We are excited to host Park Rapids fishing Guide Jason Durham to speak at our club meeting on Thursday January 2nd, 2025. 

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Jason grew up in Nevis, MN (population 388) and started guiding at the young age of 15. His dad would drop him off at the lake in the morning, since he didn’t have a driver’s license. Looking forward, 2024 signifies his 32nd season as a guide. He resides in Park Rapids and the area, which offers hundreds of lakes to fish with over 400 within a 25 mile radius.

Not only is he an experienced fishing guide, but also earned a Master’s Degree in Education. He has been a teacher in Nevis Public School District 308 for twenty years and teaches KINDERGARTEN!

If you’ve never been fishing before, have limited experience or simply want to gain a better understanding of the lakes surrounding the Park Rapids area Jason would love to have you aboard. Just as he would do for his students in his classroom, he will take you from whatever ability level you’re at and help you learn. Ultimately, learning about fishing equates to catching more fish!

We are excited to learn from Jason's years of experience and look forward to meeting him at our next club meeting. To learn more about Jason, check out his Social Media Pages below.

Website: Go Fish Guide Service

Facebook: Go Fish Guide Service

Instagram: Jason.Durham.GoFish

Membership has it's advantages

Join TCWU or renew today by registering on-line at: TCWU Membership

You can find out more information about Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited and our Events by going to our website and on Facebook

Great news members, we have scheduled our 5th Annual Ice Fishing Camp with Tony Roach as our guide and coach. Tony is stoked to host this event and has an awesome day of Fishing Fun planned for us. See below for all of the event details and we look forward to seeing you January 25th!

Event Details

• Meet at Nitti's Hunters Point Resort at 7:00 am. Come a little early if you want breakfast, Nitti's start serving at 6:00 am and it is delicious
• Tony will coach us up and lay out the game plan for the all day fish
• Tony will provide shelters, bait and transportation.
• You are welcome to bring your Portable Ice House, Bait, ATV's, and Snowmobiles
• Bring your fishing gear; Tony will make sure you are rigged up for success
• Lunch will be served on the Ice, but bring your favorite snacks and beverages
• Prizes, you Betcha! Tony has some cool stuff to award and so do we
• If you and your fishing buddies want to turn this into a weekend of fishing fun, contact Nitti's directly (see contact information below). Nitti's offers lodging and a variety of fish house rentals. Book your lodging now if you plan to make it a weekend of fishing fun!

Cost is $200.00 each (Tip not included) Kids 16 and under attend for Free!

Camp includes shelters, lunch, bait, personal coaching from Tony and his guides and the latest ice fishing technology and equipment to try out

Have Questions, Call Russell Nelson at 612-616-9964

Space is limited to 25 - 30 participants

Quality rods used by top tour professionals

​Rosemore rods are made with quality name brand components that give you peace of mind when the trophy fish is on the line. The Fuji TVS reel seats feature an ergonomic shape that fits your hand and has windows to put your hand in constant contact with the blank for extra sensitivity. The Pacific Bay Mimina guides weigh 20-30% less than traditional ceramic guides that further increases sensitivity, and feature a 304 stainless steel ring. This means no worries about a broken insert cutting your line on a trophy fish.

Rosemore rods are proven to be championship quality and were featured at the NWT Championship in 2024 with Evan's second place finish. And also to mention, his father Steven who finished in second place respectfully on the Co-Angler side. The father-and-son combo crushed with their Rosemore custom rods.

Thanks for your support and your active presence at our club meetings Evan!

2024 NWT Champion Tom Huynh shared this video endorsing Rosemore rods, click to learn more Tom Huynh on Rosemore

To learn more and view their online shop click the links below: 

Website: Rosemore Outdoor Gear

Facebook: Rosemore Outdoor Gear

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.

MNDNR Fishing Home Page

Minnesota DNR retains 4 walleye limit on Upper Red Lake for winter season

Due to excellent results in the fall netting assessment of walleye on Upper Red Lake, the winter season walleye limit on Upper Red will continue to be a four fish possession limit, with only one walleye longer than 17 inches allowed. Click on the link below to learn more.

Upper Red Lake Walleye Limits

Minnesota DNR retains 2 walleye limit on Mille Lacs Lake for winter season

State-licensed ice anglers on Lake Mille Lacs will be able to keep two walleye 18-20 inches long, or one walleye 18-20 inches and one walleye longer than 28 inches, from Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, to Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.

