Bob Jensen's Articles
March 2022
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In-Between Fishing Seasons
by BOB JENSENThere are two in-between fishing seasons in the Midwest. There's the open water to ice in-between and the ice to open water in-between. In the southern regions of the Midwest it has become the open water season, in the northern areas there is still plenty of ice, but in the middle part of the Midw...
February 2022
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Late Season Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENIt may not look like it or feel like it, but it's that time of year when some ice anglers start thinking about the end of another ice fishing season. In the southern stretches of the ice fishing belt, the end of the season bite might already be going on, and if it isn't, it will start soon. In the ...
November 2021
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A Fishing Question
by BOB JENSENFor this angler, unless an unexpected fishing opportunity presents itself, the open water season for 2021 is over. From personal experiences and conversations with other anglers, it was another very good fishing season. Fishing in many places continues to improve, for several reasons. Due to agg...
September 2021
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A Fall Smorgasbord On The Weedline
by BOB JENSENFrom as soon as weedbeds are established in early summer and well into the autumn months, the deep weedline is a very good place to look for hungry predator fish. They'll be there looking for something to eat, and if they see your bait, the chances are good that they'll eat it. Following are some ...
August 2021
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Mid-Summer Weedline Action
by BOB JENSENIt's been said so many times in the past relative to fishing: "In the summer, when you're fishing and just want to get bit, the deep weedline is the place to be." There's a reason why that phrase has been said so many times in the past. The reason is, it's true. The weedline is the place to find ...
January 2021
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Fine Tuning For More Walleyes
by BOB JENSENAvid ice angler John Crane and I talked on the phone recently. He has been doing a lot of ice fishing in his home area of north central Minnesota and on this particular day he had been after walleyes. After my usual questions of "wadja' catch" and "wadja catch'em on", the conversation got a little...
September 2020
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Get Ready For Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENBoy oh boy oh boy, summer of 2020 is already starting to exit. There are lots more butterflies on the bushes, birds are gathering, and football practice has started. And many anglers are spooling up with fresh line to prepare for fall fishing. I've often said that June and October are my favorite...
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Small Details Can Create Big Catches
by BOB JENSENIn the autumn season, fishing can be good. Really good. Fish instinctively know that colder water will be arriving soon. Their metabolism will slow down and they won't be eating as much. They need to rely on stored energy to keep them going during the next few months of cold water, so they eat a...
August 2020
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Little Baits: Lots Of Fish
by BOB JENSENThe summer of 2020 is starting to wind down. Lots of anglers, in many places more than usual, are on the water in search of a fish that wants to eat the bait that's on the end of our line. Baitfish populations are at or near the highest levels of the year. A good number of those baitfish were spa...
June 2020
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Summer Fishing
by BOB JENSENFor many anglers, the fishing this past spring has been very good. Some even describe the fishing and catching in the spring of 2020 as outstanding. Now it's starting to feel and look like summer, and the calendar indicates that the summer of 2020 has arrived. The places and techniques that provi...
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Troll Up More Walleyes
by BOB JENSENThe summer bite has arrived across Walleye Country. Most species of fish have completed the spawning process and have one thing on their minds: Predators such as walleyes want to eat. If we want to catch more walleyes, we need to determine where they are and what they want to eat. If we do that, ...
March 2020
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Spring Fishing Tips
by BOB JENSENSpring of 2020 officially arrived on March 19. In some areas anglers still see ice on their favorite lakes and ponds, but that ice will soon be disappearing. In other areas, anglers are already fishing in open water. Spring is a wonderful time to go fishing, and we can make it even more wonderful...
February 2020
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Spoons Through The Ice
by BOB JENSENWhen we go out on the ice in search of fish to catch through the ice, much of the time, we just want to get bit. If the perch want to eat our bait that's good: If a walleye or crappie is in the mood, that's a good thing too. Walleyes and crappies and perch are certainly different fish, but one lu...
November 2019
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First Ice Panfish
by BOB JENSENIce has arrived on the ponds and small lakes earlier than usual in the northern areas of where people go ice-fishing. In fact, there are some places where anglers are already on the ice and catching fish. Ice-fishing action can be good all season, but it seems like anglers get really excited about...
October 2019
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Fall Perch
by BOB JENSENSome friends invited me to join them for an afternoon of fishing recently. I quickly and gladly accepted their invitation. We wanted to enjoy each other's company and the nice fall weather, but we also wanted to catch some fish. Several in our group wanted to take a few fish home. The walleye bit...
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Night Bite Walleyes
by BOB JENSENIf you want to catch a big walleye, fall is the time to do so. There are lots of bodies of water across walleye territory that are home to true trophies. If the walleye-of-a-lifetime is your goal, center your efforts on the bodies of water that have a history of producing big walleyes. Often t...
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Switch Species For More Fish
by BOB JENSENFall is in full swing and many anglers consider fall fishing to be the best fishing period of the year. However, even during the best fishing period of the year, there are days when action might be a little slower than we like. There are things we can do to try to get the fish to bite, things like...
September 2019
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3 Ways To Catch Fall Crappies
by BOB JENSENWherever people fish anywhere in North America, and that's almost everywhere, there's an excitement right now about fishing. Fall is a wonderful season to be on the water trying to get a fish to bite. And, if you put your bait in front a fish, chances are good that it will eat that bait. In the a...
August 2019
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End Of Summer Fishing
by BOB JENSENSummer took it's time arriving this year, fishing has been good for many people in many places. Now we're thinking about fall fishing. It certainly is true: The older we get the faster time goes by. Late summer and fall fishing can be very good, but if we want it to be very good, we need to chang...
June 2019
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Find Their Food, Find The Fish
by BOB JENSENA very basic yet often overlooked principle of fishing is that you've got to put your bait near a fish if you want to catch a fish. So often we consider lure shape, color, size, or speed, when, in reality, those things don't matter if the fish don't see the lure. Once we've found the fish, those o...
May 2019
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Slow Down In The Spring For More Fish
by BOB JENSENIf you want to be successful when you go fishing, you need to first, find the fish. Once you've done that, you need to give them what they want to eat. If you do those two things, you'll catch more fish more often. One really important thing to remember is that fish behave differently at diff...
March 2019
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Get Ready For Open Water
by BOB JENSENThe winter of 2019 appears to be winding down, at least a little bit. I'm guessing that I've got a couple more ice-fishing trips in me, but I can't get out now, so I'm getting ready for open water. Here's what I'm doing: I almost always start in my jig boxes. I've got a box for walleye jigs an...
November 2018
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First Ice Panfish
by BOB JENSENHere's a photo from a while back: Duane Peterson with a big crappie that he took on a small jig. I was at an ice-fishing Open House at a retail tackle shop recently. There some anglers there who had been looking at a long range weather forecast. According to this forecast, cold weather is...
