Who's Guy Was Kirk?

A lot of unhappy fans here in Vikings country right now.  The peanut gallery is calling for General Manager Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer's head.  I believe those are foolish opinion's as that the Vikings team culture is very good.  Sure a 8.5 win team is a disappointment, but with the offensive line as currently constructed that is what we were.  And what we were was a missed field goal in Lambert away from making the playoffs in which the team didn't stand much of a chance anyway.

Anyway, back to what I was writing this blog about.  I believe the Kirk Cousins hire was a decision made at the very top of the organization.  I believe Kirk Cousins was the Wilf's guy first and foremost. Blame Ziggy if you think bringing Cousins in was a mistake.

The 20% Chance I Gave To The Bears Comes To Fruition, Vikes Bounced

What a disappointing performance!  First by the Vikings O-line.  Second by the Referees.

I am giving Kirk Cousins a break on this game. The Vikings Offense Line played like they didn't believe they were good enough.  That was some uninspired football by them.  They didn't step up the challenge at all.  I expect major changes on this unit next year.

I wonder how the game would have turned out had the Ref. done the right thing and kept the flag in his pocket on that roughing the passer call on Weatherly on third down when the Bears were deep in our territory.  That was a ticky tack call that was a gut punch to the Defense and deflated the crowd.  Had the Bears kicked the ball in that spot the game might have turned out differently.  The ref's made a number of questionable calls this game going against both sides, but this the call that led directly to Bears going up by two scores and was the most critical play of the game in my mind.  It's a shame that the outcome of the game very well may have hinged on a poor call.

I think the Bears are gonna have their hands full if Foles is able to go next week.  I think they made a huge mistake by putting up a fight against us this week.  Their offense played a lot of snaps against our D and played very impressively.  I think it is going to be tough for them to duplicate next week.

     

Why? I Don't Get It

This is comment a Vikings fan wrote on an article I read today.  Sure it's a guy giving his opinion that the Vikes aren't a Super Bowl team this year.  I get that.  But why rule out the Vikings chances all together? 

I don't know if they are a Super Bowl worthy team or not.  I place no faith in anyone's predictions about how this Vikings team will perform because these Vikings are a very talented team that has only put things together this season in fits and starts.  I would say it's a 55% chance the Vikes continue to play this way and get bounced from the playoffs, a 30% chance the Vikes play well but get bounced anyway which leaves me believing the Vikes have a 15% chance of making the Super Bowl as of right now.  In my opinion, the playoff's started last week for the Vikes.  Here's how I think they can continue on:

Keys to Vikings making a Super Bowl run:
1. Offensive Line getting it's act together. (run, Dalvin run)
2. Cousin's playing inspired turnover-free football
3. Shut Down D not allowing more than 20 pts a game
4. Kicker making his kicks

My outlook for this week:

Trubitsky isn't going to come into U.S. Bank and bounce us.  20% Chance of that happening.

Where Do The Vikes Go From Here?

The Vikes victory over the Dolphins was able to get my mind off how bad I suck at ice fishing for a few hours anyway.  Here is what I'm thinking about the team right now.  I don't trust them.  I don't know if they will be able to beat the Lions next week.  I think they probably will win, but this team has been so erratic with it's play this year.  The Rams didn't do us any favors by losing to the Eagles.  And the way this weekend has gone I wouldn't put it past the Panthers to down the Saints tomorrow to make it a three horse race for the final wildcard spot.  The Vikes may need to win out to make it. One positive is that the team seems to be as healthy as they have been all year.  Come on Vikes, turn that Zimmer thumb up the next two weeks.  That would actually give me a great deal of optimism for the lads in purple.  Let's find a winning formula.  It's not too late yet.

 

Flip Flopped, Now He Gone

My reaction:

Stefanski elevated to O.C..  After last night's debacle, I am all for the change.  In retrospect, Stefanski should have been the original hire.  Maybe this move will get our offense on track.  SKOL! 

