Hooked v2n3-2 - Hooked Magazine
Transcription
Hooked v2n3-2 - Hooked Magazine
Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:36 AM Page 1 Volume 2 Issue 3 • Spring 2009 www.hookedmagazine.ca HOOKED ON A CURE Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:36 AM Page 2 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:36 AM Page 3 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:36 AM Page 4 I sskipped coffee, breakfast and the newspaper. It was straight for the water… just another 4-stroke morning. This is my Yamaha. What Kind of Yamaha Are You? Maximum efficiency. Smooth, quiet operation. Turn Key Reliability • Multi-point fuel injection system • Multi-function tiller handle • VTS (Variable Trolling Speed) Alliance Marine & Sport 12 Chester Street Winnipeg, MB 204 774-7609 800 230-5431 [email protected] www.alliancemarineandsport.com Westshore Marine and Leisure Main Street & Hwy 68 Arborg, MB 204 376-3660 866 661-3660 [email protected] www.westshoremarine.ca Lakeside Marina Ltd. Hwy 105 Red Lake, ON 807 727-2366 877 873-3681 [email protected] www.lakesidemarinaltd.com Winnipeg Sport and Leisure 1272 Dugald Road Winnipeg, MB 204 987-5640 800 661-7669 [email protected] www.winnipegsportandleisure.com Northern Rental & Power Products 1911 Dubreuil Street Swan River, MB 204 734-5800 888 266-8889 [email protected] www.northernrentals.ca Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 5 Contents | Spring 2009 Feature 20 SPIN TO WIN! Spinner rigs are an effective and productive choice this spring. 22 BIG BLADES Bucktails are the musky lure of choice. PRO POINTERS 10 | Bigger is Better with Don Lamont 30 | Staging Largemouth Strategies with Scott Dingwall 32 | Let’s Talk Fishin’ with Craig Stapon 34 | Classic Walleye Presentations with Davis Viehbeck 36 | Dog Day Panfish with Matt Johnson 40 | Early Season Secrets with Jeff Gustafson INSIDER TIPS 12 | Pitchin’ Jigs for Skinny Water Walleyes 16 | Silent but Deadly... Trolling Motor Tips COLUMNS 24 TO THE EXTREME! If you have ever watched his show, you know Karl is high energy, fast paced and always lays a lickin’ on BIG BASS! 28 | The Day of Days 23 | Is Your Baby Protected? DEPARTMENTS 08 | Tackle Box 16 | Hooked Kids/Hall of Fame 48 | Outdoor Adventures 38 | Fireside Grill 46 | Weekend Warrior Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 5 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 6 SETTING THE HOOK I have two words for you... blasted ice! As you all know we have experienced one heck of a cold and incredibly long winter. Don’t get me wrong I love ice fishing as much as the next hardcore angler, but, in a portable shack with heat! All I can think about right now is open water. My mind has been on three things the last few weeks, open water, bass fishing and more bass fishing! Welcome to the May 2009 spring issue of Hooked magazine. Over the last few months we have made some very exciting progress. Besides bringing you the great stories and local content you have come to expect in Hooked we have finally jumped into the twentieth century. That’s right, Hooked is now online. Hooked online has weekly blogs from pro anglers, news and events, videos and so much more. We even post past issues just in case you missed an older issue of Hooked. The really cool thing about Hooked online is you can comment on our stories, ask questions and receive email notifications every time new content is posted. Check it out today! Now then back to open water! We have a load of great pro pointers and insider tips this issue to help you put more and bigger fish in the boat. Mike Schamber, or Big fish as he is affectionately called, spills the beans on why he is so successful targeting and catching monster walleyes. Gussy gives up some early season secrets and accomplished tournament anglers Dave Bennett and Scott Dingwall fill us in on a few tricks that they have learned over the years to land more trophy and tournament winning fish. This issues exclusive interview is with Extreme Angler TV’s Karl Kalonka. Karl’s show is high paced, raw and in your face. Extreme Angler TV is full of great informa- tion, tips and tricks and just happens to be one of my favourite shows. I am always amazed at the size of the bass Karl catches. Don’t believe me? Check out page 24 for some huge bucket mouths and a little Q&A with Karl. Not everyone has the luxury of taking off to do some fishing during the week. Let’s face it most anglers live and die for the weekends. Meet the newest member of our Hooked team, Scott Sime the Weekend Warrior! Besides writing a weekly blog on hookedmagazine.ca, Scott will be a regular contributor to Hooked. Scott will be filling us in with some great information and pointers on how to make the most out of your weekend fishing adventures. We have some very exciting things planned for 2009. Make sure you keep up to date with all of Hooked magazine’s adventures, tournaments, fundraisers and contests. We have a very busy season ahead of us, and that’s just fine with me. The more time on the water the better! This year I am very excited to be teamed up with Fin Tech Tackle! Fin Tech is definitely one of the fastest growing tackle companies around and they have some great product to boot! I will be running a Fin Tech boat this year so if you see us on the water make sure you come by and say hi! Once again I would like to thank all of our advertisers for supporting Hooked! We have all seen and felt the effects of an uncertain economy. Despite that, our advertisers have remained dedicated to supporting Hooked. Our thanks go out to them, and also to YOU! It’s because of you, our readers, that Hooked is central Canada’s premier fishing and outdoors publication! See you on the water! Contributors MIKE SCHAMBER or BIGFISH as he is affectionately known as, has the uncanny knack of not only locating, but catching big fish... and he does it consistantly 12 months out of the year. His targets are primarily slab crappie and trophy walleye countrywide. His walleye tournament record speaks for itself-with more than ten top 3 finishes, and a win on Lake of the Prairies. Bigfish has been promoting the sport for over twenty years, through seminars, writing, and tournaments. Mike is sponsored by Ranger Boats and Mercury Outboards. SCOTT DINGWALL calls Lake of the Woods in Kenora, Ontario home. “The variety of world class outdoor opportunities this area currently has is unbeatable” He started fishing tournaments in 1994, fishing 1 or 2 local events a year at first. Since then he has branched out and is now fishing tournaments in both Canada the U.S, as far South as Florida. Scott now opperates Lake-N-Woods Outfitter; offering guided fishing / hunting trips on Lake of the Woods. www.lake-n-woods.com Publisher Steven Wintemute 204-262-5201 • [email protected] Art Director / Production Kevin Stobbe — Nuance Design 204-771-4041 [email protected] Advertising Sales Marc Golke 204-889-5046 • [email protected] Photography Hooked Media Regular Contributors Darren James, Steven Wintemute, Don Lamont, Craig Stapon, Jeff Gustafson, JJ Ross, Robert Burton, Scott Sime This Issue’s Contributors Darrin Bohonis, Matt Johnson, Scott Dingwall, Davis Viehbeck, Dave Bennett, Mike Schamber, Andrew Klassen Free promotional copies are distributed at: MANITOBA Arborg TDM Sports Beausejour CO OP Gas Bar Brandon Brandon Tourism Home Hardware Building Centre Jo Brook Firearms Dauphin Sticky’s Bait and Tackle Black’s Cycle & Sporting Goods Duck Mtn. Prov. Park Blue Lakes Resort Wellman Lake Lodge Falcon Lake Falcon Beach Auto Garson Garson Grocery Gimli True Value Hardware Lac du Bonnet CO OP Gas Bar La Verendrye Trading Co. Petro Canada Gas Bar Lockport Lockport Grocery Sportsman’s Stop Esso Morden Morden Motor Sports Pine Falls Broadlands XTR Clark’s Corner Domo Ed & Ron’s Tempo Portage la Prairie MacDonald’s Sporting Goods Prawda Prawda Shell Rapid City A Li’l Bait & Tackle Store Richer Manny’s Live Bait Roblin Parkway C-Store CoOp ONTARIO Dryden KA Sports & Tackle - Petro Canada Kenora B & B General Store Canadian Tire Clearwater Shell JB Bait and Tackle Super 8 Kenora Shell Redden’s Camp (Longbow Lake) Sunset Baits Wal-Mart Zdep’s Pro Shop Nestor Falls Angler’s Pro Shop Red Lake Northern Sporting Supplies Red Lake Tourism Thunder Bay D&R Sporting Goods Riverside Outdoors Smith’s RV Centre Sleeping Giant Taxidermy Larry’s Village Baits (Kakebeka Falls) North Country Cycle & Sports SASKATCHEWAN Estevan Pro Wash Shell Nipawin Shell 35 Prince Albert Prince Albert CO OP Regina CMS Hook and Hunt Great Northern Rod & Reel Pokey’s Tackle Shop Saskatoon The Fishin’ Hole Wholesale Sports Tisdale Beeland CO OP Yorkton Home Hardware Building Centre ALBERTA Calgary The Fishin’ Hole Wholesale Sports Edmonton The Fishin’ Hole-North The Fishin’ Hole-West The Fishin’ Hole-South Wholesale Sports Hooked magazine is published 5 times yearly by Hooked Media, located at 22 Bourkewood Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3J 1B2. Hooked is distributed exclusively throughout Central Canada. We carefully inspect all ads for accuracy, however, the publisher and the printer shall not be responsible for any mistakes, design errors or incorrect information which is provided by the advertiser. The advertising, photographs, editorial and artwork is the property of Hooked Media and not that of the advertiser. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright and are intended for the sole use of the public. ©2008 Hooked Media Printed in Canada. 6 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Seddon’s Corner Seddon’s Corner Esso St. Frances Xavier Welcome Stop Esso Swan River Atkinson’s Sports Excellence Rough Country Sports Teulon Red River CO OP Teulon Mohawk The Pas L & M Sports Excellence Wescana Inn Thompson Crazy Pete’s Trading Post Xtreme Sport Fishing Tyndall Tyndall Power Products Westhawk Westhawk Lake Resort Winnipeg Canada Map Sales Destination Winnipeg Explore Manitoba Centre (The Forks) Fort Whyte Alive Manitoba Conservation Manitoba Museum Pro-Am Tackle The Fishin’ Hole Travel Manitoba Centres Wholesale Sports Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 7 e y e ll a W IG B s it a B BIG Doug Hartle Staff Fin-tech Pro Title SHot ®“Shorty” Jig “Walleye Series” It’s no secret BIG Walleye eat BIG baits. The patented Retainer holds those BIG baits, plastic or meat, so you can get the job done. The Title SHot “Shorty” Walleye Series is available in 5 hot colours and 3 sizes with Mustad Wide Gap Ultra Point RED hooks, because “Catching Fish is Everything”™. Tip: remove the retainer and attach a stinger for short biters!! Doug Hartle r Big Walleye If you’re looking fo ok’em this is the jig to ho y!! - Title SHot Short Available in 5 colours and 3 sizes 1/8 - 3/8 oz. Catch you at www.jigfish.com Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 8 TACKLE BOX Catch and Release Tips! Buzz baits What’s all the Buzz about? Buzzbaits are one of most exciting baits used for catching bass. They will literally attack them out of nowhere! REDUCING THE HANDLING TIME, AND THEREFORE THE STRESS ON A FISH, IS VERY IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL OF A RELEASED FISH. Stress and physical damage are the biggest killers of released fish, so caution must be exercised. A fish that is going to be released should be played as little as possible. If you are going to release a fish immediately, don't handle it at all. Simply remove the hook with a pair of pliers while the fish is still in the water. Deeply swallowed hooks should be cut off, rather than removed. The damage done trying to remove the hook could be fatal, but left alone the hook will often corrode and work free. • Never grab a fish by the eyes or gills; instead grasp the fish behind the gills and lift it out of the water. Be careful not to squeeze its belly. After removing the hook, gently return the fish to the water head first. You can support larger fish from underneath with one hand, while using the other hand to hold the tail. • Do not keep the fish out of water any longer than necessary. The chance of survival will be increased by minimizing the time out of water. Many fish will swim away without being revived, but if necessary, work some water through its gills. Be careful not to pull back abruptly on the fish or push it through the water too quickly, otherwise you may do more damage than good. • Though it should go without saying, never toss fish back into the water as you would your boat anchor or a rock. You may have the satisfaction of releasing a fish without realizing that the return may damage it. Letters: Send us your comments and suggestions to: [email protected] HEY STEVE! I just wanted to let you know how much I have been enjoying Hooked online — especially the emails notifications when new posts are made. You are doing an incredible job! And the photos are beautiful — enough to make me VERY jealous! Carolyn HI, Great magazine, I really enjoy a local look at our wonderful fishing here in Manitoba. Keep it up. Thanks. Derek Puchailo STEVE, Congratulations to you and the entire staff at Hooked Magazine. Finally a great LOCAL magazine about our great 8 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 HERE ARE 5 GREAT TIPS ON HOW TO FISH WITH BUZZBAITS: 1. They are very productive, especially in late spring at the end of the spawn. 