Phil Davis noticed something floating in the water on Lake Darling in northwestern ND…and that something ended up being a 9.56-lb walleye with a fish stuck in its throat:

Funny enough a guy in the comments (Ryan Hett) said they had “grabbed it earlier and it measured just over 30 inches.” #SmallWorld #ButBigWalleye

I saw another comment under that post from Adam Randash who said he found this one on Devils Lake, ND a couple years ago that tried to take down a huge bullhead! And he said the walleye was still alive, so he let it go. Looks like it had been gnawing on it tail first (?) and was maybe set back in there for the picture? But that’s just me guessing:

This video shared by Angler’s Edge Mapping on Instagram shows Jon Couprie with a 28.25″ northern Manitoba cannibal that had a 16″ walleye down its throat yet still somehow scarfed-up a jig and minnow. She was released with her prize still in place:

More proof you don’t always have to be using tiny-little baits to catch walleyes – them big ol’ chompers aren’t just for smiling!

Saw this pic posted on John Hoyer’s Instagram along with a little recap of what they were seeing after spending some time on Mille Lacs Lake, MN:

“Practice brought light winds and lots of ActiveTarget fun. In that time, we used a number of high action baits to trigger bites from the bigger fish.

“The Berkley Power Switch was one of those lures that I would throw past a single bigger mark, twitch the bait 3’ or 4’ above its head until I saw a reaction, then immediately let it fall past the fish to bottom. A lot of the times, I wouldn’t even see my line twitch, and they would have it choked.

“The more I use this bait, the more confidence I have in the versatility it gives me to figure out the mood of each individual fish and crack the code on what the finishing move is to make them bite. So much fun!”

Yup, I can’t wait to play with ‘em! ????

After going thru some more YouTube comments. ????

I realize “forward-facing sonar” isn’t for everyone. But you don’t need to have it (or even want it) to learn something about fish behavior in videos featuring it, and then apply it to your fishing….

One example….

I’ve used many of the same techniques in the same areas and caught fish for years before ever having FFS, but I had no idea until using LiveScope that so many of the walleyes I was catching were actually suspended and chasing the bait down…just assumed it was the fish near bottom (I was graphing with 2D) that were eating the bait.

I usually always try to include snippets in these YouTube videos on how I find fish using 2D/DI sonar and Side Imaging (which has been out since 2005…18 years now!) – really that’s how we first find spots holding fish, then snoop around for a real-time look with FFS…after we’ve already used the other technology to land on the spot!

This Ned Rig video was different. This was a behavioral trait I’ve noticed the last few seasons that I just think is so dang fascinating it deserved a video of its own. The type of stuff we’d really have no way of knowing for sure unless you were scuba diving and fishing at the same time lol.

If you have any specific video ideas or things you’d like to see this summer, drop me a comment. I really do read all of them.

Will have a couple new YouTube videos coming soon-ish. And YES there will be some LiveScope clips in there because I personally think we can learn SO much from actually watching how fish react under different conditions and situations. Feel free to close your eyes during those parts. ????????

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to watch the YouTube videos! And if they’re not your cup of tea – absolutely no hard feelings. I get sick of hearing my own voice too hahah!

Is actually a custom 1/2-oz “Darth Maul” glow jig that was created and auctioned off by WI-based Tight Lines Jigs. ????

It looks like Nick Tousignant won it in the FB auction for $55 – which feels like a steal considering the amount of hours that had to go into creating that bad boy.

I definitely would not fish with it (it’d go in the man cave) because you know this fella who would love to bisect that jig LOL:

Btw Nick must be trying to catch ‘em all ???? because he won the last auction, too:

Can’t wait to see what Tight Lines Jigs whips up next. ????‍????????

In case you missed it on YouTube, here’s episode 49. I always try to make it a little different than what you get in the email – hope you enjoy!

Big shout to Sea Foam for making this video series possible!

1. WI: Father/son team wins Merc National Walleye Tournament.

Joe and Joseph Robl’s 2-day total (10 fish) of 29 lbs took home the top spot at the 45th annual derby on Lake Winnebago. Heard it was the biggest day-2 comeback in the history of the event. It sounded like they were trolling shallow-ish rock in 11-12′. No doubt a memory that will last a lifetime – congrats fellas!

