Pleased to meet ya, Ferny!

Peace,
DaBigNip

Sweet fish!! Congrats!! My brother-in-law smoked me with leeches on Saturday. I caught a lot more eyes with crawlers, but he put several nice wally-gators in the live well….go figure!

Peace,
DaBigNip

I think that sharing general information builds a sense of comraderie and shared interest in fishing. My grandfather, who took me to Canada for many years as a kid, was a true walleye “god.” He could catch eyes when nobody else could. He was always willing to share his knowledge and excitement for fishing with anybody who asked. In fact, he would often ask me to show his fishing spots to folks he had only just met in the campground! As a result, he has made literally hundreds of life-long friends from Canada. I guess I’ve carried on his “tradition.” Sharing our successes (and failures!) with each other is fun and educational. I don’t believe that letting someone know what color, depth, speed, presentation, etc. worked on a particular occasion is giving away the store….the info is simply filed away to try at some future date when our favorite technique isn’t producing! I think everyone benefits from shared knowledge.

Peace and Tight Lines,
DaBigNip

Thanks for the info, Has! My brother-in-law caught a couple of legals yesterday. Sounds hopeful for this weekend!

Peace,
DaBigNip

I was able to sneak out for a couple of hours last night (Tuesday the 6th). This time I was fully equipped with a brand new metal measuring board ($8.99 at Fleet Farm)! The bite was steady from 5 to 7 p.m. rigging crawlers in 16 to 18 feet. Initially, most were “sponge” bites, but they got more aggressive during the last hour. Managed to boat 11 “mini-eyes” plus one 15+. What are the latest theories regarding where all the legal fish are?

Peace,
DaBigNip

Yes, after asking if I had any in the live well, they asked to measure them. I didn’t have a problem with it, cuz I had measured carefully….but from now on I’m not keeping anything under 15 1/2″. I’m just grateful that DNR was decent about the whole thing!

Peace,
DaBigNip

Just learned about this message board. I wish I’d known about it for the last several years I’ve been fishing the Croix. Anyway, this is my first post.
My wife and I suffered through Saturday’s gate debacle at the Bluffs, before getting on the water by 7:30 a.m. We managed to boat 10 eyes by noon, but only three keepers (two 17’s and an 18). Lotsa 13’s and 14’s (next year should be fun!). I fished solo on Sunday and managed 3 “keepers” by 9:15 a.m. (a 15 and two 16+) while boating a total of 14 eyes, a couple of smallies, and the season’s first sheepie! NOTE: I was checked by DNR and the 15″ eye was only 14 3/4″ on DNR’s measuring board!! Needless to say I was stunned because I measured it very carefully several times at 15+. The officer confirmed that my stick-on measuring scale indicated the fish was legal, so I only received a warning and the fish was thrown back. He explained that those stick-on tapes shrink considerably after application and they’re difficult to use accurately. I had no idea! In order to avoid the $180 short fish ticket, he advised purchasing a metal measuring board. Good advice!! Pass the word!

Peace,
DaBigNip