2. They are good for fishing a lot of water in a short time. 3. Buzzbaits are great over weedbeds, and around a lot of cover in shallows. 4. You want to keep the rod tip high to keep the buzzbait on top. 5. You want to start reeling the line in just before the buzz bait hits the water. The “Ultimate” Angler Diamond Award New for 2009: Travel Manitoba has created a new level of distinction to accompany our Silver Award “Expert” level, Gold Award “Grand Master” level and Platinum Award “Elite Angler” level: The Diamond “Ultimate” Angler Award. Manitoba outdoors. Dedicated, knowledgeable and professional staff... Even a “kid section”. With three issues out now I can see that this magazine will be a success. Wishing you nothing but the best. Norman Sancartier Cranberry Portage Mb. Caribou Lodge Outfitters I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINE, I picked up issue # 2 at our local sports store D and R Sports in Thunder Bay and I must say what a great magazine you have published. When are you going to open this up for subscription? Thanks and keep up the great work. Don Lemieux Editor’s note: Hooked is available for subscription now! Fill out the subscription card in this issue or subscribe online at www.hookedmagazine.ca TO HOOKED, Great work with the magazine guys, keep it up. Also, thanks for putting my daugh- ter’s picture in the latest issue’s Hooked Kids. She’s been showing it to everybody for the last month now.I have been too. Eric GRANDMA IN AUSTRALIA GOT THE MAGAZINE! Avid fisherpersons and proud parents Tracy and Paul Lambert of Landmark, Manitoba sent me, (Grandma living in Queensland, Australia), a copy of Hooked so I could see the photos of Ethan and the one of Ella and her dad Paul in the winter 08/09 magazine! We were also referred to the web site to see Ethan’s picture in the bottom left hand corner of the home page website. Thanks! And just thought you might like to know your magazine is being shown around my circle of friends and then sits on my coffee table for all to see! Grandma Angie Mulgrew Cabooolture, Qld Australia Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 9 1825 Rebel XL SS package includes: Mercury 90 HP 2-stroke engine, a Lowrance X-50ds fish locator, a Motor Guide bow mounted trolling motor, and a ShoreLand’r bunk trailer with swing tongue. #1 on the water ® 1625 Rebel XL SS package includes: Mercury 50 HP 2-stroke engine, a Lowrance X-50ds fish locator, a Motor Guide bow mounted trolling motor, and a ShoreLand’r bunk trailer with swing tongue. ✔ Exclusive IPS™ (Integrated Power Strake™) hull ✔ Big, convenient bow storage ✔ SS console with auto-style dash and chrome gauges ✔ Livewell/baitwell ✔ SportTrak™ accessories system ✔ Bow casting platform ✔ Port and starboard rod lockers ✔ Deep cockpit ✔ ProTrak™ system with optional cover The Lund Rebel is an amazing amount of boat for so little money. Our engineers made sure that no other boat in this class has the features, quality, engineering technology or drivability as the Rebel. The Rebel line of boats are built Lund-tough so they will last season after season and get you to the fish and back with confidence. Getting into a Lund has never been so easy. Go to www.lundboats.com or see your Lund dealer today. AVO Marine (Powered by Honda Marine) 611 Ferry Road, Winnipeg, MB 204 783-2343 [email protected] Nipawin Chrysler Dodge 301 1st Avenue West, Nipawin, SK 306-862-4755 [email protected] www.nipawinchrysler.ca Red Lake Marine Products Ltd. Highway #105, Red Lake, ON 807 727-2747 / 877 727-9120 [email protected] Winnipeg Sport and Leisure 1272 Dugald Road, Winnipeg, MB 204 987-5640 / 800 661-7669 [email protected] www.winnipegsportandleisure.com Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:37 AM Page 10 PRO POINTERS >DON LAMONT Don Lamont with a Spring Walleye "You lookin at me? BIGGER is Sometimes Better Early season walleye tips i t’s the number one sport fish in Manitoba for popularity but unfortunately can be one of the most frustrating to catch, at least on a consistent basis. Once found though, in most cases, walleye can be coaxed into committing to a well-presented bait. Understanding seasonal walleye location will improve your success rate dramatically. 10 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Walleye spawn in the spring and once finished will disperse into various parts of the lake. During the post spawn, walleye will use a variety of locations to rest, gradually becoming more active as the water warms and the days become longer. Walleye are also light sensitive because of the makeup of their eyes. Their ability to absorb available light makes them very efficient predators in low light conditions. Thus anglers will typically find the more active fish, early morning and late evening, especially as spring turns into summer. In May and June, walleye love shallow bays that have some structural options. I am always on the lookout for bays that have weed cover combined with rock piles, mud bottoms and sand. This variety will attract a wide array of forage with walleye close behind. On stained water lakes and on windy days walleye can be caught at any time as long as the weather remains constant. I would like to offer you a check list of key points to remember when trying to find and catch walleye this open water season. 1) Active walleye will be found in shallow water—cover and current help in tough weather conditions like cold fronts, walleye will be more active in low light 2) When retrieving your chosen lure for walleye, in slow times the experts recommend an in your face, slow retrieve. What I suggest is that once you find a retrieve that works, stick with it. There are times when snap jigging,—which consists of a sharp lift and drop motion with the rod—will trigger walleye when nothing else has a chance. It really does pay to experiment in this regard. 3) Line diameter is not a factor in dirty Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM Page 11 water but becomes critical in clear water when the bite is off. Switch to six-pound test line that is clear underwater and tie lures on directly. Don’t use a leader but a small snap can be used when fishing with crankbaits. Many top anglers are now using fluorocarbon leaders when invisibility is critical. 4) When trolling use a heavier pound test but go with a superline like Berkley Fireline. It will run lures deeper and provide better hooksets 5) Lure selection is always a struggle. To cover water to find active fish, trying trolling with bottom bouncers and spinners and crankbaits. What about colour you ask? That is always subjective. Always go with your confidence colour. On the Red River more trophy walleye have been caught on pink than almost any other colour. For me a chartreuse and orange fireball jig (perch imitation) is always my number one choice no matter the clarity of the water. In gin clear water in the long run you are probably better off with whites, blues browns and purples. Still, chartreuse is hard to pass up on. Smooth handling SUPERLINE Advanced technology FireLine Original Fused line is now 20 percent stronger than before. This thermal filament casts more easily, ties better knots, and stays more hasslefree than conventional braids. Along with exceptional strength, FireLine delivers ultimate sensitivity for instant feel, and the ultrathin diameter provides low visibility and incredible lure action. 6) If you find a good school of walleye, pinpoint the area with marker buoy. Try a slower presentation like a jig or live bait rig when the action slows and you still think the fish are there 7) Weather is critical. Stable weather is always the best for fishing success. 8) Wind helps so always consider areas were wave action will lower light penetration and make walleye more active 9) Have a good depth finder if you are fishing from a boat and make sure you note at what depth you are catching the fish and try and remain at that depth until the fishing action slows. One thing I would really like to add to this article is the fact that most walleye anglers use lures or bait that is too small to attract larger fish. Top walleye anglers have been having great success recently using larger salt-water minnow style soft plastics (six inches in length) jigged very aggressively. Large fish, especially walleye, can be tempted to bite even if inactive if it’s worth the effort. Keeps that in mind when you go walleye fishing this year. Big, is sometimes a lot better! ■ Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 11 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM Page 12 INSIDER TIPS TECHNIQUE STRATEGY GEAR LOCATION SCIENCE Pitchin’ Jigs... for Skinny Water Eyes Small jigs, warm spring breezes, and shallow walleyes… a perfect combination for a great day on the water. BY DAVE BENNETT s pring is my favourite time of year for catching walleyes. The days are stretching out; birds have returned and are nesting. Animals are having their young, and the land is coming alive with new growth. Underwater, the temperatures are rising in the shallows starting new weed growth and bringing waves of minnows to feed on plankton. Crayfish and leeches are getting active. Walleyes, recovering from the rigours of the spawn, are here as well, to take advantage of the increase in metabolism they enjoy in this warmer band of water. Location: There are many types of lakes and rivers that hold walleyes in our region with a wide variety of watercolour and structure. No mater which body of water you chose to fish, certain factors remain the same. Low sloping shorelines warm quicker than steep breaks, especially those that contain a mix of sand, gravel and fist sized rocks. Start looking for shallow spring walleyes on the shores leading into large open bays. I’m not talking about the big shallow weed filled bays that pike and muskies spawn in, 12 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 The author with a skinny water HOG Walleye. but the bays that have deeper (10' to 20') water almost to the back before they shallow up to a mud flat. Fish your way right into the backs of these bays and at times you will be surprised to find walleyes packed up on dark mud bottoms in 4' of water or less. At this time of year a factor that many anglers overlook is wind. Light breezes blowing over expanses of sunlit water will push warm surface water into a shoreline. Any wave action that is turning the water will produce the opposite effect and will pull cold water up onto the shallow flat. Keep this in mind as you head out for the day. Which way was the wind blowing last night? How strong was it? And let this help you decide where to start your day. Techniques: When I am guiding on Lake of the Woods I typically have two or more people in the boat with me, so I like to keep my approach fairly simple. If I have one of the light breezes I was talking about, I like to slowly drift a shoreline using my Minn Kota trolling motor to correct my course. Keep the boat an easy “pitch” cast from the shoreline. Rig up some spinning rods like a 6'6" or 7' medium fast action Shimano Compre with 8lb braided line. Learning how to tie a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader to the braid is essential. Small jigs are the order of the day. Any 1/8 oz. to 1/16 oz. ball head jig will work, but I really like the design of the “Weed Weasel” jig from Northland Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM Page 13 “The best part of fishing shallow water walleye is that they fight harder than they do when they move to deep water, and you’re sure to pick up some bonus pike and smallmouth bass along the way. ” Tackle. With its elongated profile, front eye tie and built-in weed guard this little jig can slip across the bottom with very few hang-ups. To cover water efficiently, I like to have one or two anglers pitch their little jigs up to the shoreline and slowly retrieve them with a lift, settle, drag sequence. The other anglers should present their jigs below and behind the boat covering the deeper water in the 8’ to 12' range. Experiment with your offering to find out what the walleyes like best that day. Some of my favourite baits for tipping my jigs are 3" Slurpies grubs in white shad or green pumpkin, which are natural hues and for stained water hit them with something bright like the firetiger or parrot colours. Of course the good old minnow or leach is always a great option. For those days that the fish are really aggressive try something like the Mimic Minnow Spin. With its bent arm spinner blade and paddle tail, it puts out a lot of vibration to help fish hone in on it. The best part of fishing shallow water walleyes is that they fight harder than they do when they move to deep water, and you’re sure to pick up some bonus pike and smallmouth bass along the way. Small jigs, warm spring breezes and shallow walleyes… a perfect combination for a great day on the water. ■ WEASEL YOUR WAY OUT OF IT! The WEED-WEASEL® is the premiere weed and timber jig on the market today! It features a sleek wedge-head, MUSTAD® ULTRAPOINTTM hook and totally weedless plastic “Y” weed-guard to “weaselits-way” into the thickest weeds, reeds, brush and timber where Crappie, Bass, Walleye & Northern Pike hide out and grow big! It’s deadly for jiggin’, flippin’, pitchin’, & dockin’! Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 13 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM Page 14 Kids! Want to show off your catch? Email your pictures to: [email protected] Create moments that last a lifetime. Take a kid fishing today! HALL OF FAME We always like seeing proof of a hard-to-believe fish tale. Send us your pics and and get bragging rights over your buddies! Send your pictures to: Hooked Media 22 Bourkewood Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3J 1B2, or email [email protected] 14 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM ABC Power Tools Winnipeg, MB 204 224-1760 Lakeside Marina Ltd. Red Lake, ON 877 873-3681 Page 15 Accurate Lawn and Garden Winnipeg, MB 204 284-5950 Neniska Repair Kenora, ON 807 548-5110 B & C Power Products The Pas, MB 204 623-5791 Pacer Power Products Winnipeg, MB 204 475-5477 Black Bear Power Products West Hawk Lake, MB 204 349-8813 Shachtay Sales & Service Arborg, MB 204 376-5233 Farmyard Supply Steinbach, MB 800 521-8505 Swen’s Small Engine Elie, MB 204 353-2357 Guertin Equipment Ltd. Winnipeg, MB 204 255-0260 United Rentals Thompson, MB 204 778-7001 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:51 AM Page 16 INSIDER TIPS GEAR STRATEGY GEAR LOCATION SCIENCE Silent but Deadly Scaring off the fish with your noisy outboard motor? Read this primer on trolling motors to get stealth on your side. BY DARREN BOHONIS t here is little doubt that proper boat control is a critical factor in putting more fish in the boat. Whether you’re casting along a shoreline or holding on a mid-lake hump in 4 foot waves, the importance of maintaining precise boat control cannot be over emphasized. Nothing offers an angler greater versatility to maintain this control than the use of an electric trolling motor. Naturally, one of the most important benefits a trolling motor offers is “Quiet Power”. This is especially valuable in shallow and/or clear water situations. Sound travels five times faster under water, so you can imagine how much DID YOU KNOW? The electric trolling motor was developed in 1934 by O.G. Schmidt, founder of Minn Kota. The Minn Kota name was chosen since the manufacturing company was near the MINNesota/North DaKOTA border. Minn Kota has led the way in innovation and design for the last 75 years. 16 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 even subtle boat noises are amplified beneath the water’s surface. As anglers, we often use this to our advantage with rattle-type baits or spinner blades giving off sound and vibration. When it comes to harsh boat noises however, this can literally move fish off a spot. Fortunately, modern technology has advanced our ability to fish effectively in a variety of conditions with stealthlike performance. CHOOSING AN ELECTRIC TROLLING MOTOR Bow Mount or Transom Mount? The first decision to make is whether you require a Bow Mount or a Transom Mount trolling motor. Each style has their place and you’ll often notice boats rigged with both. A transom mount motor offers a unique option for general use on smaller boats where a bow mount cannot be utilized. It is also equally at home with many tournament Walleye and multispecies anglers. The greatest benefit to this system is when you require precise boat control, such as while back trolling or simply having to hold directly over top of a spot. I can think of a few respected anglers who have an uncanny ability to pull up to a location and hold their position precisely where their bait needs to be presented. A transom mount trolling motor enables that ability. The other style of trolling motor is the bow mount. Available in a few different configurations — Electric Steer, Cable Steer or even Hand Control, the differences partly come down to preference and fishing style. Electric Steer motors offer great versatility given their options and addons. Due to their design, they have an added benefit of holding their steering position even during wavy conditions. This means you don’t have to continuously keep your foot on the pedal. Simply set it to the desired speed level on “constant” setting and make steering adjustments as needed. Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:52 AM Page 17 To take this one step further, Minn Kota features their exclusive Autopilot on certain models which allow you to set a desired course. The Autopilot will then compensate to keep you on that course without having to make steering corrections yourself. A very useful feature for many situations. Taking technology further yet, a wireless remote such as Minn Kota’s Co-Pilot can be added, giving you the ability to control your trolling motor from anywhere in the boat. Alternatively, a wireless foot pedal can also be another option. Given these features, you can appreciate the versatility offered in an electric steer trolling motor. The other system is cable steer. Although not limited to, cable steer is most commonly seeing on Bass Boats. By design, they feature unparalleled ruggedness. With ultra responsive cable steer along with stealthy quietness, this system delivers what is required to hunt down lunker Largemouth in the meanest of backbay jungles. The new Minn Kota Fortrex is an example of the “pinnacle of performance and durability”. Engine mount For those who find themselves in a situation where you are unable to install a transom mount or bow mount trolling motor on to your boat, there is an option for you as well. An engine mount motor could be just the solution. This system installs on to the cavitation plate of your outboard engine. While driving on plane, the motor sits out of the water, not interfering with your outboard performance. Interestingly enough, engine mount motors are seeing a growing popularity with tournament anglers who may already have a transom mount and bow mount trolling motor rigged on their boat. Again, the reason relates to one of the benefits of an electric trolling motor — quietness. Given that this style is available up to 202 lbs of thrust (36 V) they have more than enough power to match an outboard kicker. Further benefits relate to simplicity and speed control. Sonar An additional feature to consider when purchasing your new trolling motor is Sound travels five times faster under water, so you can imagine how much even subtle boat noises are amplified beneath the water’s surface. As a general rule, go with the highest pound thrust value that your budget or boat set up will allow. By this I mean if your boat is smaller and rigged for a single battery/12 volt, go for 55 pounds of trust. If you’re set up for two batteries/24 volts, go for 70 or 80 pounds of thrust. If your boat is larger and heavier yet, you won’t regret a three battery/36 volt system giving you 101 pounds of thrust. Although the weight and cost goes up with each battery you add, this is a small tradeoff to the benefits of having enough power to move your boat in any situation you’re likely to encounter. You can also consider the following as a rough guideline. Boats up to 17 feet would suit 55 lbs/12 V. A boat from 17 to 19 feet would benefit from 80 lbs/24 V. While larger, especially heavier fiberglass boats would benefit in going to 101 lbs/36 V. This of course also depends on the conditions you find yourself fishing in and the amount of time on the water you spend. To put it into perspective, over the last 20 years of working in the industry, I have never once had someone come to me and say, “You know, I just bought this trolling motor and it seems to have far more power than I need.” I have however heard on numerous occasions someone mention that they should have purchased the next thrust level up since their batteries struggled to get them through the day. Batteries Thrust The final element that ties the entire system together is of course… batteries. Often underestimated, this is where you can’t afford to cut corners. It is important to select the best battery to meet your requirements. After all, if your batteries are not performing to their fullest, you can be certain that your trolling motor won’t either. As it so often happens, this will likely occur when you need it most. By far one of the most common questions I encounter is, “what pound thrust do I need for my boat?” Since pound thrust corresponds with voltage and the number of batteries, generally speaking this translates to a maximum of 55lbs/12V, 80lbs/24V, and 101lbs/36V. By choosing the trolling motor to suit your needs, you’ll spend more time fishing effectively and less time at the mercy of Mother Nature or drained batteries. Be sure to stop by your local tackle store or marine dealer to see the latest products for 2009. ■ “Universal Sonar”. Originally developed by Minn Kota, this intriguing feature incorporates a factory mounted transducer housed into the lower unit. Gone are the days of external transducer mounts with exposed wires. You only require the appropriate adaptor cable for your sonar unit. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 17 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:52 AM Page 18 FISH’N NEWS Manitoba’s New Youth Angling Card! Let’s keep the ball rolling! hile other jurisdictions across Canada have experienced declines in angling participation of up to twenty per cent, Manitoba through creative and innovative initiatives has been able to maintain angling license sales and participation. W Manitoba Fisheries and stakeholders in the Fisheries Enhancement Fund want to continue to address recruitment challenges, by creating additional programs that promote and introduce youth to recreational angling. These partners believe that the Manitoba Youth Angling Card is one of those programs. The main objectives of this free Youth Angling Card is to: 1. Promote the benefits of recreational angling to Manitoba’s youth; 2. Include youth in programs that connects them to the environment and builds a sense of self-esteem; and 3. Compliment and enhance existing programs being undertaken through provincial partnerships between privatesector, industry and government agencies. The benefits accrued through the development of alternative youth angling initiatives will help maintain Manitoba’s position across Canada (and North America) as a leading agency in the promotion of recreational angling for youth. ■ For more information visit www.pyac.net email: [email protected] 18 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:52 AM Page 19 float your boat for less Purchase a BF50DK0LRTC outboard for only 6,999 * $ MSRP $7,699 If your idea of fun on the lake includes lots of twists, turns and towing capacity, then head to the Power Up With Honda Event, now on. For a limited time, you’ll find great savings on this class-leading lightweight and compact BF50DK0LRTC outboard, the ideal engine for an exciting day among the waves. The BF50DK0LRTC features Honda’s patented boosted low-speed torque (BLAST®), engine alert system, and our exclusive multi-port programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) for powerful performance. Plus, there’s the legendary Honda reliability built into every outboard. Just think, with all these great features and savings, you’ll have more to spend on things that really float your boat. For more information, visit your local Honda Marine dealer. AVO Marine 611 Ferry Road Winnipeg, MB 204 783-2343 [email protected] Nickel City Motors Ltd. 7 Station Road Thompson, MB 204 778-6333 / 800 442 0456 [email protected] www.nickelcitymotors.com Red Lake Marine Products Ltd. Highway #105 Red Lake, ON 807 727-2747 / 877 727-9120 [email protected] Westside Honda of Selkirk Highway # 9 N Bypass Selkirk, MB 204 482-7782 / 888 482-7782 [email protected] www.westsidehonda.ca Winnipeg Sport and Leisure 1272 Dugald Road Winnipeg, MB 204 987-5640 / 800 661-7669 [email protected] www.winnipegsportandleisure.com *Offer is available until June 30, 2009 or such other date as designated by Honda, on the purchase of select models of new Honda outboards. Offer available at participating Honda Marine dealers. All discounts will be applied at the time of purchase. Tax is applied after the discount. Dealer may sell for less. Honda Canada reserves the right to change, extend or limit its discount program at any time. Freight, PDI and installation extra. See your Honda Canada Marine dealer for details. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual before operating your Honda outboard. honda.ca honda.ca Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:52 AM Page 20 INSIDER TIPS STRATEGY TECHNIQUE Spinner rigs are an effective and productive choice for covering water at this time of year. BY: MIKE SCHAMBER ast Spring, the walleye fishing was the best I’ve ever seen, not only for numbers of fish, but big fish as well! Surprisingly though, a lot of L the anglers that I conversed with, did not share those same sentiments. In fact, they were having trouble locating fish because they were fishing breaklines in the 25-35 foot range, while I was concentrating on flats in the 6-12 foot range and at times shallower. For some reason changing locations and moving shallower was not an option for these guys. I even remember one angler saying: “come on Mike, there is no way walleyes are that shallow at this time of year!” Well, if you are having trouble locating walleyes this spring, then fish shallow flats. It is simply amazing how many walleyes use big shallow flats. Not all flats are created equal. Some flats are better than others. One of the keys when it comes to finding good fish holding flats is the stuff that is on the bottom. Good areas stretch out and away from shore quite a ways before the first drop, and have some form of either: patches of weeds, some gravel, mud, and possibly sand. Another key is whether the flat is holding perch and minnows. The connection here is that perch and minnows are utilizing these areas to spawn, while walleyes are using these areas to eat. Walleyes will move only as far as they need to in order to eat. Therefore, when looking for potential fish holding areas, concentrate on the first adjacent flats closest to walleye spawning habitat. Flats hold walleyes for one reason and one reason only-food. Spinner rigs in my opinion are one of the most effective and productive choices for covering water at this time of year. They provide color, flash, and vibration which provide a presentation that triggers walleye into biting. 