Bone Lake Pre-fish and Tourney Recap

Pre-Fish:


5/10: Was tired after the Teen Challenge Weekend at Wapo and so I didn't get out to Bone until the late afternoon. I think I got out after 5PM. I started by doing some Sonar and GPS work then went to the entrance to the Boat Channel. Fish were in there pretty thick and I popped a bunch on topwater and a wacky rigged Senko including a hefty 19" inch fish. Water temps were upper 50's main lake to mid 60's in the channel. Saw a bunch of Eagles, they are all over the place.



5/11: I decided that a week and a half out was plenty of time for the lake to change and I wanted to catch something so I started the morning by fishing the channel entrance and then go inside. It was sunny and warm and I Popped a bunch of fish on the wacky senko's and on a white jig n pig. Got another hefty 19" on the Jig pitched to the base of an isolated pad. Lost the jig to a big muskie that wrapped me in a boat lift; I played the fish all wrong and really should have landed it. The muskie jumped and swam by or under the boat many times in the 10 minutes I fought it. On my pass out I did get a couple of more nice bass. I then went out and did some GPS work and then fished the area by the little island and landed several more keeper bass there on the wacky rig and with a swim jig. Overall a very good day on the water, my 5 Best were easily 13+ and might have gone 15+. I explored much of the East Side. Feeling Good about Bone as I went home.

5/15 Headed to Bone after the MN Opener with GEM at the St. Louis River. Got to Bone about 1:30 on Sunday which was Sunny and Cool after a windy and wet Saturday. Took my time launching and talked with WI Federation guy who was pre-fishing for 8Bone 8Deer 2day split tourney the same weekend as us. They would be launching at 6:30 and so would have first crack at the Channel if any of them wanted it. Just what I didn't need. Got on the water and did GPS work and fished a bit on the North End. Started to rain as I was getting off the water. Found something interesting.

5/16 The start of the Weathermen being dead wrong. Waited all morning for it to get warmer than low 50's. I headed out about 1PM when it finally got over 60 and it looked like it was gonna warm up. Worked down the lake on the West Side and got into a 35or36 Muskie on PinkHJ along with several small bass. Worked the West side as it got cloudier, cooler, and more windy. Popped another muskie this time on craw Frenzy Jerk, this one was bigger, maybe 38". Both muskies unhooked at boat side. Water temps now in mid to low 50's.

5/17 Once again cloudy, windy, cool. The weatherman had predicted 70's and sun every day and was wrong every day. I did some GPS work on the upper West Side. The water was getting colder not warmer. Also did some work on the East Side. Was only catching small fish. I was not satisfied and the weather predictions were still for warming so I decided I would be back Fri.

5/20 Got out a bit late and arrived about 3 or so. Shot the bull will Jack Kiffe and Brad Seiwert and then went out to do some Aqua Viewing. Didn't see a single bass out deep but did find lots of pannies in certain area's. As the sun went down the water had warmed in shallow and there was activity and I found something in super shallow. Would the night temps hold them in? Main Lake Upper 50's North end shallows low to mid 60's.

Tournament Day:Watched 2 boats from WI FED club go right to NBC. Team Bass had 19 Teams and I drew out 17th. It did get into the low 50's but stayed calm and warmer for much of the evening. Was threatening to rain and storm as we launched. I headed right to a shallow area I thought would be good. Much of the North Bay was covered. I immediately landed a 12" on topwater. With boats close I played some defensive fishing and didn't go super shallow right away (this was a mistake as I think I had a good hour were I could have gotten into some better fish super shallow). Caught 3 more on topwater with one just under 14". Just after 7:45 the wind started up a bit out of the SE and the fish moved out. I went super shallow when I had some breathing room 8:30 but by then they were gone.

The wind eventually started really blowing and I headed toward the channel in rollers. Caught a few shorts on a spinnerbait over the flat as I headed to NBC. Nick and Doug were in there working it hard. I fished the entrance with the HT and a ways into the channel. Did miss something by a dock, but got no other bites. As I headed out I decided to work the entrance with the BSF and caught several more shorts.

