Ironman With Chuck Steinbauer on Mission Lakes

I'm going to be fishing the Ironman fruit jar tournament On Mission Lakes  put on my Bass Snatcher Jim "Smitty" Smith.  I assume it is a 5 fish limit.  It's supposed to be stormy and windy.  Could turn the fish on at Mission.

The rods I'm bringing:
7'6"H LTB (1oz Jig)
7'4" H Zillion (1/2 Jig)
7'2" H Tatula (3/8 Jig)
7'4" Tatula (Frog)
7'3" MH LTB (Horny Toad)
7'3" H Lamiglass (Mag Fluke)
7'2" MH Tatula (Bladed Jig, Lipless, Wakebait, Topwater)
7'1" MH Tatula (Swim Jig/Swimbait/Spinnerbait)
7' H Avid (Craw)



 

200 Days On the Water This Year

Today will mark my 200th day fishing for the year. Last year I reached this milestone on October 7th. 

Here is the break down for my blogging at the Fishing Log Blog this year compared to last year.

Sometimes I have more than one blog per day, that's how I have blogged 207 times for 199 days fished.  Depending on what the weather does, I expect that when all is said and done that I will fish more days this year than I did last year (233).

My numbers of fish caught is up drastically from last year.

2017

2016

The increase is due mainly to me fishing out of the Trophy more this year which equaled longer and more successful trips.  3.85 hours per day this year compared to 3.21 hours per day fished last year.  I didn't take my first trip in the Trophy.  But it's not all due to the Trophy, which I didn't start using until May 13th this year.

I should reach my goal of catching 3,000 fish for the year sometime late this month.

I Like My Vikings Chances Now

Mike Zimmer's Defense is must watch TV.

It would have been interesting to see how the Packers game turned out had Rodgers not gotten injured.  But ole A Rog did get injured.  I am so sad about that I could almost cry, Not!

With #12 out of the picture it looks like the Vikes now have to be favorites to win the Division.  With the way our D is coming together the MN Vikings are a team nobody is gonna want to face.

Outlook: Thumbs Up!

Lucky Tackle Box #1 (Breast Cancer Awareness)

I have been given the opportunity to blog about a Lucky Tackle Box for the next 3 months a box comes out.

Apparently they don't have video's up for this months box on YouTube yet.  Maybe they will have them when you read this blog.

Biwaa Fishing Performance Seven 4":  Swimbaits are something I have limited experience with.  From the retail price, $22.99, I am guessing this is a quality bait.  I hope a pike doesn't steal it from me.

Glo-Pro Lures Soft Body Lipless Crankbait: This is a unique lure.  It has a rubbery body with a pouch where you can put a glow stick, it comes with two glow sticks.  Because of the soft rubbery body it doesn't have any rattle to it.  A rattle would fit in the glow stick pouch.  I'll be interested to see how effective this bait is;  Color me skeptical.

 Smart Baits Gifted Grub:  I guess this grub changes color between chartreuse or red depending on water temperature.  Seems gimmicky, but sometimes gimmicks work.

Big Bite Baits Real Deal Craw:  I'll try this bait Texas rigged and as a jig trailer.  It looks like the claws will come off easily.

Update:  The claws are tougher than they look.  Didn't have a single claw get torn off.  I was really impressed with this bait on a Texas Rig.

Mustad 3/0 Mega Bite Breast ancer Awareness Hooks: Can never have enough 3/0 Mustad Hooks.

Xcite Baits XB-1:  Squarebill cranks are just something I don't throw a lot.  The weeds in Platte Lake just don't set up well for throwing them.  I should be able to catch a fish or two at the Grumpy Old Man Hole though.

Jenko Fishing Magnum Hair Jig: Hair jigs are a lure type I have vert very little experience with.  Will be interesting to see how well it works for me.

I think they are all lures I will be able to catch fish on, but I don't anticipate any of them becoming a go to lure for me.

I give this box a B- on first impressions. 

Snatchers Challenge Cup Victory (Full Report)

The View from the Public Access this morning

The Challenge Cup is a tournament that pits the three Brainerd lakes area bass clubs against one another.  Each team gets 3 Boaters and 3 Non-Boaters
8:00-4:00PM Lower South Long Lake
Conditions: 50-62℉, Partly Cloudy to Mostly Sunny,  Pretty calm in the morning turning breezy out of the NNW by 11AM.  Water Level High and rising
Water Temp: Low 60's I think

3.17lb/3lbs 7ozs Piranha/Craw Fatty

Before the Tournament:
When I was putting stuff in the car somehow my sunglasses fell off my head.  I didn't realize it until I was half way to South Long.  I had an extra pair in the car, so there was no need to go back.  I found out when I got home that I had backed over the pair that fell off my head; My favorite pair of Fitovers.

Daggum it!

I was kind of surprised that most boats were in the water when I arrived.  Range Bassmasters Bill Bongs, who was my boater, boat was parked just to the left of the ramp (first boat in the picture).  Bill Bongs is really good fisherman and even better guy.

The Day:
I think we were the 8th boat of 9 to launch.  We headed to weedline just off of the reeds/cane in the North middle section of the lake.  About 5 minutes into the day Bill put the first keeper in the boat on a spinnerbait.  We both had several fish bump our lures and not hook up.  I think we had just started to work our way back over the water we had just fished when I got my big bass of the day (3.17lb) on the junebug colored D & M Baits Piranha with blue/black Craw Fatty trailer. I think we both then caught a pike.  Bill got himself another keeper just after I had a bass flash at the Piranha and not get it.  I threw back to the area with a junebug Lake Fork Craw Tube and had 2.04lber get it.  I think Bill got one more pike and we got out of there.

We headed up to the NE end of the lake.  I'm pretty sure we were fishing the same spot Chuck and I fished on Tuesday where I caught one on the Piranha.  I elected to start out throwing the craw tube and that was a good call because almost immediately it was fish on for me (2.05).  I then lost a really good one on the way to the boat.  I was just thinking in my head it could be a 4lber when it came off.  I then got a 2.46lber, before Bill finally got in on the action.  He had himself a little flurry and I got my limit fish (2.49lb).  Bill noticed a guy fishing in a white Nitro, not one of tournament guys, down the way a hundred yards or so pull in several bass including a really nice one.  I caught a couple more bass that didn't help me and I think Bill filled out his limit and maybe culled a time or two before we left.  But  I could be wrong on that.  The wind came up before we left.

We next headed to the South side of the large reed island in the middle South of the lake.  Bill got the first fish and I got one that didn't help on the Piranha.  I got one that didn't help on the Craw Tube.  Bill started whacking them on a jig.  I couldn't get bit for the longest time.  When I finally did it didn't help.  We finally got out of that wind and Bill headed us to the SW end right to the area where Chuck and I got into them on Tuesday.  Nothing was home.  We moved in closer to the reeds and Bill caught one on a spinnerbait.  I had us go in and try the pads.  We spooked a pretty good size fish that didn't seem to be relating to anything.  Maybe it was a fish that followed one of our baits into the open, who knows.

We then headed back towards our starting spot, but there were boats in the area so we just headed up to our second spot.  We put down off to the South of the point.  We had just started fishing when Snatcher Chuck showed up and started fishing right on the point.  But nobody was home.  We worked our way North along the weedline toward the spot where the Nitro was.  Chuck left.  I don't remember who got the first fish, but we found a pod of them.  I culled twice with a 1.86lber then a 2.66lber on the Craw Tube.  Bill got himself a really good cull or two as well.  I think I caught a dink for my final fish of the day.

Results:

Snatcher Keith Tuma 1st Place & The Challenge Cup Trophy

       

1st Place Bass Snatchers & Keith Tuma
2nd Place Range Bassmasters & Bill Bongs
3rd Brainerd Lakes & Snatcher Chuck

I heard that the Range Team was given to much weight and the Brainerd Lakes Bassmasters not enough.  I don't know of that is the case or not.  What I do know is that the Snatchers Won and Snatcher Keith Tuma caught a heck of a bag for that lake (20/10) and Big Bass (4/7).  I came in 5th Place out of 18 anglers.  

My Thoughts:

I reached my goal of being the top non-boater in the field with 15/12.  That is in no small part due to the unselfish nature of Bill Bongs who seemed perfectly delighted I was catching good fish.  Who knows if that one  I lost was a big as I thought it might be, I had shot at big bass and placing in the Top 3.  A great way to end my tournament season. 

Despite It All I'm Happy For You A.P.

In case some of my readers are not aware, I was a huge fan of Adrian Peterson.  So much so that I actually got his jersey.  Then came the incident where he physically abused his child.  I thought the NFL punishment ended up being unfair to the whole Vikings organization.  Peterson getting injured last year was a major bummer and the way the season ended was downright pitiful.  How Peterson treated the organization that stood by him through all that was another disappointment to me, but I was still sad to see him go.   The Saints were obviously not the best of landing spots for him.  I am glad that he is now with the Arizona Cardinals where we will get to see just what Adrian has left in the tank if anything.

