By Steve Weisman

Photo by Steve Weisman

Two years ago, the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club held its annual spring fishing seminar at the Hap Kettleson Community Center in Everly. Guest clinician was Johnnie Candle, pro angler, guide and educator, who offered those in attendance with a seminar focusing on establishing the “Winning Game Plan.”

The seminar was well received, and the 150 people in attendance learned a lot about putting together a winning game plan every time we hit the water, whether it’s on our home lake or on a trip. I found Candle’s tips to be extremely helpful.

Here’s some exciting news. Candle is coming back to the Iowa Great Lakes for another seminar on Saturday, October 9. This time the seminar is part of the Fall Fishing Expo located at Oak Hill Outdoor on the north edge of Milford and sponsored by The Hook Up.

The topic is one that involves using electronics and is entitled “Humminbird 101.”  The seminar will run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and the cost will be $10. According to Ryan Hale, Tackle Manager at The Hook Up, “The team at Oakhill Outdoor and The Hook Up is very excited to have Johnnie Candle joining us on October 9 for a special Humminbird seminar. Johnnie is a great educator when it comes to electronics, tackle and fishing techniques. It is a great opportunity for the general public to meet Johnnie and be able to learn about Humminbird electronics.”

Candle shares his excitement about coming back to the Iowa Great Lakes area. “It’s always great to come back to this area and enjoy all that the area has to offer including some great fishing. I’m planning on arriving a couple of days early to get out on the water for some largemouth and smallmouth fishing.”

About the seminar

Modern electronics offer so many tools to help anglers read the waters, the bottom, what’s to the side and the fish activity. In discussing his seminar, Candle says, “The goal is to help anglers learn how to work their Humminbird and Minn Kota equipment together. In other words, to network the two so that you can simply ‘plug and play’.”

Candle continues, “Although a lot of anglers have this equipment, many of them are a little leery of this type of networking. Instead, they use their electronics and trolling motor separately. I understand that concern, and with my PowerPoint and equipment at the seminar, we will walk through the process and several scenarios. It’s really as simple as networking the units and then pushing just two or three buttons. What this does, is it maximize what the equipment can do for the angler, so that all you have to do is fish!” A question-and-answer session will take place following the seminar.

Candle plans on being at The Hook Up for most of the day and encourages anglers to come in and visit with him. “It’s always fun to connect with other anglers.”

Hale notes that The Hook Up will offer two special door prizes at the end of the seminar. “We will have two buckets full of fishing tackle, each one worth $100. After the seminar, we will draw the names of two lucky winners.”