Bear Facts & Fish Tales lastnight on KSTP 1500

First off, I would like to thank everyone here at IDA for their continued support of the website. I cannot say enough about how well this site is run and how much of a top notch operation it is. IMO the best fishing website around.

As for this Bear Facts and Fish Tales radio show? This is the first time I have ever listened to it only because I heard of the week prior topic of Pool 2 and questionable fishing reports. After listeing to the show I realized I was disappointed at how they approached this topic and the lack of research they may have done. My guess most all their finger pointing were nothing more than rumors. If they would have taken a bit of time and realized that I never have indicated exact spots or locations to where I am catching my fish. I simply provide presentations, general structures and the best periods of the day that have been productive for me. This is what I have been asked to do and I am proud to give that info to our members of IDA. Has this increased pressure on Pool 2, why certainly it has. Is it hurting the fishery?….not whatsoever. Is it causing confliction with other anglers? Yes it is and I understand their side as well and respect their concern. But rest assured this is doing nothing to the fishery as a whole. The last time I spoke with the MN DNR about Pool 2, they mentioned one of the reasons for having Pool 2 a catch and release fishery is to try to develop a trophy fishery here in the metro for more fisherman to enjoy. They are excited about what the catch and release is doing to the fishery and have no plans to change that in the immediate future as I know.
This added pressure on the river here is not just on Pool 2, its all over. Publicizing weekly fishing reports is much less of a threat than the Star Tribune printing out a map on the back of the Sports section every Wednesday and highlighting the area hot spots and telling you what to use and how deep.

As Jon mentioned, I would like to challenge anyone to find any of my reports or posts where I give out exact locations to any spots.

As far as I am concerned, the day I find out that I am hurting the fishery is the day I would gladly walk away from what I am doing. The fishery comes first in my mind and thank you MN DNR for provoding an outstanding job with this fishery over the last 20 years and beyond.

The fact of the matter is they are getting their backsides handed to them. Radio media is a platform where they can get on their soapbox and spout out their own opinions, and pick and choose who gets to chime in. The listener is limited as far as interaction.

IDA is no different than your favorite “Outdoors Magazine” with the exception that the reader has the opportunity to participate in the learning/reporting process.

In watching the responses from KFAN, it appears that there is some frustration because their “Old World” styles and their bread and butter (Radio shows) are in jeapordy of going the way of the dinosaur. Imagine being considered the “King of the River” for years, and a guide comes along, puts his or her time in, and posts some pictures of truly remarkable fish? Of course they are going to protect what they have by pushing down the new guy on the block.

There is room out there for everyone. Heck, they knew what Ring Worms were! Word must be getting behind their Iron Curtain.

Tuck

It is my understanding that the guides on this site do not receive any monetary compensation for what they provide. I had always thought (maybe incorrectly) was that guys like Steve, James, Dustin, etc. do this as a benefit to those of us who don’t get on the river very often, and there compensation is an increase in guide services. In essence a free “advertisement” of their services. Is this correct or am I off base?

And I want to personally thank these guys, as well as everyone else who contributes their knowledge. I don’t fish pool 2, simply because pool 4 is closer, but I still think the basic knowledge Steve shares goes beyond what area he is fishing. If he is catching fish on ringworm “A” on wingdam “B” that is in 12′ of water with sand on the backside, I can use that knowledge on pool 4 with the same results. Maybe?? But is that not the reason we all fish, to get out there and use our best knowledge to outsmart fish

And again, maybe I am wrong here, but most of these reports are usually a couple days after the fish were caught, and conditions could have drastically changed in that period of time, amking the information bad anyways.

And last thing before I jump off the soapbox, why can they not get on this site and get the same information as every other person out there Then “we” no longer have an advantage over “them” and there argument is bunk

To the guys who share information, Thanksm here to you , Bear Facts and Fishtales just got eliminated from my to do list

You are right on the “Money” on everything you said Farmboy1.

