Join the TCWU Summer Classic 2025

See full tournament details below

The TCWU Summer Classic 2025 is a Virtual member only Tournament hosted on FISHDONKEY, It officially started on May 10th and runs through September 1st, 2025. Registration is open throughout the summer, see the details below.

Bragging rights will be decided by the club member who catches the largest walleye and will be honored with a personalized wood commemorative plaque!

Entering a fish

We will be utilizing the Fish Donkey App to enter all walleyes caught. If you haven’t used the Fish Donkey App all you need to do is:

• Download the Fish Donkey App to your smart phone and create a profile.
• Once your profile has been created tap Fish In A Tournament at the top of your screen
• Search for the TCWU Summer Classic 2025 and click on Join Now.
• Tournament details and rules are posted in the App. You will also find a video tutorial and a tool to practice entering a fish
• Check out the FishDonkey.com for web overview and instruction
• You will need a bump board to measure

There are many other prizes, learn more on the App in the tournament details section on the FishDonkey app.

TCWU was thrilled to welcome Jon Thelen as our guest speaker for May. With over 30 years of experience as a professional angler and educator, Jon has amassed a wealth of knowledge, and achievements, which earned him induction into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2025. Congratulations Jon!

His presentation centered on the valuable insights he has gained throughout his career and the essential adjustments anglers must make to enhance their skills and increase fish catching.

Becoming successful professional angler wasn’t easy. Jon needed to outwork his fellow anglers just to be competitive. He was the first one on the lake for practice and the last one to leave. His extra effort developed valuable skills and that on the water adjustments are what makes the difference.

For those of you who missed the meeting, enjoy the re-cap of Jon's presentation on making adjustments to double your catch.

Jon shared this perspective on fishing:

“When most anglers go fishing, their strategy is usually to do what has worked in the past or what they do best, and hope the fish will bite. When I go out, I believe I will catch fish and I am going to change tiny little things all day long in until I come in with a limit. Because most anglers don’t change anything they’re strategy is unknowingly based on hope, where as I adjust and believe.”

Adjustments to walleye fishing tactics that make the difference

Understanding seasonal fish locations and food options are essential to your preparation

• Early season/opening fishing - focus on 10-12 foot breaks
• Early Summer focus on 20 foot breaks
• Mid-Summer focus deeper water
• Fall – Walleye come back into the shallow water to feed on silver sided minnows that are coming into spawn

Live bait consistently out fishes artificial baits and utilizing it is the key to catching more fish and keeping new anglers engaged. Keep this in mind when taking new anglers out fishing. Jon emphasized that "All live baits are in play and one will always outperform the others at any given time during the day. Make sure to have them all (minnows, leeches and crawlers) in the boat and prepare to switch it up if the bait that was working in the morning has stopped catching."

Seasonal food options

Night crawlers will catch walleye all year long. Making the adjustment to use crawlers could be the key to double up on your catch when minnows or leeches are working but not working well.

Fun Facts:

Crawlers will catch more bass than any other bait and that’s why they are not allowed in bass fishing tournaments.

You don’t need large baits in the early seasons. Don’t pay up for Jumbo Leeches until summer

Lake Mille Lacs Fishing tip: Crayfish begin molting on the reefs in July. Understanding this seasonal food source and changing your presentation to emulate crayfish is a key adjustment that can improve your catch rate

Variables that trigger walleyes to strike – speed, cadence, color, size, bait style, and depth

Jigs – Use the heaviest jig you can get away with to make fish bite

1. Start heavy to get a feel for your presentation and adjust to a lighter weights.
2. If you start with lighter jigs you will lose that connection, which creates more guess work. You will always know where you are in the water column with a heavier jig.
3. The drop rate of the jig is the #1 thing Jon targets and adjusts to understand what the fish want on that specific day. Adjust your drop rate to what the fish want and double your catch  
4. The faster drop of heavy jigs will catch the aggressive feeding fish. You should always target the feeding fish first!

