Shakopee Lake Trip with Cold and Snow

Took pic after drilling my second set of holes

 

Didn't Get Skunked!

Took the pic and then the phone died

3:45-8:30PM Shakopee Lake 8' and 9' just a little south of the access

-2 to 18℉, Mostly Clear, Calm

Unfortunately, not many people had been out on the lake since the snow dump this week. Not so much an issue getting out. Going back, I had to carry the auger and minnows and then go back for the smitty/Fish Trap. I got out to about 8 feet of water and drilled holes. I could see weeds. Not a whole lot going on. I marked a couple of disinterested small fish and saw one sunny on the camera. My Eddy's hat fell into the slush puddle. After sunset, I drilled another set of holes about 100 feet farther out and fished there the rest of the time. Around 7pm, I ran out of propane for the Little Buddy. I caught the first bullhead before I got the propane changed out. I had trouble getting the Little Buddy to fire at first. I had to unscrew it completely and put it back on, and that did the trick. I lost something that bit on a minnow. I put the camera down and saw bullheads. I caught one more small bullhead. Bullheads were still down there when I pulled my lines up for the night. On the way back to the car, my phone died after I took a picture. My bad for not having the second Mophie iPhone case along. I need to get with it, keeping the iPhone charged up. The second time this ice season, my phone died. It could just be that it gets too cold

First Ice Trip of 25/26, Rock Lake

 

 4:00-8:00PM Rock Lake 17' of water

12-25℉, Cloudy, 3-9mph NW

I wanted to be out of the house by 2pm, but I couldn't find some things, so I didn't leave until 2:35. I went to Bear Trax and got minnows. There were two trucks at the Rock Access. Then, when I got to the lake and had the car almost unloaded, I remembered I hadn't grabbed the Ion batteries. I thought about using the spud to make my holes, but no. So I drove back home. I stopped along the Rock Access Rd to talk to a couple of ladies with kids. Turns out it was one of J&D's cashiers from a couple of years ago. There was a big flock of turkeys I had to stop for both ways. So I didn't get back to the lake until 3:15 or so. The ice checked out. I drilled 3 sets of 3 holes in 17' of water. I didn't mark anything until the 3rd set. A guy came out in Fish Trap and set up to my NW. He stayed late and only drilled a few times. I wonder if he had ffs. I should have gone over and talked with him. I lost one small crappie at the hole, but wasn't marking much. I drilled 3 more sets of 3. I didn't mark anything in them, so I headed back to one set where I did mark fish and spent the rest of the night there. I got a few crappies and lost at least 2/3rds of my bites, even on the bobber rod. It was slow with fish down there occasionally. They seemed skittish for the most part. There may have been some sunfish and perch down there as well after dark. There were also a couple of bigger red marks that I didn't get to bite. I stayed way longer than I should have. Lots of Russian Gremlins, and I was stressed out because of it, and not in a flow. I would say I fished at level 3 out of 10, so not good. I was the last one off the lake. The other guy left at 7pm when I should have.

9 Crips 

Castles Resort Of Isle Facebook Flyer

 

I was really impressed with this graphic by Castles Resort. Simple layout, easy-to-follow information. I may very well head over to Isle sometime next week and give Mille Lacs a shot. 

Mad Max Time in Seattle

 

I had zero expectation coming into this season because when real bullets start flying, nobody knows how a young QB will react. JJ McCarthy's introduction to the NFL has been nothing but bad. Bad luck, bad health, bad throws, bad numbers, bad news.

Now we have an undrafted Golden Gopher being thrown to the wolves in Seattle, where the defense is stout, and the 12's can taste a Super Bowl. If our #12 goes into Lumen and is somewhat competent at running the offense, doesn't throw more than one pick, completes 60% plus of his passes, and leaves the game with a passer rating above 60, then I think he should be the QB for the rest of the year. JJ McCarthy is not competent right now. His numbers tell the story. His throws have left our receivers in vulnerable positions too many times.

So, Mad Max, the team is yours if you can keep it.

The Sun Has Set On Open Water For 2025

 

11/14/25 GOMH

I didn't make it to Eddy's Jetty until a quarter of ten last night. I had to get in one last open-water trip. I had one very small walleye on the gold Husky Jerk (10) on briefly. I fished at the Grumpy Old Man Hole on my way home just after midnight for a few casts and then called it on my Open Water Season.

This is why.

