Guys, I need some help.

I am not much of a fisherman. But my dad is. Only problem is he is not very good at it. So fishing is something we do together but we dont catch anything.

We live by a really good Walleye and Northern pike lake. My dad has a boat. We went out today and this trip was alot like the other trips we have been on...had a good time but neither one of us got a bite.

Could you guys help me out with some tips on fishing for Walleye and Northern Pike.

Thanks, Wing master

 The best thing you can do is talk to the locals who fish and people in the fishing shops. I was in your boat while I was in MN. Being a trout fisherman all my life I didn't have a clue. Early on I found the best way to catch Pike was to fish for Bass and Walleye. It didn't matter what artificial I threw, I'd catch little hammer handle Pike. I finally hooked up with a local co-worker and learned a little bit.

artificial for pike - very hard to beat the rapala minnows. get one that is a little bigger than you THINK you need. also, the plain old red and white dardevl lure still catches them like mad. also gold and silver spoons.

natural for pike - suckers are probably best. perch well if they are legal. two biggest pike i ever saw were caught on perch. the third was caught on frozen smelt (whole). leeches and nightcrawlers don't seem to work as well. crayfish and salamanders are good too.

artificial for walleye - jigs, tipped with bait or tails work well. walleye see orange, yellow and green best, so any or a combination of these colors works great. USE A STINGER HOOK. this is a little treble hook on a short leader that runs from the jib into whatever you are tipping the jig with. when the fish strikes the bait or tail, the stinger gets him. my best walleye was brought in on a stinger. the rapala minnows work well too, as do spinners.

natural for walleye - minnows are probably hands down the best, followed closely by nightcrawlers. leeches, crayfish and little perch work well too.

any other questions, just ask. one of the ebst rigs i have come up with is an egg sinker threaded onto the line with a barrel swivel tied to the end of the line. then a 12-36-inch leader (depending on what you're doing), then the hook. when fishing for northern pike, ALWAYS use a steel leader! with walleyes, this is not necessary, but if you are fishing in a lake with both, and using bait that will catch both, you're better off with a steel leader anyway.

Thanks for the advice,

I will print this page and see if this stuff works. If not I will take Rob's advice and ask other fishermen.

Thanks again guys.

Wing master