December 2021

Episode 49

Mississippi River Saugers

Show Date: December 4th, 2021

Location: Mississippi River, Redwing, Minnesota

Guide: Jeremiah Luhmann [651-380-7278 | luhmannsriverguiding.com]

If you don’t put your boat away for the winter, or you haven’t done it yet; the Mississippi River is a great place to get out and catch some beautiful saugers and walleyes. Jeremiah Luhmann is our guide, and he tells us that there are landings that are maintained all winter, and parts of the river that don’t freeze; so you could target these fish all winter. 

The method that we’re using during this trip, is setting up a drift that Jeremiah controls with the MinnKota, and vertical jigging plastics like the Kalin’s grub. It’s a really fun bite, because sometimes they will hit on the pause, and they fight really good in this big river current.

Episode 50

First Ice in Frigid Ely Minnesota

Show Date: December 11, 2021

Location: Ely, Minnesota

Accommodations: A Stay Inn Ely [218-365-6010 | jaspercompany.com]

We’re finally back on the ice, and it was quite a temperature change for us heading north. At home in southeastern Wisconsin, we’ve been in the 30’s & 40’s, so no chance of ice anytime soon, so arriving in Ely with a high temp of -8º was quite a shock. 

Shock aside, we were in town fishing during a pretty severe cold-front, so we were concerned that the bite might be slow.  Setting up Beaver Dam’s for pike, and jigging nearby for panfish is the ideal setup, and we found success on both. 

Please be safe out there, and don’t go ice fishing alone, especially early on.  No fish is worth taking unnecessary risks.

Episode 51

Big Fish and Big Waves

Show Date: December 18th, 2021

Location: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

With the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having as of late, we decided to get back in the boat this week, and head out onto Lake Michigan. Our usual guide, Caleb Zorn couldn't make it, so he sent his buddy ‘Neon” Dion along with us to fish. 

The day we were able to fish was warm, but quite windy; and with a SSE wind, we had very big rolling waves that made it difficult to stand up.  Putting our boat right on the edge of the breakwall channel is where we had the most success.  Throwing vertical jigging lures, like the Kastmaster, is what caught most of the fish.

Episode 52

Winter Northwoods Wonderland

Show Date: December 25th, 2021

Location: Vilas County, Wisconsin

Accomodations: St. Germain Restort [715-542-3433 - www.stgermainlodge.com]

We’re up in the Wisconsin northwoods to fish for the final time of 2021, and Rob Manthei has been on a great panfish bite, but a cold-front is rolling into town the same time we do.  We have fish to catch, so there’s no time to worry about the weather. 

As expected the bite is slowed down a bit, but we have a great group with us, and all put in a good effort, and still pull in some beautiful fish.  

Our second day is focused on pike using Beaver Dam tip-ups, with both dead and live bait.  Although it snows most of the day, the fish still bite, and we catch some very nice pike, and a few surprise walleyes.  

It’s a great way to end the year, and we hope all of you had a great 2021. Merry Christmas!