This may be kinda late , but was out last weekened trolling. The breaklines in 10-12ft and 14-16ft near flats MN side seemed to put out a few good fish. Trolling cranks longline and leadline. This one went 26 1/4″ and the guy I was with put a 25″+ in the day before using the same technic, so they are there.
Good luck
Aaron
Chappy,
It would have been nice to see the weight on the fish. But I know come this summer it will most likely give help the weights as well, so it is a even playing feild.
I did have a 23″+ Sauger that was well over 5lbs. It is satisfiing to watch them swim away.
Thanks
Aaron Konkel
Drake,
I can gaurantee that everone of my teams fish went back within a few seconds of hitting the net. Heck we even did quick release on the ones that didn’t make it to the net.
We at the Walleye Searchers Of MN noticed this as a concern and have made every effort to insure that all fish no matter what size would have the best chance of survival. So as Hawg mention we have changed are format to a catch, measure and release.
Thank you
Aaron Konkel
Kerry, sounds as if you had some fun, awesome weather none the less. Richard and I went up on Friday with a mix of jigging presentations, found that the buktails brought in the bigger fish. Ended up with a good bag of 3 15.5″-16″ and 2 over 18″ mixed walleyes and saugers. Around Haycreek to Baypoint.
Aaron
Jake,
Why don’t you just come out of the closet and let every one know…….he loves to “CAST” crank baits. This is his favorite to use a crank bait. Gee I remmeber him talling me over and over again last year ” why troll them when castng works even better”. I had to agree, He had that look in his eyes. Besides how can you argue with a plastic looking blue haired guy. 
Aaron
Bill,
Itit was fufufufun. Sorry I am still thawing out. No I had a blast for the conditons and still pulling 2 walleyes in less than a foot of water. Like I mention first fish came in the first 10 minutes and than coming back to the same spot a few hours later and first cast and boom another fish. Nate did a great job on putting this on. Only 1 suggestion is seeing how they have Christmas in July, that would make Thanksgiving in June (hint, hint) ; 
. Good job to everyone that made it out.
Aaron
Yes there is nothing like getting a induced froozen labbotamy (sp?) at 7:30am on the coldest morning of the year.
Brad does have an awesome boat and it was fun watching the rest of the pack go past after we were fishing.
Oh and it is a true bass boat, Brad maybe for got to mention the good smallie he brought to the boat 
.
Thanks for getting us on some good fish Brad. 
Aaron
Nate,
Correct me if Iam wrong, but isn’t that the same boat you had 2 years ago to take big fish and angler of the year?
Todd do you want to sell the boat?
Good job Todd.
Aaron
Bill,
I know why you took the picture up stream. It was thoughs 3 clowns on the down stream side you didn’t want in there. You guys should have stopped and paid a visit this morning. We had 4 from that area and missed a whole lot more, but all in all had a great day and good to see you guys on the water. Mike good looking fish.
Aaron
Wow now that Jake is gone it is safe for me to come out and play 
. I can only imagine that Winona is not a good bet to go fishing and I love it down there 
Jake you forgot to mention in the list of thing learned was casting cranks shallow in high water, oh thats right you didn’t . Good luck and have fun 
Aaron
Jake,
My good man, I can say that I and another member just got back from pool 5. We had a day of fishing and seeings how I am not in the next tourney you’ll have to wait to see if he’ll tell you I would be dam if he’ll let me say and you may have to wing it. Nice thing is there are plenty of beaches in pool 5. I can say that the rods were bent quite a few times and the net went into the water a few times. The area is pool 5 and we did elminate a few of the normal patterns. Try some unusal things for the fish. I’ll be spinning by the meeting to see who draws whom. The water is in better shape than last year and I can tell you it will be a good weight that takes it.
Jake I hope this helps, Hey good luck.
Aaron 
I will second that Bill,
If you are thinking of getting a new rod, this would be the place to go. I have been a huge fan of St. Croix rods, but the best part is that both Mikes will spend the time need to make sure that you get what you are looking for and not just something that they sale. It is as it says custom built rods, so you get to customize it. From my experience with these guys you get what you pay for and a whole lot more.
Aaron
From my understanding is that Foster used to be privatley owned and the previous owner did indeed stock walleyes and northerns. I believe that most of the pits out in that area do still have some of those fish in it.
Bill, if I rember right, didn’t you and Nate know of the walleyes in the Fosters?
Jake, as we have learned of your masterful walleye skills , I still couldn’t see you catching a walleye even if it is at the cabelas’s fish tanks .
Aaron
I know that Jake is a hard worker, Why just the last time I was there he was closely inspecting the counter top. At the same time it look as if he was giving them a spit shine, you know for his head was on the counter and droll was coming out of his mouth.
Now that I think about it, he was also meditating and practicing some sort of new deer or walleye call. With his eyes closed and the snorts coming from him it was amazing how hard he works .
