch or far up the timing who will ultimately excel. That’s why many pros make Two weeks before COVID-19 hit, Christine and her family moved I just got my hands on the features where fish congregate. Examples include isolatedthese rock Walleye and pike can also be caught trolling minnowbaits and know keeping my head down is different, but popular lakes typically have known feeding main up withriver. GussyI on socialby media at @gussyoutdoors and onand his picking typically excels. You might see me during the day scooting around drilling holes, to Charleston Lake. “Because of everything we have gone through IMX-PRO 966 SWBR, brief, repeated stops on the same locations. They’re trying to hit websitepatches at: www.gussyoutdoors.com. piles, of grass, a slight depression bottom, crankbaits. This includes running a bait over the top of weeds, areas or community spots. Sometimes those spots won’t along have smaller areas apart, the odds of running intoinfish – evenwhere qualitya anto8-foot roda designed with COVID-19, people have ahoping better understanding of for thebut after dark I love the comfort and camaraderie of ice fishing with them at the most opportune time, trigger key fish or point–extends a flat,On andathe ledge lake whereorthe flat drops intoI deep fish, but in reality, the classic spots always hold crappies. a deep weedline, or through water just will beyond thethese weed edge. fish can beoff better. natural river system, may SMALL RIVERS CONNECTING LAKES throwing baits and it is challenges associated with mental health. More people have taken family and friends plucking zombie crappies in an insulated hub perhaps a whole school of fish into feeding. Some refer to it as The mediating factors areoftiming, cold fronts and forage. water. Coveronwater until you figure out solely what spots are holding concentrate super thick cover, fishing for resident bass. sweet! to the outdoors as a way therapy. COVID took away access to If I do walk holes after the bite settles down, I wear my Many lakesand in central andworking, eastern Canada arebetter connected by small house. “rhythm”, when it’s there’s no feeling. Flats fish. these Then strategies dissect these zones bytoexperimenting with Are guaranteed a badaround day? different No. But a lot of activities like golf, gyms, hockey, dance classes, etc. but AFTCO Reaper Technical Hoodie sosalvage I can move without toIf miniature rivershave thattojoin countless others as they eventually Throw these big baits around crappies don’t drop deep, they hold on an edge that has lureshave and trying casting angles to maximize they bailed me on numerous occasions. fishing wassouth never removed.” Moving to the into water was the bestoverheating. Mydifferent FishoutMonkey Wooly Gloves keep the my number fingers I’ve either had some incredible days flats pike and flow into the Great Lakes orall north Hudson Bay. shallow cover trees, What ahappened pro nofor key spots tofishing cycle through? Isvulnerable itlike possible cover –if but thehas cold fronts that created the icewhere will push them thing that Christine. Although she felt at of fish you catch. and warm even though I’m touching crappies and I don’t walleye were feeding yellow perch and other baitfish. docks, boulders and points. to remain competitive byAon running aAtpattern throughout a page lake or down into their basin winter home. times, crappies up at todry (Continued on 40.) the time and describes her mental as fragile, sheshow was able it. health Swimba So next timethem you’re facedoffwith anorunfamiliar lake or river, do On Caught Pike A Beauty have to take on and to jig unhook fish. keep herself well during the pandemic and avoid additional injury. your homework ahead Deep of time.Structure Then, when you’re on the water, try to luck be methodical in your search. If given thewinter! chance, pattern chasing those zombie this On large, deep lakes, walleye andcrappies pike frequently relate to deep, “I completely credit fishing and being out in nature,” she explains.Good fishing can work. It’s just a matter of determining the right depth Christine is very open about her injury and mental health struggles mid-lake structures and feed heavily on cisco, smelt, and other and cover. Follow my adventures on the Bro Road Show podcast and at store and continues to improve through therapy, open-water baitfish. These locations typically begin visits, seminars and shows. You can also find me on producing YouTube, medication and fishing. “If I save one in early summer as lake temperatures warm, prompting some Follow Instagram, Bernie Schultz on Instagram, Facebook and through his TikTok, Twitter and Facebook! person through this (Mindful Fishing), populations of walleye and pike to leave shallow areas for deeper, website. then I’ve accomplished my goal.” cooler water. Editor’s Note: For more information on PTSD, visit: Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, of MAX, MN,Note: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/ Casting jigs is productiveEditor’s on deep, sandy humps and other is one of the most recognized and mental-illness-and-addiction-index/ structures with minimal snags. rocky bottoms Bernie Schultz competes onAmerica. theCraggy, Bassmaster Elite Seriesare andanother serves respected anglers in North posttraumatic-stress-disorder matter. These are better fished vertically jigging a spoon, bladebait, as a columnist to Bassmaster.com and InsideLine.net. He’s also Bro, as he’s known, is a multi-species an educator and promoter of angling, representing many of the or a soft-jerkbait onfor deep angler best known hisstructure. influence Editor's Note: Yvonne Brown is best biggest brands fishingHe– can including Mercury Marine, Caymas on the sport of iceinfishing. be known for Ontario Women Anglers and Boats, Power-Pole, Fuji Rod Components, Shimano, Yamamoto, contacteda atdeep-diving bbro@paulbunyan.net Trolling crankbaitT-H is Marine, another Power good Pro strategy and the Fishing 101 for Women program. Hildebrandt, Garmin Electronics, and Don’t or online at Brosguideservice.com Yvonne is a strong advocate for getting anDie effective wayYou to can cover a lot water. Pulling the bait through Lithiums. visit himofat: www.bernieschultzfishing.com for winter and summer guide trips women and children outdoors and on the water. She is the first female deep and then top ofFishing.” a hump can trigger strikes. and water on Facebook at across “Berniethe Schultz to receive the Rick Amsbury Award of Excellence. or to book Bro for a seminar. www.anglerschoice.ca
(Continued on page 39.)
