Reel Chat with NICK JOHNSON
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Hello, FLW fishing fans. Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat, the latest interactive feature on FLWOutdoors.com. Joining us today is Nick Johnson, winner of the 2005 FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year award. Johnson also claimed the 2004 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship on the Mississippi River near Moline, Ill. In less than two full seasons, the Elmwood, Wis., native has accumulated roughly $400,000. As this year’s championship returns to the Quad Cities, look for Johnson to once again be among the favorites.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Throughout the next 40 minutes or so, Johnson is here to chat about life on tour, the upcoming 2005 Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour Championship or just about anything else you might want to ask him. So fire away, fishing fans. Nick is eagerly awaiting your questions.
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Editor’s Note: FLWOutdoors.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Reel Chat discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts.
Q: How confident are you heading into this year’s championship? What are your goals?
— Tyler (Pierre, SD)
A: I’m confident because it is a river, and it is the same river. I grew up on a river and prefer river fishing. My goal is to win this event. My goal for every tournament is to win it, and I approach this one no differently. Obviously, there are no Angler of the Year points to worry about, so I just give it my all.
Q: Are there anglers in particular that you feel are “favored” at the championship? I know some people do well on certain bodies of water, and I’m wondering who fishes the Mississippi particularly well.
— Matt Russell (Fargo, ND)
A: There are anglers who are favored. The first person who comes to mind is Tommy Skarlis. I know Tom will do well. Rick Lacourse is another guy who is so consistent. I believe he has made the cut each time we’ve fished the river. He utilizes the hand-lining technique very well. Besides that, it is pretty wide open. The 50 guys that are there are all very highly skilled anglers.
Q: In what lakes can the biggest walleyes be found in the United States? Also, what is the largest walleye you ever caught?
— David Perlman (Minneapolis, MN)
A: I would have to say the Great Lakes are the big-fish producers. Lake Erie would be first, and Huron and Green Bay would be a toss-up for second. My largest walleye was a 12-pounder caught on Lake Erie during prefishing pulling spinners.
Q: What lakes or rivers would you like to see added to the 2006 schedule?
— Tony (Rhinelander, WI)
A: I really like the schedule the way it is. I guess maybe Saginaw Bay (in Michigan). I really enjoyed the tournament the last time we were there.
Q: When do you think walleye anglers will receive the same level of recognition that bass anglers presently enjoy?
— Mike (Faribault, MN)
A: I don’t know if we’ll ever catch them, but we’ve made great strides the past few years. They’ve been at it for much longer. Walleye angling is growing, but I don’t know if it will ever get that big down South. There just are more lakes that hold bass than walleyes. Ideally, I would love to see the payouts equal bass. I would also like to see the television shows aired right after the tournament is done. Even so, the TV coverage we have now has improved and is heading in the right direction.
Q: Do you ever go bass fishing in your spare time. If so, do you enjoy it, and how much different is it from walleye fishing?
— Jon Pageler (Napa, CA)
A: I grew up fishing a lot of bass. I have better bass fishing close to my house. There are a lot of aspects to bass fishing that are similar to walleye fishing. The one major difference with the bass is the shallow-water slop fishing. You rarely catch walleyes on topwater. When I bass fish, I prefer to use a pig-and-jig combo in deep water. I’ve considered fishing bass tournaments professionally, but have never actually gone in that direction.
Q: How did you get involved in competitive walleye angling? Are there any smaller tournament trails to fish before stepping up to the FLW Walleye Tour?
— Jeff Henning (Elk River, MN)
A: I pretty much grew up near the Mississippi River and fished walleyes for fun. I got my own boat when I was 16 and worked my way up from there. There were very few walleye tournaments back then, maybe one or two in the spring and one or two in the fall. Back then, I fished whatever was biting. Some of the very first tournaments I competed in were MWC tournaments. I can remember coming to these tournaments and seeing Mike McClelland and being in awe of his boat and gear. He was my hero growing up. Everything they said or wrote was like the Gospel for me.
Q: What are your favorite artificial “go-to” lures for catching walleyes when not fishing live bait?
— John Stebbins (Milwaukee, WI)
A: I’m definitely going to say crankbaits — any Rapala or Lucky Craft crankbaits. The one I used on Bull Shoals (in Arkansas) is a spectacular lure.
Q: How do you go about targeting walleyes in deep, clear glacier lakes like the kind you find in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park in Canada?
— Titus Song (Minneapolis, MN)
A: In lakes like that, your best bites are early in the morning and late in the evening. It’s no different than any other lake — look for fish to relate to rocky reefs and moving water. I wish I had more information, but the question is pretty vague.
Q: What kinds of weights do you expect to be brought in at this year’s championship? I was on the river last weekend, and the fishing was pretty good.
— Mike Shubalt (Davenport, IA)
A: Obviously, they lifted the slot, so we can keep any fish, and we are allowed to cull. However, we can only fish the Illinois side of the river this year. I expect good weights; I think 15 pounds a day will be needed to make the cut. It’s definitely going to take bigger fish. There still is plenty of water for everyone with only 50 boats out there. To win the tournament on the last two days, it will take somewhere between 28 to 35 pounds.
Q: Nick, I need to know what type of line to use for walleye fishing.
— Christian (Los Angeles, CA)
A: If I had two choices, it would be a brighter superline for muddy water, like Fireline or Spiderwire. And if the water was clear, I would use a mono, and I’m big on Berkley Trilene products. I like my Fireline just for the ability to feel the fish. On all lines, I wouldn’t go much heavier than 10-pound-test.
Q: Psychologically, how do you approach a tournament with a strict slot limit? Do you search for smaller fish, or try to bust the slot with one or two monsters?
