The Walleyes of Tonka!

For years I've been trying to perfect my walleye game.  As a lake Minnetonka fishing guide, I feel that it is good to be well rounded.  Multi-species if you will.  There's no doubt that muskies are in high demand.  It's been that way for years.  Even when muskies take center stage, I still find time to seek out and exploit what I feel is one of the best walleye lakes in the state.  Fall on Tonka means big walleyes if you happen to look in the right places.

Last night I took my dad with me on a learning expedition.  He loves walleye fishing more than anyone I know.  Our mission was simple - fish new water and learn something that we didn't already know.   Not only is it a blast, but trying new things help me to learn more about the fish I chase.  The best part is that the things I learn walleye fishing apply to muskies and bass too.  I believe that targeting many species throughout the year helps me to become a better all around angler. No matter the specie, the details are what matter most.

Our evening was short.  Luckily, so was the learning curve.  About 15 minutes into our trip I stuck a super chunky walleye.  The trademark belly that your hand sinks into.  At a hair under 10 pounds, she was a fish that would make anyone happy.  The fact that I caught it while trying to learn new tricks makes it all the better. 

The recent October heatwave likely means that this bite will only improve once the temps tumble.  My approach to the fall bite is based off of one thing - abnormally large bait.  I'm talking sucker minnows in the 6 to 7 inch range.  The minnows that pike guys hang under a bobber or troll along the weedlines during the summer.  Why do I use it?  Because everything is bigger in the fall.  All the food in the lake is at least 5 months old at this point.  Hungry walleyes have no problem taking down a big minnow.  I've had 13 inch walleyes engulf 7 inch sucker minnows.  Once you get past the size of the large bait and accept that it will work, you will be amazed at what you can catch.  The best part, you won't have panfish or pesky bait stealers messing with you.  Almost every bite you get will be a walleye or a fish worthy of battle.  In this case, bigger is better.

Aside from mixing with new spots and lures, I find that I slow down when I walleye fish.  I often get bad habits after months of chasing muskies.  I will fly from spot to spot and lose my patience.  A big mistake in all aspects of fishing.  The slow approach reminds me how to thoroughly work a spot the right way.  Where to pitch the jig and how to retrieve it will determine when I get a strike.  Again, this is the same for muskies. 

Details are the difference in all the fishing that we do.  Plus, there is something very special about catching huge walleyes in the fall that get me excited.  It's worth putting the big sticks down once in a while and catching something for the frying pan.  I love fall walleyes, and the more I fish for them on Tonka, the more I like what I see.  Give it a shot, you won't be dissapointed!  From the walleye filled waters of the metro pond, keep on livin' your dream!

George Wahl Memorial Tournament - 2nd Place!

Roughly 270 muskie addicts took to the metro waters this past Saturday.  The reason?  To participate in a tourney that raises money to stock more muskies.  With an affordable entry fee, the George Wahl Memorial Muskie Tournament offers people a competitive atmosphere, several top lakes to fish, and another reason to chase muskies.  The best part.  All the money raised goes directly to stocking muskies in our waters.  A great tournament for a great cause!

Thursday night, guide partner Bob Turgeon and I, discussed fishing together.  We've been looking for an excuse to get out all year.  Our busy guiding schedules has kept us apart, but this gave us a very good reason to fish hard for a full day.  I contemplated all the things on my "to do" list, but a fierce strike from a hungry muskie on Friday morning changed my mind.  I was out scouting on a solo mission, when I had a giant erupt and go to battle.  It was all I needed to get the competitive mojo back in me.  That 50 incher seeled the deal.  Instantly I sent Bob a text saying, "lets do this!"

The forecast for Saturday was a muskie fisherman's nightmare.  The bottom had dropped out on the thermometer, the Barometer was through the roof and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.  All signs said go home.  Still, we had a combined 30 plus years of Tonka muskie experience in the boat that day.  Our plan was to fish hard and hope for a good bite.  The same as any day.  Not that there was a lot of pressure from the tournament, but we managed to put high expectations on ourselves.

We zigged and zagged across the lake fishing different patterns and spot specific areas.  We discussed each one in detail.  The why's, where's and when's.  It was fun bouncing info back and forth.  It didn't take long and things clicked.  The "click" came when a mid to high 40's came 3 feet out of the water on Bob's lure.  As fast as I could grab the net, the fish was gone.  Ouch!  It was the fuel for our fire, and put us into tournament mode for the rest of the day.  Neither of us wanted to go back to shore without a fish in the boat.  From that point on we were a perfect team.  We worked spots thoroughly and covered every detail without even asking what the other was thinking.  Sometimes this happens quickly with a partner, and sometimes it takes years to get there.  We managed it in about 45 minutes. 

