Hand Lining with Dave Hoggard’s Willow Spoons

Hand Lining with Dave Hoggards Willow Spoons!!

I took out my two nephews Jacob and Jordan Hayes of St. Paul out for a day on pool 2.
The boys told me they had some nice walleyes on their home pool and they were right. We started out working the inside corners of the channel in 8-10’ of water. It wasn’t long and Jacob (above) had his first fish. It came on a green and chartuse willow spoon. These things are fish catching magnets. Tip them with a piece of crawler (or what ever your fancy) and they catch fish.

Then later in the morning we went down to work the outside of some wing dams. Again hand lining with willow spoons and a crawler. The action these little devils have while pulling them upstream is enough to entice the most finicky walleye. These spoons can be used several ways. Three ways rigging, anchoring above a wing dam and inching back to the fish, there are endless ways to fish them.

Thanks Dave Hoggard for creating an awesome spoon and thanks Jacob and Jordan for an excellent day on pool two. And one more thanks, this one goes out to Brad (BT-EYE) Burgeson he fished out of his boat kind keeping an eye out on us.

Here is another pic.

I cant say enough about these to guys I fished with,

Thank You !!!

And you too BT-EYE

Hey ecnook, Those willow spoons work pretty good on a three-way also. Been fishing 1 stick with my regular stuff and 1 with the willow spoons, 60% on the willows. Talk to you later.

Glad I could help Dave. But I think you had everything well in had with the hand lining and the Willow Spoons. And thanks for giving me some pointers about the Wingies. Your welcome in my boat any time.

Ecnook, thanks for the plug on my baits….
I know they do work!
Your promotion check is in the mail…
just kidden!
It is great to see our staff guys talking up the products here. I know that lots of the items we handle in the EFN Outlet Store work wonders catching fish! Some of the items EFN sells, are hard to find anywhere but here.
I wanted to say that my Walleye Willospoon is made by Bait Rigs Tackle and that you can find them at Cabela’s Retail in Owatonna… however, they do not have all the new colors that are in our kits. Also, they do not have any “kits” as EFN does. Cabels’a sells them packaged single in a blister pak.

James Holst will soon be adding an all “glow in the dark” (large with meduim size) Willospoon Glow Kit to the EFN Outlet Store soon. This will just smoke ’em for ice fishing. I have the Willospoon Glow Kits in stock now, and I expect James to have them added into the store as soon as he returns from Mille Lacs (a Willospoon Glow Kit is the same cost as DH102 kit).
Hawger

Ecnook, I thought I would also mention many of the guys that fish the spoon do change out the hooks… the gold plated hooks need to be sharpened (as do all plated hooks you may use). Otto Leher (Owatonna Cabela’s Retail Product Specialist) has been using these for years… and years, ice fishing… but changes the hook to a trebble. Works for him on tip-ups with big shiners…
I have done this too but have used it casting, and found it even more effective. It does not kill the flutter action. You’ll need to guage the size of the trebble you add… as not to be too large, or it will foul the line on a flutter/fall.
Hawger

I’ve used your willow spoons for years, three way, bobber, ice jigin and with tip-up. One of my favorites is the white or regular glow, I’m looking forward to trying some of the new colors in the kit!

I see you finally figured it out !

Richard (Smitty)

Keep a tight line !!!

Hi all. . . The “handlining” thing really interests me. Any experts (ecnook?) able to tell us more about it – equipment/how to/where to get equipment?

Sturgen…On the main page of FTR there is a area for articles you can go to for some good reading on handlining. Just hit Articles and go to the Art of Handlining. Hope this helps!

Here you go Sturgeon46

The art of Hand Lining

I am thrilled to announce that Ecnook is to be my guest on the next Owatonna Today – Monthy Fishing Show… a 30 min cable fishing show…. runs here in Owatonna 10/10/02. He will be presenting his techniques on “handlining” and show some lures & tips…. perhaps he’ll send you a copy of the tape… hint hint!
Hawger

Hawger is correct. I will be showing the tips I have learned while hand lining. I’ve found that this form of fishing has boated more fish for me from late April – ? . I’m looking forward to getting together with you Hawger and doing this show. It will be a GREAT introduction to Hand Lining.

The hand lining subject is something I have many questions about… can not wait! I have learned much from having experienced fishing guests on the program. Bring you bass rods and ultra lites too… we’ll hit Secret Lake after the shoot .
Hawger

A STAR IS BORN Good luck and don’t get stage fright…I’ll get your autograph the next time I see you

One of our new sponsors: is Hutch’s Tackle and Guide Service in Praire du Chien, Wisc. and you may contact him at 608-326-6764 or e-mail at [email protected] or at http://www.riverwalleyes.com and he will set you up with everything you need for handling. The sets he carries are quality products and work great. Nate has his boat already rigged with them and mine will be rigged shortly. If you really want to spoil yourself he can also set you up with a Panther Steering Assist kit for push botton remote kicker steering so you can steer your kicker from anywhere in the boat. Nate loves his and I can hardly wait to have mine rigged. Hutchs article in the ”Article” section on the FTR main page explains handling fully. Bill and Nate

For every apprentice there is a Master , and Hutch is the Master

Hey Dave,
is the fishing show on cable, if so what channel and what time?

Owatonna Today only airs in Owatonna… on the Bresnan cable access. A tape is the only way you could see the show. Hawger

I am happier than all get out that Hutch is back!!!! Along with his hand lines, and expertise, he sells a line of jigs that are AWESOME!
Tuck

Wow… Ecnook, you did a fine job on the show…. lots of good info and rigging tips. I learned much from your presentation…. makes me want to give handlining a try.
Thanks for being my guest, great to spend time with you on the water… following the tape session. Sorry we did not find the big sunfish on Secret Lake. Nice day bassin with you though! Hawger

I now have a set of handline reels and have had sucsess!
I was taught by Pat Cavins he was here for the mwc and the rcl. He brought me out handlining.
My first fish was a double I was just sitting there wondering what a fish was going to feel like and BAM I thought I had a real nice fish on but happened to be two 15s.

I was OK with that though I have been out about 5 times now and have brought fish in every time no big ones but I will figure it out..
Boat control is a big part of it!! That and patience.

Now I will have to get some willow spoons…

Hey Tuck, Sorry about the misunderstanding I just caused. I was referring to Hutch being a sponsor for Nate and myself. I didn’t mean for EFN. If EFN would be interested I could probably work out some deals on handlining equipment and on the Panther Steering Assist. kits. That is something James would have to ok as he ‘s the boss and I don’t know what all products are on his ”wanted lists”. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Bill

No problem! He is a great guy. I got some hand lines from him a couple of years ago.
Tuck

shhhhh, it’s a SECRET secret lake that is

see attachment

I had an awsome time with you Dave. And let Pax know that the offer still stands to meet up on pool 4, with the two of you, to do some hand lining.

Hawger made up this craw imitator, he caught this bass and low and behold there was a craw in the mouth of this bass.

Heres one more shot with “Mr. Secret” aka Pax and Hawger landing another LM Bass.

Lots of fun you guys .. thanks both of you

Thanks for the photos, good job!

This photo is of a Bait Rigs, Slow Poke Jig done “lick-it and stick-it” inside a Super Do. The conbination is deadly! Falls flat and slow, a killer on crayfish-feeding Bass. It is meant to be fished slow…. and worked/crawled at the bottom/rocks. Works great! And the Slo-Poke has a forged Mustad hook…. strong and will not bend… great hooksets.
Hawger