DIY: Keeping Live Nightcrawlers for Bait
This full article by John Tertuliani originally appeared in Outdoor News A fat nightcrawler makes for some mighty fine bait. I have yet to find a fish that can resist a worm presented in a natural manner. Many times, it is true, having a worm on the hook is all you…
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Ice fishing tip: Keep your lure moving and you’ll attract and catch more fish
It’s hard to imagine ice fishing without any electronics, but I remember years of hard-water angling ice simply staring at that bobber waiting for it to move. I jigged and jigged, and I hopped from hole to hole seeking active fish. Now with electronics, we have a better idea of…
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Ice fishing tips: Tools to keep you safe when heading out on early ice
Every year, many anglers can’t wait to tackle early ice to work the first hot bite. If you want to set the hook on some fresh-ice fish, then here are a few items I consider must-haves. First, own and bring an ice chisel. When used properly, you can quickly check ice conditions…
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Keys to End-Of-Summer Fishing
Our friend Joel Nelson with Northland Fishing Tackle shares some valuable information on how to hit the water when that fall-like air moves in with the promise of better angling. Fall Weather Patterns – Key to Successful End of Summer Fishing ......Baitfish will be migrating in preparation for winter, while…
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Fishing tips: proper handling of fish for successful catch and release
As catch and release becomes more popular, it is important to stress proper fish handling so we release fish alive to reproduce and fight another day.
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Fishing tips: storing your summer fishing gear for the winter
Now that we're nearing the end of the year, and the weather is starting to get really cold, it's time to store all that summer fishing gear if you haven't already done so. If you have already put away your gear there are a couple things you may want to…
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Ice fishing tips: Stay safe with the proper gear as you venture onto first ice
Stay safe and prevent an unexpected polar plunge by owning the right gear and frequently checking ice conditions! Cooler nights and accumulating snow have dropped temperatures near freezing, and we’ll soon be walking on water again. Take a few steps now to know you’re prepared when ice arrives. First, pull…
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Tips and Techniques for Catch and Release
There are several lakes and rivers in the U.S. that have catch and release regulations. Catch and release is very important for the conservation of our fisheries. Here are a few catch and release tips and techniques… 1. Water Conditions - Be sure to avoid stressful water conditions for the fish.…
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3 Lures to Get You Started for Spring Bass Fishing
Spring has sprung! You know what that means, it's time to get the tacklebox out, rig up your lines, and start ripping some lips! Here are my top 3 recommended lures for spring bass fishing 3/16-ounce Jig Head with an Artificial Bait One of my favorite lures to use is a…
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State Fishing Regulations
Reminder! Before you head out on the water - make sure you've read your State's Wildlife Division regulations for the current fishing season rules. Because biologists are making decisions to protect our fisheries, the rules may have changed from the previous season. Here's a handy reference list! Note that some…
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Spring fishing tip: Head to a local river or stream to catch some carp and suckers
Coach Jason Revermann: When the snow melts, beat cabin fever by targeting rough fish in a hard-running river near you. Some of my first fishing memories are of digging worms, grabbing a rod and reel, some heavy sinkers, a few hooks, and then biking down to the local river to…
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Why Wear a Neck Gator When Fishing?
