Mentioned in the last TW that the boat and trailer were apparently seized from accused walleye cheater.

Now this info from News 5 Cleveland:

   • One count of Cheating (felony of the fifth degree)

   • One count of Attempted Grand Theft (felony of the fifth degree)

   • One count of Possessing Criminal Tools (felony of the fifth degree)

   • One count of Unlawful Ownership of Wild Animals (misdemeanor of the fourth degree)

I've mentioned a bazillion times that I prefer using 8- or 10-lb Sufix Advance Mono on my Rapala Jigging Rap setups because I know for a fact that I land more fish. I wasn't necessarily thinking that I got more bites because of it, but that I would actually put more of those bites in the boat thx to mono being a shock absorber and tearing less hooks out.

But then....

I was sitting in my office the other evening when the 🐐 walked in with a big smirk on his face and spark in his eyes.... Both are usual things when it comes to Al (which is incredible) but this time they were even kicked-up another notch of sparkyness.

Got to chatting with him about what he said was THE best big walleye bite he has been on in years and years and years. And one of the fascinating things about it was that mono absolutely crushed braid. His buddy Tom had gone up something like 8 fish to 0 on Al...same baits, same rods, same jigging cadence, same everything except Al was running braid and could not get bit on it.

No doubt the mono was making that Jigging Rap act differently:

Once Al switched over to his mono setup, he proceeded to whack numerous reeeeally big walleyes, including this ridiculous 31.5-incher:

But also got to say that Al has seen days where it was the opposite, and the braid setup drastically outfished mono. Just goes to show the importance of having BOTH a braid and mono setup ready, even when throwing the same bait.

Here's the video with Al talking about this special bite:

They don't come much bigger than THIS massive 13.29-lb (33.25") behemoth that Beau Stewart caught and released. 🤯

Insane fish!!!

Beau said he caught her on a Reef Runner Deep Diver in the "Barbie" pattern:

Oh, and he noticed a big cisco tail coming out of its throat, and released it that way so she had a full belly after the battle:

Big congrats on the fish of a lifetime, dude! 🙌 And hope you get that 15-lber next.

- That's Rainy Lake guide Donnie O'Bert talking how no matter how far out you go-go-gadget-arm a walleye for a photo, that big "sloped forehead" is something you can't fake:

Yup, you can't hide big!

Donnie caught that giant running the 50+2 trolling method with a big #13 Rumble B. Which by the way is where you let 50' of line out, attach a 2-oz snap weight, then let out the remainder of the line needed to get your bait running to depth.

They got that whole thing on video with plenty of tippy trolling nuggets mixed in too. Can tell that Donnie has caught more than his fair share of big fish with just how calm and clear he was talking the fellas thru bringing that fish in.

Donnie isn't always that laid back...especially when superman is in his boat. 😏🦸🏻‍♂️👊

David Holston caught this one in a small creek in southeast MI:

And you might remember this vibrant orange one Josh Chrenko caught from the Muskegon River earlier this summer:

You just never know, man!

Quicker News section today because I'm on the water....

12th annual tourney hosted by Border View Lodge on the Rainy River.

Catch-measure-release format with 100% payouts and prizes. They cap it at 75 boats (2-person teams) and as of this morning they only had 3 spots left. AWESOME payouts considering it's just $250 per boat to enter. More info here.

I'm suuuuure that Nick and I already used up all of our luck 😅 but hopefully her and her friends bite during the tournament tomorrow:

Eric Bakke caught the 58.25-incher 🤯 out of Mille Lacs. Pics here.

Named "Manufacturer of the Year" – for the 8th consecutive year – by the National Marine Electronics Association.

Previously Russian built:

Wright County

...during the Oct full moon and whacked 'em on a Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep. Plenty of people get out trolling after dark in the fall, but don't hear of too many busting-out the jerkbait and casting their way into bass thumb walleye hands. Looks like a blast!

Shout-out to all you "lurkers" out there lol. Posted by @karlsbaitandtackle on Instagram:

Incredible shot by Matt Addington Creative!! This Yetti Fish House served as an elk hunting base camp – they're not just for ice fishing! – but the hardwater szn is for sure sneaking up on us:

And if you're getting your "shack" ready for the upcoming ice season, there's some solid info here on wheelhouse maintenance.

National Professional Anglers Assoc.