Beat Green Bay And...

It has been a while since my last Vikings post.  I am pleased that we are playing for the Division Crown in the final regular season game of the 2015/16 season.  I think the Vikes are in a position where that very well might happen, now that our best 3 players on defense look to be healthy again.  All we have to do is beat them Packers and Aaron Rodgers at Lambert field in Prime Time on NBC.

SKOL Vikes!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Skipping With A Baitcasting Reel

I think next year I am going to make a concerted effort to master skipping with a baitcaster.  I have gotten better at it over the past couple of years, but there is definitely room for improvement I need to make.

1st Ice Fishing Trip This Winter

9.75" T.H.E. Jig w/waxie

3:00-5:30PM
Conditions: Cloudy, Light wind out of the NNW, 7" of ice

I decided to head out of the Platte Lake Access where I knew the ice was safe.  I decided to head out to the 14 ft hole as marked on my Lakemaster Chip.  I was out farther than a couple of guys who were fishing tip ups.  I drilled two sets of two holes.  I put a minnow down one hole and I jigged the other with a tungsten jig with a wax worm.  I had my Vexilar turned all the way up to 10, thinking it was on 1.  Not a whole lot was going on.  Finally a fish came in and bit, but I didn't have my drag set for the 2lb test I put on the reel and it stole the tungsten jig when it took a run.  My bad.  I decided I was going to have to switch a couple of reels a round when I got home.  I decided not to tie anything on the rod with the broke line and switched to the rod with a black and white glow T.H.E. Jig on it.  Finally I figured out I had the Vex set to high.  I thought I wasn't gonna catch anything so I took a couple of pictures.

But then I marked something and caught it.  That was the last bite I got.

Be Safe On the Ice

They Were Who I Thought They Were

At halftime with the Lions up 17-0 I wrote on Facebook:

When the Lions kicked the 2nd field goal.  I thought the Lions just might have it.  When they lateraled back to Rodgers.  I thought they had it for a second, but then the flag came out.  The rest is now Packer Lore.  They were who I thought they were.

Unfortunately the chances of the Vikes winning the division just dropped significantly.  Still my 3 Paths to the Superbowl for the Vikes still stand.  Come on Vikes, show the birds who's boss the next two weeks.

Unfortunately I can't find the meme of Zimmer's Bird Hunting Trip I saw today.

Update:  Well that game didn't go well.  The Hawks kicked our butt, while the refs kicked us in the nads repeatedly when it seemed we did something right.

From NFL's Facebook Page

3 Vikings Paths to the Superbowl This Year

It's now December and the Vikes at 8-3 are very much in the race to the Super Bowl at this point.  These are three paths on how I could see it happening.  Yes, this year.  All that has to happen is for one of them to happen in each of the games needed to get us there.

1. Vikings shut down D.

This Zimmer Defense is for real.  If they keep it dialed up, we could go.

Or

2. AP goes MVP.

He's proven he's still capable of going off.  If he does, we could go.

Or

3.  Teddy and our receiving core step forward.

Teddy and our receivers have played ok to mediocre all season.  We've got the weapons.  If he and our receiving core get hot, we could go.

Vikings Chances of Making the Playoffs Looking Better All The Time

Yesterday's win vs the Dirty Birds in Atlanta was huge for the team, especially with Harry the Hitman out for the game.  If the Pack fall to the Lions for a second time this year and the Vikes can beat the Seahawks at home next week, a North Division title will likely be ours.

Our wins may not be pretty, but they are wins.  Keep 'em coming boys!

11 Years of Bass Pundit

Happy Blogiversary To Me!!!

1st Picture to Appear On The Blog

Picture was taken on Mille Lacs Lake on the 2004 Bass Opener if my memory is right. I think we only got a couple that day.  Both of those shirts have long since given way to the sun, and those pants no longer fit me.  And I'm not sure what boat we're in, but I'm pretty sure I was fishing with Mike's Thompson and Davis.  Do you still have that net Mike? (I think that was Thompson's net)

Maybe My Last Open Water Fishing of 2015???

