kevin
01-12-2008, 10:36 AM
Week spent in Minnesota
As I sit here back in New England and reflect back on my trip that I made to Minnesota from January 4-January 10, 2007, there are many memories that I have taken and already I am starting to look and plan for the same trip next winter. I am really looking forward to being able to make this trip on a yearly basis and also meeting with old friends, business acquaintances and new fishing pals along the way that made for a very enjoyable trip this time around.
January 4, 2007
After being able to get an earlier flight at my connecting destination, I was able to get into Mpls a few hours earlier and met up with a friend for a few minutes as a surprise as he didn’t know that I was coming into town. Always good meeting up with him but I really need to get him out of the office and back onto the water one of these days. Then the road trip started towards St. Cloud to meet up with my old hunting buddy and we haven’t seen each other since I have moved here to New England 9 years ago. After a handshake we loaded the truck and headed to the Howard Lake area to try our hand at some ice fishing as he hasn’t been out in quite a while as well. We were able to use a friend of his fish house and we were on fish as soon as we started but the sunfish and crappies were really on the small side and only a few were kept. Was more fun just reminiscing about the old days and things that we had done over the years and time sure does fly by.
January 5, 2007
The same friend and I decided to meet up early Saturday morning and try a lake that we haven’t fished in 15 years or so. After unloading the 4 wheeler and gear we traveled across the lake and decided to try an area and see if we could find some sunfish. Drilled a number of holes and nothing was in that area and as we looked across the lake there were two distinct pods of houses and we ventured towards the smaller one. We drilled a few holes and turned the Vexilars on and they were lit up like Christmas trees and wasn’t more than a few minutes and the crappies were hitting the ice. What we learned was that in this area there was a deep bar running through there and we were catching these fish in 36 feet of water with them suspending a few feet off of the bottom. The thing that I was amazed at was as the morning went on the fishing got better and before 11:00 am we both had our limits and had thrown a number of fish back as well. We packed up by noon and said good wishes to each other with a slap on the back and the memories were really starting to form already as neither of us has had a fishing outing like that in quite some time. Spent the rest of the day visiting with my brother that I am only able to see every other year and always look forward seeing him as well.
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080105/134258.jpg
January 6, 2007
This was another early rise morning as this day was going to bring me to Big Sandy Lake in the McGregor area and a day of fishing with internet acquaintances and meeting many new people as well. The meeting place was at CrappieKeith’s house and man was there a number of people there to shake hands with. Shaking hands for the first time with Dave ”Hoggie” Hoggard and “CrappieKeith” Keith Nelson was something that I have wanted to do in quite some time and finally was able to get that chance. Also, the gang from WhereIFish.com had been there with Keith for the last few days and was truly a joy meeting all of you as well. We loaded and headed for Big Sandy and met up with another member of Catch-N Shannon “SandBurr” there with his kids and crew and a number of handshakes once again were put out and was great meeting all of you as well. Were moved out onto a narrows area on Big Sandy and everyone started drilling holes on a break in that area. With cloudy conditions and a light breeze this proved very productive until midday when the sun decided to poke out and slow the bite dramatically. Everyone was catching fish with whatever techniques they were using and many varieties of fish species were hitting the ice, walleye, northern pike, perch, crappies and whitefish were being caught. This day was one of my most memorable as I had met and fished with so many people in one day that goes to show me that ice fishing is so much more fun and we are able to share that time with more folks as opposed to open water fishing. At the end of this day Keith and I had done a Catch-N Radio show with Hoggie and hopefully other anglers are going to be able to get information from that. Again, this day was really the highest highlight that I had from the whole trip and look forward to doing this again next year.
http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080106/162148.jpg
http://media3.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/124452.jpg
http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/095329.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/102914.jpg
January 7, 2007
Since I had been traveling around the state the last three days I decided to stay and fish my parent’s lake and was nice to be able to walk out the door and start drilling holes. Across the bay there is a point that comes out and after finding that and drilled a number of holes to locate the break line and had holes in depths from 5 feet out to 26 feet. We found out that the best depth’s that were holding fish were from 8 feet to 16 feet with 12 feet the best. Today the bite was the best again when the clouds were around as later in the afternoon the bite dropped off dramatically once again. We were able to catch numerous sunfish and later in the day the crappies starting showing themselves and a few of them were caught as well. It was amazing at the number of northern pike that I had caught as I had a back to back battle with two pike on two consecutive drops of the line. These were all great battles and on the ultralite gear and 2 pound test line that I was using, this was a little nerve racking getting them in. we were able to get fish in the freezer and I know that mom was especially happy at seeing that. Was nice being able to fish with my dad for a change as this was something that we haven’t done in a number of years as well, this was some great times that I am going to remember for a long while.
