Spring Walleyes, Boat Makeovers, and Fish Recipes w/ Ryan Pinkalla | JMO Fishing 410

Ryan Pinkalla, a multi-species fishing expert and wild game cookbook author, returns to the JMO Podcast to share his transformative boat makeover and deep dive into spring walleye fishing. The centerpiece of the episode is Ryan’s custom refit of his 1997 Ranger 690—transformed with high-density aquatraction flooring, a removable kitchen setup including a battery-powered Traeger grill, and modular decks—completed in just one week. He reveals that the project, done in collaboration with Aftec, cost a fraction of a new boat but delivered a fully customized, retro-feel vessel that’s now ideal for both fishing and cooking on the water. Ryan then shifts focus to Green Bay’s Wisconsin Fishing Opener, where he and his crew target post-spawn walleyes through aggressive trolling and strategic use of clean water zones. He breaks down his go-to tactics: using flicker minnows, targeting suspended fish near river mouths, and leveraging communication among four boats to stay on fish. For inland Wisconsin, he champions jerkbaits, swimbaits, and jointed Rapalas for multi-species action, emphasizing the confidence boost of mastering baitcasting. Finally, Ryan shares two standout recipes—double-breaded fish sandwiches with a buttermilk marinade and quick, fresh crappie poke bowls using a poaching-and-ice-bath technique that mimics ceviche. His message is clear: you don’t need a new boat or perfect gear to level up—just creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to experiment.