Let’s Get This Season Started!
Spring Walleye Trolling
When cold muddy rivers shut down the bite, the biggest walleyes don’t disappear,they slide shallow along Lake Erie’s shoreline. Here’s how trolling for staging fish can turn tough spring conditions into fast limits and trophy-class bites.
From the Owner: One Angler to Another
The owner of Church Tackle, Jason Julien, as a child in the mid-1980s and today—still as passionate as ever about fishing.
As many of you know, my wife Nicole and I purchased Church Tackle Co. in August of 2021. As we launch this newsletter, it felt like the right time to properly introduce myself and share a bit about how I got here.
I was born and raised right here in southwest Michigan. Thanks to my dad, I’ve been fishing for as long as I can remember. I consider myself pretty lucky to have experienced some great fishing opportunities as I grew up—from chasing bass on the shore of my grandparents’ pond, to salmon fishing on Lake Michigan, to trolling for walleye on Lake Erie.
Over the past 15 years or so, I’ve found myself really drawn to walleye fishing where I now commit most of my attention on the water. There’s something about dialing in a trolling spread, making small adjustments, and seeing everything come together, that never gets old. I love the precision of it. I’m a naturally detail-minded guy which really seems to make a difference when trolling. That mindset connects me to what Church Tackle stood for even before I was the owner.
Purchasing Church Tackle in the middle of the COVID chaos certainly brought its share of challenges. But navigating those ups and downs has only reinforced how special this company is and how strong this community is.
What makes me most proud is that Church always has been and always will be a proven Great Lakes brand that is made right here in Michigan. The products on our site and in our catalog are the exact tools we use ourselves. They’re tested on the same waters many of you fish every season.
Going forward, you can expect this newsletter to share more than just product updates. We’ll offer behind-the-scenes looks at what we’re working on, upcoming show schedules, and share practical trolling insights we’ve learned along the way. Most importantly, we want this to be a two-way conversation. If you see us at a show or on the water, please stop and say hello. And if you ever have feedback, questions, or ideas, we want to hear them.
Nicole and I are grateful for the support you’ve shown us these past few years. We’re proud to carry this Michigan-made tradition forward and excited for what’s ahead.
I hope to see you at a fishing show or out on the water.
Jason Julien