I Didn't Suck Tonight, But Fishing Wasn't That Good Again

A Few Fish At Bulldog

9" VMC Fly/Maggot

4:30-7:00PM Bulldog Lake
27-22℉, Clear, Calm

When I got out there, three guys were fishing in the area I wanted to be. They packed up at about 4:40, so I moved over. I didn't get the first couple of marks to move through.  Not a whole lot of fish marked tonight.  Only 1 took the minnow and I missed it.  I ended up with 8 crappies caught half of which were 5-inchers.  I had an 11-incher come off in the hole.  I threw all the fish back tonight.

8 Crappies

I Pretty Much Suck!

Late Bulldog Trip

7" Glow Demon/Minnow

My new rechargeable light $14 on eBay

7:45-10:00PM Bulldog Lake
17-15℉, Clear, Calm

I decided to go out fishing tonight because there was no wind.  I forgot maggies and wax worms, Doh!  I drilled holes in the general area I was last time.  Nobody else was out and I didn't see any other houses.  The light I bought on eBay lights up the interior really well. There were fish down there, but funky.  I tried minnow heads unsuccessfully for the most part.  I got two bites on a minnow catching one.  And at the very end of the night, I got a 7-incher on the Glow Demon Spoon with a minnow head and Power Wax Worm.  I really suck at ice fishing this year.

2 Crip 

My Opinion, Zim Is The Man For The Foreseeable Future

I swear some Vikings fans are out of their minds.  Sure the teams' play has been all over the place this year and the teams' performance at Foxboro was a disappointment, but calling for Zimmer's head, really. C'mon Man!  Zim is a very good head coach and a defensive wizard.  It's not Zim's fault Rhodes and Waynes were injured in the game.  The lack of offensive production versus the Pats is all on Flip, Cousins, and Belichick who is also a defensive wizard.  Winning in Foxboro in December is a tough draw.  I expected the Vikes to play a bit better, but I didn't think they played as badly as the final score and stats indicated.  We weren't very far off from giving the Pat's a scare.  

I think Seattle is a much more beatable team.  I'm sure Zim wants some revenge against the Seachickens.  Cousin's gets another primetime opportunity to prove the critics wrong and the whole offensive unit has something to prove. 

A final word on Zim.  His record versus the Packers the last 7 times we have played says it all:  

Bass Pundit Turns 14 Years Old Today

That's right today begins my 15th year as a blogger.  My blogging frequency here at Bass Pundit has been down a slight tic this past year.  I could easily rectify that situation by just publishing a few more of my fishing report blogs here instead of only posting them at the Fishing Log Blog.  Maybe, I'll get in the habit of doing that come ice season.  If you are interested, you can easily check out every blog I have ever posted here at Bass Pundit by checking the Blog Archive on the right-hand sidebar.

Cheers to 14 years!!!

Captain Kirk Crashes the Starship

I see that I didn't blog my thought's on Vikings QB's after last season.  I was one who believed we should have re-signed Keenum and Teddy rather than spend the big money on Kirk Cousins.  Both Keenum and Teddy proved to me that they had an "it" factor that makes them tough QBs to beat in big games.  Cousin's had the opportunity to justify the huge contract tonight in Soldiers Field and came up woefully short.  He missed fired on a sure touchdown to Stephon Diggs.  He threw a lousy interception at the end of the first half when we had an opportunity to put points on the board. And with a chance to lead a long game tieing drive in the fourth quarter immediately threw a Bears game-clinching pick 6.  This doesn't mean the season is over, but that was a troubling performance to me, to say the least.

The pressure is now ramped up for next weeks game versus Team Cheese and you know who thrives on pressure?  Aaron Rodgers.  You know who has rep for folding under pressure?  You do Captain Kirk and you failed your first major test.

I'm officially hitting it.

   

Vikes Season Comes Down to the Next Two Games

I haven't Vikings blogged a whole lot this year. In fact, this is only my second post for this season.  The Vikes have at times played well this season and had some serious "what the.." heck moments and games as well.  I believe the Vikes are primed to take the division lead and not let go.  All they have to do is beat Da Bears in Chicago this week and crush the Packers playoff hopes next week.  If Zim's team shows up both weeks I like our chances.

SKOL Vikes!!! 

