Tom Boley's big fish pattern, FFS cheat code, Bro spins late summer 🌿

> ...the new unmanned Saildrone Explorer that has been employed this summer by the U.S. Geological Survey can perform fishery surveys like never before.

> The Saildrone Explorer has already been launched and is recording date in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. The orange-colored unmanned vehicle will be moving into the Central Basin and the waters off Huron, Lorain and Cleveland this week.

> “These vehicles will be able to record data much more efficiently than typical trawl net surveys.... Those surveys are done with diesel boats, which have noisy engines and can cause schools of fish to move away from the sound. Our Saildrone Explorer and LRAUV are silent, and should provide a completely different look at the Lake Erie fishery.”

> ...outfitted with environmental sensors both under and above the water, including a fisheries echosounder, much like an electronic fish finder....

2. Someone invented an O-ring for live bait?

> "I wanted to create an accessory that would allow a fisherman to secure baitfish to his fishing line/hook without harming them so I invented the Bait Belt.

> “...ensure that bait remains healthy and frisky in the water for a more effective bait presentation."

I believe this is a pic of it:

It does make the little hamster in my brain wonder if there’d be ice-fishing applications for deadsticks or rattle-reels 🤔 but also if you skin hook ‘em right they stay alive all night...especially when you don’t catch a fish hahah.

3. MI: 47 youth participate in Kids Fishing Day at Paxton Quarry.

4. MN: 2023 AGLOW Annual Conference is Sept 17-21.

At the Hampton Inn & Suites in Bemidji.

AGLOW = Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers 💯 one talented bunch!

5. NY: Giant Oneida Lake sturgeon nearly jumps in boat.

How could this not be the biggest freshwater fish ever caught on a Jigging Rap? 🤣

Want a giant walleye? Try fishing for muskies.

> “Just as I had done 1,000 times that week, I swung the big crankbait around in a figure-8 alongside the boat. As the crankbait hesitated in a turn, a fish flashed out from beneath the boat and T-boned the lure. I set the hook and grunted “Fish!” to let my partner know I was hooked up to what I thought was about a 40” muskie, judging by the width of its head.

> “But I was stunned to see a white tip on the fish’s tail waving much farther back in the water than it should have been. I’m a muskie fisherman first, and all the walleyes that hit muskie baits were incidental catches. But when something occurs multiple times when fishing, you’ve discovered a pattern, and big walleyes on big baits is a great one.”

That’s Steve Heiting talking about this 32” giant he caught on a muskie bait…again!

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl’s late-summer walleye tips.

From MidWest Outdoors:

The Bromeister loves pulling spinner rigs for late-summer walleyes ‘cuz A) they’re a great way to cover water, B) there’s lots of ways to fish ’em and C) he can switch up components to dial in the bite:

> There’s a time during Aug in many lakes where fish are on top of structures on both the outside edge and inside edge of the cabbage weeds.

> Fish like flats in the summer and will concentrate near the patches of chara, gravel and rocks on the flats. These areas will hold a mixture of forage – including minnows and crayfish, which are a large part of their summer diets.

> Spinners give the bait some lift...helps keep the baits off the bottom and out of the weeds. Also send out vibrations fish can feel along their lateral lines and help them target the baits in lakes with limited visibility.

> Pick up the speed on the flats to cover more water and put baits in front of more fish...gives fish [less time] to decide whether to strike at the bait or let it pass by.

> Larger leeches can be hard to find late in the season...[try using] 2 small- to medium-size leeches on spinner rigs instead....

> I often use Northland’s 1.5- to 2-oz bottom-bouncer with either a 2-hook spinner rig with a nightcrawler, or a single Slow Death hook for either nightcrawlers or leeches.

> Stained-water lakes give anglers a better chance to catch walleyes during the day...even when faced with less than favorable conditions.

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

To send us walleye pics, ice shots or whatever, just respond to this email or click here to email us. Or post it on the Target Walleye Facebook page.

Target Walleye LLC

422 Laurel Street

P.O. BOX 541

Brainerd, MN 56401

(218) 824 5026

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