I love to fish and I love to catch fish of all species. I enjoy scrappy panfish on light tackle. Watching bass squirt out of the water in an effort to throw the hook is always a treat. However, there is no question that there is something special about catching walleye.

When it comes to sticking lip on old marble eyes, there are many different approaches to try. Jig fishing and the ensuing “thunk” as a bait is sucked into the mouth is addicting. So is the aggressive hammer of a walleye hitting a fast moving spinner. Watching a float slid out of sight is definitely memorable.

Even though I fish for walleye in a variety of manners, there is no doubt my favorite presentation is still a standard live-bait rig. For me, live-bait rigging is as classic as walleye fishing gets.

I believe one of the reasons I like live-bait rigging for walleye has to do with the level of involvement I have in the process. When I am holding the rod, I am in control of feeling the subtle bites, feeding line and determining the correct time to set the hook. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

There are variations that can be applied to live-bait rigging but let’s first start with the basics as proper equipment is critical to success. This equipment starts with the correct fishing rod.

When it comes to spending money on fishing equipment, it is important to get the best rod you can afford for live-bait rigging. If there was ever a time when you need to be able to feel subtle bites, it is during the live-bait rigging process.

I personally like medium light seven foot rods with a soft but fast tip. The reason for the length and soft tip comes in being able to see your rod load up with weight on finicky walleye that merely suck in your bait without really indicating a bite. I find Fenwick products to be ideal.

Line is also critical. Most anglers I know do not like super lines for live-bait rigging as walleye feel you as much as you feel them. Instead, quality six or eight-pound-test mono is preferred.

The leader is extremely important. I tie all of my standard leaders with Vanish Fluorocarbon. Six-pound-test is my favorite. Fluorocarbon is less visible in water than standard mono. I usually start with a five foot leader and go up or down from there depending on what the fish are telling me.

On the business end, I will thread on a chartreuse or orange bead and then the smallest hook I can get by with. Many anglers prefer red hooks but I have had plenty of success with glow colors and plain bronze. 

There are times when using a Gum-Drop floater is ideal, especially if the fish are up, off of the bottom or you are fighting moss or snaggy rocks. Chartreuse is hard to beat. Sometimes, a single bladed Baitfish Spinner can be deadly, as well.

As for the bait, it depends on the time of the year and the lake I am fishing. Early in the season minnows, especially shiners are hard to beat. Later in the year, leeches and crawlers become the norm. 

If baitfish are chewing up your offering, switch to something else. On northern lakes like Kabetogama and Rainy, shiners work all summer long.

There are lots of presentations that will catch walleye, but for me, my all time favorite is still the standard live-bait rig.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

As I look back on my angling experiences from my youth, there are few memories that grab me like the ones spent fishing for suckers on the banks of a river. Now that I am a few years older and gray is a dominant color in my beard, I still relish opportunities to make withdrawals from meandering water.

It is not an easy task for me to put my finger on the specific appeal I have for this spring and early summer tradition. Maybe it has something to do with the peacefulness of watching the water slide by on a sunny afternoon. Maybe it comes from the patient approach of detecting bites on a pole propped up on a forked stick.

Some of it may have to do with enjoying the power of a good sized sucker as it uses the current to enhance the battle. And then again, it may be nothing more than just appreciating the sights, sounds and smells associated with a quiet day on the river.

There are several factors that make this spring and early summer adventure popular. First of all, most anglers live fairly close to some type of flowage that is going to have a population of suckers. Secondly, suckers are fairly easy to catch if you follow some basic rules.

Most of the suckers anglers catch are either members of the redhorse family or are white suckers. These bottom feeding fish spawn when water temps reach the mid forties. During the early spring, they make a noticeable spawning run and will be moving upriver towards spawning areas for several weeks.

Although the spring spawning action can be impressive, suckers continue to be active and easy to catch through much of June. The key is to find the right stretch of river to target.

Like other river fish, suckers love to travel along the current break between fast water and the quiet water of an eddy. The goal is to focus your efforts close to where these two contrasting water areas meet. Generally, the calm water of an eddy is not productive.

Suckers also like to rest and feed in the slow moving water of deeper pools. They will move back and forth in these areas looking for crustaceans and invertebrates.

The simplest method I know of for targeting suckers is a standard slip sinker, short leader, hook and night crawler. The specifics of this rig look like this.

The sinker needs to be heavy enough to keep from constantly tumbling downriver. A half or three quarter weight works well. I often use Northland Rock Bouncer weights because they do not roll in the current like barrel weights and are quite snag free.

Leaders need to be 12 to 18 inches. Suckers feed on the bottom and longer leaders will float the bait too high. Six pound-test Vanish fluorocarbon is about perfect for leader material.

I like a short shanked number four hook. I usually thread half a crawler onto the hook in a manner that hides as much of the hook as possible. Running some of the crawler up onto the line never hurts.

When a bite is detected, I give the fish a little time to chew on the bait. When the pressure feels right, set the hook!

Although most suckers fall into the two to four pound category, they are surprisingly scrappy fighters. Many anglers catch and release their fish while others keep some for smoking.

River fishing for suckers is a great family affair. It is simple, comfortable, and very entertaining. It is easy to get hooked on the concept of making withdrawals from a totally different kind of bank.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

 

It was over a cup of coffee that a friend of mine and I got into a discussion on boat control. He frequently fishes the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods and spends much of his summer and early fall working deep water reefs for walleye.

Being someone that has spent considerable time chasing walleye in deep water, I could relate to his experiences about the need for precise boat control. As is usually the case, reef walleye will set up shop in a very small portion of the structure. Without pinpoint presentation, anglers will spend much of their time in unproductive water.

In today’s world of big boats and powerful motors, it is easy to get caught up in the need to go really fast and have speed as a top priority. However, no matter how fast a person gets to their fishing hole, if you can’t control your rig to stay on top of the fish, speed quickly becomes a secondary issue.

Personally, I love a tiller motor. I have been in too many situations where other boats around me either ran their bow mounts out of battery life or could not hold their position in the wind. My 90 tiller rarely has trouble competing with the elements.

In response to the boat control issue, there have been many improvements in electric trolling motor capabilities. Powerful 24 volt systems are pretty much standard fare on big rigs. For those that want to maximize their transom control, Minn Kota’s Vantage is clearly the best route to go.

This year, the iPilot has taken boat control to a new plateau. New for this year is the iPilot Link.  The Link allows your iPilot to communicate with a LakeMaster map chip in specific sonar units (www.lakemap.com). This makes it possible to direct your trolling motor to follow a chosen contour from the map chip that in your sonar. While the iPilot does the work, anglers concentrate on fishing.

Although this is certainly an innovative approach to working structure, it does not replace other methods of staying on fish. The standard marker buoy is still an important tool in my boat.

There is something about the visual contact with a marker buoy that is very beneficial. I use them to pinpoint the exact location of a school of fish, to lay out trolling runs or to mark a snag I need to stay away from.

It is true that a marker buoy has a way of attracting other boats, but sometimes they are still a valuable tool. I carry a minimum of three whenever I chase walleye.

GPS units are also a great tool for improving boat control. Following the irregular contours often associated with walleye habitat can be tricky. By setting up a trail of icons it is possible to layout a course that highlights subtle points and inside turns.

One time, while fishing on Mille Lacs, we set up a trail that marked the outer edge of a weed line the walleye were relating to. Once this trail was established we were able to concentrate on presenting bait and didn’t have to worry so much about the irregularities of the weed growth.

Walleye often do not stay in one area for a long time. Being able to maximize the time your bait is in front of the fish is essential to success. Frequently, I find the boat with the best control is the one pulling most of the action.

Good boat control does guarantee a person is going to put a lot of walleye in the livewell. However, without good boat control, the number of fish caught will be greatly reduced.

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

It was our sixth year in a row that our group of anglers had spent a week on Rainy Lake. As we pulled into the landing at Island View Lodge, anticipation was running high. We knew that within an hour we would have the boats launched, gear packed into the cabin and be ready to head out for an evening of fishing.

After launching the boats, lodge owner, Ron Opp, stopped to welcome us back for another week of adventure. His words were encouraging as he said the walleye bite had been impressive. That type of news is never hard to take.

Once on the water, our boats split up and headed in three different directions. One of the advantages in working with a group of anglers is being able to check out different parts of the lake and then compare notes back at the cabin. This technique is very valuable and certainly shortcuts the information gathering process.

The small hump my fishing partner, Charlie Simkins, and I targeted yielded a number of fish. We slipped a couple into the livewell for supper and  photographed and released several others. It was a great start to another fabulous week on Rainy.

Rainy Lake is an impressive fishery that seems to get better every summer.  For six years it has provided us with such impressive walleye fishing we have felt no need to cross the border to look for anything better.

Our group has learned a lot during these six years. Unlike many anglers, we prefer to go during the summer months when the fish are setting up on the deep reefs. Although this midsummer pattern is a challenge for some, we find the deep reef fishing to be very enjoyable.

We have also learned a lot about the different presentations that work. Even though the jig is probably the most utilized presentation on the lake, we have had very good luck with live bait presentations as well as bottom bouncers and spinners.

For the standard live bait rig, we often use shiner minnows. Minnows work well on Rainy even during the summer months. We also take along leeches and crawlers and there are days when one of these other choices is clearly the favorite.

As for bottom bouncers and spinners, double hook crawler rigs, single hooks with three inch PowerBait tails tipped with live bait and smile blade spinners with slow death hooks all work. The key is to experiment to find what the fish want on that particular day.

Although live bait rigging with Vanish fluorocarbon line is my favorite walleye presentation, being able to cover water and search out active biters with bottom bouncers is pretty impressive. The bottom bouncer strategy needs to be part of the game plan.

As for the reefs and other fishing locations, they aren’t hard to find. The key is marking fish in an area before spending time fishing. If we don’t find fish on a reef, we keep looking.

Naturally, quality sonar equipment is critical for the process of searching for fish. Our group utilizes LakeMaster map chips for identifying potential hotspots (www.lakemap.com).

There is a 17 to 28 inch protected slot on Rainy. In my opinion, this is one of the reasons the lake is so full of walleyes. We catch lots of fish in the 20 to 25 inch class but have no trouble finding fish for supper.

Rainy is also home to other species. We always catch quality northern during our stay as well as smallmouth bass.

Anglers are missing out if they are ignoring Rainy Lake. This water is a remarkable fishery that is well worth a visit.

 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

 

The bluegill and crappie bite had been quite impressive on this Northern Minnesota lake. Although the fish weren’t record breaking in size, they were very respectable. Even though they weren’t stacked in every single hole we drilled, there were enough fish in the area that we never had to look long to find action.

As is often the case with the late season bite, our Vexilars were showing the active fish several feet off of the bottom in deep water.  The bottom huggers were lethargic sniffers while the suspended fish could frequently be coaxed into biting.

It was business as usual in the particular hole I was working when I noticed a line on my Vexilar above all of the others. Instantly, I made the adjustment to see if this new visitor to my screen was an interested biter.

Once in front of the fish, it only took a couple of shakes from my Hexi Fly and maggots before my spring bobber dipped and I set the hook. I knew instantly this was not a bluegill or crappie. It had weight and power that I hadn’t experienced on this trip.

It took quite a long time on my light tackle to tire this critter out. When I finally got its head started up the hole, I was not surprised to see a good sized whitefish on the end of my line.

It seems that several times each winter I end up hooking something out of the ordinary. Over the years my crappie gear has yielded suckers, walleye, bass, northern, catfish, and yes, tullibee and whitefish.

The trick to catching the unexpected fish starts way before they are seen on your electronics. The process actually starts with your equipment.

Although I fish two-pound-test line for most of my winter panfish, I am very fussy about which line I use. There is not a lot of forgiveness in light line. One mistake and it is over. I have found Berkley Micro-Ice to be ideal for winter angling.

Next, the rod and reel need to be matched to the weight of the line. Longer rods offer more forgiveness than shorter ones. The bend in the rod absorbs a lot of pressure and helps tire the fish out.

The reel is also critical. It has to have a drag that works smoothly even in very cold conditions. If your drag hangs up on a good fish, you will be retying.

I also believe in using a tightline system of presentation. This allows me to quickly change depths to get in front of the fish. These unexpected fish are usually just roaming through and if you can’t get their attention quickly, it won’t happen.

Catching unexpected fish through the ice is not an unusual phenomenon. I wouldn’t say I expect the unexpected, but it does happen often enough I am no longer surprised by the event. Large fish seem to have no trouble sucking in a tiny morsel if it is presented right in front of their face.

The key in successfully landing the unexpected fish is being able to react instantly when it comes onto your screen and then have equipment that will handle the ensuing battle. When it all comes together, catching the unexpected can really make a day!

  


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Even though I had my back to the approaching vehicle, I could hear it coming while it was still a quarter mile away. It wasn’t that the muffler was bad or the engine was revved, it was the ice moaning and groaning from the weight that was the clue.

I watched the fish on my Vexilar, hoping I could get one more on the ice before the inevitable was going to happen. Unfortunately, I didn’t get it done before my screen went blank. The fish I had going vanished as the vehicle approached.

This had been the third time in an hour I had lost contact with the suspended crappie. Even though I was working more than 20 feet of water, the fish spooked every time a vehicle came my way. They simply would not tolerate the surface commotion created by vehicle traffic.

Once the truck moved off into the distance, I began the search process all over again. With Vexilar in hand and transducer dangling, I hopped from hole to hole in an effort to relocate the spooked school of fish. Thanks to having drilled out a couple of dozen holes earlier, I did eventually catch up with the roaming crappie and sent a Hexi Fly and maggots down to finish catching supper.

The effect that surface noise has on fish under the ice has always been a bit of a mystery to me. It seems like one day they react to any type of disturbance and the next day, they could care less.

It isn’t like they don’t have opportunities to adjust to noise in the water as the ice booms all on its own. Yet, there are times when just walking on the ice seems to rile them up and get them nervous.

Because I am never quite sure what to expect, I have some personal noise rules I live by that seem to help. These rules start with how I look for fish.