Summer 2025 ..38 Just JustFishing Fishing 46
Just Fishing . 39 Spring 2022
Just Fishing . 21
Winter Spring 2026 2024
Thoughts On –
I I
ce fishing has come a long way, baby! When I look back on some of my first memories – watching gads, catching fishstick sized perch, and huddling close to a fire circa 1980s – it’s incredible how much hard-water technology and tactics have evolved.
By: Tim Allard comfort, which subsequently helped grow participation. Modern ice fishing had arrived, and if there was a unifying, rallying cry resounding across the ice belt, it was – “Mobility!”.
more efficient from a boat than on ice. It’s gotten even easier with the ability to create personalized fishing maps using the latest electronics.
Drill, Drill, Drill... Move, Move, Move....
Things really started taking off a couple of decades ago. We saw a boom in quality, So it went, and so it continues to go for reasonably priced gear designed to many anglers. Yet, ice fishing is evolving. improve ice fishing efficiency and angler For instance, mobility remains important, but time on the water combined with cutting-edge technology has shown moving for movement’s sake is futile – or, worse, can be counterproductive. This is just one example capturing the “fish smarter, not harder” mindset shared by many anglers today. With I’ve been making maps with 1-foot this concept in mind, what follows are contours with my Garmin Echomap Ultra strategies for increasing angling success 106SV for several years now. This has on the ice and minimizing grunt work. revealed small reefs, rock ridges on flats, and other gems where fish lurk, which Open-water Mapping are not shown on commercially available digital lake contour maps. The benefits Reaps Big Rewards of open-water mapping are not lost on Before even putting boots to Adam Pugh, ice-fishing guide and owner/ ice, anglers can find great ice operator of Lake Temagami’s Loon Lodge fishing spots in autumn scouting (loonlodge.com). water from the boat. Learn where walleye, pike, crappie, perch, “With the Humminbird AutoChart feature, whitefish, and other species hang out in November, and you’ll likely find fish I can do ground work in summertime, and around these same areas come first ice. these days I’m dropping more waypoints applicable to ice fishing than ever in the Granted, this practice isn’t new boat. Putting the boat sonar on the dash given surveying water has long been of my snowmobile, I can drive until I’m drilling and fishing the exact contour I want. I’m also seeing more anglers visiting Adam Pugh, ice-fishing guide and owner/ Temagami to do mapping in open water to operator of Lake Temagami’s Loon get ready for ice fishing trips.” Lodge (loonlodge.com). (Continued on page 41.)
Just Fishing . 40
Winter 2026
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www.fishingandhuntingheaven.com
(Thoughts On – Ice Moves continued from page 40.)
Brian Brosdahl, a Minnesota fishing guide and a founding father of modern ice fishing, lives on the cutting edge of technology. Back when I ice fished with him in 2014, Brosdahl had already devised a hard-water set-up for Humminbird’s then newly released 360 technology. He’s been using the latest version ever since. In unfamiliar water, 360 gives a bird’s-eye view of the underwater terrain. It helps Brosdahl find the all-important bottom transitions and other structure where fish congregate 365 days a year. He marks these spots using GPS waypoints when in the boat, bringing the data and tech on the ice come winter. Appreciating not every angler owns the latest in fishing electronics, Brosdahl recommends some online searches. Speaking to walleye, he explains: “You don’t have to go all the way out to the reef to catch walleye. The walleyes, typically, are closer to shore because whitefish spawn in fall shallow. There are also weed beds full of shiners and other food… Use LakeMaster maps and Google Earth to look Brian Brosdahl, Minnesota Fishing Guide & Founding Father of for the deepest water closest to shore and for shoreline-connected Modern Ice Fishing. points. Of course, other important ingredients to find are weeds about the days and times you get off your posterior and hit the ice. and rock.”
