Jim Kalkofen shares his advice on keeping your fishing fun by learning a new trick or two this season.

It’s April 2022. That means this will be my 70th fishing season. It doesn’t seem like all that long ago, but the years keep chugging along. I’m glad I was able to keep up.

I’d like to share what I intend to try to learn…or become better at during the upcoming months.

Growing up with a cane pole in northern Wisconsin, I transitioned to a spincast rod/reel outfit. Not long after, I stepped directly to a casting reel. In fact, I still have that old treasure. It was a traditional Ambassador 5000—the red reel, top of the line—more than half a century ago.

Casting with a glass rod less than 6 feet long, pike, a few muskies and lots of bass came over the side of the canoe, and eventually a 14-foot boat.

It was sometime in my teens when a spinning rod and reel became my first love. For me, it was fishing, not girls, that captured my attention at that time. That may have changed a few years later, however.

That early story sort of sets up one of my goals for this year. I intend to learn how to fish for bass with a drop-shot rig. Some of my fishing buddies are really good at this tactic. They have been schooling me all winter with hook and sinker styles and sizes. They’ve been talking rod actions and line selections. They talk about slipping river currents. That sounds like something I have done for many years for river walleyes.

My drop-shot “box” grew as the long winter months elapsed. I will follow their instructions and determine the best gear that works for me. I have also been reading BassBlaster emails, YouTube tutorials, MWO columns and old-school books. Eventually, I will share the best methods that work for me.

This year I also want to learn more about bottom-bouncing and spinners. From many trips to Devils Lake and fishing with pro walleye anglers on places like Lake Oahe, Sakakawea, Winnebago, Mille Lacs, Cass, Leech, Fort Peck and others, I picked up lessons from the experts. However, I may be like many readers and still preferred to try to catch walleyes my way. This year, I not only want to cover water and determine where walleyes live, but I will do it with bouncers and spinners.

When perch were constantly chewing into my nightcrawler budget, I learned that Berkley Gulp and PowerBait attracted and caught walleyes. I have used many different types of plastic, but don’t have a definite favorite. I should after this season.

One caveat to bouncers is that when it comes to weed walleyes, I will be pitching jigs and plastic. That is what I love to do. Part of the fun is that everything bites jigs and plastics. Or, in the case of pike, bites them clean off!

Okay, what else do I intend to learn? This year will be another year to become a better fly fisherman. This is an addictive sport. My dad taught me at an early age. Bass and bluegills were our targets with bamboo rods. I was terrible at first, with the goal of not hooking dad’s ear. When the popper landed where I wanted it to, it finally seemed easier.

I tried to take my skills to the Wolf River and other area trout streams. My success would have received a D grade from any fly-fishing teacher.

So, this season, I will cast my Sage 9-foot, 5-weight, graphite fly rod for panfish. Getting back into a sport I once loved will be a chance to relive some memories. I also have a heavier fly rod similar to what dad used for bass. I have some of the flies he tied prior to WWII. I want to catch a bass or two on his old flies, and then make a shadow box of his hand-tied flies. I think there may be a use for these skills on western trout streams. Catching trout is something else I need to learn.

The lessons from the plans outlined above will come with stories to share later. My travels to a number of new waters will keep my learning curve on an upward trajectory. Of course, taking grandkids on the water will teach me patience.

Even seasoned fisherman can learn something from every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.