We fished hard and we fished with a purpose.  The muskies weren't cooperating, but we never had any doubt that it wouldn't happen.  As time was dwindling, we finally put the icing on the cake.  A fat 47.5 incher came flying out of nowhere and missed Bob's lure.  2 casts later and it was an all out war.  This time, we were on the winning side.  A quick measurement and a picture with the Saturday edition of the Star Tribune and the fish was back in the water.  It was a satisfying feeling to know that we could get the job done.  We didn't care about anything other than putting a muskie in my boat. 

We knew the conditions were tough, but we had no idea that Bob's muskie would be enough to take 2nd place.  Heck, we didn't even think it would make a top 10 finish.  It just shows that if you fish hard, anything can happen.  By all reason and purpose, that muskie should not have eaten at 2:30 in the afternoon.  Thankfully, nobody told the muskie that!  Congrats to Bob for a great fish, and Thank you for a day on the water that I will never forget.  Also, thank you to all the anglers that helped to raise money for our wonderful resources.  We all stand to see the results many times over.  A great day for a great cause!  Until the next muskie strikes, keep on livin' the dream!

Fall is in the Air...

It's a tough day when a guy has to sit down and think about what he wants to pursue.  Should I grab a few minnows and chase a walleye dinner, or do I go for a fat muskie?  Do I don a camo pattern and sit in a tree with my bow, or should I grab a shotgun and try to knock something out of the air?  It's a tough choice.  Luckily, I can't lose.  No matter the final decision, I'm a winner either way.  Fall is in the air.  If you love the outdoors, there is no better time than right now.

I just so happen to be one of those crazy outdoor fools.  It's no secret that I have a passion for muskies.  It consumes most every minute of my life.  I'm an addict no doubt, but I do love a few other things too.  Last week I snuck out with my dad and fishin' buddies for a fresh walleye dinner.  My first cast rewarded me with a nice 26 incher.  Too large to eat, but it wasn't the only catch and my belly was soon full. 

Prior to my walleye outing I shared a shotgun experience with longtime hunting partner Sean Bailey.  Dove's were our target and we were dialed in.  The morning flight brought hot barrels to our shotguns and before we knew it, we had a limit of tasty birds on the ground.  My first hunting experience of the year couldn't have gone any better.  The limit of birds was one thing.  Sipping a hot cup of coffee in the field with a great hunting companion is another.  In my world, it doesn't get any better!

Does my arrow fly true?  I won't claim Robin Hood status, but after the past few weeks, I am once again confident in my skills.  Sure the mosquitos are out, but the elevation keeps most of them away.  Putting myself in a position to outsmart a whitetail brings a rush that is unexplainable.  I was reminded about this rush when the first of 4 deer walked under my stand last night.  If I wasn't ready for hunting season before, I sure am now. 

With each fall day a new story is made.  Thanks to my life on the water, I get to share many of them with others.  There is no such thing as a bad day of fishing.  However, sharing in the experience isn't always a good thing for others.  Such is the case with Jeff.  A fisherman that has no choice but to admit to his family that he is addicted to chasing muskies.  This past friday marked our third trip of the year.  Lucky for me, he is now three for three!  What he doesn't know is that this feeling of excitement never goes away.  This addiction has only just begun.  This addiction and all the rest that come with it remind me why I am blessed to live in the land of 10,000 lakes.  Fall is in the air.  Are you making the most of it?  It will be gone before we know it.  Until next time, keep livin' the dream!

A Few Good Moments...

As a fishing guide, I spend most of my time chasing muskies for my clients to catch.  This means the object of each outing is to land a fish on a customers line - not my own.  Over the past 11 years muskie fishing has changed drastically and so has my approach to guiding.  Even though I still enjoy casting baits, I rarely do it with clients in the boat.  The way I see it, I would hate to pay a guy a lot of money to watch him catch a fish.  It's for this reason that I focus all of my attention on teaching and preparation for my clients.  Nothing will prepare you mentally or physically for the mayhem that is a muskie strike, but I try, and we go over it time and again.  Casting, lure presentations, figure 8's and more.  It's always ongoing.

While I haven't been racking up the numbers this year myself, I do have a few recent moments that I can claim.  This week has been a lot of fun.  I was given a chance to hit the water for more play than work.  Since the pressure was off, I started tinkering with a new lure to the market.  Numbers under 5 have been magic with this new bait.  The first time I threw it I had a 50 incher destroy it on the 4th cast.  One night I snuck out for a quick sunset outing and caught a dandy on the 3rd cast.  The following day I hit the water and once again the same location and lure provided a heavy fish on the 3rd cast.  Not to be selfish, I also had a client throw the bait this week and it took him only 2 casts to get hooked up.  A lot of fast action with little work involved.  To say that it's been good would be an understatement.  Catching a few fish for myself helps me remember the excitement and thrill of the catch.  Trying new things helps to stay ahead of the game and keep the action coming.  Was it the lure, or lucky circumstances that lead to each catch?  I can't say for sure just yet.  All that I know is that it's been fun playing again.  I will spill the beans on the new bait soon, but not before some of my lucky anglers tangle a few more times.  Call me greedy, but hey, once in a while I have the right to do that. 

