Finishing With A Bang-PB!

The MN "game fish" season closed this past weekend and we made sure to finish strong and go out with a bang!  Pete managed his personal best best gravel lizard, 30" of golden sweetness.  This fish was as big around in the belly as it was long-swollen looking she was so fat with spawn.  His biggest walleye to date was a 28" raw rye...so needless to say he was stoked to catch this donkey.  That was one of many great fish we caught on the final weekend of the season.  Believe it or not Pete caught his fish jigging a Rapala Jigging Shad Rap in a glow firetiger #3.   

Shortly after we finished celebrating Pete's new PB I was hooked up on this rather skinny 29" dandy fish.  But first Pete had also caught a 26"er that was tagged.  Lake Mille Lacs was kicking out one big fish after another.  It was an all out onslaught of fish over 24".  By the time the dust settled we had caught no less than 10 fish over 23".  We did also pick up our eater fish between giants, which was nice so we could have a little fresh fish for dinner that evening.  

This was one of Pete's nice fish from the outing.  I think this fish measured in at 25" or so.  It was an absolute blast and the only way I would have wanted to end the "game fish" season through the ice!  We finished with a bang.  Thanks to everyone who fished with me this winter or shared time with me on the ice.  I will never forget this winter, not only because of the warm temps and freakish ice at times but also because it was the best fishing I can ever remember.  Every where I seemed to go or fish, I got on the fish in a big way.  Now it's onto open water season and all the great things that come with that.  Stay tuned for some river updates, spring crappie action, and just maybe a late season ice out trip to Canada that you won't want to miss.  Until next time, Fish On and keep your string stretched!    

Killing It

Introducing Sitka Waterfowl from Sitka Gear on Vimeo.

These boys know how to make and edit short videos. Jeff Simpson and the boys from F2-Fence Post productions sure know how to get it done with video production. I absolutely love their work(and I think you will too). Check out this killer video they did for Sitka to roll out their new line of waterfowl camo. I am in PHX this week and just got to have dinner and spend some time with these guys. Keeping my fingers crossed that they may want to work with me for some fishing and hunting projects! :) Be back in MN this next week and will have much more to talk about.

Dirk Niggler

Nig getting his "slime" on! Not a very good gaff'r. Ha. This fish was released with no issues. Good fish on 4lb test for Nig.

Over Due

A FWM update is long over due-yes this I know.  I apologize for the lack of fishing reports and ice reports.  The season just got too busy and it has kept me away from my puter.  I have been spending most of my time entertaining clients on Lake Minnetonka in search of gravel lizards.  I can't say we have been killing the fish but we have managed to get many first time ice fisherman a walleye or two during a time of year when the fishing is as tough as pulling teeth.  

As you can see from this picture of Bryan Culp from Texas not all the fish in tonka are big.  As he would tell me, "everything is bigger in Texas"!  But this time he was in MN on a frozen pond waiting for that tug from a 10lb walleye.  His just happened to catch a 10" walleye.  It was fun to see these fellas taking in their first ice fishing "experience" and also catch their first fish walleye through a ice hole.  We enjoyed a great fish fry, many laughs, and many first's for the boys from the south.  

Good ole Goergie boy didn't even get out of his chair to catch this giant 11" Lake Minnetonka walleye.  It's not always about the size of the fish, but about the size of the smile.  I am in the business of making memories and smiles one willing anlger at a time.  I have been on trips most days the last week and half.  I will attempt to get another update up soon.  I can tell you we have been on a streak of small lizards on Minnetonka.  Which is fairly typical with this time of year.  I can report that there is lots of good ice.  I have been driving all over the east end of Lake Minnetonka and the ice conditions are as good as I have seen in years.  We have 14-18" of great black ice due to the lack of snow.  Until next time, Fish On!