I am a lazy kind of guy and don’t really like drilling unnecessary holes. Because of this, I do as much searching for fish as possible before I start the auger. This can be accomplished by kicking away the snow and pouring a little water on the ice to create a good contact for the transducer.

Once I do find fish or an area I wish to explore more, I don’t drill just one hole. Cutting a hole directly above fish seems to be the best way I know of to scatter the school. If I find something of interest, I will cut eight to twelve holes in the vicinity in hopes of having the spooked fish show up in at least one of the holes.

This may seem like a lot of work, but I would rather get all of the surface commotion out of the way in one shot instead of starting and stopping the auger every time I want to look in another location. Besides, with the quality of today’s augers, drilling a dozen holes is not difficult.

Depth does play a role in the spookiness of fish. The deeper the water, the more they tolerate. Weeds also work to the advantage of the angler. If fish feel secure because of a weedy environment in which to hide, they will not spook as easily.

Regardless of whether I am fishing deep, shallow or somewhere in-between, this process of opening up lots of holes in the area I want to fish has paid dividends over the years. Yes, there are days when you could explode a bomb on the ice and not phase the fish at all. However, I usually find that is not the case.

Since I never know the mood of the fish before I start the auger, I like to play it safe and continue with the practice of giving my auger a work out before grabbing the rod and reel. Once the holes are cut and things quiet down, I can concentrate on catching fish.

 

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

During the course of a winter of chasing panfish, I like to roam. I find it difficult to return to the same lake again and again, even if there is a respectable bite taking place. New water and fresh ice just appeals to me.

My roaming itch is easy to scratch. I don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to feel like I have been fishing. Instead, I like to focus on lakes that are relatively close and are within an hour’s drive. In a normal winter on the ice, that usually translates into 15 to 20 bodies of water.

Although I do throw in a few new lakes to my repertoire each winter, I primarily go to the same water each year. This gives me a chance to generate a basic knowledge base on a particular lake and increases my chances for success when I do return to a body of water.

There are several facts I have learned while working panfish on my milk run of lakes. One of these is the concept of repetition. Panfish, especially those that are suspended over a deep basin, have a tendency to show up in the same locations year after year.

Undoubtedly, there are fluctuations in the population of catchable fish. Panfish, especially crappie, are quite cyclical in nature and can go from a big year class to nothing in a short period of time. The opposite is also true.

Fishing pressure also has an impact on panfish populations. There have been winters when the bite has been consistent for extended periods of time on a particular lake. During these long stretches of activity, a population of respectable fish can be decimated over the course of a winter. It can actually take a couple of years for one of these lakes to recover.

There are some important tools involved with locating and catching fish on many different lakes. The first ingredient for success is having a quality lake map and GPS. I have come to depend greatly on LakeMaster products (www.lakemap.com) to help guide me to fishing locations. Once I do find a spot, you can be sure it will get saved as a waypoint.

Even though fish may not be located in the exact spot every time I head to a lake, having a starting place to look is extremely valuable. I find it astounding how often fish are found in the same general vicinity year after year. This is especially true of deep basin fish.

Another tool that is absolutely critical is a sonar unit. If you are fishing where there are no fish, you cannot catch anything. It is that simple.

Sonar units, such as the Vexilar I use, are extremely important when working through the fish location process on different lakes. If you are not certain where the fish are going to be, it is absolutely critical you have some idea of what is under the ice. This includes weeds, depth, bottom hardness and of course, fish.

None of this “looking” process can be accomplished unless you have a way of getting a reading to the bottom. Many times this translates into drilling a hole every time you want to check things out.

Whenever possible, I try to avoid drilling holes until I am ready to fish. Usually, I find that by kicking away the snow and pouring a little water on the ice, I can get my Vexilar to read through the ice to show me what is happening underneath. I only drill holes after I find fish or an area that needs better bottom definition.

Fishing different water throughout the winter period has always been something I enjoy. As a general rule, fish are somewhat predictable and are frequently found in the same locations year after year.

Spending the time to locate new fishing hotspots and checking out the old ones is an enjoyable part of my winter routine.

 
Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

It was an interesting start to the day. The GPS coordinates I had received from a fellow angler were supposedly going to direct me to a super panfish hotspot on a fairly large lake. Now that I was at the lake, I began to have my doubts.

The super hotspot was in the middle of a sea of ice houses. Although I had expected some competition on this popular body of water, I did not expect to be surrounded by anglers.

I could tell from the looks of my two companions that they had their doubts, as well. When they wondered what kind of mess I had gotten them into this time, I explained that my source for the GPS coordinates was very reliable.

In an effort to calm their fears and to reassure my own doubts, I referenced my GPS and LakeMaster chip (www.lakemap.com) to show them how we were perfectly positioned on a two foot break on an otherwise flat piece of structure. With all of the enthusiasm I could muster, I suggested we start drilling holes.

After scattering a dozen and half holes amongst the houses, we started the search process. Although our Vexilars did not show suspended fish in every hole, there appeared to be plenty of activity. The next step was to see if anything would bite.

It soon became apparent that the sniffers greatly outnumbered the biters. Even so, we did manage to pluck a feisty crappie off of the bottom every now and then, but basically the action was slow

We weren’t too far into the adventure when I decided it was time to mix things up. I knew what was not working and felt I had nothing to lose by doing a little experimentation.

For me, experimentation starts with downsizing both my line weight and jig size. It also means switching to a very light spring bobber rod that will detect the faintest of bites.

From my arsenal, I pulled out a rod rigged with one-pound-test Berkley Micro Ice and a Northland 1/28 ounce tungsten Mooska jig. This combination of super light line and small but heavy tungsten jig had worked for me before.

In a hole that had not yielded a fish, I instantly pulled two 12 inch crappie. They were followed by a couple of very respectable bluegills.

Naturally, my sudden success not only caught the attention of my angling buddies, but also brought a couple of people out of their fish houses to see what I was doing. What I was doing was pretty much what I had done for the first hour. What was different was the equipment.

Catching finicky winter fish is frequently a challenging proposition. I have found that many things can help turn the odds in your favor. Fresh maggots, glow jigs, Vanish fluorocarbon line and quality rods can all help. However, there are still days when downsizing equipment is the most important thing that can be done.

There is no doubt that fishing with super, ultra light equipment is not my first choice. However, there are those days when I tolerate the inconveniences associated with a light rig especially if it will help me catch fish.

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 


 

There is no question the pheasant numbers have dwindled across the Midwest. This is especially true in the regions that have suffered through a combination of tough winters and loss of CRP. Still, even though the numbers are down, pheasant hunting is not a thing of the past.

Pheasant enthusiasts are a lot like the Chicago Cubs fans. Even though there is little hope of a great season and little to cheer for, they continue to support their sport and head to the field whenever they can.

If there is one thing I have learned over the 45 years I have been hunting pheasants it is this. There are always pockets of birds that will offer good hunting. If you can find these pockets of birds, you will be rewarded for your efforts.

The key in finding these pockets of birds is to locate great habitat. Without question, hunters need to spend more time in search of these quality locations than they did when the bird numbers were higher. This probably means more road time and knocking on a few more doors.

One of the considerations in determining this fall’s population actually happened last winter. Pheasants that had access to food or food plots last winter fared better than those that had to travel. Birds that fed close to their roost areas experienced less predation and entered the breeding season in better shape.

Adequate cover is always a plus for pheasant hunting. Natural prairie grasses that are four or five feet tall offer a lot more in cover that quack grass and weeds. This is true for both the nesting season and the hunting season.

Corn is probably the favorite food of the pheasant in the fall and winter months. Quality grassland cover next to a picked corn field is going to attract and hold more birds than cover that does not have corn fields adjacent to it.

This year, water is going to be another concern. With so many dry ponds in the Midwest, water is not as easy to find as it usually is.

And water is important. I remember hunting North Dakota one year when there was very little water. Our best location turned out to be a water hole in the middle of grassland habitat. Every morning and evening the pheasants could be found close to this water source.

One advantage pheasant hunters do have this year is the dry fall and early removal of row crops. This greatly reduces the cover available to pheasants and congregates the birds into smaller areas. That can never hurt.

Pheasant hunters that truly love their sport do not give up easily. Although the bird count in many regions is up from last year, it is still significantly below the long term average. Because of this, hunters will be forced to potentially drive farther and spend more time looking for pockets of birds that they used to.

This may not be the year for a record pheasant harvest, but those that do their due diligence and hunt where the pockets of birds are located will succeed just fine.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

When it comes to laying out decoy spreads for Canada geese, there are many different strategies to draw from. How a person goes about setting a spread depends on a number of variables. These variables include things like personal experience, location, weather and the time of the year.

When it comes to my own personal decoy strategy for hunting geese, I would have to say my spreads are family oriented. Although I may switch things around a bit in the very late season, for most of the fall, families are key.

There is a reason I am so hung up on utilizing family groupings for my main theme. One of those reasons has to do with observations I have made from watching live geese.

One instance comes to mind that speaks volumes about my philosophy of utilizing family orientation for my decoy spreads. I was walking with my wife around a park when we heard a bunch of honkers in the distance. We watched as a group of about 30 Canadas made a swing and then skidded to a halt on the water.

Even though this group came as one unit, once on the water, they immediately began dividing up according to their families. A short time later, there were four distinct groups lounging on the pond.

I see family orientation in fields throughout much of the fall, as well. Even though there may be a lot of birds on the ground, one can usually still see the clusters of families as they feed.

There is another reason I like to set up family groupings in my Canada goose spread. This reason has to do with repeated success. Unless it is very late in the year and the geese are bunched in large flocks, I continue to successfully decoy geese with my family group philosophy.

I am not the only hunter I know of that makes use of family groupings for much of the fall. Hunting specialist, Chad Allen, from Barrels Up and Dirty Girl Camo internet shopping site, is a big believer in family groupings.

According to Allen, setting a spread in family groupings has never hurt the overall appeal of his decoys. He is also a firm believer that if something is consistently fooling geese, there is no need to change. I couldn’t agree more.

The one variable I put into my family philosophy happens around my layout blinds. I always set a cluster of full bodies and silhouettes tight to the blinds to help conceal them from oncoming geese. Other than these 20 to 30 decoys, the other decoys are grouped in clusters of two to ten.

There are many different ways of setting out decoys. However, as a general rule, hunters continue to work with patterns that bring success. Unless it is very late in the year, I have found that Canada geese decoy well to family oriented spreads.

Until these spreads stop being effective, I will continue to focus on the family.

 
Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson  

 

It would be nice if Canada geese weren’t so darn smart. However, talk to any hunter that has spent a lot of time in the field and they will have story after story about birds that have learned to avoid the trouble associated with decoy spreads.

This decoy shy phenomena is not something that comes naturally, it is a learned behavior that develops after birds have been shot at a number of times. I believe the more birds are hunted, the more they are able to imprint the dangers associated with decoy spreads into their brains. Snow geese do it, why not Canada geese?

There are a couple of specific patterns I look for that indicate geese are highly pressured and vary wary. When birds start reacting a certain way, I know it is time to mix things up and do something different.

Decoy wary birds often will approach from the front but slide off to the side at a couple of hundred yards. The next move they make is classic and predictable.

Once off to the side of the spread, they will approach from behind and then make a high pass directly overhead. Generally, this is the kiss of death as these birds rarely come back once they have looked at your spread from directly above.

One thing I like to do when this starts to happen is to turn one of the hunters around to face the back of the spread. This hunter is able to watch exactly what the geese are doing behind the decoys without squirming around in the blind and spooking the birds. They can also call the shot if they approach within range, which does happen. When hunters are all facing the pocket, it is difficult to really know what is going on behind you.

Another sure sign of pressured geese can be heard more than it can be seen. Pressured geese definitely change their calling and vocalization patterns.

As a general rule, spooky geese get silent when they approach a spread. Obviously, they are listening to see what kinds of calling sounds are coming from the ground. As a general rule, these geese have lots of experience with decoys.

Recently, I had a serious discussion on the art of calling pressured geese with hunting specialist, Chad Allen from the internet shopping site of Barrels Up and Dirty Girl Camo. Allen and I were on the same page when it came to working wary birds.

Allen believed that the more a person knew about calling, the more successful they would be in the field. He felt quiet geese should be hunted quietly with a minimal amount of calling. If they talk to you, talk back. If they aren’t talking, be silent until they are close enough for some confidence building moans and soft clucks.

I certainly agree with this. Too many times I hear hunters overcall geese. It is important to remember that the purpose of calling is to help get the birds in range. It is not to try and wear the reed out of your call. All too often hunters shout at geese instead of talking to them.

Hunting pressured birds is always a challenge. No matter what you do in the field, you will not fool every flock. However, if you are not fooling any birds, you may need to change up your routine.

Simple adjustments, such as facing a hunter the opposite way or cutting way back on the calling, are two simple tactics that can help.

Barrels Up Pro Staff,
Jerry Carlson 

Unless you are hooked on chasing Canada goose, it is hard to explain the enthusiasm for hunting that starts to develop in late summer. If you are a goose hunter, you know exactly what I am referring to. For us goose hunting junkies, the off season is always too long.

When you enjoy hunting geese as much as I do, you look for every article you can find on goose hunting strategies. You also welcome conversations that revolve around the sport of chasing geese.

It was over lunch this past summer that I had a lengthy conversation about goose hunting with hunting specialist, Chad Allen. Allen is someone that not only loves all aspects of hunting, he has also turned his enthusiasm for the sport into a business called “Barrels Up.”  This internet shopping site for outdoor gear is loaded with quality merchandise and worth checking out.

Although Allen and I hashed over many different topics, we spent considerable time discussing concealment. Allen is convinced that hunters hurt their chances by not paying enough attention to concealment.

Like most hunters, Allen utilizes layout blinds. He likes the versatility of being able to use them in nearly any type of field and appreciates being able conceal the blinds with material that is indigenous to the field being hunted.

Allen also commented that he has started using Killer Weed bundles for a base covering. Killer weed or Raffia grass can be purchased in different colors or spray painted to achieve the desired coloration.