I am assuming that with the snow today and temps not getting out of the mid-twenties and lows in the single digits, that Platte Lake will have walkable ice by the weekend. I'll be getting my stuff together in the next couple of days. After not getting out last winter because of the hip replacement, I am actually looking forward to ice fishing this year. I will probably resume making ice fishing reports on YouTube. 

Sunrise Platte Lake 12/2/2022

Back to Inferno Mode

 Young MN Vikings QB self-immolates in the second half. In his first game at Lambert Field, Oh My.

The first half was some progress; the second half was pure regression.

The kid looks like Christian Ponder, but less mobile. He can't buy a break, his left-side protection both got injured in the second half. He and Ryan Kelly had some issues. Power for the course in this cursed season.

21 Years A Blogger, Bass Pundit

 My career as a blogger has now reached twenty-one years. If I blogged for profit and engagement, chances are slim that Bass Pundit would still be around. I am not quite sure how the Google AI defines being successful as a blogger, but sticking with something for more than two decades, which most people don't last for two years doing, is something to be proud of, I think. 

I am grateful to Google for providing this platform for me to use. It is a win-win because I subscribe to YouTube Premium in no small part because of Blogger. Bass Pundit Blogs serves as a digital scrapbook for me and my interests. I find value in keeping a blog, and that is the secret to my longevity.

Long live, Blogger! Long live, Bass Pundit!

Vikes Lose Again, Time to Exhale and Breathe Again

 JJ McCarthy is an accomplished winner who doesn't have a lot of history as a passing quarterback. He was projected to be a work in progress on that front when drafted, and that has turned out to be the case.  The kid is young and raw. Being Kevin O'Connell's quarterback is not an easy job description. At this point, I don't think anybody knows if McCarthy is up to the task or not. It is just too much to expect a second -year player starting for his first time in the NFL to have anywhere near a mastery of KOC's PHD-level offense. It looks like the kid is drowning most of the time, with a few glimmers of good play. KOC asked for too much too soon in my opinion. KOC's reliance upon passing is borderline pathological, but that has served KOC very well. With the loss to the Bears this week, it is time for the team and JJ McCarthy to breathe. They have almost no shot at making the playoffs. That isn't even worth giving an ounce of effort in pursuit of at this point. Without the pressure of making the playoffs, the team is now free to build McCarthy's confidence level for next year. If they win games great, but that shouldn't be the focus. Getting McCarthy to play as well as possible and limiting mistakes should be the new focus. KOC will have his hands full harnessing the kid.  Let Flores cook on the Defence and have fun as a team. It's a game; get better at it.  

Vikes Back Below .500

 

The Vikes Offense was out of sync, committing penalties and turnovers. The D was close on several occasions but never forced a turnover. The Ravens' Special Teams came up with a fumble recovery, and the Ravens came away with the win.  Vikes are back in must-win mode next week versus the Da Bears at home. The Offense should come into next week with a lot more urgency. I think the Offense had a Lions hangover in the Ravens game. Da Bears are beatable, but the Offense will really need to play clean. 

Trophy Out Of Platte Lake for 2025

 

My plan was to be at the Lake Place by 2:30 pm. The parents were not in on that plan and didn't arrive back from their Saturday adventuring until a little before 3 pm. I didn't get to the lake place until a little after 3:30 pm. Steve was ready to go, and I had things prepped to go last night, so I was off to the Platte Lake Public Access quickly. We got it loaded on the trailer and had almost completed running gas out of the system when I couldn't get the motor to turn over. I figured the starting battery was out of juice. I tried the pull cord, but it wouldn't budge. I figured out the problem and fixed the issue when I got home; It was the same deal I encountered somewhat frequently with my older 25hp Johnson.

I think I'm done in the Trophy for 2025. Temperatures around here are supposed to be about 10 degrees below normal for the next few days, before it is supposed to warm into the 50s by next weekend. If I get out for the warm-up, it will be in the Slop Slip, most likely on Rock Lake.

I didn't put the Trophy in Platte until June 5th this year, because some leaks in the hull needed to be fixed, and Todd wasn't able to make it up to do the repairs until either late May or June. In 2026, I plan to get the Trophy in the lake ASAP after ice-out to take full advantage of bass being open to catch-and-release fishing. 2026 is the year my long-awaited wish for year-round bass fishing happens. I took 137 trips in the Trophy this year, up significantly from the 89 trips I took last year. A bad back, bum hip, and poor fishing curbed my enthusiasm for getting out last year.

June 2025	28
July 2025	35
August 2025	28
Sept 2025	19
Oct 2025	21
Nov 2025	6
Total 2025	137

The weather wasn't the greatest in September and October, and I think in September and early October, I was kind of fished out and missed a few opportunities when the weather was nice as well. 

Last Trip In the Trophy For 2025

4.71lbs OutKast Chicken Nugget Jig

 

3.54lbs Choked the Nuggy

3.54lbs OCN Jig

Last trip in the Trophy for 2025. I was not gung-ho about getting out after getting beaten up yesterday until I was on my way up to the cabin with my Bass Fishing Playlist playing. I found great enthusiasm at that point. The wind wasn't terrible. I worked the Point/Flat Reeds out to the Juice and anchored. I think I had a couple of hits on the Chicken along the reed line. I tried a bunch of different stuff at the juice, not getting any bites. I then headed toward the Big Walleye Waypoints, getting a small bass just off the Red Area. I anchored and fan casted, losing one bite that felt good. I got to the Waypoints and it wasn't happening, so I made a move to Jaimen's and worked the reed line. I got the 3lber and 4lber just off the thicker reeds beyond the first boat lane on the "Nuggy". The 3lber choked the Nugget, and the 4lber got it in the top lip, dead center. I trolled the GOMH on the way in, getting snagged on a rock. I was able to free the Ultimate Jerk Shad when I got back to it. A successful final trip.

3Bass 2Pike (4lb)(9.36lbsfor 3 bass)

I'm Stunned, Vikes Win In Detroit

It's amazing what happens when your starters are not on the sidelines injured. Did I think the Vikes had any shot of winning versus the Lions in Detroit? Heck, no!

Pleasantly surprised that there is a glimmer of hope for making the playoffs.  If key Vikes can stay healthy that is a realistic possibility at 4-4.  I thought we were going to be 3-5 and the Vikes would be out of the playoff hunt today. The Lions are one of the best teams in the league and playing them in Ford field is no joke.

Tough game again next week vs. the Ravens who are in desperation must win mode, but on a winning streak to save their season. It is a big game. Will JJ Mac get his first win in MN?

Goodbye To Yet Another Record Setting Month In 2025

 Back in mid-June, I was singing the blues because fishing was just ok and the motor was having issues. With all the fishing I did at the Grumpy Old Man Hole and out of the Slop Slip, I didn't get the Trophy in the water until June 5th. I really struggled on Platte/Sullivan the previous fall and was highly concerned I was in for a mediocre summer and fall.  On June 29th, I began to really figure out the puzzle and never looked back. Bam, my best July for the number of fish caught, and by a wide margin. Bam, my best August. Bam, my best September. October extended the streak to four straight months of setting the record for the number of fish caught for that month. I also set this record in April. 

More posts to come on the records I set in 2025.

Last Topwater Bass of 2025

19" ToadZ (Green Pumpkin)

At the end of October, I thought I was still going to be able to catch some topwater fish in November, but it was not to be. I got this 19" bass I worked my way up the Intersection NE Reed Point on October 30th and it was my last topwater bass and topwater hit of the year. The water temps kept dropping, and even when it was reasonably calm and baitfish were on the surface, I couldn't draw a bite. But I was getting hit subsurface, so I didn't stay with topwater very long. 
 

I Caught A New Personal Best Walleye, Last Night

 

29"/9.12lbs Frenzy Diving Minnow (Brown Craw)

It is not the dirty 30',10lb fish that I have been after for more than 30 years now. But it's a half inch bigger than my previous PB, which was 28.5". I recall that I caught a few that size night trolling on Mille Lacs.I think the biggest one I ever got from shore at Eddy's was 27" something. It is possible that I have caught a low 9lb fish out of Mille Lacs, but back when I night trolled frequently, I didn't carry a scale and never believed one that I caught would go ten pounds. So this is my offical and documented walleye PB. 

Todd's PB Pike

5.59lbs Northland, Indiana Blade/Goat

 Todd brought his pontoon back up today to put it in storage, and we pulled the pontoon lift up on shore. It was windy out of the SE. I decided to run West of Platte Lake Access. Todd got the personal best pikewhere the Melon patch Trough end. Pike were stacked in that spot today. I hadn't cleared my scale yet, so I'm not 100% possitive 5.59lbs is the correct weight.