2017 Fishing Goals Achieved (and Not)

Goals achieved in bold green
Goals not achieved in red
Partly achieved in purple
Commentary in blue

Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with Dad at least 5 times. Dad fished with me 1 time.  Not great, but that beats zero.
2. Fish with Mike Thompson
3. Fish with Jim Bonin
4. Fish with  Mike "Spike" Miller
5. Fish with Jeff and Renee
6. Fish with Todd and the girls several times
7. Take Peter W. out in the Trophy at least once.
8. Take Matt W. out in the Trophy at least once.
9. Fish with Dave Lindmark
10. Fish with Christopher Glaze
Dream Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with Josh Douglas
2. Fish with Al Lindner
Maybe I'll do better in 2018.  I would have to give myself a D for making an effort to get out fishing with other people in 2017.  


Bass Snatcher Goals:
1.  Get "Wood" in at least one tournament. (1st-3rd Place Finish or Lunker) If I would have landed that limit fish on the Mississippi I would have gotten 3rd place.  So Close!
2. Win my 1st tournament. (My best finish to date is 2nd Place.)
3. Get "Lunker" in a tournament.   (Preferably one over 5-8 to win the revolving big bass pot that I'm now entered in thanks to somebody finally winning it last year.  With 3 big bass lakes on the schedule there is a shot.)
4. Get paired with Chuck Fields.  (He usually only fishes a couple of tournaments a year so chances of it ever happening are not very good.)
5. Finish in the Top 10 at the end of the year.  (Something I haven't done since 2011) Not fishing Thunder sunk this one.
6. Catch a limit at every tournament of the year.  (I've done this twice, but in 2012 I only fished 4 out of the 6 tournaments due to a bad back.) A tough year for limits with only two out of 5 tournaments fished.
7. Pre-fish with at least 3 boaters. I pre-fished 4 tournaments, plus the Challenge Cup
8. List the Rods I'm bringing for each tournament before the tournament.

Technique & Tackle Goals:
1. Win something in Fantasy Fishing or Facebook giveaway/contest. Won a 13 Fishing Hat.  Had a terrible year in Fantasy.
2. Catch fish on a Lucky Craft Gunfish 117
3. Catch a fish on % of Mystery Tackle Box Lures
    3a. 1st Box 100% (5 out of 5) 3 out of 5
    3b. 2nd Box 60% (3 out of 5) 2 out of 5
    3c. 3rd Box 110 % (6 out of 6)
4. Catch a fish on the Rapala BX Waking Minnow
5. Catch a bass on the Salmo Bass Bug Caught pike on it several times, no bass though.
6. Get my brother Todd set up with a Frog rod.
7.  Officially Open the Tackle Warehouse this year. (I never did that in 2016)

Blogging:
1. Blog about anytime I reach a goal. I wasn't 100% vigilant.
2. Record all fishing trips at Fish Swami Think I missed a trip or two
3. Fish at least 150 days and blog about them 213 Days fished in 2017
4. Do a better job of blogging when the Elites come for the AOY this year on Mille Lacs. Failed spectacularly.  Heart just wasn't in it.

Fish Goals:
1. Catch Devin's birthday bullhead on May 20th.
2. Average 5 fish caught per hour. (4.08 in 2016, 3.62 in 2015, 3.55 in 2014, 4.41 in 2013, 4.31 in 2012, 2.77 in 2011) 3.99fph in 2017.  I just love topwater fishing too much.
3. Catch 3,000 Fish 3209 fish caught in 2017

Crappie:
1. Catch a new personal best. (Currently 14.25")
2. Catch* over 300 this year. (Caught 306 in 2016) 515 Crappies caught in 2017.

Dogfish:
1. Win my 3rd Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship
2. Catch a MN State Record fish. (11-4  or 35" x 20")
3. Catch a new personal best.

Pike:
1. Catch* over 200 this year. (Caught 488 in 2016) 798 Pike caught in 2017
2. Catch a 38" or over/personal best.