And as long as I'm blogging about football, I might as well give me thoughts on the Vikings season so far.  It was a real downer losing Dalvin Cook for the season.  Having that kid in the backfield was pure excitement.   Both A.P. and Robert Smith came back from serious knee injuries to have solid careers with the Vikings.  Hopefully he's a quick healer like A.P. . 

And then there is Sam Bradford's knee and psychological state.  That poor guy just can't catch a break. Who knows whether or not he will take another snap for the Vikes. 

Because of both injuries above I am not real high on the Vikings chances this season.  However, I believe the Vikes still have a shot at making the playoffs.  Our Defense is playing well and our O-line play has definitely improved.  If we can somehow beat the Packers this week.  My confidence meter will go way up.   

Snatchers Reign Victorious at the 2017 Challenge Cup!!!

It was a very good day on South Long Lake for me and my bass club, the Baxter Bass Snatchers.  Our team won.  I am pretty sure I had the top weight as a non-boater.  And Snatcher Keith Tuma caught a 20+ lb bag for the win and the trophy.  My boater Range Bassmasters Bill Bongs got 2nd and Snatcher Chuck Steinbauer got 3rd Place.   I'll have a full report on the day sometime later this week.

Our Team was made up of Keith Tuma, Charles Steinbauer, and Tim Benson as boaters and myself, Bill Bailey, and Alan Steinbauer as non-boaters.

North Long Mini-Bucks Quick Report

It was a tough bite out on North Long today.  Chuck only caught one bass over 2lbs and I didn't catch anything over 1.75lbs.  All the fish in our 10lb Bag (5 fish) were caught by Chuck.  I did catch a keeper size bass in all of the holes, but the first one.  I caught 7 or 8 bass over 12 inches total.  Chuck caught about 12 keepers total.  The tournament was won by Tom "Swannie" Swanson and Keith Tuma with a 13.5lb bag.  Guy and Hammer got 2nd Place falling .09lb behind the leaders.  The Henkensiefken boys came in 3rd and got big bass with a 3.50lber.  We got 4th because Ruff and Ludenia elected not to weigh their fish.   I'll have a full report when I get around to it hopefully later this week.

Preview For "Mini Bucks" @ North Long & Challenge Cup @ South Long

I've got two bonus tournaments that I am going to be fishing this weekend.  The first is the "Mini-Bucks" tournament on North Long Lake with Chuck Steinbauer on Saturday.  It is a five boat team tournament modeled on the old Bassmaster Mega-Bucks where a lake is divided into zones that the competitors fish for a period of time then move on to the next one and so on until we have fished each zone.  One team in a zone at a time.  Chuck knows North Long very well and the first tournament I fished with him back in 2008 was on the lake.

My goals are to contribute at least 1 fish to our bag and finish in the money (1st or 2nd)

The tournament on Sunday is the Challenge Cup on South Long Lake which pits the Snatchers vs. the Range Bassmasters and possibly the Brainerd Lakes Bassmasters as well.  It will be 6 boats or 9 boats depending on whether or not the Brainerd Lakes club is fishing.   Each club gets  3 boaters and 3 non-boaters.   I was a last minute addition when one of our guys couldn't make it.  I am fishing in Range Bassmaster Bill Bongs boat.  I am entitled to half the time in the front of the boat.

My goals are to beat out all the other non-boaters and for the Snatchers to take the cup.  Catching big bass of the tournament would be good too.🤞

Rods I'm Going to bring
6' M Techna AV (Spin) Dock (Fluke/Senko)
7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)
7'6" H LTB (1oz Jig)
7'4" H Zillion (1/2oz Jig)
7'3" MH LTB (Horny Toad)
7'2" H Tatula (3/8 Jig)
7'2" MH Tatula (Spinnerbait, Bladed Jig, Lipless)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
6'8" M Avid (Jerkbait/topwater) Probably won't bring this rod to South Long.

Update Sat: I'm not bringing the Techna AV to South Long.  I am bringing the 6'8" Avid.

Update Sat:  Also I switched the reel out on the 7'2" MH Tatula for the forgotten rod this year, my 7' MHM Mojo Bass.  The Mojo is quite a bit lighter and is only slightly less heavy in the punch it packs.  After throwing the Tatula for a good part of the day on Saturday I thought using the Mojo was the better choice