Category: Nick’s Tips and Tails

As anglers, we only have two jobs to be successful. The first is to find fish, the second is to make them eat what we are offering them. These two tasks often go hand in hand. Ultimately, the common denominator is forage. When you can pinpoint what the fish are feeding on and how that […]

I’m a firm believer that anglers who pay special attention to the details are going to catch more fish over a season. It may not matter everyday, but an extra fish here or there can really add up over a month or two. Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces […]

Early and late in the season when water temperatures are low fish will act lethargic and be quite picky when it comes to presentation.  Savvy anglers recognize these situations and tailor their presentation to suit these fish.  For these situations, two presentations fished together actually shine the brightest. It’s important to note fish are ectothermic.  This means their […]

The versatility of the Smile Blade makes it a critical part of every walleye angler’s arsenal. The small, .8” blades make for a perfect added attraction for a live bait rig without stealing the show. These blades excel when trolled slowly as they require hardly any speed to make the blade turn correctly. This makes them a perfect early and late season option for waterbodies as big […]

Shopping for hard baits can be an intimidating experience. There are so many options out there, it can be difficult to find the exact type of baits we need. To make it even more confusing, many of the options look so similar. What’s the difference between a Rapala Shadow Rap and a Rip Stop? Wait, […]

 As the leaves begin to change, the ducks begin to fly and stadiums begin to fill with football fans the thoughts of walleye begin to move to the backs of even the most hardcore angler’s minds.  However, some of the best fishing of the year is just starting to begin.  As the water temperatures begin to drop […]

Fall is the time of year that walleye begin prepping for a long, stressful winter.  Much like a runner “carb loading” the night before a race, walleye feel the need to consume as much energy as possible in preparation for winter.  Energetic demands are even greater in females as they are also budgeting resources for egg production. These […]

There have been a lot of advancements in the fishing tackle industry.  These advancements are making us significantly better anglers, but making tackle shopping much more stressful.  This article is going to detail the most over-looked aspect of fishing presentation.  That is line selection.   The majority of anglers don’t think about their line until something goes wrong at a critical moment.  The goal of this article is […]

Walking into any outdoor store can be an intimidating experience.  Often there is going to be racks of rods, shelves stocked with every size, type and color of lure as well as spools of different lines at every corner.  While this may cause our eyes to light up and make us want to purchase everything there, all the […]

The summer time blues can hit even the most persistent anglers on the Missouri River.  With so much bait in the system, many anglers resort to tubing and other watersports until fishing can get better.  However, walleye dinners can occur on hot summer evenings as well.  For anglers looking to try these “cool” presentations, fish can be found at the end of their […]