Rock Dock Is In!

The area docks were put in either today or yesterday.  I didn't get out until after 7:30PM.  I didn't even have a bite, only fished at Rock Lake.

Platte Lake Open/ Eddy's Jetty Still In Place

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Free and clear tonight at Platte Lake.  It was to windy and cold to fish so I decided to drive to Mille Lacs and see what was up if anything at Eddy's.  They hadn't started any construction yet that I could tell, so it looks like I will get another year out of using the Jetty.

The weather is supposed to be rainy, cold, and windy this week, so I doubt I will be doing much catching.

Rock & Bulldog Ice Out, Platte Tomorrow???

This was the view of Rock when I arrived at 6:30PM. There was a boat on the lake and by the time I left the ice was pretty well done for.

Bulldog was my first stop and this is what it looked like.  No doubt it was ice free by 8:30PM

This is what it looked like at Jenny's access.  I wouldn't be able to get from there to the Public Access of Platte by boat tonight, especially because there was a wall of ice out front of the access.

I'm 90% sure the ice will be gone on Platte by this time tomorrow night.  Sullivan was open as far as I could tell.

I did get my first fish of the year tonight.

Tomorrow is supposed to be as or more windy than today, cooler, and it's gonna rain as well.  Don't know if I'll fish or not tomorrow, but will probably check on Platte Lake for sure.

Rock Lake Ice Free Tomorrow???

Looking to the North from Rock Lake Access

My guess is that Rock Lake will be the first area lake to go ice free this year sometime tomorrow.  I would say it was 40% open tonight and the ice was looking awfully dark.  I could hear the tinkling sound from the far away  ice you can see in the picture.  Bulldog Lake was less than 30% open.  Platte was free to the small island and Channel Inn Bay was now totally free of ice.  I guess there was some open water in the middle of the bay our cabin is on.  Still think Platte will go on Sunday. Didn't catch anything at the GOMH, but Peter was there tonight.

My Area Lakes Tonight

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Bulldog Lake the Access Bay is free of ice.  I'd say it's 1/6th clear at this point.

On Rock Lake the ice has been Moving around.  I believe a hole opened up in the middle, probably from where a pressure ridge broke free.

Platte Lake The Channel in Bay is just about open

Open water isn't quite to the little island, will no doubt be open tomorrow.  Ice is off of the North shorelines quite a way in some places.  I'm still thinking Platte Lake is open on Sunday.

We didn't get as much rain as a lot of places.

#TBT My 1st Tournament Out of the Trophy???

It's amazing how doing Throwback Thursdays can jog one's memories. I had been trying to remember for the longest time, exactly when I first came into possession of my boat, formerly Cyberfish's boat, the Trophy. I know from doing # TBTs that I had it for the Spring of 2005 when this picture was taken. However, I was trying to remember if I had it in 2004. But then I was tracking down my various #TBT for Facebook today when I remembered fishing at the Excel Bass Tournament on July 17th of 2004 on the Whitefish Chain. I'm now absolutely positive I fished that tournament out of the Trophy. Was it the first tournament I fished out of the Trophy? I'm not 100% positive on that, as I might have fished a Team Bass tournament out of it on July 10th, and there was a Fishers of Men Club Tournament around that time as well. But I do remember fishing the Excel Tournament out of the Trophy; I am sure of it.

Interestingly, I didn't fish out of the Trophy for a memorable tournament on Koronis Lake on July 31st with Team Bass, where my 6-fish limit weighed 20.44 lbs. I know for a fact that I fished that out of MT's old tin boat, the same one I fished the first two Excel Bass Tournaments out of that year. No wonder I had such a hard time remembering when I got to use the Trophy. I only had it sometimes, depending on the needs of GEM Camps. I wish I had started the blog earlier in 2004.

My Berkley/ Abu Garcia Fishing Major Award Arrived Today

Today was the day.  A good sized box, but not to heavy.  The Fed Ex guy said it was from Pure Fishing and I knew my "Major Award" from the Justin Lucas Rocket To The Top contest had arrived.

Inside it was this:

Revo Rocket

Powerbait Tackle Bag with 3 14"x8.5"x2"  tackle trays.

