Category: Fishing

Wearing sunglasses is important, by now we should all know that. While as a kid growing up, I thought wearing sunglasses was more about fashion than being smart. Nowadays, I don’t go anywhere without them. While I’m writing this about the best polarized sunglasses for fishing, this can also translate to other outdoor sports as well.  Having a solid pair is also nice for driving and just being outside period.  I spend countless hours relaxing while trolling for walleyes, giving me a permanent coon-eye look…whatever, I just roll with it. People are so hung up on brands these days, it’s hard

I have been fishing jigs my entire life since I could pick up a rod.  Jigs have been the number one lure in my boats and on my rods since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. My father, Jim Peluso, moved to Bismarck, ND back in 1974 chasing work with hockey. One of the main reasons he decided to come to this wonderful area, as he saw on a map the Missouri River ran right through town. In the mid to late 70’s, maybe even the early 80’s, the Fuzzy Grub jig came onto the scene. I remember like it was

There are times during the year when walleyes can be found shallow…real shallow. Normally, you expect it during the spawn. That’s a given in the spring. But outside of that, there are times where the big girls like to stay there too. And when walleyes are shallow, they’re often real spooky. So that’s the time to stay away and cast in. And this is where casting crankbaits really shines. When are Walleyes Shallow? Before we talk crankbaits, you have to know when to cast them. If the walleyes aren’t shallow, what’s the point right? I like to troll for walleyes a

Making fishing leaders is easy, and it’s really something I had to do more of because of the types of fishing I do. It saves money and I find it to be enjoyable. There are really 2 ways to make a fishing leader. Leaders with a GOOD knot. Leaders made with crimps. Now if you ask this question around circles, you’ll hear reasons for both. Me personally, I like using crimps. It’s fast, easy, cheap, and they rarely let you down. BUT, there is a science to making them right. And I will explain. How Long Should My Fishing Leader Be?

I caught my first walleye slip bobber fishing when I was a kid.  That was many moons ago, but I can still remember it well. My dad tossed out a slip bobber for me and I stared at that thing for what felt like forever (for a 5-year-old it was probably 10 minutes).  It was tipped with a minnow off a weed break in a small Minnesota lake. I don’t remember the length, but it was around 3.5 lbs.  We brought it to the local bait shop in Detroit Lakes, MN and my picture went on the wall.  That sparked what

A common question I see is… what is the best fishing line for walleye? The reality is there is no one fishing line for every walleye fishing application. Each type of line shines in its own way, depending on how it’s used. For example, what line you use for pitching, vertical jigging, bottom bouncers and rigging, trolling, etc. will ALL vary. So you’ll want to plan ahead for what you’ll need for the way you like to fish walleyes. So I will answer the basic fishing line questions that come up often in circles. What is the Best Fishing Line for

I can remember my first walleye tournament like it was yesterday.  A good friend of mine offered to let me jump in as the 3rd wheel years ago, in Bismarck’s infamous Big Muddy tournament.  This tourney was the spring kickoff on the first weekend of May. The tourney had been around for a long time and to win it meant you needed some serious fish.  While everyone in the tourney wanted to win, I was more interested in the experience than anything. I’ve been competitive all my life and needed to determine if this was to be that outlet and it

Bismarck, ND is known for being the state capital of North Dakota. Did you also know it’s home of the new North Dakota state walleye record? Yes, the elusive walleye record that stood tall for over 5 decades finally came crashing down right in the city limits of Bismarck in the spring of 2018. Amazingly though, people came close to breaking this record numerous times last spring. It was staggering for awhile how many fish over 13 pounds were being caught. I personally anticipate it being broken again very soon especially from what we saw last spring. How to Read the

I’ve never been a big tip up fan for ice fishing.  The main reason, they’ve let me down too often.  How many times has your tip up frozen on you for whatever reason?  It sucks.  And to add insult to injury, your bait is probably gone too… But what if I told you there was an ice fishing tip up on the market today that is designed for the HARSH elements?  You can have every bell and whistle in the world, but if it’s too cold or windy with blowing snow…they may not work. 2 days ago I was on the

  I absolutely LOVE my Clam Ice Armor fishing bibs. I honestly cannot stress it enough how impressed I am with them. I just wish I had a camouflage pair to wear in the duck blind…. I moved from Nebraska to Central North Dakota in the summer of 2017, spending most of my life open water fishing. Sure, I had gone on a few Nebraska ice fishing outings, but for anyone that has grown up in Nebraska, or states further south, you know that safe ice lasting more than a week is a bonus most years. North Dakota winters, however, would not be as forgiving….

Do you remember the first time you used an underwater fishing camera? I do, clearly. I was at a bait shop in Detroit Lakes, MN and they were renting one out. My dad rented it and we ventured out to our favorite, family lake. I was in awe with what I saw that day as we moved around… Underwater fishing cameras serve many purposes. It lets you SEE what actually down there. Let’s face it, as much as I love my fish finder (sonar), it’s just 2D. Until you stick a camera down there, you really don’t know what’s AROUND you.

I was introduced recently to a fishing knot tool that I thought was pretty darn cool.  Now I’m pretty confident with my fishing knots, especially for Mono and Braid.  But I always am looking for new ideas when it comes to fishing knots for leaders.  I’ve used everything from a blood knot to knots I can’t even remember their name…and yes, everything in-between. Well, this fishing knot tool can do just that, and more…  Welcome to Hook EZE.  You can now do various line to line and line to leader fishing knots with ease.  The tool has all the instructions, showing

Have you ever ended up on your back, looking up, after slipping on the ice?  Well, I’ve been there, more than once. And each time, as I look up the first thing on my mind is, why aren’t I wearing ice cleats??? The reality is, if you’re going to be spending a good time on the ice, you need the best ice cleats you can find.  No more sliding your feet to avoid slipping, walk with confidence. Now if you’re already an owner of ice cleats and are reading this…chances are, you probably have a cheap pair.  You can walk into

Take a moment, and think about how many minnow buckets do you think you’ve gone through in your life? How many cheap, foam or plastic buckets have you used for ice or open water fishing? I’ve found the best minnow bucket you will find right now, especially for the price it’s at right now. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = “flywa-20”; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = “manual”; amzn_assoc_ad_type = “smart”; amzn_assoc_marketplace = “amazon”; amzn_assoc_region = “US”; amzn_assoc_design = “enhanced_links”; amzn_assoc_asins = “B01CPJALDO”; amzn_assoc_placement = “adunit”; amzn_assoc_linkid = “19babc03b0411ff4bb8bb07bfd8e9b82”; The best part about a Frabill minnow bucket is that they’ve been making them forever and you’d like to assume