Well, I have really been gone a long time, haven't I. Last year was pretty uneventful. We did get to do a fair amount of local walleye and muskie fishing, with good success on walleye on Big Spirit and not so good on muskie. The walleye bite was good on Spirit most of the summer.
I only caught one muskie on West Okoboji, during the annual fall tournament, a nice fat 40 incher. I did not fish for muskie any other time.
To this date (1-13-2009) I have not been on the ice once. My knee is in need of surgical attention, so I can't walk out and the snow and temperature has been so severe I just haven't been in the mood. AGE? I do know the bite has been fantastic for perch on Big Spirit and gills and crappie are always a challenge.
I have been following the fishing industry this winter particularly tournaments. I see that FLW cancelled all the Redfish tournaments. The PWT is no more, to bad, this was kind of what everyone compared their tournaments to. (No disrespect to FLW intended) I know the major boat manufacturers have been pulling back as well as the major tackle companies ie:Pure Fishing etc.
I talked to a guy that just got back from the big Muskie Show in Chicago, he told me the vendor and consumer attendance was way down. He thought the bad weather might have affected it. My wife who was the Consumer Show Manager at Pure Fishing when she retired, tells me that shows normally have a better turn out when the weather is bad. I know I will think long and hard before I spend $25.00 on another muskie bait, I have more than I use now.
Anyway, last year was pretty uneventful, except for spending time on the water with my grandkids, that is always special.