20 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 GEAR LOCATION SCIENCE Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:52 AM Page 21 Some of you might ask, “What is a spinner rig?” A spinner rig is a presentation that has a blade on a clevis amongst plastic beads, followed by a hook or hooks. The blade rotates on either a plastic or metal clevis as it is pulled along the bottom. The rig is fished in conjunction with some form of weight like a bottom bouncer. A bottom bouncer is a unique bent wire design that has a weight molded to the shaft. It is designed to hug bottom, skipping over rocks, running across gravel, and whatever else is in its path. The bottom bouncer is tied directly to the main line coming off your reel, while the spinner rig is attached to the bottom bouncer by way of a small snap swivel. Fish the spinner/bouncer combo at a 45º angle from boat to bottom. That generally means using an ounce of weight for every ten feet of water being fished. Therefore if you are in 10 feet, use a 1oz weight; 20 feet—2oz weight, 30 feet—3oz weight and so on. The exception to the rule is when you are fishing shallower than ten feet. In these situations you will be using weights in the 3/8, 1/2, or 3/4oz range. You want your line to be out and away from the boat. Quick Change clevises allow me the ability to change blades quickly and effortlessly, should the need arise. It is important to adjust to the ever changing conditions and to what the fish want on any given day. When fishing the flats, try to keep your spinner presentation moving by way of drifting with the wind, or pulling yourself around with a troll motor. You must cover water, until you contact fish. Once the fish are located, work the area thoroughly before you move on. Though typically active, walleyes in the shallows can show a tendency for one bait type over another. Crawlers, leeches, and minnows all work, but experimenting with each will result in determining the preference of the day. Another option that should not be overlooked is the use of soft plastics or Gulp!. Colorado, Willow Leaf, and Indiana are all names of certain blade shapes. Each has a certain action and effectiveness in different situations. In my opinion the two most popular blades are the Colorado and the Indiana. Colorado blades turn slower and wider, at a 45º angle to the line, offering a distinct thump, thump action. They work well in stained or murky water where the walleyes need that extra vibration. The Indiana blade on the other hand spins faster and tighter, at a 30º angle to the line, and provides more flash than a Colorado blade. They work well in clearer water, because they are more subtle in terms of vibration. Keep in mind with either that water clarity and speed can dictate which blade to choose. Finally, to get bit regularly, you have to fine tune your presentation. You must experiment with blades. Blade color and size can make a huge difference in the overall success, and that is why I use Quick Change clevises on my spinner rigs. Quick Change clevises allow me the ability to change blades quickly and effortlessly, should the need arise. It is important to adjust to the ever changing conditions and to what the fish want on any given day. This spring get on the shallow flats and spin to win. “Just Go Fish’n, and Have Fun!” ■ When fishing along Manitoba’s rivers, always remember to stay a safe distance away from generating stations. Some operations, such as starting up generating units or opening spillway gates, can create dangerous water conditions. Remember, let safety be your first priority when fishing. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 21 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:53 AM Page 22 BIG BLADES = Buck-tails are the musky lure of choice to land the monsters! By Andrew Klassen C hances are if you’re an Esox fisherman, buck tails are a big part of your arsenal. Their simple design of blades, a collapsible body material, wire, and hooks means when a fish bites down, the hooks will likely find their mark. Couple that with their light weight which helps prevent fish from tossing 22 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 the bait, and the flash and vibration that they put into the water, the big question is why wouldn’t you use them?! In my opinion, buck tails have the highest percentage of hookups of any type of musky lure. However, in the last few seasons buck tails have changed. Today we have the same fundamental bait, but the blades have been supersized! Unquestionably, the biggest evolution in recent musky fishing has been the switch to big buck tails featuring double Colorado blades in the 10-14 size. These include Gerry’s Girls, Spanky Baits, Giant Flashers, or JJ Ross’s Cheerleader. That being said, I’ve had my best luck with Musky Mayhem Tackle’s Double Cowgirl. It features double 10 blades and is tied with flashabou for a unique pulsating action. I’ve caught fish on larger blades, but then speed is diminished so the 10’s seem to be a nice compromise of speed and size. Just how big are these blades? Well take the lids off a couple cans of beans from your last shore lunch, put a bend in them, and attach them to a lure. The vibration these baits produce is unlike Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:53 AM Page 23 BIG MUSKIES anything else out there. Clearly, these baits have a ton of resistance when you’re trying to retrieve them and combine that with a muskie’s love for speed and you’ll learn that burning these baits is a real punishment for your arms, shoulders, and back! The good news is the tackle industry has responded, and there are now a variety of rods and reels designed specifically for this method of fishing. Through guiding, I’ve had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of equipment for this task. Without question, a longer rod in the 8-9' length with a MH to H action is the way to go as it allows for hard hook sets, large figure-8s and is forgiving against boat side strikes. Last year I was using the 8-foot St. Croix Legend Tournament Top and Tail rod and found it ideal for retrieving the baits, but it was a little soft for the figure-8. This year, however, St. Croix has designed a rod specifically for the application which I will be using extensively. The Slingblade is the newest addition to the Legend Tournament line of rods. It is an 8'6" H action, and it has the extra backbone which will be absolutely ideal for the big double-10’s. The rod is available with a split grip handle which could make retrieving the bait easier as well. Oversized blades generate a ton of lift which requires the angler to force the rod tip under the water. Split grips make the rod somewhat top-heavy, which will reduce the fatigue from forcing the tip down. As important as the rod is, the reel makes a huge difference as well. I can’t MUSKIES GOBBLE THEM UP! The Gobbler is a hand tied in-line spinner created by northwestern Ontario muskie guide J.J. Ross. The Gobbler was created in the winter of 2004. The original prototype first hit the water opening day in June 2005. The very first muskie to inhale a Gobbler was a 52" beast on a black and black. Since that time, Gobblers have been the lure of choice for muskies for friends, fishing partners and guests. The weight forward bucktail spinner can be thrown in the wind, burned over weeds and trolled behind the boat. It is a durable, strong lure that can stand up to multiple fish. Every single one is hand assembled! even begin to guess how many reels I’ve seen destroyed in only a couple of trips by using them with big buck tails. Big blades are gear destroyers, plain and simple. Here is where the gear ratio, spool size, and handle style all come into play. Remember that the higher the gear ratio, the lower the torque. With these lures, torque is everything. I have experimented with several reels and now use the Shimano Tekota 500LC spooled with 80 or 100lb Power Pro exclusively and I have yet to have a single problem with them in two seasons of extensive use. It has a 4.2:1 gear ratio yet a very large spool which allows for 25" of line retrieved per crank. It comes with a power handle, which is a must for whatever reel you choose. With this combination, I can burn these baits to the boat faster than guys with a 6.2:1 reel and a smaller spool because I feel no resistance or strain from the gears, and I’m not destroying the guts of the reel. In short, if you aren’t experimenting with the big blades, I would recommend giving them a try. After all, it’s the blades that make the buck tail! Next issue I’ll discuss the where, why, and how to fish the baits properly to help you put more big toothy critters in your boat! ■ Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 23 Hooked v2n3-2 A 5/5/09 8:53 AM Page 24 Exclusive To the e m e r t ex A no-holds-barred Q&A with Extreme Angler TV’s Karl Kalonka As publisher of Hooked I get the opportunity to meet, and even fish, with some of the best anglers Canada has to offer.We all know I have an insatiable passion for bass fishing. One angler in particular that I have watched over the years catch big bass after big bass is Extreme Angler TV’s host Karl Kalonka. If you have ever watched his show you know Karl is high energy, fast paced and always lays an absolute lickin’ on big bass. If you could fish one body of water which would it be and why? It would have to be the region of North Eastern Ontario for monster largemouth bass. This region consists of lakes and rivers that are both ultra clear and murky as mud and offer me the opportunity to present a wide variety of baits and presentations that have made me a better all around bass angler. Furthermore, the yearly stocking of high fat forage such as rainbow trout, splake and speckled trout, (yes these are forage species for giant largemouth), afford these bass an opportunity to grow at a much quicker pace then a lot of other regions across Ontario. And, factor in the longer growing seasons and global warming trends, I’m sure the new Canadian record largemouth bass will come from this area in the near future (hopefully by me!) Do you like a dog or a cat? Had all kinds of breeds over the years growing up and with my family including German Sheppard’s, Pitbulls, Beagles and Labs. Since I’m on the road more than I am home, it’s a cat house. They are easier to feed and can take care of themselves over short periods of time better than dogs can. Plus, I can practise their response to new baits (hooks removed of course) that I drag across the living room floor, you would not believe how much cats act like smallmouth Bass— it’s all about the ability to provoke a reaction strike. If it works on my cats, hey it will work on Mr. Small jaws. What do you hope people come away with after watching your show? Being entertained, educated and inspired to catch the passion of angling. It does not get any more real than Extreme Angler TV. Our unique brand of fishing TV has caught on like wildfire all across Canada and the U.S.A thanks in part to the great folks at WFN (World Fishing Network) for providing a platform for independent producers such as I to transform an “addition to angling” into a full time career that shows no limits! Our shows are now filmed and produced in High Definition—H.D. and our vast multi-species format has increased to twenty-six (26) brand new episodes for season eight airing this fall for a full 52 week block and over 676 total broadcast airings across North America. Tell us about one of your worst habits or qualities? I stock way too much fishing tackle. My wife can’t stand it when she goes to the basement and finds another shipment of “toys” has arrived from one of my sponsors and adds to the already mountain of Plano storage containers. If I use it and it catches fish, I stock it BIG TIME! My life and living means catching fish, big fish, and I only use products that help me do my job. The show and brand are called Extreme Angler TV right, so it’s easy to justify having 30+ St.Croix rods in the boat at one time and another 25-30+ in my tow vehicle and probably 40+ more in “stock” at home all matched with Ardent reels. Every model from my bread and butter Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:53 AM Page 25 Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 25 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:54 AM Page 26 “I stock way too much fishing tackle. My wife can’t stand it when she goes to the basement and finds another shipment of “toys” has arrived from one of my sponsors and adds to the already mountain of Plano storage containers.” Flippin’ & Pitchin’ sticks to Jerkbait, spinnerbait, topwater, frog n’ slop, wormin’, big crankin’, drop shottin’, tube, skippin’ and Walleye, Musky and Ultra lights for Crappie and jumbo Perch. What was the funniest incident while filming Extreme Angler TV? After catching a small pike on one of my favourite big bass locations I made the mistake of spraying scent on my bait and had excess scent on my hands after pitching my bait into the fallen tree... needless to say, when I felt the slight tap sig- nalling a bite and proceeded to set the hook like I always do, the rod left my hands and went airborne and spun end over end in the air towards the tree (all on camera by the way). Was pretty funny and actually got the rod back too! Since then, I make sure my hands are never wet or have any kind of slimy scent on them when I’m holding a fishing rod. Which super power would you like to have and why? The ability to turn back the clock 15-20 years and know that all of the tactics, presentations, focus and confidence I have learned over the last 15-20 years could have helped me cash a lot more big cheques in tournaments in Canada and the USA. What are some of your favourite bass lures? My favourite way to catch bass is with heavy tackle like Jig’s n’ chunks, 10" worms and creature baits flipped or pitched into the heaviest water jungles I can find. Tossing plastic frogs over mat and grass is another favourite as is top water poppers for smallies and waking fat billed crankbaits just under the surface for both largies and smallies. Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:54 AM Page 27 Do you speak with your cat? If so what do you talk about? Our male cat acts like a dog and actually fetches (hook less) plastic frogs and fake mice, trained him to jump in the air for themmakes for great conversation when friends come over and see this big cat jumping five feet into the air for a plastic frog. As for speaking to them, the mere mention of “frog” gets them excited. If you were a fish what species would you be and why? I would have to say a big old lake trout—they almost live forever, constantly eating and spawning and there sheer size and strength almost makes it impossible for anglers to land them even when hooked. episodes and featuring more regions across Canada and the USA, and of course, a few pleasant surprises that I can’t talk about that you’ll have to watch and enjoy during season eight on WFN. What exciting things do you have planned for your show over the next year? WFN (World Fishing Network) and their entire network broadcast partners across Canada and the USA. ■ Adding even more educational aspects (if that is even possible) to the show episodes and segments. More multi specie action on public lakes and teaching viewers which baits, presentations and dedication it takes to catch bigger fish more often. Growing to 26 high impact “...you would not believe how much cats act like smallmouth Bass it’s all about the ability to provoke a reaction strike. If it works on my cats, hey it will work on Mr. Small jaws.” WFN Canada- Tuesday’s @ 9:30 pm; Wed-3:30 pm; Sat-11:30 pm; Sun-5:30 pm / eight airings per week. WFN- HD- Tues- 6:00 pm; Wed10:00 am; Thurs-6:00 pm; Sun4:00 pm / eight airings per week. e Jig’s heavy tackle lik h bass is with tc d into ca he tc to pi ay w or its flipped ba “My favourite re tu ea cr can find. “ worms and ater jungles I n’ chunks, 10” the heaviest w Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:54 AM Page 28 The Day of Days: i Predicting and Maximizing Feeding Windows (Part two of two) By J.J. Ross n the Boatshow Edition of Hooked Magazine we examined how to predict feeding windows. In Part II of the Day of Days series, Maximizing Feeding Windows we will examine things you can do to increase your chances of having the day of days. Maximizing Feeding Windows So let’s say that you find yourself in what you perceive to be a feeding window. There are a few things I like to do to maximize my chances of experiencing the day of days. There is nothing worse than being on the water during a feeding window and not taking full advantage of it. Trust me-I learned the hard way over many years of working at a resort. Inevitably you come in at the end of a long day with no muskies in the boat and you arrive back at camp only to find out that one of the other resort boats and another guide absolutely hammered the muskies. If you are competitive it drives you crazy that you can be out on the same water and suck air! The first thing I like to do is to run and gun when the bite is on. Get to as many spots as you possibly can and blanket each spot with casts to find active fish. It helps to use fast moving lures like a buck tails or top water baits. This is not the time to finesse with soft plastics like Bulldawgs or use slow moving top waters like Creepers and Hawg Wobblers. It is time to pull out the speedy buck tails and the Top Raiders. Another way to maximize a feeding window is to kick the trolling motor up a couple of notches and cover as much water as possible. This way you will be in contact with potentially more fish when they are feeding. Also use a reel with a fast gear ratio. Make no mistake-it is tough to maintain this pace but who knows how long this window will be open? How does the cliché go? “No pain, no gain!” 28 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Use a good hooking lure so that fish bite and remain on. Avoid lures with wood bodies and top water lures that are difficult for fish to track. Jerk baits are fun and there are spectacular hits with walk the dog style lures but they are poor hookers. Feeding windows are about getting eaten and keeping the fish on the line. If you must use jerk baits, choose hard bodied plastics ones, or if you must use top waters, find one that tracks in a straight line. Lastly, make sure you hit your big fish spot often. Everybody should have a spot where they have either caught a big fish, consistently catch big fish, have seen a big fish or have just simply heard of a big fish at a spot. Often these are “community spots” or spots that see a lot of pressure from muskie anglers. Go there for sure. You can’t go wrong fishing the community spots when the bite is on. Conclusion It is fun to predict when things are going to happen but don’t let it stop you from going out. Some anglers won’t go out because they feel the conditions are not perfect. It is impossible to catch muskies from the couch in front of the television or curled up with a book. Clients ask, “When is the best time to come fishing?” I always reply, whenever you can as any time is a good time. As you fish for muskies you begin to realize that there are more productive times to be on the water and you begin to predict when you think a feeding window is going to present itself. Use the solar/lunar tables and a barometer to help. If the fish seem to be biting more than usual, fish as many spots as you can, use a fast moving lure and make sure you hit your big fish spots. Good luck and I hope you have the “day of days” this season. ■ Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:54 AM Page 29 Where can you touch the eskers, be mesmerized by the beautiful Northern Lights, breathe in the scent of northern boreal forest, and take in the most spectacular sport fishing — where else but the Sport Fishing Capital of Manitoba Your one stop spot for some amazing fishing! Phone: 204-356-2418 Fax: 204-356-8297 www.lynnlake.ca [email protected] • [email protected] THE TOWN OF LYNN LAKE BOX 100 ~ 503 SHERRITT AVENUE LYNN LAKE, MANITOBA R0B 0W0 • NIGHTLY ACCOMODATIONS AND CAMPSITES • SHELTERED MARINA • GOLF COURSE • BISTRO & LOUNGE • MEETING FACILITIES • LOT SALES • EXCELLENT YEAR ROUND FISHING www.buffalopoint.mb.ca Buffalo Point International Resort southeast corner of Manitoba on beautiful Lake of the Woods just one hour south of Steinbach on Hwy 12 204.437.2557 Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 29 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 30 PRO POINTERS >SCOTT DINGWALL Staging Largemouth Strategies Drag yourself away from all those big smallies this spring give these baits and locations a shot S mallmouth are awesome, and I love catching them; but for some reason I have always had a fascination with fishing for largemouth. It sounds a little crazy to say; but during the spring catch & release season here in Northwestern Ontario I would much rather target largemouth with hopes of catching a couple big fish versus going after the almost sure thing, and catching a bunch of smallies. Over the past couple years I have discovered the locations to look for, and the baits that consistently put pre-spawn largemouth in the boat. Where? Locating pre-spawners can be a bit of a challenge. At this time of year they’re on the move from winter habitat, back towards the spots where they will eventually spawn. Until they reach this destination you can consider them to be a moving target. The good news is; this migration from wintering spots to spawning habitat usually isn’t that far, and they will make the move to staging areas outside of where they will eventually spawn relatively fast once the ice clears. These staging spots will be your best bet for catching numbers of fish. The first places I look include rock piles and points in shallow weedy bays, along with the outside edges of dead reeds or cattails within these shallow bays. The shallow rock piles and points will hold heat once the sun warms them. This will be a magnet for pre-spawners seeking warmer temperatures. The dead reeds will serve as cover and a final staging location before they move in to spawn. Bait Choices To catch these fish I rely primarily on three baits, a suspending jerkbait, an unweighted Senko type bait, and a swim30 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Scott with a huge pre spawn bucket mouth. ming Senko paired with a 1/4 ounce FinTech Title Shot Jig. A suspending jerkbait is an excellent reaction bait in most situations, however at this time of year I don’t fish it fast for the reaction bite. Instead, I choose a retrieve that consists of sliding the bait forward versus of ripping it aggressively ahead. This is followed by an extended pause where the bait is left hovering almost motionless. Bites will come on the pause, so be patient. The un-weighted Senko is fished painfully slow, and if it wasn’t so effective there’s no way I would bother use it. Pair this bait up with a 4/0 or 5/0 wide gap Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 31 The first places I look include rock piles and points in shallow weedy bays, along with the outside edges of dead reeds or cattails within these shallow bays. hook; cast it out allowing the bait to sink to bottom. Move it along with a lift and fall retrieve for as long as you can stand it, or until you feel your bait has been taken out of productive water. Also keep a RAPALA XRAP30 SHAKEY close eye on your line with this bait. Most bites will come on the fall; you’ll see the line move or jump well before the bite is felt in most situations. My next choice at this time of year is the Swimming Senko. I fish this bait in the dead reeds and cattails on a 1/4 ounce Fin-Tech Title Shot jig. This jig works well because of its weedless design. It can be fished effectively on a steady retrieve almost like a swimbait; however my best results come when I fish it much slower similar to a texas rigged worm. This involves sliding the bait through the reeds, along the bottom a few feet at a time. If you can handle dragging yourself away from all those big smallies this spring give these baits and locations a shot. I’m confident they will work for you too. ■ Scott Dingwall, Lake of the Woods Guide Lake-N-Woods Outfitter 807-464-8500 www.lake-n-woods.com Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 31 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 32 PRO POINTERS >CRAIG STAPON Let’s Talk Fishin’ f ishing early season can be some of the best action all year. Big toothy pike are easy to locate and are starting to beef up as the sun warms the spring shallows. But, before you get out make sure you have given the boat the “once over”. Insure the batteries are fully charged and ready to roll. Hook up the ear muffs and give the engine a quick start to insure all is well. If you chose to run regular fuel it is a good idea to add some “sea-foam” or other fuel additive. These products will keep your engine clean and running properly. A fresh set of plugs is always in order as is some new gear case oil if you didn’t change it last fall. Make sure you have done the seasonal ritual of changing all your line and sharpening all your hooks. This will pay big on hook sets. Once the plug is in and you have launched you are ready to rumble! I love getting out as soon as the ice is off in Ontario. The pike are easy targets and the action can be second to none. The afternoon bite is probably the best as the sun warms the north shore shallows. Surprise catches of huge largemouth are often reported this time of year as they too have the feedbag on! I have a real busy season planned for 2009 and hope to fish several tournaments. Things will kick off for me at the Falcon Lake Bass tournament then it’s off to Lake of the Prairies. I will also spend time at Lac Du Bonnet doing 2 or 3 tournaments