Ice Fishing Goals for 2018-19

Last year was my first attempt at putting together ice fishing goals at this blog. Basically, I published the blog then pretty much completely forgot about it.  I only achieved 4 or 5 out of the 20 Goals I made.  Coming up with realistic fishing goals is difficult because so much of it is weather dependent.  Also, I don't know where I will be fishing.  Last year I thought I was going to do most of my fishing at Rock Lake, but because the starter went out on the Expedition I didn't fish there once.  I debated just not doing goals this year, but what harm is there in doing it.  So here are my goals for the winter of 2018-19.

Tackle Goals:
1. Have my tackle ready to go by November 24th.

Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with at least 2 others this winter.

Blogging:
1.  Record all fishing trips at Fish Swami
2. Blog all Trips at the Fishing Log Blog

Fishing Goals:
1.  Catch at least 300 fish.
2. Catch at least 12 fish per outing.

Crappie:
1. Catch at least 200.

Sunfish:
1. Catch at least 100.

Pike:
1. Catch at least 1. (Didn't catch any last winter)

Bass:
1. Catch at least 1. (Didn't catch any last winter)

Walleye:
1. Catch at least 1. (Didn't catch any last winter)
2. Fish Mille Lacs at least 3 times.

Tulibee:
1. Catch at least 1.  (Haven't caught 1 in years)

Lakes:
1. Mille Lacs
2. Bulldog
3. Rock Lake

How Long Until Safe Ice In The Platte/Sullivan Area

This was the question I asked here at the blog last year on November 2nd.  My guess last year was for safe ice to be available on November 11th.  I was probably wrong by a day or two and didn't take my first ice fishing trip last year until Nov. 30th.  The lakes last year locked up on November 10th.  It wouldn't surprise me if they are locked up by the end of today as well. (I am writing this at 12:30AM).   If that happens I wouldn't be surprised if we have safe fishable ice on Bulldog and Platte Lake on Tuesday the 13th with the way the forecast looks.  May or may not did out the Fish Trap this weekend.  I'd say it's 60/40 against me trying to get out ice fishing next week.  If it does warm up next Wed  & Thurs I am 80/20  about giving the Jetty a chance provided it isn't locked up.

Jay Yelas, What Happened To Him?

I don't think it wrong to say Jay Yelas was at one time a superstar in the sport.  Classic Champion with multiple Anger of the Year titles, the last of which occurred in 2007.  He has only made the Forrest Wood Cup once in the last five years.  It seems like he rarely even finished in the Top 50 for the last few years.  I see that he accepted an invitation to fish in the Elite Series.  No question the right move for him.  I hope this restarts his career.  He was sinking down into to total irrelevance over at FLW.  Not that total irrelevance is a bad place to be if he's happy with it, but I bet he's not.

Good Luck Jay! 

Trophy Is Out For 2018!

And in storage for the 2018-19 winter.

I would rate the fishing this year out of the boat as fair to good.  The bite was more inconsistent than I would have liked and treble hooked topwater baits just weren't happening this year for me at all.  The toad bite was pretty mediocre as well.  The sucky weather in September sure didn't help things.  Frog fishing was solid. I've never caught so many frog fish in my life.

Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, My Thoughts:

Putting my pundit cap on and weighing in on the coming Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour.  I don't see how this idea will be sustainable.  I hope I'm wrong and this turns out to be a fantastic success, but I just don't see it.  FLW and B.A.S.S. are not what they once were not by choice, but because it's what the market dictated.  Tournament bass fishing is a niche sport with limited appeal.  I don't think the MLF BPT changes that reality.  I will be shocked if it does.

October Gold Rush

In case you were unaware, the past few years Mile Lacs has been closed to walleye fishing in October. I respected the DNR's wishes on the matter and didn't fish for them even though I wanted too.  This year thanks to the increasing health of the fishery the walleye fishing is open to catch and release fishing from 6AM to 10PM.  I took full advantage of that in October because the bite has been consistent and rather good. I fished the Lake for 17 days over 20 trips and only got skunked twice.  I caught 167 eyes for the month, which has to make it my most successful month of walleye fishing ever.  All of the fish were caught from shore off of Eddy's Jetty.  That's right, no boat needed.  One thing I've learned in fishing is that when you get on a solid bite, run it for all it's worth because there might not be a tomorrow.  I don't know how long the weather will allow things to continue, but I pretty much guarantee my case of gold fever is going to extend into ice season.

