TCWU hosted Johnnie Candle at our March Club Meeting, which featured the theme of "Old school walleyes - Advantages over time", comparing how we fished in the past compared to how we do it now. Johnnie shared some really cool stories and brought us all back to the good old days when we learned how to fish from our parents and grand parents. It was amazing to look back and then realize how much innovation has improved or maybe not improved how we fish today. Johnnie shared a lot of fishing tips, tricks and answered our club member questions. It was truly a great meeting and for those who couldn't attend please check out the meeting re-cap below. You can also keep current on his fishing schools, destinations, gear, tips, how-to's, and techniques at his Website: Johnniecandle.com
Old school walleyes - Advantages overtime
Born and raised in Ohio Johnnie became a fishing junkie at an early age. His father started a charter boat outfit when he graduated High school at 17 and that is when he learned you could get paid to fish! He loved fishing for free and thought he should try fishing for a living. He entered his first tournament at age 22 and still sees himself as that young kid today. For many years Johnnie was caught up in the business of fishing and this seminar was written to remind himself and us all of why fishing is fun. Reminiscing about fishing and remembering wonderful memories.
Equipment - Then and now
The first fishing rod Johnnie bought was a 6 foot 6 medium action Ugly Stick, which was maybe the finest fishing rod at the time, no joke. It was actually the first rod to incorporate graphite, which created a new rod construction revolution. Fun fact; Shakespeare Ugly sticks cost the same today as they did when Johnnie was 12. He had a huge Size 30 spinning reel, big as a brick, with the best bottom shelf fluorescent blue curly line that took forever to uncoil.
Now we can purchase an awesome rod for $100, (a $100 rod in 1985 felt like it cost $1,000), Berkley Fire Line, fluorocarbon, lightweight reels and so on. The innovation has been incredible.
We bought jigs a card at a time, the white buck tail jig was the staple until the soft plastic Mister Twister curly tail came along. Once Mister Twister came out they never bought another jig. Now we have power bait, gulp, scent impregnated and so on...
The First National Rapala ad was placed in the Life Magazine that featured Marilyn Monroe's remembrance. What great timing! The ad was intended to be published in the previous magazine and was bumped. Their lures became so popular after this ad that you couldn’t buy them and bait shops would actually rent them. You had to pay for the lure and then get half your money back when you returned it.
Electronics
Back then - Johnnie’s Grand Father had a concrete anchor made from a coffee can and an eye-hook with a knot tied every 12 inches. Johnnie’s job was to hold the anchor at a specific depth and when he didn’t hit bottom or he got pulled over the edge of the boat they were on the spot. Johnnie was literally the sonar. Remember when we lined up spots with shoreline markers? Today we can punch in a GPS point, find, and fish the edge of 9 mile flat in no time at all.
Boat control was drifting with an oar or we were at the mercy of the wind. Today we have Minn-Kota’s with spot-lock and follow the contour.
Mega Live Imaging
- The technology is awesome, you catch more because you know where the fish are but you still got to make them bite. Get The Mega Live it does everything the 360 does.
- Mega Live mounted on the trolling motor is great but has limitations. It only works when you are using your trolling motor and at the direction you trolling motor is pointed. You can’t see what’s behind you, same with spot lock, there are limitations.
- When it’s mounted on a pole you can point it indifferent directions but then you not fishing.
Questions
What are your favorite fishing apps?
- Favorite “The Precision Trolling Data App” You figure out how deep you want to fish a certain lure and plug in the type of line, lure, speed and it will do the math and tell you how much line to let out. The Precision Trolling team created an underwater course to achieve their data. They would make 30 passes at different speeds and actually would write down results with a grease pencil under water. They changed speed, lures, line, and did over and over it again. The data the achieved is awesome!
- The National weather service app
- iWindsurf app, which measures wind
-
Humminbird Fish Smart App allows you to purchase and view their library of high definition lake maps right from your smartphone or tablet,
- Tip - If you have an HD map it signifies that Lake Master mapped the lake and will be more accurate.
- Navionics
How have Zebra Muscles impacted fishing?
- Johnnie grew up on Lake Erie and this was the first lake to get Zeebs. They were first found on the intake grates at the power plants after an inspection on why water volumes to the plant were decreasing. What did we learn, Mother Nature is very adaptable. Fish that were hatched before Zeebs couldn’t see two feet in front of themselves for their entire life, all of a sudden could see 40 yards. Fishing was tough for a while during the clear water transition. They just wouldn't bite since they were used to dirty water and not clear water. It took 3 generations of new hatched walleyes for the fishing to turnaround. The young fry that grew up in clean water became catchable. They also found out that the walleye eggs can hide in the cracks of the Zeeb’s and are better protected than gravel. Lake Erie has the highest density of walleyes in the world, so did Zeebs make things worse or change for the better?
What is the best walleye lake/destination?
