The 2026 Packer Massacre In Minneapolis

 

The 2026 season started on some rough notes. Kyler got picked quickly and was soon knocked out of the game with a concussion. The Packers came ready to play, while the Vikes came out a bit sluggish. The Packers made some big plays and got lucky when Isaiah Rodgers dropped a poorly thrown deep ball. Because of the drop, Love was able to gash my squad again, and they scored their second TD before halftime to go up 19 to 10. I thought that, with the Vikings down by 9, the Packers getting the ball coming out of halftime, and Wentz at QB, it was unlikely the Vikings had the offensive firepower to catch up.  But then the D stepped up, getting stops and turnovers. The Vikings' offense took advantage of opportunities, and it turned into a rout. The 2026 Packer Massacre in Minneapolis.

Packer fans who failed to acknowledge their team's known shortcomings were stunned. Today has been delicious as I have listened to their laments.  They should be concerned. Starting 0-2 is a realistic possibility for them. Everybody else in the Division won yesterday, and weaknesses in their unit were exposed.

But enough about the Packers. The Vikings D is legit. It looks like Dallas Turner will become the player that B Flo groomed him to be. Can't wait for the Turner/B Flo v Caleb Williams matchup in Week 2.

Will 1, And It Work?

 

Football season is here, and I am guardedly optimistic about the Vikings' chances of having a really good year. The two big keys to that happening are Kyler being healthy and the Vikings' run game transformation being a thing.

Kyler's Health:
Kyler has tended to get beat up and injured throughout his career. For the past couple of years, the Vikings' O-line has been injured and beat up. The Vikings' O-line and Kyler are coming into the season healthy. My hope is that experience has taught the guys enough to avoid most situations where injury is a likely outcome. If the O-Line struggles with injuries again this year, it is likely that sooner or later Kyler will as well. Fingers crossed and knocking on wood!

Pound, Pound, and Slash/Pound, Pound, and Cut, Ya:

I am hoping that the hiring of Frank Smith marks a shift in KOC's pass-first and always philosophy. Frank Smith is a running game guru. Our O-Line is healthy. Jordan Mason is a very good running back. I think KOC is ready for a change in the results he has been getting. To me, the inputs add up to my thinking that the Vikings will try to be a bully-ball team that uses the run to control the clock and set up the pass.  I could be out to lunch on this hunch. We'll see.

Thoughts on the start of the season:

You never know what you are going to get to start the season. Everybody has rust to shake off and chemistry to develop. KOC has generally been a winner in the season opener and in the month of September. Starting off with two games in the division gives them a chance to get a leg up or dig a pretty big hole. Game One versus the Packers at home is huge for both teams. I think the Vikings will beat the Packers, but I'm nervous. Love is streaky, and when he gets hot, he's amazing.  It's the first game; you just never know what you are going to get.

  
SKOL!

Snatcher's Blind/Lake Alexander Preview and Rods

 

The Plan: 
I drew Snatcher Chuck, and we got lucky and pre-fished the lake that was drawn for the blind. There may be some Snatcher skullduggery that plays into my "luck" in the past three blind tournaments, but I'm not totally sure. The lake fished tough, but we did get some hints if the fishing is off. Better to have hints when and if the fishing is off I say. Conditions will be somewhat similar to the day we pre-fished. Coming a day after thunderstorms and windy, but with quite a bit less overcast. The sun is supposed to fire up the smallmouth. And the days are getting short, so the bass could be firing all over the lake.

The rods I'm bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (FC)(Texas Rig, Jigs)

7'4" H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Spinnerbait, buzzbait)

7'3" MH St. Croix LTB (Drop Shot)

7' MH Tatula Elite (Big Topwater, Traps)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC)(Jigs, Chatterbait)

6'9" H Tatula (Braid) (Chatterbait)

6'8" M St. Croix Avid (Topwater, Jerkbait, Traps) 

5'6" St. Croix Premier (Flukes, Dingers, Ned)

Cha-Chig!

 

A solid line-up at Lake Champlain got me the win in the Bass Boat Central Group.

I was also pick-perfect in the Pick 'em Game.

Snatcher's Pelican Lake Preview and Rods

 

My Thoughts:

For the 3rd straight tournament, I will not be getting out to pre-fish. We only have 10 guys fishing this one, which I think makes it the smallest field in a Snatcher Tournament ever. My boater, Theo, did get out pre-fishing at least once and felt good about what he found. When we fished here two years ago in August, it fished really well, with only one guy not getting a limit. Snatcher Theo, my boater, prefers to fish "out". I will bring one frog rod just in case. Hopefully, it won't be too windy.

The Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jig)

7'4" H Tatula (Frogs, Toads, Topwater) 

7'4" H Zillion (Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Texas Rig)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs, Chatters, Swimbaits, Dark Sleeper)

6'8" M Avid (Topwater)

6'6" MH GLX (Jigs, Tubes, Ned Rig, Neko Jig, Dark Dark Sleeper)

Snatcher's at the Gull/Crow Wing River Tourny Preview and Rods

My Thoughts:

My "I can't catch a limit" nemesis, a river tournament. When we were here two years ago in early September, Smitty's Co caught a nearly 18lb limit on a frog, if I'm not mistaken. Rivers are unpredictable beasts that can leave even seasoned guys like Smitty scratching his head. If the rice is lying on the water, I have the weapon of bass destruction for the job.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'6" H Tatula (Jigs,Punch)

7'4" XH Zillion (Frogs)

7'4" H Mod Zillion (Jigs,Punch)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frogs)

7'4" H Tatula (Toadz, Frogs)

7'4" H Tatula (Toad,Frog)/7'3" MH Tourny Bass (Carolina Rig)

6'9"H Tatula Elite (Jig)

6'9"H Tatula Elite (FC)(Jig,Punch)

 

Snatcher's Big Birch Tournament Preview

 

My Thoughts: Neither I nor my boater pre-fished. I can't remember if that has ever happened before. Maybe once or twice.  So I'm going in totally blind on a lake I haven't been to since my first year in the club, 2008, when I finished second-to-last, and my boater didn't place well. I liked the lake, though. It has clear water, smallmouth bass, and quite a bit of slop. We will not specifically target smallmouth, but my boater says he knows some rock/weed areas.  Hopefully, the slop will play. Looks like the winds will be on the reasonably mild side, just like they were for the first tournament of the year. If the tournament I fished in 2008 is any indication, 3lbers are hard to come by unless you are committed to sight-fishing smallies all day. Can anyone knock off Tuma in this one? Not likely. I would be happy if I could get a bag of 2lbers.

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4"H Tatula Elite (Chicken Jig, Frog)

7'4"H Tatula (Frogs/Toads, Topwater)

7'4"H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7' H Mojo Bass Dock Skipper (Jigs,Chatter)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (FC) (Jigs, Chatter, Fluke)

6'8"M Avid (Topwater, Jerks)

6'6"MH GLX (Texas Rig, Dark Sleeper, Ned, Dinger,Fluke)

Spin:

5'6" Avid MH (Fluke, Dinger, Ned))

2008 Results:

Snatcher's Platte/Sullivan Tournament Preview And Rods

 

My Thoughts: 

Thanks to 2026 being the year MN bassheads were liberated from a closed bass season, I got the Trophy in the water quickly, and it has been game on for me ever since on Platte/Sullivan. As bites have come and gone, I have been able to understand why a bite left or stayed good, and with an OK amount of success, have been able to figure out where the fish had departed. In the past, I may have felt lost and probably just didn't spend the time necessary to track them down. I am confident that Ranger Arnie and I will be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Plan: 

We are going to start in an area where Arnie caught them the first day he was out pre-fishing. I think it is a solid area and I am talking an area. I have three primary areas in mind that I think we should spend most of our time on, and where we start is a good one. We have eight boats fishing in this tournament. It will be interesting to see whether any other boats head to our starting area and, if they do, where they choose to attack first. I have some backup areas that, if we don't get to them, I'm fine with it because that means we caught 'em where I thought they should be. 

Rods I'm Bringing:

7'4" H Zillion (The Chicken)

7'4" H Tatula Elite (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)

7'4" H Tatula (Toads, Ploppers)

7' MH Mod Mojo Bass (Crankbaits, Topwater, Wakebaits)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Plopper, )(Braid)

6'9" H Tatula Elite (Jigs,Chatters, Flukes)(FC)

5'6" MH Avid (Fluke, Dinger)

Trophy In the Water For 2026

 

Several others were at the Grumpy Old Man Hole this morning, but the bullheads were not. So instead of catching nothing and looking dumb, I decided my time would be better spent getting the Trophy ready and putting it in the lake today. It turns out fate knew what it was doing, and I crushed them the next couple of nights on Sullivan. It is nice to have all options available early.