I then headed out to crank the L in the wind. Out on the Tip did get 2 close shorts on consecutive casts while ripping the weeds with a Bluegill DT 10. I thought I might be onto something but that was it. Worked the inside windblown along the windblown out side and backside without anything. Was 1 PM and nothing in the Well so I headed to the Glass House. Worked the glass house West with a crank and Jerk and got into some shorts. The wind was blowing pretty good and it was getting warmer and got a few shorts on a spinnerbait. Went back and decided to work the Glass house break with a tube and promptly landed a nice fish but it was really blowing and my anchor wasn't holding, got several more shorts. Watched Wick land a couple on Docks, for goodness sakes. Got a few more hits from shorts and a Rocky Rocco, but no more keepers. Time was running short and so I did a quick hit in the Deer Playground, I then remembered I was 10 slow and had to head in. 1 stinking keeper.

Bone Stat Line:TLA: .000
LCP: .200
FWA: 3Lbs
BBP: .000

After Thoughts: It's tough when you are catching short fish on everything you try and have a history on the lake of popping shorts along with good fish in the same area's and techniques together. I kept believing the next bite would measure but they kept being short.

I can't believe the winning team did it on on docks.

Mistakes (What I wish I would have done differently):
1. Not going supper shallow and fishing with the HT right off the bat. I think the fish were there, but I was trying not to tip others off. Plus I was expecting a front/storm from the west not wind out of the SE. I thought the water was gonna be protected and there would be a spree when the front arrived. Instead of playing the weather the weather played me all the way on this one. The weather forecasts being wrong played havoc with my game plan.

2. I recognized the fish moved out and was just to slow in getting to the NBC. I could have beaten Doug's boat in there and could have shared the area with Nick and probably landed at least a couple of good keepers.

3. Should have thrown a jig on the L Tip after the bite stopped.

4. Spent too much time shallow and probably on the L, which meant I left some water on the table. I should have gotten to my spot on LBSKI point even though it would have been roller city there and throwing a spinnerbait off the buoy flat may have been good too.

5. Jack and I should have teamed up. Together we very well might have won it as that he was on better fish and I was using techniques that were getting bites and I almost certainly would have pulled a couple from the back deck.

Parting Thought:
Which is better: A 16th Place(worthless35Pt)3LB FWA and .200LCP
or a 9th Place(42Pt) Skunk?

I'd take the Points and the skunk.

Next Tournament: Koronis/Rice June 4th with Nick Graupe

April 26th -30th.

26th
Some GOMH, Some at Rock.
12JB
3 PIKE

I spent much of the time tuning and trying to balance suspending jerks.

27th
No record but may have gone fishing at GOMH or ROCK for a short time.

28th
Went to Rock and did more work on balancing suspending jerks. Got several Bullheads including a T.

29th
Worked on truck and boat to get ready for GEM Rush lake outing tommorrow.

30th
Didn't make it to GEM, truck broke down in Braham. Was cold and windy and they didn't do any good as it was.

And that was April. On to Openner Month...

Updated: Fishing Goals 2005

Crappie:
1. Catch 14inch or bigger
2. Find the Crappies this spring on Platte

Dogfish:
1. Repeat as MN Bowfin Grand Champion
2. Catch a State Record Doggy (Current Record 10lb15oz 32"/15"- 31"/14.5")

Walleye:
1. Catch a 30inch fish.

Pike:
1. Win or place in the money in Hillman Lions Platte Lake Pike Tournament (August)

Bass:
1. Catch a 21plus inch or 7lb Largemouth
2. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Smallmouth
3. Catch 40 Bass@ or over 19inches or 4lbs.
4. Catch 50 Smallmouth.

Team Bass Trail:
1. Win 2 Tournaments (1@Horseshoe)
2. Win Big Bass 2 Times
3. Place in the Money 7 times
4. Never Finish below 10th place
5. Limit every tournament
6. Average over 2.25lbs per fish

New Lakes to Fish for Bass:
Lobster (Team Bass)
Sauk (Team Bass)
Bordon
Erskine
Camp
South Long

Worn Out

Sunday April 17th 2004

I was one tired dude after the last two days and just could not wake up, even after dad fixed a great lunch. Didn't get up until 5:30PM. I was on the lake by 6:15 and headed to the Channel In Bay, but saw zero activity there.

Oh Conditions: Foggy morning with rain followed by partly cloudy warm sunshine near 70 with a 10-15 South to SE wind. Water temps 49-56.

