KFAN Radio Interview

I had the pleasure of speaking with Billy Hildebrand on KFAN Outdoors the other day.  What a great guy, an awesome outdoor program and is full of information from fishing to hunting or anything outdoor related. 

The link is below
KFAN Link to Interview
(2.5.2011 Hr 2)

Thanks Billy!

Leech Lake Walleye Lrn2Fish School

I had the pleasure of working with Jim Hudson who is a fishing guide in the Chequamegon Bay and Apostle Island area this past weekend.  Jim and his wife put together ice fishing schools which are called lrn2Fish Ice Roads and they do an amazing job!  Jim asked if I could help out with the event on Leech and of coarse I was down for anything.  So Northbound I headed last Friday morning.  We had several guys out looking for fish for the students and that was my goal, to find the fish!

I met up with friends Scott and Kody Seibert along with Rick Johnson.  These guys are great sticks and fun to hang out with.  We headed out on the main lake basin with our snowmobiles and can you say SNOW!  I can't believe how much snow the Walker Lakes Area has got.  Good thing for snowmobiles as travel on the main lake was pretty good after the first couple hundred yards.  We fished several spots with only catching a few walleyes through out the day.  It was perfect out and they should have been biting but we just couldn't locate a large school of fish.  We did mark some pretty big fish that just were in a "negative" mood.  They would come up on the Vexilar, look at the bait, then go back down.  Frustrating, as I thought the main lake was going to be on!  The best part was there wasn't anybody out fishing where we were so I thought we would have fresh non pressured fish but no go.

Stuck with our tails between our legs we headed back to Horseshoe Bay Lodge where we met up with all the students, had a great dinner and talked fishing.  Jim asked that I put together a presentation on Leech Lake which seemed to go pretty good.  There was also a ton of knowledge in the room with many great anglers giving their two cents how to target these fish.  So we had to come up with a game plan for Saturday morning.  Half of the students only had truck travel and the other half had snowmobiles.  We sent the truck group to fish the Grand Vu Flats area since there are some pretty good roads plowed there and the other half was coming with me.  My plan was to fish Walker Bay since I had caught some walleyes there the other day.

Eager for the first hook set we were all up and at em' early and off we went.  We had a pretty large group of anglers and most of the spots in Walker Bay are fairly small secondary structure so we had to spread out.  We pulled up on our first three humps and started marking fish right away.  Again the big walleyes seemed to just look but we caught some small walleyes, perch and a few bonus tullibees but not the hawg belly we were looking for.  Our mobility was very limited with the amount of slush and snow we encountered.  We were consistently getting stuck!  On a typical day of fishing I would fish over 25 spots but with a large group and the horrid slush we were half way through the day and had only fished three spots.  We moved to one large reef in hopes to find a few fish, eat lunch and make a game plan for the evening bite.  No fish on this reef but the boys cooked up some dangerous brats and they were so good!  All Five of them....

For the evening bite we set up and it didn't take long and we were all marking fish.  As the sun started to fall the bite was on.  We caught several walleyes but most of them were very small.  I was a little bummed as I thought we could find the larger fish through out the day but that just didn't happen.  That is fishing!

It was great for the students to see how finicky these fish can be.  It took the correct presentation, use of electronics, and a sensitive touch to get these fish on the ice.  Lets face it when the walleyes are in a positive or aggressive mode they are easy to catch but when we are dealing with a large cold front and high pressure typically that turns them neutral and for the big fish they were negative.

We were fishing with small spoons and most of the fish came on just a small minnow head.  The key was to get the fish to chase the bait, then play keep away until you could see their mood change and once they looked aggressive you had to pause the bait and wait for the bite.

Thanks to all the students and to all the great anglers I had the chance to meet and fish with.

If you are looking for a great guide in the Chequamegon Bay Area check Jim Hudson out at Hudson's on the Spot Guide Service.

Also you can learn more about the Lrn2Fish Ice Road Schools Here.

