Well, the ice is gone. West Okoboji went Wednesday morning, we had rain overnite and high winds. In fact, the wind is still blowing pretty hard. I backed the Ranger down the boat ramp on Tuesday and started both the engines and let them run for about 10 minutes to burn the fogging oil out of them. Everything is working fine, the tires on the trailer needed a little air but that is to be expected. I hope to get out Sunday with Rick Dicus for a little walleye fishing either on Storm Lake in Buena Vista County or Silver Lake here in Dickinson County.
I must be honest with you, the way the damn gas prices are going through the roof I don't know if I am going to go anywhere this year that is a long drive. I can't bear the thought of helping those bastards get another record profit. (Oil Companies) Oh well, enough of that rant.
I heard a report today that the smallies are starting to go on big Spirit, there is a report that someone caught and killed for a mount a 6lb smallmouth.
I will report how we do on Sunday.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Linn Grove
I went down to Linn Grove this morning to check out the walleye bite. To make a short story short, I didn't get a bite. I cast jigs for 3 hours and never got a sniff. I talked to a fellow there that had one nice eye about 26", he caught it deadsticking a minnnow in the boil hole. I suspect the bite is probably in the afternoon but I had to get back to the lakes. I talked to Harlan at Four Seasons Bait and Tackle, Seney, IA, on the way down to Linn Grove and he had down real well last week. If you are ever down Seney way and need bait and tackle stop and see Harlan, he will give you the straight news on the bite and he has great products in his store. I did some ice fishing with him this winter and he cooks a great hot dog.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Old Man Winter Ain't Done Yet
Well, I am up to my you no what in snow. We got 10 inches Friday. Wow! It seems like softwater fishing is getting farther away not closer, all the lakes refroze.
We had the board meeting of Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc. last Thursday. If anyone that happens to take a look at this blog is interested in some really nice trips for 2006, make a mark on your calendars for Sept 16-18, 2005, the date of our Annual Release Tournament. We are planning to have 6 trips to give away some as raffle items, some just as drawings. The trips will be to Lake of The Woods, Leech, Mille Lacs, Vermillion, Cass and Lake Shelbyville in Ill. So, if you want to win a cool trip for next year I encourage you to come fish our 25 Anniversary Release Tournament. Sept 16-18.
I am finishing this entry on Monday the 21st. I took a drive around the area today to check out the lake conditions. Big Spirit is about 75% out, East Okoboji is out from Parks Marina to the Narrows and West Okoboji has a long way to go. I hear the eyes are hitting at the dam down at Linn Grove, might be worth the effort to burn a little fuel and give it a try.
My friend, Scott, from Rockford, Ill. stopped by today, always good to see him this time of the year it means the winter is about over. Scott and I will be fishing in the Great Walleye Weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes again this year. I hope I can stay awake this year while I am driving the boat on a trolling run!! Later
We had the board meeting of Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc. last Thursday. If anyone that happens to take a look at this blog is interested in some really nice trips for 2006, make a mark on your calendars for Sept 16-18, 2005, the date of our Annual Release Tournament. We are planning to have 6 trips to give away some as raffle items, some just as drawings. The trips will be to Lake of The Woods, Leech, Mille Lacs, Vermillion, Cass and Lake Shelbyville in Ill. So, if you want to win a cool trip for next year I encourage you to come fish our 25 Anniversary Release Tournament. Sept 16-18.
I am finishing this entry on Monday the 21st. I took a drive around the area today to check out the lake conditions. Big Spirit is about 75% out, East Okoboji is out from Parks Marina to the Narrows and West Okoboji has a long way to go. I hear the eyes are hitting at the dam down at Linn Grove, might be worth the effort to burn a little fuel and give it a try.
My friend, Scott, from Rockford, Ill. stopped by today, always good to see him this time of the year it means the winter is about over. Scott and I will be fishing in the Great Walleye Weekend in the Iowa Great Lakes again this year. I hope I can stay awake this year while I am driving the boat on a trolling run!! Later
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Cool GPS Info
Hey, how is everyone in Boji Land. I found a cool place to learn about GPS signal degradation and how the government might screw with the signal. You have to go to the US Coast Guard auxillary website and click on Navigation Center, then Click on Boating Laws and Regulations and then click on Nav Rules. You will then be able to select GPS or DGPS on the left hand menu. I don't know how many of you are into that kind of technical stuff but if you are, this place has some interesting stuff.
So if you want to take you knowledge about what the heck your Lowrance or whatever you use is doing, this website might give you some insight.