I decided with the SE wind that maybe the East Bay of Sullivan might have some fish. Cruised much of the shoreline but got saw zilch. I then ran to the downed pine tree and the area I found those fish yesterday. I've decided to call this area the "Intersection." Anyway the wind was perfect to drift me from the tree to where I was yesterday (channel point NW Intersection). Sure enough I got a nice crappie and then a brueger then another Crip then a Bull Brueger and more Crappies, unfortunately most of the Crappies were between 8" and 9." Got everything on the PPP sometimes tipped with a minnow, at first they were nailing it without but as the sunset it became mucho important and I ran out of minnows. (Probably 6-7 Crips, 3 Sunny's, and 4 missed)

I then went to the GOMH (No GOM) and got a nice Crip. Then a small Crip. A guy fishing with his daughter had the kid catch a nice crappie. Lantern Man showed up again and gave me a hard time, I don't think he liked that I put myself in the choice spot. Anyway it was slow, missed a couple of bites and Lantern Man caught a couple in the current, that was it.

It is supposed to blow tommorrow in the late afternoon, and be warm. I need to get up and get me some.

No dogfishing today.

Different Day Different Bite

Bass Saturday April 16th 2005
Got up a bit late but eventually headed to Ginny's to watch the Bass Saturday Shows. I'll have to do a Bump Board this week. KVD on jerk baits on BassMaster U. and Hack is a guy you gotta luv.

Anyway, when I left Ginny's there was a pontoon boat off it's trailer at the end of her drive way. They had a flat, so they lowered the pontoon to the ground. Was a beautiful humid morning with no wind. I didn't get out in the boat until about 11:30 or so. Started with trying to make another Glass HJ suspend, still a sinker, need lighter weight split ring, but my guess is that won't do it.

Headed to the GOMH. Got 3 Bass including a thin/male??19" that had a pretty good rip in his jaw. All these on twister tail. After fishing there for a while I went to check the South shore run up to PRO. Had 1 little bitty pike strike and that's it. I expected to run into the bulls or Crappies at any time because it all looks so good. No Bulls today, but got 3 bass and a one eyed walleye on the Pink Panther and the silver stinker. It had been fairly overcast until I reached the PRO and so I decided to try pitching a white jignpig for doggies. I thought I'd catch at least one for sure and I was thinking state record it looked so good but only had one pike grab it that I shook off. Pitching is still fun even if you catch zilch, no panfish anywhere in the Pro today???? Pike must be on to em or...

Had lunch at the Speed Bump and saw a decent size perch. Then back out of the PRO, just outside the Pro on the North side in the straw I pulled this 20.25" Bass, also with a funky jaw from being hooked before.

Anyway searched the North end outside the PRO for a bit and decided with the sun and warmth at this point maybe Greenhouse bay would be good. As I was running and cutting the corner to get the the GOMH, I went through a bunch of fish, so I went a bit farther pulled a U and put down the trolling motor. Sure enough some of these fish were Crips. But they were spooky and basically roaming the flats sparse veg. and high points, making them a tough target. Managed to get one good one, one 8" and miss a couple of other bites. I think they wanted minnows but I only had a few left so I just kept trying plastic, the first one bit a pink panther paddletail and just annihilated it. I kept after these guys for a good hour, and it was after 6 so I headed to the Green house bay by way of the CIB. Ohh yeah Willard was at the GOMH along with a bunch of other non-GOM. Forgot to get a pic.

In the CIB lots of Straw along the W-SW shore, also came across a bunch of something while cruising through the stuff. I stopped, but never figured out what all was in there. The Straw was so thick it fouled the motor a couple of times. Then went up the Greenhouse for a quick pass, had what must have been a pike blow up at my bobber and no sign's of fish. I then ran to Double Ditch but the sun was probably to low now for the fish to be up high if they were even in there also a 5MPH wind had come up from the SW. Nothing in DDB, so I headed back through the GOMH to where the Crappies were. Got 6 good bites and had a couple of nice Crappies on but missed all 6 bites, only got 1 8.5" Crip. They definitely wanted minnows. Heading back in a guy did get a nice Crip at the GOMH as I came along, said it was the 1st anything they had seen.

Someone was talking big dogfish on FM.com from a West Metro lake. It's supposed to be mid 70's tomorrow and the water temps were mostly 50-51 tonight, so I may go pooch hunting on the north end tomorrow, also need to check the straw in CIB and maybe try that flat with the Crappies some more.

Hmmm (Day I Discovered the PRO River Mouth)

Friday April 15, 2005
Today was cloudy, but warm (mid to lower 60's) Wind out of the SW 3-8MPH.

