Dang it!! Sorry for the late send today. Our email sender Constant Contact had major technical issues. ????‍♂️ Hopefully this gets out.

Today’s Top 4

This shows just how resilient walleye can be…. ????

I came across a short 8-sec video posted by Dave Husfeldt in the Ice Fishing Minnesota FB group and had to do a double-take (won’t be able to see the video unless you’re a member of the group).

Dave said he pulled his skid house off Mille Lacs, went to chip-out his blocking and there was a 26” walleye under his house still swimming in about 5” of water trapped under a thin layer of ice.


The real kicker: The fish had been living in its new tiny home for 2 weeks. ????

Dave: It was fairly lively for a fish that was caught almost 2 weeks ago when my girlfriend had a girls weekend. She thought it had gone under the house. I looked with the camera and couldn’t see anything…but I guess she was right [they usually are lol].

…other than being pale in color, [the fish] still looked and fought healthy…was caught by the ice-road plow guy and released down the hole where it tail-slapped and took off.

Wild! That fish still had some serious shoulders considering it went on a 2-week cleanse.

Fish ‘saddles’ for mid-winter walleyes.

Mid-winter can be a tough time to chase down walleyes…a combination of fishing pressure and cold temps often lead to lethargic fish and a finicky bite.

We had TW friend Will Stolski track down Forrest Leitch to see how he finds productive water during the mid-winter lull:

Forrest: Seems like a lot of guys come mid-winter set up their hard houses in community holes close to access points – obvious points, humps, etc.

My strategy is looking for high-percentage spots and using angler pressure to my advantage. Mostly applies to lakes I fish in northern MN with deeper structure, but can be used in a lot of different places.

Structure

My favorite spot for this time of year is a mid-lake saddle…an area that has a flat or point on either end, and inside bends coming up out of deeper water on either side.

The saddle itself serves as a hub where all these components come together…and usually holds the most aggressive gravel lizards.

I try to find saddles out as far away from groups of houses as possible…community holes can kick out ‘eyes early in the season, but by mid-winter the fish have been pretty worked over.

Strategy

It’s usually pretty cold this time of year and the ice is thick, so you want to plan accordingly…last thing you wanna do is wear yourself out drilling giant areas. #SpotOnTheSpot

My strategy works best with a couple of anglers…gives you the ability to spread out set-lines and dial in the juice.

I stick my portable right in the middle of the saddle and spread out set-lines [aka deadsticks] onto the different structure components. Love using the JT Hot Boxes for set-lines because they keep holes wide open in frigid temps.

If one set-line is getting more bites than others – say closer to shallow water – I’ll move my shack accordingly.

Baits

Usually start off with a Rapala Slab Rap – it’s a little more finesse than most “ripping” baits (no rattles) but still overall has an aggressive action.

If fish are shying away from the Slab Rap, I’ll switch to a 1/8-oz VMC Tingler Spoon. Can fish ’em high in the water column – with a lot of action – to draw fish in from a distance…still able to slow down and fish subtly.

On my set-lines I run a VMC Glow Resin Treble for larger minnows (shiners and rainbows). For smaller minnows I’ll scale down to a 1/16-oz VMC Tear Drop Jig.

Speaking of saddles…. ????????

Northern-MN hammer TJ Erickson recently posted a new YT video called “Mid Winter Walleye Location – Ice Fishing Walleyes in a High Percentage Spot” where he does a great job of breaking down the spot-on-the-spot:

I love how TJ shows some of the real-life struggles in his videos, too. Most YouTubers only show the glory moments, when we all know that ice fishing is filled with SO many highs and lows. But that’s part of what makes it so rewarding when things do work out.

“When ‘gills are almost as tall as they are long, you know you’ve caught a true specimen.”

– That’s Clam’s Instagram caption on this post with a massive northern-MN pie plate iced by John Holmgren of Devoted Outdoors. ???? #Boom

You should recognize John by now from being featured in these TW emails. He and his better-er half Ashley (great people!) catch some absolute units. #PowerCouple

These pics are just from the last week alone, including multiple ‘gills over 11” and even flirting with the mythical 12” mark:

Here’s a little insight that John said in the IG caption with one of those freakazoids:

“What a couple days we had!! By far the best panfish bite we have ever experienced and may ever experience…and then the next day struggled to get a couple bites. ????????

“This is what we love about this sport! It humbles you all the time and is what makes days like these so much more special!!

“This will be a fun one to share on YouTube! [soon. Here’s a link to their YT channel]

“We also talk about the awesome results of the newer 5-fish panfish limit on many of the lakes that we have in MN. It’s awesome to see so many people catching and releasing these days!! Keep it up…it makes a difference!”

Get this: John is on the quest for a 12” bluegill and has caught multiple bump-boarded 11.5”+ fish! Most of which have come on his go-to Clam Swirl Drop Jig. And these fish are NOT some high-fenced private slobs…they come out of big, public waters.

Btw if you haven’t seen those Clam Swirl Drop Jigs yet, they have a little gem on the nose to help reflect light. I can confirm they catch:

Random thought of the day….