Ice Fishing During Peak Windows (when possible)
“For a hard-hut vacation, the best thing to do is book huts or an ice bungalow around the best moon phases of the month because While you can scout good areas from the couch, you can’t catch you’re going to stay in one place the whole time,” Pugh said. them from the sofa. This said, there is value in being strategic (Continued on page 42.) Winter 2026
Just Fishing . 41
and lake maps. He also often traces the area from his snow“You’re staying still for a prolonged period, so be there during the machine, leaving a set of tracks down over key features. time fish are going to be most active.” “If you drill too much you can shut the whole area down and Pugh also considers solunar data for run-and-gun guided trips for ruin the bite,” he said. “With today’s technology, you don’t lake trout. This means fishing hard during the best week of the have to drill close in most situations… Drill the span of the area month, as well as being on the ice during the optimal AM/PM with a sled, then fine-tune it after using electronics like 360 and MegaLive.” minor and major peaks. (Thoughts On – I ce Moves continued from page 40.)
“If we’re fishing lake trout and there’s a major at 8 a.m., it’s almost Brosdahl’s drilling is clandestine, too, and for good reason. like clockwork. That’s when the bites come,” Pugh said. As an elite ice angler, he finds fish better than most. This proficiency brings a responsibility of not broadcasting the Beyond solunar factors, fish are likely to be active at other times. location of fish he’s found, especially on small, fragile fisheries, An approaching weather system, for example. Then there’s the by way of leaving dozens of ice holes mapping out the area. textbook scenario of walleye feeding activity increasing at dusk. If you’ve ever known a good fishing spot become a community hole unable to sustain increasing angling pressure, you know “Fishing smarter might mean only fishing walleye when the sun’s where Bro is coming from. I certainly do. at the top of the trees,” Pugh said. “On lakes that don’t have as many options to fish for other species during the day like Temagami “I drill in a defensive way so fewer people can see me, and my does for lake trout, once you have the walleye dialled-in it can favourite time to look for new spots is when it’s snowing because make sense to only fish that one-and-a-half hour window at prime time and that’s it. This is when a hard hut can be a big advantage.” the snow conceals things, and I always kick in holes,” he said.
Punch Holes With Purpose
Fine-Tune Position Before Making Big Moves
These days for Brosdahl, the fewer holes drilled, the better. With an array of cold- to warm-water fish swimming in various To reduce unnecessary “search” holes he references waypoint water systems, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to ice fishing. This includes strategies surrounding mobility. As Pugh notes, there are times for both running-and-gunning as well as staying put in an ice house. The middle ground between these extremes is what Brosdahl’s getting at when he refers to fine-tuning position within an area. Keep in mind, Brosdahl’s talking crappie, perch, bluegills, and daytime walleye. These species move a lot less compared to lake trout, which is why Pugh’s run-and-gun approach is effective. Being overly mobile can backfire when chasing panfish, says Brosdahl. “I see it all the time,” Brosdahl said. “People drill, find fish, then keep drilling and go past them.” When an area close to shore holds fish, don’t be in a hurry to make a big move. First, dissect the area with smaller adjustments looking for better spots and more willing biters. Knowing when to stay and when to go comes with experience, although technology offers advantages. Sonar allowing anglers to scan around helps locate features within areas fish either loiter around or use as travel routes. “Humminbird 360 really lets you hone in on a structure,” Brosdahl said. “One of the best spots I found last year was a little pod of scattered boulders on a flat. I didn’t see fish at first, but it looked amazing so I got over it and jigged. It held magnum perch and nice eater walleye.” In my experience, fine-tuning position often pays off. One memorable outing was working back and forth across a (Continued on page 43.)
Just Fishing . 42
Winter 2025
Smitty sleds represent another interesting refinement in ice fishing shallow flat at late ice for giant crappie and perch, and seeing a gear. These items certainly make it easier for hand-towing gear buddy land a 14-1/2 –inch crappie, the season’s best for our crew. around on snow and ice. (Thoughts On – Ice Moves continued from page 42.)
The approach also works when my children and I fish together. Running-and-gunning isn’t logistically possible for us, but holehopping around a productive area is right in the wheelhouse of my two energetic offspring and keeps boredom at bay, for a while, anyway.
Lose The Excess Weight
Lure Diversity Never Hurts
Keeping tackle to a reasonable amount helps with travelling light, but don’t go overboard. There’s truth to the saying “diversity is security” because an assortment of lures gives more options for coaxing bites from choosy fish. With a couple of rods rigged with different offerings, an angler can quickly adapt and change tactics should a fish snub the initial offering.