Rock Dock In(4/14/26)

Dock In

 

Boat Ramp Fixed

Beautiful Night

I didn't catch anything at Rock, but did talk with an old acquaintance who was out walking her dog. However, I did score a slabber bullhead at the Grumpy Old Man Hole.

Platte Lake Ice Off(4/12/26)

 

Rock Lake In The Slop Slip(4/9/26)

 

Blocked by ice in the PRO

18.40lbs

3:00-8:30PM Rock Lake Ice Line fish in 6' to 10' with weeds

34-38℉, Cloudy, 1-6mph WSW

Water Temps: Low 40's/High 30's maybe

After my walk up to the corner, I was up for taking the Slop Slip to Rock Lake. I was disappointed that the ice line hadn't moved much yesterday. Down towards the reeds It was over some deeper water, but I didn't get any bites. There was a parade of four eagles. I went into the Platte River Outlet and was blocked by ice at the inner mouth of the narrows. That worked out because chances are pretty good that the Beaver Dam is a waste of time.  The ice line was farther off the bank at the NW Corner. I ended up missing two bites off the reeds in the Lone Sunfish Area on the Chatterbait. I had both fish on for a solid five or six seconds. The first one may have been a pike, and the second I'm pretty sure was a bass. I got back out to the ice line and missed a couple of bites on the Chatterbait. The ball of my BallerZ got bit off. I decided to throw the Rage Swimmer one time and came up a winner. 3.92lb bass. The Rapala scale was set to KG, I Googled how to switch it back, and fortunately, the correct way was the first result. I got a couple more solid bass on the Faisox Chatter and lost a couple of more bites. I kind of lost the plot as I drifted to the NW Point. I worked the NW Point pretty well without getting any bites. It started to snow. I worked the ice line back and missed a couple of bites before hooking up with another 3lber. I couldn't get the camera to work, and my iPhone battery was getting low. I turned off the music and put the phone inside my bibs to keep it warm. I missed a couple more bites as I was moving toward the fish, but got a final 4lber.  I think I missed another couple of bites. I turned toward the Lone Sunfish Area and got my only pike. I threw it back, and the sucker jumped up on the ice. I thought about leaving it there for an eagle, but I was able to get it back in the water. I cruised quickly across the PRO opening. I had a really good feeling bite along the ice line out from the reeds, but it swam under the ice and got hung up and came off. That was my last bite of the night.  It took me a while to get the boat landed and into the car. I gave the Frittside, Chicken Jigs, and X-Rap a fair shot. They wanted the Chatter today.

5Bass 

1Pike (18.48lbs for the 5 bass)

Rock Lake, Platte, GOMH (4/8/26)

 

Another 20' and I should be catching fish at Rock. 

North Platte Lake Drive looking South

GOMH+ Today(4/6/26)

 I drove North Platte Lake Drive tonight, and there was quite a bit more open water along the northern shoreline and Big Island than expected. I would say Platte is about 1/3rd open. Rock is progressing, as is Bulldog, Erskine, and Sullivan. I drove to the Sullivan Inlet on the way home and saw a herd of deer along the road. I also heard my first loon while I fished. It was cold, and I ran out of energy, so I didn't fish for very long. I also had an oprey fly right to me from Platte to Sullivan. Muskrats were about as were ducks. It should warm up some tomorrow and throughout the week. I can taste open water now. Platte should be open by Friday, the 10th.

Platte Lake From GOMH

Platte Lake from N Platte Lake Drive

Sullivan Inlet

Sullivan Inlet South of Culvert

Sullivan Inlet Access

Rock Lake

Erskine Lake

NW Access Sullivan Lake

Shakopee Lake Access

Rum River into Shakopee Lake

GOMH Today(4/4/26)

 The final day of this four-day-long winter storm started on the 1st of the month. We were on the low end of what was forecast for snow accumulations. Open water expanded in Channel Inn Bay in Platte Lake a fair amount. The Sullivan Platte River Outlet still looks to have quite a bit of ice, but I imagine it will be gone soon. I didn't check North Platte Lake Drive or Rock Lake because it was sloppy getting to the lake place. I think Platte and the area lakes will go ice-free somewhere between the 10th to the 12th. There were a few swans, ducks, and eagles flying around. Will the loons show this week?

Platte at normal zoom
Open water all the way past SPSI 

Note to self: Pack a shovel tomorrow.