Sort of funny how a lot of folks (myself included) typically couldn’t care less about catching bluegills or crappies for the other 8 months of the year…but soon as there’s fish-able ice we’ll hoof it 4 miles down an old logging road to try and catch ’em. Half the time not even knowing if that backwater slough even has fish in it or not! But it’s worth it if/when they’re fish of THAT caliber. ???? #PanfishTooBigForPans!

Tho if you’re curious ???? the Devoted Outdoors power couple seems to catch BIG everything lol:

The girth on this Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba greenback is straight-up outrageous!

Keep doing your thing! ???? It’s an incredible one.

1. Heads-up! ???????? Couple live streams TONIGHT.

First (assuming we have enough cell service) I’m going to be going live with Nick Lindner on his YouTube channel this early-afternoon/evening while we are on the ice chasing some Mille Lacs walleyes. Not sure the exact time we will be starting yet – it takes awhile to set up! – but the best bite should be between 4-5pm cst or so. ????

Then I’ll be baja’ing back to Brainerd and will be doing a Virtual Angling livestream at 8pm cst sharp with Caleb Wistad to talk mid-winter walleye patterns, tactics, things we’re seeing right now, and answering your questions live.

This live event is free and open to anyone to tune in, but spots are limited – you can reserve yours here or by clicking the pic below:

2. 2024 NWT payout structure announced.

Payouts for the 2024 NWT season will remain the same for the regular season and the championship as what was rewarded in 2023 [you can see that $ structure here].

This decision was made by leadership at Outdoor TeamWorks to help promote the prosperity of the NWT and to help encourage participation on the top walleye fishing tournament trail in the US.

In addition, Outdoor TeamWorks is proud to announce that each WRMG brand prize boat and motor package given away throughout the 2024 NWT season will feature a custom cover. This is something many anglers asked for in 2023…. Also, the 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year prize boat will be a 2024 Nitro ZV21 boat and motor package valued at over $80K, making the incentive of fishing the full 2024 season as a Pro-Angler even more elite.

3. OH stocked 40.8 million fish last year.

Looks like 31.1 million of those were walleye and saugeye:

Fry (less than 1” long): 12.5 million walleye and 11.5 million saugeye.

Fingerling (1” to 2” long): 1.6 million walleye and 5.5 million saugeye.

4. MN: “Fishing for Ducks” derby happening Feb 17.

The largest Ducks Unlimited event in the nation is actually a fishing derby. Sounds like they will be on the northwest end of Mille Lacs this year out of Garrison Sports. They have prizes for the 100 heaviest fish caught and the biggest overall fish takes home a $20K payday.

If you’re wondering how in the heck they’re able to drill the holes in the shape of the DU logo?! I actually received a message from TW reader Chad H. who provided a little insight:

“I used to work for DU in the engineering department that serviced the upper Midwest, MN included. We would use our GPS equipment loaded with coordinates from a CAD or survey program that make up the shape of the duck head logo. I personally was never on site for the layout but have seen the drawings used for doing it. Same technology we use for staking the wetlands that are created or restored in the prairie as well!”

Now you/we know…. Thanks again, Chad!

5. SD: Hooked on Hardwater Banquet happening Sat, Feb 25.

All proceeds support The Club for Boys and their Outdoor Program.

If you haven’t heard of “Hooked on Hardwater” yet, they have 60 pro anglers take out 60 underprivileged boys from the Rapid City Club for Boys for a 1-on-1 ice fishing experience in the Black Hills. ????

6. Industry testifies before Congress on importance of youth fishing.

7. Okuma president Doug Lasko retired.

Doug has been with Okuma since before Okuma came to the US over 27 yrs ago.

Congrats!

8. These KastKing tackle boxes are legit. ????

Called the KastKing HyperSeal Waterproof Tackle Box. I grabbed one of each size (3600 and 3700) to test out, and they are awesome. Super beefy/durable, waterproof, heavy-duty latches and I love the clear lid.

The only problem is now I want 18 more LOL.

9. Yamaha acquires electric marine propulsion manufacturer Torqeedo.

“Yamaha’s acquisition of Torqeedo…helps to accelerate the company’s efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. …Yamaha will have the ability to fast-track the establishment of a small electric propulsion lineup, complimenting the company’s efforts with hydrogen and sustainable fuels as additional means of reducing the carbon footprint on the water.”

10. Sportsman’s Warehouse announces McNair as Chief Retail Officer.

11. MN: Tony Roach hit up Mille Lacs…

…to do some “ice trolling” in the newest episode of Dialed In Angling. Some nice tippy nuggets sprinkled in from Tony and crew:

12. WI: Volunteers removed thousands of lbs of debris from Lake Michigan

Staff members and students from UW-Oshkosh spent 4 days a week last summer cleaning up areas susceptible to pollution, including Manitowoc, Kewaunee, Algoma, Green Bay, and Sturgeon Bay.