If you’ll recall, earlier I mentioned a sudden surge in ice fishing gear being available and acquired by anglers. Well, it’s still here. “For walleye, have a very erratic flutter spoon, like a Northland Buck-Shot Coffin Spoon, then a Bro Bug Spoon, and then something Even more of it, actually, and many folks are carrying more than insect-like to deadstick,” Brosdahl said. “For panfish, the combo they likely need. might be a Forage Minnow Spoon, a micro-sized Puppet Minnow, and then a Tungsten Gill Getter tipped with a Bloodworm plastic, Thing is, carrying a lot of stuff can bog you down. Keep the and add meat if you have to.” essentials, of course, but culling unnecessary stuff improves on-ice mobility, especially when fine-tuning location within an area. Other factors also come into play. Colour is critical in the context of water clarity and fish activity. Going light is one of the smartest things I’ve learned to do on the ice. Since I don’t own a snow machine and travel on foot, I “If fish are active and the water’s clear, give them something prefer my ice sled, which is easier to move around than my larger, they can see from a long way away,” Brosdahl said. heavier flip-over shelter. Last winter, the sled made it painless to “Metallic has been good since the beginning of time. Try an regularly relocate and jig key holes on a large 20-foot mud flat obnoxious, green-and-yellow sneeze pattern, even a jig and whole and, subsequently, catch several of my season’s best perch. minnow.” (Continued on page 44.)
Winter 2026
Just Fishing . 43
faster sinking than mono, which is key in the vertical game trailer is a little overkilland and, in some of ice fishing. When fishbyare less active, muted and natural patterns. cases, actually counteracts against Fluoro being nearly invisible underwater doesn’t developed Sunline’s R&D try department hurt either. Moody walleye can prefer subtle perchwell colours. picky panfish, theFor ChatterBait’s natural vibration.But when it comes to landing fish, though, Brosdahl with input from Brett Hite who is quite uses fluorocarbon for its abrasion resistance. Its durability is red, purple, black, and brown are solid choices. known for his prowess with a vibrating jig. going to stand up to the abuse when a big walleye goes berserk Although, I’ve used many versions This is my smallmouth bass set up, the line and drags and saws the line across sharp, craggy ice at the bottom Pugh also travels with an assortment of rigged baits to cater to of the ChatterBait from the Original islake camouflaged with repeating green and of the hole. He frequently uses straight fluorocarbon, but a fluoro trout preferences. He likes the BerkleytoVibrato’s ability to Hammer the premium Jack model, smoke grey coloured sections, which will leader tied to braid also gets the thumbs up when fishing deep trigger bites from selective lakers. Active my lakers often are all go to’s these days have been the fool even to lineeatshy It is designed fortubes, Bondy baits, and and freeze-up isn’t an issue. too eager thefish. five-inch swimbaits, Jack Hammer and the MiniMax smooth long casts with the right amount lipless crankbaits Pugh regularly has rigged up. Baby Jack of stretch to ensure solid hook ups with a although I can see the new Don’t Over-Analyze taking its place shortly. The Jack chatterBait. Put More Fish On The Ice Each passing Hammer has been responsible forwinter, I become less interested in grinding it out on ice. Like Gettingare a fish up a hole is a high-risk and major the bottom of the wins tournament overBrosdahl and Pugh, I’m trying to be more strategic There several preferred trailersmaneuver for many about when to fish, the areas visited, and tactics used. But there’s a ice isjust where lot of fish come theayears. chatterbaits even though manytheusers The not Jacklose Hamm er family consisgained ted of the must sight of benefits from thread on a 4” swimbait on theirunbuttoned. chatterbait. Pugh’s found he gets balance here, too. One Jack hamm er, the Jack Hamm er Stealth Blade in the great out-of-doors with family and friends. lake trout theHammer ice when Theon Jack is thespending result oftime a unique & the newest addition, the Baby Jack! The trailers that I prefer are more the Z-Man After all, there are many reasons an ice using lipless crankbait thanks to a collaboration between two companies: RaZor ShadZ, the new ChatterShad and fishing can be considered a success, simple modification. replaces 4 different weights, 3/8 oz., 1/2 oz., 3/4 Z-Man He Fishing Products andtripEvergreen the Yamamoto Zako. The RaZor ShadZ many simply about the experience in size, so there’s a weight the front hook with a VMC Bladed This has a great oz. and a 1 1/4 oz. has been a long time favourite but the International (Japan). and of itself. Hybrid Treble. new ChatterShad is definitely growing on partnership combining Z-Man’s patented for any water depth. ChatterBait technology and marketing scope me. I definitely like that fact that “It’s they’re hard to keep a big laker that’s Editor’s Note: Tim Allard of Ottawa, Evergreen has the right to sell the jack alongthrashing with Evergreen’s expertise in lure available in 2 different sizes (3.5” 4.5”)it starts lightly hooked from getting away & when at the Ontario is a hard-water expert and Hammer under their brand in the Japanese design. allowing match up said. perfectly with that bottom ofyou the to hole,” Pugh “Adding hook really seems author /photographer of the multi-award Domestic Market (JDM), they also the chatterbait thatline-up you’rethe using. to help lake trout bait. Now 90 percent of the fish are winning book, ICE FISHING – sell a tungsten version there as well. Professional angler, Morizo getting hooked in the top of the mouth and we’re landing moreJapanese fish.” The Ultimate Guide, available at fine I love the 3.5” ChatterShad model on the Shimizu and Vexus pro, Brett Hite Colours will vary between the Z-man & book stores, select outdoor shops & Evergreen models. MiniMax versions of the Jack Hammer. Brosdahl and saysNew usingBaby clearJack fluorocarbon willco-designed help you land more internet the I think that to a swimbait as a fluorocarbon The Jack Hammer is currently available in retailers. (Continued on page 6.) fishChatterBait. on the ice. Compared nylon lines, is denser (Thoughts On – Ice Moves continued from page 43.) (Good Vibrations – Chatterbaiting for Bass! cont. from pg 4.)