19" Spro McStick 110

8:40-10:00AM
Conditions: Nearly 60 degrees, light winds turning windy out of the SE, during a break in the rain with some sprinkles,  We had gotten about 2 inches over the last couple of days. Mostly overcast,

Since there was break in the rain and it was so warm out I decided to go fishing again this morning.  I got the one toothy bullhead at the GOMH on the McStick on the NE side.  Then I decided the give the Inlet on Sullivan a try.  I got 5 small pike there on an STX and missed 1 fish that felt bigger.  I then went to the access at Round and didn't get anything.  I then tried the culvert and it started to rain, so I was done.

19" Luck-E-Strike RC STX

20.5" STX

17" STX

Got Some New Lures I Had To Try Out Today

Used the top two today

8:45-9:30AM
Conditions: Overcast, light rain, windy out of the SE, 48 degrees

After more than a year of bidding on Luck-E-Strike Rick Clunn STX Jerkbaits on Ebay I finally won 5 used one's at my price point.  I also won a New Spro Mc Stick 110 from the same seller on a different auction.  They arrived yesterday and I gave them a try this morning.  I was rather surprised to get 6 toothy bullheads on a couple of the STX's that I put on.  I didn't try the Mc Stick.  Every thing came on the NE side.

17.75" Luck-E-Strike RC STX

17" STX

20" STX

The Next Two Games...

 

Should tell us something about the Vikes chances of making the playoffs this year.  2 wins and I think we will be in for sure, baring significant injuries.  Win versus Oakland, loss vs the Pack, than I think we are still on schedule to make them.  Loss vs Oakland and a win vs the Pack, chances of making the playoffs maybe a tick higher than the previous scenario.  Both games a loss;  It wouldn't be the end of the world as long as the core team remains healthy.

Right now playoff outlook:

 

Thoughts On Cheap Hits to Quarterbacks In the NFL

In case you didn't see it, Teddy got knocked out cold by a cheap shot while he was sliding. 15 yard penalty, that was it. The Rams player wasn't even ejected. The Vikes D played amazing and our special teams and AP managed to get the victory in overtime.  The Vikings QBR went from a respectable 65 with Teddy to a dismal 1.7 with Shaun Hill.  It's almost a miracle that the Vikings won the game.

I hadn't really thought about this before today. But a cheap shot/late hit/illegal hit on a QB, that knocks a QB out of the game should result automatically in the other teams starting QB also being not allowed to play the rest of the game. It's a fair solution that hopefully would lead to less questionable shots being taken at QB. Losing a starting QB to a cheap hit puts the team that loses their QB at an extreme competitive disadvantage; Back up's are back up's for a reason and they don't get the reps that a starter gets.

I think this should apply at all levels of football.

Breaking News: B.A.S.S. Elites Coming to Mille Lacs in 2016

Angler of the Year Championship Sept 15-18, 2016

Apparently Grand Casino will be hosting it.  Maybe this will lead to a Major League Fishing event being filmed in MN next year too.

Possibly My Last Open Water Fish of 2015

Looking at Mojo, Shadow Rap, and Indian Point

Wind out of the SW, not what I wanted

6:40-7:30AM Mille Lacs
7:50-8:40AM Bulldog, Rock, GOMH

Conditions: Cloudy, windy out of the SW at Mille Lacs, SE here, 60 degrees

Because of the warm weather and what I thought was the wind direction I headed to Eddy's Jetty to try for some smalleye's.  When I arrived I was surprised the wind was blowing out, not in.  I threw the Rippin' Rap and Shadow Rap and caught zeebs.  It was Pirate Bones.

I decided to hit the area lakes and I got a toothy bullhead at the GOMH.

18.25" Jerk Shad Ghost Shad color

 That was it.

Andy Nitchals Is Catching Beasts This Year

7.84Lbs

7.61Lbs

7.08Lbs

I decided not to do my MN Blogger Derby this year.  Andy Nitchals would be running away with it if I did.

Post 2011 Stroke My Fishing Abilities Suffered Worse Than I Realized

As I look at my Bass Snatcher results from 2008 through 2015, there can be no doubt about it.  In my first 4 years in the Club, my finishes improved each year.  Then I had my stroke in late 2011, and the bottom fell out in my finishes, especially after the 2012 season.  The fact that I didn't fish much out of a boat the past 3 years has got to be one factor, but I think a small one.

