Annual FTL Get-together!

Our first birthday (or is it our second?) And, you are all invited (no presents please!). Ha!

http://www.fishthelake.com has chose to meet at Madison Lake, located right in the town of Madison Lake, MN. (Hwy 60 from Fairbault to Madison Lake). January 5, 2002 (foul weather date is 1/12/02). Come for the day, we’ll start early. I’ll have a new Jiffy Ice Auger w/8″ cutting holes, that you can use… so ya don’t need a drill.

EFN Staff will bring something to throw on the grill, you are welcome to add to that too (ok staff, who got a deer?)

I’ll start up the contest! $25.00 in B-Fish-N Lures to the biggest walleye ($10.00 more in lures, if it can be released live after weigh in). Contest starts at 7am and ends at 3pm. A tie, splits the pot (NO explosives permitted, and all State and local laws apply). Anyone want to add to the kitty? Send me a private or post it here, or on FTL. More info later…

Thanks to Steve Hougom, our fearless leader and of course, James Holst too…

Who can make it?

Hawger

Great Idea(hmmmmm, lol), I’ll be there for sure!!!! Bring on the ice!!!

Jim W

Sounds great. Please post again when the time gets closer. I tend to forget the good things and remember the bad. Like my wife wanting me to paint the walls this winter. FF

Hooks said he’ld donate some of his rod holders for door prizes. Thanks Hooks! Looking good… Hawger

I’ll definitely try and make it as long as I don’t have to work that weekend.

Wow…

Jim W. FTR Field Staff Reporter/Pro-Staff says he’ll donate a day of guided stream fishing for Trout/Smallmouth to the winner for single largest fish caught. Thank you Jim, for you kindness and thoughts! This is a great plus to add to first place B-Fish-N Tackle prize if you happen to get a the biggest fish and it is a Walleye (you can see Jim Wermimont’s reports covering Trout/smallies for the Root River on FTR’s Report Archives listing).

Jim says hey…. it could be a perch or what ever…(but knowing Madison, it most likely would be a Sheephead! Right… > LOL…..

And a big thank you to…. Mudlnthru… who has just donated an Ultra Sonic Builge Pump Control to the biggest fish taken! He says it the winner is a tie, that he’ll make it two! You can see this at http://www.tmimarine.com and is a great alterinative to a conventional float switch for added protection.

Thanks much, come to think of it I am due to update my pump…. hum…. wonder if I can hook up with ole’ one-eye there by that rockpile and get me one of these new fangled switches… we’ll have ta see! LOL

Hawger

Edited by Hawger on 11/29/01 11:29 AM.

Wow, Steve Hougom is amazing… he is just on top of everything! He got to me, the right information on the Sonic Pump Control that I managed to bucher up so well in my last post…in fact, he got me a unit to see. So now, I can explain the JABSCO Sonic Pump Control in detail…

It has ultrasonic water detection, 30 amp rating, no metal probes, will not be fouled by debris, 36 inch wire leads, totally sealed electronics, and is easy to install… with instructions on how to install, on the back of the container! So….excuse any mis-information from my prior post… Hawger

A request was made to start the fishing before 7am…by Jigger 2001…. lets fish this like real fishermen, and start off at midnight! This will make things much nore interesting. I think that FTR started their catfish thing early on their Get-together. I like the idea too. We’ll see many more big walleye. Hawger

Underwater cams and all legal stuff is ok. Hawger

I have been watching the days go by… and I keep seeing ripples on the lakes, NO ICE…. I am starting to sweat here guys. I wonder if we’ll need oars instead of augers!

I ‘ll keep you posted, but right now it is two weeks away, and it does NOT look good. Ideas?

Hawger

Post Extras

The next week should make some serious ice if we don’t get too much snow first.

I sure hope so…. I am shy of thin ice! And I hate it when all those skinny guys say, “You go first Hawger and if you make it, we’ll be right behind you”… Hawger

First ice is best ice!

Guys, we got a week of really cold stuff headed our way. I’m sure we will have some good ice. We won’t be driving our pickups, but we won’t be fallin through either. This is just like this spring. 3 weeks before the opener and Mille Lacs still was covered with ice. Everyone was talking about ice on the opener. Mother nature changes things in a hurry!!

Hey Hawger,

If there is more than 5 inches you walk in my tracks I’am a big guy. But seriously if the 10 day on accu weather is correct I plan on useing the power sled to go around the spots.

jigger2001

The FTL Annual Get-Together is on! Madison Lake has a bait/sports shop right in town on Hwy 60, it is called Lakes Sports. Ron Guppone owns the shop, and they do a great job in available live bait and the latest in lures.