Bass: 
1. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Largemouth
2. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Smallmouth
3. Catch* over 1,000 bass this year. 1,238 Largie and 26 Smallies caught in 2017
4. Catch* at least 25 smallies.  (I caught 24 last year)

Walleye:
1. Catch at least 30. 40 eye's caught in 2017
2. Catch 30" or new personal best. (28.5 is current PB)

Snatcher Little Boy/Wabedo Preview

Tomorrow is my last chance to achieve any of the goals I set for my Snatcher Tournaments back in March.   To make the Top 10 at the end of the year is probably going to require me achieving the goal of a Top 3 finish as well.  Not being able to fish at Thunder Lake probably killed my chances because of the total bomb at North Long.  All I can do is fish hard all day, hope I get the right bites, and am able to land them.  The fish might be chomping🤞.  I like the fact that my boater Alan Steinbauer has a Phoenix boat.  It's wide open layout on the passenger side has plenty of room for me to bring a few extra rods.

Here's what I'm bringing:
7'6" H LTB (1oz Jig)
7'4" H Tatula (Frog)
7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)
7'4" H Avid X (Sprinker Frog)
7'4" H Zilion  (1/2oz Jig)
7'3" MH LTB (Toads)
7'3" H Lamiglas (Mag Fluke/ Swimbait/Swim jig)
7'2" H Tatula (3/8oz Jig)
7'2" MH Tatula (Topwater/Wake/Chatter Jig)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
6'10" MH Crucial (Buzzbait/Spinnerbait/Topwater)

Winner Winner 13 Fishing Hat for Dinner

This is the second time I have won a contest from 13 Fishing.  The first time was when I won a Muse Gold Rod in a caption the picture contest.  This time I guessed the crayons.  I am not that disappointed abut not winning the reel, as I have plenty of reels, but will wear the hat all the time.

Winning this means I have achieved yet another goal this year.

And speaking of achieved goals for 2017.

I caught my 1,000th bass sometime this past month.

How I Am Doing On My Fishing Goals for 2017

Bold means the goal has been achieved
Green means I am on pace to achieve the goal.
Red means I failed to achieve the goal.

I really need to get cracking on getting out fishing with the fishing buddies.

Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with Dad at least 5 times.
2. Fish with Mike Thompson
3. Fish with Jim Bonin
4. Fish with  Mike "Spike" Miller
5. Fish with Jeff and Renee
6. Fish with Todd and the girls several times
7. Take Peter W. out in the Trophy at least once.
8. Take Matt W. out in the Trophy at least once.
9. Fish with Dave Lindmark
10. Fish with Christopher Glaze
Dream Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with Josh Douglas
2. Fish with Al Lindner

Bass Snatcher Goals:
1.  Get "Wood" in at least one tournament. (1st-3rd Place Finish or Lunker)
2. Win my 1st tournament. (My best finish to date is 2nd Place.)
3. Get "Lunker" in a tournament.   (Preferably one over 5-8 to win the revolving big bass pot that I'm now entered in thanks to somebody finally winning it last year.  With 3 big bass lakes on the schedule there is a shot.)
4. Get paired with Chuck Fields.  (He usually only fishes a couple of tournaments a year so chances of it ever happening are not very good.)
5. Finish in the Top 10 at the end of the year.  (Something I haven't done since 2011)
6. Catch a limit at every tournament of the year.  (I've done this twice, but in 2012 I only fished 4 out of the 6 tournaments due to a bad back.)
7. Pre-fish with at least 3 boaters.
8. List the Rods I'm bringing for each tournament before the tournament.

Technique & Tackle Goals:
1. Win something in Fantasy Fishing or Facebook giveaway/contest.
2. Catch fish on a Lucky Craft Gunfish 117
3. Catch a fish on % of Mystery Tackle Box Lures
    3a. 1st Box 100% (5 out of 5)
    3b. 2nd Box 60% (3 out of 5)
    3c. 3rd Box 110 % (6 out of 6)
4. Catch a fish on the Rapala BX Waking Minnow
5. Catch a bass on the Salmo Bass Bug
6. Get my brother Todd set up with a Frog rod.
7.  Officially Open the Tackle Warehouse this year. (I never did that in 2016)

Blogging:
1. Blog about anytime I reach a goal.
2. Record all fishing trips at Fish Swami
3. Fish at least 150 days and blog about them
4. Do a better job of blogging when the Elites come for the AOY this year on Mille Lacs.