Aaron
Mike,
Our secret spot? sounds as if you and I need to go fishing again 
Aaron
Wow, good job guys. Hey Bill who is the that person next to Kerry? and what is that on his face? That woudn’t be a smile. Does this mean he caught a walleye?
Good job Jake, just had to ask 
Aaron
Uh darn 
, and here I was (hoping) oops, thinking they did something to you .
Hey Jake cauht some more of thoose little 20″ waldos agian today, but good news for you the casting to the willows is kind of hard now.
Aaron
Quote:
Hey Mike [Jakes boss] how about assigning Jake to do some field testing of some new ice fishing jigs next winter on a Sat. where we ALL can be there armed with snowballs.
Gee, I come up with some GREAT ideas.
Hey guys,
why wait until winter, we can have Jake go out to long point ice fishing this weekend
Aaron
Quote:
Now I understand why you feel asleep at work yesterday. Those green crawlers are just like Chinese food – they make you tired!
Mike,
Jake was sleeping because he was a little “green” around the gills
Now the next time I go sucker fishing I am confident that the green ones work . Mike, that is the best advertisement I have seen in along time .
Aaron
Thanks to the person that purchased the prizes for the Rochester forum’s weekly prize . I had extra time this morning to stop out and actually pick up the first weeks prize.
On the way out of the drive I notices on the hooked on fishing sign “Red tail chubs” (Thanks for letting me know Mike). If I am unable to get willow cats I like to use red tails. These bigger minnows are a good choice for walleyes and smallies. They fish a little differnt then a normal minnow. Walleyes will take them , but they take longer to take the bait in. I normally use them during cold front and late summer/ fall.
They work during summer as well. Look at using in slow conditions i.e lindy rigging and slow trolled 3 ways on points, dropp offs and wing dams .
Good Luck
Aaron
P.s. Jake how big was it. Bigger than a gold fish
This most be the spot I fished on Sunday. My partner and I moved up into the cut/bay to find our fish. Most all of them hit close to shore by the logs.
Bill now you can see why I had to write the 1st weeks tip of the week. It was just to unusual for me to fish this type of area.
Aaron
Jake,
I forgot to mention thermacare or flexdal 454 is commonly used for sore muscles. I have used it after cathing all those fish, but in your case it will work for casting all the time oh and sun block.
Here are some keys that you can try next time.
1. Look for carp, This seems wierd, but I have seen this every time I am on the spots with walleye. A theroy that one of the club members said ” that the walleyes are in there eating the carp spawn” I don’t know how true this is.
2. In the dark and stained waters that we have right now we used the blue and chrome and fire tiger colors. Any thing that would give off a flash or is bright colored work.
3. We started off using #5 shad raps and found that the water was higher than normal, so we swithed up to #7. Try to keep the cranks in side the 2 foot range off the bottm. I picked up the Rapala trolling and casting guide to figure out what would work the best.
4. During low light conditions (like yesturday morning) we found the fish in shallow water less than 2ft, but as the clouds broke up and the sun hit with out wind the fish moved in the same area in 5-7 ft, but as the winners said ” as the wind came up the area they fished turned on again” throughing cranks into shallow water.
Jake I hope this helps.
Aaron
Jake,
I thought we showed you on sunday. You take the crank bait tie it to the end of your line and cast , not just to the willows but all a round them.
No seriously, Some spots held fish and others didn’t. Now if you would have listen to your boss on the locations or if you would ask him I am sure next time you’ll do fine.
Aaron
John,
I know that back in the 70’s and early 80’s that waterdogs was a highly used bait for both bass and walleyes on the river. I also keep a assorted package of lizzards in my tackle bag just for walleyes in the fall time. In the fall most reptiles start to make a transition into the mud to sack out in the winter time, during tis time walleyes pick up on the seasonal migration on the salamanders, frogs and things of this nature. I hope this helps.
Aaron K.
Bill,
I think Jake is showing us where the arrow hit.
Quote:
Now does it qualify???
See, Best of luck walking Jake
Aaron
huh, Bill,
I thought that you where going to say Jake now knows how to catch a walleye . That is great about the webmaster. We know he can turn on a computer, just not the walleyes .
Aaron.
sorry Jake
Bill,
I have 2 tips for this weeks prize.
1. Headed of to pepin with Mr.HOF (Mike), man I will tell you he taught me to look for fish in very unlikely walleye water. I could have swear he wanted to bass fish. The tip. Look for walleyes in every nook and craney, you be suprised where you find the fish.
Tip 2. This is a no brainer, When fishing with Jake bring some fish food from your local pet store and you’ll be able to to catch the big gold fish too. Or wait until the fair comes and through dimes in the bowl .
Good luck
Aaron K.
2 years ago I was driven to the gas station and I was watchng a couple fishing down there and low and behold the caught a 8lb+ walleye. Prior to this I have heard of a 4lb+ walleye coming from the same area.
Aaron
Brad,
Now I am confused. Is it a walleye boat or bass boat ? Sorry man I couldn’t resist.
From what I am hearing the fish are hanging shallow.
Good luck.
Aaron
