Secret Fishing Tips & Tricks
Joe’s Sporting Goods has been a cornerstone for local anglers for decades. Sure, it’s got all the latest rods, reels, and high-tech gadgets, but there’s something else that keeps serious fishermen coming back time and time again: the hidden knowledge passed down from the old-timers, seasoned guides, and even the staff who’ve spent more time on the water than behind the counter.
It’s an unwritten rule—stick around Joe’s long enough, and you’ll learn the kind of fishing tips you won’t find in any book or YouTube video. These are the tricks that give you an edge, the kind of things whispered in passing between tackle aisles or casually mentioned after swapping stories about the one that got away.
Take the “garlic bait” trick, for instance. Mike, one of Joe’s most loyal customers, swears it’s his secret weapon for landing walleye. “Forget fancy scents,” he says with a knowing smirk. “Just a sprinkle of garlic powder on your live minnows—it drives walleye nuts. They hit it hard every time.” Most customers chuckle at the idea, but the bold ones give it a shot. Sure enough, they come back wide-eyed, talking about the best fishing trip they’ve ever had.
Then there’s the pink jig trick, a favorite among Joe’s employees. On lakes where the fish seem to turn up their noses at every lure you toss, a bright pink jig paired with a soft plastic grub works like magic. “Pink doesn’t just stand out; it triggers something aggressive in crappie and bass,” explains Susan, one of Joe’s fishing experts. “It’s ugly—but trust me, it works.”
And if you’re chasing elusive trout in gin-clear streams, you’ll want to listen closely to what the fly-fishing regulars whisper: “Downsize everything—flies, tippet, even your shadows.” According to the in-the-know anglers at Joe’s, matching the exact size and color of the insects the fish are feeding on isn’t enough. The difference between landing a 20-inch brown and going home empty-handed could come down to switching to a 7X tippet and making your cast with the sun behind you.
Timing is another secret weapon. Most people hit the water at sunrise or late afternoon, but a few of Joe’s regulars have cracked the code: midday fishing during a sudden rainstorm can yield some of the biggest catches of the season. “The rain stirs up the water, and the fish let their guard down,” says a long-time customer named Dave. “It’s like flipping a switch—you’ll land more fish in 20 minutes than you would in hours otherwise.”
Of course, gear hacks are part of the magic at Joe’s, too. Some anglers insist that using a tiny snap swivel with crankbaits can completely change how they run, giving them just the right wobble to trigger more strikes. Others swear by modifying their spinners with a splash of red thread tied around the hook to mimic the flash of an injured minnow.
But not every trick is about the gear itself—sometimes, it’s all about the water you choose. One staff member, Matt, is known for guiding curious customers toward overlooked fishing spots. “Don’t waste time on the lakes everyone talks about,” he’ll say quietly. “It’s the smaller, less-fished backwaters where the real monsters live. Google won’t help you here, but I might.”
And let’s not forget ice fishing, where the tips get even more creative. “When the bite slows down, drop a glow stick into the water,” one ice-fishing pro shared. “It lights up the area under the ice and draws fish right back in, especially crappie and walleye.”
The beauty of Joe’s isn’t just in the advice or the gear—it’s in the community. It’s a place where experienced anglers and rookies alike trade stories, laugh at the ones that got away, and share a love for the water. Some of the best tips aren’t even planned; they just happen when you least expect it—like when you’re checking out at the counter, and the guy behind you leans in and says, “Oh, you’re going to Mille Lacs this weekend? Don’t bother with crankbaits; they’re feeding on leeches right now.”
Joe’s Sporting Goods is more than a fishing store—it’s a treasure trove of hidden knowledge, where every visit can lead to the kind of secret that changes your luck on the water. If you’re patient, ask the right questions, and maybe even share a story of your own, you just might leave with more than a new rod—you’ll leave with a tip that turns an ordinary day into the catch of a lifetime.