Summer 2025. 44 Just Fishing
JustWinter Fishing .5 2026
For the Love of COOKING
COOKING COOKING
The foods eatmy are heart alwaysand muchsoul... more interesting when This dish you warms One pot, hearty,
Tait eron mon Tait with mer CaCa with
thehealthy flavours are and vibrant. casemade therethis, is a bit spice Once In youthishave youofwill be andprominent delightful... upastonished front with as refreshing accents especially at the finish. to the simplicity, when your guests are begging for more! Also, what makes food distinctive and memorable is the nuances of spices, and contrasting for or thisshellfish recipe can there a flavour marriage itbetween The best part is,hints, any fish beisadded or substituted, will only themake trout, fennel, peach and ginger ingredients. the dish better… if that’s even conceivable! Happy This mildly spicy trout recipe is terrific anytime, especially onCooking! a cold winter’s evening.
P E RC H B OU I LLA BA I S S E
BAKED TROUT, PEACH, (Serves 4) INGREDIENTS: FENNEL & GINGER SLAW 1/4 cup Olive Oil Juice of one Lemon (Yield: 2-4 Servings)
NGREDIENTS:
1/2 Yellow Onion, diced
3/4 cup Clamato Juice
3 Cloves Chopped Garlic
1/2 cup Dry White Wine
1 Leek, white parts only, sliced
1/4 cup Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
1 Carrot, thinly sliced
12oz Perch Fillets
Trout, skin on, rib cage & pin bones removed 1 Roasted Red Pepper, thinly sliced
Lemon, thinly sliced
1/4 Red Onion, thinly sliced
alted Butter, 6 thinly slices
15ml Parsley, chopped
TBS Cajun Seasoning
1/2” Fresh Ginger, peeled & grated
ALAD:
1/2 Fennel Bulb, tops removed, thinly sliced 45ml Olive Oil
Peach Halves, canned or Fresh, thinly sliced
Pinch Saffron (optional) 15ml Fresh Lemon Juice
50ml Fresh Fennel, thinly sliced
Salt &Salt Black&Pepper Kosher Pepper
1 Celery Rib, diced
1 can Diced Tomato (398ml) IRECTIONS: eheat oven to 425°f,Heat prepare vegetables aside. On a baking sheet, trout DIRECTIONS: heavy bottomedand potset over medium-high heat. Add place olive oil and
n sweat side uponions on totill parchment paper,and make cuts sauté in skintill(to prevent soft, add garlic add one-inch remainingshallow vegetables, tender, add et diced from tomato, curling).lemon Lay lemon on top ofwhite trout,wine thenand butter slices, sprinkle Cajun juice,slices Clamato juice, seasoning. asoning on top. Place trout in oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes. In the Bring mixture a simmer, add perch, stir gently and well cover, reduce to low. eantime, place alltosalad ingredients in a mixing bowl, toss and checkheat seasoning. Cook for 10 minutes, adjust seasoning, add parsley and serve. henServe the trout finished, place on top of trout and serve immediately. grilledis crusty bead on slaw the side. Enjoy! Happy Cooking!
Editor’s Note: Avid outdoors person, competitive angler, 2-time gold medal winning chef at the Culinary World Olympics and competitive educator Cameron truly loves beingwinning in the chef outdoors. itor’s Note: Avid outdoors person, angler, Tait 2-time gold medal at Cameron is an active member the Manitoba Wildlife Assoc. of e Culinary World Olympics andofeducator Cameron TaitFederation, truly loves Walleye being inAnglers the outdoors. Manitoba, Walleye of Trail on the Wildlife Pro StaffFederation, team for Alumacraft / SuzukiAssoc. and Minn meron is an Central active member the and Manitoba Walleye Anglers of Kota / Humminbird. When notand pursuing passion thefor outdoors, Certified Chefand du Cuisine anitoba, Central Walleye Trail on thehisPro Staff for team Alumacraft / Suzuki Minn can be found byhis mouth watering food. taCameron / Humminbird. When surrounded not pursuing passion for the outdoors, Certified Chef du Cuisine meron can be found surrounded by mouth watering food. Just Fishing . 46
Winter 2026
PRESENTS
TIPS &
TECHNIQUES
Location... Location... species Location... top Ice fishing TT
T
he best way to begin ice fishing is by he steps to follow in locating fish under the ice is no easy task. targeting a species or group of fish that are prolific relatively to catch, Anglersand heading outeasy on lakes with little or no ice fishing pressure such – yellow perch,work. blackFew anglers relish the challenge are inasforpanfish some plain old hard crappies Ontario of findingand fish bluegills. on a new Many lake. Most prefer “following the crowds” and ice anglers remain lifelong panfish let their eyes be their fish finders. To some, going from one group of aficionados, while others graduate to bigger anglers another walleye, is their and formtrophyof “recon”. If you ice fish, you may and more to challenging not want to join the crowd or at some time you will be faced with the size lake trout.
