Here is where anglers differ in their approach. Ever since the Lindner brothers invented the Lindy Walking Sinker, walleye anglers have embraced the techniques Al and Ron taught us along with them:“Drop your bait slowly to the bottom. Leave the bail open and hold the line with your forefinger. When you feel a bite, drop the line and let the fish run for a few seconds. Close the bail. Slowly tighten up the line. When you feel the fish, set the hook with a sweep of the rod.” Sound about right?
I have a tremendous amount of respect for both Al and Ron. They taught me a lot over the years; and pioneered many concepts and techniques anglers employ in their fishing. However, over the years I have discovered that several things can go wrong with their approach. First, how far do you let the fish run. The more line you have out, the more stretch. The fish might run under the boat making it difficult to get a good hook set. You may end up with your line in the motor. Sometimes the line doesn’t come off the spool smoothly. The fish can feel the tension and spit the bait. Next the reel bail doesn’t always close properly. You try to set the hook and the line slips. Or the line wraps around the end of your rod and doesn’t let you reel. Sound familiar?
“How do you locate fish?” That is a question I get asked a lot. The answer most of the time is to “follow the bait”.
Fish, no matter what species, have to eat to live. Other than the short period of time when they are occupied with reproducing; they eat, rest, and then eat again. Fish are cold blooded. The warmer the water they live in, the more they eat and less they rest. That is why fish from shallow stained lakes grow faster than those in deeper, clear lakes.
To find fish you need to figure out what they are eating and where they are dining. Their dinner table changes constantly. Early in the season fish tend to be shallow because that is where the small minnows are. Water inlets like creeks and rivers draw shiners and spawning fish. Next, shoreline structures such as points and large flats that extend out into the lake are the best bet. Later fish may move out to the weed edges and mid-lake structures such sunken islands and humps.
During early summer, bug hatches, like May Flies, may take them out to the deeper mud bottoms. Walleyes often chase bait in open water, not relating to structure at all. Oxygen levels in the summer may dictate the depth that fish will be found. In the fall fish tend to relate to the steepest drop offs in the lake. They also tend to move shallow once again until water temperatures get too uncomfortable.
Before you run all over looking, you need to analyze the lake, reservoir, or river you are fishing. I try to obtain and study lake maps. Many map companies now have electronic SD cards that you can put right into your GPS. Others make software available for your PC that allows you to enlarge and study maps at home; and then mark GPS coordinates you want to check out on the water. You can save the coordinates to an SD card, and then simply upload them to your GPS.
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — If you are a turkey hunter, you will recognize the desk clerk’s reaction to your request for a 3 a.m. wake-up call.
“3 a.m.? Wow!”
But only in Missouri, when you answer, “I’m a turkey hunter,” will there be any expression of understanding.
That’s because turkey hunting in Missouri can be compared to pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Just about everyone does it.
It was 3:45 a.m. when I met my guide, Soda Popp, in the lobby of The Lodge of Four Seasons, a sprawling five-star resort on Lake of the Ozarks.
We had about an hour’s drive to Popp’s farm wedged on a spit of land between the mighty Missouri River and the historic Osage River. It is the Bagnell Dam on the Osage River some 60 miles away that has created Lake of the Ozarks.
This is the time of the year when an infectious disease appears in outdoorsmen and women throughout the upper Midwest.
It’s been known to infect men, women and children, infecting young and old alike.
This the cause of this infectious disease is afungi that goes by the name of morel mushroom and once they start to poke their heads out of the ground, men and women will leave their home, job and family, heading for the river bottoms, island and hills on mushroom hunting excursions.
Morels, found throughout our area, are easy to recognize, delicious to eat, making them the most popular wild mushroom in the upper Midwest
Morels are elongated with an off white stem and a crown that is covered with white ridges with dark brown pits.They can vary from off-white to gray in color.The easiest way to explain what a morel looks like is to look for a mushroom growing on the ground that resembles a cone shaped brain.
Morels appear in the spring of the year when temperatures reach around 50 degrees, with the greatest quantity being found when temperatures hit the mid 50’s.
There are several things that mushroom hunters use to know when to start looking for morels.
The old timers say that mushroom hunters don’t need to start hunting until the oak leaves are in the mouse or squirrel’s ear stage.
I can honestly say that I’ve never known anyone who’s measured a squirrel or mouse ear, but I’ve been told that they are about half the size of your smallest fingernail.
Reprinted from the Sioux City Journal. The wild turkey’s reintroduction just might be the greatest conservation success story of our time.
It wasn’t much more than 50 years ago that the only wild turkey flocks were found in isolated pockets deep in wooded areas of the Southeastern states.
