Author: Chris Hustad

Updated on 3/17/21 to reflect new baits… I love finding efficient ways to catch walleye. And in the springtime, one of the most overlooked techniques in shallow water trolling where the big girls reside. It’s no surprise that an article such as this comes from me. I’ve been preaching about the effectiveness of walleye trolling for years. It just flat out catches fish, no matter the time of year. But in the spring is when you can use this tactic to really catch the big fish. For me, I start really trolling as soon as the water temps hit 40 degrees.

Hi, my name is Chris, and I’m a crankaholic… Yes, I will admit it; I have a problem. I love to fish and when open water season warms up, I love walleye trolling.  And not just trolling for walleyes, I like to take an efficient approach to my fishing. Let me explain… First off, if you’re reading this you’re either a beginner at trolling walleyes or someone who trolls often but maybe looking for other approaches. Either way, I will cover EVERYTHING when it comes to efficient trolling for walleyes.  Either you’re asking, “How to troll for walleye?” or “How Can

It’s amazing how much technology has changed the fishing industry over the past 2 decades.  I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me become a better fisherman. While some may pull the cheating card, the fact is, that fishing will continue to evolve to the point where fish don’t even have a chance. 🙂 The same goes for the ice fishing industry.  Sonar, underwater cameras, GPS, etc. etc. all make it easier for you to be on the X and catch fish (and save time).   Most people own a smartphone.  And with that being said, whether it’s an Apple or

In my eyes, I feel walleyes are one of the most difficult freshwater fish to pattern. Why? Well, for starters, there hasn’t been a real long history on walleye fishing. When I was a kid in the 80s, everything was DEEP, DEEP, DEEP…we all know nowadays that that’s not always the case. Walleye fishing has evolved a lot in just 30 years. We used to fish everything SLOW when I was a kid, and while there are times that’s necessary, it’s also not always the case. I’ve slammed big walleyes trolling 3.5 mph with crankbaits in the spring, so the slow

I have the utmost respect for ice, and you have to if you spend a large amount of time on it fishing. I’ve already been walking on the ice for around a month and logged some pretty good outings so far on walleyes. But now as deep winter sets in, I’m getting tired of walk-ons, I want to get my ATV in the mix and get to where I really want to go… For some guys, the winter doesn’t start until they get their large ice house and truck onto the ice. It seems the moment you see 10-12 inches, you

The ice fishing scene is changing fast, and the evolution of jigging spoons is no different.  Let me explain. Traditionally, you have a flat lead spoon that is molded into various shapes and sizes.  Add a ring and a hook, and you’ve got yourself a fishing lure. But nowadays, they’ve taken the jigging spoon into new realms and they’re really catching on under the ice. I don’t buy as much fishing tackle as I used to.  I mean, I still do but my variety is getting more narrow as the market has gotten flooded with ice fishing spoons.  Ironically, the shelf

Lipless crankbaits are a combination of old and new.  I say they’re old, as I used to throw rattle traps when I was a kid for pike and bass.  We’re talking 20 years ago, so a lipless crankbait isn’t new in that sense. But it’s new in the fact that they’re being WIDELY USED now, even for ice fishing. While you can fish lipless crankbaits in various ways, I’m finding myself using them more now in the ice fishing game.  While historically, crankbaits are casted or trolled; the new style of lipless cranks are being fished heavily vertically (such as ice

It’s getting to be that time of year when the cold weather is inevitable, and the ice is starting to thicken.  I’m planning an upcoming trip to Devils Lake, ND ice fishing in the next week, so I thought it would be a good idea to share on how I plan for an ice fishing trip such as this, including our ice fishing checklist we use.  It’s really not rocket science, but it makes for good planning and to ensure you don’t end up without… Use a Shareable Document Online Using a shareable document, such as Google Docs, is a great

Probably my favorite time of year to chase walleyes is on early ice.  While I know many guys who prefer the spring, that’s usually when I’m chasing snow geese so I spend most of my focus early in the winter.  The strong sun rays of the spring deteriorate the ice quickly, so you’re window of opportunities in the spring can be short. Catching walleyes the first few weeks of the season isn’t rocket science, you just have to know their tendencies.  And I will share the 3 tips that I follow when fishing most any lake in November or December for

Ice fishing season is upon us, and it’s time to gear up for the season.  I’m not the kind of guy who has to replace or upgrade every year, but I am always looking to be more efficient on the ice.  When it comes to my ice fishing gear, I factor price and longevity with every purchase. I can’t stand ice fishing gear that doesn’t last, so I thought I’d break down my personal top 10 must-haves for ice fishing  I will start with the NEEDS and end with the WANTS. Ice Fishing Gear Needs Ice Rod/Reel Combo Let’s face it,