Another hunter that will echo Allen’s thought on concealment is waterfowl guide, Brian Cahalan, from Goose and Duck Smackers Guide Service. Cahalan is in the business of bringing success to his clients and knows it all starts with concealment.

Last fall, while hunting Mississippi River backwaters with Cahalan, I had a chance to witness firsthand the incredible time and effort he puts into concealment. His boat was a floating blind that was covered with natural vegetation as well as Raffia grass.

When picking our shoreline set-up, Cahalan was very particular about choosing a location that helped break up the outline of his boat. And it worked! Even though the mallards were not flying hot and heavy that day, the ones that did come by were completely fooled by the concealment of our boat and blind.

Over the years, I have had a number of opportunities to hunt from some type of pit. If done right, the low or no profile of a pit can greatly increase your hunting success. It quickly makes one realize that wary geese are not all that wary if they do not see danger mixed in with the spread.

When I take hunters with me to the field, I am very fussy about their strategy for becoming invisible. I am not afraid to criticize a fellow hunter if I think they are not concealed well enough. This includes a well covered blind and facemask or a mesh screen to hide the glare of a shiny face.

Most hunters invest a lot of capital in their hunting gear. However, all too often they don’t go the extra distance to make sure they are properly concealed. Lack of concealment may be the most common mistake made by goose hunters.    


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

 

Everyone that has fished a reasonable amount has had a northern experience or two they will never forget. These experiences are broad based and include fish that were caught, ones that got away and the ferocious strikes that can occur when a northern hits a hooked fish you are trying to reel in.

I find all of the stories about quality northern to be exciting and entertaining. However, I am especially intrigued by situations where one finds northern interested in eating your catch, particularly when your catch is walleye!

I can’t even begin to count the times when northern have tried to strip walleye off of my hook. In fact, there have been a few cases when the gator was so serious about eating my catch that we actually netted and landed the fish!

The northern – walleye combination has happened enough times for me to realize these toothy critters love to eat walleye. I am convinced they will follow schools of walleye around a lake making them their main food source during the summer months.

When you think about it, this makes perfect sense. Walleye are long and slender and the ideal shape for a tasty meal. Couple this with the fact a northern can easily eat a fish one third the size of their body and you have the makings of a predator - prey correlation between these two fish.

Although it may be difficult to catch northern that are targeting walleye for their dinner, there are a few tricks that may trigger these fish. They are not foolproof methods, but will work some of the time.

I remember a situation on Lac Seul in Ontario when we had northern frequently hitting our walleye whenever we fished one particular reef. Finally, enough was enough and we put away our walleye rods and grabbed out heavy rigs.

After a short dig in my tackle compartment, I came up with a couple of very large, deep diving crankbaits that looked perfect to me. My partner was not so sure as he had never fished with a lure of that stature before.

We set up our trolling run carefully so our baits would be at the optimum depth when we entered the walleye staging area. We pulled two huge gators on our very first pass.

A few years later, I was staying at Caribou Lake in Ontario when one of my fishing cronies described an area where they had been having some northern issues when fishing walleye. I gave him a bottom bouncer and the biggest Rapala I had in my tackle box. After rigging up a heavy leader, he proceeded to go out and catch the largest fish of our trip.

 Over the years, Rainy Lake has been another location where we are frequently bothered by big northern attacking our hooked walleye. In an effort to take advantage of this opportunity, we have found that large shiner minnows will sometimes get their attention.

Having toothy northern harass smaller fish is nature’s plan. Put a hook in this small fish so it acts wounded and vulnerable, and you will greatly increase the appeal.

Sometimes it is worth the effort to try and trigger these northern and catch ‘them’ instead of them ‘eating your catch.’ When this happens, you not only appreciate the power of these brutes, but you also feel somewhat vindicated.

And best of all, you have one more gator story to tell on your next fishing trip!


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

 

 

It had been a couple of tough days for our group on Rainy Lake. For some reason, we couldn’t seem to zero in on an early summer pattern that would provide consistent walleye action for our anglers.

In an act of desperation, I suggested to a couple of people that we should try something different. I thought perhaps there might still be some northern hanging in the shallow bays and we could target these fish for a morning instead of stubborn walleye.

As we motored into a bay, I explained the concept we would be using to trigger our fish. We would be fishing suspending, shallow running jerk baits over the tops of the weeds. However, instead of a cast and retrieve approach, we would utilize a twitch and pause technique.

The success of our morning operation surprised even me. I had no idea the size and quantity of the fish we would find in just that one bay.

Since that Rainy Lake adventure from 15 years ago, I continue to be impressed with the fish catching ability of twitch baits. They aren’t a solution for every fishing outing, but they can be very productive in some situations.

The key to successfully catching fish with this type of approach is to understand the presentation. Predator fish love the chance to target an easy meal. That is what live bait fishing and bobber fishing is all about. Fish hit a struggling minnow because it is food that is too easy to pass up.

Twitch baits appeal to the instinct predator fish have of looking for an easy meal. With the twitch and stop retrieve, the lure is mimicking a struggling baitfish.

The twitch of the retrieve is created by a rod snap that will make the lure jump erratically. When done properly with a good bait, the lure will dart from side to side with each twitch.

As a general rule, I will make two to four twitches and then pause. The suspending lure will sit quietly in the water and not sink or rise to the surface. This is an important part of the appeal as many of the strikes come on the pause.

On a recent trip with a couple of angling friends, we targeted walleye using twitch baits. On a previous outing, these two companions had discovered walleye lounging in a weed bed in 6-10 feet of water. By working our lures over the weeds, we were able to bring the walleye up to engulf our baits.

I must admit, I am normally targeting bass and northern when working twitch baits. However, if walleye want to hit lures presented in this manner, I have no problem with that!

As a general rule, I do not use a steel leader with this presentation unless the northern are causing a serious bite off problem. I also believe mono works better than the super braids on many days.

As for the size and color, I like four to five inch suspending lures with dark tops and an orange stripe on their belly. Sometimes Clown is a good pattern. The Rapala Husky Jerk and the Salmo Sting are both good options.

The perfect lure for catching fish in all situations does not exist. For that reason, it makes sense to be familiar with a variety of presentations. Under the right conditions, twitch baits can lead to some pretty awesome action.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

I remember the days when I really disliked weeds. I disliked the weeds hanging up on my lure, I disliked removing the weeds from my hooks and I disliked the frustration caused by fishing in the weeds.

In those days, I rarely fished for largemouth bass. In those days I didn’t understand the importance of weeds as part of a lake’s ecosystem. In those days I was unable to grasp the relationship between fish and weed cover.

However, those days are gone. I look at weeds differently now. I still dislike removing weeds from my lures, but I also realize weeds are a key component in my overall bass fishing success.

It was a day on the lake last summer that really got me to thinking about how important weed growth is to fish location. My fishing partner and I had not targeted this particular lake for bass for years. We knew finding a location pattern was the first order of business.

It didn’t take long for us to get an idea about where to start. After a cruise around the shoreline, we discovered that one section of the lake had a well defined growth of coontail that came close to the surface.

Coontail is a weed that will create quite a large canopy as it matures during the summer months. This canopy effect is very attractive to fish as it creates overhead cover and plenty of hiding places underneath where the weeds attach to the lake bottom.

The clusters of coontail were so thick in places that it was impossible to effectively get a jig through the weeds to where the fish were hanging out. This problem was easy to resolve. Because the weeds were clearly visible, we were able to work the edges and pockets and avoid the perils associated with the thickest clumps.

Although we did our best to avoid hanging up in weeds, it happened. I got to clean plenty of coontail off of my lures that day. However, we also discovered that the rewards were great as we boated some very impressive fish.

Being able to visually target weeds is not that unusual. Anglers that fish lily pads or bulrushes know how important it can be to see the areas that have the greatest potential.

The inside weed line is another edge I have come to appreciate as a visual fishing location. Bass love this edge where the weeds end and shoreline sand and rubble begin. It is a major travel route for bass especially early in the year.

When it comes to targeting bass that are relating to weeds, it is important to think about lures and equipment. Without weedless baits, anglers can’t expect to catch anything but frustration.

I am a big fan of Texas rigged Power Worms. This combination of weedlessness and scent continues to be one of my most consistent producers.

Jigworms are also big on my list of favorites. Northland Tackle makes Weed Weasels and Jungle Jigs that feature an eye forward profile that slides effectively through cover. The baitkeeper design keeps your plastic trailer in place.

Line is also a consideration. If you are going to fish heavy cover, make sure you have a line that is tough enough to pull fish out of the weed growth. I have seen a lot of anglers lose fish because their line and rod were not tough enough for the job.

Weeds can definitely be a pain for anglers. However, for those that want to successfully target largemouth bass, being able to tolerate the headaches caused by weeds becomes well worth the trouble. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Every year I try to get together with long time fishing friend, Kelley Cirks. Cirks is a great angler that spends a lot of time on the water in the Park Rapids area of Minnesota. Normally, when he calls to say the fish are biting, I can pretty much count on a sure thing. Of course, there is that word “normally.”

It was early in the morning when I pulled into the driveway of Cirks’ residence. He had the boat hooked up and was clearly pumped about the prospects of a good day of bass fishing.

As we drove to the lake, he filled me in on the bite that had been taking place. With the spawn over and the fish recuperated, the bass had moved into the cabbage beds and were hungry and ready to eat. His hot baits had been the Salmo Hornet and PowerBait worm.

Once at the lake, it took little time for us to land the boat and motor to a weed flat that was littered with clumps of cabbage. As we worked along through the weeds, we reminisced about big fish we had taken from this very location on previous outings.

The conditions were ideal and at any moment I expected to tie into a bruiser that would get the morning started in a big way. It didn’t happen. For some reason, the fish that had been camped in this location a couple of days earlier had moved. Two futile hours and several weed beds later, we gave up on lake number one and loaded the boat.

Lake number two was high on my list. The biggest bass of my life had come from this water as had several other five pound fish. We were both confident that this lake would be the ticket to success. An hour later, we had nothing but a few small fish to show for our efforts.

At this juncture, we realized we had hit an off day and needed to change things up. For some reason, the bass had gone negative and were not going to cooperate with a normal presentation.

As is often the case when things go south, we downsized our rigs to something more along the snack size instead of the full meal deal. For me, that meant an eighth ounce Lip Stick jig and a five inch PowerBait finesse worm.

By starting shallow and working our jigs down to the deep weed line, Cirks and I began to find a few fish. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but it was action. The finesse approach was obviously more appealing than our standard rigs.

By the end of the outing, we at least had a couple of opportunities to get the camera out. We also had once again learned the value of not giving up.

Too many times, anglers end a trip early because the fish are not cooperating. My advice is to be cautious about quitting too quickly.  When the fish get lockjaw, it is important to pare down your expectations but also to change your presentation strategies.   

On this trip, Cirks and I were successful because of two factors. First, we downsized our presentation to something small and simple. Most importantly, we caught fish because we didn’t give up. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 


 

It has happened to me more times than I care to count. In fact, it is such a common occurrence during the late spring and summer months that I have grown to accept it and expect it. Just when I think I have the bite figured out, the fish up and move.

Big water walleye are roamers, plain and simple. They are nomadic in nature and will be on one piece of structure for a few hours and then be gone.

It isn’t an occasional occurrence, either. I have found this late spring and summer pattern to be true on Leech, Kabetogama, Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul, Mille Lacs, Rainy and other big water environments.

The last few years, I have been fortunate enough to spend considerable time on Rainy. Our group of anglers has consistently been successful because we have learned to cope with the roaming characteristics of the walleye.

It is not uncommon to spend as much as two hours searching for walleye on Rainy before we ever drop a line. We make the rounds from structure to structure looking for fish on our sonar units.

The first step in this process is having a boat and motor rig that provides the mobility necessary to do the extensive searching. The other is to have a GPS system that allows you to quickly find structure that has fish holding potential. LakeMaster chips (www.lakemap.com) can be critical for shortcutting this process.

Regardless of the lake you are fishing, structure doesn’t have to be very big to hold fish. Some of my most memorable bites have taken place on small humps and insignificant points.

There are other factors involved in the nomadic walleye characteristic that need to be noted. These fish are not just roaming because they enjoy swimming. They are looking for food in the form of minnows.

Large schools of forage will spend time in open water and sometimes offer a good deep basin bite. However, when the baitfish move onto structure, the walleye are usually not far behind.

Walleye do not take a long time to feed. Countless times we have come across structure that is stacked with fish only to find them gone in an hour or less. Being efficient at working these fish when you find them can be critical.

Once fish are found, they can be caught in a variety of ways. There is no doubt that a short shanked Fire-Ball jig is an excellent way to present bait. Leeches or crawlers work well in late spring and summer, but sometimes shiner minnows are the best.

Live bait rigs are also very effective when targeting feeding fish. A number six hook on the end of six feet of six-pound-test Vanish Fluorocarbon is hard to beat. The bait that will get the most attention may depend somewhat on the day so we always have options available.

There are days when locating scattered fish is the best we can do. During these situations, a two or three ounce bottom bouncer and Rainbow Spinner rig can be the most productive. Occasionally, I will clip off the normal hooks and substitute a long shanked hook with a PowerBait twister tail. I add a piece of crawler or leech for good measure.

Wind plays a major role in where fish setup to eat. Walleye love to feed in the waves. Part of this is due to the baitfish activity and part due to the sight advantage walleye have over baitfish in poor light conditions. Playing the wind is very important.

Walleye on big water rarely setup housekeeping in one spot for very long. Instead, they will come up onto structure, feed, and move back to open water. Success under these circumstances depends on an angler’s ability to find fish.

On big water, walleye are nomadic in nature. Anglers need to be on the move, as well.

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

 

 It was the last day of our Arkansas snow goose hunting adventure with Goose and Duck Smackers Guide Service. The early morning rain that had been promised by the weatherman had not yet arrived. However, the leading edge of the clouds was present making for a spectacular red and orange sunrise.