The biggest thing is I don't think I'm nearly as locked in mentally as I used to be.  Just as I find it hard to collect my thoughts for writing this blog,  I find it hard to collect my thoughts to make adjustments on the water.  I also don't care about my results as much.  I want to catch fish the way I want to see them and am not listening to what the fish want as much as I used to.

But I don't feel like my abilities have suffered as much as my results show. I am frustrated by how this year ended, not even getting close to a limit in two consecutive tournaments for the second year.  Last year it happened in the middle of the year, but I snapped out of it posting respectable finishes in the last two.   I definitely have bad taste in my mouth in how the last four tournaments turned out this year that is going to be with me for a long time.  

Tough Tournament on Cedar Lake on Oct 3rd

Congratulations Guy!!!

My Boater Guy came in 3rd Place and sealed Club Mr. Bass/AOY Honors

Conditions: Mostly sunny, wind out of the ESE 5 to 15mph, temps from the low 40's getting to low 60's.  About 4-5 foot of visibility in some of the bays less in others.

The Day:  We headed up to the North end of the eastern most bay.  It's a slop area where we got bites in pre-fish.  Guy was punching and I was throwing a frog and toad.  Guy missed one or two hits, before we left after about trying for half an hour.  We went to the southern end of the same bay where there is some slop and reeds.  I broke off my Horny Toad when I got hung up on a reed.  I think guy got his first bass and a pike out on the weedline.  I got a pike on a Craw Fatty just before we left to fish some docks.

Guy got one out of a dock and I missed one.  Next we went to a weed hump up in the area by where we started.  I think Guy got a bass and I got a 16" and a 15.75" on the Craw Fatty.  Next we went back to where we started and Guy caught a good one immediately punching.  I think he ended up getting his limit and culling once before we left.  We went back to the spot where I broke off the Horny Toad and I spotted it, so I got it back. We tried a bunch of spots and didn't get anything but break offs.  We ended up going back to the area with the reeds where I caught my pike and I got another one, could have been the same fish.  Then we went back up to where we started with about an hour and a half left.  Guy got a cull and I got a 13" on the Horny Toad.  I think getting that fish in amped me up a little to much an I sailed my next cast onto a beaver dam where I got hung up and had to break off.  We tried some other spots, I did had one hit on the Horny Toad in some pads but it didn't hook up and then the day was done.

Results:  My 3 bass weighed 5lbs 6oz, which garnered me 11th Place out of a field of 14.  First Place went to Bill Ludenia with 15-10 and Lunker was caught by Chuck Johansen with a 4-10 fish.  Guy's 3rd Place limit went 13-7, just an ounce shy of Johansen.  It was a tough day with only 6 guys getting a limit. Well at least I beat my 3 fish limit I got here in 2009, which was 4-2.  If we never fish Cedar Lake again, I'll be fine with that.

My Thoughts on the 2015 season:  I didn't get my revenge on any lake, but Farm Island.  It was the second time I missed two tournaments in a year;  The other time was in 2012 with back issues.  Missing the tournament at Woman Lake really sucked.  Missing what would have been a hot, humid, and miserable day on Rush Lake not so much.  It was my worst year for number of fish weighed (16), weight (28.31lbs), and points accumulated (101), which was down 9 places from 2012.  However, I finished 16th out of 41 guys in the Club this year, which was better than 2012 when I finished in 18th Place.

It was a tough year for fishing in the Club as a whole.  For the first time since I've been in the Club we didn't have a single Snatcher go 6 for 36 getting a limit in each tournament.  In the final four tournaments of the year Woman, Rush, Mission, and Cedar more than half the field failed to come in with a limit. Hopefully the poor fishing in the last two thirds of the season is a fluke of the lakes chosen and days fished and not a trend. Participation was down with Cedar Lake being the smallest field I've fished against.

        

Fishing was tough yet again for me on tournament day.

Guy, my boater for this tournament, kicked my butt again;  It's the third year in a row I've drawn him with the same result.  A lot of guys struggled.  I only weighed in 3 bass today, same as the only other tournament I fished on Cedar Lake.  I think I had more weight this time, but I'm not sure.   I also caught two small pike.  Guy got 3rd Place and sealed up club Mr. Bass/Angler of the Year.  I probably had the bites to get a limit, but my Texas rigging skills on a weed line aren't what they used to be.  I had fun, just wish the wind would have been half as strong.