Started the day around 3:30 trying to get some of my jerk baits to suspend and run right. Once that was figured out, I fished right out in front with a beetle spin, got nothing. Decided my best bet was to try the GOMH. On the Platte side saw a 5-7lb northern. Once under, around, and landed, not much for action (1 bass 18", 1 missed big something), and spent quite a bit of time there. Oh water temps were 48 or 49.

I decided to run to a spot I'd never tried early in the year. Lets call it PRO. I was surprised to see water temps up to 51 in this area. Lots of sparse weed growth and the Bull Sunfish were in there pretty good. Had a blast catching them on the Pink Panther, DR. Green Meanie, and SR. Bluestripe. Had at least 3x8"s 5x7"s, smallest was 4" got 17 total so most were 5"and6" and all were C&R. I think I got 3 pike, no crappies, no bullheads, no doggies, and a few Bass biggest 18."

Lots of beaver traffic and even got harassed by an otter, Fppht! (not really otters are just curious)

No pics as that it was raining a lot of the time.

Many happy returns.

Report: Thursday April 14th, 2005
I was worn out from yesterday and just could not wake up. After being up briefly at Noon, I ended up sleeping until about 4 PM. Finally hit the lake at 5:30. Went East, wind was out of the SE 5-15. Anyway Coolest temps were 47 but found water mostly 48-50, with 51 at the GOMH. Ran the East/North shore of our bay. Came across a group of sunnies sunning, but didn't catch em. At the turn got a hammer-handle then landed 3 small bass along the opposite shore. Ran out past the point into the reeds.

Then ran up to the inlet bay. Lots of Straw, no fish getting dark.

Ran down to the GOMH and found the 51degree water. Anchored and got a nice Crip right off the bat. Boat was wandering in current giving me fits. Was to dark to see bobber and I decided to beach shore as that there were no GOM or anyone else. Had a smaller Crip pick up as I was beaching, released. Once beached decided I needed a lighted bobber, while I was messing around another guy showed up with lantern on bridge. I didn't have a good light source, 1st couple of light sticks were Dud's, eventually got set, but then retied to put on glow demon. Had a couple of bites, I think one was a bullet and who knows on the other.

Anyway, the guy gave me a tip on some suckers. Headed out at 10:45PM. Where is the Moon? Tomorrow maybe smackdown day if I can get outta bed.

All work No fish makes BP a dull boy.

Report Wednesday April 13, 2005

It was a busy day for getting the boat ready. But first things 1st went to Onamia for Dr. Appt at 9, but was late due to Lilah running off (dad found her about 1/2 hour after I left. On the way back I stopped at the GOMH but nothing was there. Headed back and got to work on the boat. Fiddled with seats, got carpet on the bow so now there is less chance of me slipping and falling in, but plexy glass in for bottome of storage compartment, tryed to fix primer hose, got gas, cut angle iron for transom saver saving, started motor (hurrah) in driveway, Ohh yeah when I went to get gas I went fishing at GOMH, had a couple of bass swipe but didn't catch anything; Did however have baitfish following not sure if they were little perch or something else. Crappies should be there soon. Anyway finally got the boat cleaned out and headed to Ginny's to launch instead of Rock. It was coming up on 7 so I decided to stick it in Platte. For some reason the boat really didn't want to come off the trailer but eventually did. Motor fired right up (Hallejah!).

Once I got the weeds off the prop it got up on plane. Went to house to get GPS and minnows and headed across lake. Water temp in our bay was 50, went to area by "the green house" unfotunatly NE wind blowing in and temps were 48-49 with a couple of 50 readings. Lots of straw in that bay but no bites. I bet this bay will see a serious influx of Crappie and Sunnies this spring if the wind treats it right.

I then headed to Double Ditch but the temp there was 46, lots of straw left in here too. No bites. Went out to the Hole to troll a beetle spin but didn't see much and it was getting cold and dark. Tommorrow is supposed to be nice, so I will hopefully get into em tommorrow.

1st pick was after the Sunset looking west out of Double Ditch.

Yesterday at GOMH

Ok, it's more jumpin bullheads. I got out about the same time as last night but it was about 10 degrees colder, just as windy, but no rain. I started off with the twister beetle spin, but got nothing. I switched to a chart/sparkle Cubby Mini-mite tipped with a minnow. Boom the bobber was down and something was stripping my 4/1 Fireline off the Light Action Cubby Rod and Daiwa reel. I had no clue what it was and thought it may have been a nice pike or even a carp. It felt like it got hung up on something in the current and I couldn't move it for quite a while then it finally came loose and then she swam over along the bulrushes and dug in there. I thought it might even be a doggy at this point. After quite a while it finally swam out of the rushes and got out where I could see what it was, nice Bullhead. I finally got it in and she was just shy of 20inches.

