1st tournament tip of the week

After a long winter of waiting, having the first day of tournament season cancelled because of the cold and wind was a bit anti-climatic. Day 2 was better but still adverse conditions. The minnows froze in the air in 5-10 minutes, the guides were thick with ice, compartments were frozen, and the water cooling outlets on my Verado was plugged with ice. I let it idle and warm up to 120 degrees and used a bottom bouncer to open the outlet. Bob Propst Sr. (a walleye fishing legend) had his shifter stuck in forward until the afternoon. Something was frozen. The Tip of the Week is to be patient when everything is frozen. Chill out. Let the motor warm up until the alarm goes off and then let the engine heat thaw the ice and restart it after 15 minutes. I learned this from Eddy at the Chamberlain marina, as they work under these conditions often.

Despite these conditions, I have been to Chamberlain many times and I have never done well. During the explorations of pre-fishing, there is always something biting at the dam and Crow Creek, but I haven’t learned my lesson by learning the area. It happened again this year. I never go to the dam because I don’t think I can win when I am fishing the same pattern as most of the tournament field. Well, they got bit and I got bit in the ass.
We faced a huge cold front with temperatures in the teens in the morning and 30 for the high. My shallow fish (1-2 foot) were uncooperative in the morning and I tried again in the afternoon with no success.
I fished shallow rocks with jigs, crankbaits, and slip bobbers. Next I jigged the 4-12 foot shelves. I tried some deeper breaks with bottom bouncers and minnows and jigs.
My trolling fish were still there after 2 days of waiting but were scattered and would not bite. I finally got a bite on the shelf close to shore at 6 foot for my only fish.

Jig presentation
minnow or plastic (Northland Slurpies)

Crankbait choices
Rapala #11 floater
Salmo Sting #9 and Hornet #4
Walleye Diver #5

There was more current and clearer water closer to the dam and cold front fish bite better in current than other fish. This great thought came to me midday! Of course other shallow fish were caught but my jig was ignored.

My next tournament will be at Winneconne, WI. Last year I finished last because I was disqualified for going too fast in a no-wake zone. I didn’t understand the no-wake buoys as there were different shapes and some were put up the day before the tournament. Fishing tournaments is an endless journey of mistakes. It is no different than being a doctor, you prepare endlessly to try not to make mistakes and something new appears that fools you.