 As the guides finished the last minute preparations in the decoy spread, our group of hunters readied our blinds and prepared ourselves for whatever the day would bring. For the previous three mornings, the early flight had been memorable and we were hoping for more of the same on day four.

Although the cloud cover helped attract some flocks to our spread, the total lack of wind made finishing these birds difficult. After a few high passes, the game was up and they moved on to other locations.

We all saw the large group of birds approaching us from our right. They were unusually low and at first we figured they were specs. As they closed the gap it became apparent they were snows and we readied ourselves for the upcoming opportunity.

Thanks to the experienced guides that set the decoys, these birds centered perfectly and came over our party at 35 yards. When the shot was called, there was no shortage of targets and birds started dropping in earnest.

When the dog finally found the last goose, we had a total of eight birds for our first volley. That was definitely a good start to the day.

Arkansas snow goose hunting was a new experience for our group. Instead of waiting for the migration flight in Missouri and South Dakota, we opted to travel south to where many of the birds winter and the initial staging for their trek north takes place.

According to Brian Cahalan, owner of the guide service, being able to hunt the staging areas in February meant more opportunities for juvenile birds. Juvenile birds are much less wary than adults and often make up the bulk of the hunter harvest. That was certainly the case with our crew as the young birds accounted for more than 50 percent of our take. 

Although there were many memorable aspects of our hunting trip, the lodge life was a hit with everybody. Being able to share accommodations with the guides and other hunters gave us the opportunity to tell stories and relax in comfort. Not having to cook or go out for meals was also a huge bonus.

Even though I have been involved with many snow goose hunts, I continue to find the outings extremely enjoyable. The unique way snow geese approach the spread from above makes this style of hunting a very visual experience.

Snow geese are rarely in a hurry to set down in a spread. Instead, they will circle high above the decoys and only come lower if they see something they like. Many times the adult birds will make a dozen passes before they decide what they want to do.

Hunters will also witness large flocks of a thousand or more birds working their way north. These high flyers are not interested in eating and won’t miss a wing beat as they pass over your spread. However, they are still a thrill to see.

The spring snow goose experience is very unique. It is an opportunity to witness incredible numbers of birds as they move to their summer nesting grounds in the far reaches of Canada. It is also an opportunity to participate in the Conservation Order that is designed to reduce the overall population. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 


   

Every year I look forward to spring. It isn’t that I don’t enjoy my time on the ice in the winter, because I certainly do. However, there is something about getting back in the boat and on open water that I greatly appreciate.

I am not alone in this feeling as it is shared by most anglers I know. Drive by a few landings after the lakes open up and you will see just how many anglers like the idea of getting back in the boat.

There is more to the story than enjoying the feeling of open water, however. These early season anglers are not just joy riding, they are searching out some fishing action, as well. Generally, this means crappie and bluegill.

Most springs I make frequent trips to area lakes in search of panfish. Even though these fishing trips take place on many different bodies of water, the fishing locations on each lake share some very strong similarities.

The fact that I fish similar structure on different lakes is no accident. Instead, it is a matter of following the habits of the panfish. Once anglers understand the habitat panfish are looking for in the spring, finding and catching fish becomes a lot easier.

After ice out, spring crappie become very interested in eating. This is due to the fact they spawn when the water temperature reaches the low to mid sixties. Female crappie, in particular, need extra energy to help the development of their eggs. In addition to that, spawning takes a lot of energy for both sexes.

Water temperature is one of the keys to finding early season panfish. These fish are looking for places where the insect larvae are active. It is the protein found in the larvae the fish are looking for.

Mud bottoms are also a part of the spring equation for two reasons. Insects live in the mud, and dark, mud bottomed areas absorb sunlight and warm faster than other locations.

When I think about my favorite spring crappie hangouts, most of them have the same thing in common; they are somewhat disconnected from the main part of the lake. This is a huge consideration when picking a place to fish and here is why.

Shallow bays that are connected to the main lake by a narrow channel are going to warm much quicker. The protection provided by the necked down entrance is ideal for creating a mini environment for fish.

On the flip side of things, when the cold wind blows and fronts come through, these areas will cool off just as fast as they warmed up. Like fishing any place else, timing can be extremely important.

Sometimes I believe the fish will actually move out of these sheltered bays during spells of bad weather. Other times, they may stay in the bays but become inactive until the sun comes back and warms the water up.

There are other considerations when fishing these bays that anglers need to think about. First of all, these shallow water fish are quite spooky. Light line, such as four or six-pound-test Berkley Trilene or five-pound-test Northland Bionic are good choices.

I also like long rods that allow me to cast far from the boat. Spooky fish are very much afraid of boats so keep your noise to a minimum. This concept alone can make or break a day.

As for lures, I rarely use minnows at this time of the year.  I love 1/64 ounce pink and white Fire-Fly jigs. I usually fish them plain but sometimes a little PowerBait will help, especially if you are targeting bluegill.

Early spring is a great time of the year to be on the water. It can also be a great time of year to catch those early panfish. Disconnected bays that warm quickly will usually produce plenty of action. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

It seems like everybody has a passion for some type of outdoor adventure. For many, bird hunting ranks at the top of the list. And, when it comes to bird hunting, it is hard not to love the spring snow goose migration.

It has been more than a dozen years since a Conservation Order was put into place to reduce the population of snow geese in North America. These birds have become so plentiful they are endangering their tundra nesting areas in Northern Canada.

The reason the nesting habitat is being destroyed is a twofold problem. First, snow geese love the roots of the plants that grow in this frigid climate and they use their beaks to rip up the ground to get at the roots.  Secondly, with the short growing season, plant re-growth is a slow process on the tundra. In reality, the geese are literally eating themselves out of house and home.

The Conservation Order was an effort to slow the growth of the continental goose population. It was hoped that liberal limits, electronic calls, and unplugged shotguns would be able to substantially reduce the snow goose population.

Unfortunately, the Conservation Order did not totally fix the population dilemma. However, it has helped. It has also opened up a whole new opportunity for outfitters and hunters to participate in a phenomenal hunting experience.

Over the past four years, I have had the chance to hunt snow geese in Missouri and South Dakota. These hunts have always taken place in March and have been enjoyable and productive. Although I am still planning on hunting the migration in South Dakota, I am also planning a trip to Arkansas in February.

It was during a South Dakota hunt with Brian Cahalan from Goose and Duck Smackers Guide Service (gooseandducksmackers.com) that I first learned about snow goose hunting in Arkansas. Although Cahalan follows the migrating geese through Missouri and South Dakota, he spends a month in Arkansas first.

According to Cahalan, the Arkansas hunt is a little different than hunting migrating snow geese in other states. Many of the snow geese in Arkansas actually winter in the area. Others are moving in as they begin staging for the migration process. Cahalan claims that for most of the month the geese are quite content to feed in the rice fields.  

Cahalan likes the way geese decoy in Arkansas. He believes targets are generally closer during the early stages of the season than later in the spring. He also likes the fact there are plenty of juveniles around. Young birds are easier to decoy than the wary adults.

Cahalan also stated there are fewer outfitters in Arkansas which means less pressure on the birds and more success in the field. His standard set of 1200 decoys gets plenty of attention.

North American snow goose populations are estimated to be over 5 million. Any way you cut the pie that is an incredible number of birds. With the Conservation Order in place again this year, hunters will be working hard at taking out a few of the millions of geese that come north each spring.

Although there are plenty of opportunities to hunt snow geese, the February start in Arkansas may offer a unique early hunting experience to help chase away those winter blues.  


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Whether I am working bluegill on a flat or crappie in a deep basin, I am not the type of person that likes to set up a house and wait for the fish to come to me. On the contrary, I am going to go to the fish.

I spend a considerable amount of time on the ice each winter and have learned some valuable lessons about the catching aspect of fishing. Simply put, you can’t catch fish that are not there.

This fact is neither rocket science nor a new concept. Naturally, I get confused when I see anglers pull up to a fishing area, drill a couple of holes and then sit on that one spot without looking first to see if there are fish in the area or to even check the depth.

Without question there are days when this approach works. A person could hit the right spot or be working a low light bite that brings fish through an area like clockwork. However, too many times that is not the case.

Here is an example. Earlier this winter we had a mixed bag of panfish roaming a very large flat. The fish were nice and worth catching but were loosely scattered across the flat. Each trip out we had to look to find them.

People thought we were crazy when we would show up and drill two dozen holes before we even dropped a line. Of these two dozen holes, we would find fish in only a few of them. The rest of the holes would have no sign of life or sniffers only.

Once we burned through this set of holes, we would start up the StrikeMasters and drill another 20. This was definitely a bit of work, but other anglers were always surprised when they would see how many fish we were catching.

The same concept is true for crappie in a deep basin. Because these fish like to roam throughout the basin, I often do a lot of looking before I even start drilling.

The looking is simple. I pour a little water on a smooth patch of ice and shoot through the ice with my Vexilar. With this process, I can easily see suspended crappie. I don’t start drilling holes until I find a general area that holds fish. If I don’t find fish, I don’t stay.

The tools for hole hopping panfish are very basic. A person needs an auger that will cut through ice like butter and good electronics. Having a rod rigged with light line is essential. I like two and three-pound-test Berkley Micro Ice or the new Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon. And yes, light line does make a difference.

I am a huge fan of glow red lures. My favorites are a #10 Bro Bug or Hexi-Fly in a “Fire Ant” glow pattern. I tip these lures with four or five Euro larvae.  

It is important to note that deep basin fish are usually suspended and will show up as marks off of the bottom. Panfish on a shallow flat usually are close to the bottom so it may be necessary to drop a jig down each hole to really see what is there.

Hole hopping is not a new concept. It is a proven method of locating and catching panfish or even walleye for that matter. It is a philosophy of looking for active fish instead of waiting for the fish to come to you. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

 

It seems like I am always searching for time to participate in things I like to do. Schedules and deadlines have a way of creeping into the mix and forcing me to backburner some of my favorite activities. The day-to-day events we call life forces us all to compromise and prioritize.

When it comes to putting things in order of importance, I have gradually been moving perch fishing higher up on the list. It isn’t that I haven’t always enjoyed chasing perch, it just seems like it is more fun than it used to be.

I am not the only one that feels this way about the lowly perch. It doesn’t seem to matter where you go or who you talk to, perch fishing questions and comments always seem to surface.

One of the reasons perch are becoming more popular has to do with their eating habits. They are usually daytime biters and can be caught on a variety of gear. They are also scrappy fighters for their size.

Perch are excellent table fare.  Although their tough scales make them more difficult to clean than other fish, their taste and texture on the plate is hard to beat.

Perch limits are also quite generous. In Minnesota, the limit is 20 a day with 40 in possession.

Finding a lake to chase perch on is not very hard. Most big-water walleye lakes have a healthy population of jumbos. Perch activity is a normal part of the reporting process for websites.

My favorite perch lake is Mille Lacs, located in Central Minnesota. This 132,000 acre body of water is home to a very healthy population of jumbo perch and is definitely becoming one of the premier perch waters in the area.

I have to admit that I cheat just a little when I head to the big water. In an effort to get the latest information about the perch bite, I check in with Mike Christensen from Hunter Winfield’s Resort in Isle.

As part of his ownership responsibilities, Christensen guides winter anglers for both walleye and perch. Since he is on the ice every day, I can get a pretty accurate report about where to go and what to use.

Although Christensen’s clients catch perch all winter long, he believes the best action starts to set up after the first late winter thaw. This thaw triggers an insect larvae feeding binge that starts the spring migration to spawning grounds.

From my experience, the bite can range from incredible to fussy. When the fish are fussy, I have found that neutral colored jigs, such as Woodtick Bro Bugs tipped with Euro larvae are hard to beat. Scaling down to two-pound-test Berkley Micro Ice can also make a difference. 

In addition to presenting good looking baits, Christensen believes that bottom consistency is an important part of the equation. He feels transition areas where gravel turns to mud are ideal. He also emphasized the need to be mobile. Perch travel in large, loose schools and may have to be tracked down.

Winter jumbo perch fishing is high on my list of favorite activities. Although there are days when the bite can be challenging, there are also times when the action is nothing short of phenomenal.

Either way, I will prioritize several jumbo perch trips into my schedule this winter.  


Barrels Up Pro Staff,

Jerry Carlson 

I received a call from hunting enthusiast, Brian Corrigan, inviting me to join him for an early morning goose shoot. Since there are few things I enjoy as much as Canada goose hunting, I arranged my schedule to accommodate the offer.

In making the final preparations, I was told I didn’t have to bring my layout blind as we would be hunting from a pit. That was good news. I have hunted out of pits before and have found them to be a very efficient means of concealment.

Darkness still gripped the world as we drove across the bean stubble to the pit. I could see at once that it was a well devised contraption. The sides were lined with tongue and groove and there was sitting room for three or four hunters.

The pit lay east and west which meant the best hunting winds would be from the north or south. Our wind was from the east so Corrigan and I made an adjustment to our spread. Instead of making the normal “U” shaped pattern we did a modified “J” with the birds approaching left to right in front of us.

The first birds of the day slid off to our west and never really gave us a look. However, the single that followed this flock was more than willing. It was a gravy shot.

A short time later, we had a group of a dozen swing through the decoys. The targets weren’t great, but we did manage to pull one bird out of the flock.

And then the wait began. We watched several distant flocks settle into fields but could not get anything else to give us a look. Finally, a fair sized number of birds appeared on the horizon and headed our way.

As is often the case, most of the birds bypassed our setup to look at something else. However, there were five that peeled out to take a closer look. One came right in and we let it land. The other four were less certain about the situation, but once their buddy was on the ground, they didn’t want to be left behind.

It is funny how quickly it can be over. One moment you are four birds short of a limit and the next you are casing your shotgun.

Pit hunting definitely has some advantages over other means of concealment. Pressured birds get wary of the layout blind profile and learn to avoid them. These same birds that want nothing to do with layout blinds will not hesitate to come into a spread when hunters are concealed in a pit.

There are problems associated with pit hunting. The inability to move the pit according to the wind is an issue. Instead, hunters need to vary their spread to accommodate the wind direction.