Lake Mille Lacs Walleye Limits

Caution paramount as ice season gets underway

TCWU November guest speakers Scott Seibert and Shelly Holland share this “Pro Tip of the Month“ with Club President Dale Meinders on the importance of keeping your lures looking good during ice fishing travel and a new renewable way to keep your hands warm this winter. Thanks for the great meeting Shelly and Scott!

Click on the photo below to hear what was shared!

TCWU welcomed Scott Seibert and Shelly Holland at our November Club Meeting. Scott is a professional angler, fishing guide with SKSGUIDES and has 40 plus years of fishing experience. He has fished walleye tournaments, and brought a wealth of fishing knowledge to share with our members.

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Shelly is a Clam Pro Staffer and excels at educating anglers by sharing her fishing knowledge to others at seminars. She is always willing to lend a helping hand! She is the owner of Escape Excursions featuring outdoor adventures at the Apostle Islands.

They set a goal on helping educate people through fishing clinics, universities and guiding. They are passionate at supporting the many women fishing groups and truly recommend that if you're a female and you like fishing to join those clubs.

"It’s amazing at what you learn by hanging around fellow anglers that are good at fishing."

For those of you who missed the meeting, enjoy the re-cap below!

Lake Winnipeg and Destination Fishing for Trophy Fish

When the time is right Scott and Shelly highly recommend branching out for destination opportunities to experience trophy fishing. Lake Winnipeg is a close 8 hour ride and boasts an amazing walleye fishing trip to chase the giant emerald green giants. "There are so many more people that are going to Winnipeg now for these big fish, and catching them in the 30 inch range." They have experienced trips that produced 28 fish over 28 inches, which is amazing.

Lake Winnipeg is not a clear lake so they recommend using large noisy baits and ratting baits

• Flutter Spoon – Scott likes flutter action of the 3/8 oz
• Live bait is a little hard to come by, and they use bait buttons to help keep minnows on the hook. They use the whole minnow and sometimes multiple minnows
• Frozen Shiners work well
• Loud rattling reaction strike baits such as Clam Psycho Shads, which feature a unique combination of fluttering and rattle
• Use heavy line – 15 pound braid with a 15 pound fluorocarbon leader. The lake is dirty and heavier line doesn’t deter the fish from biting.

The lake is shallow and you catch fish from 5 – 20 feet. Often times you end up chasing the schools, which requires moving throughout the day. Scott and Shelly recommend making larger moves 300 – 500 yards. Fishing with large groups of friends is always a lot of fun and beneficial on Lake Winnipeg. Spreading your group out will help you locate schools quicker and aid in following fish movements.

Prepare to be self-sufficient. Bring extra equipment, and the tools needed to repair sleds, tents, heaters, and etc…

• Ice can get up to 46 inches thick by March. bring back up augers and blades
• If you use an electric auger – bring extra batteries, 4 - 40 volts to be safe
• Good sharp blades help your batteries last longer

Tips for a success trip

• You can’t depend on driving around on the ice, it's recommended to have ATV’s and Snowmobiles
• Call the resorts, they will update you on the latest conditions
• Consider renting a SnoBear, their not expensive when you split the cost between fishing friends
• It’s a big lake and its not a bad idea to hire a guide the first time out to achieve immediate fishing success. They are tuned into the fish movements, patterns and the multiple spots on the lake
• There are several spots to access the lake and the accesses are well maintained. Many anglers tow their Ice Castles out and park on the ice.

Clam Rechargeable Hand Warmer

For those cold days out on the ice, or in the boat Scott and Shelly both use a Clam Rechargeable Hand Warmer. They work great and allow you to fish without gloves. They have three heat settings up to a toasty 131° and not only keep hands warm but your body as well. Charge will last for up to 15 hours and slim design fits comfortably in your pocket. It can even charge your phone and other devices. 

New Technology

Forward Facing Sonar has changed the way we fish, it works so well at targeting fish that we all went back to the basic fishing techniques

• Slip Bobbers
• Jig and a night 1/2 a night crawler
• Whistler Jigs and a minnow
• Plastics 4 – 5 inch Z-Man DieZel Minnows

Scott is excited for the next game changer. The new Lowrance Eagle Eye – Complete Sonar Solution

• Featuring forward and down live imaging along with 2D and Down Imaging all in one package and affordable at $999. See the graphics below for the exciting details

Special thanks to Scott and Shelly 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 on destination fishing and using forward facing sonar.

To learn more about Scott and Shelly SKSGUIDES Sports Fishing and Escape Excursions, check out their social media pages.

Website: 

• SKSGUIDES
• Escape Excursions

Facebook: 

• SKS Guides
• Scott Seibert 
• Shelly Holland