"Make a Memory"
Jeff "Breezer" Andersen

Dave Genz, Jason Mitchell, WalleyeDan, and the Clam Corp Team

This past week I had the chance to go out fishing with Dave Genz, Jason Mitchell, Dan Eigen (WalleyeDan) and the team from Clam Corp on Lake Mille Lacs.  Our goal was to capture some images of the guys in action and we did just that!  We only had a day to shoot photos so we had to hit it hard.  The bite on Mille Lacs is day to day and the walleyes seemed to be on the move.  One day you can catch them in one spot and then the next day they are gone.  So mobility is key!  Most of the fish we are catching are on smaller spoons like the Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoon.  This is one of my number one producers.  While out fishing Dan was using another one of my favorites, the Rapala Jigging Rap, and he caught the largest walleye only two minutes into the trip.  

Here are some photos of the boys in action!

 (Click on Image for Larger View) 

 

KFAN Radio Interview

Had the chance to chat with the boys from KFAN Outdoors last night.  A little fish talk, a little Clam New Product Talk and lots of non sense talk!  It was a pleasure and hopefully I get the chance to talk smart again!  You can listen by clicking on this link KFAN Outdoors our conversation starts at 19:25 in the program.

Thanks to the host "The Captain" Billy Hildebrand for giving me the oppertunity.

Lake Mille Lacs Ice Fishing and Ice Conditions

It's a tad bit chilly out there!  My buddy John Hoyer and I took a little ice fishing adventure this past couple of days out on Lake Mille Lacs.  As most of you know Lake Mille Lacs is a monster of a lake so we took it pretty easy the first day out as there wasn't another fish house in site.  The first mile was probably the worst ice as there were several large cracks.  John and I joked as we could have tied up a Rapala and drove down one of the cracks.  Little Ice Trolling!  We had pretty good ice everywhere we went so we felt pretty safe with a four-wheeler.  The fishing was pretty good for size and just ok for eaters.  We had enough each day to clean and take home to eat.  Most of the fish were caught on jigging spoons with just a minnow head.

OK so it was pretty nasty cold the first day with winds up to 30 mph and I had the chance to put my Clam Extreme Black Grey Suit to the test.  All I'm going to say is "WARM".  Didn't get cold once.  If you have ever been cold fishing you know it's not fun even if you are catching them.  So if you are in the market I promise you won't be disapointed with how that suit performs!!!  Check them out at Clam IceArmor Cold Weather Ice Gear

So on with the photos!  Here are just a couple of Hawg Bellies from the trip.

 

 

Ice Fishing is just around the Corner

The ice conditions in the Brainerd Lakes area, like Gull Lake, Round, and North Long are very close to being fish-able or I should say safely fish-able.  The farther you travel north like Leech Lake and Cass Lake should also be making some pretty good ice.  So it's time to get that equipment ready!  I just put together my brand new Clam Voyager TCX and let me tell you this bad boy is awesome!  If you are in the market for a sled style fish house you wouldn't be disappointed with any house from the Clam Corp line up.  I can say that because I have a 10 year old Clam Voyager sitting in my garage that still looks new!  Seriously the thing is in great shape and yes I used it a few times just ask my wife....  Check out the line of fish houses here Clam Corp Fish Houses  If you do have any questions please let me know and I would be happy to help out. 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone too.  I'm so thankful for a loving family.  This was the first Thanksgiving since my Mom, Suzette, had passed away.  It was hard on all of us but my wife, Kristine, put together an amazing spread of food in Memory of Her.  We know that she wasn't at the dinner table physically but spiritually she was sitting there happy to see her family together. 

I'm looking forward to a great year of ice fishing and guiding this winter.  If you or you know someone who is looking to hop on my snowmobile and take off onto the frozen water of Central and Northern Minnesota lets do it!  I will be guiding on many lakes like Gull Lake, Round Lake, Leech Lake and too many to name.  Send me an email if you would like more details.  My buds WalleyeDan and Tim Hanske also have some sweet sleeper houses and I would love to set you up with those guys too.

So to get you in the spirit here is a little video of my buddy and Bigtooth Pro Staffer Mike Crawford showing you how to set the hook on monster northern pike using Bigtooth Tackles Natural Quick Strike Rigs and Tip ups.  You have to love Mike he is a funny fishing maniac!