Johnnie laughed and said “If there is water and a boat ramp I will be there”
- You have to go to Lake Erie just once in your life. It has the highest walleye density in the world.
- Anywhere on the Missouri river, from Fort Peck throughout the entire Dakota’s, Lake of The Woods, Millie Lacs, Pool #2. St Mary’s river, which is one of the most scenic rivers in the country. Big fish are common in the Columbia River 16 – 17 pound walleyes.
- Canada is an entire country with many amazing destinations
Is water temp the trigger for Walleye Spawning?
"In my opinion, no one thing triggers walleye spawning. I would say there is a combination of environmental factors."
- Photo-period is the strongest factor – Length of day is their real calendar.
- If the water temp is in the sweet spot, with the photo-period then you might have a better spawn than other years
- Moon phase, maybe a factor as well
How did you get from Ohio to North Dakota?
- Johnnie chuckled and said "There is not enough whisky to tell that story."
Is there such thing as a bite window?
-
"It’s really hard to argue against. On the Pool 2 tournament last year, I was in 4th and looking good. Then the fish turned on and I got passed up in the last half hour by five different anglers in five different locations. Anglers who didn’t have a bite all day by the way."
Helpful Tip - Find the right school of fish that are biting all day and are easy to catch. There’s always a fish eating somewhere in Johnnie’s opinion try to find the right school.
How do I know when to leave a spot?
- As soon as the fishing does not meet the expectations of the spot, I am fishing. For example; you have been catching fish on a specific rock pile. Your expectation is that you will continue to catch them. When the bite slows and you're not catching its time to leave.
How many tips are shared on tour?
- There is a lot of competitiveness and tips are rarely shared until after the tournament
- He joked, how do you know when a Pro-angler is lying? When his lips are moving, lol!
How do you fish Jigging Raps - (Vertical Glide Baits)?
- These lures used to sit in my winter tackle box for years until I got my butt kicked in a tournament
- When/where do I use them? 6 feet and deeper and all year round
- They are a great casting lure. When you rod moves a foot, the lure moves 3 or 4 feet
- You have to learn to let the lure fall on slack line. Biggest mistake anglers make is jig and drop on a tight line
- You can use them under the boat as long as its deep enough
- Use super braid with a mono leader – Al Linder recommends mono because Braid doesn’t stretch. It's your preference, here are a few tips.
- 7 foot rod medium with fast action when using braid
- 7 foot rod medium with extra-fast action for mono
- Uses the #9 the most but uses a #7 in shallow water
- Able to walk the dog with a Shiver Minnow, great for casting
- Jigging Rap under the boat or drifting. They make a figure 8 or circle. I Will cut the front hook off at times in snaggy conditions. Most fish are not caught on the front hook
- Don’t tip them in the summer – Yes in the winter
- Color doesn’t really matter, it’s all about reaction bites.
Boats
- If you fish smaller lakes and don’t fish fast or far get an aluminum, they have lots of storage but not great for long distance.
- If you have to travel, get a glass boat.
- Love staying dry with his windshield!
- Johnnie had a Deep V hull Lund Bass Boat, which was awesome for multi- species, provided excellent Boat Control and was built with the same Deep V, which is a cool option.
Favorite Lures – " I always have these in my Tackle box"
- The one in the fish’s mouth, lol
- 1/4 ounce jig + 3 ½ inch white swim bait
- Flicker Shad - Fire Tiger or White
- Rapala Husky Jerk or X-rap
- Glide bait (Jigging Rap, Shiver Minnow)
- Bottom bouncer and a spinner hammered gold blade #3 with a crawler
- Hates the color game. It is the least important part of your presentation. However he is a Crank Bait addict can’t stop buying them even though he hates the color game
- Corking – Loves it almost cried talking about it. It takes you back to 8 years old and watching the bobber go down. Tips include:
- Use super line for better hook sets and no mono-stretch
- Super line floats, which helps keep your line tight. Line that sinks adds a lot of slack to reel in before you can set the hook.
- 7 foot rod – Use a longer rod, which helps give a better hook set it by taking up more slack quickly
Early fishing
- Find the moving water that opens up first
- Then reservoirs
- Then the lakes
- Devils lake is a slow starter. The water needs to warm up before fishing gets good. target the walleyes on flooded roads in Devils Lake North Dakota
Johnnie, it was truly a treat to spend the evening with a walleye fishing legend, who is passionate at giving back to the fishing community. We thank you for sharing your knowledge with us at our club annual meeting. Your electronics class is awesome and your Walleye University is on our bucket list!
Club members looking for a great weekend should take a look into Johnnie's Walleye University. Its a very cool opportunity to improve your skills in a classroom setting and on the water at a premier fishing lake and resort. Its a great opportunity to connect with skilled anglers one on one and have a fun vacation at the same time. Take a look below to learn more.
