Al Lindner Q & A
T
he name Al Lindner is synonymous with angling in North America. The co-founder of The In-Fisherman
magazine which has since spawned radio and television shows, Al is now the key cog in Lindner Media
Productions, which gives us The Angling Edge and Fisherman’s Edge shows. He’s one of those rare types
who has dominated the BASS circuit in the U.S. south as well as the Walleye trail in the north. To get some
walleye advice from one of the most reputable and genuine people in the angling industry, I reached out to
have a chat. The third time was the charm when it came to ending our telephone tag.
By Ed Hand (EH)
42 | FISH, HUNT RIDE
EH: How is the weather in Brainerd Minnesota
today?
AL: It’s a comfortable 62 with a bit of a breeze
from the southwest. Actually, it’s a better day to be
fishing instead of in the office, but we have to plan
our shooting schedule for the series. We do 26 shows
a season and we have eight in the can.
EH: Any trips to Canada this year?
AL: We have four slots set aside to come up there.
EH: What will you be looking for?
AL: We’ll do a show on walleye. One on muskie
for sure. Maybe one on smallmouth bass. We’re still
working on the plan.
EH: Let’s talk walleye. It has been a little slow to
start the season here. What advice do you have for
walleye anglers to get more bites?
AL: You have two options. I go with a jig for the
daytime bite early in the season. For the night bite, I
might go flat-line trolling with Rapala jerk baits.
EH: Why the jig?
AL: There’s so many things you can do with it. I
like to tip an “aspirin” head or flat-headed jig with
a four-inch boot tail. Sometimes I like the fork tail
like a Fluke. I don’t use the curly tail anymore. By far,
the boot tail is my number one choice, but there are
times the fork tail works well.
EH: No live bait?
AL: I almost never use live bait. There are just so
many soft plastic concoctions out there that I don’t
need it.
EH: Why an “aspirin” head jig?
AL: I don’t use a round head jig. The flat-sided
or “aspirin” head jig is my preference. There’s
something about the action. When you snap that
bait in relatively cold water it certainly gets their
attention.
EH: You sound very confident in the
presentation.
AL: I am! With that boot-tail trailer, I am full of
confidence that I will get bit.
EH: What else would you use to catch walleye?
AL: Later in the year, say July, I might use a
Rapala #9 in deep water as long as the bait won’t
get caught on bottom snags. It’s an ice-fishing
bait but I don’t know a faster way to catch walleye
in deep water. I’m astonished every year at how
effective it is.
EH: Any particular colour?
AL: Perch is their number 1 forage so I will use
that. I like the blue-black silver-sided or gold with
black on top. They all produce.
EH: Al, I want to thank you for the time to talk
walleye. We look forward to you and the crew
coming up here to film.
AL: Thank you. We love coming to Canada. It’s a
bit difficult planning a show coming in blind.
EH: If you end up coming to Eastern Ontario or
West Quebec and need some help or directions,
don’t hesitate to call.
AL: You can count on that call.
www.fishhuntandride.ca