Christmas Came Early For Vikings Nation This Year

#SKOL

The Window Closes A Bit More For A-Rog

It's official #12 has been shut down for the season after the Dirty Birds erased Green Bays playoff hopes.  So Rodgers has been leading the Green and Gold for 10 years now.  Packers 5 Division Titles, Vikings 4 Division Titles in that time.  I don't mean to harsh the cheeseheads mellow, but the Vikes have to be the favorites to win the Division again next year as well.  The Packers better get with the program.  Rodgers isn't getting any younger.

The outlook for this weeks game at Lambert:

  SKOL! Vikes!!!

Vikings Thoughts

The news that Pat Elflein wasn't playing versus the Panthers was a gut punch I didn't need right before kick off.  I hadn't heard he was injured and might not play.  Rookie Center Elflein is a huge reason why the Vikings offense has been so good and balanced.  Hopefully it just a one-game injury.

Despite losing I believe the Vikes showed out as the superior team.  We had a lot of flukey unfortunate mishaps.  If our O-Line can get healthy the team should be OK and at minimum get a 1st round bye.

Looking forward to the Packers getting knocked out the playoffs this week. Skol!

I'm Still Processing The Possibilities In A State Of Semi-Disbelief

I didn't Vikings blog last week because I thought the Vikes had a more than even chance of losing the game to those Dirty Birds.  The D stepped up big time and Case was good enough yet again to get the victory.  Another minor upset last week, in my opinion, was the Sea Chickens beating the Eagles.  I can hardly believe that the Vikes are in the #1 spot in the Conference right now.  Of course, that could all come crashing down this week with a Vikes loss in Carolina, but I think we have a better than even shot at beating Cam this week; If we do that then I see it as an even to slightly better than even chance of running the table all the way to the Super Bowl if the team can remain healthy.  I don't think that is purple kool-aid talking.  Could this be the Vikings year??????????

Let's beat those Carolina cats and find out.  Skol!

What Was Your Best Fishing Moment of 2017?

Thanks to Facebook's "On This Day" feature I was reminded of a blog I did answering this same question posed by Wired2Fish back in 2010. So I thought I'd do it again for this year.  There were a lot of great moments for me to choose from in 2017.  In 2010 I gave 3 moments in answer to the question.  I've got so many standout memories from 2017 that I'm going to break it down into these categories:

Best Family Fishing Moment
Best Bass Snatcher Moment
Best Moment Fishing By Myself
Best Ice Fishing Moment

Best Family Fishing Moment:

4.05lb July 27

July 31st

 This one is a tie for me between Todd catching that toad on a frog and the morning trip we took with Mallory a few days later.

Best Bass Snatcher Moment:
It would have to be on Platte/Sullivan when this happened:

I hadn't caught anything, but pike and we were at least an hour and a half if not longer into the day at that point.  Getting that 3lber in the boat was yuge for me and my confidence.  Really got my tournament season off to a good start with that fish and my finish on Platte/Sullivan.

Best Moment Fishing By Myself:
There is a three-way tie for this one with two honorable mentions. First, is my biggest bass of the year.

5.09lbs June 29th Platte Lake SBKO (Black/White)

Second, was my second biggest 6 fish bag of the year with bonus dogfish, Avid X rod fell out of the boat, and screw falling out of my Zillion Reel.

August 30th

Third, the night the fish went nuts for the Jackel Pompadour.

June 27th

Honorable mentions go to the double on a Jerk Shad at the GOMH on the morning of The Opener and the sunrise that I witnessed that morning (click this link to see that).

17" & 15"

And also to the big one on the Shower Blows Knock Off off of the wave runner floats.

19.33" May 18th

Best Ice Fishing Moment:

17.5" Jan 22nd Rock Lake

Getting a nice bass on my first trip of the year after not having caught a bass the previous winter on Rock Lake.

1st Ice Trip of the Winter

4:00-5:45PM Bulldog
Conditions: 40-36℉, Mostly Sunny, West Wind turning calm, 30 feet of water

8.5" VMC Fly/Jamei/Wax (Glow)

So the Bugaboots arrived in the mail today.  Think I should have gone with a size 10, oh well.  Trying them out on the ice gave me the motivation to finally get my act together.  I went to Bulldog because I figured the ice would probably be safe there.  There was a guy out fishing when I arrived.  I elected not to go and get minnows by eeny, meany, miny, moe the decision in the Holy Family parking lot.  I checked with the spud bar on my way out.  A couple of times I was able to put it through with two shots, but most of the time I couldn't get through with 3 shots. Shortly after I started fishing the other guy left.  Somebody left a container of waxies out on the ice.  I missed the first fish that bit.  Then nothing.  I hole hopped a few times before finding something.  I landed a couple of Bulldog Lake Specials.   I found a few more fish back towards the North.  I forgot to put the heater in the car, so when I got cold I left.

Maybe I will go after some sunny's out there.

6 Crappie

Most Thankful In 2017...

For all the memories made this summer with Todd and the girls

The Incomplete Case of Case Keenum

 

The national media all seem to be on the "Case Train" with the win over the Rams last Sunday.  In the Teddy vs. Case debates that took place prior to Sunday, I was pretty solidly in "Camp Case."  The guy has performed well and deserves to be the Vikings starting QB for now.  However firmly I am on the "Case Train" right now that could all change if he wrecks the train this week.  I am pretty sure that won't happen but given Case's history, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility.  

The upcoming game vs. the Lions is huge and no doubt will have a playoff atmosphere seeing as how the Division Championship is probably at stake.  If Case fails to perform up to the standard he has set so far this season that will shake my confidence in him pretty severely.  This game is a great test to see if we can count on Case when it really counts.  Come on Case, make me a believer, SKOL!  

I've Entered My Blogging Teen Years

13 years ago today I started my blogging career.  So glad I did. 

Thank You to everyone who reads my stuff!

Ice Fishing Goals Winter '17-'18

Winter has come to Minnesocold!  It looks like we are in for a long one this year.  I thought I would do something I haven't done before and come up with some goals for my ice fishing this season.  Doing such a thing hasn't really entered my mind before, at least not since I started blogging.  I have not considered doing this before for a few reasons.  It never came to mind.  I have ice fished primarily the past few years to pass the winter and relieve some cabin fever.   And the weather.  If the weather isn't to my liking I won't go out.  So generally if it's below 20℉ I won't go out or if there is too much snow I won't go out.  Not knowing in advance how many days I will go out in a season makes coming up with realistic goals kind of tricky.  I'm going to try doing it anyway.

Completed goals in bold.

Tackle Goals:
1.  Have my gear ready to go by the 24th of November

Fishing Buddies:
1.  Teach my niece Devin to ice fish (and Isabelle and Mallory if they come up this winter)
2. Teach Ice Fishing to my brother Steve
3. Fish with Michael "Cyberfish" Thompson
4. Fish with Jim Bonin
5. Fish with Peter W.
6. Fish with Dad
7. Fish with a least 1 other person. (I fished with Pete)

Blogging:
1. Blog every time I reach a goal.
2. Record all trips at Fish Swami
3. Blog all trips at the  Fishing Log Blog.

Fish Goals:
1.   Catch at least 500 fish
2. Catch an average of at least 20 fish per outing.

Crappie:
1. Catch at least 200 (291 for the Winter)

Sunfish:
1. Catch at least 200 (5 Sunfish Caught)

Bass:
1. Catch at least 1. (0 Bass caught)

Pike:
1. Catch at least 1 (I only caught 1 last winter) (0 Pike caught)

Walleye:
1. Catch at least 1. (0 Pike caught)
2. Fish at Mille Lacs for them at least once.

Tullibee:
1. Catch at least 1 (Haven't caught one since I started ice fishing again) (0 Tullibee Caught)

Coming Soon: BP's Ice Fishing Goals For '17-'18

Next 3 Weeks Pivotal for the Vikings

My Vikes come off the bye and enter the second half of the season with a two game lead over both the Packers and the Lions.  I've pretty much written off Green Bay at this point.  I recon they are playing the Bears this week for which team finishes last in the division and I don't like the Packers prospects.  The Lions are the team I'm worried about as their second half schedule looks to be a cake walk compared to what the Vikings are up against. 

I really like where the Vikes are sitting, both on O and D at this point.  I think they are a tough match up for anybody especially if they don't shoot themselves in the foot.  Sure Case Keenum doesn't scare anyone, but he is crafty veteran with some elusiveness to his game.  He has also shown me that he is pretty good at moving the sticks and I like his decision making.  The O-Line play as been pretty good and our play makers have been making plays;  Barring injury I expect that will continue.

The Defense is where my real confidence is at.  They are a mine field through which all our opponents must carefully navigate. They seemed to be improving each week.  I believe their best football is still ahead of them.

I am really looking forward to the next 3 games as they will tell the tale if the Vikes are contenders or pretenders.  If our record has 3 more wins than the division crown is probably ours. Same thing if we have 2 wins and one of them is vs. the Lions.  If we win the first 2, but lose to Lions we are still OK for the playoffs, but winning the division is probably out of the cards.  If we lose 2 games, but beat the Lions I don't know what to make of that scenario.  It will be nail biting time, probably to the end of the season.  If we lose to Lions and another game I will be pretty disappointed and more so if we lose all three.  I am guardedly optimistic that one of my first three scenarios plays out.🤞

Play Well Vikings, SKOL!  

         

How Long Until Safe Ice In the Platte/Sullivan Area?

That is the question for today.  With all the snow we have been getting around here water temps have to be getting pretty close to locking up Platte, Erskine, Long and Bulldog.   I doubt it happens today because at 3AM it's right at freezing outside and it's supposed to warm up to 36 degrees today.

Here is the forecast for the next week plus.

If the forecast is right.  I would think I could find walkable ice by next Saturday.  I'll be getting my ice fishing stuff organized and ready next week for sure.

Trophy Is Out Of The Lake

Should have taken it out yesterday.  Dad didn't want to do it today either, but I was worried the lake might lock up tonight, so we got it done.

For some reason the motor didn't want to give me the power to drive on the trailer, so I had to wind it on with the winch.  But when I went back to run the gas out of the motor, it seemed to be back to running right again🤞. 

October Was Comme Ci, Comme Ca

Have I caught my last open water bass of the year? Probably

18.25" Hack Jig/Craw Fatty Oct.29th

I was super exited about fishing this October, but the weather had other plans.  It was too windy, too wet and too unstable for me to get on much of anything. And then it got too dang cold with that snow storm that put water temps into the low 40's and we've been below average ever since.  I'm pulling the boat out today and it looks like ice fishing will be hear sooner rather than later.

Goodbye open water, it's been great.