Pits are not mobile. You can’t pick up a pit and move it to a different field. Nor can you easily convince a land owner to let you dig one. Unless it is someone you know really well, pits will not be allowed.

Occasionally, I have had been able to reduce the layout blind profile by digging a shallow trench for the blind. It doesn’t take much to alter the look and improve your chances. Using very low profile blinds will also help.

Geese get wary after being heavily hunted. They definitely learn what layout blinds are all about and stay away from them. However, pits allow a different approach that can improve late season success. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 


 

Tell us about your grouse hunting endeavors!!!

We have all seen the reports. Pheasant numbers are down all across the Midwest with some states hurting more than others. I suppose for some hunters this means throwing in the proverbial pheasant towel. For others, it will be business as usual.

It was shortly after the gloom and doom reports came out that I ended up comparing pheasant notes with long time hunting friend, Mark Young. It was interesting that we both had the same opinion of the roadside counts. Certainly it cannot be denied that the population is down. However, we both knew we would be able to find birds.

Part of this confidence comes from past experiences. We have learned that there are always pockets of birds to be had. The key is being able to locate these pockets. Finding birds is often a matter of knowing where to look and focusing on quality habitat.

In an effort to learn more about pheasants and their relationship to habitat, I talked to Chad Bloom who is the Southern Minnesota Regional Representative for Pheasants Forever. Bloom’s feelings about the pheasant numbers in Minnesota were similar to mine. He believed hunters would still be able to find birds.

Bloom felt it was important to understand the daily cycle of the pheasant and use this information to help pinpoint areas to hunt. According to Bloom, pheasants consistently search out food areas when coming off of their nighttime roost.

Once they have had a bite to eat, they will look for daytime loafing cover. This loading cover varies with the time of the year and may end up being a corn field early in the season and cattails later in the fall. The evening routine involves more feeding and then a return to roost cover.

Bloom believed that typical CRP type habitat with switch and brome grasses were pretty good bets for roosting cover. Because of this fact, hunting roost areas late in the day was more productive than midday.

Analyzing the potential of hunting locations was high on the list for Bloom. Native grass areas that were surrounded by corn or soybeans were going to be more highly utilized than cover areas located far from food sources. Once the native grasses were compromised due to snow, cattail sloughs and woody thickets should be targeted.

Bloom also added some tips for hunting public land. Since WMAs and WPAs see quite a bit of pressure, he believed the pheasants learned how to react to the hunting activity. Many hunters will pick a path of least resistance where the walking is easy. Instead of going through the thickets, they have a tendency to work the edges. Hunters may need to “dig out the birds” in pressured areas.

Bloom also suggested hunting in a manner that was different from the routine others may take. Doing the opposite of normal may trip up the hunter avoidance plan pheasants have developed and make them more vulnerable.

Pheasant season lasts a long time in Minnesota. Success during a down year is going to go to those that not only pay their dues in terms of effort but also hunt smart. Concentrating on quality habitat and changing strategies as the season progresses will be critical to putting birds in the game bag.

 

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

 

Alex Lydeen 



The rolling hills of the North Dakota wheat stubble all looked the same in the dark. As we bounced along over the rough ground, I was thankful we had taken the time to carefully plan this hunt. Without the extra effort from the day before, finding the one spot the geese were using would be nearly impossible.

I have learned the hard way the importance of carefully calculating the exact location for a goose spread. I know all too well the tricks that darkness plays in disorienting hunters as they search out the best place to set up.

Because of the issues created by darkness, and occasionally fog, I always try to make a trip into the field I am planning to hunt to get the lay of the land. I want to know exactly how things look and pick out the best spot in the daylight and not in the dark.

I remember the time I was shocked to find we had set up right next to an irrigation system. The geese didn’t seem to mind but it sure did make it difficult to pick our shots.

And then there was the morning we were surprised to find we had overshot our mark in the darkness and were set up on land we did not have permission to hunt. Another day we found ourselves too close to a brushy slough that flared the birds.

After having some disastrous outings, there are several techniques I now use to help pinpoint the exact location I want to hunt. Occasionally I will make a small pile of rocks to mark where to turn off of a field road. I will even place rocks or stubble debris in a manner that identifies the blind location.

If the fields are large and lacking identifiable features, a hand held GPS can be worth its weight in goose down. The GPS will also lay down a track to get you into the field by following a set route.

When I am in a field and looking for the best location for a spread, I am very conscious of visibility. I want to be able to see the horizon whenever possible. This not only reduces surprises but also makes the spread visible to distant geese. Picking a spot with great visibility is one of the most important strategies to follow.

There are times when I will use roost water as a focal point for my spread. It is critical to resist the temptation to set up next to the water. If you shine your truck lights on the water or set your spread too close, your chances for success are very slim.

Instead, move your spread far enough away that your pre dawn activity and early shooting does not spook them. If they fly past your decoys on the way out, they may give your spread a look as they come back to the roost.

Whatever you do, don’t burn the roost! These birds can provide field shooting for days. Once you burn the roost, they are gone.

Making good decisions for picking the best location in a field to place your spread comes from experience. Unfortunately, experience comes from making bad decisions.

If at all possible, pick your location during the day and mark it in a way you can find the exact spot in the dark. This simple strategy will pay big dividends once the birds start flying.

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

I am always impressed when I see reports that talk about the number of grouse harvested each fall in Minnesota. Although I have been known to chase old ruff from time to time, they are not always on my radar screen. However, for many hunters, grouse rank at the top of the list as a game bird.

In an effort to learn more about grouse habits and hunting techniques, I had a lengthy discussion with grouse guide, Jim Gerchy. Gerchy has 15 years of guiding experience under his belt and has seen it all.

Gerchy started off by saying one of the reasons grouse hunting is popular is the fact there are endless hunting opportunities available in Northern Minnesota. Minnesota is loaded with state and national forest land that is open to public hunting. Gerchy added that county land and some paper company land may be open for hunting, as well.

When picking out a location to hunt, Gerchy suggested drawing a line from Staples to Brainerd and then working north of this line. He specifically mentioned forest land near Duluth and Kabetogama Lake as perennial hotspots.

Wanting to learn more about one of Gerchy’s favorite areas, I contacted Phil Hart from Gateway General near Kabetogama Lake. According to Hart, there are a number of resorts that stay open in the fall and cater to hunters. He added that being able to catch walleyes for part of the day was an added bonus.

According to Hart, there were plenty of fire and logging trails to hunt near Kabetogama. For those that didn’t know their way around, there was a series of four maps available that highlighted trails and hunting opportunities. In addition to maps, the Forestry Office in Orr was very helpful in showing hunters where recent logging had taken place. Logging is a critical part of creating quality habitat.

Although grouse season opens in mid September, Hart believed the best hunting opportunities didn’t start until the leaves were down in early October. Gerchy reiterated the need to be patient and focus on grouse after the leaves drop.

Like many other animals in the wild, grouse love to live on edges. Both Gerchy and Hart mentioned the importance of keying on natural edges formed by cedar swamps, logging trails and fire trails as well as transition areas where one habitat blends with another.

Understanding the types of food that grouse prefer is also helpful in locating quality hunting areas. Clover, aspen buds, dogwood berries, and high bush cranberries are all popular menu items. Gerchy pointed out that many of these foods grow on edges and in openings in the forest.

The equipment necessary for grouse hunting is pretty basic. Most any shotgun will do the trick. Gerchy believed a basic target load with 7 ½ or 8 shot was all that was needed. He preferred an improved cylinder choke in the early season and switched to a modified in the late season.

Although Gerchy always hunts with dogs, he readily admitted it was not necessary. He believed dogs helped signal an upcoming flush as well as find birds once they were down.

Grouse are not that winter hardy and move to conifer forests during the late season. Gerchy suggested focusing on stands of young aspen close to thermal cover when it is cold.

Ruffed grouse have a mysterious 10 year cycle they go through with major population changes from the high to the low on the cycle. In an effort to learn more about this concept, I talked to Mike Zagata, National President and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Society. He readily admitted no one really knows what causes the cycle.

To add mystique to the mystery, Zagata stated that grouse in other locations of the United States did not go through this cycle. The grouse cycle is a phenomenon unique to the Midwest.

Zagata made one other important point in our conversation on grouse. He believed that young forests were the key to quality grouse hunting. Although forest preservation was not all bad, it was the young forest habitat that grouse really preferred.

Ruffed grouse are a very important upland bird in Minnesota. With ample public land to hunt and minimal investment needed, it is not hard to understand why hunters continue to focus on old ruff. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff,
Jerry Carlson 

By the time our hunting group reaches the Dakotas, the geese we like to target have seen it all. They have been harassed by hunters for six weeks and know the ins and outs of decoy spreads and layout blinds.

Because of their level of sophistication and wariness, working these birds becomes a challenge. However, coping with a challenge does not mean success cannot be obtained.

There are several factors that go into our hunting success that need to be noted. These factors may seem small when looked at individually, but when they are all put together, they comprise a system that continually works for us.

First of all, there is the scouting. Picking the right field is critical. The field we pick may not be one geese are using for feeding as they often target a different feeding field every day. However, knowing their fly zones and roost areas is essential.

If we can get our spread in a place that has good visibility and on a traffic route, we feel we can harvest birds. Good visibility is especially important. You can’t attract birds that can’t see you.

When it comes to laying out the spread, we are very fussy. We step off the distances between both sides of the landing pocket as well as the distance from our blinds to the furthest decoys. It is hard to accurately get this done in the dark without pacing it off. We double check with a range finder once it is light.

The decoys themselves have to look exceptional. We touch up or replace anything that looks tacky. We paint the black and white portions of decoys with Bird Vision Paint which duplicates the UV qualities found naturally in feathers (available at www.barrelsup.com).

 

We put out a few large shells that act as a catch-all for equipment. Coffee, lunch, shell kits and harvested birds all go under a decoy.

We make sure our blinds are extremely well concealed. Much of the concealment is done with Killer Weed before we ever leave home. Final touches are made with field vegetation each morning.

As for our actual decoys, we have a variety. We incorporate full bodies, shells, silhouettes, and windsocks. We utilize family groups to some degree all season long. We make sure every grouping has sentries and feeders.

Some movement is critical. We use motion stakes for our shells and have full bodies that swing in the wind. Our Deadly Decoy windsocks add extra realism not achievable with other motion systems.

We are also very active flaggers. Every hunter in our group has some form of a flag that is available for use.

As for calling, we do enough to keep the birds interested and coming. We have learned the hard way that over calling is often the kiss of death. Geese talk to each other, they don’t shout.

In short, we pay incredible attention to detail. We adjust the spread as needed and will turn it 180 degrees if the wind changes. We will tweak blinds, flagging, calling or whatever we feel it takes to get the job done.

No matter where you hunt, dealing with wary geese is not out of the ordinary. It is the norm. Being able to consistently get close targets is the process of doing many little things right.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

After dropping the trolling motor in the water, we slowly creeped up on a dock located in shallow water adjacent to large expansive weedy flat.  With a quick twist of my body and a casting motion which resembled the act of skipping a rock, my bait glided gracefully to an opening between a boat lift and the large platform section of a the dock.

The plastic bait hit the water about three feet from the edge of the dock and continued for another seven to eight feet before it came to a rolling stop.  The line jumped as soon as the Texas-rigged creature bait entered the water and by the time the hook was set the bass had already wrapped me up in the dock posts.  However, the fluorocarbon line did its job as the fish was successfully pulled through the heavy man made cover.  This is what I love about dock fishing, it is exciting, fast paced, and you are always busy.  I flipped the four pound bass aboard the boat and quickly released the fish. 

Dock fishing can produce some of the best fishing of the year.  During certain times of the year I have witnessed sixty fish days and recently during a tournament on Gull Lake earlier this summer me and partner boated over seventy fish and reports from other anglers were the same.  I have personally witnessed times when the fish pull up on dock so much that you can go back later in the day and run the same section and the docks have reloaded with fish.

Gear is a very tricky conversation point while talking with a lot of the bassin’ guys around some of the local bass fishing tournament circuits.  Many use spinning equipment with braid or super line, others will use bait casters with braid/super line, monofilament, or fluorocarbon.  Here is a quick guide to selecting a dockin’ set-up.

Spinning Combos -  Spinning rod and reel combos are a great choice for dock fishing.  They are very forgiving when you make a poor cast and are much easier to operate for newer anglers.  The most common rod set-ups would be either a 6’ 6” or 7’ Medium-Heavy.  Also, a heavy duty reel is needed, because you are going to tighten down the drag nearly as tight as it will go.  Line is an important issue as well, many anglers opt for a no stretch super line in the 30 lb. class for may spinning set-ups.  It is a great way to get started and you may never change your gear. 

Bait Caster Combos - Bait casters are the fine tuned precision instrument when it comes to dockin’ bass.  At this point, preference is the key to success, I clearly remember my first weeks with a bait caster trying to figure out the right tensions and line choices.  The key with bait casting reels is that you need to slow the rate of line coming of the reel when you make an effective skip.  I will set it up so that the weight of the lure cannot pull line off without a moderately forceful cast.  This is what I have settled on as the preferred set-up:

I use a Shimano Curado 200E7, spooled with 20 lb. fluorocarbon line and a 7’ medium-heavy rod.  Each choice has a specific purpose - the reel can be finely adjusted, meaning the brake system has the ability to slow down the line effectively without creating a line tangle in the reel, often referred to as a birds nest.  I prefer fluorocarbon because it has less stretch, high abrasion resistance, and is nearly invisible in the water. Furthermore, 20 lb. test line skips very well and is extremely strong to pull out fish from under the many objects around dock from boat lifts, chains, and dock poles.  A 7’ rod is the perfect balance of accuracy and leverage to get the fish out.

The skip is the next step and is an art form all in its own.  I have perfected two different types of skipping techniques.  The first is a standard side-arm throw or sling.  It is as if you are trying to skip a rock, you will swing wide with a slight upward flip at the end.  This will rocket the bait towards the dock at a very high speed, keeping the bait close to the waters surface.  A low trajectory is key, the bait need to almost roll across the water and some times it will near the end of your cast. 