Berkley "Thunder" Sunglasses

300yds Trilene Braid 50lb

300yds Trilene Braid 65lb

200yds Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon XL

6" Powerbait Swim Shad in Swamp Gas color

4.5" Powerbait Rib Shad in Gizzard Shad color

3.5" Powerbait Fight'n Bug in Rusty Crayfish color

6" Havoc Boss Dog  in Green Pumpkin/Black

That Swim Shad is a monster of a bait,  I don't know if I have jig heads with a big enough hook.  The Rib Shad look like a good bait.  I'm a little unsure of the Fight'n Bug and Boss Dog; I'll have to research more about those.  I'm gonna put the 50lb braid on the Rocket.  Not sure what I'll do with the 65lb at this point.  I can always use another tackle bag, but I'm not sure what I'll use it for at this point.  It could become my panfish bag or Mille Lacs bag.

B.S. WI and MI Liberalizing Bass Fishing Seasons, MN Doing Nothing

Michigan is in the process of getting rid of their closed season altogether after having experimented with a catch and release season and the Cheeseheads are shutting down the catch and release season in the North for largemouth in favor of opening up with the rest of the state.

We will be lucky to get an early two week catch and release season in 2015.  But at least this year I can fish for smallies on Mille Lacs come Fishing Opener.

A Look Around the Area (Bulldog and Rock)

Nothing happened today at the GOMH, other than I saw a few loons, ducks, and an otter. I checked the North East shore of Platte and the ice is pulling away from shore, significantly in a couple of spots. Here is a look at Bulldog and Rock Lake.  As always click pictures to enlarge.

All I caught today was the ice at Rock Lake.

It's suppose to rain the next few days.  I'm guessing Platte Lake will be ice free by Sunday.

Got My License, Got No Fish

I got up to Bear Traxx just before they closed at 5PM and got my 2014 Minnesocold Fishing License.  I didn't ask if they had minnows yet or not.  Then it was off to the Grumpy Old Man Hole.  The sun, it got up to 57°F today, and West wind really did a number on the GOMH and PRO area of Sullivan.

(Click to Enlarge Pics)

View of Platte

View of Sullivan

Bobber In

 I believe the whole Platte River Outlet of Sullivan was open to the river mouth.  I tried a few different lures, but didn't have any success.  I left about 6:10PM and got home a few minutes before my parents arrived back from their month long vacation to Florida.

I headed back up to the GOMH at 8PM.  A number of times early early season like this I haven't gotten a bite until right before dark.  It wasn't to be tonight.  I did have three loons swim up to check me out.

The loon in the distance joined the other two.  There were a couple of ducks swimming around too.  I don't know where all the waterfowl are this year, normally I'd be seeing at least 4 times as many birds as I have this year.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a little warmer with less wind.  I would say I have a 50% chance of getting my first fish of the year tomorrow.  Still no sign of dead fish.

The GOMH Tonight

Today was sunny and 70°F, to bad I don't have my fishing licence yet or I would have gone fishing.  I was surprised to see how much the Grumpy Old Man Hole has opened up at this point.

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The view of Platte Lake

The view of Sullivan

3 Guys showed up to fish right after I arrived.  They didn't have any hits in the 10 minutes I watched them.

  There were no sign's of dead fish that I saw and surprisingly few ducks and geese as well.  I did see some swans in the Platte River  just beyond the first bend.  I also checked out things at the culvert and a the Platte Lake Access.  I didn't see any ice fishermen.

We are a bit farther ahead than we were on 27th of April last year when it got to 72°F.

TBT: Last Year's Bass Snatcher Tourny on Little Boy/Wabedo

Yesterday I finally got around to blogging my tournament report for Little Boy/ Wabedo, Enjoy!

Ice off Platte Lake By May 1st?

Even though it is snowing out outside right now as I write this on the 16th of April I say YES the ice will be off Platte Lake by May 1st.  Last year of coarse the May 8th ice off was the record since I moved up to this area in 2003.  The previous record was April 24th .  There is no way we make that date this year.  It's going to stay cold until Saturday and then the temps are supposed to get into the 60's pretty much every day next week.  I predict ice off will be the 28th or 29th, provided we don't get a blast of cold air again.  I expect to catch my first bullhead at the GOMH sometime later next week.

