2003 BFL

Clinton…if water is high, Clinton pool is tough. Pool 13 can be good, but in the spring, you’ve got a circus of boats in just a couple of spots. Basically, ranks at the bottom for me…tied with Winneconne. Winneconne is just plain weird, and when you throw in Saturday pleasure boaters, it sucks. Prairie and LaCrosse are awesome. Plenty of water to fish and a lot of fish. Red Wing is good for smallies, but Pepin can be a bear in the wind or with a lot of wave makers on Saturday.

I have to disagree with the post about Winneconne being a bad place. True there is the pleasure boaters but if you remember last year at Prairie there was a jet boater killed by a BFL boat. And it wasn’t the BFL guys fault by no means. Just a very unforunate thing. But Winneconne does offer the most versitile fishing of all the places. River or lake. Slop or wood..Rocks. You name it, its there. Yes, I’m from the area. And fish the system often. But I have found at least 4 different spots to fish on the system every year. Clinton on the other hand would be alot better if not for being the first tournament of the year. I personally would love to see LaCrosse the first one. Like the last post said if water is cold and high seems like every one jams into Spring Lake. Red Wing is good, but are they going to impose a 3 fish limit like last time? I also heard the rumor the Minnesota is a no-cull also. Even though the BFL has slacken up on that….thank goodness. I have also found that I have good fishing at Prairie. had my best finish ever (so far) in the BFL with a 6th. So does anyone know if there are plans to ever change the bodies of water we fish. And why is it the Great Lakes division…should be Mississippi River..lol…..I love the fishing the river!!!!!!!!!!!!! website also…..thanks….doug

I don’t like Winneconne mainly because I’ve only fished it a couple of times. The rivers look great, although I’ve struggled on them. The lakes are bizarre to me…you can eyeball a boat dock and start heading toward it and you’re only in two feet of water a hundred yards away from the dock! Just not used to it I guess.

I plan on fishing 2 or 3 this year as a non-boater. I like the format a lot. It has given me the chance to fish with some very good fishermen and I have learned tons. Most of the guys I have been with have been really nice and I have picked up tips or tactics each time out. A couple of times the guy had no clue when our first spot fell through , but the best ones had more plans to fall back on and would take some input from me. Most were interested in me catching fish especially after they had boated some. You are definitely at a disadvantage in a lot of situations though.
My favorite waters are PdC (of course I’m from here) and LaCrosse. Last year at both however my boater locked out of the pools. Clinton seems o.k., but with everyone locking north it’s too bad we can’t start there. Last year the weather played a big part in it there. My pre-fishing trip was aweful with the wind and cold. Winneconne seems like some nice water, but the weather changed everything from early in the week to the tournament and I don’t like all of the no wake areas to get up the river. I had my best finish two years ago at Red Wing, but it is smallie water for sure (which I like a lot). With my job I am not able to go on to fish in the regional, so unless I have a pretty good bag I don’t weigh-in. I mostly fish it for fun and the chance to learn more.

basspack-glad you like the BFL. I myself won’t fish the whole circut this year due to their choice of regionals. Wish they would pick a closer lake or river for us to fish. But anyhow its a great place to learn from some great fishermen. If your boater runs into problems finding fish or his spot is bad. Don’t be afraid to suggest something. I will alway ask my non-boater if he may have a spot he would like to try. Talk it over at the meeting. I ran into trouble at LaCrosse last year myself. Got caught behind the lock and spent 3 hrs fishing crap. Then got an emergency phone call from home. It happens to everyone. Plans always change on the water. But fishing with some of the “local pro’s” can be a very good learn experience. Even though I fish the boater side now, I wish I still could fish with some of those guys. But it’s fun to go head to head with them also. Not sure if you have a boat but try the boater side sometime. It’s a big difference on how you plan to fish. And don’t worry about have a big rig like 98% of the guys. I don’t. I have a smaller craft, but run just as far and for the most part catch fish. PdC was best last year with a 6th. Just be cautious of the guy who says he’s on tons of fish..lol….If you ever got me as a partner for the day you could be in for 2 things. A good time and tons of fish……well maybe fish…..Hope to see you at Winneconne….it’s hard to fish but not bad at all….
Thanks, Doug

Nitro,

You say you like Winneconne? Holy Buckets. I will say that I used to like this body of water however the last few tournament I have chosen to make the long idle runs to the wolf and the fox. I have had luck catching those free ranging smallies out on the lake but my heaviest bags come form the oxbows. If you are getting largemouth in the endless fields of vegetations you have more prefishing time than I.- grin – Actually I can usuallt do well in this environment but it takes time locating concentrated pacts of larger fish.
jc

JC–You probably have the right thinking when fishing at Winneconne. Most of the big sack will come from slop fishing w..a..y.. up the river..hint..hint.. Hey I strugle my self out there. The main problem (i think) is that there is way to many tourney through out the year run out there. Both bass and walleyes. Major tournaments that is. Lots of boat traffic also. BUT…there is alot of unfished waters that have little traffic. I found a spot (thanks to a club member) that had nobody fishing. Hopefully no one will be there this year. I plan on going for broke there….that’s why I’m poor I guess…lol…It does take alot of time. But I have found alot of good spots out in Winnebago that hold both smallies and buckets. It’s all a timing factor. I use to bank on the river myself..But can not anymore. Of course if you think of this tourney as I do. If I can get a decent limit say 10 1/2#. I should make a check. It won’t be like Prairie where you might need 11 or 12# to get one. By the way I prefer the Miss river myself. Gives me a reason to get away from the wife more….hey who said that…good thing she doesn’t read these post. I think you’ll find if you (like me) learn the lakes more you may have better fishing. Maybe if they would switch from July to August, or the 2 day there. Talking about a wide open field then. Don’t give up on Winneconne yet..Just fish some spots that maybe you haven’t. I’m going to fish 3 different spots for starters this year that I found by accident. I’ve seen fish there. But will they be good enough?? Hey that what I like about fishing with the BFL…..Hope you all do to………..Doug

Doug, Doug, Dougly, Doug… Wayyyy up river? Hmm. I know of where you speak… If the water’s higher, they’ll be there; so will I.

Thanks,

OnTheWater

onthewater–only thing that kills us in the river is the no-wake parts. Water is best when high your right, but it really doesn’t matter if you have the smaller craft like me…but I’d still take a 20ft’er and a 225hp in a sec…glad to here you know where I am talking about. Too bad I don’t heed my own advice there anymore…haha…..but I “think” I found a honey hole real close to the landing……take care….Doug