Pro-tip – Walleyes are usually feeding on the top of reefs or structures and Jon always targets these fish first. Focus on these fish by starting on top before working your way down the edge and onto the deep flat

Jigging Adjustments

• Change your cadence
• Try bouncing off the bottom with sweeps, then change it up and bounce it twice
• Try a slow drag
• Use a fast retrieve for aggressive fish and slow it down for lethargic fish
• Start with natural colors – Gold matches almost every bait fish in one respect and Jon recommends starting with gold if you don’t know what walleyes are feeding on
• Line can make the difference, try different line diameter, color, mono, fluorocarbon, and strength. Using leaders will help you quickly adjust without having to change your entire setup.

Lindy Rigs

Snell lines - always start with a longer line and then you can work your way shorter

Hook color and size why does It matter?

• Smaller hooks weigh less and will help give your bait a higher lift off the bottom. Jon starts with a number 6 hook
• Dragging your rig on the bottom catches fish. If you are marking fish and not catching, try this adjustment

Speed – Start fast and gradually reduce your speed. Consider how your bait naturally swims in the water. Slow your speed for leeches compared to minnows. Think about the natural presentation. Start at 1 mph then adjust slower or faster

Stop and starting your bait, create multiple trigger points to entice walleyes to strike.

• Set your sinker down and raise it back up every thirty seconds. Sometimes you have to talk those fish into biting
• Erratic action and speed variations will trigger strikes. Speed up, slow down, make turns, stop and start your boat to trigger more bites
• Weight choice – you want enough to get your line down at a 45 degree angle

When dragging Lindy’s or spinners position your anglers in the back of the boat to get your baits away from the boat shadow, motor noise, wake and water displacement

Floats – Jon prefers using a jig when fishing with floats.

• Jigs will improve your Leech presentation by holding them horizontal opposed to plain hooks vertical presentation
• A 1/16 ounce jig helps hold leeches in a natural horizontal presentation
• Jigs also influence minnows to move. A minnow will continue to try and right themselves on a jig, but get comfortable on a hook and become reluctant to move

Pro-tips

• Place your split shot 2 – 3 feet above your jig to give your bait the freedom to drift down naturally. It creates a leash effect which increases the radius of your presentation opposed to dropping straight down. This natural presentation allows your bait to move around and this adjustment often times triggers a strike before your bait gets to the depth you are fishing
• Big fish tend to cruise 3 to four feet above the bottom. Start fishing higher and you’ll be amazed how many fish you will catch. Jon sets his depth at 4 – 5 feet above the bottom to put his bait at a depth range that triggers active fish to bite.

Jon related this concept to ice fishing.

• When you graph a fish ice fishing and can make a fish move by tracking your bait up, they are more likely strike your bait.
• You’ll notice that often times they strike 4 – 5 feet off bottom, which is why Jon sets his soft water lines at this depth
• Setting your baits at this depth is an adjustment that works
• Anchor as far away from the fish as possible to avoid spooking

Trolling

• Crank baits – color can make the difference. Mimic the color profile of the natural bait fish in the lake
• Deep divers vs shallow – Divers have different action which can make the difference.
• Emulate large baitfish when fishing suspended fish
• Fish higher in the water column. Don’t be afraid to even work a jig that high. It will work.

Pro-tip

• Bait presentation needs to be changed day to day, hour to hour and remember to pay special to your cadence
• If the bite stops switch baits. If minnows are working all day then move to crawlers to see what happens

Special thanks to Jon for joining our club to talk fishing. We had an amazing meeting and appreciate all the walleye fishing tips along with the different techniques and presentations you shared. 

Jon received great news in January that he will be inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2025. Congratulations!

To learn more about Jon Thelen, Destination Fish, his upcoming TV Schedule and more check out his Social Media links below.

