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

Winner Winner Shadow Rap For Dinner!!!

I won a prize in B.A.S.S. Fantasy Fishing game in one of my leagues (Group: Fishing All The Time).  I was the top finisher at the Guntersville event.  Always great to win something.  I should have gone to Mille Lacs and tried out the Shadow Rap tonight, but I went to the Grumpy Old Man Hole instead.

A Measure Of Revenge at Farm Island Lake

"Sweet Revenge" color Mad Maxx frog

Conditions: Mostly Sunny, Wind out of the E ESE and ENE 5 to 15mph, Temps from high 50's to mid 70's

The Day:  We were a bit surprised to have the whole SW slop bay to ourselves in the morning.  We spent all day there fishing the shallow rice and pads with Tru-Tungsten Mad Maxx Frogs.  My boater Roger and I both mostly threw "Sweet Revenge", but I threw "Big Sexy" in the afternoon as well hoping it might get me a big bite.  Only 3 other boats came in there the whole day and they didn't stay long.  The fish bit throughout the day with only one about an hour long dry spell  from about 9-10AM.  I got the first bite of the morning about 5 minutes in, but it was a pike.  There was a lot of baitfish activity right away in the morning before the wind came up.  Roger was up two to nothing when I got my biggest bass of the day, a 16.25" about half an hour in.  As we were drifting across the flat Roger asked me if we should drift closer to shore.  I told him I thought the fish could be anywhere.  About 5 minutes later I herd a whooosh.  A big bass had annihilated Rogers frog.  I turned my head and informed Roger about the situation as he was watching my frog at the time.  Roger got it in and it was 4lb 5oz and to tied "Lunker of the Tournament."  Roger had his limit before I got another fish.  I just wasn't getting hit.  Roger had his limit in the first hour and a half.  We had to use my push pole a couple of times.  Roger had culled two times when I got on a hot streak and landed 5 fish to Rogers none (14", 14.75", 13.5", 15.25, and 15.9").  Roger was getting bites, but missing them.  I had my limit by 11AM.  I got a 15.5 to cull out the 13.5" and then caught a couple more pike, five 12inch fish, and 14.5", which I culled out for 14.75" fish.  We had lots of short strikes and a few bad hooksets cost me some fish I probably should of had.  I had three bites on the Havoc Pit Boss but I missed all of them.  I also fished the Fluke and Horny Toad but didn't get a bite on either one of those.

Results:  My six fish weighed 11lbs 7ozs and put me in 15th Place out of 27 fishing.  Roger's fish were 16lbs and netted him 3rd Place, with the 4lb 5oz Lunker.  The winner was Guy Henkensiefken with 16-8 edging out Keith Tuma by three ounces, two of which were for a dead fish penalty.

Thoughts: Frustrating, but fun day.  Here's my theory on why Roger kicked my butt. I believe the decision to switch out my Team Daiwa-S103 with a 6:1 ratio the day before for the 9:1 ratio Revo Rocket was a critical mistake. I couldn't slow down enough with the Rocket to give the frog the look they wanted. I was trying to match Roger's retrieve, but it just wasn't happening for me when I did that.   Roger had quite a few more bites than me, but we caught about the same amount of fish.  I definitely caught more 12" fish than Roger.  That and Roger was just lucky to land casts next to bigger fish that were able to take the frog well enough to be hooked.

It really would have helped if Roger would have had a small anchor to put down when we were drifting through good water.  That would have saved Roger some frustration of dealing with the rice as well.

How much can a guy complain on a day where he caught 17 fish and set the hook on at least that many more.  The fish bit all day and I fished one of my favorite ways.  Amazingly I didn't get a single hit while walking my frog when I had the opportunities to do that in holes in the weeds.

I saw one 5lb dogfish and an 8lb carp.

Next Tournament: Woman Lake July 18th