— Josh (Shakopee, MN)
A: Basically, it depends on how many fish I catch over the slot during prefishing. If I catch one or two a day during prefishing, then I’m going to go for it. I’d rather get my limit first and then go searching for a big fish. I’d say nine out of 10 times, I’ll go for the small fish first. It really depends on what prefishing dictates.
Q: Do walleyes always school, or can you find some lone males foraging, away from the group, on their own?
— Jim Interlandi (Chicago, IL)
A: You can find single fish or separated fish. They don’t always relate to the school. That can be considered a loose school. This happens more often on rivers than on lakes. If a fish finds a small area with some baitfish, you could see him roaming by himself.
Q: Nick, I noticed that Tommy Skarlis fished the Everstart Series event in La Crosse, Wis., this year. Would you ever consider trying to expand your horizons by fishing the bass side of pro angling as well?
— Danny Mancini (Necedah, WI)
A: I have considered it. In the last few months, I have had serious thoughts. It would be pretty unique to be able to fish both sides. I don’t know if it would be possible to be competitive on both sides. Hey, the bass guys get all the money. You know the saying, if you can’t beat them, join them. In reality, the tackle change and boat change would be difficult. If I did, I would fish it as a co-angler.
Q: My partner and I are very serious about getting into the tournament scene, but would like to know what boat is widely used by most pros when fishing for walleyes. Were you at UFO Days? I was (softball tourney).
— Chad Knutson (Winona, MN)
A: I was at UFO Days, but didn’t go to the softball tournament because my boat and I were in the parade. I would say, in all honesty, that Ranger is the most fishable boat on the market. I prefer the fiberglass because they handle better, and the ride is so much smoother. I would recommend a Ranger 619 or a 620. The investment was heavy, but the return has been incredible.
Q: What’s the best walleye lake you’ve ever fished, honestly? Why?
— Mark Olson (Stillwater, MN)
A: I would have to say Devils Lake, N.D. Not so much because of the big fish, but because there are so many ways to catch them. You have a trolling bite, a jig-casting bite, a slip-bobber bite, etc. All these ways can work at a given time, and that makes it so fun to go out there. The people are friendly, and the conditions aren’t as severe as the Great Lakes can be. You can always find somewhere to avoid the wind.
Q: How do you decide what type of live bait to use? Is it a seasonal thing, whether you throw minnows, crawlers or leeches? If so, what season is best for which bait?
— Tim Ronneberg (Willmar, MN)
A: Honestly, I am rarely without all three in my boat. As soon as I can get leeches, I’ll use them. I use leeches once the water warms up so the leeches don’t ball up. They usually quit balling up at around 52 degrees. If the water is too cold, they will just ball up. It is a bit seasonal, but it seems minnows produce better in the spring and fall. As a general rule, I use crawlers in the summertime and leeches and minnows in the spring. But there are always exceptions to the rule.
Q: What advice, if any, would you give a co-angler looking to pay his dues and move up to the pro side eventually?
— Dave (La Crosse , WI)
A: Pay really close attention, and ask questions. There are things we do that we don’t even realize how important they are. It’s almost as though they are instinct. If they don’t ask, I’m probably going to forget to tell them. It’s also important to pay attention to the details such as hook size, condition of your bait, where you are hooking your bait, spinner-blade size, etc. I always analyze each fish I catch and get as much information as possible. The fish always have a story to tell if you’re willing to listen to it.
Q: I’ve heard that walleye pros often use a team approach in fishing tournaments. Guys like the Keenan brothers, and Arnoldussen and Neu, have dominated, especially in Wisconsin, reportedly by teaming up and splitting winnings. What’s your take on team fishing in tournaments, and have you engaged in it? Is there any bad blood between certain teams?
— Dean Johnson (Little Falls, MN)
A: I have compared notes with other anglers. I believe honesty is important in this sport. Honesty is what makes a team successful. I’ve never personally been involved in a dispute over a team. Last year, I fished with Brad Davis, and we got along great. It is a very valuable tool on the Great Lakes, but on the smaller water, it can be detrimental. The money isn’t really talked about too much. Other than that, I guess it is a personal decision, and it works for some people. I guess I am neutral: I’m not in favor of it, but I don’t think it is unethical either. Regardless, you still have to catch the fish.
Q: Are you excited about the upcoming FLW Walleye Tour Championship?
— Ted Grabow (Baltimore, MD)
A: I think I’ll start prefishing on September 19 or 20. After the Angler of the Year race, the pressure has been taken off of me. There are no (standings) points (involved), so I’m really gearing up to try and win this tournament.
Q: Do you foresee any new techniques or technologies coming in the near future that will change the way people fish for walleyes?
— Tim (Menomonie, WI)
A: I honestly think that there is more to learn. I think that there are things out there now that people are doing that are somewhat secretive. I think things are always advancing, and people are doing things that they’re not talking about. I’d compare it to drop-shotting for bass. Five years ago, nobody knew about it, but now everyone is doing it. I can remember when handlining was just a local thing, and tournaments brought it to the public. The evolution will just continue.
Q: What’s sweetest: the catch, the cash or the women?
— Ben Netland (White Bear Lake, MN)
A: I’ve got to say the winning is the best part, and the cash doesn’t sink in until you get home. When I fish, I compete against the fish, not against anyone else. Fishing is more of a mind game. It’s pretty rare when I let someone get under my skin.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today. Nick wanted to thank the fans again for coming out and participating in his chat. He wishes everyone well and wants to see you in Moline for the upcoming championship.
– MODERATOR COMMENT –
Tune in for the next FLW Live Reel Chat. You can bet we’ll have another compelling pro on deck to answer all of your questions.