I kept fishing the Cubby and got a light bite but it let go. I jiggled it and the bobber slowly went down, and so I set the hook on dis one:

I thought for sure it would be a Crappie or walleye the way the bobber went down, but just another Bullhead. Oh a couple of fish rolled out in the current tonight, maybe Suckers???. This one was either 18" or just short of it.

As it was getting dark, two guys showed up with worms to fish bullheads and suckers. They didn't get anything but I got another JB. Unfortunately this one ripped my Cubby tail right off. Can you believe it, three stinking fish and the tail is gone. Terminator or Strike King need to make a Cubby pattern with their stretch plastic. Anyway the last one was about 17."

Today I went down to the lake front to test some of my new lures and that Calcutta that screwed me last year costing me a limit on the 2nd Team Bass Platte/Sullivan last year appears to be working again. I should not have bought that Super Rogue which turned out to be a Dead Stick Rogue* (don't have much confidence with these), the pink Rapala Husky Jerk 10 is a slow sinker so I'll try and put on a smaller front treble. This is the 2nd "Glass" Husky I've bought that was a slow sinker. At least you can add a suspend dot to a floater. The Glow floater Rogue just needs to be tuned. I did some work in the shed was too cold to work on the boat. Should be doing the boat tomorrow.
*(As it turned out that Dead Stick Rogue was a great fish catcher. I lost it to a pike after a couple of years)

BP's Fishing Goals 2005

Crappie:
1. Catch 14inch or bigger
2. Find the Crappies this spring on Platte

Dogfish:
1. Repeat as MN Bowfin Grand Champion
2. Catch a State Record Doggy (Current Record 10lb15oz 32"/15"- 31"/14.5")

Walleye:
1. Catch a 30inch fish.

Pike:
1. Win or place in the money in Hillman Lions Platte Lake Pike Tournament (August)

Bass:
1. Catch a 21plus inch or 7lb Largemouth
2. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Smallmouth
3. Catch 40 Bass@ or over 19inches or 4lbs.
4. Catch 50 Smallmouth.

Team Bass Trail:
1. Win 2 Tournaments (1@Horseshoe)
2. Win Big Bass 2 Times
3. Place in the Money 7 times
4. Never Finish below 10th place
5. Limit every tournament
6. Average over 2.25lbs per fish

High Water and Jumpin Bullheads

Monday 11th 2005
It rained most of Sunday Night and Monday Morning, so I went down front to see how high its getting.


After dinner I headed out to see if the "Grumpy Old Men" are out yet, but it was starting to rain so they may have left. I started casting a small beetle spin w/sparkle twister tail. On about the 10th cast I got this 18"plus Jumpin Bullhead.

I talked with a guy who stopped who had gotten a couple of Golden Bullheads and Jumpin Bullheads yesterday. He thought it would be a few days before the Silver Bullheads arrived. I think they maybe there already but there was so much junk in the eddy's that it was tough to present there well.

Here's my other two Bullheads.
This one was over 16." and the last one was about 16" even.

I also had one more big Jumping Bullhead on, probably a 19 or bigger but in the current he got off probably because he openned up the wire on the beetle spin, I didn't lose the jig head but had I had him on much longer I most likely would have.

I then tried a Mini-Mite and Minnow as it got dark, but nothing and I headed in.

04-05 Ice Fishing Review

Well this should be quick:

My Ice Fishing goals were three:
BP's 04-05 Ice Goals
1. Catch a Crappie 14" or bigger (Nope)

2. Get Into those Platte Lake Bass (Nope)

3. Get a Bass 19" or bigger (Nope)

Early Ice:
Did get out with moderate success: 1st Trip and here, 1st Fish was a perch but I got a nice eater eye as well, 1st Crappie, Patti's 1st Fish, Biggest walleye.

In January I fired up this, the BP Fishing Log Blog and recounted the Fishers of Men Day on Mille Lacs, February was a month of Ice Contests and Crappie Fishing, March was Highlighted by the FM.com Cool Cats, and the visit of Cisco Pete, with Ice out on April 9th.