The action has no doubt been awesome, but I do have one memory that stands out among them all.  Prior to the Vikings opener against the Saints, I snuck out on my local watering hole for a few minutes of casting and peaceful time alone.  It doesn't happen too often, but when I get out by myself, I really feel that I am in my best element.  I pay extra attention to details, and the fish always seem to bite.  I can't explain it, but God must enjoy my time alone with him and rewards me for it.  This time was no different.  About an hour into my evening I got rocked by a headshake that meant business.  A bruiser soon went airborn and I knew that I had something special.  After a long battle, I finally won and the fish was in the net.  Astonished at the length and girth, I decided to set up my camera for a timer set photo.  I don't do this very often, but this fish was special.  With the hooks out, I set the camera in place and hit the timer.  The camera allows ten seconds from button push to flash.  The perfect amount of time to grab a fish and stand up to pose.  After the flash, my ten seconds were up and the fish hit the bump board and the water in record time.   She was a dandy.  52 inches (pictured on top) of adrenaline and excitement! 

The successful catch, photo and release of that fish by myself will forever remain in my memory.  Having a picture also makes it fun for me to share the moment.  When I look back at my muskie career, each fish seems to take a special place.  I remember them all.  I guess that is why muskie fishing is so addicting and why I love it so much.  Even on a bad day there are always a few good moments.  I'm very blessed that this week leaves me with only good memories once again.  Until the next muskie strikes, keep on livin' the dream!

Muskie Stocking Now!

From one muskie angler to the next, I believe it is our greatest asset to stick together.  It is this very reason that I bring this topic to the surface.  By working together Minnesota has created a monster in the world of muskie fishing.  Big fish and lots of 'em have turned muskie angling from a small community of fisherman, to a large percentage of MN anglers.  Very seldom do we get a chance to voice our opinion on making a change for the better.  Now is our chance. 

The MN DNR is giving anglers an opportunity to voice their opinion on stocking 5 new bodies of water. If approved, the proposed stocking will take place in; Roosevelt Lake in Cass and Crow Wing counties, Upper South Long Lake and Lower South Long Lake in Crow Wing County, Tetonka Lake in LeSueur County, and the Sauk River Chain of Lakes in Stearns County. 

Meetings are at the following location on September 2nd: Mankato - Gander Mountain, 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Owatonna - Cabela's, 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Waterville - DNR fisheries office, 50317 Fish Hatchery Road, 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Brainerd - DNR office, 1601 Minnesota Drive, noon - 8 p.m.
• St. Paul - DNR office, 500 Lafayette Road, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Montrose - DNR fisheries Office, 7372 State Highway 25 SW, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m
• Cold Spring - City offices, 27 Red River Ave. S., Cold Spring, 5 - 8 p.m.

If you cannot stop by one of the meetings near you, public comments will also be accepted from September 1 through September 30 online at muskie.comments@state.mn.us, and by mail to Muskie Stocking Proposals, Minnesota DNR, 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.

This is a huge resource addition that should not be taken lightly.  We have a chance to state our case for adding these new bodies of water.  Believe me when I say that the stocking effort isn't a gaurantee or a slam dunk.  It will not go down without a fight.  Just as we love our fish, there are others that oppose it just as highly.  They will be out there, and they will be voicing their opinions as well.  The DNR has stated that they want to hear all sides of the story.  They have set up 7 public meetings across the state on Thursday, September 2.  These meetings are open to the public and will give the DNR a better insight into what the public and fishing communities are looking for. Ultimately, this will lead to their final decision on whether to stock the new lakes or not.  All the information will be gathered from anyone willing to share their interest.  It's as simple as stating your preference.

Every side to this stocking proposal has a right to voice their opinion.   However, the loudest spoken will likely win.  As muskie fisherman I believe we are now in the neighborhood of 250,000 anglers across our state.  I find it hard to believe that we will be the minority in the voice to approve this effort, but I still feel it is possible.  Many of us think that someone will do it for us.  Like voting, many will say "my vote doesn't matter anyway."  Well, this is your chance to let your voice be heard.  The DNR doesn't often make decisions on public input, but they really want mine, yours and your fishing pals too.  It would be a sad day if new lakes got turned down because not enough muskie dudes said yes.

Here's how you can help.  Go to the meeting and give educated information on why you would like more muskies in the state.  Voice why you encourage it and give solid, sound reasons.  Fighting, ranting, negativity and loud mouthing will not help in this discussion.  If you cannot make it to a meeting for any reason, then you can simply email or call the DNR to let them know that you approve and encourage stocking in these bodies of water.  It's a win for muskie anglers and the state of Minnesota.  Proper education can also reveal to other anglers that muskie stocking can actually have positive effects on lakes too.  Voice your opinion and help others learn why this sport belongs in our state.  More water equals more fish and a great future!