Headed to do some warm water fishing this winter? Don’t forget to pack the sunscreen, and consider a NECK GATOR. According to JPT Captain Clay Ellis-Escobar, who spends a lot of hours on the water where they sun’s reflection can get super intense, a neck gator offers the perfect protection.…
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Ice fishing tips: Must-have tools for safe early ice fishing adventures
Every year, many anglers can’t wait to tackle early ice to work the first hot bite. If you want to set the hook on some fresh-ice fish, then here are a few items I consider must-haves.First, own and bring an ice chisel. When used properly, you can quickly check ice conditions as you…
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Ice fishing tips: Go-to baits and jigging tactics for first ice walleyes
First ice is kind of like opening day for open-water walleye anglers. You mostly must rely on last year’s experiences. That’s how I start. I’ll use lures that provided success in the past, but I also always have two or three other rods rigged up with alternate offerings. Second, I…
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Fall walleye fishing tips: Prime locations for mid to late autumn walleyes
As water temperatures drop, leaves change color, and daylight decreases, we know our open-water fishing season is quickly wrapping up. But those willing to keep the boat out of storage will encounter some of Minnesota’s finest walleye fishing. The remaining weeks of autumn qualify as “shooting-fish-in-a-barrel” season. The finicky, dormant…
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Pre-ice fishing tips: Charge batteries and check over small engines to prepare for the ice season
Ice fishing will be here before you know it and paying attention to ice gear now can save you dollars and headaches when colder temps arrive. Start by maintaining the batteries for your ice fishing electronics. Charge them and note any batteries that have drained down; they’ll probably need replacing…
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Fall fishing tip for walleyes and crappies: First find food, and the predatory gamefish will be nearby
It’s that time of year again, the leaves are falling and so are the temperatures. The lakes are cooling and that triggers a feeding frenzy. Want to find fish? Use your electronics to locate schools of baitfish around humps and points that fall off into much deeper water. Troll around…
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Fall fishing tips: Vertical jigging in the fall requires you to trust your electronics
Perhaps more than any other time of year, fall fishing can mean specific locations – specific structure that holds fish. As fish relate to deep structure, you really need to trust your electronics. If there is a mistake many anglers make when fishing structure, that mistake would be fishing…
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Free Download: Game Fish of WI ID Chart
Get a free ID chart of Wisconsin's Game Fish https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/documents/outreach/GameFishWisconsin8511.pdf
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Shorter days fishing tip: Use bigger baits to target larger bluegills in the school
Summer is winding down, but there’s lots of great open-water fishing still available. Baitfish have had months to grow and are more of a mouthful these days. Larger bluegills often look for a larger meal to fill their appetite. Small crankbaits and vertical jigging minnow baits can help you target…
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Walleye fishing tips: Summer signals time for bottom-bouncers and spinners
As the water warms, walleyes tend to move away from shorelines and scatter on flats and along deeper water structure. This provides the perfect scenario for dragging spinners behind bottom bouncers to cover water and seek active fish. Start by putting your electronics to work. Use GPS maps to locate…
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Fishing tips: Catching bass in shallow water through the summer
by: Andrew Kjeldergaard As we move deeper into summer most anglers think deep, but you can still find big bass in the shallows all year long. When searching for bass in the summer I base my fishing locations off of these three things, first is amount of cloud cover, second…
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Bass fishing tips: Where did the bass go?
If you are heading out for a day of bass fishing you can usually start your morning off fishing in the shallows but when the bite slows down you have to make a move. As the water warms up from the morning sun fish will tend to seek out shade…
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Fishing event is a win-win for father and son
One of the first big news articles I wrote for Outdoor News was back in 1998, when a big national fishing tournament circuit, the FLW Tour, came to Lake Minnetonka. It was one of the first trips into the north by this predominantly southern United States circuit and many hailed it as…
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Open water fishing tips: Catch more walleyes with spinner rigs in shallow water
Spinner rigs are versatile and we can use them to catch walleyes in a wide variety of depths. Here are a couple tips to catch more fish when targeting walleyes in shallow water. I like to fish as close to the boat as possible, but still remain successful. When fishing…
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Hunting and fishing tip: check out some garage sales to get stocked up on some hunting and fishing gear
It’s spring and that means garage sales aplenty! Garage sales can be the perfect place to get gently used fishing and hunting gear at great prices. Hunters and anglers are constantly updating their gear and have to make room for new stuff. Make sure to stop by a few sales…
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Fishing tips: where to start searching for early season walleyes
Don’t just fish memories when locating fish; use your electronics and search according to lake and weather conditions.
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Scratch your fishing itch with springtime river rough fish
If game fish seasons have closed in your area and you still crave the tug of a big fish, then head on down to a nearby river and try your luck on some rough fish. Carp, suckers and catfish swim most rivers and will put up a great fight. It…
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Eight basic tips for catching bass
Try these tips when the open water bass season arrives By Louie Stout Contributing Writer The long winter is passing, and it’s time to turn those bassin’ fantasies into real life experiences. Of course, some parts of Outdoors News country may still be under ice or state regulations that prohibit anglers from…
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Ice fishing tip: Look shallow for a great bite
By: JPT Captain, Blake Quall In the summer, shallow weed lines are full of life. The weeds hold bait, tons of panfish and a magnitude of game fish ranging from bass to muskie. In these summer months, anglers are quick to key in to the great shallow-water bites. However, come…
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