The word I've been hearing about Platte having a winter kill this year isn't good.  But I won't know for sure until the ice is off the lake.  

As far as things around the state some small lakes in the cities are open.

I'm Gonna Have A Rocket, Man

I was informed this week that I won the first Justin Lucas "Rocket" to the Top Contest from Berkley® and Abu Garcia®.  I thought I had guessed 68th Place for Table Rock, but I didn't go back and verify it when I first heard Lucas finished in 68th. I didn't want to get my hopes up.  Then I got an email titled: Winner: Rocket To The Top Contest.  The email didn't tell me what all I had won, so I went back and looked at the contest post on Facebook.  Looks like I will be getting $200 worth of stuff beyond the Revo Rocket Reel.  I'm a happy camper. I've never owned a Revo reel, but I thought about getting some when they first came out and got such good reviews.  Now I'll get my chance.  Not sure which rod I'm going to put it on yet.  I'll have to see what if any lines they send me before I make that decision.  The stuff should arrive by the end of the first week in May, so I'll have plenty of time to figure it out before the Fishing Opener.

Last Night at the GOMH

Last night I took the dogs for a car ride to the Grumpy Old Man Hole.  It is exactly what I expected in terms of open water.  No sign of dead fish but there wasn't any current to speak of so I'm not out of the woods yet as far as a winter kill goes.  Surprisingly there were no ducks, geese, loons, or swans and only a single beaver swimming  around. If tomorrow is nice with some sun I may try bringing a rod with me.

Looking out into Sullivan

(Into the sun)

TBT# My 1st Baitcasting Reel

Throwback Thursday-I bought this Shimano Bantam Mag Plus 250SG XHS reel at Little Jim's in Annandale MN in probably  1982 or 1983 for $69.99 plus tax.  I can't remember anymore if I bought it in the old store or at the one they have now.  I think it was the old store, but memory isn't the greatest.

Dad only fished with spinning gear, so learning how to cast this thing was solely up to me.  I read the instructions from cover to cover and there was nothing telling me how to properly adjust the reel for casting.  I promptly went out and backlashed it so bad the reel was unusable.  When I got back home, I got new line to put on it and I learned to cast in my back yard.  Many more backlashes followed, but eventually I figured it out.

 The reel has a magnetic brake.  I have never been able to get comfortable throwing a reel with centrifugal brakes no matter how hard I tried with them.  Probably the biggest reason why I am such a Daiwa fan now, magnetic brakes.

 
5:1 was considered Extra High Speed.  My how things have changed.  As I recall the big selling point for me at the time was Quickfire Free Spool, aka the thumb bar.  I didn't want one that had a mettle push button and this one didn't.  The reel served me well for many years and still is in usable condition.  I have had it on an ice fishing rod since the early years of this century.  Seeing as how I have stopped ice fishing, I don't use it anymore.

My Tackle Warehouse Opener 2014

Today it got to 68°F so I opened My Tackle Warehouse for the year today.  I started the process of giving it a much needed cleaning and make over.  Having gotten a Dyson Cordless Vacuum made this possible. While I was cleaning I found a box with some tacks, so now I finally found a spot for my patches instead of just sitting on a shelf getting in my way.

BASS SNATCHIN.com

I just found out about BassSnatchin.com through Facebook. Not to be confused with the Baxter Bass Snatchers, my fishing club.  This outfit is out of Texas and into making info graphics for people. They have a Blog on the website.  I hope they will make one for me.  Here is an example of their work:

2014 I Can See My Driveway!!!

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OK, so the driveway isn't 100% visible yet, but I can walk the whole length on gravel.  So I calling it today.  The past couple of days temps in the 40's and 50's along with the sun really did a number on the snow and ice.

Interestingly, last year I also called it on April 6th.  It doesn't look like this April is going to go down the same road we did last year with the well below normal temps and weekly snowstorms.  With what the extended forecast is showing I would say we are on pace to lose the ice off Platte Lake during the last 7 to 10 days of the month.