Overall, the Cats were the highlight of the winter season and eating Crappies. I just wasn't enthusiastic about Ice fishing and a couple of colds and sinus infections sealed the deal. It stinks that I achieved none of my ice goals, but whaddayagonnado!. Never made it to Upper Red and didn't get that big Crappie, but that goal will continue into open water.

My top producer by far was the Custom Jigs and Spins Glow Demon.

Sianara Ice!

Open Water Double Skunk

4/8/04 Platte is mostly open.
Fished at the Bridge last night for just a bit with a beetle spin and Cubby,minnow, bobber. Nadda! It's good to see the water level at the Bridge seems to be up almost a good foot from a week ago, the current is a rippin through there. Also the water level is higher than I remember it being all of last Spring, Summer, and Fall which is berry berry good IMO.

And there were no Grumpy Old Men Sightings.


4/7/04 I saw a couple does that count?
I headed in to the cities at Noon for a 2:15PM appointment with Isabelle then it was off to Gander and Lake of the Open Crappie Mouth aka My early season metro Crappie spot. Unfortunatly do to the lack of Snow and dry conditions the backwater channel lake levels are pathetic. Amazingly enough the ground around the darn thing was wetter than usual. Outflows must be keeping up or beating the inflows. Saw quite a few Turtles, one small Pike in a shallow canals channel, and I think I saw 1 carp, maybe. Didn't even get a bullhead. Heard a pheasant as usual. Sticklebacks in the drain.

Anyway, I headed up to Dreamweaver, but it was almost all slopped in with high water (go figure) and I got zero there. Was a guy and his son, and they had waders to get by the inlet but I didn't see them get anything. It was a slime factory.

Anyway headed to Fishers of Men Meeting and saw the new digs. Gave Cisco his GPS, got set for Teen Challenge FOM Wapo WI openner, Cyber is not gonna fish Team Bass, the Speaker was Brent Gilbertson??? walleye guy. I enjoyed his talk, as he was talking Wapo Walleye.

Anyway good to get a line wet, sucked though that I didn't any Crappies by the April meeting cause many years previous I had.

Cisco Pete and other Last Ice Adventures.

This post will read from oldest to newest. Some of the Dates might not be exact.

3/8-9??? Crappies at The Hole
Went out to the hole was fairly slow but managed to get 3-9 Keepers, mostly small fish, no bite to speak of after dark.

3/14 "Pistol" becomes "Cisco Pete"
Pistol Pete arrived up here late on the 13th, I'd totally forgotten he was coming due to the parents getting home just a day earlier. Anyway he got settled after some chatter and then we got to bed.

Anyway, on Monday the 14th Pete and I got up around 5 and were on the late around 6 armed with minnows only. We got one half way descent Crappie and then Don Weinmeister showed up and started fishing just North of us. Don had been getting the Tullibee on waxies and we didn't have any so he borrowed us some. With the waxies we got some sunnies, perch, and Pete got his first tullibee (in Pic with Don visible in background).


We fished until about 9 but it really slowed and so we headed in for lunch. We gave the Tullibee and Crappie to Don. I showed Pete my Blogs and he saw that I called him "Pistol" but he didn't like that nickname and thought he should be called "Cisco" Pete cause he out fished me. So "Cisco Pete" it is.

We took a short nap then headed to Brainerd around 2PM to go look at tackle. We went to the New Super Walmart, Mills, and Reeds. I don't think either of us bought anything. Anyway on the way home Pete and I got in a little discussion on the way back about women pastors and the Bible; Pete being vehemently against and me taking the opposite position. Cyber-Thompson had warned me a long time ago about ever debating with Pete especially on spiritual topics, but Pete had been getting on my nerves (imagine that) and so I stepped into the sink hole just wanting to see what would happen. Pete and I don't share the same views on some things but whether I want to hear about things or not Pete is gonna talk.

Anyway, when I go into debate mode, I can be a bit flamboyant and loud and Pete did not care for that one bit and went on the lecture me about this that and the other about how my tone was "un-biblical" and "un-christian" yada yada yada. I really got Pete quite pissed off and frankly enjoyed doing it, cause pushing his buttons was easy. Anyway, I finally decided to shut up and Pete lectured me all the rest of the way home. By the time we got back it was dark. I think mom prepared a good Chicken Supper for us this night, and we didn't bother going out, so we watched TV, and Pete spent time on the internet and talked. As it turns out we forgot to get waxies for tomorrow..