   You can read about all my October trips over at the Fishing Log Blog.

Challenge Cup Farm Island Quick Report

3lber caught on craw tube (B/B) in the closing minutes

I'm exhausted.  Range won the Cup this year, but it wasn't by much.  Snatcher Tuma had the top weight of the day.  I had a really fun time fishing with Snatcher Smitty brother Range Emmett.  That last late cull for me allowed me to edge out Emmett who also had a good upgrade just prior to me catching that last fish.   

Snatcher Washburn Lake Quick Report

8lbs 9ozs Hack Jig/Craw Fatty

It didn't have to happen, but it happened; I didn't land a single bass in today's tournament on Washburn Lake.  I lost two bass on the way to the boat, but one of those might not have been 12-inches.  I did catch several pike.  Hopefully, the Challenge Cup at Farm Island Lake will go better for me.

Challenge Cup Farm Island Lake Preview

The Challenge Cup is a tournament between the Baxter Bass Snatcher, Range Bassmasters, and Brainerd Lakes Bassmasters. Each club is supposed to provide three boaters and three non-boaters.  The Snatcher's boaters this year are Chuck Steinbauer, Keith Tuma, and Jim "Smitty" Smith.  I am in Emmett Smith's boat from the Range Club.

My goal in this one is to be the top finishing non-boater

Here are the rods I'm bringing:
Rods I'm Bringing:
7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)
7'4" H Zillion (Jig) (Braid)
7'2" H Tatula (Jig) (FC)
7'1" MH Tatula (Swimbait/Traps/Swim Jig)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
7' MH Mojo (Chatterjig/Traps/Cranks)
6'10" MH Crucial (Spinnerbait)

Last Snatcher Tournament At Washburn Lake Preview

I forgot to publish this yesterday.

The final Snatcher Tournament of the year is tomorrow on Washburn Lake.  This will be my second tournament on the lake; Snatchers fished it in late August in 2010.  I finished 4th at that tournament.  My boater got out there for a few hours while I was fishing the "Mini-Bucks" last Saturday.  He said he got plenty of fish, but no size.  It will be interesting to see what the fish are up to with the cool/cold weather we have been having for the last two weeks.  I suspect the fish should be adjusted to it.  There are only 14 guys fishing this one.

Rods I'm Bringing:
7'4" H Tatula XT (Buzzbait)
7'4" H Zillion (Jig) (Braid)
7'2" H Tatula (Jig) (FC)
7'1" MH Tatula (Swimbait/Traps)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
7' MH Mojo (Chatterjig/Traps/Cranks)
6'10" MH Crucial (Spinnerbait)
6'6" M GLX Spin (Ned Rig)

September 2018 Was Kind of a Disappointment

I came into last month excited by the possibilities.  Then the windy weather and slow fishing got to me as the fall topwater bite never materialized.  I did catch some good size fish, but overall I consider the month to have been a bust.

Mini-Bucks Tournament on Mission Lakes Tomorrow

This is an annual tournament between guys in the Baxter Bass Snatchers that has been going on for quite a few years.  This will be my third year fishing it as Chuck Steinbauer's partner.  The lake is broken down into as many sections as boat's fishing.  Each team starts in a different numbered hole.  We fish about an hour in each hole and then go to the next one in line until we have fished them all.  I've fished Mission in the fall when it's been tough and when it's been OK.  Hard to say what this cold weather tonight will do to the bite.