Atta boy Jon and atta boy Steve.

Last I checked when you hire any guide you are not sworn to secrecy, blindfolded, and threatened “don’t share this info with anybody.” One guide customer who pays attention can put a whole bunch of friends on to different tactics and spots. The complaining guide who thinks he owns pool 2 has probably put hundreds of people who weren’t his clients out on the river from the knowledge shared with his clients. (I fish spots now on pool 4 that I didn’t before because James took me there on a guide trip. That’s how it works.)

What I guess I’m getting at is if everyone uses the info respectfully and treats the fishery respectfully, lots of info from lots of people is a good thing. And pool 2 is catch and release. (That’s what I heard anyway.) The fish aren’t getting harvested; but they may be getting educated. Which is why someone like Steve who works hard and comes up with better tactics does so well. And when the fish stop biting on wingdams on ringworms Steve will figure something else out. Whiners will just whine about it.

dd

You hit the nail on the head DD. The fish are getting smarter. The ol jig and minnow doesnt work everytime.

I am a member of this site and some others because I like talking about fishing and there is great fishing information. There is a reason I have an IDA sticker on my car and all the others on my fridge at home. An amateur, guide, or professional who does not use this site is missing out. I know there are quite a few professional fisherman that are members here and others that do some lurking. These are the guys cashing the checks. They do the research in the off season, so they can hit the water one step ahead of the competition.

Thank god the reports were only for walleyes. Imagine what would have been said if they were bass reports.

Anybody have GPS coordinates for some great bass fishing in Minnesota? Nothing like a plate of smallies and bucket mouths.

Fife: I don’t think you will mind, I’m posting this Graemlin for you.

My second favorite saying:

Those that can, do…and those that can’t…whine.

What’s your first?

Lip,,

You nailed it. As I read this stuff I kept thinking to myself that after spawning the fish move on to the sloughs and Wingdams; however, the spots that were productive last year, are not always as productive the following year. For example, on Pool 5A last year we caught far more Walleyes in the sloughs then on the Wingdams. Yet we had to find a few new spots in the backwaters. One year, on a Memorial Day weekend with the temps in the 90’s my brother-in-law and I caught 12 of the biggest Walleye in our lifetimes. Yet returning to that second channel wingdam, under similar conditions, has never again produced fish like that.

I see I’m a little late getting here.
Being a faithful listener to the show for many years I may have a little different take on both shows, which by the way I did listen to.
Anyone who listens to the show knows that both Mark & Larry are very opinionated. Same as you people posting. In the years I’ve listened I’ve never heard of them calling out anyone (by name) with the exception of their opinion of the treaty issue’s. They have not specificly mentioned Steve or IDA that I’m aware of. In fact I never heard In-Depth mentioned by name until Jon called in. Could they have been talking about IDA? Ya, I suppose but there are other sites that post information also. Ringworms? OK,I thought more then one company made ringworms but I don’t use them so I don’t know.

The very fact that this thread is getting so many responses by people who A) HAVE NEVER HEARD OF BEARFACTS
B) SELDOM LISTEN
C) WEREN’T LISTENING TO EITHER SHOW
confirms that the whole thing in my mind is blown out of proportion. They stated an opinion not mentioning by name either IDA or Steve, Jon disagreed and called in, as is his right.
Scroll back and read the posts by the people who admit to not listening. Many are ripping the show that they never heard.
Take a pill……..chill out ……..relax there was no harm done to anyone. In fact KSTP (not KFAN) thanks you for the word of mouth advertising, I’m sure their listenership will be higher this week. I’m also sure there were many first time visits to IDA this week to check out what all the hub bub was about.
Win , win situation for everyone.

The KFAN was my bad, I did mean KSTP. Sorry!

I’m sure glad the fishing sucks as bad as it does on Pool 3. We shouldn’t have those problems there hah Tuck?