Final Snatcher Tournament Of the Year Tomorrow @ Cedar Lake(Aitkin)

Unless I finish in the Top 3 or get Lunker tomorrow the 2015 season will go down as my worst year in the Baxter Bass Snatcher Bass Fishing Club.  Unfortunately I missed two tournaments with health issues.  I don't care where I finish tomorrow.  I just want to get a limit of bass and catch as many fish, not necessarily bass, as I can.  The weather has cooled down this week and we are in a stable pattern, so the fish should be biting unlike two weeks ago when the cold front shut the fish down.  Looks like it's going to be a cold morning, I better find myself some gloves.

We did get out and pre-fish last weekend and we had some success, so I am hopeful for a good day.

Winner Winner LiveTarget Dinner

Here are the 3 baits I chose from LiveTarget for being the top team in their group for the final B.A.S.S. event of the year at Sturgeon Bay.  I got the hollow body frog, the wakebait, and Baitball Popper.  I think I had a hit on the wakebait tonight but I didn't hook up

What A Disappointing Tournament at Mission Lakes

What I caught My 3 Fish On (2 Bass, 1 Pike)

My first big mistake was thinking I would be able to get a limit no problem.  My boater Bill B. had a good history on the lake and we as a club caught the fire out of them here two years ago in June.  I thought the fish would be everywhere and on the feed, boy was I wrong.  Less than half the field caught a limit and about half of us had 3 fish or less.  It was tough.

My second mistake was not calling to check if my boater pre-fished, which he did end up doing.  I didn't bring my dock skipping rod because I didn't know we would be fishing docks.  Oh well.

Conditions: Post cold front, cool in the morning getting to about 70 degrees, Sunny, light winds for the first 3 hours then getting to be about 10-15mph in the afternoon out of the WSW, about a foot of visibility maybe less.

The Day: We started in the Lower Lake in some maidencaine.  Bill missed a bite on a spinnerbait.  We spent maybe half an hour, than moved up the lake to try some docks.  Bill got a squeaker out of some sparce reeds.  And I got a 11.75" of a dock on the Craw Fatty.

Next we moved to the Upper Lake.  We fished outside of some reeds, then went in to try some docks.  I got my only keeper on the Horny Toad.  I then missed a fish on the HT and Bill also missed a fish on the same dock.

Next we moved to a weedline spot outside of the reeds.  Bill picked up three decent one's on this spot on a Senko.  The last of which he got when Chuck Steinbauer was close by, which gave Bill quite a thrill.  The wind came up while we were on this spot.

Next we went to the NE corner of the lake and got nothing, then we went to the reed point by the Upper Lake Access and Bill got an OK fish on the Senko.  I switched to a Grass Pig Jr on a Texas Rig.  I should have put it on a mushroom head jig instead as I got a couple of bites but didn't get hook into them at this spot or at the place Bill got the 3 fish.

Next we went to a spot outside of a reed point on the NW shore.  I got my pike there.  Then we moved in to fish docks.  I missed a bite that took the Horny Toad when I let it sink at the back of a pontoon and another fish that hit the HT as I brought it out of a thick patch of reeds that was out from a dock.

I think Bill got a hammer-handle off an under water point.  With about an hour and a half left we went back to the Lower Lake and retraced our steps back to the docks then maidencaine.  Bill pulled his biggest bass there on a Yabbie.  I missed a hit on the Craw Fatty, but the line was frayed a bit so it was probably a pike.  We then went over by the access where Bill got a small pike on a swim jig with a swimbait.

Results:  My fish weighed 1lbs 8oz, which kept me out of last place by an ounce.  I finished 19th out of 20.  Bills fish weighed 12-13 and put him in 7th Place.  1st Place went to Chuck Johansen with 17-15 after a 2oz dead fish penalty.  Lunker went to Darren Kiefer with a 4lb 6oz fish.  He was fishing with Johansen.

My Thoughts:   I just wanted to go out and catch a bunch of fish.  What a disappointment!

I didn't get a bite on a chatter jigs, Chigger Craws, Red Eye Shad, buzzbait, or a Vixen.

B.A.S.S. Fantasy Fishing, So Close at the AOY Tourney

I followed up probably my worst roster ever at the St. Clair with one of my best ever at AOY.  I had an unusual number of terrible line ups this year.

