Category: Fishing

Updated for the 2021 Season! Fishing planer boards have been around a while now, and while they get used by many anglers, I still feel most ignore them completely.  I can really see why they are a lot of added “work” in your trolling and some guys don’t want to bother.  But there are so many trolling applications where using planer boards is necessary…let me explain. What is a Planer Board? Planer boards, for a lack of a general definition, are simply tools to get your fishing line away from the boat.  If you’re trolling long flats that run for miles,

One of my earliest memories as a kid walleye fishing was using walleye rigs.  If you’re a walleye angler and haven’t used or heard of a Lindy walleye rig, then you’re missing out on a piece of walleye history.  Let me explain. In the early days, there was a product that came out that changed walleye fishing forever…the Lindy Rig.  It was a long leader of monofilament fishing line that had floats, beads, and some with blades leading down to the hook.  It was deadly and still is. Nowadays, there are a wide variety of walleye rigs on the market.  If

A fisherman from South Dakota invented the bottom bouncer a few decades ago, and it was arguably one of the most notable changes in walleye fishing we’ve ever seen.  There are so many ways to fish bottom bouncers, making it one of the most versatile tactics for walleyes and other species. Bottom bouncers can be used all season long and can be used to tap into any walleye’s mood.  I will break down the 101’s of fishing bottom bouncers, from spring to fall, and the presentations I use to catch big walleye when it counts. How to Use Bottom Bouncers Fishing

Updated for 2024! If you’ve never used a creek chub for fishing, you’re missing out.  There’s something about them that makes fish SNAP almost every time.  They’re a large, feisty bait that creates a lot of attention in the water.  And when properly rigged, the mixture just means FISH!  And don’t get me wrong, fishing for creek chubs (and trapping) can be really, really fun.  It’s also a great activity to get the kids outside, as mine loves to catch them. Creek chubs as bait are nothing new; they have just been gaining a lot of attention in recent years.  The

One of the love-hate relationships I have in walleye fishing is slow death fishing. While I love what a proper slow death rig can do, it’s using crawlers that is my least favorite part of fishing late spring and summer. Crawlers are messy, they get everywhere in your boat. But when the timing is right, it’s worth the dirt…I will explain. When I was young, we fished Lindy Rigs and Spinner Rigs almost exclusively in the summer.  We caught a ton of fish, but as time went on, we caught more fishing slow deaths than any other presentation.  There are times

  Over the years, soft plastic baits have changed a lot.  I mean, have you looked at the selection nowadays in the big box stores?  It’s crazy how many brands there are. Traditionally, plastic worms were the ticket when fishing for bass.  I used LONG worms that stretched around 6 inches. Or you had the good old Mr. Twister soft plastic baits, that were usually only around 2-3 inches.  In between that, I don’t recall there being a wide variety of soft plastic lure options on the market. Fishing lindy rigs with live bait or bottom bouncers with live bait was

I got a flashback on my phone about a memory from 2013 during the Dakota Walleye Classic week. I met a guy who was passing around some kippered pike and let me say, the stuff was AMAZING. I like pickled fish recipes, but this one was literally in a class of its own.  It kind of tasted like poor man’s smoked salmon.  I ate it plain and on a cracker, both were amazing. He was nice enough to share it with me, and since pike often gets a bad rap for their Y-bones…this recipe will change your mind. So with that

This is a 2-part Article Series.  There is so much good information, I didn’t want them split up. Here they are below: First, The Basics of Jumbo Perch Ice Fishing (Feb. 2020). Second, Fine Tuning your Approach to Catching Jumbo Perch (Feb 2021) The Basics of Jumbo Perch Ice Fishing The Midwest is home to some of the finest jumbo perch fishing in the nation. There are many waters that have become legendary for their perch populations.  Most notably Devils Lake in North Dakota, Winnebego in Minnesota and Waubay in South Dakota come to mind. These are fine fisheries and are

Devils Lake ice fishing is well-documented and is well known to be a world-class fishery.  Each winter, thousands upon thousands of anglers take on this giant body of water, in search of jumbo perch, walleye, and pike (yes, there are white bass and crappie too).  And when you get into a good school, fishing can be nothing short of amazing. However, these world-class outings don’t typically happen by chance.  Those ice anglers who are mobile tend to be the most successful while ice fishing Devils Lake. To make the process of how and where to fish Devils Lake easy, I sat

Updated 11/9/20 for the upcoming 2021 ice fishing season… So you’re looking to buy your first portable ice shelter and not sure where to look? We’ve provided an in-depth look at some of the most popular and newest ice houses on the market today. We looked hard into durability, price, and features to rank them overall. Obviously, the more you spend the thicker the canvas and larger the fishing area (and more bells and whistles). But we’re hoping this guide helps you in the right direction in finding the right portable ice fishing shelter for you. Also, we’ve revamped the reviews

Updated 4/22/25 for the addition of a NEW EDITOR’S CHOICE!  See Below… This has been an interesting season for me to say the least.  I’ve spent more time in search of bait on my own than the rest of my life combined.  I got sick of trying to find creek chubs for my fishing tournaments so I started learning how to fish for them on my own.   It’s fun and good exercise, and quite frankly, catching fish on your own bait is rewarding.  With that being said, I spent A LOT of time around portable aerators for my coolers and

I fish…a lot.  And with that being said, I need a minnow cooler that’ll just keep my bait alive, PERIOD.  I’ve written about the best minnow bucket in the past and rated the Frabill Insulated Cooler with Aerator as the editor’s choice.  That was then, this is now…hence, the Engel Cooler review I’m about to give. My quest for the perfect minnow cooler started with my obsession with creek chubs.  If you don’t know what they are, they’re a BIG minnow that’s common throughout the Midwest that walleyes and other freshwater species go crazy for. The problem is keeping them alive. 

Tournament fishing is something that’s in my blood.  If you’re a tournament angler, there’s always a few milestones that you pursue in your fishing career.  For me, one of those milestones was to win the Dakota Walleye Classic.   The Dakota Walleye Classic is a 180-team walleye tournament on North Dakota’s infamous Lake Sakakawea.  I believe it’s the 2nd largest tournament in the state, behind the Governor’s Cup (which is also on Lake Sakakawea). What makes the Dakota Walleye Classic unique, are the anglers in the event.  There are A LOT of solid sticks in the tournament.  With many tournaments, you have

There’s no doubt that trolling has come a long way, in the last decade especially.  It’s not that some of the fishing methods used are new, but the number of people using them successfully is definitely changing. But if you want my opinion, there’s no easier or efficient way to get a crankbait down deep then with a snap weight.  Yup, some may disagree as there are a variety of methods for accomplishing this.  While I have a lead core arsenal ready to go, if you’re trolling really deep it just gets to be A LOT of line and effort. With