You can’t say in one hand that they may not have been talking about IDA and then later say that IDA will be getting more hits because people want to know what the hoopla is about. You are contradicting your own story.

Oh yes I can.
The first night Ida was not mentioned. Jon asked them if they were refering to In-Depthangling on last weeks show.
So IDA was mentioned by name.

To bad there does not seem to be any way to hear a replay of the shows. Does any one know if they are still on thursday nights.

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I’m sure glad the fishing sucks as bad as it does on Pool 3. We shouldn’t have those problems there hah Tuck?

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Yep, I have it on good authority that since they lifted the rollers up on the dam in Red Wing, all the fish in Pool 3 have left the area, and now reside in Pool 4. Want the grid coordinates?

Thursday nights is Fan Outdoors on KFAN.
Bear Facts & Fish Tales is Sunday nights at 7 on KSTP 1500 AM. Also on the inter net.

Isnt it the same guys on both shows? Guess I dont get a chanc to listen to them real often.

Brian – thanks for the post, I completely agree.

First, I’ll say that I didn’t hear either show and that Mark and I are good friends.

So the information I have is what has been posted here and what Mark has told me. Like most situations like this, I assume the truth lies somewhere in between.

Brian is right, Mark and Larry are opinionated, as are most talk show hosts. That’s what makes their shows popular. Just look at Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern. While they aren’t that extreme, the premise of the show is still to discuss topics that generate interest and response from their listeners. Perhaps they don’t always go about it in the best way, but that it truly the intent and it seems to work.

After talking with Mark, I do believe that the discussion was intended to be about the impact that sites like this have on fishing and/or a fishery. Perhaps by focusing on Pool 2 as the example that was lost in the mix. And obviously by the response here as well as on the show, there are people on both sides of the fence.

I’m not saying either side is right on this, I’m just saying there are two sides to everything, people are entitled to their opinions and the more passion you have for something, the stronger your reaction is about it when it’s challenged. I definitely think that’s the case here.

I didn’t/don’t listen to the show. My thoughts were “There is no bad publicity”

Agree or disagree I’ll bet both the listenership to the radio show and visits to this site will be up substantially.

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I’m sure glad the fishing sucks as bad as it does on Pool 3. We shouldn’t have those problems there hah Tuck?

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Yep, I have it on good authority that since they lifted the rollers up on the dam in Red Wing, all the fish in Pool 3 have left the area, and now reside in Pool 4. Want the grid coordinates?

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That would have been perfect Tuck but they also opened the rollers on lock #4 so all the walleyes got washed down to #5.
You know the spot, the one with the purple flowers!!!

I am glad I found this post, because I wandered into listening to that show about 2 weeks ago. I just caught the tail end and got this much out of it. They were whining about the internet ruining fishiing spots and some website. I knew it was probably this one. As a guy who visits this board frequently, I got pretty po’ed…until i realized there was nothing they could do about it but complain and whine. I couldn’t count on my fingers how many times they talked about the huge school of crappies on Red on their shows. But I guess that was OK.

Well I also think they need to realize that fishing reports are also a form of entertainment. Nobody is going to report the exact area where they are catching fish. Fishing reports here in IDA lets the reader know the fish are biting, what they are biting on and general locations where to find fish. The radio show blew this whole thing up into something it never was. It probably actually helped IDA by getting new members.

I’m not trying to be self promoting but I have wonder if part of this is my releasing river maps and files to a couple people with all the wing dams for the chart plotters. Hope not or they are going to have a cat fit when I release the Minnetonka images.
Long time ago Mark was nice enough to come out to Lake George to talk about my maps in an interveiw with Ed Karo when I first started. I still run into Mark every once in a while and he’s a good guy so don’t get to worked up. A lot of it is the same old story, things they is a changing and they complain about it, just like the rest of us do.

WarrenMN

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The fish are getting smarter. The ol jig and minnow doesnt work everytime.

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Yea, especially if it is snap-jigged by a guy with hair resembling that of a skunk’s.