Big Buck Story Minnesota Deer Rifle Season

Once in awhile you get to hear a story that is truly what outdoor passion is all about.  My friend Paul, AKA Pablo, called me and I could hear the excitement in his voice.  He said, "Jeff, I just shot a huge buck and the best part is that Braedon was sitting right next to me!"  Oh man I felt the chills go down my spine as I could hear an excited father not only did he shoot a big buck but his five year old son was able to experience that moment with him.  I can tell you that excites me as my little boy Gavin turns two in February and it will only be a few years and I, hopefully, get to share moments like this with him.  I ask Pablo to give me the play by play so he sent me an email with photos!


This is what is all about!!!


"I asked Braedon who is five if he wanted to go deer hunting with me this year and of coarse he said "YES"!!  Opening morning I didn't have to ask him twice to get up and out of bed.  We had a quick bowl of cereal and we were out the door.  As the sun hit the top of the trees we got into my deer stand and we saw squirrels, geese, swans but no deer.  At noon I figured he needed to stretch his legs so we went to the truck for a quick sandwich.  My brother had been seeing deer most of the morning and I thought Braedon would have a better chance of at least seeing a deer if he sat with him.  So, I asked him if he wanted to sit with my brother and he did.  I told my brother that at 2:30 Braedon had to make a decision either to sit with you or come back to my stand to sit till dark.  Well, he chose to sit with my brother.  I was kind of bummed because it was fun sitting with my son, showing him the many things that were taking place around us and just spending time together.  My brother texted me at 3:30 and said Braedon wanted to sit with me and was bringing him back.  Cool, by buddy was back with me and now I was just hoping we would be blessed with seeing a deer.  We were sitting with a lot of anticipation and excitment.  It was down to only about 45 min left of the hunting day and through the corner of my eye I saw some antlers to my left coming through the brush.  After I see it turn it's head all I could see was antlers I knew it was a shooter!! I asked B "theres one...do you see it...do you see it"  OK Daddy was pretty excited at this point but he finally he says, "Yeah I see it I see it!"  We went through this like 5 times while the deer slowly made his way.  My heart was ready to pop right out of my chest!  I could tell the deer started to get antsy (or maybe it was me) so on the last "do you see it" and B says "yes" I drop the hammer down.  The monster deer didn't move an inch and we had a deer of a lifetime down! The two of us went NUTZ!!!!  All I can say is what an experience, and to have done it with my 5 year old son by my side" Priceless"!!"  
Paul Manecke


Holy buckets if that doesn't give you chills I don't know but all I can say is thanks Paul and Braedon for sharing such an amazing story!!!

Minnesota Deer Hunting - Big Buck

Here is a few photos of Joe, my brother, of a buck he shot during the Minnesota Deer Hunting Season.  I will post the story soon.  It's a good one!!!

(click on photo for larger view)

Photo Walk-a-bout

I went out on a morning walk and snapped a few photos.  They are not the most mind blowing but what a great way to get out and get some fresh air.

(Peek a boo squirrel)

(Minnesota Pond Fog on the Water)

(Turkey's on the Ridge)

Ice Roads Walleye Weekend on Leech Lake, MN

From fall musky talk to winter ice fishing.  Yep it's almost time to get that ice gear read to rock and roll.  I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity to learn ice fishing tactics from some of the top anglers around.  On January 14th and 15th fellow fishing bud, Jim Hudson, and crew will be holding a comprehensive ice fishing school on Leech Lake.  I will also be there to help the guys out.  As if I know what I'm talking about!  The focus will be on ice walleye tactics from start to finish.  Their goal is to shorten your learning curve and to increase your odds on your next walleye adventure.

I can't think of a better spot then Leech Lake to get out and put some new tactics to the test and catch a few fish together.  So get the boys/gals together and lets go catch a few walleyes together!

Check out more information at Ice Roads Website

"Make a Memory"

Jeff "Breezer" Andersen

Minnesota Monster Musky - Lake Bemidji Guide

The phone rang and my buddy Kevin said, "I wanna catch a musky!"  "Well yeah don't we all!",  I replied. Well lets get rocking and go catch one!  So we were off to hunt down one of the toughest freshwater fish.  Easy task right?!  Kevin has been fishing his whole life but never for muskies so this was a new experience for him and the pressure was on.  As I prepare for our Musky Hunt my mind starts to dive into the lake, are the fish going to be deep, shallow, suspended, on the rocks, in the weeds, outside the weeds, inside the weed line or are they on the sand, in the bullrushes holy buckets I didn't know for sure but all I could do was try and put the pieces together.  Just a week prior we had warm weather and the fish moved into the cabbage, but that was a week ago, and we were hit with a nasty cold front with strong NorthWest winds.  