Today, if there is a tree and a cornfield, turkeys will be nearby.
This proliferation of turkeys has also resulted in a lot of changes in the way we hunt them.
That was brought home to me last week when I finished reading a book about turkey hunting written by one of the grand, old masters, Gene Nunnery. Entitled “The Old Pro Turkey Hunter,” the book has been in my library for quite some time. On the fly-leaf, the author has written “To Larry Myhre with my regards and best wishes. Gene Nunnery, Oct. ‘83.”
Travelers driving north on I-29 towards Watertown, SD may have a hard time believing what they are seeing on the horizon!Several miles south of the town, rising majestically from the prairie landscape a gigantic structure will begin to appear on the horizon.
This magnificent building, designed by Charles Redlin is the RedlinArtCenter, the home of Terry Redlin’s collection of original paintings.
The RedlinArtCenter which opened in June 1997 is located just off of I- 29 (Exit 177) on U.S. Highway 212.
The structure is a magnificent 52,000 square foot brick building with white granite columns that reach 38 feet skyward. The design was inspired by the Egyptian Revival period and its huge granite columns resemble the large southern mansions of the Civil War period.continue reading »
When do you set the hook? For many years I have read articles by outdoor writers and listened to pro fishermen discuss this topic. I would like to throw my thoughts and lures into the ring.
Hooking fish is, after all, the main ingredient in catching fish. It is the difference between a successful fishing trip and a nice boat ride. If you are a tournament fisherman, it is the difference between cashing a check and “better luck next time”. In nearly every tournament I have fished, a missed fish comes back to haunt me–unless I win.
Hooking percentage is the function of four main variables: rod, line, concentration, and technique. Of course you first have to locate the fish, have the right bait, and the right presentation. However many times I have witnessed anglers fishing the same bait, in the same boat, have vastly different results. You are saying, “hey, it’s just luck”.
I don’t believe in luck. Luck is a fickle thing that I don’t have any control over. If successful tournament fishing came down to just dumb luck, I may as well play the lottery. Catching fish is a result of preparation, attention to details, and an understanding of your quarry.
Rods:
There are many opinions about what kind of rod to use for different species. I have an arsenal of nearly 50 different rods and reels. Because I do a lot of guiding, I have several of each type for my guests to use. Nearly every one has it’s own time, place, and purpose. None of them stay in the closet the whole season.
Throughout the season my walleye fishing may consist of fishing live bait rigs, jigs, bottom bouncers with spinner rigs, or crankbaits. It may mean casting, back trolling, bobber fishing, or trolling planer boards. Bass fishing may mean fishing soft plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits, top water, or flipping. Obviously, the same rod doesn’t work for all these different tactics. I don’t wish to take the time here to discuss the pros and cons of each. This article is not about picking the perfect fishing rod. It is about choosing the right rod for the method you employ. Remember, we are discussing hooking fish here.
I would like to concentrate my discussion of rods in this article to fishing live bait rigs and jigs. There are plenty of ideas and misconceptions among anglers using these tactics to get my point across.
I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to hunt throughout the US, Canada and Mexico!I can honestly say that I’ve located more game with my binoculars than I have in any other way.
Upon arriving at the area I’m going to hunt for deer, turkey or even waterfowl is to pull out my binoculars and look the area thoroughly.
It’s happened to me dozens of times, after I’d thought I’d checked every bit of terrain in front off me, only to pull out my binoculars and spot game that had been right there in front of my eyes.
One thing you can bet on is that there’s a world of difference between a good pair of binoculars and the cheaper ones.
My first set of binoculars really looked good, fit into my budget and seemed to work well in the store, bur once I got out into the field, the truth came out!
Years ago I came to the conclusion that using a turkey decoy while hunting on public land is a big mistake.
I had just too many toms spook at the sight of the decoy before they got into range.
I stand by that decision even today.
In fact, it was proven to me once again last week as I harvested a nice tom during Iowa’s first season.
I was hunting public land southeast of Sioux City and had hiked far into the plot and up a deep, wooded ravine. There, I set out my two hen turkey decoys and nestled back against a large tree.
It was early afternoon of the second day and the wind was howling in 35 to 40 mph gusts. continue reading »
For years the phrase “walleye chop” has been used at boat landings, bait shops and lakeside diners.A walleye chop, it is said, is essential if you’re expecting a successful day on the water.
Many would ask however, what is a walleye chop? Is it one, two, three-footers or even more?As a Mille Lacs Lake Guide, I always hope for at least a breeze capable of churning up one-footers.Whether we are talking spring, summer or fall, five feet of water or the 30 foot depths, wind and resulting waves make a huge difference.