challenge of being the only angler on the ice, so here are a few tips BLACK CRAPPIE: offers the best to you and you want to find fish. to remember the Ontario next time it happens black crappie ice fishing in the world. From Lake of the Woods and Wabigoon Lake in Sunset Country and the north shore of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Your firstSault step Ste. is to Marie understand the kind of water you are going tofamed fish. between and Blind River to southern Ontario’s This will mean and at the types structure Kawartha Lakes.getting Having aa lake goodmap sonar unitlooking will help, as the fishof tend to hide you have available to you at this time of year. Remember, your ability inside the weeds during the day. But when the sun gets low, they slide out into open on areas and may are easier to catch usingpower tiny ice with small to travel a lake be limited to foot or jigs poortipped ice conditions soft Anglers two safely. rods & Itholes in Ontario. Jig idea a flashy mayplastic limit grubs. the areas you can canuse reach is always a good to spoon in one hole to attract and trigger any curious crappies. If they don’t know the roads and the various winter access points that surround take the bait, they will devour a tiny jig, tipped with a small soft plastic larvae any giveninlake. suspended the nearby second hole. When it PERCH: comes to finding fish, you try toasmake rules as to YELLOW Lake Simcoe hasevery earnedtime the reputation the world’s finest yellow ice fishery find – butfish, the winter perch anglersLike alsocatching fish in Black Bay, whereperch you SHOULD the rules change. sunfish Lake Superior, Nipissing, Lake, Lac desbite Milles Lac and Lake of the at night, manyLake would agree Rainy that sunfish don’t at night, but in some Woods. In truth, mayreally offer better winter yellow opportunities lakes, you don’tOntario catch the big ones until the perch sun goes down… go figure. Here are a few good guidelines to use to begin your search,
than any other species. And they’re often over 33 centimetres long (13”), simply because you will need “Jumbo Perch” for sure! These colourful panfish go crazy when they see a to startshiny someplace. moreice jig tipped with a wax worm, maggot or a bright spoon or The tungsten you learn by fishing, the moreJust lift your lure, pause and then let it flutter pinched head of a salted shiner. you rules back can downrefine to the the bottom. Andthat hold on tightly to your rod. govern the lake you are on LAKEday. TROUT: Ontario has more lakes to catch trout than anywhere else in that the world. A few of Ontario’s most famous lake trout lakes include Lake of the Woods, Clearwater Lake, Minnitaki Walleyes love deep, hard Lake, Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon, Lake Temagami, Lake Muskoka Lake Simcoe. A favoured spot to set up for the bottom areas. Crappiesand and heavyweight giants of winter is at the end of an underwater point that juts out perch love waters of over 30 from shore or from an island. High rock walls and sheer granite cliffs are two feet a super softThe bottom, otherwith winter hot spots. features obstruct and confuse silvery baitfish, such and sunfish love to hang as ciscoes, smelts and shiners. Drop your lure into the frenzied activity – as the off weedy lines. lakesteep trout shoot up break from their ambush locations, they’re sure to mistake it for Finding thebaitfish. right fish holding a wounded
elements for the fish you are WALLEYE: If you tirewith of catching after is fairly easy a lakelake trout, consider going after walleye in the afternoon as the sun approaches map. If the lake has one deepthe horizon. Walleye have amongst the biggest and most reflective of any animal in relation to their body size. And they are hole, then you eyes would start negatively phototactic, meaning they can see better in dark shadows, dimly lit there for crappie. If a lake surroundings and even at night, than in bright sunny settings. Therefore, the first is a ofmaze of in structure, then hour daylight the morning and the last hour in the afternoon are the two best ittimes is of best to break the the day to catch whatlake many consider the finest-tasting freshwater fish. into small regions thatthe youshade canline work without getting you’re too confused. Or you can simply follow around the structure fishing. Your first goal on most lakes is to establish the edge of the weed line. These winter giants like to prey small yellow so ice anglers favourand 1/8Most lakes get upon far clearer then perch, they do in the summer, to 3/8-ounce jigs, spoons and Jigging Rap-style baits that are painted bright some of the biggest sunfish in the lake move into the old weed line yellow, orange from and chartreuse. other words, yellow perch look-alikes. for protection predators. In Checking the edge of the weed line is There are thousands of popular Ontario winter walleye waters. Still, Rainy even better if you are near a point or inside turn where the deep water Lake, Lac Seul, Eagle Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, Lake Abitibi, Lake Nipissing, comes closest to shore. Georgian Bay, Lake Muskoka and the Bay of Quinte all have their devotees. Courtesy of: www.vexilar.com
6
Winter 2026 . 34 Just Fishing
Just Fishing . 47
with much water so when these fish come in and punch a spoon or glide bait 3’ from the end of your rod, the hits feel electric. The fish fight hard and are still full of energy when you bring them topside.