I figure most of us EFN staffers will be fishing near the “narrows” area. The narrows is the same distance from either landing and in the center of the lake. The landing near town is also a public beach / park area that has ample parking. Deep water (+25′) is on both sides of the narrows and provides good crappie as well as walleye fishing.

Driving on the lake? Well we’ll have to wait and see how thick the ice gets…. right now there is only 6 to 8 inches.

Fishing competition starts at midnight! Hope to see you there. Hawger

This is maybe a little far in advance…..but if FTR does a summer get together……i’d be willing to hold it here. Have plenty of room for people to pull their boats up on the sandy shore and do some grilling/drinking (ginger ale for you James!!LOL). I don’t want you and Dustin getting carried away like last year. LOL. Ya Ya…..free launches too!! Let me know what ya think. Thanks.

Not that it matters too much, but I just noticed this thread is about ftL not ftR…..I was talking about FTR but all are welcome obviously. Thanks.

Steve,

What do you mean getting carried away last year? So what if there was a little mishap with the Crestliner vs the Dodge. It was good time had by all. We could of avoided the boat vs truck challenge if someone would have had better parking skills!!! Just kidding. You know who you are.

Just to let everyone know the c-liner won the battle with the Dodge having several battle wounds.

I think everts would be a great place to have the get together. Good bait good ramps and most of all great cabins and camping areas to stay at. I guess we will just have to wait and see what James and Steve have to say about it.

Dustin

I think the only problem with Everts, is there enough room to put up tents like we did last year? ( They were much needed) And can you really handle all the parking Steve? (The tents take up a good sized area) Just random thoughts from a fishing deprived mind!!!!! I GOTTA GO FISHIN….!!!

Post deleted by fireline

My C-liner was just minding its own business and the parking job wasn’t quite the problem if I remember correctly. Lets just say perhaps the festive atmosphere might have gone to Dustin’s head causing his complete loss of depth perception…. among other things…LOL Oh well. No harm… no foul.

I think Everts would be a fantastic place to host the FTR Get-Together…. if we can find room for tents and parking for all those that are sure to attend. And we’ll need more space than this last year. So if we can work out some of these issues I’d say Everts is definitely worth considering. Especially since Mr. Speed Racer wouldn’t have to drive anywhere afterwards!

I’ll talk this through with Hougie and see what he thinks and I’ll get back to you Mr. Vick. Thanks for the offer.

as far as tents go,,,,, for a ftr gettogether at everett’s there is PLENTY of room… considering it is normal or slightly above normal water conditions….. If I was putting up a tent I would want it on the sand anyway….. close to a fire… and the river where my pole would be sitting….. might get a little sandy but hey your camping….. and you have a lot of shore to put tents….. plus you have the fish cleaning facility, access to beer, pop, snacks, lodging (if your coming from a distance) and if you have a couple beers you don’t have to worry about driving to your hotel…. if you have a wife/girlfriend that needs to shower… you have that + toilets….. seems like the most logical place……. as far as parking you can park all the way up the hill……

This is still a ways away…..so lets see what happens. I guess I have no idea how many people and rigs and tents we’re talking about. I guess I better be careful not to crowd out any people that might be staying in the cabins at the time too. I’m sure we’ll have a better understanding of how many people will attend later in the spring or summer. We can go from there. Thanks.

I think Everetts would be a great idea. I like the idea of throwing up a tent and spending the night. Hope everyone has a safe and happy new years.

Excellent idea with tents on the sand…..Kinda nice to be their now! This could really open up what we can do with the FOOD!!! Maybe the meatpuppy could get us some whole little piggies with no eyes (unless they move…James!!) Steve, maybe you could pre-rent some spots for camping, then we would only be bothering one another. Oh ya, as long as we point Mr. ” No Foul ” twords the shore he should make it home with out any dings or scrapes.

WHose all going Saturday??????

Jim W

I got the “OK” from Sheriff Brad Peterson (Blue Earth County) for the FTL Annual Get-together on Madison Lake. The Permit is being issued today. Our thanks to you Sheriff Peterson!

Things are shaping up nicely for the event… hope we get good weather.

There will be some door-prizes, hot dogs, chili/beans, chips, pop, etc… food starts at 11:00am.

Look for my Mankato Tent & Awning “E-Z Set” black 2-man portable. I’ll have an American Flag flying. Ya’ll come for some grub! Hope to see lots of you there!

Please start a “I’ll be there” list on this thread, so we can get a handle on the attendance.

Thanks, Hawger