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.