Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited - Monthly Newsletter |
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Spooky
Greetings Club friends! Where did the month of October go? It is spooky how fast time goes. What a great meeting we had with our guest speaker Josh Lund. His presentation on “Walleyes in the Weeds” was filled with ideas to target walleyes this fall. Thanks for the tips Josh. And thanks to all of our club members who attended as well.
At the meeting, I announced our next GIVE project for this year. We are excited to partner with Camp Fire MN. Our goal is to raise $2,000 to build a shed for them down by the lake on their property. The shed will be used to store fishing poles, life jackets and other gear they use for kids to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Our November meeting is on the 4th, and our guest speaker is Randin Olson. Randin is a fishing guide, tournament angler and host of his own TV Show “Fishing with Randin”. I’m looking forwarding to hearing him speak as he shares his tips and fishing knowledge for catching more walleyes!
I look forward to seeing you all at our November meeting and don’t forget to bring a friend!
Dale Meinders
President - Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited
Connect | Educate | Give
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November Speaker
Randin Olson
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Location: Knights of Columbus
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We are excited to announce our Annual Club Ice fishing Camp is scheduled with Tony Roach on Lake Mille Lacs. Full details will be shared in the November Newsletter.
Save the date, Saturday January 15, 2022
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Membership has
it's advantages
You can find out more information about Twin Cities Walleyes Unlimited and our Events by going to our website and on Facebook
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Club Meeting Thursday November 4, 2021 |
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Dear Club Members,
TCWU would like to welcome you to talk fishing with fishing guide, tournament angler and educator Randin Olson. Randin owns Lock Jaw Guide Service, which is based out of the Ottertail lakes area. We are excited to personally connect with a such skilled Minnesota angler and to learn pro-tips to improve our fishing skills!
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About Randin,
He is an outdoor writer for Mid-West Outdoors, Keye’s Outdoors online magazine, and TV host for “Fishin’ with Randin”. He learned how to fish from his father who is a outstanding walleye angler. As the years grew, so did his passion for fishing. Randin shares his passion by introducing children to the outdoors. "There is no greater pleasure, since they are the future of our sport." With over 20 years of fishing experience his mission is to provide a day of great experiences and memories, along with a working knowledge of the target species.
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Gear up for hard water fishing at Scheels
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Scheels is geared up for the soon coming Cold Weather and is loaded up on all the outdoor gear you need. Make sure to get a head start on the holiday rush to get what you need before it gets picked over!
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Simms Cold Weather Gear for the hard-core! |
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Simms Tech. provides the ULTIMATE WARMTH WITHOUT THE WEIGHT
Featuring PrimaLoft® Insulation for warmth without weight and water-shedding tech to match those who love the hard-core outdoors
You’ll laugh in the face of subzero temperatures and wind-hurled snow armed with Simms ice fishing apparel, which includes everything from fleece base layers, thermal socks, and PrimaLoft®-packed gloves to insulated ice fishing bibs and jackets and guide-caliber boots rated to 40 below. Extend your angling season and embrace the deep freeze with SIMMS ice fishing clothes: keeping you warm and toasty in the very teeth of winter.
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Its not to late to winterize your boat
Check out Rapid Marine for you your Boat Maintenance and Winterization service needs
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A special welcome to the Rapid Marine Family of Dealerships who joined us as a Sponsor in June of 2021. We are excited to partner with the top Boat/Marine Dealer/Servicer in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. Their Mission is to make your boating experiences magnificent and memorable. They are dedicated to supporting you and promise to serve you both on land and on the water!
Rapid Marine services include full boat, motor, trailer, maintenance and repair including:
- Accessory installation
- Winterization
- Boat Insurance repairs
- Prop and Skag repair
- Preventative maintenance
- Complete Trailer inspection and repair
- Motor inspection, oil and lube
To learn more about their full service and maintenance details Click on the link below. We ask you to check out the Rapid Marine experience and we know you won't be disappointed.
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Contact Information and Locations |
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Rapid Marine (formerly R&R Marine)
Address: 12827 Marine Dr
Shakopee, MN 55379
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Rapid Marine - Rogers
Address: 21150 Rogers Dr Rogers, MN 55374
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Rapid Sport Marine - Ham Lake
Address: 1343 Andover Blvd NE
Ham Lake, MN 55304
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Rapid Marine - St. Cloud
Address: 3302 10th St NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
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The one-fish walleye limit resumed Thursday, Sept. 16, and continues through Tuesday, Nov. 30. During the late season, the DNR also will allow anglers to fish from 6 a.m. to midnight.
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DNR and partner agencies to continue innovative search for invasive carp
Beginning Monday, Oct. 25, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will lead a second intensive invasive carp removal effort in Pool 8 of the Mississippi River near La Crosse, Wis. Thirty-four silver carp were captured in Pool 8 during the first interagency carp removal operation in April.
The innovative Modified Unified Method (MUM) combines netting and herding techniques to drive and concentrate invasive carp from a large area of water into a small zone for removal. The DNR is conducting this work in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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The MN DNR provides helpful Tips, Videos and Blogs Check out the Learn to Fish link to learn more
- We can help you get started fishing
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We can help you find a place to fish
- We can help you catch the fish species you seek
- We can teach you about equipment and all the basics
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TCWU Pro-tip of the Month
Featuring Josh Lund
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October guest speaker Josh Lund shares this “Pro Tip of the Month“
with Club President Dale Meinders. Thanks for the great meeting Josh!