Here are the rods I'm Bringing:
7'4" H Tatula (Buzzbait/Frogs)
7'4" H Zillion (Jig)(Braided Line)
7'3" MH LTB (Horny Toad)
7'2" H Tatula (Jig) (FC Line)
7'1" MH (Swimbait)
7' H Avid (Crawtube)
7' MHM Mojo (Chatterjig)
6'10" MH Crucial (Spinnerbait)

And a last-second addition while I was composing this list:
6'6" M GLX Spin (Ned Rig)   

Birch Lake Bass Snatcher Tournament Sept.15th Full Report

I drove up to Snatcher Darren's Place and rode up with him.  When we arrived at Leech, it was blowing to beat the band out of the NNE when we arrived at 6:30AM.  Not a good thing when we were launching out of Horseshoe Bay.  The wind didn't die down, and the tournament director switched us to the alternate lake at about ten to 8:00AM.  So off we went to Birch Lake.  My boater Alan had only fished the lake twice when the club fished here for the first tournament of the year in 2016.  I fished the lake twice in 2016 and twice in 2011 when we fished there on Oct 1st.

The Day:
I think we blasted off by 8:40AM.  Alan and I were boat number 1.  Alan decided that we would run to the farthest west bay in the lake; It's a pad-lined slop bay.  Al got two quick small bass in the boat; One kept, one short.  I missed a bite in the pads and had a pike hook up on the frog over open water where I saw a fish bust.  We got into the open area in the bay.  I hooked up with a bass near a pad patch out in the open on a black/red Terminator Frog.  Immediately after I set the hook, so did Also we got a double.  My bass was my biggest of the day (2/10), and Al's was just a keeper.  I think Al got 2 more keepers in there.  We then went across to an adjacent point and didn't get anything.  So we headed a little farther East and tried some docks and wood on the north shoreline.  I got a pike on a dock.  We worked our way out on a point, and I got a 2lber there on a green pumpkin Jackhammer.  Other than a couple pike, that was all we got.  Next, we headed to the south end of the western basin and started working the weed flat.  I put on a junebug Jackhammer and was quickly rewarded with a small keeper.  We went up and worked the pads for a little bit and tried some reeds to the west, not getting anything but a few pike.  I then suggested we try the channel between the lake.  I got a tiny keeper out of the reeds on the southeast shoreline.  We didn't get anything in the channel.

Next, we headed to where the river goes to Ten Mile Lake.  I had a fish hit, hook up, hang me in some cabbage and get off.  As I was reeling in, I saw a 2lber following my Jackhammer, so I killed it, and the fish smashed it.  I didn't get another bite until we were across the other side of the bay when a 14-incher hit my bone Sprinker Frog in some reeds.  That was my last landed bass of the day.  We went back to the bay we started in, and Al got his biggest bass off the day in the pads.  We worked around the southside pads of the little island. I had a couple of fish hit my Terminator Frog, but I didn't hook up.  Probably just small bass like Al was catching.   Then we tried the south side of the big island, and all I could get was a pike.  And just like that, the day was over.

Results: 
My fish weighed 10lbs 1oz which put me in 14th Place out of 18 anglers.  Al had 2 more ounces than me and finished 13th.  Keith Tuma won it 19/3 and had a 4/04 for the tournament "Lunker."  Dwight Hammermeister, who was in Tuma's boat, came in 2nd and won the Co-Angler Challenge.

This finish makes me finishing in the club Super 6 highly unlikely, but I'm pretty much guaranteed I will reach my goal of finishing in the Top 10

My Thoughts:
My mental state wasn't optimal.  I hadn't fished since Monday, and I was 100% sure we were going to be fishing Leech Lake and had prepared myself for a tough bite there.  My head just wasn't in the game like it needed to be.  It didn't help that the fish never really clued us in.  It didn't help that I didn't have rods and tackle along that would have diversified my fishing options.  I think we probably should have tried a few more docks and definitely fished the eastern basin.

   

Snatcher Birch Lake Quick Report

To much dismay and consternation the weather report at Leech Lake this morning was wrong.  When we arrived at Horseshoe Bay Resort this morning the wind was blowing about 15mph out of the NE.  The worst possible direction.  We ended up going to the alternate lake, Birch in Hackensack.  This move was totally unexpected.  Both Al and I managed to scratch out a ten pound limit and finish somewhere in the back half of the 18 angler field. 