I haven't been fishing, but there are still some folks sitting on the ice in some of the bays on West Okoboji and still some people on the ice at grade on the north end of Big Spirit. I was in Oh Shucks yesterday and a fellow brought in a pail full of gills but he was pretty closed mouth about where he had been fishing.
Rick and I are still trying to put together a trip to Chamberlain, I think the fish have been going out there at least that is the report on Walleye Central. I need to make a chip from MapCreate 6 for the area, I can't find the one I made last year, I must have loaned it to someone.
So if you want to take you knowledge about what the heck your Lowrance or whatever you use is doing, this website might give you some insight.
I haven't been fishing, but there are still some folks sitting on the ice in some of the bays on West Okoboji and still some people on the ice at grade on the north end of Big Spirit. I was in Oh Shucks yesterday and a fellow brought in a pail full of gills but he was pretty closed mouth about where he had been fishing.
Rick and I are still trying to put together a trip to Chamberlain, I think the fish have been going out there at least that is the report on Walleye Central. I need to make a chip from MapCreate 6 for the area, I can't find the one I made last year, I must have loaned it to someone.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
News from Okoboji
Well, I did well at the Muskie Banquet Raffle. I won a Triple D crankbait, some fuel treatment and a $10.00 gift certificate to Rollie and Helens Muskie Shop. This weekend is the Muskie Expo in the Twin Cities, did not attend this year. Scott B is picking me up a Pink Rad Dog and a Northern Pike pattern Phantom. I think I am getting as many muskie baits as I have walleye baits. I am nuts!!
Rick Dicus had me on his radio show today (Experience The Outdoors). The discussion today was rods, reels, line etc. for bass, walleye and muskie, Rick was pleased with the show.
I still haven't put the boat in water anywhere. I heard a rumor that Silver Lake at Lake Park, IA was open, Dianne and I drove over there this morning. The rumor is false, although I suspect some folks are catching some walleyes from shore by the aerator.
I still haven't received my promo kit from Optima Batteries so that I can take some pix and write the testimonial. I think I am going to do that from the river, maybe I could have a nice eye in the picture.
Rick Dicus had me on his radio show today (Experience The Outdoors). The discussion today was rods, reels, line etc. for bass, walleye and muskie, Rick was pleased with the show.
I still haven't put the boat in water anywhere. I heard a rumor that Silver Lake at Lake Park, IA was open, Dianne and I drove over there this morning. The rumor is false, although I suspect some folks are catching some walleyes from shore by the aerator.
I still haven't received my promo kit from Optima Batteries so that I can take some pix and write the testimonial. I think I am going to do that from the river, maybe I could have a nice eye in the picture.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Walleye, Muskie and getting ready.
This post is titled as such because I just tried to post and got a cannot find this page message bummer.
Anyway, I haven't posted for a week. I am in the middle of being between ice fishing and softwater fishing. I have been busy respooling reels, cleaning rod eyes etc. I am replacing the belly hooks on my crankbaits with red Daiichi hooks, I am sharpening hooks on muskie baits, building new muskie leaders etc. It is a time of transition. The lakes around here are still socked in with ice, but there is water standing on top of the ice in the afternoon and all the permanent shacks are gone. You can feel the pace of nature quickening, geese are moving, I saw a big swan this morning, it is just plain time for change.
I will be pulling the Ranger out in the driveway tomorrow, if it gets as warm as forecast. I will be cleaning her up inside and out, getting the contents of the hatches organized, checking trailer tire pressure, making sure all the electronics work etc. etc. I am then hoping to go either to Red Wing, Minnesota and the Mississippi or to Chamberlain,SD and the Missouri to do some walleye fishing and give the boat her spring shake down cruise. I need to run some carbon guard through the 200 Optimax as a preventative and just generally shake the cobwebs out of her. I am also anxious to see how the new Optima batteries work. I also need to take some pictures with Optima signage on the boat and write that testimonial to fulfill my contract with Optima.
Tonight, Dianne and I are going to the awards banquet of The Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc, she and I are both on the board of directors. I was elected Regional Vice President for our chapter last year, I am humbled by the trust the club puts in me.
If any of you readers are interested in muskie fishing please go to our website for more information. www.muskieclub.com. We have 3 major tournaments per year and muskie league every other Wednesday night after work. It is a great time and a neat way to learn more about muskie fishing.