October 2018
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Establish A Pattern For More Fish
by BOB JENSENIt's that time of year when some anglers are starting to think about ice-fishing, but there are still a good number of anglers who are open water fishing. Regardless of how or where or when we fish, anglers want to catch fish. To do so, we need to figure out where the fish are, what they want to ea...
September 2016
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An Ice-Fishing Bait For Open Water Walleyes
by BOB JENSENMuch of the time, lures are designed with a specific application in mind. But sometimes we discover that some baits are multi-purpose. I was reminded of that on a recent fishing trip. I was sharing a boat with fishing friend Mike Frisch in central Minnesota and walleyes were our target. Mike had...
July 2016
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Live-Bait Rigs For More Summer Fish
by BOB JENSENFrom now until autumn, one of the most productive ways to catch fish is with a live-bait rig. Live-bait rigs are simple set-ups, but they're so effective so much of the time. Whether you're after walleyes or crappies or smallmouth bass, pretty much anywhere in the Midwest, when nothing else will g...
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Troll Fast For More Fish
by BOB JENSENIt's summer. The water is warm, there are lots of baitfish in the water, there are lots of people fishing, and there are lots of fish that are looking for something to eat, and fish that want to eat are easier to catch. Trolling is a great way to present a bait, and you might be surprised how fast...
June 2016
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Crankbaits For Catching
by BOB JENSENCrankbaits are hard-bodied baits that often resemble a baitfish of some sort. They come in all shapes, colors, sizes, running depths, actions, some rattle, some don't. The one thing that crankbaits have in common is that they catch a variety of fish year 'round, but they are particularly effective ...
May 2016
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Open Water Fishing 2016
by BOB JENSENIt's pretty much official: The open water fishing season for 2016 is here. Minnesota walleye season opened this past weekend, Wisconsin was the week before, and northwest Iowa was the week before that. Most of the other states in the Midwest don't have a closed walleye season, and while there are...
April 2016
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Catch What Wants To Get Caught
by BOB JENSENAnother fishing season is here. Something you can do to catch more fish and enjoy your time on the water even more is to be flexible in your fishing goals. You'll catch more fish year 'round if you go after the species of fish that's most susceptible to getting caught when you're on the water. He...
March 2016
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Ideas For Early Season Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENMore and more, anglers are getting on and in the water. Some folks are fishing from boats, some are wading, and some are fishing from docks or shore. Some anglers are catching fish, some aren't catching too much. If you'll be fishing in the next couple of weeks, keep these fishing thoughts in min...
February 2016
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March On The Ice
by BOB JENSENIt seems like February just started and I'm already looking forward to ice-fishing in March. March is my favorite month for ice-fishing. The days are longer, the weather isn't as cold, and the fish like to get caught in March. Following are some things to keep in mind to catch more fish through t...
January 2016
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Keep Comfortable On The Ice
by BOB JENSENBack in the day, some people didn't go ice-fishing because they didn't like to be cold. While that may have been a valid excuse then, now there is no need to avoid ice-fishing due to the cold. We have all sorts of clothing and equipment that will enable us to stay comfortable on the ice. It i...
November 2015
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Northern Pike on Walleye Gear
by BOB JENSENIt happened again recently. We had a great plan for catching fish and the fish just didn't get with the program that we were presenting. We changed our program completely and caught'em: Caught'em good. Here are the details. We were on Lake Winnibigoshish in north central Minnesota. My fishi...
September 2015
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Fish The Weedline In The Fall
by BOB JENSENThe weedline is a great place to find and catch fish all during the open water fishing season. Lots of anglers even work the weedline while ice-fishing. Simply put, there is almost always a fish somewhere along the weedline that is willing to get caught. In the autumn months a variety of fish...
May 2015
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Catch The Biters
by BOB JENSENAs we enter a new open water fishing season, it's good to get some thoughts together regarding changes in fishing techniques and fishing ideas. Some of us consider ourselves to be "walleye fishermen", some fit the bill as "bass fishermen", others narrow it down even more and proclaim themselves to ...
March 2015
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Early Spring Walleyes In Rivers
by BOB JENSENAcross the Midwest, walleye anglers are getting into boats and waders and are chasing walleyes. Jigging is perhaps the most popular way to catch walleyes this time of year. Jigs are popular because they're effective. Following are some ideas for using jigs to catch walleyes in rivers right now. ...
December 2014
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Factors That Influence Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENRecently we talked about how lure color can have an influence in our fishing success. And, while color certainly can have a role in determining how many fish we catch, there are other factors that also come into play in our fishing success. Let's talk about some of those factors. Size is a re...
November 2014
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Catch A Bunch In The Fall
by BOB JENSENI got to fishing again this past week. My friend Mike Gottheardt and I were chasing smallmouth bass on a river in eastern Wisconsin. We caught'em good: Lots of smallmouth and some nice ones. Nothing that would be considered a trophy, but some healthy bass that fought hard and jumped and were just...
October 2014
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Drop-Shot Rigs For Fall Fish
by BOB JENSENFor some reason, autumn is the time of year when I feel the need to share the productivity of drop-shot rigs. It's probably because the first time I ever tried drop-shotting was in the fall at least twenty years ago. My friend Barry Day had just returned from a trip to the West Coast where he had ...
September 2014
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Thinking About Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENFor many people, Labor Day marks the end of summer or the beginning of fall depending on how you look at it. For some anglers, Labor Day marks the end of the fishing season: For other anglers Labor Day is the beginning of the best time of the year to be fishing. I like to fish during all the seaso...
August 2014
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Planer Boards: Not Just For Walleyes
by BOB JENSENPlaner boards have been a part of many walleye anglers arsenal for a long time. Salmon and trout anglers also employ boards frequently. Planer boards do so many good things when a trolling presentation is called for. They enable an angler to get lines and baits out away from the boat, which preve...
July 2014
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Enjoy Your Fishing More This Summer
by BOB JENSENLots of anglers refer to this time of year as the "Dog-Days of Summer". The phrase "Dog-Days" came from ancient Rome and had to do with the stars and the belief that Sirius, The Dog Star, caused summer to be a bad time of year. Regardless of what they thought in ancient Rome, summer is not a bad t...
June 2014
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A Game Plan For Summer Walleyes
by BOB JENSENThe summer of 2014 has finally arrived. Lots and lots of anglers are taking to the water in search of their favorite fish, and for many of those anglers, their favorite fish is that guy with eyes that glow, the walleye. In most areas walleyes are done spawning and are setting up their summer patte...
May 2014
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Plastic Baits For More Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENThrough the years, wherever and whenever anglers go fishing, live bait has always been the go-to bait when fishing gets tough. It's still that way in many fishing situations: Pure and simple, live minnows, nightcrawlers, leeches, crickets, crawdads, and whatever else catch fish. But plastic baits...
