Heading up this coming Wed thru Sun. Weather looks like it is going to change and get cold and windy. This is our first trip to Rainy. We are staying at Thunderbird Lodge. Being a newbie, are there going to be places to get out of the wind and catch fish and not get beat up? I know its a huge body of water, but just looking for some advice from non-rookies of Rainy. Thanks.
Was at Kinnick today. Awesome crowd, weather, and game for the Hawks. Too bad Hawks waited 4 weeks to show up, but it was a good way to get big ten schedule started. I love me some bacon. Go Hawks!
What buffing compound do you recommend?
I caught fish anywhere from 14 inches all the way up to 23 inches. It was a lot of fun. To begin with I would feel a tap and then would wait to set the hook three or four seconds and most of the time the fish would be gone. After a few missed fish I started to set the hook right when I felt the first tap and my hook up percentage went up considerably. Most of my fish were caught with the hook in the top of the mouth with none hooked deep. My rationale for the quick hook set was the fish hit the bait, figure out it is not really something they want to eat, and don’t hold onto it for very long like they would live bait. It might have been the most fun couple hours of fishing on the trip. I didn’t think it would produce many fish but it really did.
I will try those suggestions and see what happens. Problem is I am not going to get a chance to get back to the water for a few days 
I probably can’t test them in my garage can I?
Which model Holland would you recommend?
Solid, safe pick. Should solidify left side for 10 years which I can’t argue with. Now, get a corner or two and another weapon for Ponder to throw to. Go Vikes!
How smart do you have to be to line-up across from someone and not let them catch the ball??
If I am Spielman I take Clairborne. The Viking’s biggest area of need is the secondary. They have not had a stud corner forever, and with Clairborne you are getting a man to man shut down guy. They had a guy with 22 sacks last year but could not stop the pass. They play against Rogers, Stafford, and Cutler 6 games a year and they need to be able to defend the pass to have a chance. Chances are you are not going to get a franchise left tackle very often, but you don’t get a franchise corner very often either. Draft for their biggest need, corner, and get a tackle with their 2nd or 3rd round pick. I think a guy named Rogers from Green Bay does pretty well without a franchise left tackle defending his blind side. Go Vikes!
I put on the 200 hpdi. I had the 150 4 stroke on my alumacraft and liked it, but I opted for max hp this time 
I put a new HDS 8 gen 2 w/ structure scan on console and I have a HDS 5 gen 1 to put on bow from a previous boat. New I-pilot on Terrova and oxygenator in live well. Rails on back, but not up front. I debated and went back and forth about the trailer, but ultimately decided to save a little money there and get the single axle trailer. Hopefully I won’t regret that decision. No kicker yet, but will probably add within the next year or two.
Will be picked up on Saturday.
Thanks Chris. You will see her in Oct. when we come up. Booked a trip with you today.
Would you use the NRX for rigging if price was not an issue? It says jig and worm application but why couldn’t you rig with it as well? Would the 6’8 or 7’1 be better? Both are medium power w/ x-fast action.
I also just finished “Unbroken” and I thought it was a very good read.
No, not much gravel to travel on, that’s why I was curious if I need them or not. I am anxious to pick the boat up next weekend and hit the water. You know when the two best days of a boat owner’s life are don’t you. The day you pick up the new boat and the day that you sell it I will get pictures up next weekend.
What are your colors? Looks similar to my new boat I am picking up in a couple weeks
Mark – What is the hull color?
My two keys for season: 1. M & M boys playing, producing, and not being back on DL for extended amounts of time
2. Starting pitching bouncing back and having respectable numbers – Liriano and Blackburn have looked great this spring and Pavano, Baker, and Marquis have not
I love this time of year, fishing and baseball. Go Twins!
I have both, but I prefer the convenience of my iphone. Since I bought my iphone a few months ago, my kids have taken over the ipad and I can do everything I need on my iphone.
Not sure what the difference is since I only have the pro edition. It has plastic pages and the depths for mono and fireline. Not sure if that is different from your version or not.
What fluoro line is best for snells? I tried vanish a couple years ago and was not all that impressed.
The time of year we go in June the fish are aggressive and when I feel resistance on the end of my line I set the hook. I do not give the fish a lot time to swallow the bait and I may lose some fish, but I also feel I don’t kill a lot of fish by hooking them too deep. Because the fireline is so sensitive I feel like I feel fish better and have better hook setting than with mono. Just my thoughts.
How big of stick baits do you use for three way rigs? Original raps I assume in what colors?
Who are the gophers?? On a serious note they have played well in NIT, but Tubby is not the answer. Look at the number of quality players that have left the program since he has been the coach. Let Tubby go and hire an up and coming coach.
I am a little ADHD, so I don’t fish one spot very long. We spend most of our time on the move trolling trying to pick up active fish. We have NOT spent much time fishing deep though. When we go in early June we typically don’t fish any deeper than 20 feet and we fish as shallow as 3 or 4 feet on the flats. Have you ever tried trolling deep running cranks on Gull Rock? I have thought about this but have not taken the time to do it. Maybe worth a look. Have most of your bigger fish on Gull Rock come out of deeper water?
Honestly I don’t hear of many big fish being caught while we are there over 27 or 28 inches. There is a possibility that there are not that many big fish in the lakes that we fish. I am open to changing lakes, but I hate to leave a body of water that I am pretty familiar with and start over. I may just need to be happy catching the size fish that I am catching. I have thought about plastics and blade baits, but have never used them. Maybe it is worth a try.
OK, sounds good. So, I will be able to move right to opening her up when I get her in a few weeks?
I also have a new one on the way with a 200 yamaha hpdi. Anyone know what break-in is for this motor? Just curious.