Anyway, I haven't posted for a week. I am in the middle of being between ice fishing and softwater fishing. I have been busy respooling reels, cleaning rod eyes etc. I am replacing the belly hooks on my crankbaits with red Daiichi hooks, I am sharpening hooks on muskie baits, building new muskie leaders etc. It is a time of transition. The lakes around here are still socked in with ice, but there is water standing on top of the ice in the afternoon and all the permanent shacks are gone. You can feel the pace of nature quickening, geese are moving, I saw a big swan this morning, it is just plain time for change.
I will be pulling the Ranger out in the driveway tomorrow, if it gets as warm as forecast. I will be cleaning her up inside and out, getting the contents of the hatches organized, checking trailer tire pressure, making sure all the electronics work etc. etc. I am then hoping to go either to Red Wing, Minnesota and the Mississippi or to Chamberlain,SD and the Missouri to do some walleye fishing and give the boat her spring shake down cruise. I need to run some carbon guard through the 200 Optimax as a preventative and just generally shake the cobwebs out of her. I am also anxious to see how the new Optima batteries work. I also need to take some pictures with Optima signage on the boat and write that testimonial to fulfill my contract with Optima.
Tonight, Dianne and I are going to the awards banquet of The Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc, she and I are both on the board of directors. I was elected Regional Vice President for our chapter last year, I am humbled by the trust the club puts in me.
If any of you readers are interested in muskie fishing please go to our website for more information. www.muskieclub.com. We have 3 major tournaments per year and muskie league every other Wednesday night after work. It is a great time and a neat way to learn more about muskie fishing.
Muskie Club
Well it has been a week since I have written anything on this blog, primarily because I am in the middle of nothing to do. I am probably done ice fishing for the year. Therefore, it is now time to get ready for softwater fishing.
I have been busy replacing the belly hooks on my crankbaits with red daiichi hooks. I am sharpening the hooks on musky baits, respooling reels and generally organizing my stuff. If you an obsessed angler like I am you have lots of stuff.
Tomorrow, if it gets as warm as is forecast I am going to pull the Ranger out in the driveway and clean her up and get things organized in the hatches, check the tire pressures on the trailer, hook up all the electronics to make sure all the connections are good, clean any corroded connections and tighten them and on and on.
Tonight is the Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc., awards banquet, Dianne and I will be attending for a sumptuous prime rib dinner and to hopefully win some raffle items. I am the Regional Vice President of the Upper Great Plains Chapter, I am humbled the rest of the board elected me to the position last year. I would encourage anyone reading this blog to get in touch with us if you are interested in learning about muskie fishing, our club welcomes all new members. We have 3 major club tournaments each year on the Iowa Great Lakes Chain of lakes and muskie league every other Wednesday of the month after the opener. You can see our schedule and join at our website www.muskieclub.com, please contact us if you are interested.
Right now I am pumped about the walleye opener and the muskie opener. I will be fishing the walleye opener with my good friend from Illinois, Scott Berry. Scott suggested we tag team them this year, using his Skeeter 2050 on West Okoboji and my Ranger 619 on Big Spirit, sounds like a plan.
I will report later how we did in the raffle drawing tonight, I will probably just be donating to the cause of Muskies Inc. That is the plan anyway. Later
I have been busy replacing the belly hooks on my crankbaits with red daiichi hooks. I am sharpening the hooks on musky baits, respooling reels and generally organizing my stuff. If you an obsessed angler like I am you have lots of stuff.
Tomorrow, if it gets as warm as is forecast I am going to pull the Ranger out in the driveway and clean her up and get things organized in the hatches, check the tire pressures on the trailer, hook up all the electronics to make sure all the connections are good, clean any corroded connections and tighten them and on and on.
Tonight is the Upper Great Plains Chapter of Muskies Inc., awards banquet, Dianne and I will be attending for a sumptuous prime rib dinner and to hopefully win some raffle items. I am the Regional Vice President of the Upper Great Plains Chapter, I am humbled the rest of the board elected me to the position last year. I would encourage anyone reading this blog to get in touch with us if you are interested in learning about muskie fishing, our club welcomes all new members. We have 3 major club tournaments each year on the Iowa Great Lakes Chain of lakes and muskie league every other Wednesday of the month after the opener. You can see our schedule and join at our website www.muskieclub.com, please contact us if you are interested.
Right now I am pumped about the walleye opener and the muskie opener. I will be fishing the walleye opener with my good friend from Illinois, Scott Berry. Scott suggested we tag team them this year, using his Skeeter 2050 on West Okoboji and my Ranger 619 on Big Spirit, sounds like a plan.
I will report later how we did in the raffle drawing tonight, I will probably just be donating to the cause of Muskies Inc. That is the plan anyway. Later
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