Fish Goals:
1. Catch Devin's birthday bullhead on May 20th.
2. Average 5 fish caught per hour. (4.08 in 2016, 3.62 in 2015, 3.55 in 2014, 4.41 in 2013, 4.31 in 2012, 2.77 in 2011)
3. Catch 3,000 Fish

Crappie:
1. Catch a new personal best. (Currently 14.25")
2. Catch* over 300 this year. (Caught 306 in 2016)

Dogfish:
1. Win my 3rd Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship
2. Catch a MN State Record fish. (11-4  or 35" x 20")
3. Catch a new personal best.

Pike:
1. Catch* over 200 this year. (Caught 488 in 2016)
2. Catch a 38" or over/personal best.

Bass: 
1. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Largemouth
2. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Smallmouth
3. Catch* over 1,000 bass this year. (Caught 764 in 2016)
4. Catch* at least 25 smallies.  (I caught 24 last year)

Walleye:
1. Catch at least 30. (Caught 42 in 2016)
2. Catch 30" or new personal best. (28.5 is current PB)

* Catch is anything I deem it to be including follows by pike or smallmouth (while pre-fishing), a pike missing my lure, fish seen on the Aqua View, and fish that get off before I have them in hand that I can positively identify.

Another Goal Reached That I Didn't Reach in 2016

15.25" Rapala BX Waking Minnow

I missed a couple of other bites as well.  I would have fished it more, but there was to much torn up weeds on the surface.  Caught on the 2017 Bass Opener in Platte Lake.

I Reached A Goal In 2017 That Eluded Me Last Year

10.5" Lucky Craft Gunfish 117

It may be a dink, but all topwater fish count, so goal achieved.  I read a article on Wired2Fish that said this bait is very effective if there is some chop on the water.  Definitely will be following that advice.

I Reached My Crappie Total Goal For 2017

12.9" Glow Demon & Minnow

My Crappie total goal for the year was set on the low side at 300, same as last year.  I think I only needed like 27 to hit 300 going into open water.  I achieved 300 caught on April 6th with a good night at the GOMH.  I added to the total last night as well. Right now I am up to 308 crappies caught this year with another whole month of trying for them.

My Tackle Warehouse Opener 2017

Goal Achieved: #7 Under Technique And Tackle

I never got around to official opening the Tackle Warehouse last year.  I don't store much of my tackle in it anymore.  It's mostly full of old junk and extra plastics.  Sometimes I use my little man cave to work on securing my jig and spinnerbait skirts so they don't fall apart.

Today I was after some dogfish candy.

I haven't used a pork frog in several years.  I won both my first and second Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championships with pork frog.  I thought it's about high time I get back to using them to chase another title.

It was such a nice day today.  In addition to playing around in the tackle warehouse for most of the afternoon, I also got the Muse Gold/Daiwa Emblem combo spooled up with 10lb Fireline. I headed out to check the lakes around 6:40PM.  I fished quite a while at Bulldog but didn't get anything there.

I would say Bulldog is 1/8th open. A little more progress on Rock Lake.

There is an open spot on the sunken island

As for Platte/Sullivan ice hasn't pulled away from the Eastern side of the lake for the most part yet.  From the access, it looked like a different story on the NW side.

It looked like the SPRO was now totally open (no picture).  Channel Inn Bay was open.

View of the Small Island

I think Platte is about 1/8th open as well.

Looking to the SW GOMH 

Single C-130 Flying to Ft. Ripley.  Normally there is two of them

I really thought I might catch something at the GOMH tonight.  There was some baitfish activity and a muskrat scarred something out of the bulrushes that made a fast-moving V wake and no muskrat ever came up that I could tell.  I had a lively minnow on too.  I stayed until it was dark and I could no longer see the bobber.  I think the total lack of current moving under the bridge is why I didn't get anything tonight.  The anticipation of getting that first open water fish of the year and the warm weather made for a fun trip even if I did get skunked.