I won prizes out of at least 3 groups this year.  I doesn't look like most of the groups that promised prizes for all events followed thru.

That Didn't Go Well

I only caught 2 bass, one of which was short, and 1 pike.  I should have called my boater to find out if he pre-fished, which he did.  I didn't bring my dock skipping rod, a spinning rod with a Zoom Super Fluke.  I'm pretty sure I would have caught more fish had I brought it.  Both of my bass came off docks.  The small one on a Texas rigged Craw Fatty and my keeper on a white Zoom Horny Toad.  I think I came in last place.  So much for the #yearofrevenge.  My boater only caught 6 bass and a couple northerns.  And the camera batteries were dead, so I didn't even get a picture today.

Bass Snatcher Tournament Tomorrow On Mission Lakes

My #yearofrevenge was pretty much thrown in disarray with my health issues costing me being able to fish at Woman and Rush Lakes.  It resumes tomorrow at Mission Lakes, sight of my worst showing in a Bass Snatcher tournament in terms of place finished (32nd).  Tomorrow we only have 11 boats fishing, so I am not worried about a repeat.  I just hope the fish are snapping.  Hopefully the cool down has them turned on and not shut off.

SKOL Vikings 2015!!!

It's time for my annual post on my thoughts giving questions the team will need to answer to succeed in the  2015 season.  Last year, the team got 1 out of 3 right.

1. The Defense improved

2. O Line Play was inconsistent with injuries all over and Cassel got injured.

3. We all know what happened with AP 

Here are my Questions for 2015:

1.  What kind of play will we get from the O-Line in 2015?

At this point the O-Line has got to be the #1 concern for the team.  It seems we have the weapons at the Skill positions, but will the line come together to block for AP and protect Teddy. The line looked OK this pre-season in pass protection.  Run blocking looked below par.   With Loadholt going down and now with Sullivan's out for half the season minimum I'm really nervous about this question.

2. Will Teddy continue to improve?

I believe he will, but if the O-Line doesn't perform;  Well I don't even want to think about it.

3.  Will Anthony Barr stay healthy and improve from his rookie season?

Barr is a huge key to the Defense continuing to improve, will he step up or fall down.

4.  Will Blair Walsh's kicking be a problem?

I hope not.

    

Congratulations Nate & Tim & Bass Snatcher Squad

Nate Steinbauer came in 9th Place
Tim Benson came  in 10th Place
And the Snatcher Team came in 2nd Place at the MN BASS Nation State Tournament at Gull Lake

Good Luck Snatchers!!!

Today is the start of the MN BASS Nation State Tournament at Gull Lake.  Hopefully between the Snatchers and DH there will be a few guys making the State Team this year.

Good Luck Guys!!!

Did Some Catching Yesterday

17" Slush Daddy

Sunrise is moving South

6:40-8:20AM
Conditions:  Post morning thunderstorms, humid, low 70's, partly cloudy, wind out of the S SE

I was hoping the brief heavy rain we had might translate into so fish this morning.  I hit the GOMH first.  I started out by discovering that I forgot to put away a Slush Minnow and Stanley Phantom when I fished the last time.  It took me about a few seconds to realize that was at the Cabin, not at the GOMH.

I started out by putting a Slush Daddy on.  I was just about to pull it out of the water to make another cast when a jumper sucked it in.

Right about where it was sitting when the fish hit.

18" Slush Daddy

I didn't get a better picture because the camera went on the fritz when I went to take another picture.  I released the fish, then got the camera working again;  That's when I took the sunrise picture.

I made a cast out across the channel and had the 17" hit the Slush Daddy.  Those were the only 2 bites I got.  I tried the culvert and didn't get anything.  Next I went to the lake place to retrieve my lures, which I did.  I missed a fish that attacked the Spro Frog when I wasn't paying attention.

I tried Jenny's as well. Nothing doing

Good Luck To The Bass Snatchers On Rush Lake Tomorrow!

I had more medical issues come up so I won't be fishing this one either.

The DNR Now Has It Right For Bass Tournaments on Mille Lacs

 Bass tournaments anglers can now cull to their hearts content.

The DNR Commissioner listened to what the bass lobby told him.  This will make a difference.

I predict the Bass Snatchers will fish on Mille Lacs, next year.