followed by one of my favourites up at Minaki. It will be a busy season fishing and guiding and I can hardly wait to get at her. I don’t want to think about Pine Falls yet as those tournaments usually bring the season to a close. This fall should be awesome as the M.A.C. will host the first every Musky tournament on LOTW In September. I shake my head when I think about how busy I will be. I am really looking forward to trying the new live target lures that were feature a few articles ago. I have a few that I have not tried yet and can hardly wait to give them a little water test. I cannot believe the quality of Hooked magazine. Steve and his crew put out a top notch publication. Hooked promotes our area and offers some of the best tips, locations and stories you can find in a fishing publication. We all need to spread the word and continue to promote and support this magazine. Times are tough and we as anglers need to step up to the plate and support the companies that advertise in this magazine! Tell them you saw their ad, thank them for their support and spend some of your hard earned cash! I love the magazine and want to see it continue to grow! I have no doubt it’s here for the long run! Till next issue, “Keep your lines tight!” ■ REDDEN’S Fishing & family vacations on Longbow lake and Lake of the Woods 15 KM EAST OF KENORA ON HIGHWAY 17 Everything you come to Sunset Country for! Perfect for family vacations Excellent Walleyes, Big Muskies • Modern light-housekeeping cottages & full service Trailer park • Boats, motors, guides, live bait & licences • Excellent sand beach, waterslide, sauna & paddle boats • Well-stocked store with fashionable clothes, liquor store & post office • Bear, Deer & other hunting opportunities •Trophy Musky fishing at our outposts on Dryberry Lake and Lake of the Woods BOOK YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY! CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-548-4066 OR (807) 548-4066 www.reddenscamp.com • [email protected] 32 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 33 GET HOOKED ONLINE! Hooked is pleased to announce the launch of our new wesbite www.hookedmagazine.ca. Our readers have told us “WE WANT MORE!” Well now you can get more! At Hooked we recieve so many good articles and stories—from talented local and regional writers, tournament pros and professional guides—that we couldn’t possibly print them all! The exciting news is that this bonus editorial and information is just a click away! YOU’LL FIND: • MORE TIPS & TECHNIQUES • MORE STORIES • WEEKLY ANGLER BLOGS • VIDEOS • RECIPES • SPECIAL OFFERS • TOURNAMENT NEWS • FREE EMAIL ALERTS • PAST ISSUE DOWNLOADS ALL FREE! Visit us today! www.hookedmagazine.ca Central Canada’s Premier Fishing and Outdoors Magazine Complete Corporate Retreats WIFI Internet Satellite TV Sauna Gourmet Meals Ice Fishing Shack w/wood stove Shore Lunch 1-888-416-6628 www.SmithCamps.com Kenora, Ontario HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO GET OUT THERE, All seasons - All species Guide Service on amazing Lake of the Woods HARDCORE FISHING! FUN FAMILY ADVENTURE! HERE'S YOUR WILD ACCESS! DAVE BENNETT www.wildaccess.ca (807) 466 -2140 [email protected] Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 33 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 34 PRO POINTERS >DAVIS VIEHBECK Classic Walleye Presentations An inside look at some of the hottest ways to catch walleye with tried, tested and true presentations! a lthough there are a number of ways to trigger bites from walleye, classic rigging presentations including jigs, rigs, and bottom bouncers are tough to beat whether the walleye are active and chomping or suffering from a case of lockjaw. Here’s a quick rundown on some of my favourite ways to put walleye in the boat! Jigs The jig may be the most widely used presentation for walleye across North America. Jigs are arguably the most versatile walleye presentation as they can be fished aggressively during peak periods of fish activity or dragged ever so slowly back to the boat during a tough bite. One of my personal favourite jigs is a Northland Fireball Jig in a bright colour such as Super-Glo Green or Parrott. The depth I’m fishing, current velocity and the activity level of the walleye generally dictates jig size. When fishing in depths less than 12 feet with minimal current, 1/16 oz to 1/8 oz jigs are my preference. When faced with depths ranging from 12 to 20 feet, 1/4 oz jigs are usually the ticket for most applications. If you’re dealing with dirty or stained water, consider adding some form of flash or vibration to your jig. Several manufacturers offer jigs with built in rattles and addon rattle collars are also available. Both the Buckshot Rattle Jig and the Thumper Jig have produced fantastic results in situations with reduced water clarity. Although most walleye anglers tip their jigs with some form of livebait, consider using some of the livebait alternatives such as Trigger X biodegradable baits when fishing a jig. Trigger X includes a line of baits tailored specifically for walleye fishing including a grub, leech, and crawler “that look, feel, taste and smell like the real thing,” according to Mark Fisher, Rapala’s Director of Field Operations. These biodegradable baits have been so successful that countless tournament anglers are switching over to products such as Trigger X in place of livebait for most fishing situations. Key advantages to biodegradable baits include not having to replace bait between catching fish, reduced hooking mortality, and 34 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 The author used a jig tipped with Trigger X to catch this walleye. Photo: Davis Viehbeck of course no maintenance and no mess in the boat. Most keen jiggers opt for a 6' to 6'6" medium action rod matched with a smaller spinning reel spooled with a low stretch line. Personally, unless I’m fishing ultrashallow water, I’m a huge fan of braided or fused line such as 4lb diameter/10lb test Sufix Performance Braid. A key to fishing with braided or fused lines is to add a 3' to 6' lead of monofilament or fluorocarbon line to reduce line visibility and act as a slight shock absorber on hook sets. The two lines can either be joined together with a uni-to-uni knot or with the addition of a small swivel when running shorter leads. “Roach Rigs” “Roach Rigs” excel when walleyes are bunched up and relatively close to the bottom or when the bite is slightly off and the fish are fussy. The system is Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:55 AM Page 35 simple and consists of a walking sinker or slip bouncer that slides freely on your mainline followed by a swivel, a lead of monofilament, and an ultra sharp octopus style hook like a #4 or #6 Gamakatsu on the business end. Lead lengths can vary from two to as long as ten feet when fish are ultra finicky. In general, a three to five foot lead will do the job for most situations. In order to make sure your hook runs straight on the rig, attach the hook using a snell knot. I like adding some type of brightly coloured attractor bead right in front of my hook, particularly in lakes with stained water. Tip the hook with a minnow, crawler, leech or some of the realistic looking biodegradable baits on the market. “Roach Rigs” are best fished on a 6'6" to 7' medium or medium-light spinning rod matched with 6 to 8lb test monofilament. In order to take full advantage of this finesse rig, always fish with the bail of your spinning reel open, with the line held against the blank of your rod with your index finger. Upon detecting a bite, allow the line to spool off of your reel for a moment before engaging the reel and setting the hook. Spinners and Bouncers A spinner rig combined with a bottom bouncer is without question one of the most preferred presentations to cover water effectively when targeting walleye. Bouncers are great when you’re dealing with scattered fish or faced with snaginfested waters. There are two common types of bottom bouncers available on the market today; a fixed style bouncer, and a slip-bouncer. The fixed style bouncer comes in weights up to 4 ounces and is best suited for trolling at faster speeds, fishing in current, or when dealing with ultra rocky or wood covered bottoms due to the longer wire arm on this style. Slipbouncers are available in weights up to 1-1/2 ounces and are better suited to slower trolling or drifting presentations or when dealing with lighter biting walleye as the fish doesn’t instantly feel the weight of the bouncer. Slip-bouncers are also available with quick change weight snaps that allow anglers to adjust the weight of their bouncer with ease. Sandro Fragale, a walleye fishing guru based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario feels that bottom bouncers always excel and are very consistent in catching fish. Fragale’s preferred setup for bouncing consists of a nightcrawler harness like the Baitfish-Image Spinner Harness by Northland Tackle or the Jewelled Bead Walleye Spinner by Luhr Jensen. Heavier bouncers (greater than one ounce in weight), are generally best suited to longer baitcasting gear in the 7' to 8'6" range. The longer rod allows for increased line control and strong sweeping hook sets that are needed when fishing heavier bottom bouncers. A few important considerations for fishing bouncers are to fish them at a 45-60 degree angle below the boat and to keep the wire arm just ticking off the bottom. Fragale recommends running bouncer setups with a heavier mainline like monofilament in the 14-17 lb test range. “The heavier monofilament mainline allows you to pull the bouncer free when you encounter a snag”, notes Fragale. As you prepare for another year of walleye fishing, consider trying out some of these classic presentations on your next walleye adventure. If they work for me, I’m sure they’ll do the same for you! ■ Davis Viehbeck is a Tournament Angler, Fishing Promoter and Outdoor Writer based out of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Advertisement It’s Spring! Let’s get those boat batteries ready to go. Here are some tips on chargers. Choose a charger that matches the type of battery you want to recharge, i.e., liquid electrolyte, marine R/V, automotive, maintenancefree or gel cell. Match the proper battery voltage (6, 12, 24 or 36 Volt). Choose the correct charger size in amps. A good rule of thumb: A charger should provide a maximum of 20 Amps for each 100 Ah of the battery. If all you know is the reserve capacity (RC), a quick method to figure the Ah is to multiply the RC by .6 (ie: 160Min RC = 96 Ah) Select a charger with a capacity sufficient to fully recharge the batteries within eight to twelve hours. For optimum results, choose a maintenance-free type charger that is timed or automatically shuts off when the battery reaches a full state of charge. Always read and follow the charger instruction manual’s safety and procedural recommendations. Different manufacturers offer various features that may influence charging parameters. Charging tip: Do not delay charging your batteries after use. Recharge as soon as possible after one day’s use. Allowing the battery to sit discharged for several days may hamper its recharge acceptance and ultimately its performance. Remember that a 100 Ah battery that is 100% discharged when connected to a 20 Amp constant amperage charger will take a minimum of 5 hours to recharge. (100 divided by 20 = 5) It is best to recharge your batteries at least once every three months during a prolonged storage period. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 35 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:56 AM Page 36 PRO POINTERS >MATT JOHNSON Dog Day Panfish Searching weed pockets s pringtime panfish are universally sought out and that’s mostly due to their nature of being aggressively schooled-up and more than eager to attack whatever you put in front of their stout little noses. Big sunfish and slab crappies are caught throughout the Midwestern belt during this time and it provides some excellent action for anglers both young and old. But, the springtime flurry doesn’t last forever and those same aggressive-natured fish will once again become less energetic and will transform into wandering nomads, only feeding when there bellies tell them to. No longer do they devour what ever presents itself, or at least not in areas where we once sat wide-eyed at springtime and early summer. Now they are on a different path, a path that leads them into the dog days of summer… Panfish will hold shallow, there is no use disputing a statement like that, but shallow is only relative to the body of water being fished. Shallow can mean 2 feet in the local farm pond, yet in the expansive reservoir across the street it can mean 8 feet of water off a break. Panfish typically hold shallow during the spring fling and they are beginning their open water adventures. The shallow water bite may last for a period of time, but those areas will change as the season progresses, and usually into conditions that make fishing them tough. Thick weeds begin to sprout up and fresh budding lily pads turn into thick mats of green and brown walls separating you from the underwater world. Conditions call for a new approach and fish patterns will tell you the same. It’s time to seek out a new area, because one, the old hot spot is unfishable, and two, the fish have found refuge in nearby deeper water, although weed pockets are an exception. Deeper water areas usually take the form of deep weed lines or out in the open water of the main lake and mid-depth basins. 