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/130757.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/133217.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/172223.jpg
January 8, 2007
Dad and I decided that we were going to go and fish the lake that I fished earlier in the week for crappies again but with the conditions that we had we were never able to get there and fish it. Since we had to walk and had no other means of transportation out to the fishing spot, I was trying to find a location on the lake that we could park and walk but with the very dense fog that we were having, made it impossible to find that location. We ended up at a connecting lake and tried there for an hour and the fish were not biting there. The fog was lifting so we loaded the gear and headed back to find that other location and still were unable to find it and unfortunately never got back to the crappie honey hole. Went back to the homestead and I fished there the rest of the afternoon but the sun was out once again and the bite was tough but was able to put together another meal for the freezer and that was a goal that I wanted to do for my parents.
January 9, 2007
Today was going to be a rest and travel day and being on the ice for 5 straight days was starting to take its toll on my back and I could definitely feel all of that fishing. Later in the afternoon I started my travels back towards the cities and met with a couple of friends before getting to my aunt and uncles as I spent the night with them. Very early morning flight on the next day had me back in New England by noon and the last numbers of days are all of a memory now that I am going to be carrying along with me for quite some time.
After looking back on my trip I had met a number of old friends met a load of new friends and will definitely be trying to get out with all of them upon my next outing to MN once again. I am already starting to plan my next years ice trip and I know that I will be in the same areas seeing the same folks that I had the pleasure of fishing with this year, but will be adding a stop in Wisconsin the next time around and fish with the Loby Baits gang over there on Redstone Lake. I tried to figure out how I could possibly get there this time around but the drive was going to be to long and I know that next time I will fly into Milwaukee and catch up with Loby and his crew for those outstanding days of fishing that they have over there. This was a very good trip and the days always go by way to fast but again I want to thank everyone that I met along the way for their hospitality and was a joy fishing with all of you. I am looking forward to doing it again next year.
As I sit here back in New England and reflect back on my trip that I made to Minnesota from January 4-January 10, 2007, there are many memories that I have taken and already I am starting to look and plan for the same trip next winter. I am really looking forward to being able to make this trip on a yearly basis and also meeting with old friends, business acquaintances and new fishing pals along the way that made for a very enjoyable trip this time around.
January 4, 2007
After being able to get an earlier flight at my connecting destination, I was able to get into Mpls a few hours earlier and met up with a friend for a few minutes as a surprise as he didn’t know that I was coming into town. Always good meeting up with him but I really need to get him out of the office and back onto the water one of these days. Then the road trip started towards St. Cloud to meet up with my old hunting buddy and we haven’t seen each other since I have moved here to New England 9 years ago. After a handshake we loaded the truck and headed to the Howard Lake area to try our hand at some ice fishing as he hasn’t been out in quite a while as well. We were able to use a friend of his fish house and we were on fish as soon as we started but the sunfish and crappies were really on the small side and only a few were kept. Was more fun just reminiscing about the old days and things that we had done over the years and time sure does fly by.
January 5, 2007
The same friend and I decided to meet up early Saturday morning and try a lake that we haven’t fished in 15 years or so. After unloading the 4 wheeler and gear we traveled across the lake and decided to try an area and see if we could find some sunfish. Drilled a number of holes and nothing was in that area and as we looked across the lake there were two distinct pods of houses and we ventured towards the smaller one. We drilled a few holes and turned the Vexilars on and they were lit up like Christmas trees and wasn’t more than a few minutes and the crappies were hitting the ice. What we learned was that in this area there was a deep bar running through there and we were catching these fish in 36 feet of water with them suspending a few feet off of the bottom. The thing that I was amazed at was as the morning went on the fishing got better and before 11:00 am we both had our limits and had thrown a number of fish back as well. We packed up by noon and said good wishes to each other with a slap on the back and the memories were really starting to form already as neither of us has had a fishing outing like that in quite some time. Spent the rest of the day visiting with my brother that I am only able to see every other year and always look forward seeing him as well.
