If you're getting Target Walleye for the first time, a friend probably signed you up! |
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New PA walleye record confirmed! |
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Richard Nicholson's 18.1-lber (34" long x 21.1" girth) caught outta the Youghiogheny River is the new PA state record walleye β BIG congrats man! And super pumped your son convinced you not to eat it first lol. |
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The previous PA record walleye was set in 1980 (41 yrs ago!) when Mike Holly pulled a 17-09 from the Allegheny Reservoir. Yes, I had to do a double-take that 1980 really was that long ago, too hahahah. |
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How John Hoyer tracks down trophy bluegills. π₯Ά |
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First ice might be your best opportunity of the year to catch truly huuuuge bluegills. Here's how (and where!) big-fish junkie John Hoyer targets 'em when things lock up, and it's likely not where you'd think.... |
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Location
Most folks zip straight off to the weeds...while Hoyer runs with the bulls in 15-30β², focusing on soft-bottom basins that flatten out at the base of a saddle or shelf:
> Hoyer: "They're out on deep flats that have bug life going on β especially the trophy-sized fish. They're following the food and not really holding to structure."
Starts drilling holes in deep water at the base of a drop-off and moves OUT from there:
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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 feeding again, time of day is crucial:
> "Big bluegills will shut off completely for long stretches β 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."
> "4-lb is too thick, and 2-lb will lead to heartbreak on a hookset, guaranteed."
Lure selection isn't as meticulous as it can get later in the season:
> "I usually go with a 1/16-oz tungsten jig or a 1/16-oz spoon. I'll tip it with a red Berkley PowerBait Whipworm or Mayfly, and I'll always have a bait puck of Euro larvae on hand, too. The key is getting it down in front of their face fast when the bite is on."
Leans towards dark colors for bluegill, including red, black and motor oil. He's also partial to lures outfitted with a razor-sharp Berkley Fusion19 hook.
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Tactics
Hungry bluegills often suspend low in the water column.
> "You'll see them 2-5β² off the bottom. Sometimes, you can watch them compete for your lure on the flasher β that's when you can really wail on them."
Once he marks a fish, he moves his bait 12-18β³ 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."
Thx for all the info, John! π
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Invasives can slow walleye growth up to 14%? |
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> "Both invaders reduce lake levels of zooplankton, an important food source for young walleye. Zebra mussels act as filters, reducing the amount of algae in the waterβ¦a food source for zooplankton. Spiny water flea eat zooplankton directly."
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Makes total sense (to me) that the little'uns would have a harder time putting together a meal...but I really wouldn't think invasives are slowing the growth of adult fish, too? Maybe. Who knows? I don't.
Oddly enough, I have noticed that the fishing seems to be getting BETTER on a lot of these lakes infested with zeebz and whatnot. That being said...
...zeebz come in and change the whole ecosystem of the lake. "My grandpa used to catch 'em here" will only work for so long β fish aren't going to be in the same spots they used to be. That goes for whether you're trying to catch 'em with a rod, or survey 'em with a net or trap.
Why? Zeebz filter the water, which increases water clarity and allows vegetation to grow deeper. So the fish are typically moving deeper β or sometimes pushing WAY up farther, burying in the weeds β and so should you. Clearer water can also make fish "more smarter."
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Jigging Rap late-fall crappies (absolutely STACKED up π€―). |
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In case you didn't know: Rapala Jigging Raps aren't just for walleyes...crappies love 'em too! The smaller #3 Rapala Jigging Raps catch the snot outta slabs this time of year, right on through ice up (and of course after thru a π³).
Water temps had dipped into the mid-40s (just before the recent snowstorm) and we found 'em stacked around the edges of a deep hole. There's literally no easier time to catch 'em than right now when they are wadded-up in mega schools and easy to graph.
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Now THIS is how you decorate a Christmas tree! |
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From the Moonshine Lures crew who donated the decked-out tree to their local Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital: |
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> "This tree is on auction and all proceeds are going toward their new Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy Building. The tree has 100 Moonshine Lures on it. Mostly trolling spoons, but also has Shiver Minnows, Jigging Spoons and some of our new Flashers and inserts decorated on it. The tree has a total value of $1,100 dollars.
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Added another show floor allowing 'em to have wheelhouses on display indoors, and they'll also have 26+ new vendors. Show is happening Dec 10-12 at Scheels Arena. Kids 12 and under get in free all 3 days of the show with a paid adult. More info here.
Bummer. Johnson's Portside went live on FB to talk about it.
Crazy how fast it's gonna come now:
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Something I've been using for over 6 yrs now. Does an awesome job of storing TONS of plastics. I also throw a couple of thin jig boxes in mine before I zip it up β love it:
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Need to apply by 4:30 pm on Wed, Dec 15.
6. MN: Few new lakes with zeebzβ¦
iFishPro = similar to a tip-up but lets you catch the fish on a rod and reel, instead of hand-over-hand.
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π Too much info to include here but definitely an interesting read.
From 6:30-8:30pm at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center.
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Podcasts are sorta like talk radio shows, except you can listen to 'em anytime and anywhere you want. |
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What's π₯ on Target Walleye's YouTube π₯
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> "One of the most common mistakes anglers make is letting the lure settle too much between strokes. The longer the lure hangs, the more the lure turns.
> "On the next stroke, the lure comes off a different direction and this direction is unpredictable. One second the lure is 6 inches in front of the fish and then the lure shoots towards the fish disappearing...game over.
> "Remember that walleyes don't back up that well and they need room to turn around, this is why staying in front of the fish is so crucial.
> "Don't let the lure settle at the bottom of the jig stroke. Start your up stroke before the lure settles so that the lure dances and the cadence and direction of the dart or swing becomes locked into one direction and becomes predictable. The target becomes much easier for fish to hit.
> "The moves that pull fish into the cone angle from 20β² away often have to change as a fish gets close. This understanding of how to use tempo and cadence to find fish while reading your electronics to trigger fish will help you catch a lot more walleyes this winter."
You can keep reading Jason's walleye-infested article here. |
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Quote and Meme of the Day |
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"That awkward moment when you're not sure if you should try to cheer your buddy up or continue fishing in silence for the next 30+ minutes."
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Saw this awesome shot on NPAA's Instagram. Slap a saddle on this thing and see if you can hang on for 8 seconds. π |
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Sign up another fish-head!
If you're forwarding Target Walleye to a friend who loves to walleye-fish or want your fishing buddies to get these emails, just send us their email addresses and we'll take care of it! (We won't sell the addresses, use them for spam, etc.) |
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Friends of Target Walleye |
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Who is Target Walleye
Target Walleye β walleye during open water and all species during hardwater β is brought to you by Al Lindner, Jim Kalkofen, Jay Kumar, Brett McComas and other diehard fish-heads like you!
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Brett McComas is the main man for Target Walleye He was discovered in Brainerd, MN after years of wondering how in the heck people break into the fishing biz. He's in it now, but still can't answer that question.... Brett is one of those guys who majored in marketing, only because there was no such thing as a "fishing degree" at the time.... Get him at brett@targetwalleye.com
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P.O. BOX 2782
Baxter, MN 56425
(218) 824 5026
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