Destination-Fish Video Channel

Facebook

Fish Ed TV

Here's a detailed look at why you should utilize Omnia Fishing

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Learn more about Omnia Pro

• 10% OFF OMNIA PRO and also receive at $25 Omnia gift card
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To learn more click on this link - Omnia Fishing

They are well known for their superior ice fishing floats suits and cold weather ice fishing apparel. Their Sureflote® flotation assist provides important personal safety on the ice to give you piece of mind and protect your ice fishing experience.

Striker expanded its apparel lines to include premium rainwear, UPF apparel, lifestyle wear, layering pieces and many kinds of accessories applicable to all fishing and boating activity. This includes Florida coastal saltwater fishing, Alaska salmon fishing, and everything in between

Their lightweight rain gear ensures you stay dry and agile, insulated jackets and bibs are designed with advanced thermal technology to keep you warm during ice fishing expeditions. No matter the weather conditions.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a weekend hobbyist, Striker Fishing Gear is your go-to source for reliable, high-performance fishing equipment. Discover the difference that quality and innovation can make on your next fishing adventure. Choose Striker and elevate your game on the water.

The non-profit club, Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited, donated $1,000 to Badges and Bobbers in support their Neighborhood fishing program in Robbinsdale on September 6, 2025

Badges and Bobbers is a chance for youth ages 5 and older to meet local police officers and spend time fishing together. All levels of fishing experience are welcome. Professional anglers and volunteers will teach participants how to bait, cast, and reel. Equipment will be provided for registered participants.

Saturday, Sept 6, 2025

Ages 5+ with adult, 10 am– 12:00

Crystal Lake Fishing Per, Robbinsdale

Learn more about the Badges and Bobbers event

TCWU hosted Future Anglers of Minnesota at our May Club Meeting. They are an important youth nonprofit organization designed to mentor kids through fishing.

Thrane is a Licensed and Bonded in the State of Minnesota Refrigeration, HVAC, and Mechanical Contractor in business since 1988. We refurbish a full line of grocery store and convenience store (c-store) refrigeration equipment and cases at our Minneapolis location. Restaurant equipment is also on our Minneapolis show floor. 

What separates them from the rest of the grocery and refrigeration equipment refurbish companies is that they have the newest equipment to refurbish, at a lower cost, and in a quicker fashion. Often times many refrigeration companies will sell equipment from the 90's, or early 2000's; Almost all of their equipment is from 2000 and newer and most of it from 2005 and newer!

They are your source for top-of-the-line glass door reach-in freezers and coolers with over 500 doors in stock: Hussmann, Tyler, Hill Phoenix, Zero-Zone, Kysor-Warren, True, and more brands, in electric-defrost, hot-gas defrost, self-contained, remote versions, walk-in coolers and freezers, condensing units, evaporator coils, meat/dairy/deli cases, rack systems, rooftop condensers, compressors, under counter, stainless steel, and all other grocery store refrigeration and restaurant equipment.

Stop by their showroom! Hour are M-F 9 AM - 5:30 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 4:00 PM.

TCWU May guest speaker - Soon to be HOF Angler Jon Thelen shared this “Pro Tip of the Month“ with Club President Kail Lavigne on adjusting your presentation higher in the water column to catch more walleyes.

Thanks for the great meeting Jon!



Click on the photo below to hear what was shared!

Check out the Minnesota DNR Fishing Home Page

The Fishing Home Page on the Minnesota DNR website is loaded with all the latest updates, tools such as Lake finder, regulations, helpful tips and more all on one easy to navigate page. Take a look If you haven't had the chance to check it out. We recommend bookmarking this to your web favorites. It is a one stop shop for all MN fishing information.

Click on the link below to learn more

MN DNR Fishing Home Page

News release: New education requirements in effect July 1 for some boaters in Minnesota

The requirements aim to make boating even safer Beginning July 1, 2025, more people who operate motorboats or personal watercrafts on Minnesota waters must obtain a valid watercraft operator’s permit. The updated requirements, passed into law during 2023, are intended to make boating safer by ensuring people operating motorized watercraft know the rules and are properly trained.

Click on the link below to learn more

Watercraft Operator's Permit