Fishing Articles & Pro Fishing Tips

Over the span of his professional fishing career, Author and Outdoor Educator Joel DeBoer has authored many, many top-notch articles on the "How To's" of becoming a better angler. On this page you will find just a sampling of some of his articles and tips - we hope you enjoy!

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Using 'Dawgs to Score on Autumn Hawgs
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The calendar has flipped over to September and the nights are becoming colder with each new day, it’s an excellent time to ‘talk’ fall muskies – after all, the season has sadly less than 3 months remaining.  As recreational boat traffic begins to dissipate and the trees become brilliantly decorated in vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow, many a musky angler feels their blood boil for the last big “push” of the season.  True, the summer months often hold the best musky action, but for a shot at the biggest fish of the season, the true giants, there is no better season to fish king Esox than autumn.

Without question one of the finest musky catching presentations during the cold water period of fall are the Bulldawg family of lures.  While we boat plenty of muskies all season long on these style baits, there’s something magical to the methodical workings of them from now until the impending ice-up later in November. 

I love rubber jerkbaits/swimbaits for autumn fishing as they are easy to use whether professional or novice alike, even when bundled up with clothing, and still retain their effectiveness.  In fact, as the water temperatures continue to drop, there are few lures more realistic or deadly than a good swimbait.  Bulldawgs have easily become my “go-to” lure style of choice in the autumn, and should be included in the repertoire of any serious musky hunter.

I prefer to throw Bulldawg’s and the like using my 7’9” XXXH St. Croix equipped with an Abu Garcia 7000C3.  The reason for the heavier gear is that I prefer to use the sizes from 11” on up meaning the baits themselves weigh anywhere from a quarter to over one pound!  Big ‘Dawg’s, or any swimbait for that matter, excel in both in areas containing remaining green weeds as well as rocky structure, typical places in autumn to find suckers or other larger forage.  They’ll catch fish on a straight retrieve as well as a stop-and-go or pumping action; the key to triggering strikes is to vary the speed of the lure, especially as it nears the boat and do not forget to figure-eight!   

While most anglers limit them to casting situations, Bulldawgs are also deadly when trolled.  Optimum trolling speeds for Bulldawgs range from 1.5-3 mph, and typically require the use of snap-weights or some form of in-line sinker to aid in depth control.  Depending on boat speed, line diameter, and the size of the lure, weights from 1-6 ounces will suffice. 

Whichever lures you choose to aid you in the pursuit of that monster musky this fall, remember to release ‘em right!  I’ll see you on the water…

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