*Home Sweet Home*
Fishing Report In Your Area
Forums-Hot Tips-Secrets
Distinctive Outdoor Sites
Gear So Advanced It's Easy
Business Services
The Fishin' Lounge-Live Chat
Minnesota Fishing Guides
Statewide Resort Directory
Minnesota Fishing Guides
Boat Dealers
Lakes Area Property
Lakes Information
Walleye News
Ice Leaders

How to Connect With
Over 100,000 Anglers

Do you operate a well-run business that caters to anglers? Most of them want to know more about you. Would you like to discover how to reach them?
Click here and find out.

A satisfied FishingMinnesota member says,
"Business has been very good. We're filling the cabins, and also our RV overflow sites. Some have mentioned your site. Thanks for your help!"

Joe Martin
Bigfoot Resort

Hit and Run
Go-Go Piggy
by Ed Carlson

Big blows and fall's rain tend to keep most boats off the open water, and rightfully so, it can be no fun!

I take to the road in these conditions and leave the boat behind. "Hit and Run Piggy Hunts" is the name of the game, and a productive one at that!

Do the road trip and tour dam's as well as control structures that meet up with large lake systems or on rivers. Use hit and run casting in high percentage areas, half hour here, a hour there, keep moving and odds are you will find feeding fish with a piggy or two. In my experience the biggest piggy at any feeding trough will hit in the first few cast's if they are well placed and look good!

Don't overlook feeder bays were the creek's and rivers find there way into the lake, these areas can be good day or night. Night tactics often employ waders to get position on feeder bays. Parallel casting down shore line areas is a good bet!

Concentrate on ambush spots when casting, big fish lay in pockets or off current breaks and idle until an easy meal wobbles by and they can grab it with the least amount of effort. Backwaters, foam lines, push areas, and sand pockets on the flat just down from the tail out of a dam are key breaks. The sand pockets may be in 2-3' of water, I call them hog wallow's, they produce SUMO piggy's often!

Choice of search methods are basic, BIG HUSKY Rapala's #18, #14, #11's and other shallow runners that fit the forage or just feel lucky are best. Jig's an bulked up twisters or shads are good search tools also with or without tipping with live bait. I am a firm believer in a scent option on cranks, I use and swear by Dr. Juice (walleye) in water below 50 degrees, it works for me!

Long rods are very helpful in this type of casting, long as in 7-8' at least! Action should be med/hvy to heavy, this is a personal preference, so use what feels good to you. Long rod's will alow you to keep line high and help keep lures out of trouble in snag infested waters. Longer rods also allow for ease of casting in windy conditions and long well placed casts down a bank or weed line.

I try to keep my rod pointed to the bait at a 45 degree angle or less and line watch. It's very important to watch the line as many big walleye woof up a plug and all you see is sudden slack, set the hook fast! By keeping the rod pointed to the fish you allow plenty of room to pick up slack in a hurry and get a good hook set.

You are looking for active fish remember don't bait soak, keep moving but keep the presentations S-L-O-W in the cold waters of fall, V-E-R-Y S-L-O-W!

Hit and run fishing is also a good opportunity road trip and to look for that trophy buck that needs shooting this fall or other game movements that may need attention come morning light.

Some areas may need a return trip because they are good, or just look or feel good, use your instincts when hit and running flowing water, it pays in piggy's!

Enjoy the fall, time is running out fast and we will need some memories to share come ice up, or just to reflect back on in days to come.

Good fishing and good hunting

Please practice selective harvest, C&R all trophy fish that are not meant for your wall!

Red Pine Resort
Ice Fishing on Kabetogama.