3/15 Slow fishing, slow boil.
Got up earlier and Pete made eggs for breakfast, and before breakfast Pete was kind enough to apologize for losing his temper on the way home from Brainerd. We went out just a wee earlier than the day before with maybe 4 waxies left. Got a very nice Crappie right away and got a few sunnies and perch but the Tulibee just would not bite even though we would see them on the electronics. At 6:30 I headed to Bear Trax to get waxies. It was slow, Pete spent a bunch of time talking with Don, who came out again. We headed back in for a nap around 10.

We got up around 4 and headed out to try for Crappies at "the hole." Managed a couple small ones but it was really slow. Pete had to run back to the house, and I got like 8 and I think a couple of keepers in the 1/2 hour or so he was gone. It was slow so we headed for Sullivan, as that I had some spots I wanted to try. Instead of letting me guide Pete took charge and so we ended up fishing where I did not want to. Pete is OCD about setting up a hole for fishing which doesn't lend itself very well to a quick search to find fish. Anyway we spent are time pretty much in the same area and only got 1 or 2 little Crips. I was not happy about not moving quicker and not getting to the area's I wanted to try. Ole "Cisco" was wearing on my pretty good by now.

3/16 A Day Too Far
Got up early again and I was in a foul mood. When I'm in a foul mood, I can be pretty snippy. Pete of coarse was Pete all through breakfast. Headed over to Sullivan around 6 and the fishing started out fairly slow. Anyway, after getting set up my heater quickly ran out of juice as if my attitude wasn't bad enough. Then as I was reaching foreword to do something Pete asked me to "turn up" the gain on the Vex. It was already way up and I was thinking to myself "why in the world is he asking me to do that" so I ignored him. After a couple of seconds Pete told me to do it again. Pete is a person that just will not be ignored if he wants something and so I turned the gain up just a nudge and sat back down. After a couple more seconds Pete then asks me to turn the gain down a little, after I had only just turned it up a little after being asked to turn it up.

The Fish Trap Cage Match of 2005:
I snapped back at him frustrated, "you just asked me to turn up and I did, now you want me to turn it down." Pete then snapped back at me about how my problem is that I don't listen or am hard of hearing and he never said for me to turn it up in the 1st place, even though that is exactly what he said twice. I was fuming, but Pete said this is stupid and I'm not gonna make a big deal out of it just after lecturing me on how I am hard of hearing or how don't listen and I was all wrong. I was quite sure if anything he misspoke twice because the first time I ignored him intentionally after looking at the dial and because he then asked the exact same thing a second time when I begrudgingly did as he asked. Because of my confidence in what I heard I wasn't gonna let Pete get the last word in this time and so I was adamant that it was not my hearing that was bad, but that he misspoke and now was unwilling to admit it.

At this point instead of letting it go like he said he was going to and letting me get the last word in. Pete laid into me much harder than before about anything he could think of. That was it, I flung the Trap open and yelled at him to get out and go sit in the car cause I didn't wanna here it. He was like "OK, drive me home and I'll leave" and I was like "heck no! you either sit in the car shut up or walk back cause and I'm gonna fish." And so Pete was like "no way, than I'm gonna fish to."

So I closed the trap down and Pete was like lets talk about this calmly and I agreed and went on to try and tell Pete as calmly as possible what an absolutely annoying personality he had. Meanwhile Pete tried to as calmly as possible tell me about every fault that I have that he could come up with. To which my standard retort became, for him to look in the mirror. Anyway during this bickering back and forth I started calming down cause I had the satisfaction of knowing in substance I had the better of it. We even went on to argue over various theological topics as well, with me picking my spots carefully and totally out classing Pete in terms of the debate/argument. Pete was just lecturing and rebutting obliviously to just how bad I was out flanking him at every turn.

The only bad part about it was during this time Pete whacked a Tulibee or two, I forgot, and I had to listen yet again how the color and action on his lure was why he was catching them and I was getting skunked on them. But low and behold I caught me Tulibee. We gave the Tulibee to Don and took these pics before he left.


3 of those fish were from Us the rest were for "Santa" as Cisco nicknamed Don. Ole Cisco thought Don was the greatest thing since sliced bread.





They bloody themseves real easy from hoping on the ice.

Who's this ugly dude?

