Archive for March 2016
Upper Red Lake, MN
Expand lake map Download Full Size Map Upper Red Lake, MN At 288,800 acres, Red Lake is the largest of all inland lakes in Minnesota. It’s also at the center of one of the most tragic fisheries failures, and at the same time, the subject of perhaps the most successful joint recovery effort in fishing history. The lake is split into upper and lower basins, with all of Lower Red Lake and about 60% of Upper Red Lake under the jurisdiction of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.
Read MoreFishing Line Choices for Walleye
The Line On Walleye Lines Walleye anglers today have a vast number of choices in the fishing lines they use, and while some types are best suited to certain situations and presentations, Team Northland‘s Tony Roach says braided line fills the bill for most of his fishing needs. “To be frank,” he says, “I use Northland Bionic® Walleye Braid most of the time, with most presentations,” he says. “A braided line’s sensitivity is foremost, so whether I’m casting long distances, or pitching-and-…
Read MoreSpring Walleye Fishing
Catch the early season river bite Winter’s demise signals the beginning of an annual rite of spring, as schools of prespawn walleyes surge upstream into rivers across the Walleye Belt. Although the water is cool and fish location often changes day by day—even hour by hour—savvy anglers can enjoy some of the year’s best fishing. My favorite scenarios are rivers that flow into larger bodies of water, such as the Rainy River at Lake of the Woods or Detroit River at western Lake Erie.
Read MoreBodinger Detroit River
Winning Ways For Motor City Walleyes Rivers large and small offer great walleye and sauger fishing across the Northland in spring, and the incredible Detroit River is one of the standouts. Though it flows for just 32 miles from the outlet of Lake St. Clair to western Lake Erie, the storied waterway links the upper and lower Great Lakes, making it a hub of commercial navigation.
Read MoreSpring Valley MWC
Gum-Drop Floaters Help Secure MWC Illinois River Win Northland Fishing Tackle’s iconic Gum-Drop Floater has been raising anglers’ baits into the strike zone for years, and this past weekend, it helped lift Joe Perez and Troy Tregoning into the winner’s circle at the Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit’s season opener on the Illinois River at Spring Valley, Illinois. Held on the Illinois River out of Spring Valley, the event pitted 88 two-person teams from across the Midwest against one anoth…
Read MoreLeer’s Spring Rainy River Walleye Tips
Rivers across the Northland offer opportunities to enjoy early-season open-water action as schools of walleyes surge upstream on their annual spawning run. Such migrations happen on waterways of all sizes, from large rivers to small creeks, but Team Northland’s Chip Leer says the Rainy River between Minnesota and Ontario is one of his favorite places to tap the spring bite. “It’s a classic example of a good-sized river feeding into a large lake,” he begins.
Read MoreForage Factors For Early Panfish
The arrival of warm, spring weather surely fires the urge to ready panfish gear and launch the boat, but Northland pro Chip Leer reminds anglers not to get ahead of themselves when they hit the lake. “It’s important to remember that the water temperature is just a few degrees higher than it was when the surface was frozen,” he says, “So you still need to think like an ice fisherman in terms of presentation.” Though air temps might be fair for several days, the environment bluegills, crapp…
Read MoreGet The Most From Your Slip Float
Lengthening daylight and warming waters in early spring set the stage for shallow panfish, and that provides the perfect opportunity to go after ‘em with a classic float rig. But if you think of a slip float simply as a strike indicator, you’re missing the boat. Panfish master and Team Northland stalwart Brian “Bro” Brosdahl says floats are also an important part of your presentational system.
Read MoreCatch Big Bluegills…Weed Out Small Sunfish
Gary Roach Bluegill Tip Tired of windmilling small sunfish when all you really want to catch are bull bluegills? Take a tip from Team Northland member and ice fishing ace Gary Roach, and tweak your panfish jig strokes to keep silver dollar sunnies at bay. “People think you can’t catch big bluegills when schools of small sunfish are harassing your bait, but you can,” says the iconic Northwoods fisherman.
Read MoreFishing for Late Season Crappies
Hammer Late Season Crappies From: Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson Whether you call it “late season,” “late ice” or “last ice,” this period of the winter fishing season is one to which many diehard ice anglers look forward. But what is “late ice?” That depends much upon where in the Ice Belt you’re fishing. Northland Pro and veteran iceman Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson puts it simply.
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