Crankin’ For Slip-Sliding Walleyes
by Ted Peck

The old saying 'what goes up must come down' can be applied to walleyes after their spring spawning run in a river. Legions of 'eye chasers will be out there jigging and rigging for their myopic Manitou when the fish head upstream. Few-if any-remain on the water when consensus amongst the most revered local river rats is that the big parade is over. Many head for other rivers where the walleye wedding march plays a week or two later. Others stow their rods and get back to work. Our exceptionally warm spring this year has thrown classic walleye thinking right out the window. On the Miss... read more

Perch Now
by John Andrew

The Big Perch are biting now and with early ice out across most of the mid western states this year, spawning has taken place ahead of schedule for several different fish species. It's not just the Walleye we should focus on this opening season, the Perch are also on the bite now and they are feeding very aggressively, just like the middle of June. Fishing the drop offs, including slow moving current areas and the new weed growth that is close to their spawning area, is very productive for us. Using small Crappie minnows in conjunction with a 1/16 oz. jig, casting out, allowing the jig t... read more

Sex and Violence in the Spring Woods
by Dan Small

Eddie Salter, the Hunters Specialties turkey guru from Evergreen, Ala., once described spring turkey hunting as "the All-American sport." "It's all about sex and violence," Salter said. "That old gobbler thinks he's about to make love and you're there to try to kill him." Salter's salty tongue was not tucked into his cheek when he shared that observation 25 years ago during a seminar at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show. Salter pared spring turkey hunting down to its bare essence. Without sex, there is no spring hunt. Without violence, there are no dead turkeys hanging at the en... read more

Tricks for Early Spring Panfish
by Dave Duwe

With the unseasonably warm March and cool April all attention has turned to hitting the lakes for some open water fishing. With gamefish season closed, my fish of choice is panfish. The opening day for gamefish in Wisconsin is the first Saturday in May. April and May is actually a great time to fish. The weather can be quite comfortable and the boat traffic is much less than in summer. And the fish can be very active in pre-spawn location. The fish of choice for me are the bluegills and the crappies. In spring I tend to find the active bluegills in less than 3 feet of water. ... read more

"Artificial Intelligence" for Walleyes
by Ted Pilgrim

Written in conjunction with Tony Roach Springtime arrived earlier this year than maybe anytime over the past century. It's been a truly remarkable season of prematurely warm weather - not that we're complaining. But even the old-timers, who were around to fish the Original Rapala Minnow, can't recall another year like this one. Melting ice ended the frozen water period almost before it started. Warm sunny March, April and May days warmed the shallows rapidly, injecting the water with virtual espresso shots of activity. With remarkable climatic conditions like these, it's no wonder that angl... read more

Rethinking the Trolling Game for Walleyes
by Jason Mitchell

Trolling for walleyes used to be regarded as more of an intimate affair. The boats twenty or thirty years ago were typically much smaller so we sat closer to the water. Before specifically designed trolling rods and line counter reels, crank baits were often trolled with low profile bait casters or spinning reels. All an angler needed was a six foot medium action rod. Line was watched, lure vibration was felt (even with monofilament) and a person who trolled every night could calculate how much line to let out and where to pump the rod tip to create the perfect trolling pass. Fast for... read more

Walleye legend employs rare sensitivity and precision to tame the Mighty Miss Park Falls, Wis. - Probing the heartbeat of a river requires a fine set of instruments. Some dudes call them "structur... Read more...

Popular contingency program to now include Big Bass Bonanza circuit and Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo April 17, 2012 (MILWAUKEE) - Now in its third year, OPTIMA® Batteries is pleased to announce t... Read more...

There'll be no holy matrimony, but the Troller and kayak are fixin' to get hitched Minneapolis, Minn. - There's a certain "getting back to nature" feel when parting the serene surfaces in a kayak o... Read more...

$25 Rebate Available with the Purchase of any OPTIMA Battery March 27, 2012 (MILWAUKEE) - OPTIMA® Batteries, a leader in high-performance automotive and marine batteries, today announced its 2012 ... Read more...

Bowfin caught by Jordan Lazore

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