A wet line and a big zero

As with every Minnesota spring since I can remember, the angler's itch has set in early for me.

By January, it's a mild bother. By February, it's a nagging one. And by March, I want to thumb my reels so badly I have to content myself with a tired batch of Babe Winkelman VHS videos I snatched from dad's garage. 

So, when Friday's near-tropical temps rolled around, I couldn't help myself.

Fishing buddy extraordinaire Doug Monson and I — as well as my wife, whose southern upbringing leaves her a bit incredulous as to why anyone wants to cast 4-pound monofilament into a 25 mph wind — packed up our gear and hit the shorelines.

We stopped at Geldner's Sawmill (west end of East Jefferson), which is a well-known April hotspot for crappie, and at Roemhildt's Lake (just south of German Lake). We fished wax worms and minnows along the bottom on small jigheads — and we didn't catch a thing. So, take that for what it's worth. If past returns are any indication of future gains, then my summer will likely be filled with plenty such outings.

But it was sure nice to be fishing. 

— Tanner Kent

As a sidenote: I'm thoroughly excited to be teaming up with Doug on a fishing blog. We've got lots of ideas, but our general mission is to offer a local resource guide and "one-stop-shop" of sorts on fishing in southern Minnesota. 

Feel free to contact us with ideas, suggestions and fishing reports that we can use to inform readers.

Looking forward to a great season, and Fish On!