“Green Bay was probably the worst place of just total volume of plastic. There were some days where I’d be down,” student Noah Ryan told the Wisconsin Public Radio. “I was just like, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s like right in the backyard, you know?”

Some of the items pulled from the lake included single-use plastic bottles, picnic tables, ovens, and 600-lb tires, leading Ryan to believe that most of the things were deliberately dumped.

13. Have you seen FreezArmor Heated Bags?

Recently came across these gems that solve a problem in the ice-fishing world…how to keep schtuff (auger batteries, extra gloves, phone, you name it) warm while on the ice for hours and hours on end. Enter FreezArmor – here’s their FB page.

I haven’t had the chance to try one yet, but have heard good things. Let me know your thoughts (pros, cons, etc) if you have experience with them. I would think folks working outside in the construction biz and whatnot would already be in the know with this kind of stuff.

14. UT: Flaming Gorge Rez “Burbot Bash” happenin’ Jan 26-28.

Last year they gave out over $50K in cash + prizes. Burbot Bash = annual tourney (and non-profit event) to help rid the western fishery of the invasive species while also “generating some biological data to further understand the population in the reservoir (diet and creel data collected).”

Win a Garmin LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI!

Yup, this is real life…. Have a shot at winning this Garmin LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI! The term “game changer” gets thrown around a lot in the fishing industry, but LiveScope Plus is SERIOUSLY mind-blowing stuff!

Allows you to see fish swimming in real time ???? I have learned soooo much from watching the fish’s moods in how they’re reacting (or not reacting lol) to the presentation. Drill a single hole and scan for fish/structure in ANY direction, see which way the fish are moving, and know exactly where to drill your next hole to stay on ’em = yes please! ????

And the new LiveScope Plus (LVS34 transducer) kicks things up another notch with…

“…35% more target separation over the existing system [which is already insane] with sharper resolution, reduced noise and Garmin’s clearest images.

“…capable of identifying and separating targets as small as 14” at distances 100′ from the boat [or ice hole] so anglers can see exactly what they need to with improved stitching, reduced noise and fewer on-screen artifacts….”

Bonus points for “LI,” meaning lithium battery = lighter and longer runtime.

Takes 10 seconds to enter by clicking the pic below, and can share the link you get for bonus entries. ???? Good luck!

Generator tips for ice fishing with a wheelhouse.

Some great info in this Catch Cover blog post to keep you running smoothly:

Advanced lithium batteries and solar power are on the cusp of changing how we power our fish houses. But we’re not quite there yet and the vast majority of wheelhouse ice fishing is done with generators. Here are 5 tips to keep your generator running smoothly during the ice fishing season.

The Right Setup

Getting the generator set up away from your fish house can help in several different ways. First, it’s more stealthy. Even quiet generators create noise and vibration that can be heard and felt by both fish and the people in the fish house. I like to keep my generator sitting on the tailgate of my truck, 25 feet or more from the fish house on the downwind side of the house. I don’t want to breathe in the fumes from the generator and I can position my truck to provide a bit of a windbreak for the generator. If I need to make any kind of adjustment in the dark, it’s easy to pop on the truck bed lights to see what I’m doing. A rubber mat under the generator eliminates even more vibration.

Remove The Air Filter

The dust, dirt, and debris that could find their way into your generator during the summer months on a camping trip are virtually non-existent in an ice fishing scenario. Removing the air filter prevents that area from freezing up and causing sensors in the generator to trigger a stall. Keep the air filter in an air-tight bag during the winter and be sure to reinstall it before summer use.

Change The Oil

The oil in generators should be changed at the start of every ice fishing season. New generators should have the oil changed after 30 hours of run time. After that, every 100 hours. So if you’re running your generator from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon, you should probably change the oil every 2 trips. The good news is, changing the oil is easy and generators don’t use a lot of oil.

Change The Plug

Installing an NGK Spark Plug or any other spark plug that runs a little hotter can help when using a generator during winter months. Regularly changing the spark plug will keep your generator running at peak performance. Spark plugs should be changed every 200 hours. If you do a lot of ice fishing, it doesn’t take long to hit 200 hours. The best way to keep an eye on this is to change the spark plug every other time you change the oil.

Off Season Care

If you don’t use the generator during the summer months, be sure to run the gas low before storing the generator. Storing a generator or any other engine with a full tank of gas is a bad idea. It’s also smart to start the generator once a month. You don’t have to run it long. Just fire it up to keep the parts moving regularly.

These are great tips to help you get the most from your generator during the ice fishing season. But as always, follow your manufacturer’s owner’s manual. 

Today’s ‘Eye Candy

Getting up close and personal with a VMC Tungsten Larv Eye Jig eater:

That’s a new bait this ice season, so here’s a little info:

…designed to maintain a perfect 90-degree presentation of live or artificial baits to help you keep the most natural presentation possible throughout your day of fishing. With exclusive features like the VMC Super Sharp Power Gap Hook and oversized 3D holographic eye….

Bunch of great colors, but holy smokes that “glow metallic rainbow” (top left) is looking real nice: