I Can See it!+ GOMH & Bulldog(3/14/21)

I was able to drive up and down the driveway today without touching ice, so today is the day.

Good wind blowing from the North

Bulldog Lake 

 

GOMH Today + Weather Outlook(3/13/21)

By next weekend into the third tier of ice growth?

 

Fishable very soon from the steps

Melting weather. If the forecast stays similar with no cold snaps into April then things should be slightly ahead of schedule for my April 13th ice out prediction. 

"When Will I See the Driveway?" #4

 Almost there, probably tomorrow when it's supposed to get to 50-degrees plus.

Today at the GOMH(3/11/21)

 Dang snow hides the ice gradients I could see yesterday. There was a little otter that poked up through the ice yesterday. It was raining yesterday before the snow last night. I had to go to the clinic because I had a deer tick stuck in my thigh.

Wow, This Tournament is in it's 13th Year Already

 

MN Fishing Challenge Website

Congrats, Again Jason!!!😁😁😁

 

A little editorial error on the most recent Bass Blaster email. At least Kumar knows something about Brainerd.

"When Will I See My Driveway?" #3 Plus GOMH & Weather

The top of the driveway is 90% Open

The rain tomorrow may do the job

4 Otters

Mild stretch ahead
 

A Little Open Water At the GOMH Under the Bridge (Red Wing Day)

 Also went for a walk with Steve and Dev tonight. She decided to try and cross the ditch to get into the field and nearly lost her boots. Kim had to come and get her because the boots were soaked.

Also heard the first redwing blackbird of the year at the GOMH.

Northwoods Team Trail 2021 Website Is Up

 

They are a low-cost bass tournament option with in-person tournaments on specific lakes and virtual options. They aren't fishing Platte/Sullivan this year and I think most of the in-person dates conflict with my Snatchers schedule. If you are interested, give them a look.  

"When Will I See My Driveway?" #3

 

It slushed up this afternoon

Earlier in the day

Will the snow/ice be able to survive to Wed?

March 7th At the GOMH (3 Years Running)

2021

2020

2019

 

My guess is we will have open water at the GOMH by the 15th. In 2019 it took until March 19th. 2019 was one of the best years for me tracking ice out around here.

The Dude Did It!

 2022 Classic Bound and a big leg up on making the Elites. Congrats Tuma and Bre!

Update: The story at Bassmater.com.

Hoisting Blue! The First of Many? Amen!

Plowed out the Backyard Today(3/6/21)

 Reverse quit working, but I got her done while listening to Tuma win the Open. 

Tuma Makes The 10 Cut with 20lb Bag On Day 2

Unfortunately, the BASS weigh-in feed was having issues and I gave up trying to get it to work, so I didn't see it when Keith weighed in with his 20lb 5oz bag. He just made it at the 10 Spot.  He is a little under 13lbs out of first. It is Florida, so anything is possible. He had the 4th biggest weight of Day 2. 

Bass Snatcher Keith Tuma Is Fishing The Bassmaster Opens This Year

 The first tournament of the year starts today at the Harris Chain. It would be so cool to see a Snatcher make the Elites. There is no doubt in my mind Keith is that good. Good Luck Keith!

There are a total of 8 MN Guys Fishing this one.

"When Will I See My Driveway?" #2

It got to 45℉ today. The driveway is still solid pack.  Lightning wasn't the best because I was going fishing and wasn't going to wait for the shadows to go away.

It's Gonna Be A While,GOMH(3/4/21)

 

I should take the spud with me next time to see if I can breakthrough.

Life In The Bass Lane with Josh Douglas

 Bri Douglas's production is fantastic!

Platte Lake Ice Out Prediction for 2021

It's that time of year for me to pick an ice-out date for Platte Lake. We have pretty good ice cover on the lakes right now and a moderate amount of snow cover. It looks like by this time next week the snow will be mostly gone.  I don't think there is much hope of beating last year's ice-out date of April 8th.  It does look like we are going to be starting March warmer than last year which makes me optimistic it won't be a late ice-out this year. 

I predict the ice will be off Platte Lake on April 13th, 2021

2020 Prediction April 8th, Nailed it! 

2019 Prediction May 9th Ice Off Date April 20th 

2018 Prediciton April 22nd Ice Off Date May 2nd 

2017 Prediction March 29th Ice Off Date April 1st 

2015 Prediction April 20th Ice Out Date April 3rd

2021 When Will I See My Driveway #1

Not today obviously. Other than where the cars sit there is no bear dry ground. I think we have about a 4-inch base layer over most of the driveway right now. I don't think it will get quite warm enough to turn it to slush until Thursday. A lot of melting this week. Pretty sure it will be ice-free by next Wednesday.

Congrats To Gussy!

 Affable Canadian Pro Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson won the Blue Trophy at the Tennessee River this past Sunday. He did it with smallmouth. The only guy in the field to figure them out.

March Will Be Getting Off To A Warm Start

I will start the "When Will I See My Driveway?" Series for 2021. Pretty sure it will be snow and ice-free by early next week.
 

2021 Fishing Goals

 

Fishing Buddies: 

1. Fish with Dad
2. Fish with Mike Thompson
3. Fish with Jim Bonin
4. Fish with  Mike "Spike" Miller
5. Fish with Jeff and Renee
6. Fish with Todd, Isabelle, and Mallory
7.  Fish with Kane Phongsavat
8. Fish with Jaimen Abrahamson
9. Fish with Dave Lindmark
10. Fish with Steve and Devin
11. Take Corey Hicks frog fishing.
12. Fish with Jamar at Eddy's
13. Fish with Eric Aske
14. Fish with Pete
15. Fish With Josh Abrahamson & Ashley Just

Dream Fishing Buddies:
1. Fish with Josh Douglas
2. Fish with Al Lindner
3. Fish With Nattie Up North

Bass Snatcher Goals: (Same Goals as 2020)

1.  Win my 1st tournament. 9/26/21 (My best finish to date is 2nd Place.)
2. Get "Wood" in at least one tournament. (1st-3rd Place Finish or Lunker or Co-Angler Challenge) 

3. Get "Lunker" in a tournament.   (Preferably one over 5-8 to win the revolving big bass pot.)
4. Get paired with Chuck Fields.  (He usually only fishes a couple of tournaments a year, so chances of it ever happening are not very good.  I may look into bribing Dennis)
5. Finish in the Top 10 at the end of the year. 
6. Catch a limit at every tournament of the year.  (I've done this twice, but in 2012 I only fished 4 out of the 6 tournaments due to a bad back.)
7. Pre-fish with at least 3 boaters.
8. List the Rods I'm bringing for each tournament before the tournament.
9.  Win the Co-Angler Challenge at least twice
10. Make the Challenge Cup Team

Technique & Tackle Goals:
1. Win something in Fantasy Fishing or Facebook giveaways/contests.
2. Officially Open the Tackle Warehouse this year.
3. Catch Fish On 100 different Lures (94 Lures in 2020)
4. Catch 25 fish on a Frenzy Popper
5. Catch 25 fish on a Stanley Phantom

6. Get A Hat Sponsorship

7. Catch bass cranking deep in Sullivan Lake

8. Keep a Lures Lost List

Lures Lost In 2021:

