Score one for Minnesota

I just spent a good deal of time looking around the Web for something to write about.

Yeah, the lack of ice is making me look hard for ideas.

Anyhow, when searching around for topics, I tend to stay away from anything that is a Google ad. You know, these are the items that appear on the side rails of your search engine or in the shaded boxes above your search results.

For this search, I was trying to find something new in the world of ice fishing I could share with you, my valued readers. Instead, I ended up clicking on the "Evening Secret," which, let me tell you, is still somewhat of a secret.

I'm always skeptical when a site selling something is full of testimonials but never really shows the product or explains exactly how it works. Even on this site, the author tells us he has spoken with researchers at the University of Michigan, and they agree that it works, but he doesn't really go into detail on how it works, just that the researchers noted the attraction of zooplankton, which in turn attract bait fish, which eventually attract trophy fish.

If you're adventurous enough — or bored enough — to read to the bottom of the site, you'll probably draw the same conclusion that I did — the Evening Secret somehow sends impulses into the water that attract the zooplankton, which attract the bait fish and eventually the trophy fish.

You'll also learn that two states, Wyoming and Minnesota, have banned the Evening Secret. Last year, I also wrote about two other products, the Bite Lite and the Walking Worm, both by NGC Sports. These two lures were said to produce at ridiculous rates, and in the Bite Lite's case, Wyoming had banned it, too.

This begs the question, is it right for these states to ban such items, when indeed those items can make fishing more enjoyable for a good many people? My first inclination, especially when talking about the lures, is to go ahead and let them be used. Seriously, unless people are fishing in a tournament, what's the big deal? Our DNR puts restrictions into place on the size and amount of fish people can catch, so what's the harm if they are aided by gimmicks or not?

Having said that, after I read the Evening Secret testimonials, I'm not too upset that Minnesota has a ban on this gadget. For all the hoopla this site tries to drum up, something about taking away the hunt leaves me less interested in the catch. I like to target pools of bait fish, and then go to work for a lunker sitting in wait.

The reward is always so much better after the hunt. But maybe that's the old-school fisherman in me talking. Either way, I'll take my chances doing the hunting rather than letting the fish come to me.

Well, so much for the weather

Relatively speaking, November has been one of the nicer months of 2009. Still, there is little to be desired on the fishing forefront.

Dare I say it? We need ice.

I had a few days off last week and hit up Buckmaster Bridge on Madison Lake. The conditions were right, but other than losing one to a slow bite and even slower reactions, there were few bites to be had.

I saw three other anglers on my multiple outings. They didn't catch anything either, though one guy had a follow. From what I gathered between the three of them, Buckmaster wasn't faring well in November.

The north side of Elysian however, sounded like it was drawing a crowd.

I took the above picture with my phone as the sun was going down on my first outing It's nothing special, and there is a reason I'm not a photographer, but at least it is something sunny on a rainy day.

Normally I reserve my camera for a big catch, but as I said, November has been a slow month.

At least the Vikings are winning

I wonder how many ice fishermen are sitting around in the garage after a hard day's work, knocking back a cold one or two, and just staring at their gear?

Hello? Winter, you out there?

I'm happy that winter is staying away ... for now. I'm not sure I ever want the cold months to come. I guess winter is inevitable, and knowing this makes me accept my fishing habits will turn to the ice sooner than later.

But seriously, have you checked out the 10-day forecast lately? Lots of 40s and 50s folks. We're seeing freezing temps more at night, but we're above freezing during the day, and that doesn't make for a whole lot of ice.

I'm wondering if we should start an ice watch, although I'm guessing a good many of you are soaking up the hunting in the various seasons. Perhaps a few of you are still chasing walleye (which is what I plan to do with all these warm temps in the near future).

At least my favorite purple team continues to roll, even if Favre and Co. looked a little rusty coming off a bye week.

A few good chances yet on the water, and a winning football team ... I'll take both over ice any day.

Oh this technology

When someone mentions technology to a fisherman, it's likely he or she will start daydreaming about the next Hummingbird fish finder or Minn Kota motor, underwater camera or perhaps the next Vexilar flasher coming out.

Normally, I would be thinking about those things too, but I just can't help but throw myself into the abyss of my new Blackberry to see what it all has to offer.

So this past Saturday, during deer hunting firearms opener, I tested out my new phone on an area lake fishing for bass. And while the outing yielded just one bass for myself, none for fellow Free Presser Tanner Kent, I had the opportunity to try out a few features.

One of those features being the camera. It's nice to know that I don't always have to have a disposable handy when I can snap a quick picture with my phone and e-mail it to myself with a few clicks of the buttons.

I can also add the photo to Facebook or Twitter and I'm sure a billion other social networks (I'd prefer not to do any, but that's not really an option).