The second approach is a Pitch-Skip, I start out with the bait in my hand, select my target area, then make the same motion as I would pitch into a pocket of cover.  The only difference is I use a lower trajectory and speed.  Timing is important, you will want to release the spool just when the bait starts to swing up very close to the water.  This takes a lot of practice, much more that the side-arm approach, but is more effective in tight quarters and awkward angles.

There are three common baits used; individuals who use spinning combos usually use a wacky worm of some type and their soft plastic of choice, and bait casters will use a jig and trailer or a Texas rig and creature with a skip-gap hook.  One key consideration is to peg your weight when you are using a texas-rig.  Your skips will be more accurate and go much farther.  Bait choices are not as important, go with what you have confidence in and make it work for you.

These are some of the basics, take the time to choose the right rod, reel, line, and bait for you.  Dock fishing can be great fun, take the time to learn this technique and you will not be disappointed.  It can be frustrating when you are trying to get the skipping part down, but be patient it will take some practice.  You will have a great time on the water, fishing docks opens up a whole new opportunity  for you to catch some of the biggest bass in the waters you are fishing.


Barrels Up Pro Staff 
Gary Rehbein 

The mourning dove is an interesting game bird. In Minnesota, it was on the protected species list for many years but was eventually returned to its game bird status a few years back. Since that time, the anticipated popularity of dove hunting never really took off.

I was new to the dove hunting scene when it first became legal, but my hunting partner, Roger Lydeen, had hunted doves extensively in North Dakota. He had a great deal of knowledge about their habits and their chosen habitat.

To put it plain and simple, successful dove hunting boils down to understanding their daily routine. This routine consists of the need for food, water, grit and roost trees.

When Lydeen and I do our Western Minnesota exploration for dove hunting territory, we are constantly on the alert for birds sitting in trees or on wires. When doves are perched, they are either resting or are surveying a field for potential food. Like any wild creature, they like to make sure their dinner table does not have any uninvited guests hanging around.

Over the past few years, we have discovered that small grain fields are ideal locations for finding doves. Occasionally, we have been able to pop a few by just walking a field and jumping the birds. However, it doesn’t take them long to learn the danger presented by hunters.

Some of our more successful hunts have come through a different strategy. Instead of hunting a field the birds are feeding in, we will post along the perimeter of the field and wait for birds to fly by. This has been quite successful as the birds are not disturbed while feeding.

The fly-by routine does take some planning. Putting ourselves between roost trees and the food has been the most successful. We have also hunted the birds as they left their food source and headed for water.

During the mid day stretch we have had some good shooting by walking tree groves near feeding areas. Doves love to eat early and late in the day and then spend their mid days sitting in a tree. By walking both sides of a tree row, we kick targets out to each other.

Doves can also be fooled into coming to decoys. Lydeen used to erect something he called a dove wire when hunting North Dakota. We modified this concept to make it easier to set up and take down.

Our dove pole consists of a stake, a long tube and a T-bar that fits in the top of the tube. This simple contraption goes up in a minute or less and holds six to eight decoys. We also place a few doves on the ground near the decoy set.

I wouldn’t say that doves break their wings trying to land on the T, but they often give it a good look which provides shooting. If there is not good cover in the area, we have even used layout blinds to hide in

As far as guns and ammo, we keep it simple. A 20 gauge with target loads is ideal. Doves are fast and erratic flyers and burning up a few rounds on an outing is common.

Dove hunting is not pursued by many hunters. However, Lydeen and I find it to be a great way to spend a couple of days in the early fall. We also find it is an excellent way to sharpen the shooting eye in preparation for other wing shooting seasons. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

I am sure there are plenty of Canada goose hunters that are in a similar position to mine. They have the desire to occasionally work with a big spread but just don’t have the carrying capacity to handle a heavy load.

For example, my goose trailer is not really a goose trailer. It is my four-wheeler trailer with sides and a canvas top. It is less than ideal in some ways but certainly fits my storage issues and gets the job done.

There are days when even my makeshift goose trailer is more than I want to haul around. This is especially true if I am hunting by myself or if the fields are so wet that I am afraid of getting stuck.

When this happens, I am forced to use the decoys I can carry in the back of my truck. If I am stuffing full body, feet attached decoys in the back, I won’t be taking many along. However, if I am smart and incorporating lesser Canadas into the spread, it is a whole different story.

My first lesser geese were added to the collection a number of years ago. It was shortly after the fully flocked decoys hit the market and I felt inclined to give them a try. I was also intrigued by the size of the lesser Canada decoys and thought a mix might be nice.

The first half dozen ended up right in front of the blinds in the landing pocket. They worked so well that the next season I was in the market for some more. After shopping around for fully flocked lessers I settled on Dakota Decoys (available from barrelsup.com).

In an effort to learn more about the use of lesser geese mixed in with standard Canadas, I talked with Brain Cahalan from Goose and Duck Smackers Guide Service. Cahalan has been in the guide business for nine years and has a lot more knowledge about the mix of big and little geese than I do.

Although Cahalan utilizes lessers all fall, he really likes them for the early season hunt. During this time, young geese are considerably smaller than the mature adults. By mixing the lessers in with the standard full bodies, he is able to create a situation where the small decoys and big decoys look like normal family groupings.

Cahalan also likes them later in the season. He feels that lessers, EPP birds and larger resident Canadas are all around at the same time. A mix of sizes in the spread duplicates what is happening in the real world.

In addition to the natural look lessers give a set, Cahalan mentioned that they move on motion stakes more easily than larger, heavier decoys. The compact storage feature of lessers was also appreciated by Cahalan. Even guides have space issues to deal with.

Chad Allen, CEO of Barrels Up internet shopping site, also had some interesting thoughts to share about lesser decoys. Allen said in the past year there has been an increase in the number of lesser decoys they have been selling. He felt hunters were learning that lessers not only solved storage issues, they actually enhanced the spread.

Throughout the season, I continue to put the bulk of my fully flocked lessers close to the blinds. These are the decoys that the incoming geese are concentrating on and the ones that will reduce the concern over the unusual appearance of the layout blinds. I want the landing zone to look as inviting as possible.

In short, lesser decoys have proven to add to my goose hunting success. They allow for greater flexibility when fighting storage issues and also create a very realistic appearance in my spread.  

In other words, lessers can mean more.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Jerk, Jerk, Pause...Jerk, Jerk, Strike! FISH ON!  Seconds later, a monster bronzeback launched its self out of the water creating a beautiful silhouette agains the morning horizon.  After several aerial flight attempts to throw the hooks the smallmouth reluctantly gave in and we lander her successfully in our net.  After I released the fish back in to the water my fishing partner asked, “Why are you having so much success with that skinny stick?”  With that simple question, so began the ten minute on the water lesson to help him become a successful jerk bait fisherman.

Hard Jerk baits, stick baits, or Rip baits have been around for many years.  I have used everything from the Smithwick Rattlin’ Rogue to Lucky Craft Pointers.  The basic idea has not changed, a long skinny profile, some rattles, and a bait that will suspend in the water column.  Not all bait will suspend perfectly, water temp has a lot to do with this issue.  Most will either sink or rise slowly in the water.

Here are some critical points of interest when considering using a jerk bait.  The rod is what makes the bait move correctly; rode lengths in the range of 6’ 6” to 7’ 0” will have the right length to make an effective snap.  Ones with softer tip usually work better and there are some really good jerk bait specific rods on the market.  With a slower action rod, the bait will dance much better in the water, fast action rods pull the bait to much and the bait will not work properly.

The next important factor is spinning gear vs. bait casting equipment.  They both have their benefits and drawbacks.  Spinning reels are much easier to operate, but line twits become evident after a couple hours.  Secondly, spinning gear does not handle the larger jerk baits as effective.  However, spinning gear is the way to go if you are throwing lighter smaller baits like the X-Rap RX06’s and 08’s.  You have a wider selection of equipment if you are partial to bait casters and they do handle larger baits better, those that are 1/2 to 5/8 oz. and larger.

Line is critical, two factors need to be addressed; line composition or type (Monofilament or Fluorocarbon) and line weight.  It you want your jerk bait to run high in the water column (near the surface) you will want to choose a monofilament, because of its floating properties, and a heavier pound test line.  If you want the bait to go deep, fluorocarbon in a lighter line is ideal.  There are time when I will go as heavy as 15 lb. monofilament when I want the bait to be near the surface and days when 6 lb. test fluorocarbon is the key, running as deep as 8-10 feet.  There are many factors to consider when making line choices.  Most often, 10 pound test fluorocarbon line is perfect across many situations.

Besides equipment, the angler is the greatest factor when determining success.  Cadence or jerking rhythm is the way you make the bait move through the water.  I have fished with many anglers and they have a difficult time understanding the significance of the “way” and “how” you move the bait effectively through the water.  The number one problem is that most anglers jerk the bait thought the water on a tight line.  This action just pulls the bait forward without much action.  When you snap the bait on slack line the lure will jump and provide a very erratic action in the water.  The jerking action will vary from day to day.  You will have to determine what the fish wants, there will be times when you will not even be able to stop the bait, constantly jerking your bait back to the boat.  Then, on other day you must let the bait sit between jerks for as much as ten to fifteen seconds, and any variation in between.

This technique excels on days when the wind is blowing relatively good, windblown points are vary good place to start.  I will typically start at the base of the point (the place nearest the shallow water) and work out towards the tip.  Always start on the windy side of the point, bait fish will often be blown up or into the corner.  Another high percentage location is on large sprawling flats with deep water near by.  Active fish will come up on top of these flats to feed and have a difficult time resisting the action of a jerk bait.  The key here is that you will be covering a lot of water catching the most active fish.

Jerk bait fishing can be very exciting with the bites come very fast and vicious.  One of the added perks is that you will get many bonus fish.  Walleyes, pike, and muskies have all fallen prey to this effective fishing technique and it is not uncommon to have other fish following the hooked one in so be ready with a cast back rod for a quick second hook-up.  Take the time to learn this effective technique, it will put fish in the boats when other approaches are unsuccessful.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Gary Rehbein 

Every time I head to the water in search of largemouth bass, I am taking with me a fair amount of fishing knowledge. This knowledge has been gained through countless trips to the lake. 

The problem I often face is not having the knowledge to get the job done. Instead, it is often a matter of not remembering the knowledge I have garnered from previous outings.

It was during an interview for a radio show that I was given a pretty good synopsis of the typical angler on a fishing excursion. This person stated that all too often, anglers will have the best of intentions to draw from all of their vast fishing experiences, but then leave their brains and reasoning power on the dock when they head onto the lake.

I have never forgotten this comment because I have been victim of this dilemma myself. It isn’t until I am driving home and analyzing my day that I think of something I should have tried or a location on the lake I forgot to visit.

All too often, I find myself doing what I have always done but not experimenting if the day is slower than expected. There certainly is nothing wrong with starting out with tried and true methods, but if they fail to produce, moving on to other strategies makes sense.

And the changes don’t have to be drastic. For example, one of my favorite bass presentations is the standard Texas rigged worm. By utilizing seven inch PowerBait, I have been able to boat an incredible number of bass.

However, I have had days when the standard worm rig doesn’t cut it. By switching to a different profile like a Power Hawg or Jungle Hog, I have been able to turn a slow day into fast and furious action while working the same location and the same fish.

This concept also holds true for the jig worm presentation. Normally, I fish a Lip-Stick jig with a six inch worm. However, there are days when switching over to a small, skirted Northland Jungle Bug with a grub trailer can make all the difference in the world.

Many times, I find the key to versatility happens before I ever leave home. I have learned that the best place to do my pre planning is while I am still in the garage.

I make sure I bring rods pre rigged to fit the fishing styles I want to use on that particular day. If I have a rod rigged and ready with a different presentation, I find it easy to set one rod down and pick up another without missing a beat.

However, I know that if I have to dig in the tackle box for hooks and different plastic and then start retying, I am less likely to experiment with a new presentation variation. Simplicity is essential for my versatility.

Remembering to remember the successes and failures from previous fishing trips is an essential part of my bass fishing. Being prepared to handle the curves fish may throw at us is a matter of a little pre planning and not leaving our brains on the dock. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Take a moment the next time you visit your favorite sporting goods store and look over their bass jig selection.  You will notice a wide variety of fineness jigs, small and compact for those tough fishing conditions were one needs to down size to get bit.  Next, you will see an assortment of swimming jigs and skirt-less specialty jigs (e.g., wacky, jig-worm, football, shaky, and the list goes on...).  Then, you will run into the standard bass jigs, seemingly ignored as of late.  Now, look more closely at the those jigs, they vary in sizes of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ounces.  Sometimes you will find a few 3/4 or 1oz. jigs in limited numbers and colors.  This brings me to my revelation of last year, heavier was better.

With a big tournament on the horizon, I had nothing going pattern wise.  I was checking docks, slop, inside weed lines, deep rocks, deep weeds, nothing!  In a last ditch effort to locate something I went to an area know to always hold fish, it was not a big fish location, but it had held numbers of fish in the past.  I found myself using a 3/8 and 1/2 oz. jig with little to no success.  I was baffled about the whole situation.  In the process of leaving I heaved out one of my larger jigs on a flipping stick, it crashed though the deep weeds and before I moved my rod tip to work it in, I had a fish on.  A few seconds later I was holding a 4 plus pound largemouth, ten cast later I had another fish of similar size.  The next few locations produced the same results.

This is what I figured was going on.  Fishing pressure was pushing the big, well educated fish deep into cover, but not shallow heavy cover where one would find them by flipping or frogging.  The larger bass stayed deep and found the thickest coontail.  Here is the interesting part, 3/8 and 1/2 oz. jigs would only land on top of the weeds and not penetrate deep enough into it.  Once I started utilizing a heavier jig, it would go through the weeds and the fish would strike it on the way through.  Heavier jigs were producing a reaction strike, which is much different than other bites were they may pick up the bait without you knowing it. The reaction strike of the bass was very explosive, as the bait make its way down through the vegetation, your line would jump them run off quickly.