April 2014
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Jig Your Way To More Fish
by BOB JENSENEarly in the open water fishing season, jigs are probably the Number One go-to bait for walleye anglers, and folks who fish for bass and panfish also use jigs early in the season. There's a reason for that: Jigs are, plain and simple, fish-catchers. In fact, many anglers, if they were limited to ...
March 2014
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Select A Line For Open Water Fishing
by BOB JENSENAnother open water fishing season is closing in. It's still a ways off, but it's getting closer every day. Maybe the most important thing you can do to enhance your fishing is to use fresh line. Fresh line will help you enjoy your fishing and catch more fish. Here's why. Line that has been on a...
February 2014
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Color Under The Ice
by BOB JENSENIt might not seem like it, but the late ice season is not that far off. With Polar Vortex's and such displaying their power, warmer weather seems like a long way off. However, as the days continue to get longer and the sun moves farther north, we can be assured that the fish under the ice will sen...
January 2014
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Mid-Season Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENThe middle part of the ice-fishing season will soon be here. There are things we do in the middle of the season that we don't do earlier in the year. For more fishing success in the next few weeks, keep these ideas in mind. I was fishing for perch through the ice last year in South Dakota with ...
December 2013
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Line Up For Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENIce-fishing and open water fishing are very similar in some ways and very different in others. The differences are obvious; the similarities are much more subtle. One of the things that open water fishing and ice-fishing have in common is the importance of the line you're using. At any time of th...
September 2013
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Wind Blown Walleyes
by BOB JENSENWe packed a lot of fishing into a short trip to Wisconsin recently. We fished for king salmon in the morning and had great action. One of my boat partners on the salmon trip was Bret Alexander. Bret is one of Wisconsin's best and busiest fishing guides. He told me about a unique walleye bite he ...
August 2013
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August Fishing Ideas
by BOB JENSENCan you believe it's August already? It's just crazy how fast time goes. In many regions of the country this has been a very weird weather year. Winter hung on as long as it could, which made the Fishing Season Opener in Minnesota and Wisconsin unusual with ice still covering many of the lakes. ...
July 2013
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Plastics on the Weedline
by BOB JENSENWe're in the summer season pretty much everywhere in fishing country. The spawn is over, so the fish, regardless of specie, are doing one thing: They're either eating, or they're looking for something to eat. If you can put a bait in front of a fish in a way that looks appealing to the fish, they...
June 2013
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Early Season Bass
by BOB JENSENLargemouth bass can be found in lots of lakes, rivers, and ponds across the country. In the southern regions of bass country it's already mid-season for bass catching, but in the Midwest the bass action is just starting. In fact, in some states that have an open and closed season for bass fishing,...
May 2013
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Catch Fish That Are Hittin And Spittin
by BOB JENSENThere are times, more than we like to think about, when fish get finicky. North, south, east and west, fish sometimes just don't want to get caught. Or maybe it's just that they like to frustrate us every now and then. Whatever the reason, there are things we can do to get the fish to take our ba...
April 2013
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Versatile Anglers Catch More Fish
by BOB JENSENAnyone who goes fishing wants to catch more fish and bigger fish. The anglers who catch the most big fish are versatile anglers. If you want to be more versatile, you need to learn more fishing techniques. Following are some fishing techniques that I am going to learn more about this year in an a...
January 2013
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Trolling On Ice
by BOB JENSENMost anglers know that trolling is an effective way to present a bait to fish in the summer. Trolling on the ice may sound like a strange thing, but once you understand what "trolling on ice" is all about, you'll understand why it's an effective way to present a bait to walleyes, perch, crappies, a...
December 2012
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Ice Fishing Ideas
by BOB JENSENJust as in open water fishing, there are a few really good guidelines for ice-fishing success. Keep these ideas in mind and you'll be more successful on the ice in the early, mid, and late ice-fishing seasons. Here we go! Location: In any type of fishing, you need to fish where the fish are. ...
November 2012
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Get Ready For Ice-Fishing
by BOB JENSENIt's not here, but it's near. Ice-fishing that is. It's November. Many hunting seasons are in full swing. Those are an ice-anglers reminders that it's time to start thinking about ice-fishing. Depending on Mother Nature, we could be ice-fishing in just a couple of weeks in the northern states. ...
October 2012
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Use Live Bait For Fall Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENFall arrives at different times in different places across North America. Right now in the Midwest, we're experiencing beautiful weather, but the fish are noticing a change in the seasons. Water temps are dropping, and the days are getting shorter. The fish know that winter is on the way, and thi...
August 2012
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Working The Weedline
by BOB JENSENIn the summer, fish can be found in a lot of places in a body of water. They'll be wherever their food is, and their food can be in a lot of places and take a lot of forms. In some lakes the fish will be eating suspended shad, or crayfish that are over rocky bottoms, or perch that are hugging the ...
April 2012
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Consider Color For More Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENPeople who like to fish like to talk about different things that can impact their fishing success. The number of factors that can impact our fishing success are many, but one thing that we often come back to is lure color. Beginning and expert anglers alike are always trying to figure out how much...
March 2012
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End Of Season Ice-Fishing
by BOB JENSENDepending on where you live in ice-fishing country, the end of the ice-fishing season is maybe a couple of weeks away or maybe a month away. Regardless of the time remaining, late ice provides perhaps the best fishing from a couple of standpoints. The bite will usually be pretty consistent, the fi...
February 2012
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Catch' Em When Others Can't
by BOB JENSENWhen you're ice-fishing, just like when you're open water fishing, there are days when the fish get finicky. They might be finicky due to weather conditions, or it could be fishing pressure that has them closed-mouthed. Whatever the reason, just like in open water, there are some things you can do...
January 2012
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Icing Walleyes On Spoons
by BOB JENSENJust as there are a lot of ways to catch walleyes in open water, there are several very productive lure types for taking walleyes through the ice. But if a survey was taken among anglers who like to chase walleyes during the ice-fishing season, I'll bet a spoon would be the most popular lure. Spoo...
December 2011
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First Ice Panfish
by BOB JENSENIce-fishing is getting closer every day. For the past few days there's been a skim of ice on the pond early in the morning, but that skim has disappeared by mid-morning. Today the skim lasted until the middle of the afternoon. Once that layer of ice has a full day and night to get established, it...
November 2011
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Ice-Fishing Baits For Open Water Fish
by BOB JENSENThe 2011 open water fishing season is starting to wind down. The chill in the early morning air reminds us that it won't be long until ice covers the waters of the Midwest. It's time to get our ice-fishing lures out. However, we're not going to be using those lures for ice-fishing. Not yet anywa...
October 2011
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There's Still Lots of Time For Fishing!
by BOB JENSENLabor Day 2011 has come and gone. For some folks, that marks the end of summer, and to some people that means it's time to put the boat and their rods and reels in storage. If they want to pull the plug on fishing in early September, that's certainly their decision, but, if they live in the Midwes...
September 2011
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Jig Ideas For Fall Walleyes
by BOB JENSENIn walleye country, it's still summer during the day, but nights are starting to cool down. Cool early morning air temperatures remind anglers that autumn isn't far off. Autumn means different things to different people. For some, autumn is a time for hunting: For others it's football season. Fo...
August 2011
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Keep Moving For Summer Fish
by BOB JENSENThe summer months are a good time of year for fish in at least one way: There is lots of food in the water for them to eat. The baitfish that were hatched this spring are getting to a size where the predator fish can feed on them, and last year's baitfish are still of a size where they can be forage...
July 2011
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Loading And Unloading Your Boat
by BOB JENSENHow you load and unload your boat at the boat ramp may not have an impact on how many fish you catch, but getting it in the water can set the tone for the day, for you and for any other angler that's waiting to put their boat in the water. Unloading your boat should be a quick and easy process, but...
May 2011
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Catch More Fish In 2011
by BOB JENSENAlthough the lakes across the northern section of the Midwest are still covered with ice, anglers are fishing almost everywhere else. There's a feeling in the air that anglers are anxious to get fishing. They want to be on the water chasing whatever it is that they like to chase, and nothing is go...
March 2011
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Late Ice Action
by BOB JENSENWe are entering what many ice-anglers declare to be their favorite time of the year for ice-fishing. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and the fish are really starting to eat. During mid-winter there can be a time when getting bites can be kind of a tough deal. From now until...
February 2011
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Walleyes Through The Ice
by BOB JENSENIn many areas of the Midwest, we are entering a time of year when walleye fishing through the ice can be pretty good. In some states, or in parts of some states, walleye season closes and walleyes can't be targeted, but in those areas where you can still chase walleyes, the bite can be very rewardi...
January 2011
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Put More Fish On The Ice!
by BOB JENSENThere are several different species of fish that anglers chase through the ice. Some anglers like to catch walleyes, other like to get after perch. Pike are popular in some places, and crappies and other types of panfish are favored in others. Different species of fish respond to different pr...
December 2010
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Catch'Em Through Early Ice
by BOB JENSENEarly ice can provide some outstanding action for a variety of fish. Walleyes, crappies, perch, bluegills and northern pike are all willing to eat your bait when the ice fishing season starts. As soon as you know the ice is safe, you should get out there. Once you're on the ice, there are a few t...
November 2010
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Tiny Details Create Bigger Catches
by BOB JENSENI just returned from a late-season fishing trip to the Mississippi River. We were fishing near Lansing Iowa. My fishing partners were Jim Hunt and Terry Fitzpatrick: Both work at the Cabela's store in Prairie du Chien Wisconsin and are expert anglers. The Mississippi River had been at flood sta...
October 2010
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Why Fish in the Fall?
by BOB JENSENEvery now and then someone asks me why I get so excited about fall fishing. Before I can answer, the questioner provides a number of reasons why spring and summer fishing is better. While I agree that fishing anytime of the year is a good thing to do, I can come up with several really good reasons...
September 2010
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Where To Find'em In The Fall
by BOB JENSENWhen you go fishing, if you want to catch a fish, it's really important that you put your bait where a fish lives. That might sound extremely basic, but the most basic concept of fishing is to fish where the fish are. You can have the nicest boat in the world, and you can have lots of expensive ro...
August 2010
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Middle of the Summer Bass
by BOB JENSENIt's summer, and fishing in the summer can be really good. Thing is though, fishing might not necessarily be good for the specie of fish that you want to catch. We might really want to catch walleyes, but in reality, in some bodies of water, the largemouth bass might be biting a lot better than 'e...
July 2010
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Take Advantage of Fishing Opportunities
by BOB JENSENIt's summer, and fishing in the summer can be really good. Thing is though, fishing might not necessarily be good for the specie of fish that you want to catch. We might really want to catch walleyes, but in reality, in some bodies of water, the largemouth bass might be biting a lot better than 'e...
June 2010
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Shallow Water Bass
by BOB JENSENWhen largemouth bass move into the shallows early in the fishing season, the action can be fast, it can be visual, and it can be some of the most exciting fishing you'll have all year. Here's how you can get in on this action. Depending on where you live, bass may have already been in the shallo...
May 2010
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Put Some Back
by BOB JENSENIn the next few weeks, lots of anglers are going to take to the water in search of a tug on their line. And in those next few weeks, lots of fish are going to be caught. When we catch a fish, a decision needs to be made: Am I going to keep this fish? For some folks, there is no decision. They a...
April 2010
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Line Up For Walleye Fishing
by BOB JENSENIt's spring in the Midwest!! The snow and ice are gone and the robins have returned. Open-water fishing isn't far away: In fact, a good number of anglers are already out on rivers chasing walleyes and on ponds, bays, and backwaters chasing panfish. This is the time of year when many folks are put...
March 2010
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Get Ready For The Best Ice-Fishing of the Season!
by BOB JENSENMy favorite time of the year for ice-fishing is getting closer all the time. While I really enjoy early ice and its potential for fast fishing, there's just something I enjoy more about the final three or four weeks of ice-fishing. Maybe it's the longer days, which mean you can fish later in the...
February 2010
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Lure Action For More Ice-Fishing Action
by BOB JENSENIt's that time in the ice-fishing season when we really need to start fine-tuning our presentations if we want to experience ice-fishing success. The easy ones have been caught, and the remaining fish have been pounded pretty good by this point of the season, especially on the community holes or if...
January 2010
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Ice Fishing Ideas For Finicky Fish
by BOB JENSENFish under the ice, just like fish in open water, sometimes get finicky. It seems that they just don't want to open their mouths to take the bait we have down there. Here are some ideas for getting fish to eat your bait when they don't seem to want to. First of all, if they're not eating the ba...
December 2009
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Four Tips For More Ice-Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENWhen a person goes fishing, they want to catch a fish, or better yet, several fish. That's true whether we're talking ice-fishing or open-water fishing. Sure it's fun to watch the wildlife and the setting sun and spend time with family and friends, but it's a lot more fun to catch fish than not ca...
November 2009
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Don't Fish Memories
by BOB JENSENFishing is a great way to create memories. I have very fond memories of sunrises and sunsets on the water, my first musky, my first truly big walleye, my nephew's first overnight fishing trip, and lots of wonderful times spent in the boat fishing with family and friends. Most anglers have lots of ...
October 2009
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Top Three Tips For Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENIt's the end of September. Autumn is here. The fall season presents lots of great fishing opportunities for big fish and lots of fish. Wherever you live in the Midwest, there's some sort of fishing close by that will be peaking in the next few weeks. Following are some ideas for cashing in on th...
September 2009
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Turnover - A Fall Fishing Phenomena
by BOB JENSENThe fall season is a great time to go fishing. If you're looking for a true trophy, autumn is a good time to achieve that goal. If you're interested in catching a few fish for the table, you can do that in the fall period also. And, if you want to experience some spectacular colors in the trees...
August 2009
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Fish For The Biters
by BOB JENSENWhen anglers go fishing, they want to catch a fish. In fact, they want to catch lots of fish. While you're probably not going to always catch lots of fish, there are some things that anglers can do to increase their odds of getting bit. Finding the biters is a big part of catching fish. We fre...
July 2009
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Work a Weedline
by BOB JENSENAs summer progresses, gamefish throughout the Midwest will be found in a variety of areas in a body of water. They are looking for food, and, depending on the lake, food can be found in a variety of areas. In some lakes, walleyes will be feeding on perch in deep water. In other lakes, largemouth ...
June 2009
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Try A River This Summer
by BOB JENSENThe Midwest is blessed with all sorts of fishing opportunities. Lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs dot our landscape. Wherever you live, you don't need to drive far to wet a line. Rivers can provide some outstanding fishing action throughout the summer. Actually, rivers can be good year 'rou...
May 2009
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Early Season Shallow Water Walleyes
by BOB JENSENIt's here or very near! Wherever you live in the Midwest, walleye season is open or very close to opening. The next few weeks will see lots of anglers trying to catch walleyes. Here are some ways to increase your odds for walleye success early in the season. Early in the season the water is co...
April 2009
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Early Season River Walleyes
by BOB JENSENPretty much wherever you live in the Midwest, there are walleyes just waiting for you to catch them right now. Some states have a closed season on 'eyes, but with just a little driving, you can get to areas that have walleye fishing happening as you read this. Following are some ways to get in on ...
March 2009
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Open Water Fishing This Year
by BOB JENSENThere's still lots of ice-fishing left in the winter of 2009, but I've been doing some thinking about the upcoming open water season. Those of us who live in the Midwest have lots to look forward to when it comes to fishing. I say it a lot, and I'm going to continue to say it: If you live in th...
February 2009
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Thoughts On Ice-Fishing
by BOB JENSENWe're quite a ways into the ice-fishing season. It's about this time every year, after we've been on the ice a few times, when we realize that we've learned or re-learned some things that can contribute to ice-fishing success. Following are some things I've learned or re-learned so far this ice-fi...
January 2009
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Mobility On The Ice
by BOB JENSENAs we get farther into the ice-fishing season, things change a bit. We still need to put our bait in front of a fish if we want to be successful, but we need to be a little more aggressive in our search for fish. Early in the season, because of thin ice and minimal snow cover, the fish can see...
December 2008
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Early Ice-Fishing Action
by BOB JENSENWhen I drove by the local pond this morning, it was covered with a skim of ice. Certainly not enough ice to support a person, but nonetheless ice. This is the earliest I've seen ice on the pond for a long time. Maybe that indicates an early start to ice-fishing this year, or maybe not. It's a go...
November 2008
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New Fishing Lessons Learned
by BOB JENSENFor many anglers, the 2008 open water fishing season is quickly winding down. Many folks who like to go fishing also like to hunt, and right now is about the only time they can go hunting. There are also a lot of other activities that can conflict with fishing this time of year. While the opportu...
October 2008
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Big Baits For Big Bass In The Fall
by BOB JENSENAutumn is a wonderful season for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities. This time of year is especially attractive to anglers. Most species of fish that are found in the Midwest are more susceptible to an angler's presentation now, but that creates a bit of a challenge also. The challenge is, what...
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Fall Fishing In Rivers
by BOB JENSENRivers, both large and small, criss-cross the Midwest. Many of those rivers are full of fish in a wide variety of species. Those fish can be caught using a number of techniques, and they can be caught winter, spring, summer and fall. Here are some ideas for catching those fish right now. Most Mi...
September 2008
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Fishing for Cruisers
by BOB JENSENSo much of the time when we're looking for fish, we're looking for them near underwater structure such as sunken islands, reefs, weedbeds, just something that they might like to hang out by and are easy for anglers to find with the aid of sonar. Other times we're looking for them near visible o...
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Summer is Winding Down
by BOB JENSENYou may not know it by looking out the window, but signs of summers departure are already starting. You may not even realize that fact by stepping outdoors. Its still hot outside, the breezes are warm, and dew covers the grass in the morning. However, we cant avoid the fact that another summer is...
August 2008
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Swim Bait Bass
by BOB JENSENTheres a new bait style in the Midwest that is proving itself to be an outstanding producer of largemouth bass. Its called a swim bait. Swim baits have been a big deal for a couple of years in other parts of the country where largemouth bass are the primary and most popular gamefish. Oftentimes ba...
July 2008
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Find'Em and Catch'Em In The Summer
by BOB JENSENIt would appear that summer is finally here, and most of us would say, "Its about time". The weather so far this year has been weird. Now that were in the summer period of the year, we need to change our fishing a little bit. Earlier, when the fish were in a pre-spawn or spawn mode, we just l...
June 2008
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Get Ready For Summer Fishing
by BOB JENSENAs the weather continues to slowly warm, anglers should be aware of changes in the fish-world if they want to be successful in their catching. As the water warms, the underwater world changes, and those changes will influence how fish behave and how our lure presentations should be altered. Here are...
April 2008
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Get Ready For Open Water
by BOB JENSENSome Midwest anglers are already on the water, others are still on the ice. For most of us though, our first open water fishing trip is still a couple of weeks off. There is a thought that ice-out might be later than usual in some areas, so some of us could still be a month away from that first open...
March 2008
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Late Ice Panfish
by BOB JENSENIn some states throughout the Midwest, the ice-fishing season for walleyes and northern pike is coming to a close, or has, in fact, already closed. If you live in one of those areas, now is not the time to hang up the ice-rods and put the shelter and auger in storage. There are still some very good ...
February 2008
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Hold’Em High
by BOB JENSENWhether youre talking about open water fishing or ice-fishing, one concept remains constant: Youve got to put your lure near the fish if you want to catch it. That sounds basic, but especially when ice-fishing, where your lure is in relation to the fish is very, very important. In fact, the positi...
January 2008
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Lessons From A Season Of Fishing
by BOB JENSENThe cold northwest wind that blew through recently signaled the end of another fishing season for most folks. There will still be some trips to the river to catch walleyes, and ice-fishing will kick in pretty soon, but for now, most fishing is taking a break. This is the time of year when I like to ...
December 2007
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Selecting A Line For Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENAs ice-fishing season gets closer, we need to start thinking about getting ready for that first ice bite. Many of the most accomplished ice-anglers view first ice as being the best time to be out there. While first ice can be good, there are many very good fishing opportunities throughout the ice-fi...
November 2007
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Fall Smallmouth In Rivers
by BOB JENSENSmallmouth bass can be found almost anywhere in the Midwest, and this is the time of year when they can be very active in rivers. You will need to change your approach a little bit, and youll also need to realize that they will be grouped tighter than they are during the warmer weather months. In t...
October 2007
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Trailering Ideas
by BOB JENSENThis is the time of year when its good to check on something that many anglers dont think about checking on. That would be your boat trailer. So many of us just hook the trailer up and head for the lake, and much of the time that works out fine. But if you experience just one trailer problem that ...
September 2007
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Get Ready for Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENGet ready for fall fishing. That sounds kind of premature, but now is a good time to get ready to get after the really big fish, and the really big fish bite in the fall. So do the small and medium-sized fish. Everything bites in the fall, and the other benefits of fall fishing are pretty hard to ...
August 2007
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Courtesy at the Boat Ramp
by BOB JENSENThe idea of courtesy at the boat ramp is something that should be thought of early in the season, but in reality, anytime is a good time to think about getting your boat in and out of the water quickly but safely. There is no need or reason why a ramp should be tied up by a boater loading or unloadi...
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Fishing Success During the Dog Days of Summer
by BOB JENSENHere in the Midwest, were right in the middle of the dog-days of summer, and weve got at least a month of the dog-days left. A very basic definition of the dog-days is the period of time during the hottest part of the summer. Anglers often describe the dog-days as the toughest time of the year to ...
July 2007
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Summer Fishing Ideas
by BOB JENSENWere just starting to get into the summer months, so now is a good time to think about a few ideas that will help us catch more fish throughout the summer. In the summer, fish do one thing: They eat. In the spring, spawning is their priority. After the spawn and a recovery period of a few days, ...
June 2007
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Early Season Walleyes
by BOB JENSENAs the waters warm, walleyes change the way they do things. Earlier in the year, they were in the shallows spawning. Now that the spawn is complete, the walleyes will maybe stay in the shallows, or they might move into deeper water. Where they are depends on where their food is. In the spring walley...
April 2007
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Lessons from Ice-Fishing for Open Water Fishing
by BOB JENSENSometimes anglers who fish in both open water and through the ice can learn from those seemingly opposite experiences. That point was made crystal-clear to me on my most recent ice-fishing trip a couple of weeks ago. Heres what I mean. First, you cant catch the fish if theyre not there. When y...
March 2007
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Presentations For Finicky Fish
by BOB JENSENSometimes when ice-fishing, the fish really want to bite. That's when an angler can get by with presentations that aren't real precise. At other times, the fish want a bait a certain way. If it isn't presented just so, they're not going to hit. You can tell how finicky they are by watching your s...
February 2007
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Sonar for Ice-Fishing
by BOB JENSENOpen water anglers will usually admit that their most important tool for fishing success is sonar, which is often referred to as a depth-finder. Many anglers have a depth finder on the console of their boat so they can watch the depth and for fish-holding structure as they move around the body of wa...
January 2007
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Fool Finicky Fish
by BOB JENSENEvery now and then the fish get a little finicky, sometimes a lot finicky. Regardless of whether its open water or ice season, there are ways to encourage these finicky biters to take your bait. Following are some ways to get them to eat your lure when youre ice-fishing. First of all, how do yo...
December 2006
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Ice Fishing Update
by BOB JENSENPart of the fun of any new fishing season is the anticipation of exploring new waters, chasing a new species of fish, and using new fishing equipment. The ice-fishing world always has new items that can help you catch more fish or be more efficient in your time on the ice. Following are some ideas o...
November 2006
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Walleyes at Night
by BOB JENSENOn some bodies of water, at some times of the year, the walleyes bite best at night. That is especially true in the fall months. Here is how you can get in on this action. The best night-bite lakes for walleyes are often the lakes with deep, clear water, although I have done well on smaller, dark...
October 2006
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Why I Fish in the Fall
by BOB JENSENThe autumn months offer so many options to sports enthusiasts. There's football on Saturdays and Sundays. There's goose, duck, pheasant, deer, and small game hunting. There's the traditional "drive-around" to look at leaves in their brilliant fall colors, visit orchards, and to do whatever els...
September 2006
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Try Something New for More Fish
by BOB JENSENSometimes anglers get in a rut. So much of the time we tie on the lure that was productive on our last fishing trip and stick with it too long. Although that lure might be producing o.k., there could be another lure that would be much more productive. That point smacked me over the head on a recent ...
August 2006
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Courtesy at the Boat Ramp
by BOB JENSENThe idea of courtesy at the boat ramp is something that should be thought of early in the season, but in reality, anytime is a good time to think about getting your boat in and out of the water quickly but safely. There is no need or reason why a ramp should be tied up by a boater loading or unloadi...
July 2006
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Find Fish in the Summer
by BOB JENSENFinding fish is almost always the key to fishing success. It has been said so many times before: You can't catch'em if you can't find'em. There are a few things to keep in mind when searching for summer fish. First, remember that eating is what fish do all summer. Their main objective every day ...
June 2006
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Keep Quiet in the Shallows
by BOB JENSENEarly in the open water fishing season, many of our favorite fish that live in Midwest lakes are active in the shallow water, and when they're shallow, they are often willing to bite. However, shallow water fish are often quite spooky. Too much noise or motion will make them skittish. They will ...
May 2006
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Spool Up for More Fishing Success
by BOB JENSENA new fishing season has arrived. Anglers are excited about what this season may bring in the way of fishing. You may have new lures, new rods and reels, maybe even a new boat. Maybe you have fishing trips planned, and new techniques that you're anxious to try in an attempt to get the fish to bite. ...
April 2006
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Fishing For A Meal
by BOB JENSENAnglers across the Midwest are starting to get the urge to go fishing. They're looking forward to feeling a tug on their line, and many of those anglers are also looking forward to a meal of freshly caught fish. A meal of fresh fish is a good thing. Most folks will agree that fresh fish are t...
March 2006
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Catching Pressured Fish Through The Ice
by BOB JENSENThis is the time of year when fish start to show some of the effects of fishing pressure. Although some lakes across the Midwest haven't seen quite as much ice-fishing pressure as usual this year, the fish in most bodies of water are acting like fish that have been beat up on as much as ever. Here...
February 2006
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Sit Still For More Perch
by BOB JENSENAs the ice-fishing season continues, the fish change a little bit. If we want to continue to catch them, we need to change our lure presentation a little, sometimes a lot. Sometimes it pays big dividends to sit still if you want to catch more perch from now through the end of the ice-fishing season....
January 2006
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Trolling on Ice
by BOB JENSENMost anglers know that trolling is an effective open water fishing technique. Successful ice-anglers know that "trolling" is also an effective way to catch more fish through the ice. Here's how you troll on the ice. When you troll in open water, you put a lure in the water, let it out behind the ...
December 2005
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Another Fishing Season of Learning
by BOB JENSENAnglers should learn something new about fishing every season. If you don't learn something new every year, then you probably aren't trying different techniques or different bodies of water or different somethings. And that means you aren't catching as many fish as you could or should. Following are...
November 2005
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Three Tips for Better Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENFall fishing is upon us. Some anglers look forward to fall fishing with great expectations. Those anglers know that the autumn months can provide lots of action and perhaps the best opportunity of the year for a trophy. Additionally, in many cases you will have the best spots to yourself. There are ...
October 2005
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Bulk Up For Bigger Bass
by BOB JENSENThis summer has been a weird one for many anglers. The weather early on was wet and chilly in many areas throughout the Midwest, then when it decided to warm up, it got really hot. The heat kept some anglers off the water. Gas prices have been unpleasant this summer also, and although some analys...
September 2005
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Keep Your Fishing Costs Low
by BOB JENSENThis summer has been a weird one for many anglers. The weather early on was wet and chilly in many areas throughout the Midwest, then when it decided to warm up, it got really hot. The heat kept some anglers off the water. Gas prices have been unpleasant this summer also, and although some analys...
August 2005
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Big Baits for Big Fish
by BOB JENSENFrom the middle of summer and through most of the remaining open water fishing season, fish are going to be eating. That's all they do this time of year. In fact, except during the spawn period, a fish's life revolves around eating. In the spring, smaller baits will usually be most effective for fis...
July 2005
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Plastics for Bass
by BOB JENSENThroughout the Midwest we have some excellent populations of largemouth bass. Largemouth can be found in lakes, rivers, and ponds, and in many cases, they are under-fished, especially in the northern states of our region. It's hard to figure out why this wonderful gamefish is ignored by so many angl...
June 2005
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Net'em When You Can
by BOB JENSENAs fishing seasons get underway across the Midwest, it is a good idea to review proper netting techniques. Sometimes it can be tough to get the fish to bite: We sure don't want to goof up when the catching is slow. However, there really is no good time to make a mistake with the landing net. Followi...
May 2005
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Panfish For The Season Starter
by BOB JENSENIn some areas of the Midwest, fishing season for some species of fish is still closed. In other areas, you can fish for whatever you want to fish for. Regardless of where you live, you can chase panfish. Panfish can be easy to catch right now and if you're hungry for a meal of freshly caught fish, y...
April 2005
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CATCH WALLEYES EARLY IN THE SEASON
by BOB JENSEN---> Throughout the Midwest, the early season walleye bite starts at different times. The farther north, the later the start. Some states allow anglers to start chasing walleyes whenever possible, other states require us to wait until the season opens officially. Wherever you live in the Midwest,...
March 2005
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New Lake: Where to go?
by BOB JENSENAs I sit writing this on a February weekend, the temperature outside reaches into the 50's giving this writer some serious spring fever. Luckily it won't be long until spring and open-water reemerge. Like most years, I will probably venture to new fishing locations this summer. Finding and catching ...
February 2005
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THINKING OF OPEN WATER
by BOB JENSENIt's that time of year when an anglers thoughts turn to open water. Although there is still lots of ice-fishing to do, it is only natural to look two months ahead to the time when we will be putting the boat in the water instead of pulling a portable shelter across the ice. Following are some of the...
January 2005
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PANFISH ON ICE
by BOB JENSENThroughout the Midwest, panfish are abundant and they're popular. Anglers year round like to catch panfish, and the winter season provides lots of opportunities to do so. Lakes, ponds, backwaters of rivers, they all hold panfish in good numbers. Here are some ideas as to how you can catch more panf...
December 2004
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Tip-Ups For More Fish
by BOB JENSENJust as there are a lot of ways to catch fish in the open water season, there are numerous ways to catch them through the ice. In open water or through the ice, many anglers like to get as many lines in the water as permitted, as this increases the chances for getting bit. In open water, many angler...
November 2004
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Time To Re-Think Catch And Release
by BOB JENSENFor a number of years, catch and release has been gaining popularity in the fishing world. With anglers becoming more efficient and successful, it became apparent, at least in some circles, that angling pressure could create a strain on some fish populations. In most waters catch and release is volu...
October 2004
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Big Fish on Big Baits
by BOB JENSENIf your goal in fishing is to catch one or several big fish, then autumn is the time to do so. And, if you're going to be chasing big fish in the fall, big baits are the way to go. You can catch lots of fish on small baits, but if you are going to target truly trophy fish, you need to use big baits....
September 2004
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Catch Muskies Right Now!
by BOB JENSENMuskies will eat a lure at any time of the year. Numerous huge muskies are caught annually in the spring, often by walleye anglers using small, walleye-sized baits. However, if you want to up your odds for tangling with one of these toothy freshwater tigers, the period from mid-summer into late autu...
August 2004
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Mid-Summer Smorgasbord
by BOB JENSENThe summer months are a great time to try to catch a wide variety of fish. In fact, sometimes at this time of year it works better to just go fishing and see what you catch instead of targeting a specific species. If you want to catch a specific specie of fish, you will need to target them. However,...
July 2004
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Mid Summer Catfish
by BOB JENSENCatfish will bite year 'round, but lots of anglers wait until the heat of summer has set in before they start chasing whiskered fish. Here's how you can get in on some fast catfishing. In the Midwest, catfish inhabit a variety of waters. They can be found in lakes, ponds, and big and small river...
June 2004
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Three-Ways For More Walleyes
by BOB JENSENWhen some anglers think of "three-ways for more walleyes", they might think "jigging, rigging, and crankbaiting" or something like that. And, although those are three good ways to catch walleyes, in this case we are talking about using three-way swivels on our line to catch more marble-eyed fish. An...
May 2004
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Chase The Other Fish
by BOB JENSENToo many anglers consider themselves to be single-species anglers. Many, many times I've heard a person proclaim that they are a walleye-fisherman, or a bass-fisherman, or a cat-man, or whatever. If you enjoy specializing on one particular specie of fish that's fine, but you're missing out on a lot ...
April 2004
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Try Plastic For More Fish
by BOB JENSENJigs are great for catching fish: Almost any fish will eat a jig. Tradition has most anglers tipping their jigs with minnows, leeches, or nightcrawlers, and for good reason. There aren't many fish that can resist a jig/live bait combo that is well presented. However, plastic baits are getting better...
March 2004
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End of the Season Ice-Fishing
by BOB JENSENThis is the time of year when some ice-anglers start to wind down their ice-fishing. Although there is still lots of ice-fishing action remaining, for some reason, about this time of year, some anglers decide to hang the rods up for the season and start getting ready for open water. Those folks that...
February 2004
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Mid-Winter Perch
by BOB JENSENThis is the time of year, in many areas of the Midwest, when fishing slows down for some folks. In fact, many anglers believe that the best ice-fishing of the year is under first ice and that the rest of the season just isn't very good. While it is true that early ice can be very productive, if you ...
January 2004
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Early Ice 'Eyes
by BOB JENSENWalleyes can be pretty easy to catch, much of the time, as soon as there is safe ice. In many bodies of water, the fish haven't seen much fishing pressure since Labor Day, so they're willing to bite. The numbers of baitfish are low now because many of them have been eaten throughout the summer an...
December 2003
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Early Ice Panfish
by BOB JENSENIt's happening earlier this year than it has in the past several years. Ice is forming earlier this year than it has in recent autumns. Mother Nature could be playing a trick on us, or she really could be kicking off the ice-fishing season early this year. If we are going to get an early start on ic...
November 2003
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Crankbaits In The Fall
by BOB JENSENIn the fall, crankbaits are one of my favorite lures for catching fish. Most species of fish eat crankbaits, and often times the larger fish will respond very favorably to these hard-bodied lures. The key is selecting the right crankbait, then putting it where the fish live. Here are some ideas for ...
October 2003
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Panfish In The Fall
by BOB JENSENPanfish are fun, there's no other way to look at it. When a good panfish bite is discovered, it's possible to catch lots of fish. Panfish are also great on the table. Whether we're talking about bluegills, crappies, yellow bass, or perch, there is no question that if a meal of fish is the goal, ...
September 2003
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Getting Ready For Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENAlthough it still feels like the middle of summer, the signs that autumn will soon be here are unmistakable. The corn is starting to turn to gold, the young geese that were incapable of flight just a few weeks ago are now flying everywhere, and football seasons are starting. Those events all mean on...
August 2003
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Proper Netting Means More Fish
by BOB JENSENThe big one finally hits. This is the musky, walleye, bass, or pike that you've been looking for for a long time. Your hookset was strong. The drag on your reel is set perfectly, the line is fresh and strong, and you know your knot is tied tightly. You're keeping pressure on the fish and, with just ...
July 2003
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No Stress Boat Loading (and Unloading)
by BOB JENSENI just got back from the lake. It's a Sunday afternoon and we wanted to take the boat for a ride. No fishing this time, just a nice cruise around the lake. The weather was beautiful and lots of other folks had decided that boating and fishing were good things to be doing on this day. The lines at th...
June 2003
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The Best Fishing Of The Year?
by BOB JENSENEarly summer is perhaps the best time of the year for fishing. Autumn is probably better for trophies, but big fish are also available in early summer. Numbers of small to medium sized fish are also very good. Combine lots of fish with nice warm weather and you have the makings for a great day on th...
May 2003
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Early Season Panfish
by BOB JENSENIn some Midwest states fishing seasons are in effect in the spring. Some states protect walleyes, bass, and pike at this time of year. However, for those who are anxious to wet a line, panfish are the perfect target. Many lakes and ponds have excellent numbers of panfish. Best of all, panfish can be...
April 2003
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Spring River Walleyes
by BOB JENSENA friend just called to tell me the walleyes were going big-time on a nearby river. For the next few weeks, rivers across the Midwest will be the scenes of some superior walleye action. Of course rivers provide excellent walleye action all year, but in late winter and through the spring, action can ...
March 2003
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Finding Fish
by BOB JENSENI just returned from an ice-fishing trip to northern Minnesota. The action was awesome. Lots of perch, and many were jumbos. Also caught a good number of crappies and some bluegills. It was on this recent trip that I was reminded how important it is to, first, find the fish and second, give them the...
February 2003
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Tip-Ups For More Fish
by BOB JENSENJust as there are a lot of ways to catch fish in the open water season, there are numerous ways to catch them through the ice. In open water or through the ice, many anglers like to get as many lines in the water as permitted, as this increases the chances for getting bit. In open water, many angler...
January 2003
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Panfish Through The Ice
by BOB JENSENThere is a growing number of anglers who look forward to ice- fishing as much as some anglers look forward to the opening day of walleye season. I can understand why that is, although I have a hard time explaining the appeal of ice-fishing. Sure it's fun to be out there with friends, but lots of fol...
December 2002
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Selecting a Line For Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENIn many ways, ice-fishing is very much like open-water fishing. Basically, the key is finding the fish, then putting a lure in front of them that they will eat. There are a lot of considerations that go into finding the fish then selecting a lure to use, but in the most basic sense, you need to find...
November 2002
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Get Ready For Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENI woke up the other morning, looked out the window, and thought I had over-slept, by about a month!! There was snow on the ground!! This reminded me that ice-fishing is probably not that far away. As with open water fishing, there are things you need to do to make sure that the first ice-fishing tri...
October 2002
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Autumn's Fishing Smorgasbord
by BOB JENSENLate summer and early autumn can provide some wonderful fishing opportunities. Unfortunately it seems like some species of fish, like walleyes, bass, crappies, muskies and pike get all the attention while some other species of fish go unnoticed and under-appreciated. Following are some ideas how you...
September 2002
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Get Ready For Fall Fishing
by BOB JENSENAs the seasons change, so do a fish's habits. Even though we may not feel the change in seasons yet, fish are already aware of the fact that before long, their world will be a much different place than it is now. If anglers want to catch more fish, they need to be aware of how the fish's world chang...
August 2002
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Try Deeper For More Fish
by BOB JENSENWe've entered that time of year when, in many bodies of water, the fish move deep. They still might move into shallower water when they are aggressive, and there will always be some fish shallow, but if you want a good chance to catch fish consistently this time of year, it might be a good idea to m...
July 2002
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Catch More Fish with Crankbaits
by BOB JENSENMost of the larger gamefish throughout the Midwest have several things in common. One of the things is that they all are very susceptible to crankbaits right now and will be throughout the rest of the summer and into the fall. There are a lot of very good reasons to use crankbaits. They come in vari...
June 2002
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The Right Jig For More Fish
by BOB JENSENIn the cold waters of late winter and early spring, it's really hard to beat a jig for most types of fish found in the Midwest. In fact, jigs are great year 'round. This time of year though, they are the first type of lure many anglers will reach for. There are a lot of different types of jigs avail...
May 2002
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Fishing In Shallow Water
by BOB JENSENIn the spring, most of your fishing action will take place in shallow water. That's where the fish spawn this time of year, so that's where you're going to find them. Walleyes and northern pike will move into an area, lay their eggs, then move on. Bass and panfish on the other hand, will enter a ...
April 2002
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Spring Walleyes In Rivers
by BOB JENSENIn many areas of the Midwest, rivers are the locations of some fast walleye action right now. In several Midwest states, walleye season isn't open yet in lakes, while walleyes in rivers are fair game. And, even if walleye season was open, the rivers would probably be a better bet for walleyes anyway...
March 2002
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A New Rod
by BOB JENSENWinter and early spring are times when many anglers discover they need a new rod. Actually, many of those anglers don't really need a new rod, they just want one. For most Midwest anglers, the open water-fishing season is still several weeks away, so now is a good time to get out to the tackle sho...
February 2002
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Keep Moving For Better Ice Fishing
by BOB JENSENIn many areas of the Midwest ice fishing is just starting, but the season seems to have already reached a mid-point. The closer we get to spring, the better the ice fishing will get in many situations. We often hear about first ice being the best for ice fishing, but there are plenty of instances ...