When Don left I headed to Bear Trax and get my propane tank refilled. By the time I got back Pete landed another, maybe even two. I then proceeded to lay the Smackdown on the last 4 or so we got, including one that fought like a sun of a gun. Pete kind of freaked out thinking that one was extra huge. I also had one come unhooked in the hole, Pete said, "grab it" and I said, "I don't care if it goes back down, I'm not gonna grab it" forget getting my arm all wet. Anyway this Tulibee started going down the hole tail first but then it did a quick tail burst and popped right up into my "trough" right where I could grab it. Here's Pics of the later fish:




Anyways we stayed till about Noon and the fish bit in the overcast conditions. We packed up to discover the Explorer was outta juice, so dad had to give us a jump.

We got back had a Pizza and Pete left, just barely because his car actually broke down just before little falls, and I felt like I need therapy, which I later got by talking with CyberThompson.

Anyway that is the tale of Cisco Pete!



3/17 or 18 Sullivan
I decided I wanted to try the area's that Pete and I did not get to after dark the one night we went on Sullivan. Escentially this meant the Tulibee spot and out from the West Sullivan Access in deep water. I got out at dusk and proceeded to catch a couple of Crappies on the Tullibee spot but it was slow, so I drove the truck across the other side of the flat and tried to drill holes off the drop and into the deep. Got a few small to keeper Crappies there but pretty slow.

3/19 or 20 Platte
Headed out to drill holes on "the point" in our bay and look through the camera. Saw a bass immediately and sunnies in the other holes. All I could catch was perch and 1 Pike.

3/21 or 22 or Both Platte "The Hole"
Was out got a few Crips but they were mostly small, it was slow but the fish were aggresive when they came in. I think the weather was warming.

3/23 The Walk

3/29 Craving Crappie
For whatever reason I was craving Crappies and knew the ice would not be safe to drive on soon, so I headed out to get me some and I did. This was my last day to drive on the ice. It was nice and warm. Here's the pic


I did take walk the Fish Tap out a couple of more times to "the point" in our bay but got nothin but Perch and Pike. Did see one of the Pike on the down view aqua view.

Next up my Ice fishing review.

Cool Cat Saturday!

March 5th 2005


FishingMinnesota.com had their annual "Cool Cats" ice catfishing get together on the Horseshoe Chain. I've wanted to do this an finally did.

The Plan: Get up early and put in tape at Jenny's to record Bass Saturday and then head to Sullivan to try for Tullibee and then leave for the Cool Cats by 8AM.

The Execution of Plan: Too tired! Slept in till 9AM; ohh well that's what I get for overextending myself.

Was on the road by 10 and at the event just before noon. They had a huge turnout but the bite was almost non existant unless you were there early. Cyberfish and The Pistol hadn't caught anything. So we fished, schmoozed, ate food, I won a door prize of a "card" of Scenic Tackle Glow Devil Spoons, not to be confused with Custom Jigs Glow Demons and took Pattie Lou for walks and played fetch. I would say there was close to 100 people at the event.

Finally as the sun was going down we started to get some action from College Outdoors Guys favorite: Rock Bass! To bad Scott, you should have made the drive it was a regular Pig fest. Eventually Cyb and Pistol decided to leave, probably around 7:30 or so. On their way out they stopped at the only other house left, and he was starting to get Cats. I went over and talked with The Chemist .

Anyway, sure enough he had gotten two for his kids and was packing up. He said I was to deep and should come on over and so I did. I got set up and immediately had fish come in, but then my lantern died and so I went and asked if The Chemist had a bottle of propane I could buy. He was had two partials that he gave me for free along with a couple of spoons that he thought would work. The Chemist and I talked for quite a while, nice guy.

Anyway, I finally did get the lantern back on and started fishing. The fish were not as eager to show up, Ooops talked to much. First fish was another Pug Bass, What!. I then lost what had to be a Cat, major pull! Then I finally landed the 1st Dude, a 22"er (pic above). He came in about 10feet of bottom in 24' of water and just smacked it, biggest one of the night.

Here's others before camera went kaput!





Got all the Cats on the Pink Glow Devil (as you can see in pics) that I had won as a door prize earlier in the Day. I got something like 4 more and probably 5 or so more Rockies. I headed off the lake at about 1Am. It was a blast, those cats sure do put a bend in ice fishing pole.

Thank God for GPS or I might have struggled getting off the ice. I did not mark the access but just being able to know which way was which was huge. It was so warm that the vehicle trail had all but disappeared in the warm weather of the day and early evening.

Big Thanks to The Chemist and the people of FM.com.