2. MI: Tribe’s stocking program strengthens walleye fishery.

[Last] week, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians released thousands of young walleye into waterways across the state.

When someone catches a walleye in the St. Marys River, there is around a 50% chance that the fish was born in a tribal hatchery.

Between the years of 1995 and 2022, the tribe’s fisheries program released around 18.89 mill [!!!] walleye into MI waterways.

3. Interesting read on tungsten open-water jigs.

Bunch of great insight from walleye hammers Tom Huynh, Jason Mitchell and Brad Hawthorne ???????????? talking Northland Tungsten Jig Heads in the long-shank and short-shank versions.

4. SD: Pickstown is geared up to host the Lake Francis Case NWT.

The 2-day derby kicks off TOMORROW. Someone will be going home with an extra $105K-ish in cash and prizes. ????

5. Episode 4 of “Tour Level Gold” just dropped.

Amazing video series [!!!] that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the highs and lows professional anglers deal with on the National Walleye Tour. ????????????

6. ND: Devils Lake Chamber Walleye Tourney coming June 23.

47th annual. Ton of prizes and a whoooole pile o’ walleyes to be had – big ones, too:

“The lake is blessed with record numbers of walleyes based on fishery surveys. During last year’s tournament, the top five walleyes weighed 8.59 lbs, 8.37, 7.78, 7.76, and 7.14. Those weights are impressive anywhere.”

Aaron Blair and David Burkholder won it last year (full results) with 30.75 lbs.

7. MN: Husband/wife duo wins Lake Osakis derby…again!

Tyler and Cate Wolden (who I actually went to high school with, small world!) won the 42nd-annual Osakis Lions Walleye Tournament with 6 fish for 56 lbs. The derby uses a length-to-weight conversion, so it looks like they had over a 28” average on their 6 fish ???? and also got ‘big fish’ with a 29.75-incher:

Props you two! #BackToBack

8. ON’s 2020 recreational fishing survey just released.

Not sure what took so long ???? but I guess it’s a 72-page document that’s “filled with interesting facts about the angling preferences, spending habits, and locations preferred by Ontario’s anglers.”

I can’t find a link to the actual 72-page document yet, but this Steve Galea write-up had a few interesting lines from it, including:

“Anglers spent $1,618,217,000 in 2020 in ON. This was deflated from 2015 [the last survey, they do ‘em every 5 yrs] due to border restrictions that prevented foreign anglers from visiting the province.”

9. VT: Walleye stocked in Lamoille River for the first time in 25 yrs.

10. WA/OR: Columbia River is having a shad explosion.

Over 1 mil migrating shad have been counted going over the Bonneville Dam. No wonder walleyes get so fat and happy there!

11. Sharrow Marine just got $30 mil debt and equity financing.

They make that ultra-efficient prop that’s wildly expensive (but I’m sure amazing).

12. NC: Fishing team loses $3.5-mil prize after…

…their 619-lb blue marlin was disqualified from the competition.

The fishermen, on a boat named Sensation, battled with the marlin for 6 hours as they attempted to reel it aboard. But it was all for nothing after they were excluded after organizers ruled on Sunday that damage to the fish was caused by a shark.

“Competition rules stipulate fish will be disqualified if mutilated before being landed or boated, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers.”

Rules are rules, but I was picturing more mutilation on this “mutilated” blue marlin:

Why to use high-speed spinning reels for glide baits.

I find it sorta interesting how gear ratios (how many times the spool turns each time you crank the reel handle) are a big deal when talking about baitcasters and bass fishing, but are rarely mentioned in the walleye world. ????‍♂️ I’m assuming it’s because for years we just didn’t have many options for different gear ratios in ’em.

Here’s NWT pro Korey Sprengel talking about the size-30 Abu Garcia Revo Rocket spinning reel. The newest version has a 7.6:1 gear ratio and brings in 43” of line per crank [!!!] and why it’s his go-to for glide baits:

Know anyone who finds “their spots” like this? ????‍♂️????

You know who you are lol.

Park Rapids, MN guide TJ Erickson plucked this quality ‘eye out from under a swim raft! Said he threw a dropshot right next to the raft, and this big razorback slowly came out from under for a closer look. Amazing.

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH