2008 Things Learned - walleye nebraska tracker tundra todd consbruck john mcallister team tracker tundra mercury optimax

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2008 Things Learned

1. John started using the 12' Walleye Angler Trolling Rods from Bass Pro Shops to great success this year. The rods are extremely light with a parabolic tip and good backbone. The rods excel for longline trolling and pulling bouncers. In a pinch, they are an excellent "dead" rod also. I'd been usubg another brand of 10.5' rods and these just blow them away. Get the WA12T-2 IM-8 TROLLING rod, not the dead stick unless you want he "Dead Stick" rod. Another great option is the 10.5' Scheels two-piece trolling rods. They are very versatile rod that can be used with Fireline, Mono or Leadcore. Mix in the "shorty" Scheels rods designed by Jim Carroll and Johnnie Candle and you really have something.

2. Let the fish tell you if they are afraid of the boat. We've caught fish this year literally within a few feet of a running trolling motor in less than 3' of water - fishing vertically - and also seen conditions were only planer boards could catch fish.

3. If you like to bass fish I have six things for you to put in your tackle box.

Spro Bronzeye Frog - The Spro or other versions of the "scum frog" are just deadly. The frogs have also evolved now to where you can actually hook the fish. The Spro casts well and hooks up great. Better for "twitch" presentations.
Zoom/Bass Pro Soft Body Frog - Hook these up with some 5/0 screw-lock hooks and hang on. Bass go insane for these things, especially at dawn and dusk. I just chunk and wind over weed mat and other targets. Hold on! Nothing is as fun as topwater and the Bronzeye and the scum frogs are a ball to fish. Some of my biggest bass this year have came off them and a recent FLW and BASS were both won with frogs.
Bass Pro, Owner, Northland and lots of companies have really made some nice crew-lock jigs. I use them more than Texas-rigging anymore. I really like to throw plastics on 1/8 oz heads.
NetBait Paca Craws - Tom Logue put me on to these. They really can be hot for bass that don't want to move from cover. When I see a beaver hut or anything gnarly, I throw these babies. I guess bass gotta have the pork fat.
Original Sweet Beaver or Bass Pro Tiny Beavers. No one will ever beat Reaction Innovations for names, all I know is their lures work. The "Fried Watermelon" has become my favorite. I've also used the 5" Berkley Beasts to good success, they really fall slow.
Wacky Rigging - Bass just love wacky rigged worms. I quickly found out that it's the most deadly way for little kids to catch bass too. The Jackall wacky heads and worms are the best (expensive) I think but they work great. Logan has destroyed the bass on these this year. Honestly, there is something about how a little kid reels in these worms that drives the fish insane.

4. In times like these with high gas prices. Cut back a little on the driving speed in your tow vehicle and boat. My Opti 250 can get 12-16 GPH just cutting back into the 4k RPM Range vs. 23/24 GPH at wide open. I can also get a couple of mpg better with my suburban while towing just dropping down 4-5 mph.

5. If you are an ice fisherman, someday splurge for a Thorne Bros. Rod. They really are that good. If not, hard to beat the Genz and Jason Mitchell rods, especially for the price.

6. Hook your waxworm just past the barb in a "T" bone style. Don't be afraid to try plastics either, especally for bluegills.

7. Use Ice Rods to spool your reels. I've found this works really great and you don't put your rod tips in the ceiling as often

8. Drop-shotting is another great technique. Don't overlook it when bass get on clean bottom areas or suspend. I like to run a "dead" rod now and then with a drop shot rig.

9. Don't be afraid to chase gills, crappie and bass suspended out in the middle of nowhere, especially in the summer. Find the bait - find the fish.

10. If you don't take your kids fishing, who will? We're losing anglers and hunters at an alarming rate folks. Let's get that changed! Who better understands the world than sportsmen and sportswomen? How many young hunters and fisherman have you heard of that are hooked on drugs? Not many!

11. If your walleye are regurgitating 5" shad in your livewell, use big shad style baits right? Well, not always. Don't be afraid to try small Salmo Hornets, Fat Raps, DT's, etc. I don't understand it, I just know it works.