Another important development or realization was that many of the bites I got where on the initial drop and they would not go after a bait being pulled through the vegetation.  Boat position and cast placement was a vital component to success.  I would not cast much more that 10 to 15 feet, I wanted the bait to go strait down on slack line and if nothing hit on the way down I would instantly reel in and recast.  Besides the weight of the jig being heavier, I did not waste time fishing the jig back to the boat.  It was an unproductive pattern.

Equipment choice is a key to landing these heavy weight bass.  Going heavy is an understatement, 7’ or 7’ 6’ heavy action rod with a high speed bait casting reel, and 20 pound fluorocarbon is critical.  Fluorocarbon has minimal stretch for increased sensitivity and is nearly invisible under water.  It can be a challenging task, pulling a 4 or 5 pound bruiser through thick coontail and it needs to be done quickly.  Light equipment equals lost fish.

When you find tough fishing conditions many individuals will tell you to go light and down size your approach and technique, some will insist on going with larger baits looking for the same results.  Here is your third option, keep the size, just go heavy.  The basic size of the jig and trailer did not change, only the weight of the lure and how fast it fell through the water column.  Be prepared to have you rod ripped out of you hands, it is a deadly technique.  Be sure to gear up right for this approach this summer, you will not be disappointed.  


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Gary Rehbein 

The first tournament of the Masters Walleye Circuit West Division is in 2 days! With 20-30mph winds greeting us during some of the pre fishing days, it has been hard to put together a pattern. I have been catching walleyes but not in great size. 2 days remain for pre-fishing.

Tomorrow we will have high winds and rain again and Thursday the weather is supposed to settle down. Hopefully we can put together a pattern going in to day 1 on Friday. Stay tuned for updates. To read the pre-tournament press release visit:http://www.walleyecentral.com/articles/?a=2646


Barrels Up Pro Staff 
Spencer Deutz 

I am not exactly sure when I first started to realize that crankbaits and swimbaits are pretty good lures for early season game fish. What I do know is I never seem to use them often enough.

If I am going walleye fishing, my favorite early season presentation is definitely a live bait rig and shiner minnow. I have lots of faith in this combination and it usually does not let me down. However, I use the word “usually” because this presentation is not foolproof.

It was just last spring when I found myself at a loss over what to do next. I had worked several of my early season walleye hangouts with live bait rigs and had yet to boat a walleye or any other fish for that matter. Something was wrong.

The hours I had available were ticking away and I knew I had to do something different. Instead of continuing to work the depths, I pulled out a box of crankbaits and headed for the shallow food flats.

Over the years, I have had pretty consistent success working the shallow flats during the low light periods of the day. However, my mid day success has been somewhat limited. Still, if the fish weren’t deep, they had to be somewhere.

I was only a few casts into the tactic switch when I had my first hit. The fish turned out to be a northern and not a walleye, but I was encouraged and figured the walleye had to be somewhere close by.

I caught several more northern before I hit my first walleye of the day. It wasn’t a monster but I was moving in the right direction. Crankbaits in the shallows were producing action.

It was early June and I decided to make a short run to a nearby lake. The weeds were coming up nicely and the bass were moving out of the shallows to some of the mid-depth weed structure. It seemed like a perfect day to experiment with some cast and retrieve lures.

It was a Mimic Minnow that got the morning started. This swimbait with its paddle tail drew lots of attention. Largemouth bass and northern kept me adequately entertained.

There are a lot of combinations on the store shelves that will produce action during this early season period. Flicker Shads, Salmo Hornets and Mimic Minnows are some of my favorites.

Depending on my mood and size of the lure, I will use both baitcasting rigs and spinning reels. Spinning combos are usually hard to beat.

Because this shallow presentation attracts a variety of fish species, a person can never be sure what will hit next. For this reason I frequently utilize a short, very lightweight, black steel leader. It doesn’t interfere much with the catching ability of my lures, but it sure does save on losing them to toothy critters.

The retrieve can also be important. There are times when I will use a straight retrieve, but I usually find myself varying the speed a little. If the weeds aren’t too thick, a dead stop once in a while doesn’t hurt, either.

Like everyone else, I have my favorite methods and presentations for fishing. However, I keep learning the lesson that crankbaits and swimbaits are effective game fish options that we sometimes forget to use.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

It was one of those perfect mornings. The wind was calm, the temperature was cool but comfortable and the bass season was open. The table was set for a great day on the water. The only thing left was to feed these bruisers some steel!

My fishing partner, Duane Osgood and I, have spent quite a number of hours together in a boat. We both relish the shallow water fishing that is associated with early season bass angling and usually put together an impressive catch during our outings.

Although we were not the first ones at the landing on this perfect bass fishing day, we were the first ones down an undeveloped shoreline on this noted bass lake. We were moving slowly to make sure we were hitting the open pockets on the inside weed line and were picking up a fish here and there.

I remember seeing the change in the weed structure while we were still some distance off. From what we could tell, there appeared to be short stretch of water where the weeds were not growing. This pocket held promise.

Osgood was the first to toss a chunk of plastic into the opening. Almost instantly, his PowerBait worm was inhaled by a giant largemouth. I quickly followed with a wacky rigged worm and also hit pay dirt.

The next hour was undoubtedly the best hour of bass fishing I have ever experienced. We caught a fish on nearly every single cast and most fish were 18 inches or larger. There were so many big bass in this small area there was little room left over for the water.

Eventually, the incredible bite ended and we were forced to continue up the shoreline. Although we still managed to catch scattered fish, it did not compare to the school we had worked over in the weed pocket.

As is usually the case, there were a couple of lessons to learn from this outing. The first lesson has to do with the inside weed line. This is often an ignored transition area that is found on many lakes. Because the inside weed line is associated with shallow water, many anglers do not pay enough attention to this location.

A second lesson that came from this outing was the need to fish irregularities and pockets in the weeds. Many times, the inside weed line is shallow enough that it is possible to actually see the edge. The subtle points and dips in the weeds will often hold fish.  

It is also important to have a variety of rigs primed and ready to go. I always have a wacky rigged rod and a Texas rigged plastic worm at my disposal. In addition to that, I have great success with the Northland Lip-Stick jig fished as a jig-worm combo. The bait holding collar on this jig makes it superior to others on the market.

Twitch baits are also necessary for this early season shallow water bite. Osgood has given me a number of lessons on how to entice bass with a shallow running crankbait that is twitched on the retrieve.

Being able to cope with the weeds is often a concept that needs to be considered when rigging rods. Lure options must be compatible with working through and over the greenery.

Bass love the shallows for the first couple weeks of the season. Focusing your efforts on pockets and edges in good cover can definitely pay big dividends. 


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

For me and many others, last year was a “Traditional” Minnesota fishing opener.  Maybe not the weather (sunny and beautiful), but the over whelming boat traffic and the desired choice of fish, namely the walleye.  Typically, A person knows what they are in for when they go out on opening weekend to a large, well known walleye producing lakes like Leech or Mille Lacs.  These bodies of water draw plenty of attention because they are outstanding walleye fisheries and they are perfect for opening day regardless of the spring weather conditions.

Popularity wise, the walleye and walleye fishermen trump everything else on opener.  An angler can go to nearly any of Minnesota’s waters and find some success on opener, the walleye in Minnesota is “King” in May.  As the season moves along, some of the fishing pressure is reduced a little with the opening of bass and muskie.  However, this season I am changing things up a little, I going “CAT” fishing on opener!

In recent years cat fishing is gaining momentum as desirable sport fishing opportunity.  There has been much positive press about catfish, to include a Minnesota DNR research program to monitor catfish populations and movement of theses fish.  Channel Catfish are the primary species in throughout Minnesota, with some notoriety to Flathead Catfish in the St. Croix, Mississippi, and Minnesota rivers in Southern Minnesota.  The DNR has went as far as stocking cats throughout the metro area and in several lakes around Central Minnesota as a result of increase popularity.

Catfish have two very attractive characteristics.  First, they fight like crazy with powerful runs and will do everything possible to stay down on the bottom.  Second, they like to eat!  They never seem to be picky with your offering.  That is not to say Catfish will not become bait specific, but they will eat many baits that walleye would turn their nose at.  Catfish have been known to eat everything from hotdogs and chicken liver, to special homemade prepared baits.

The question I hear most in the St. Cloud area is where would one go for good cat fishing?  The obvious ones are the Mississippi River and Horseshoe Chain of Lakes.  Others include: Big Swan Lake, Buffalo Lake, and Little Birch Lake along with many more in the area.  There are plenty of lakes that have been stocked with cats in the central part of Minnesota to attract the avid cat fisherman.  The main thing would be to look at lake survey data and stocking information.  This information can be found on the Minnesota DNR website: Lake Finder page, www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html.  By utilizing this resource an angler can see the numbers and size distribution of the fish they seek to catch.  It has helped me find some new catfish waters that can be particularly productive.

This time of year can be dynamite for cat fishing, the water is warming nicely and the fish are in a pre-spawn feeding frenzy.  While fishing the Mississippi river last year we had many mornings with catches numbering in the 20’s while only fishing 2-3 hours.  Most of the cats we caught weighed around 2-5 pounds, we landed some fish in the 10-12 pound class.

Equipment is a simple affair when cat fishing, wether you are using bait casting or spinning gear, you will want to be on the heavy side.  At a minimum anglers should not use equipment under 10 pound class.  That means medium/heavy to heavy action rods, 10 - 20 pound test monofilament or 50-65 pound test super line, big sinkers in the 1-3 oz. category and an assortment of large circle hooks.

The weight and shape of your sinker is important; use flat sinkers as a substitute for traditional round egg shaped sinkers.  It keeps the bait in your desired location much easer allowing water to flow over the top of it as it lay flat against the bottom.  Egg sinkers will role with the current and will sweep down stream often getting snagged in the rocks and other obstructions.

Circle hooks have become a mainstay for many cat fishermen.  Because of the catfishes willingness to engulf baits, traditional hooks will injure and destroy fish easily.  Circle hooks will always find a secure location in the corner of the mouth making it easy to release your larger fish.

Locations with a current brake or windy shorelines are a good place to start when searching out cats.  On rivers, fish are moving up stream with the anticipated spam approaching.  Dams or other obstructions become the favored location for spring cats.  In sections of river where the dam is many miles up stream, you may find large concentrating of catfish near deep holes directly below fast moving rapids with long stretches of shallow water on both sides of the hole.  Follow the wind on lakes and other impoundments, windy brake lines and drop offs will hold many fish.  Drift through these areas with your bait and use your electronics to find concentrations of fish.

Walleye fishing is great!  They can challenge you abilities as an angler and are excellent at the dinner table.  I will spend plenty of time chasing them throughout the year, but this spring I will find myself going after catfish.  It is a change of pace that is refreshing and is very exciting.  I’m not going with popularity this opener, “I’m Going “CAT!”

Barrels Up Pro Staff
Gary Rehbein 

I have always enjoyed catching big perch. It is an activity I have experienced on a number of different lakes in several states. Although most of my perch have been caught through the ice, I recently learned about a new open water opportunity for popping jumbos.

It all came together at a sport show in Minneapolis. I was visiting with celebrity angler, Brain Brosdahl, about the spring panfish bite taking place in his part of the country. Somehow, our conversation drifted from crappie and bluegill to jumbo perch.

As Brosdahl explained, it had been years since he had discovered the secret to locating big jumbo perch in their pre spawn mode. More recently, he had refined his approach into something that is quite simple and logical.

Perch like to spawn in and around vegetation. On many big, windswept bodies of water, the vegetation that is preferred is bulrushes. Bulrushes grow in areas that have a pretty firm bottom and are a favorite spawning location of many fish species including bass, crappie and sunfish. 

According to Brosdahl, pre spawn perch stage in areas close to their spawning grounds. Sand flats in 10-12 feet of water that are adjacent to bulrushes are ideal, especially if they contain light weed cover and forage opportunities.

After all of this perch discussion, I became pretty interested in a spring fling with some football shaped jumbos. It didn’t take long before a tentative date was set.

It was cool and brisk when fishing partner, Charlie Simkins and I met Brosdahl at a designated landing in Northern Minnesota. As we added on extra layers and loaded gear into Brosdahl’s boat, we talked about the prospects of the day.

During the discussion, Brosdahl made it very clear that we would not be keeping many fish. He explained that the perch were very vulnerable at this time of the year and it would be easy to hurt a lake’s population by keeping limits of big jumbos.

As we motored through a channel to the main lake, Bro went on to tell us that this spring perch phenomena took place on all good jumbo perch lakes. The examples he gave were Cass, Winnie, Leech, Bemidji and Black Duck. In Central Minnesota, he suggested Osakis, Minnewaska and Mille Lacs. 

Our fishing strategy was much like walleye angling. With the aid of a LakeMaster map chip (www.lakemap.com), we located a ten foot shelf that was close to a bulrush spawning area. Next, we cruised the flat and looked for fish on our electronics. Brosdahl also watched for signs of remnant weeds and new growth cabbage.

Once a school of fish was pinpointed, we fished these perch pretty much like walleye. The combination we used was a Northland 1/8 ounce Thumper Jig tipped with a small minnow. The drop spinner on this jig offered a little extra flash that the perch couldn’t resist.

For the next couple of hours, we drifted across the flats taking perch of many different sizes. Although we did not break 13 inches, we had lots of fish over 12. Several of the fish spit up tiny crayfish.

When it was all said and done, I was a believer in the spring perch theory. The fish we caught were fat, scrappy and plentiful.

I could also see how easy it would be to decimate a population of big, spawning perch at this time of the year. When Brosdahl said they were very vulnerable in the spring, he wasn’t kidding.

Many anglers think of perch as a small, bait stealing pest. Under the correct circumstances, perch are anything but small and pesky. Getting into a school of jumbos is like stepping into fishing paradise.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

It happens to me every single year. When the end of the hunting season comes and goose hunting is over, I go through a period of withdrawal. Making the adjustment to new activities takes time. Even when I am busy with other projects, goose hunting is still on my mind.