My Snatcher Leech Lake Preview

What will Leech Lake give us?  Looks like fairly East light winds, but with the possibility of thunderstorms to start the day.  I don't know whether or not we are on anything from our pre-fish.  The size we caught was OK, but we didn't get a lot of bites.  That may be do to fishing under unfavorable conditions.  I think the bite should be better tournament day.  I haven't gone fishing since Monday due to the all wind we've been having.  Hopefully, I'll be able to get some sleep tonight and will be well rested for my 3AM wake up.

Rods I'm Bringing:
7'6" MH Mod LTB (Heavy Jig)
7'4" H Zillon (Jig)
7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)
7'4" H Tatula XT  (Frog/Buzzbait)
7'4" H Avid-X (Sprinker Frog)
7'3" MH LTB (Horny Toad)
7'3" MH Lamiglas (Swimbait)
7' H Avid (Crawtube)

Football Season Starts Today

All the experts seem to agree that Vikings have one of the best teams in the NFL.  Hear are my  questions coming into the season.

Will our O-Line hold up?  They could take a half step backward from last year and I think we would still be OK. 

Will the Defense take a step back or step forward? It's going to be tough for the D to improve off of last year.  But I think that could actually be the case.  The D wasn't that great at causing turnovers last year.

Is DeFilippo up to the job?  Hopefully🤞

Will Cousin's be the man to bring us a Super Bowl Title?  Kirk, we would like that!

September Has Arrived

And just like that summer gone.  Football season is about to start and hopefully I will start to figure out where the bass are in Platte Lake.  For the most part I struggled in August especially toward the end of the month as the Melon Patch, 17" Hole/Big Rice Point, and Green Cabin Bay dried up.  Sure I was catching some fish and some good one's, but the fish were going away from me all month and not reloading.  I suppose I don't help myself by being so frog focused.

 Hopefully, the topwater bite will turn on.  On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best I would rate this summer's topwater fishing this way:
7 for June
8 for July
6 for August

Snatcher Pelican Lake August 25th Full Report

The sun rises over a surprisingly fogless Pelican Lake 

Conditions: 60-73℉, Cloudy for most of the day, Light Wind WSW
Water Temp: 76℉ maybe

1st Fish of the Day Caught on a Jackhammer

The Day:  The first spot we stopped at was at a hump offshore somewhere where Dwight caught a good one while pre-fishing.  We both started out throwing topwaters, but with there being a bit of a breeze I quickly put the popper I was throwing down in favor of a junebug color Evergreen Jackhammer.  On about my 5th cast, it was fish on.  I could tell it was a good fish, but it wasn't exactly fighting like a bass.  Turns out it was a nice walleye, maybe 23-inches long.  About 5 minutes later I got a pike.  That was it for the starting spot.  We tried briefly aways off of a point, not getting anything.  Then we tried close to some reeds.  No bites there.  Then we headed out to where I had the big bass miss my topwater in pre-fish. 

On my very first cast with the same smoke colored tube I used to catch some fish on my first ever tournament on Pelican Lake in 2009 I got the skunk out of the boat for myself with a 1.75lb bass.  That was the only bite we got out there.  Next, we went to the reeds on the South side of the island.  Dwight had we thought was a 2lb smallmouth hit at his lure, but not get it.  We then briefly fished off a point and on the north side of the island not getting anything.  Next, we headed to the reeds on the south side of the entrance to Breezy Point Bay.  I had a good fish take my Hack Attack Jig, but it came off as I tried to bring him through the reeds.  Pretty quickly after that Dwight got the skunk out of the boat with a nice one.  Dwight then added a small keeper after missing a couple of bites.  I had a fish hit the Jig, but I swung and missed.  I pitched right back to the spot and got a small keeper.