Bear Trax Glow Demon: |||

T.H.E. Jig: ||

Craw Tube: |||| |||| |||| ||||

X-Rap 10: ||

Ultimate Jerk Shad: |

2" Storm Swim Shad: ||

eBay Chatterjig: |||

Berkley Frenzy Popper: |
Hack Attack Jig: ||

Bobby's Perfect: |||| |

Terminator Jr.: |

R2S Rover: |

All Terrain A.T. Jig: |

Terminator Frog: ||
R2S Bubble Walker: |

LiveTarget Frog: |

9. Catch a bass on every frog in my arsenal 

1. Bobby's Perfect 🗹
2. Ish's  🗹
3. Ish's Poppin  🗹
4. Snag Proof Kicker🗹
5. Snag Proof Moss Master 🗹
6. Snag Proof Pro Tournament 🗹
7. Terminator 🗹
8. Terminator Jr. 🗹
9. Terminator Popper 🗹
10. Teckel Sprinker  🗹
11. Teckel Whacker🗹
12. Spro King Daddy 🗹
13. Spro Bronzeye  🗹
14. Spro Popper 🗹
15. Spro Sprinker KO 🗹
16. Spro Shad Sprinker KO🗹
17. R2S Bully Wa 🗹
18. R2S Bully Wa 2 🗹
19. TT Mad Max 🗹
20. LiveTarget Frog
21. Booyah Pad Crasher  🗹
22. Booyah Toad Runner  🗹
23. BD Frog🗹
24. BD Frog (big)  🗹
25. Evergreen Soft Shell  🗹
26. Blitz Frog  🗹
27. Sumo Frog🗹
28. Teckel Maracker 🗹
29. ScumDog Walker 🗹
30. SnagProof Frogzilla  🗹
31. Scum Frog Trophy   🗹
32. Snag Proof Jr.r 🗹
33.  Paycheck Baits Transporter 🗹
34. LunkerHunt Lunker Frog 🗹

Blogging:

1. Blog about anytime I reach a goal.
2. Record all fishing trips at Fish Swami
3. Fish at least 200 days and blog about them

Fish Goals:
1. Catch* 4,000 Fish (3,051 caught in 2020)
2. Average 5 fish caught per hour. (3.92 in 2020, 4.40 in 2019, 4.07 in 2018, 3.99 in 2017, 4.08 in 2016, 3.62 in 2015, 3.55 in 2014, 4.41 in 2013, 4.31 in 2012, 2.77 in 2011)
3. Have a 100 fish day.

4. Catch Devin's Birthday Bullhead On May 20th
5. Catch A Fish Every Month
🗹January

🗹February

🗹March

🗹April

🗹May

🗹June

🗹July

🗹 August

🗹 September
🗹 October
🗹 November

🗹 December

Crappie:

1. Catch a new personal best. (Currently 14.25")
2. Catch* over 600 this year. (Caught 217 in 2020)

3. Catch my personal best number of crappies.

Dogfish:
1. Win my 3rd Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship
2. Catch an MN State Record fish. (11-4  or 35" x 20")
3. Catch a new personal best.
4. Get the Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship stuff done in a timely manner this year.

Pike:
1. Catch* over 1,000 this year. (Caught 927 in 2020)
2. Catch a 38" or over/personal best.

Bass: 
1. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Largemouth (6.5lbs/21" PB)
2. Catch a 21plus inch or 6lb Smallmouth (20.5" PB)
3. Catch* over 1,500 bass this year. (Caught 1,293 in 2020)
4. Catch* at least 25 smallies.  (I caught 4 last year)
5. Catch a 25lb 6 Fish Bag
6. Have a 50 bass day 

7. Catch over 500 bass on Frogs
8. Catch 5 bass over  5lbs/20-inches

9. Catch 25 bass over 4lbs/19-inches
10. Get Steve and Todd at least one 4lber

11. Get Belle, Mallory, and Devin a frog fish.

Walleye:
1. Catch at least 100. (Caught 202 in 2020)
2. Catch 30"/10lber or new personal best. (28.5 is PB)

* Catch is anything I deem it to be, including follows by pike or smallmouth (while pre-fishing), a pike missing my lure, fish viewed on the Aqua View, and fish that get off before I have them in hand that I can positively identify.  And fish caught by people I am guiding or boater during pre-fish.

A goal that I reached is in bold.
New for 2021 in italics.