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080105/134258.jpg
January 6, 2007
This was another early rise morning as this day was going to bring me to Big Sandy Lake in the McGregor area and a day of fishing with internet acquaintances and meeting many new people as well. The meeting place was at CrappieKeith’s house and man was there a number of people there to shake hands with. Shaking hands for the first time with Dave ”Hoggie” Hoggard and “CrappieKeith” Keith Nelson was something that I have wanted to do in quite some time and finally was able to get that chance. Also, the gang from WhereIFish.com had been there with Keith for the last few days and was truly a joy meeting all of you as well. We loaded and headed for Big Sandy and met up with another member of Catch-N Shannon “SandBurr” there with his kids and crew and a number of handshakes once again were put out and was great meeting all of you as well. Were moved out onto a narrows area on Big Sandy and everyone started drilling holes on a break in that area. With cloudy conditions and a light breeze this proved very productive until midday when the sun decided to poke out and slow the bite dramatically. Everyone was catching fish with whatever techniques they were using and many varieties of fish species were hitting the ice, walleye, northern pike, perch, crappies and whitefish were being caught. This day was one of my most memorable as I had met and fished with so many people in one day that goes to show me that ice fishing is so much more fun and we are able to share that time with more folks as opposed to open water fishing. At the end of this day Keith and I had done a Catch-N Radio show with Hoggie and hopefully other anglers are going to be able to get information from that. Again, this day was really the highest highlight that I had from the whole trip and look forward to doing this again next year.
http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080106/162148.jpg
http://media3.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/124452.jpg
http://media4.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/095329.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080506/102914.jpg
January 7, 2007
Since I had been traveling around the state the last three days I decided to stay and fish my parent’s lake and was nice to be able to walk out the door and start drilling holes. Across the bay there is a point that comes out and after finding that and drilled a number of holes to locate the break line and had holes in depths from 5 feet out to 26 feet. We found out that the best depth’s that were holding fish were from 8 feet to 16 feet with 12 feet the best. Today the bite was the best again when the clouds were around as later in the afternoon the bite dropped off dramatically once again. We were able to catch numerous sunfish and later in the day the crappies starting showing themselves and a few of them were caught as well. It was amazing at the number of northern pike that I had caught as I had a back to back battle with two pike on two consecutive drops of the line. These were all great battles and on the ultralite gear and 2 pound test line that I was using, this was a little nerve racking getting them in. we were able to get fish in the freezer and I know that mom was especially happy at seeing that. Was nice being able to fish with my dad for a change as this was something that we haven’t done in a number of years as well, this was some great times that I am going to remember for a long while.
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/130757.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/133217.jpg
http://media5.dropshots.com/photos/265263/20080107/172223.jpg
January 8, 2007
Dad and I decided that we were going to go and fish the lake that I fished earlier in the week for crappies again but with the conditions that we had we were never able to get there and fish it. Since we had to walk and had no other means of transportation out to the fishing spot, I was trying to find a location on the lake that we could park and walk but with the very dense fog that we were having, made it impossible to find that location. We ended up at a connecting lake and tried there for an hour and the fish were not biting there. The fog was lifting so we loaded the gear and headed back to find that other location and still were unable to find it and unfortunately never got back to the crappie honey hole. Went back to the homestead and I fished there the rest of the afternoon but the sun was out once again and the bite was tough but was able to put together another meal for the freezer and that was a goal that I wanted to do for my parents.
January 9, 2007
Today was going to be a rest and travel day and being on the ice for 5 straight days was starting to take its toll on my back and I could definitely feel all of that fishing. Later in the afternoon I started my travels back towards the cities and met with a couple of friends before getting to my aunt and uncles as I spent the night with them. Very early morning flight on the next day had me back in New England by noon and the last numbers of days are all of a memory now that I am going to be carrying along with me for quite some time.
After looking back on my trip I had met a number of old friends met a load of new friends and will definitely be trying to get out with all of them upon my next outing to MN once again. I am already starting to plan my next years ice trip and I know that I will be in the same areas seeing the same folks that I had the pleasure of fishing with this year, but will be adding a stop in Wisconsin the next time around and fish with the Loby Baits gang over there on Redstone Lake. I tried to figure out how I could possibly get there this time around but the drive was going to be to long and I know that next time I will fly into Milwaukee and catch up with Loby and his crew for those outstanding days of fishing that they have over there. This was a very good trip and the days always go by way to fast but again I want to thank everyone that I met along the way for their hospitality and was a joy fishing with all of you. I am looking forward to doing it again next year.