Click on the photo below to hear what Josh shared
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Guest Speaker Re-cap
Featuring Josh Lund
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TCWU hosted Local Elk River NWT Angler Josh Lund. We are truly grateful that he could make the time to join us at our club meeting. It was a cool experience to personally connect with one of our own Minnesota NWT Tournament anglers.
For those who couldn't attend you can read our meeting re-cap below
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Tips for locating fish
- Study maps and plan ahead for the time period and lake you are fishing
- Highlight the weed line depth on your sonar it will help you eliminate unproductive water. You may need to change it based on the lake you are fishing. Every lake is different.
- Weeds hold fish and are Josh’s fall back when he needs to catch fish. “When fishing gets tough, you will find me in the weeds.”
- Josh concentrates on post spawn areas in spring, near shallow spawning areas and first breaks
- In Mid-Summer he concentrates on deep water that is adjacent to shallow feeding areas
- We expect them to be on deep water humps in mid-summer but sometimes they are not there. Try the weeds and not always on the points, Josh has success on the inside turns as well.
- Fish are moving from shallow to deep back and forth all day to feed.
- If you can’t find fish take notice of and target bait balls as a possible location to fish
- Josh recommends to start fishing shallow and work deeper
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Changing weed beds – “Be observant! Last year’s awesome fishing spot may not hold fish if all the weeds are gone.”
- Fish are moving in and out of the weeds all day long. Find weed beds that are close to deep water. The sharp breaks are good spot for holding fish and the transition to feeding. Look for structures in these areas and you will typically find schooled fish.
- Observe weed beds visually zeebs are clearing the water and weed growth is expanding. I was fishing Garrison Reef last weekend for the first time since fall night fishing closed down and I wondering where all the weeds came from on Garrison Reef. Completely caught me off guard.
- Scout the weed beds to eliminate water and to target prime spots. You may have to observe the entire lake to locate where the best weeds are holding fish
- Rusty crayfish destroy cabbage patches, what was there last year may be gone next year
- Use reaction baits to find fish. Josh cranks it hard, this is not finesse fishing. Likes the shiver minnow because of the way it glides.
- Has found walleyes deep in the weeds, even pencil weeds. Target pockets and small openings
- Target different weeds within the weeds and you will usually find fish
- Shallow fishing = 2 to 7 feet. Start shallow and work deep or start deep and work shallow
- Stained lakes = shallow weed beds, clear lakes = deep weed beds
- Cabbage cools the water and thus holds fish
- Weedy lakes such as Minnetonka hold big walleye. Target the second level of weeds and fish the edge from first and second level. Find the pockets that are less weedy. MN DNR has found huge walleyes in 3 feet of water on Lake Minnetonka, unfortunately in unfishable weed beds.
- Zeebs clear the water and fish will scatter in shallow water. You will not see them on 2-d sonar. You need to use side imaging to see these fish.
- Keep your distance – 40 feet so not to spook them and cast. You will catch more fish
- The first thing Josh wants to know is, “Does this lake have cabbage in it and where. Cabbage holds walleyes, guaranteed.”
- Weather will impact fishing. Fish will turn off at one location but turn on at another based on changing weather
- Early warm weather can push bait out of your favorite shallow spots. You may have to move deeper and or find the bait.
- Not finding fish deep, try shallow. Find the bait!
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Using Panoptix Livescope
- Set up with forward view
- Schools of 5 fish or more usually represent smaller fish. Smaller fish like to hang out in numbers.
- Bigger fish are more independent and will group up in smaller numbers 2-3 fish in a group
- Catch one fish and they may spook from the fight. That’s okay just move on down the weed line and find them again. Then spot lock and catch another
- You can see the fish spook on live scope utilize the tool to your advantage
- Live scope allows you to pinpoint casts and drop your jig, lure or bobber rig right on top of them. Very helpful if the fish are reluctant to chase bait.
Tips
- Don’t use swivels in the weeds on your spinner rigs, as they will snag weed pieces. Josh uses braid with mono/fluorocarbon leaders tied with uni-knots. If you need to use a swivel attach it at the end of your line and to the lure.
- Use reaction baits to locate fish and mark those spots. Then come back and fish the ones you feel are the best later. Prepare several presentations so you can change techniques quickly and improve you catch rate
- You can use faster dropping plastics to trigger reaction bites as an alternative to jigging raps.
- Try using smaller blades and weights on your spinner rigs to get down deeper at slower speeds in the weeds. As small as 1/8 ounce bullet sinkers. Match your spinner rig to the speed and depth you want to fish at. Take the time to practice and know how different blades and weights impact your depth. Josh typically likes to troll at 1.2 miles per hour.
- Josh challenges us to branch out and find new spots to catch fish and not rely on the old standby fishing hole
- Eliminate water so your fishing time is more productive
- Josh always has a bobber rig tied and ready in the boat, match the bobber to the weight because you want optimum bouncy to reduce the pull the fish feels, so they don’t let go of the bait.
- Josh recommends not to buy an expensive rod to catch fish with bobbers and or trolling. Put your money into your jigging rod. Try a medium rod with extra fast action, amazing!
- Try gulp leeches they work
Thank you Josh for taking the time to join us with your busy schedule. We appreciate the fishing tips on how to catch Walleyes in the weeds and answering our club member questions. Continued success to you on Tour and have some awesome hard water fishing.
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Special Thanks to our Club Sponsors |
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TC Walleyes Unlimited, Inc.
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4608 Tower St.
Edina, MN 55424
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