Next, we were gonna fish some other reeds, but another tournament boat was fishing out in front of them, so we fished a sunken island instead.  Pretty sure this was the spot Dennis started us on back in 2009.  It was calm, so I got out the good old bullfrog color Frenzy Popper I used to catch some fish on back in 2009.  Sure enough, I had a fish hit it, but not hook up.  I threw back to spot missing it by several yards.  A bass that was just over a pound and a half was on it.  Not sure if it was the same fish or not, but that was the only bite I got on the popper for the day.  We next went and tried the reeds, but Dwight didn't like them and we quickly left for a cabbage area somewhere on the eastern side of the lake.  There was a bit of a chop and I elected to throw a swimbait and was quickly rewarded with a small keeper.  Next, we went back to the area where I got my first keeper and I got a 2lber there on the swimbait.  We tried running South, then back to the starting spot.  With about an hour left we went back to the reeds where we caught fish.   They now had the wind blowing on them and we didn't get any bites.  With about a half hour left we ran some docks.  Dwight got a small keeper and a short.  He also had a what was probably a small keeper come off.  With 10 minutes left, we were getting over towards a large swimming area when we came to a dock that was right on the break.  Dwight got a good keeper.  I then briefly had a fish on.  A few casts later I got a 2lber on a green pumpkin Jackhammer.  I was pretty pumped.  My last bite of the day was a nice pike that hit the junebug Jackhammer.  And then time was up.     

Results: My limit weighed 10lbs 4ozs and put me in 10th Place out of 21 anglers fishing. 
Dennis Lothspeich won with 19/2.  Chuck Steinbauer had "Lunker" with a 4/12 largemouth.  Beau Bacon was the Co-Angler Challenge Winner with a 18/6 bag, which was 2nd Place for the tournament.

My thoughts:  There were only 8 limits caught of which mine was the smallest.  I am pretty darn proud that I managed to catch a limit.  With two tournaments remaining I still have a shot at finishing in the Club Super 6, but it's an outside shot with 4 guys ahead of me right now for the 6th Spot.  One more finish in the Top 8 should pretty much guarantee I reach my goal of finishing in the Top 10 for the year.

Full Results:

Bass Snatcher Pelican Lake Tournament Quick Report

1st Bite of the Day Didn't fight like a bass, wasn't a bass

As predicted the tournament today was indeed a grinder.  I didn't get my limit in the boat until the final 10 minutes.  My boater Dwight only got 4 keepers.  Only 8 limits total out of 21 guys fishing. I finished somewhere in the Top 10. Dennis Lothspeich got his second win in a row.  Full report after I get the official results.

My Snatcher Pelican Lake Preview

Probably gonna be a grinder.  Thankfully it is supposed to stay on the cool side all morning and light winds.  Hopefully, there won't be a fog delay. Just hoping for 6 keeper bites.

Rods I'm bringing:
7'4" H Zillion (Jig)
7'1" MH Tatula (Swimbait/Jigs/Chatterjigs)
7' H Avid (Texas Rigs)
7' MHM Mojo (Chatterjigs/topwater)
6'8" M Legend Xtreme (Light Texas Rig)
6'8" M Avid (Topwater)
6'6" MH 763 GLX (Tubes)

6'6"  762 SJR GLX (Ned Rig)

2018 Fishing Goals Met

My goal was to catch at least 1,000 largemouths in 2018. On August 5th I caught my 1,000th one.

The smallmouth front is looking pretty pathic this year.  I haven't caught one yet.

I also surpassed my goal of 500 pikes for the year sometime late in July.

July Was A Froggy Month

That is 73 bass caught on the Bobby's Perfect for the month.  Thanks to all the fish I caught on the lure in July it has eclipsed the craw tube as my #1 bait for the year.  I've caught 100 plus fish on three different frogs so far this year.

July 9th Platte/Sullivan N.W. Conference H.S. Open (35 Boats/4 Schools)

Congrats to Todd Shatusky Elk River boys on the win.  He told me they got the fish outside of some reeds on jigs.  A bit surprised no 4lbers were weighed, but conditions were less than ideal with high bluebird skies.  They got to see tough Platte/Sullivan.  Congrats to all teams that got a 5 fish limit.

My full blog of that day over at my Fishing Log Blog.

The timing for the porta john cleaning could have been better.
Could have been much worse as it was during the second flights' weigh-in time 

Here is how the Top 10 Teams Finished

The rest of the teams that weighed fish.