36 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Out from the weeds comes a slab crappie. No matter the form it takes, weed lines will attract panfish, but effectively fishing them can be difficult unless you search out for pockets in the weeds. Weed pockets are often over-looked, but hopefully from now on you begin seeing them as opportunities instead of just spaces of nothingness. You can bet a sunfish or crappie will snatch up an easy meal if it presents itself out in the open water of one of those pockets. Weed pockets provide an excess of sunlight, which will attract what attracts panfish, mainly baitfish and other forage. Weed pockets are a part of my plan of attack when I hit the water in search of Dog Day Panfish. Plastics tend to be my preferred way of targeting these weed-dwelling panfish. Various insect-type plastics offer a unique, natural-appealing presentation that works well in weedy conditions. Nymphs and other insects will utilize these particular areas, and it only makes sense that you “match the hatch.” I typically rig these plastics with either a plain hook (for neutral buoyancy) or with a jighead (for a more aggressive technique along deeper weed lines). Classic summer panfish spots will remain true throughout much of the summer months and the panfish holding on them usually won’t go far if harsh weather presents itself. Deep weeds are a classic summer spot and should be a part of every panfish angler’s daily routine once the summer suns take form. This pattern holds true for crappies Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:56 AM Page 37 more than sunfish, but every body of water is different and locations can vary. Crappies will roam out in open water, and usually it’s the open water areas of a bay or the areas adjacent to deep weed lines and structure. Crappies like chasing down baitfish that are daring enough to adventure out into the open. The crappies know it’s an easy meal and that they have a huge advantage over their prey in situations like that. It’s not uncommon to find cruising pods of crappies out in 30 feet of water, suspended 10 feet off the bottom. Crappie locations during the hot summer months can be very frustrating on some lakes, and the possibilities seem endless. In order to narrow things down, you need to grab a lake map and look for possible springtime locations (where the crappies were just recently at) as well as nearby deeper water. Figure out where the deep weed line is and where, if any, is there deeper structure. Crappies will hold near and around deep structure during the summer, then when the opportunity presents itself they will slide out into the open water to feed. Once a school is located, it won’t “...weed lines will attract panfish, but effectively fishing them can be difficult unless you search out for pockets in the weeds.” take long to figure out whether or not they are hungry. So, to expand on this concept of summer panfish, I will end with a question: Why is it that during the winter months we target panfish in 30, 40 or even 50 feet of water, yet during the open water months we stop searching once we can’t find them in 5-6 feet of water? Panfish will utilize deep water just like walleye, bass and pike. Deep water shouldn’t scare panfish anglers, and having the willingness to target deep water during the summer months can really increase your catch. Some days it just takes patience and the motivation to look for meandering fish. I’ve only touched on a few of the options that are available for panfish during the summer months, and don’t let these possibilities be your only resort. Fishing is constantly changing and we must change with it and adapt to the given conditions. Watch for pockets in the weeds, check for deep weed lines, and pay attention to your electronics for pods of schooling fish in deeper water while motoring from spot to spot. By doing a few of these things you can eliminate some of the guesswork and wasted time spent on the water. But in the end, every day on the water is a good day if you have a fishing rod in your hand. 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COMPLETE LINE OF TRUCK ACCESSORIES • Truck Caps • Spray-In Bedliners • Tonneau Covers • Visors & Extenders • Tailgate Guards • Tool Boxes • Box Rails • Hitches & Wiring • Plus Much More! LIFETIME WARRANT Y (204) 338-4292 102 Aviation Blvd. St. Andrews, Manitoba R1A 3N5 5 Miles North of Winnipeg on #8 Hwy. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 37 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:56 AM Page 38 FIRESIDE GRILL >DARREN JAMES Panko Crusted Walleye The best way to crispy goodness... ne of the best types of breading for fresh-caught fish that I’ve found lately is called Panko flakes. They are by far the crunchiest and lightest tasting breading I have ever tried, and that is saying LOTS. Panko is an Asian style of bread crumb made from bread without crusts, thus it has a crisper, airier texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisine. Suited to your own particular taste, Panko can be used either deep fried or baked in the oven and still offer the same super crispy bite. It is also just superb for true Asian style sweet and sour shrimp. Whatever you use them for, don’t forget that these are just bread crumbs, so they still need an infusion of flavour via your favourite spice or sauce. Here’s a simple enough recipe using Panko that adds the unique rich flavour of a special ingredient. This is simply “the best” crispy shore lunch recipe Ive tried- ever. Go on, try it! O Panko Crusted Walleye Walleye fillets- cleaned and cut into portions 1/2 cup pancake mix or flour 2 eggs 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk 2 cups coarse Panko Flakes Salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, cumin to taste Coat walleye fillets in pancake mix. Mix eggs, condensed milk and spices. Run the fillets through the wet mix then roll them through the Panko, covering liberally. Deep fry at 375 degrees until deep golden brown, or bake on a lightly greased baking pan on low grate at 350 degrees for 8 minutes, turn, cook 6 min- Panko breading is available at local Asian supermarkets. 38 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:56 AM Page 39 utes longer until crispy. Plate it up with some chopped red pepper, white onion and fresh lime. Call me a tradionalist, but a bone-cold glass of beer is the only thing that I can think of that would make this recipe better. A huge, great big feast of a dinner around the campfire is a terrific way to wrap up a sublime day spent on at the lake. Whether you’re toasting a fine meal or sitting around afterwards, part of that experience just might include a fantastic glass of wine. Likewise, the camp chefs- my peoplewill know that a cup or two of fine wine is one of the most important ingredients in a truly gourmet fireside delight. Peller Estates has made enjoying wine at our cook outs and picnics super easy by introducing a new line of Tetra-Pak cartons showcasing their French Cross Selection premium wines. These convenient cartons hold one litre and are sturdy enough to hold up in the cooler. I really enjoy cooking with wine because it adds such an elegant taste to otherwise standard dishes. I invite you to try the following recipe jacked up by a nice premium wine. Walleye Linguine Walleye fillets 1/3 cup butter (real) 1 large lemon- peel and juice 2 cups Peller Estates French Cross Selection Pinot Grigio 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons fresh garlic, finely chopped Chopped chives to taste 1 package of fresh linguine Salt & Pepper to taste Melt butter, add juice of lemon, olive oil, garlic, onions, wine, and 2 tablespoons of grated lemon peel. Stir constantly and bring to boil. Let simmer on low heat for about 4-5 minutes and remove from stove. Let cool. Pour 2/3 of marinade over fish. Turn to coat all sides. Cover tightly and let sit overnight. Remove fish from marinade and place on aluminum foil. Put 3 or 4 pats of butter on each large filet and seal tightly. Cook on BBQ on low to medium-low heat until flaky. Cook linguine and drain. Melt remaining marinade again and toss into pasta thoroughly. Serve baked fish on generous portions of pasta. Sprinkle dusting of parmesan cheese and/or paprika. Since I began writing the Fireside Grill for Hooked, some of the most favourable comments I’ve received have been about dessert recipes. We’ve done a few here, and by far the most popular has been the pineapple caramel upside down cakesand yes, while camping! Mmmm!! Well here’s another one. Just make these and get the heck out of the way! Mexican S’mores Flour tortillas (plan for 2 each) Peanut butter Mini marshmallows Mini chocolate chips Spread a layer of peanut butter on a tortilla. Sprinkle with marshmallows and chocolate chips, and roll up tightly in aluminum foil. Cook on BBQ or near the campfire for 5-10 minutes, turning often. Enjoy the season folks. This is the time we all spent the last 6 months waiting for. Be safe, have fun, and make sure you extinguish your fire—twice. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 39 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:57 AM Page 40 PRO POINTERS >JEFF GUSTAFSON Early Season Secre 40 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:57 AM Page 41 ets Y ou know its been a long winter when walleye season closes and there is still plenty of good ice left to fish. Fortunately for anglers, open water is upon us and we have so much to look forward to in the coming months. The window for catching most species early in the season is much smaller than the dog days of July and August, but when you connect, it can be the hottest action of the year. Let’s take an in-depth look at some secrets for putting more fish in the boat this month. Finesse Pike Pike anglers love the early season because most of the fish in a body of water are shallow. In some parts of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, pike are one of the only options for anglers, before walleye, bass and trout seasons open. The key to catching big numbers of pike early in the year is to use finesse tactics to catch’em. While most anglers usually consider spinnerbaits and flashy crankbaits as the top producers for pike, post-spawn fish are usually sluggish and would rather be teased than harassed into striking. When I talk about finesse tactics, I’m talking about using plastic baits and subtle hardbaits fished relatively slow, at least compared to a typical summer retrieve. Pike are easy to find. Scour the shallow, weedy backwaters and work your way out the first major drop into deep water, like where it goes from say 5 feet down to 15, wherever the first major edge is. My go-to bait when fish are shallow is a 5 - 7 inch jerkshad, rigged on a 5/0 - 7/0 wide gap Gamakatsu hook. This is a weightless rig, but I make myself a leader using some 15 lb. Terminator titanium leader material and this will help keep the bait a foot or so under the surface and protect your rig from bite-offs. I can fish this rig through old pencil reeds and lily pads with ease, a likely place to crack a big pike early in the season. If pike have moved out of the shallowest weeds, I like to throw a hardbait like a Rapala Glidin’ Rap. You can fish this bait with long, slow “pulls” and it moves ever seductively along in a subtle manner. It is a big fish bait so if you are fishing a water with more smaller fish, you can try the smaller Twitchin’ Rap. I make my own leaders for these baits as well. Twitchin’ Smallmouths It’s been a tradition for a number of years that the Manitoba bass opener is spent on Falcon Lake for the annual tournament that many anglers enjoy. Over the years, ice has been a factor and prevented us from fishing couple times so organizers have decided to move the tournament ahead a couple of weeks, to late May, after last years move (because of ice) resulted in great catches by a lot of anglers. I learned the ropes on early season smallmouths growing up on Lake of the Woods and spent as much time as I could on the ice early in the year chasing bass while I was growing up. What I learned was applied at Falcon in recent years during the tournament there and it has been a proven system for loading the boat early in the year on bass waters all across the north. When I said earlier, “the window is much smaller than later in the year” what I’m trying to explain is that fish are not located in as many places or the variety of depths they are in summer, when they can be found everywhere. This can be said for all species, it’s all about finding fish. Find them and you usually find a big group. One type of bait excels at finding and catching smallmouths early in the year, when water temperatures are below 55 degrees are hard-bodied jerkbaits like an X-Rap. The key with these type of lures is the suspending quality they have. Fish them in a twitch-twitchpause manner and let them suspend for up to 10-15 seconds at a time once you location dialed in. They will put fish in the boat for you! There are some tricks to get these baits to run a little bit deeper as well and that can make the difference some days. Use fluorocarbon line. It sinks a lot quicker than mono and on a slow retrieve, it will get your bait a little bit deeper. I also change out the stock hooks, for Gamakatsu’s, which are sharper and heavier and help the bait dive slightly deeper. There are a lot of different varieties of suspending jerkbaits. Experiment with different brands and try different line sizes to see what produces the best results for you. I experiment with 8 - 12 lb. Sufix Fluorocarbon and a variety of baits. Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 41 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:57 AM Page 42 Weed Walleyes As the last remnants of ice are evicted from the lake, walleyes are busy getting their spawning ritual over with. The majority of walleyes in our lakes look for current when they spawn so that will help anglers in finding fishing locations. Look at shorelines and structure leading out of the these potential spawning areas and look for the first green weeds. Weeds will begin to show up when the water is in the low 50’s, not everywhere, but in certain places. Find some weeds and you will find a bite that carries through most of May and June and is www.thtlwinnipeg.com 42 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 extremely dependable. Pitch jigs tipped with a variety of plastic tails into these weeds clumps, usually cabbage or coontail and you will score. I like a Northland Mimic Minnow jig tipped with a Mimic Minnow Shad Tail or Slurpies twister tail grub. The advantage to plastic is you can rip the jig through weeds if you get slightly hung up and still be able to keep your bait in the water. If you are using livebait, you are going to tear bait off to often. A new option anglers have this year is the new Trigger-X stuff, a new water-based product similar to Gulp!, with really nice shapes for walleye anglers. One thing I notice on Lake of the Woods is that anglers will troll along shoreline aimlessly and they catch some fish. But think for a second and consider, do you consistently get fish on specific small stretches of shoreline? A quick look will usually reveal lush, green weeds on these little stretches. Save these spots on your Humminbird and you can go back and exploit walleyes with jigs. One more way to find these sweet weed spots is to find them in the summer when weeds are grown up and easily visible to anglers. Save them on your GPS then and you can usually count on weeds growing the same spot the next year. ■ Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:58 AM Page 43 WANNA FIGHT? Name: Scrappy ‘Jack’ Pike Title: Northern Underwater Champ Discipline: Topwater Thrasher Weight: 18 lbs (and growing fast) Training: Swimming, Eating, and Long Heart Pumping Scraps with Eager Anglers! Think you can take him? WIN your chance to FIGHT A MASTER! Enter online Goldsand Lake Lodge. Cast your ballot today at www.northbound-tours.com Call 1-888-234-1928 to book your next outdoor adventure! www.northbound-tours.com Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:58 AM Page 44 FISH’N NEWS Is your BABY protected? n the wake of yet another successful Mid-Canada boat show, some of you already have made your move and upgraded your fishing boat and motor while others enjoyed checking out the sights, walleye hawg tank, and of course the Hooked Magazine booth! I With spring officially here, it is time for the annual uncovering of our fishing boats, but, have you properly taken a step back and spent the necessary time and effort to ensure your new or used BABY is properly insured? I realize that insurance isn’t as exciting Mystery Country’s Paint Lake Resort Toll Free 1-888-246-9749 Phone 1-204-677-9303 www.mysterycountry.com Box 327, Thompson, MB R8N 1N1 Open Year Round! Cabin & Canoe/Boat Rentals • Fly-In Outpost Camps MARINA • CONVENIENCE STORE • RESTAURANT • LOUNGE • LAUNDROMAT WALLEYE MAGNETS as a topic on a new hot tackle item or marine electronics, however, considering how much your average fishing boat package is worth, how many of you can afford a total loss? The following are just some guidelines that I encourage you to discuss with your insurance broker: What are your insurance policy options? (i.e. adding your fishing boat and motor onto your house insurance or a completely separate policy) Ensure that you provide accurate information about your boat (i.e. length, width, and max. HP rating) What insured perils are covered and more importantly, what are the policy exclusions and limitations. What is the value on total loss (is it replacement value or a depreciated value) and what options do you have to validate the monetary value? What deductible options are available and are the deductibles different by insurable risk? What coverage do I have while I’m towing my boat to and from my fishing destination? Are you insured if you store your boat away from your primary residence (i.e. at the cabin, seasonal trailer site etc.)? What coverage do you have for auxiliary motors, electronic equipment, personal effects and third party liability? Lastly, if you do any guiding with a monetary exchange for services, you may need special insurance coverage Don’t wait until it’s too late, protect your BABY today! ■ WAAM Club News Upcoming meeting dates; April 8th, May 13th (check our website calendar of events for time and place) Annual membership is $30 and 1st time guests can join us for a meeting with no obligation. Visit our website at www.walleyeanglers.mb.ca John Remillard Walleye Angler’s Association of Manitoba 44 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:58 AM Page 45 Adventures OUTDOOR Fishing • Hunting • Camping Falcon Lakes Penguin Resort Faloma Beach, Falcon Lake, MB Clinton’s LAKE OF THE WOODS K e n o r a O n t a r i o C a n a d a Ash Rapids Lodge WORLD CLASS DINING, PRIVATE FULL FACILITY, COTTAGES, BOAT RENTALS, GUIDED FISHING, SHORELUNCH, SIGHTSEEING PACKAGES AND MUCH MORE! Reserve today! 1-800-465-1095 Clinton’s Ash Rapids Lodge - P.O. Box 1090 Kenora, On P9N 3X7 www.ashrapidslodge.com • [email protected] • [email protected] •1,2 &3 bedroom light housekeeping cabins •Safe sandy beach •Ideal family resort •5 minutes drive to golf course, riding stable and townsite activities •90 minutes drive from Winnipeg •Excellent Fishing •Hiking and Biking Trail For reservations Phone 1-204-349-2218 Sunset Lodge on Red Lake Sunset Lodge is your premier fishing and hunting getaway on the renowned Red Lake waterway; walleye, northern, lake trout, muskie on 5 lakes no portages. Red Lake offers exceptional hunting. Cabins or RV's. PH: 807-727-2683 www.SunsetLodgeRedLake.com Box 1130, Red Lake, ON, P0V 2M0 Wellman Lake Lodge Duck Mountain Provincial Park Come Relax... come to unwind and de-stress in our massage tubs. Listen to the call of the loons and rest in fully modern lakeshore cabins. RV SITES WITH WATER, SEWER, HYDRO CONVENIENCE STORE• LAUNDROMAT & SHOWER GAS & OIL• BAIT & TACKLE • WATERCRAFT RENTALS OPEN YEAR-ROUND 1-888-525-5896 www.wellmanlakelodge.com Quote HM1 at time of booking warm Create s, o mem rie r& summe winter! Whiskers & Walleye with Bass Located in Lockport, MB and operating from Selkirk, MB, Whiskers & Walleye with Bass guides anglers to superb Channel Catfish and Walleye fishing on the historic lower Red River. Jan Bass 204-981-5681 Email: [email protected] whiskersandwalleye.com Spring 2009 | HOOKED | 45 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:59 AM Page 46 >SCOTT SIME Write On! Become a better angler by keeping a record of your fishing experiences. i t was May 2008. My good friend Al, his father Davis, and I were on our 10th annual spring fishing trip; this time on Quesnel Lake. One morning found us fishing along a slowly tapering rocky shoreline, interspersed with pencil reeds, and Al’s dad had just landed a nice 19” smallmouth. While Al and I were fishing craw-coloured grubs and tubes along the bottom, Davis was idly casting a small Rapala minnow bait toward the shore and reeling it back just under the surface of the water. He hadn’t landed any of the fish this day, until he hooked the 19 after snagging the Rapala on a pencil reed and shaking his rod up and down in a bid to work it free. Sure enough, he got his lure free—with the trophy smallmouth attached to it! As we were taking pictures of Davis with his bass, I recalled something I had read just before coming up to Quesnel. It was an observation in one of the reports I had written in a journal I keep on all my fishing trips, noting how and friend and I “fluked” into a few bass after getting our lures caught on pencil reeds the year before in the Whiteshell. Hmmm. Al and I both tied on minnow baits, and started aiming at pencil reeds. We’d get them snagged, and then we’d simply wiggle the weed, and watch our line. In more than a few cases, we’d see our line move away from the reed, set the hook, and reel in a nice bass. We didn’t catch bass every time doing this, but we definitely caught our biggest bass this way… and not by fluke! Now the point of my first column in Hooked is not, as you could be forgiven for concluding, to talk about some cockamamie presentation for early season bass. Rather this column is about doing the one thing that—in my mind anyway—will make the single biggest improvement in your fishing experience. You’ve likely already heard it a hundred times, but I’m going to add a twist. 46 | HOOKED | Spring 2009 Davis proudly displays his trophy Quesnel smallmouth while son Al hams it up in the background. Keep a journal. A journal will help you make sense of all the things you experience in your outings. Imagine if you had the ability to go back and recall all the experiences you had in the past—under similar circumstances—to what you were about to go out fishing in now. What the weather pat- Imagine if you had the ability to go back and recall all the experiences you had in the past—under similar circumstances—to what you were about to go out fishing in now. tern was, what approach you used, where you found the fish, and what you were catching them on. Even more importantly, what were your observations on those days? Were the mayflies hatching? Were the poplar trees starting to fluff? What was the water temperature? Do you think that information would make you a better angler? The fact is, that’s the type of information that would make anyone a better angler. It’s priceless. And the coolest part about it is that YOU are the source of the information! So what’s the twist? Forget the coilbound notebooks or word documents. Blog it! Blogs, short for “weblogs”, are like online diaries or journals. They can be public or private, and are used for many different purposes. You can sign up for a totally free blog of your own at places like blogger.com and wordpress.com (to name just a few). And blogging is easy—if you can use email, you can blog. I moved my print journal over to a blog last season. Blogging gives me the ability to review or add to my journal anytime and anywhere I have internet access. It’s private; only I have the password. I can include pictures or even videos. And all of my entries are “categorized” to make searching for information easier. For instance, I categorize entries by fish species, body of water, and time of year. It makes searching for and finding information almost effortless; especially once I’ve compiled years of journal entries. So if there’s only one thing you do this year to try and improve your angling, consider becoming a “blogger” and start an online fish journal… you won’t be disappointed! ■ Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:59 AM Page 47 ™ Kill boredom with an 800cc injection. THE RIDE SAYS IT ALL. Highly skilled operator under controlled conditions. Do not attempt these maneuvers if they are beyond your level of riding ability. Enns Brothers - West Winnipeg, MB 204 895-0212 [email protected] Enns Brothers Morris, MB 204 746-6777 [email protected] Enns Brothers Portage la Prairie, MB 204 857-3451 [email protected] Enns Brothers Power Sports Winnipeg, MB 204 233-3667 [email protected] Gimli Snowmobile Centre Gimli, MB 204 642-7017 [email protected] LAD Enterprises Ltd. East Selkirk, MB 204 482-7966 Lakeside Marina Ltd. Red Lake, ON 807 727-2366 877 873-3681 [email protected] www.lakesidemarinaltd.com Nickel City Motors Ltd. Thompson, MB 204 778-6333 800 442-0456 www.nickelcitymotors.com can-am.brp.com © 2009 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., the products are distributed by BRP US Inc. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Some models depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (613) 739-1535 ext. 227. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: always wear a helmet, eye protection, and other protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speeds and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. ATVs with engine sizes of greater than 90cc are recommended for use only by those age 16 and older. BRP urges you to “TREAD LIGHTLY” on public and private lands. Preserve your future riding opportunities by showing respect for the environment, local laws and the rights of others when you ride. Make sure that all laws, regulations, and BRP’s warnings/recommendations for ATV passengers are respected. Ride responsibly. Outlander MAX ATVs: These ATVs are recommended for drivers age 16 and older, and passengers age 12 and older only. 5107218 Hooked v2n3-2 5/5/09 8:59 AM Page 48