Ask the Walleye Pro: Jeff Taege
Q: I read and hear a lot about the pros using creek chubs. My question is where do you purchase these? I have checked out a lot of bait shops and nobody carries them. I have gone online to bait shops to see if I could order them and have them sent to me but nobody seems to know anything about them. Do you have any suggestions as to where these might be found? I go to the creek by my house and catch some but they aren’t the red tail chubs. Any input would be appreciated.
– Bob, Medina, Ohio
A: Bob, its true creek chubs are very effective for catching walleyes. There are different strains of creek chubs, black tail and red tail are the most common. I prefer black tails or true creek chubs because they are hardier and easier to keep alive. The problem, as you have found, is the difficulty obtaining them. Select bait shops in Wis., Minn., N.D. and S.D. do carry them when they are available.
Your best bet may be to check with a wholesale bait dealer. I’ve had good luck getting creek chubs from Gollons Bait Company in Wis.
Q: I always read about the great walleye populations on both Green Bay as well as Lake Erie. Does any other of the Great Lakes hold walleyes? What about Lake Superior? I live in the Twin Cities and we don’t hear too much about Lake Superior as a walleye fishery. Thanks.
-Ron, Minn.
A: Ron, all of the Great Lakes have excellent walleye fishing. Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay have fantastic walleye populations. Lake Ontario is also good, especially for truly giant walleyes. As for Lake Superior, the Chequamegon Bay and St. Louis River offer great walleye fishing as well as trophy smallmouth bass, pike, trout and salmon.
Q: What is the best underwater camera regardless of price? Are they any models that are better for open-water fishing as opposed to ice fishing? I’d like my camera to be good for both. Do you prefer Aqua-Vu or Marcum and why?
-Andy, Corcoran, Minn.
A: Andy, I really can’t make a very informed comparison between the Marcum and the Aqua-Vu, simply because I’ve never used a Marcum. I can tell you that the Aqua-Vu Zt100 and Sv100 are excellent units. I have used both in open-water and ice fishing applications. They are awesome cameras that have found their way into my fish-finding arsenal for ice, recreational, and tournament fishing.
Q: What kind of line do you use for jigging? I use 10-pound Stren Magnaflex, but I’m wondering if I should switch.
-John, Ripon, Wis.
A: John, when I’m pitching jigs to cover, whether it is rock, timber, or weeds I’ll generally use 6 or 8 pound monofilament like Berkley Trilene or Berkley Sensation. For ultra-snaggy cover and vertical jigging applications, I really like Berkley Flame green Fireline for its high visibility coupled with super strength and sensitivity.
Jeff Taege is a veteran of both the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour and Professional Walleye Trail. The Rhinelander, Wis. native has fished competitively since 1992, chalking up top-10 finishes and qualifying for championships each year on both tours. In 2004, Taege was the runner-up for the prestigious FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year award. Teage is also involved with National Professional Anglers Association, a prestigious group of 100 invitees dedicated to the advancement of professional angling. His sponsors include St. Croix Rods, Storm Lures, Tempress/Fish-On and Off Shore Tackle.