So the hooks were sharpened, all of the hooks I should say, as I was up till 10:30 getting baits ready.  Did the fish want small bucktails, large bucktails, spinnerbaits, or did they want top water baits, or maybe soft plastic baits, or crankbaits or jerk baits?  The book would say in the fall use soft plastics, crank baits or jerk baits, but there have been times when I have caught some of the biggest fish in the fall on topwaters.  That is what this game is all about!  Putting the pieces together and when you do it can pay off huge.

Northbound we headed with the Crestliner 202 and Mercury Verado ready to rock we were greeted with 26 degree morning.  It was picture perfect!  Not another truck and trailer at the access and we had the lake all to ourselves.  "What is everyone doing?" I thought to myself and Kevin was probably thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?"  We put the boat in the water and I bundled up with my IceArmor and off we went.

We started fishing a steep edge like I mentioned in the previous post and our presentation was focused on fishing with Crankbaits and Jerk baits.  Both of these lure have different triggering qualities but both have the ability to stall out in the water.  This means to work the bait either back and forth or twitch, twitch and then a long pause.  That long pause can be the difference in a bite or just a methodical follow.  Every lure you throw has a triggering quality so learn what they are.  We had moved three nice fish on this steep edge but no bitters.  I thought to myself, as it was early in the morning, "Let's try a small little cabbage pile that is adjacent to deep water as an active fish could have moved up."

We started to work down and as we were casting the money spot I saw a huge boil behind the bait appeared.  Twitch, Twitch, Twitch Pause.........Fish on!  Kevin did battle!  As I was grabbing the net Kevin exclaimed, "It's a big one, it's a big one, it's a big one!"  Well this was Kevin's first time musky fishing and the first couple of hours into it for that matter so I was thinking it was just a nice one, until I looked up and saw the Blue St. Croix bent over and was starring down at a giant!  The fish was doing several hard head shakes just out of nets reach.  "Kevin just take it easy and bring her head around!" I said in attempt to stay calm but the fish said, "I'm the boss!" and made several runs back and forth with violent head shakes by the boat.  After a short period Kevin was able to bring her head around and into the net she went.  "It's a giant!  Kevin you just caught your first musky and you just caught your first 50 incher!" I yelped!  There was no doubt this thing was over 50 and I was pumped and Kevin, I think, was a little shell shocked.

So number one thing on my mind is the fish's safety.  Kevin handed me the release tools as it didn't take much to get her unhooked.  We grabbed the camera, bump board (measuring board) and I told Kevin how we were going to take the picture, measure her and let her go.  It's always a good plan to have a good systems as this fish or any fish for that matters is a precious gem so we don't want to hurt her.

Ok so Kevin, previously semi pro basketball player at 6'5", looked down and asked, "Do you see the size of that thing?"  I showed him how to grab her and with a grunt she came out of the net.  This fish was a giant!  Man I wanted to get the best photos possible but it's tough when it's this cold, we don't want the fish out of the water too long, and Kevin never holding a monster musky before I was little worried, but he nailed it.  The fish relaxed and posed for some quick shots, down to the bump board she went.  "54 1/4!" I said to Kevin and with a 26 inch girth!  Kevin's first musky, first 50 incher and first mid forty pounder.  That's a way to start things off!

Lures Selection

We were using a variety of jerk and crank baits like the new  Rapala Glidding Rap  

We caught this monster muskie on a 7 1/2 inch Phantom Softtail Lure

Congrats to my buddy Kevin who landed a true Minnesota Trophy Musky!

So here are couple of shots.  Like I said before Kevin at 6'5" wearing a ton of winter clothing and this fish still made him look small.

You can do a weight calculation here Musky Hunter Weight Calculator

"Make a Memory!"

Jeff "Breezer" Andersen

(click on photo for larger view)

I cropped the above photo just to give you an idea of the girth on this fish!