(Provided by All Creative Media)
Long ice fishing trips can be tough to pull off and carving out a full day on the ice can at a challenge for a lot of people.
However, opportunities abound for quick trips offering great fishing shortly after darkness falls.
My favorites are early evening trips for walleyes or crappies, says longtime guide, decorated tournament champion and avowed night owl Scott Glorvigen. With a little planning, its easy to get away after work for a couple of hours and enjoy solid action, with a shot at trophy fish.
Gearing Up: Organization is critical.
Having everything you need ready and waiting makes it infinitely easier to hit the ice on short notice, Gorvigen says.
Would you like to catch more walleyes from the first idyllic days of spring right through the gales of November? Then think outside the box, and dont be afraid to test tactics pigeonholed for other applications.
Swimming jigs like the Northland Puppet Minnow and Rapala Jigging Rap are perfect examples, says Scott Glorvigen, a longtime guide and tournament champion whos seen firsthand the rewards of pushing the tactical envelope. Other notable options include the Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnow and Nils Master Jigger.
Widely considered ice-fishing lures, swimming jigs are deadly on walleyes in a variety of situations, and despite their success remain largely off the radar of many otherwise savvy anglers.
By Dan Johnson
All Creation Outdoor Media
As summer wanes, a stellar pattern solidifies on many lakes that produces big numbers of super-size walleyes and northern pike. Often overlooked by the masses, it provides steady action well into fall.
Call it the squeeze play, quips angling ace Scott Glorvigen. When low levels of dissolved oxygen in deep water force cool-water forage into a narrow band higher in the column, big predators move in for the feast. Anglers able to capitalize on the conditions can enjoy some of the seasons finest fishing.
By Daniel Quade
(Provided by Lindy Tackle)
Traditional summertime tactics catch plenty of big eyes, or else they wouldnt have become such strong traditions. Lindy Rigging, pulling spinners and suspending live bait account for countless catches. But sometimes, thinking outside the box is an even better way to put more, bigger walleyes in the box.
Just ask Jon Thelen. The longtime guide and sage of all things walleye often flips the tactical textbook upside down when conditionsor the fish themselvesdictate an unorthodox approach. As a result, he keeps his clients lines stretching while other anglers are struggling. Following are three of his top tricks for turning the tables on ever-elusive summertime eyes.
No. 1 Lil Guy For Big Fish