Ever lost a tackle box full of lures?  I’m pretty good at it as it turns out.  So are my kids I’ve come to learn, they’ve got too many of my own genes.  I’ve lost them tragically to a canoe capsize, which is a rough story I’d not like to recall.  I’ve lost one to…

It’s pretty easy during the dog days of August and even into September, for bluegill and crappie anglers to lull themselves into a rut.  Fishing can be tough during the hot, sunny part of the day, and the productive times are usually limited to early and late.  Admittedly, if I’ve only got an hour or…

Autumn is in the air and catch more fish this fall, by looking shallow for walleye or largemouth bass!  Birds are gathered on power lines, butterflies are getting together to prepare for their southerly journey, there have even been reports of tree leaves changing colors.  Summer fishing is different than spring fishing, and fishing in…

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest impact. I say this only because I have overlooked this idea a time or two while on the water. Since my father shared his passion for the outdoors with me at a young age he was able to teach me many life lessons I implement on…

by Bob Jensen   In the remaining open water months, there is one very basic thing to keep in mind for fishing success, we’ve said it before and I’m sure we’ll say it again, but it’s so important that it’s a good thing to keep in mind:  If you want to catch fish now, you’ve…

By Eric Brandriet There is no doubt walleyes, or for that matter all fish, prefer leeches on their menus at least sometime during the open water season.  For some anglers, leeches are rarely used and unfortunately they can provide some of the hottest angling of the year no matter the species being chased.  Leech availability…

There are countless presentations that anglers use to catch walleyes throughout the open-water walleye season.  Angler strengths and confidence often steer their preference and in South Dakota, livebait rigs pulled behind a traditional bottom bouncer probably top them all.  Very simple, yet effective livebait spinner rigs can entice the weariest of eyes! After spawn concludes…

Walleyes spend the better part of their summer season in deep water.  Provided there’s enough oxygen at depth, they happily enjoy cooler water temperatures and the bevy of bugs and other bait that congregate on deep structures.  Older fish in certain lakes, learn to key in on larger bait stock.  That could mean ciscoes and…

I grew up on some pretty meat and potatoes type fishing.  Digging angle worms in the garden for creek chubs and such.  I fished with what I had, and for what was available.  As kids, we caught river shiners, and suckers, and once even snagged a freshwater lamprey.  We even walked the water with a…

Water temperatures have started to level off towards their summertime highs throughout most of the Midwest, and if you haven’t already been hucking plastics, now would be a great time to start.  Usually, I’m looking for 60-65 degrees in most of the lakes I’m fishing to signal the pairing of jigs, especially with more plastics…