1
A
REPORT HOW JASON MITCHELL TARGETS SHALLOW-WATER WALLEYES
A
ccording to Jason Mitchell, some of the very best walleye patterns on many different systems across the upper Midwest – particularly at early ice – are happening in less than 6’... There’s a lot more info in Jason’s full Virtual Angling write-up, but here are a few excerpts to get you started: Jason: Shallow is relative... 10’ might be shallow on some bodies of water... other fisheries the basin or deepest water available might only be 10’. We often catch walleye in shallow water, but how shallow? A mistake I’ve made over and over in my own life is sometimes not fishing shallow enough.
...if you see extremely shallow patterns unfold on a fishery during the open-water period, you better anticipate some of the same skinny-water patterns under the ice. The toughest conditions seem to line up with a little bit of clear ice in clear water. These fish seem to be the most sensitive. Catching fish in shallow water during these conditions is often a low light affair and you must make a conscious effort to be quiet. Drill your holes ahead of time and keep your lights limited to head lamps that you can turn on and off. Take your ice cleats off and try not to make a lot of noise, settle down into an area and let the fish come to you. Tip-ups and extra lines set remotely can be important. The bite will often occur in the dark.
A challenge when fishing for walleye in such shallow water is simply dumping fish at the bottom of the hole when they hit the ice. Can also be a challenge navigating big fish up a hole when dealing with less than 6” of ice. These fish can back up and l everage their tails against the bottom of the ice. Almost must just plan to get your hands wet for big fish where you reach down below the ice and simply pin them to the side of the hole or get ahold of the gill plate. ...upsize those treble hooks on your lures (when fishing skinny water). Take about any spoon or glide bait and double the treble hook size. Seems like overkill but that larger hook and wider gap will keep fish pinned up much better when they hit the bottom of the ice. When dealing with a few feet of water, these fish will often hit the bottom of the ice basically when you set the hook. This isn’t a situation necessarily for finesse unless you are using live minnows below tip-ups and are simply letting the fish swallow the minnow. Because these fish are often so aggressive, match your presentation & cadence to the attitude of the fish. Ring the dinner bell. Pound the lure with hard cadences. These fish are looking for a meal, they are looking for you, so make sure the fish can find you. Couple of Jason
’s favourite skinny Use a rod with plenty of back- water baits are the Clam Tikka Mino bone just so you can get the (top/right) & the Leech Flutter Spoon right pound on the lure and (bottom/left). Would love to know drive the bigger hooks into how many fish he’s caught on these fish. In such skinny water, my specific ones! best cadence is often just a hard 6” knock where the lure bounces hard in a tight area.
Marking shallow fish with electronics can be tricky and some of these fish will just blow you up and surprise you where you don’t see them until they hit. Get your transducer as high as possible and learn to look for water displacement. (Continued on page 49.)
Stained water, cloudy ice and simply more ice however can make these fish much more tolerant of noise and what you can get away with. Not all shallow walleye patterns require stealth mode but universally, a lot of big vehicle traffic seems to shut down every shallow walleye bite we have ever seen. Therefore it is so important to be the angler that finds the fish first. With shallow walleye, you won’t get there in time if you are waiting for reports. ...these fish are often simply aggressive. You’re not working Just Fishing . 48
Winter 2026
(Target Walleye continued from page 48.)
Sometimes (especially with bigger fish) fish will dart in and out and as they move water and stir up the sediment on the bottom, that commotion can show up on your Vexilar as thin, choppy lines. Get ready. Even in 3’ of water, however, you are still going to have about a 1’ cone angle so get your transducer high, use the lowest power setting and you will be able to mark many of the fish.
2
F
EARLY-ICE: HOW JOHN HOYER TRACKS DOWN TROPHY GILLS
F
irst ice might be your best opportunity of the year to catch truly huuuuge bluegills. Here’s how (and where!) bigfish junkie John Hoyer targets ’em when things lock up, and it’s likely not where you’d think... Location: Most folks zip straight off to the weeds... while Hoyer runs with the bulls in 15-30’, focusing on soft-bottom basins that flatten out at the base of a saddle or shelf:
feeding again, time of day is crucial: “Big bluegills will shut off completely for long stretches – you have to hit the feeding windows, which are usually at first light and then dusk into nightfall.” Says you can NOT rule out a lake for big ‘gills until you’ve spent time trying to locate fish at lowlight dusk. He’s also a big believer in overcast days with a falling barometer = fish are more likely to feed all day: “That’s when we’ll make a long run to a known trophy lake. Other than that, it’s basically the 2 feeding windows.” Tackle: Any light rod combo will work, the key is a bite indicator like a spring bobber or noodle rod: “You have to be able to see the bite, because 90% of the time, you won’t feel it with gloves on.”
flasher – that’s when you can really wail on them.” Once he marks a fish, he moves his bait 12-18” upward while quickening his jig cadence to mimic fleeing prey: “Then you let them catch up to it and eat it.” Using a flasher also helps visualize the way bluegills feed using lateral line vibration: “A 1/16-oz lure will be a thick red mark, like a fish. If I’m getting denied, the first thing I’ll do is downsize jigs. The smaller jig shows up as a thinner, green line, and that lighter frequency is the same thing that happens on a bluegill’s face. When the bite is tough, less is more.” And if you’re lucky, you might just hit a dusk plankton bloom on some lakes, and then: “It’s go-time. It gets so thick you can’t even mark your jig, but that’s their food source. If you hit one of those hatches, the bite is usually good as late as you want to stay.”
Hoyer fishes 3-lb Berkley Trilene Micro Ice Mono, switching to Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Ice (which sinks) in deeper water to boost the bait’s drop rate. And here’s why he says Thx for the info, John! 3-lb is the deal: “4-lb is too thick, and 2-lb will lead to heartbreak on a hookset, guaranteed.”
Hand crafted in Kingsto
Lure selection isn’t as meticulous as it can get later in the season: “I usually go Hand withHand Hand in Kingston, crafted incrafted Kingston, Ontario crafted in Kingston, OntarioOnta The Hand crafted in Kingston, Ontar a 1/16-oz tungsten jig or a 1/16-oz spoon. Hand crafted in Kingston, Ontario Hand crafted in Kingston, Ontario I’ll tip it with a red Berkley PowerBait Hand crafted Kingston, Ontario Theincrafted Hand inTRIPLE Kingston, Ont TRIPLE TRIPLETRIPLE TRIPLE TRIPLE Whipworm or Mayfly, and I’ll always haveThe The Deputy The THREA THREA The TRIPLE TRIPLE THREAT THREAT THREAT THREAT TRIPLE TRIPLE Kingston, Ontario Deputy Handcrafted crafted in in Kingston, Ontario GRUB GRUB The Hand THREAT THREAT a bait puck of Euro larvae on hand,Deputy too. GRUB GRUB THREAT THREAT TRIPLE TRIPLE GRUB GRUB Deputy Deputy GRUB GRUB GRUB GRUB THREAT THREAT Deputy The TRIPL TRIPLE TRIPLE GRUB GRUB TRIPL Hoyer: “They’re out on deep The key is getting it down in front of theirThe TheThe TRIPLE TRIPLE THRE THRE TRIPLE TRIPLE THREAT THREAT face fast when the bite is on.” Deputy flats that have bug life going THREAT THREAT Deputy THREAT THREAT GRU GRU GRUB GRUB Deputy GRUB GRUB GRUB GRUB on – especially the trophy-sized fish. They’re following the food and not really holding to structure.” Mighty M Saucy Tail Mighty Mighty Mighty Mite Mite M
Deputy
Deputy
Mighty Mighty Mite Mite Saucy TailTail Saucy Saucy TailMighty Mighty Mite Mite Mighty Mighty M M Saucy Tail Saucy Tail Mighty Mighty Mite Mite
Starts drilling holes in deep water at the base of a drop-off and moves OUT from there.
Tail Tail Hoyer leans towards dark colours for Saucy Saucy bluegill, including red, black and motor oil. Saucy Tail Saucy Tail
Timing: Bluegills are picky when a lake first caps. Hoyer says, “they’re crabby” and “it takes a week-ish for them to adjust to it.” When fish start actively
Tactics: Hungry bluegills often suspend low in the water column: “You’ll see them RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE 2-5’ off the bottom. Sometimes, you can RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE RUDE TUBE TUBE watch them compete for your lure onRUDE the RUDE RUDE TUBE TUBE
Saucy Tail
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Mighty Mite Mighty Mite
Mighty Mighty Mite Mite Mighty Mighty
Mighty Mite Mighty Mite
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GOOBER Visit – www.targetwalleye.comRUDE – PutTUBE more fish on the ice with Limestone GOBY Lur OBER GO Put more fish on the ice with Limestone GOBYLures
RUDE TUBE
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Winter 2026
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