Update:  This rule change might only be for large tournaments, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Will B.A.S.S. Or FLW Come to Mille Lacs Now

I doubt it!

Allow tournaments to keep and cull whatever they can, no restrictions.  Then and only then will bass fisherman flock to Mille Lacs.

As A Life Long Vikings Fan, I say AMEN!

I would say it's pretty rare in tournament fishing where the person who wins doesn't really deserve to, but pretty much every tournament there are guys that deserve to be in the money that don't make it.

Power Pole for the Poor Man

Want to have a shallow water anchor but don't have $1000 to spend.   I think the Stick It Anchor Pin is what your looking for.  I believe one can be had for sub $200.  Of coarse, if your really strapped for cash you can always use a mushroom anchor and a rope like I do.  I'm going to seriously consider buying one of these for the Trophy next year.  If I ever get the Trophy out on the water again.

If you don't understand what having an anchor means for boat control you should really get with the program.

Missing The Woman, What A Dissappointment

One week ago was the Bass Snatcher Tournament on Woman Lake.  I dropped out because I was sick with a bacterial infection.  I would not have been able to fish had it been this weekend either.  I finally felt well enough that I did get out for about 45 minutes last night.  But full tournament day in this heat sounds like a terrible idea to me right now.

Missing the tournament was such a disappointment because my boater Dave Branum elected to fish slop all day just like Roger and I did at Farm Island.  Dave fishing by himself brought in 16lbs 2ozs with a 4lb 1oz kicker which put him in 5th Place.  Apparently he had a 13" that he couldn't get rid of that kept him out of the top 3.  I was so primed to fish a slop tournament with all the hollow body frog fishing I've done this year.  And knowing the way things went during our two days pre-fishing I would have had a shot at a good bag as well.

What a missed opportunity!
What a disappointment!  

My Day at Woman (Pre-fishing with Dave Branum)

Small Smallmouth

And

Large Largemouth

I did have a large smallmouth follow late in the day.  I've got a plan to turn followers into biters come tournament day.

The Difficulty Of Becoming A Pro Angler From My Perspective

Over at AdvancedAngler.com they just did an article with Boyd Duckett giving people advice if they want to become a Professional Angler.  It contains some sound advice.  If you are planning to take a shot at becoming a Professional Bass Fisherman/woman you definitely should grab on to all the sound advice you can get.  I don't mean to rain on anybodies parade, but the difficulty as I see it is even if one takes and follows all the sound advice out there is they still don't stand much of a chance of really making it as a "Pro Bass Angler" in the long haul.  That is the reality of the situation as I see it.

God Bless and good luck to all of you that are out trying or have aspirations of making it.  I hope you prove me wrong.  Inevitably some people will succeed.

Sincerely
Bass Pundit

Pretty Night For A Paddle on Bulldog Lake

On my way back to the Holy Family Access

7:50-9:30PM
Conditions:  Mostly sunny, 70 degrees, slight wind out of the South diminishing to nothing

I decided to take the Slop Slip to Bulldog for a quick trip tonight because of the light winds.  I figured fish would still be where they were last week on Thurs.  There were, but they weren't as aggressive.  I had two or three fish that I missed the hookset on and another 5 to 7 that didn't get the frog.  It was such a nice night with the loons calling as I paddled back that getting skunked didn't matter.

Good Night On The Slop Slip On Bulldog (Thursday Night)

Headed North

5:00-9:30PM
Conditions: Temps in the low 70's, mostly sunny, wind out of the NNE dying down to nothing.

I put in at Holy Family Access and headed North into the wind.  I missed my first bite in the open area in the reeds past the dock with a pontoon.  I got my first bass out of the pads behind the reeds.

14.5" Sweet Revenge Mad Maxx

I traded of 14.5" and 13.5" fish on the Mad Maxx and I got a 12.5" on the Hack Attack Jig with a breen Chigger Craw trailer.  Then I got this beast.

28.5" Mad Maxx

I got into a good area for prime time.

15.5" Out of shallow slop

16" Mad Maxx

I caught about 10 fish and missed 4 or 5 bites.  On my way back in I missed one, then got my biggest of the night, a real chunk.

17.5" Mad Maxx

I was off the water by 9:35PM

I ended with
15 bass
1 Pike