For the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to have an early spring reprieve. Due to the Conservation Order that allows for the reduction of snow geese, I have been able to participate in the spring snow goose hunt. For two years, I did my hunting in Missouri. This year, I am headed to South Dakota.

The snow goose dilemma is complicated yet simple. Simply stated, there are more snow geese in North America than their tundra nesting grounds can support. At their current level of population growth, they will destroy the fragile ecosystem on the tundra faster than it can replenish itself.

The complicated part is figuring out a way to reduce their numbers before disaster strikes. That was the rationale for the first Conservation Order in 1999 that allowed for special spring snow goose hunting regulations.

Not surprisingly, when a new hunting opportunity presented itself, guides and outfitters began to fill in the niche. Within a few years, snow goose guides were well established and hunting from Arkansas to North Dakota, following the geese as they moved north. Even though hundreds of thousands of geese are harvested during the spring migrations, most experts agree this is not enough.

In learning more about the snow goose hunting business, I contact Brian Cahalan, co-owner of “Goose and Duck Smackers Guide Service.” Cahalan had some pretty interesting facts to share.

Although Cahalan loved his spring and fall guide work and hunts nearly 200 days a year, he shared some of the tougher aspects of following the snow goose migration north in the spring. Travel and time on the road were negatives he discussed.

He also commented on the incredible investment that is necessary to really do the guide business justice. Even though he has other guides that work with him, he supplies all of the equipment.  He estimated his hunting spread to be worth more than $100,000.

According to Cahalan, a variety of decoys are needed to bring the wary snow geese into gun range. These birds live a long time and are hunted for at least seven months of the year. Adult birds have seen it all and are very decoy shy.

When I asked about a typical hunt, I was surprised at the success rate of his clients. Cahalan explained that part of his success was due to utilizing a variety of decoys and part of it came from scouting and moving fields often.

Cahalan starts his annual snow goose hunting each February in Arkansas. As the birds move north following the snowline and available food, his group moves with them. By the first part of March, the birds are concentrated in Missouri. By mid March, the operation shifts to South Dakota. He guides in South Dakota as long as the geese stick around.

Snow geese are interesting birds that adapt well to hunting pressure. I find it somewhat ironic that the hunting pressure they try so hard to avoid is actually what keeps their population in check and prevents a species collapse due to over foraging their nesting area.

The current snow goose population in North America is over 5 million, not counting non breeding juveniles. For those that love to hunt and have not experienced spring snow goose hunting, it is quite a trip!


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

I don’t know of very many honest to goodness rags to riches stories, but I would have to say perch come about as close to a fairytale as any fishing story I know. These golden beauties that were once maligned as trash fish now sit near the top of the heap.

I find this whole perch realignment to be quite fascinating. There was a time when they were thought of as a worthless bait stealer. When anglers did catch them, many threw

them on the ice in an effort to show their disdain for this pesky marauder.

Today, jumbo perch are looked at much differently. Today, anglers will drive hundreds of miles to have a crack at catching big perch. Perch undoubtedly generate a lot of excitement.

When it comes to perch lakes in the Upper Midwest, there are quite a few good ones. Usually these lakes are large and sustain a healthy walleye population along with the perch.

A classic example of this is Mille Lacs Lake in Central Minnesota. This 132,000 acre fish factory is home to a very respectable population of jumbo perch. Many of these perch measure in at ten inches, but you will also find 11s and 12s in the mix.

From my experience, late ice is always a good time of the year to be thinking about chasing perch. These fish get quite aggressive and hungry as they start their annual migration to shallow water to spawn.

To get more specific information on Mille Lacs perch, I talked with Mike Christensen from Hunter Winfield’s Resort, located in Isle on the south end of the lake. According to Christensen, the Mille Lacs bite has been pretty consistent all winter.

Although anglers have been catching perch in his rental houses throughout the frozen water season, Christensen believed the best bite didn’t really get going until after the first big thaw. Once the snow was off of the ice, the perch activity really picked up.

As far as location, Christensen felt the deep water transitions where the gravel turned to mud were key areas. He believed the insect larvae available at these locations were responsible for concentrating the fish.

Christensen went on to say that these fish can be pretty finicky at times. He preferred to use spring bobbers and even a camera to help detect the light bites. When asked about the best bait, he felt anglers should try to mimic baits that look similar to what the fish were spitting up.

From my own Mille Lacs experiences, I have had good luck using Euro larvae, or maggots as they are often called. It seems the larva smell associated with maggots is something perch like. I have also utilized small jigging spoons tipped with a crappie minnow head. Some anglers are successful with a small minnow under a bobber. Plastics, such as Northland’s Slug Bug tipped with maggots, have also produced fish for me.

There is one other technique I like to use that often works. Many times I will drop my jig right down to the bottom. There is something about stirring up the sediments on the bottom that brings fish in and makes them interested in eating. Pulling your jig slowly off of the bottom may mimic emerging larvae.

I was in total agreement with Christensen when he mentioned the need for mobility. Perch will roam in large schools and can create a feast or famine situation if you are in the wrong spot. Waiting them out does work, but I have had more success hole hopping and trying to follow the fish. 

Jumbo perch are certainly a quality quarry for anglers. Not only are they scrappy fighters when you hook them, they are excellent on the table. With so many lakes available for perch fishing, it is not hard to understand their rise in popularity.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

I have been criticized a time or two for taking along too many fishing rods when heading to the ice. Taunts like, “You can only fish with one at a time!” are common. I really don’t mind. It seems as though there are always critics in whatever a person does. However, I have often taught my critics the value of being loaded and ready when on the ice.

One thing I have learned over the years is the fact cold brings out the very worst in equipment. If a person is going to have trouble with a reel malfunctioning, it is going to happen on a day when it is too cold to do on the ice repairs or adjustments. A backup combo that is ready to go is pretty nice at a time like this.

There is also the issue of presentation. I really dislike retying jigs when my fingers are numb. I find it is much easier to utilize another rod that is rigged and ready than it is to continually retie.

Like everyone else, I have my favorite “go to” lures that seem to consistently catch fish. If I find lethargic fish when I am hole-hopping, it often pays off to be able to change the presentation. A classic example of this is the use of plastics.

There are times when plastics, like Bro’s Slug Bug, are all a person needs to trigger fish. And then you hit a hole where the plastic doesn’t seem to have the appeal it did earlier. Being able to drop a jig tipped with maggots to waiting fish will often do the trick.

Line weight is another matter. There are those days when I can double my catch by switching from two-pound-test Micro Ice to one-pound-test. Having rods rigged with each makes the transition fast and smooth.

The same can be said of spring bobbers. Although I usually prefer bouncing a jig with a tightline system, there are days when spring bobbers are clearly the way to go.

Spring bobbers aren’t all the same, either. There are different styles that have varied levels of sensitivity. Some spring bobbers do not work well on the open ice because they freeze up. Having a couple of different models to choose from helps.

Walleye rods are no different. On some of my rods, I utilize ultra thin FireLine Crystal while others are straight mono. Having a couple of rods rigged with floats and a couple set for jig fishing keeps me prepared for whatever I find.

It would be great if a person could predict exactly what the fish were going to do before we ever left home. That way, preparation would be simple and much of our equipment could be left behind. However, we all know that is not how it works. Every day of fishing is a different day with different moods and different preferences.

It is impossible to be totally prepared for every twist and turn we will encounter on a typical fishing day, but it doesn’t hurt to try. Having a variety of quality rod and reel combos that are loaded and ready for different situations does help.  


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

One thing I have learned about winter fishing is the fact conditions are tough. Cold, wind and thick ice are issues anglers deal with every day. Because of this, anglers need to do everything possible to put the odds in their favor.

One way this can be done is to always pay attention to little details like the size and shape of your panfish jig. This is especially true for anglers that utilize the tightlining system and no float.

There are several factors to consider when choosing panfish jigs for tightlining. First of all, size and weight are very important. Angling experts, Dave Genz and Brian Brosdahl, talk about fishing with jigs that are small but heavy.

Small is necessary because the fish are accustomed to eating small insect larvae in the winter. Heavy is important because it speeds the drop into deep water and pulls the curls out of the fishing line.

Shape is also something to consider. Jigs with a broad surface reflect sonar signals better than tear-dropped shaped lures. Electronics are worthless if a person can’t see their jig.

Little details are often instrumental in fishing success. Picking the best jig for the conditions makes a difference.

 
Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

As the winter season descends upon us and hard water becomes the norm, I find myself thinking about what the frozen season will bring. I know for a fact I will catch plenty of fish, but I also know I will have to pay my dues to discover the best opportunities.

Over many years of chasing panfish through the ice, I have learned some good lessons about location patterns and lakes. I have learned that developing a long milk run of spots and saving them on a GPS is part of the game. The next step in being successful is to check these spots to see what there is to see.

On a couple of lakes I fish, there are deep holes that always have crappie potential. During some winters, these deep fish are so lethargic it is nearly impossible to get them to bite. Other years, they are much more cooperative in nature.

The first trick is to find them. It seems they never set up in the same exact spot two winters in a row. Once I locate the fish, I need to work them several different times to really get a handle on their mood. Depending on their cooperation, I may or may not fish them again all winter.

There are other lakes I frequent that have a more sporadic bite. During some winters, the panfish stack up thick in certain locations and the action is phenomenal. During lean years, a person would swear there is not a fish in the entire lake.

And then there are the spots that are good for about the first three weeks of the season before they crash into nothingness. These locations seem to hold fish nearly every year, but the bite does not last. Once the early action is over, I cross these lakes off of my list.

Size of the fish is another consideration in choosing lakes. Crappie can be quite cyclical in nature with years of good reproduction followed by lean years. If a person is finding only miniature crappie, the lake needs to be put on a back burner until the fish grow up.

Fishing pressure is another factor that will determine the lakes I frequent. If everybody and their uncle are pounding the fish on a particular lake, I may go to investigate the action but often find myself avoiding the big crowds. Part of the reason I go fishing is to enjoy the peace and tranquility associated with a quiet lake.

The actual size and depth of a lake can have a bearing on when I visit that water. Small lakes have a tendency to become oxygen depleted by mid winter which causes stress on the fish. Once this happens, panfish become sniffers instead of biters.

Big bodies of water with adequate oxygen during the winter months do not have this issue. Many years I save big lake opportunities for mid to late winter and focus on smaller bodies of water first.

When it comes to locating winter panfish, I find it is imperative to work a number of different lakes and locations. Through the process of fishing the same waters each year, patterns do develop. Anglers can learn about perennial hotspots as well as log locations that have potential but not necessarily every year.

Anglers also need a system for checking the bite. When it comes to testing the waters, I have a standard rig. Maggots fished on a Fire Ant Bro Bug with two-pound-test Micro Ice is as reliable a search rig as a person can get.

In many respects, winter fishing is always the same. Fish show up in the same spots at the same time year after year. But then again, it is also different. Patterns are not carved in stone and effort is always necessary to figure out what the winter will bring.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson

The sun was just coming up as we pulled into the landing. It had been a number of years since I had fished this lake, but I had very fond memories of how good the crappie angling had been.

The recent reports I received weren’t specific about where the fish were biting. We were on our own in that department. However, with a little help from an inch of fresh snow, we were able to see which group of houses had the most recent activity. That was the direction we headed.

Once at the small cluster of houses, we began the process of searching for suspended fish. After we cleared the snow down to good ice, we could pour out a little puddle of water and shoot through the ice with our electronics. This process saves a lot of auger time and allows a person to cover an area quite quickly.

Within five minutes we had located several places that showed suspended fish. Now it was time to finish the search process by drilling a series of holes.

Once a couple of dozen holes were cut, we again went through the process of seeing which holes held fish. Suspended crappie can be real roamers with fish coming in and out of a hole quickly.

With my standard  crappie rig of two-pound-test Micro Ice and a Fire Ant Bro Bug tipped with Euro larvae, I dropped down to waiting fish. Although they showed some interest, they certainly weren’t suicidal. It took some serious jigging to get my first bite but the size of the fish made it all worthwhile.

It was well before noon when the fishing ended. Although there were still a few suspended fish showing up in the holes, most of the activity was over. The few fish that remained were not interested in biting.

We didn’t really care. It had been a great morning with lots of fish caught and enough fish in a bucket for a meal. As far as we were concerned, it didn’t get much better than that.

Over the years, I have been ridiculed a few times for not spending more time chasing walleye in the hard water season. Although walleye are great fish to catch, winter crappie angling fits my fishing style better.

I love the fact that crappie can often be caught during daylight hours, especially when they are suspended over deep water. I don’t have to get up super early or stay on the ice until midnight to have a good fishing outing.

I have also developed a simple strategy for locating fish that has worked for me time and again. By wandering through a cluster of ice houses and looking for fish by shooting through the ice, I continue to be successful.

There is no question that this process works better during the early morning hours than it does at noon. On the other hand, I have caught an awful lot of fish when the sun is high.

For me, another key to successful winter crappie action is the willingness and the ability to move. Not only do I hop around from hole to hole when on a particular lake, I also visit many different lakes in an effort to find out which ones are producing the most fish.

Although some lakes are quite consistent with good fishing in the same location, other lakes will cycle with a couple of good years followed by a few poor ones. Finding consistent action is a matter of taking the time to look.

For me, the cold of winter and crappie angling go hand in hand. I enjoy the search process, the catching and of course, a good meal of fish now and then.


Barrels Up Pro Staff
Jerry Carlson 

Ask Pro Staffer and Walleye Pro Spencer "Spenny" Duetz any questions about walleye fishing.

Ask Barrels Up and others any questions you have about Bass fishing.

So everyone, What do you think about fishing this year.

Talk with Mr Muskie Marv and ask him for tips on Catching these trophys?  Also he is very experienced in fishing the great Lake of the Woods.

Where does everyone like to pheasant hunt?  What are the best game farms around?

Where are the Snows at?  Who is having luck out there?

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Any new tips on Goose Hunting?  What works in the field?

How were the Duck numbers this year?  What worked and didn't work? 

Let Talk Deer Hunting!