So while I spent a few minutes texting and e-mailing rather than fishing, all was not a loss. Tanner and I spent one last run on open water hunting for bass; I caught one more bass before winter to finish with 99, down quite a bit from last season, but still fun nonetheless; and I was able to get on the water later than any year in recent memory, which is always nice.






By the way, the boat Tanner owns is a 1977 Sears fiberglass boat. It was a Ted Williams series, which I've always found very entertaining, considering the man was a baseball legend, but also one heck of a fisherman. The photo below is a picture of the signage on Tanner's boat.

Ha, who needs deer opener?

The past few days I have spent a good deal of my time winterizing the yard and garage, which has been a bit more painful than normal.

Having bought my first boat, without a functioning motor, I've only been able to relish in the comforts of my man cave.

But lately, as I've winterized, I've found the boat to be another great place to pack away the boy's outdoor toys, which will free up room for a parking space for my wife.

Ouch ... a boat as a storage device. That's not right ... no, it just ain't right.

Thankfully, warmer days are ahead. That's right, one more chance to land a fat lunker.

Now, despite the wind, I think the conditions have been rather good for walleye fishing, though the only the die-hards are left.

Hunting is the prime sport, and deer hunting (firearm) opens Saturday. (I think it is important to note that I heard today on KFAN that nearly 500,000 Minnesotans participate in the firearms deer hunting season. Those are pretty impressive numbers.)

So with a nice run of sun, I'm thinking a low-pressured outing for some fall bass is the perfect way to say good bye to the summer tackle. Besides, people don't hunt deer on lakes!

And I suppose, hello to my ice fishing gear, which I can pull down to make room for something else I won't need during the winter.

Hope all is well, and you all find time for one last fall outing, even if you're fishing from the shore.

The lessons of Scotch Lake

Do you remember two years ago when Scotch Lake near Cleveland kicked out so many walleye during the ice fishing season it looked like a one-stop shop for area, and non-area, anglers?

Well, I do. It seemed people were going back with their limit every outing, and I'm quite sure a few were going back with their limit and then coming back for more.

I don't ice fish nearly as much as I do during the open-water months, but one thing I've learned is a quality fishing spot in the winter is even more important to protect than a quality spot in the summer.

I'm not exactly sure why this is, but after watching Scotch Lake get fished out at a spooky, almost irresponsible pace, I'm fully on board with the secrecy thing.

Now, I think it is important to note that last year, Scotch Lake kicked out a lot less walleyes, and any time you actually caught a walleye, you didn't tell anyone but your inner circle.

Hmm, funny how lacking a little discretion, a little will power when hooking up all those walleyes had a lasting effect on the lake. I don't suppose it'll be much better out there this year.

Every year there is a honey hole that boasts quality fishing, and suddenly small towns start forming daily on the ice that holds those fish. And when you're not exactly sure where to fish, those small villages of fish houses become a beacon of light.

And then you follow the rule of 21, as fellow Free Press staffer and avid outdoorsmen John Cross always says to me — find 20 houses and make it 21.

Personally, I follow my brother-in-laws to the good fishing spot. Between Dave and Pete, they usually put me on some pretty good spots. And these two, especially Pete, know how to keep a good spot secret.

But more importantly, they know enough to respect limits, and also respect the quantity and quality of these smaller lakes in the area that produce walleye.

Lakes like Washington and Madison are gems that can go in streaks, but the numbers of fish are such that those lakes take minor dents in population during a winter season.

But lakes like Scotch, on the other hand, well, just think back to the last two years, and the tale practically tells itself.

On a somewhat side note, and just to get the juices flowing a little bit, here's a look at what Swedish Pimple has available.

Winter wonderland

On Thursday, I caught a 4-pound bass on one of the Jefferson lakes.
The hawg served as a nice fish on a rather cold, cold day. Free Press education writer Tanner Kent accompanied me. He caught a 17-inch bass, also a nice fish.
Both of the bass looked like they were on the feed, which is pretty understandable, considering we've already seen our first snow and it's only Oct. 10.
I'm sure ice fishermen are eagerly licking their chops.
But we'll see warmer days ahead.
Still, the fishing has been different this year, and I mostly attribute it to the weather. There was never the long, hot, drought-like streak in July or August.
Some days, the fishing was great, others, not so great. I wonder if that means the ice fishing will be above average, or if it will be a struggle?
At this rate, we'll have a long year with ice on the lakes, but then again, this IS Minnesota, and the weather is fickle.
Probably the hardest thing about seeing snow so early in the fall is that I'm torn between trying to get out for some last open-water fish, or taking a break until the ice forms on the lakes.
Cross your fingers we don't get more snow.