Purchase in Coon Rapids, Andover, Oak Grove. 45 min. commute to MPLS. Less if CR or Andover. Tons of foreclosed homes around. From OG it’s under an hour to Mille Lacs. 15-20 to Eagle Lake in Maple Grove, again from OG in traffic. Seen a few in the Miss below Coon Rapids Dam try to eat my cats. 45 to Fletchers on Tonka where muskies and cougars prowl.
I hate to say it, but I was glad to read your report, Steve. I’ve had a bad year on the Croix too. Just got back today from 3 days out between W. O’Brien and the railroad bridge. Fished hard and we only got one flat on a 8 inch sheepie, and one channel that still had spots on it. The flat went 10 lbs. Otherwise, like Brian reports, smallies, sucker, drum, sturgeon, keep thing interesting.
If you look at the number of posts per species, or look at the number of posts per respondant to your question, you’ll realize that you’ve asked your question to a passionate group. While not everyone has a go to catfish manifesto, like IDO’so own B.K. Kozinski, their answers are similar. Just less detailed. Pay attention to Brian. Also, read each and every post by Steve DeMars. Each answer by them, or most any other poster in this forum is earnest and backed up with experience. I have a truck with an 8 ft bed. Long rods fit fine there. My boat has a rod\gun locker with that can hold a 5 1/2 ft. rod. I favor two piece rods. If you can narrow down your fishing preference, price point, and ability to manage or transport your rig, you’ll find just the answers you’re looking for. You’ve found a great place to ask questions and get them answered and a superb species to fish. Good luck and post pics.
Sweet pig!
How does a Slow Speed zone differ? Is there a mph max or is it the same definition?
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/stcroixboatingrules.pdf
Sweet vid, but yep, Mad Science. Those bullies have never breathed in water so clean. Maybe that’s your edge. Ticks them off getting tossed into the Minnesota and they struggle all the more, drawing in those Flats.
Don’t have to read anymore, or cook this, to know you are my new hero. 
I’m with Kooty. World Data is a great company to work with. I can’t tell you who you should talk to for old, reliable printers, but come Monday, late in the day, I’ll try to shoot you a PM, with who you should talk to.
I’ll second Joshbjork’s recommendation of spillways. I used to throw before I read about it in the MN regs. Easy pickens.
I was sure you were talking about the girls of Blaine gathering outside of Jenny Craig for bikini season. Still catch and release right now, but come May there may be a few keepers.
To quote a skank I’d leave in the field for the the manure spreader to cover “That’s hot.”
Yep, gin and tonic season is almost upon us. Gotta place my order too. 
Blackhawk pancake. Complete coverage over the trigger, and a strap across the back of the slide. It holds tight against my waist. My only complaint is the creaking of the leather.
This is too hot for General Discussion and needs it’s own forum. Too many cool pics and ideas. Keep’em coming please.
Maybe a Forum called Show Me Your: *.* With subheadings like: Ice house, Cabin, 4 Wheeler, Man Cave, Go to Bait for: Bass, Walleye, Pike, Cats-Flat or Channel, blah, blah, blah. Widen it out to- Go to lure for: yadda-yadda. Just don’t forget the ManCave. We need these. I’d fight for these. Founding fathers had them and assumed they didn’t need to put them into the Constitution. They needed to do just that. Ask my wife. Apparently, I have no vote.
2 on, 1 off.
I’m with Lip. Looking at the tracks and the crumbles of snow in front of them, I can easily imagine him slowing as quick as he can, stopping, and getting thumped. It’ll make me think of how to take pics on Sat. if all goes well.
Congrats.
Sorry I saw this post too late. I have an XDM 9mm I need to shoot for the first time, which brings me to my post for Nick and anyone else who can chime in. I bought this gun for my wife and I. I figured a 9 would be easy, and cheap to shoot. Turns out she can hardly rack the slide, and can’t push the button down that holds the slide back after emptying a mag. The Ruger LCP looks cool, and I know a wheel gun would be a given, but is there an auto any of you would recommend? Her gun is my gun, and I thought visa-versa, but now I get to buy another gun, so that’s cool. I guess I am looking for an auto, but have no qualm’s against a revolver.
I’m sure you all had fun tonight and hope to make the next shoot.
Total fish 28.8, biggest fish 7.3
Sorry to hear. He’s one of the originals. Thanks Tuck, for the link to his pics.
Good stuff. I especially liked the the Triggering Flats presentation. Thanks for the links.
I recently received the following likely explanation for the reduced deer herd. Please read below and then take a look at the attached photo.
Why is the deer count so low you say?
Some say it’s the wolves, some say we’ve shot too many does with the earn-a-buck and herd reduction quotas the DNR has levied on us, some are blaming the cash crop farmers with their seemingly endless supply of crop damage permits, some say your average Joe farmer shouldn’t be getting any crop damage permits because he’s a hunter too, some say the private land owners are hording all the deer, some say it’s baiting and the deer are moving only at night, some say hunters don’t drive deer like they did years ago, some say it’s because more people are living in rural areas and there is less habitat for the deer to live in, and some are blaming the insurance companies being in cahoots with the DNR and making us shoot all our deer to keep their profits up by not having to fix so many car/deer accident claims.
The real reason was caught on film last month……… Please see above . Go figure !!!
2 weekends ago I couldn’t catch a cat to save my life on the Croix. Last weekend on the Miss above 169 a buddy and I caught about 20 channels. Smallest around 3 biggest only 8, but one of my better days on the water. If you aren’t out there on the water, you won’t know for yourself if they’re biting or not. So get out and give us your own report. It may be your turn to have your best day out.
Mark Chestnut-Beer, Bait, and Ammo.
“..a box of 12 guage would be all the rage, when I’m liquored up and feeling good.”
Audemp- exit on 63rd Ave from 169 and go west. You’ll run into a small park that has some shore fishing if you’re looking for a mess of bullheads. Otherwise, hang a right on the service road that follows the west side of 169 and you’ll come across the boat landing and the spillway from the lake. You can pick up more bullies under the spillway, but the shore fishing is just in the launch area. I don’t know of any public land that you can fish and hit the main lake, but the park is a solid spot for cat bait.
For a $300 upgrade to the cooler, you can ride it to your favorite spot.
I have to agree. I bought a reconditioned VS460 camera. After a couple great outtings it wouldn’t turn on. I sent it in and received a new one near as I can tell. Also a new charger.
I’m with you there, Man. Houses across the street are on the river. Waiting for a real estate sign, not sure I can afford it. We aren’t paying the taxes we can’t afford for living there, so at least we got that going for us. Til then, it’s a matter of finding the closest public land with the best structure that suits your fishing needs. Til then, What else can a fella do.
Stack-On has a reputation of having sheet metal safes, but they do come in bigger sizes. That is to say fire-proof models. Sell’em at Dick’s. If you start a frequent buyer program there, you can save up to 15 percent. Got mine for $425. That’s cornfeed compared to most out there. Kids haven’t figured out how to break into it. Least, I’m not writing as a ghost, so it seems to work well.
I’ve done the Fly-Zapper tennis rackets. Good for a gasp. I’ve had hand crank Army radio wires pressed to my neck and came up swinging. Saw it was a buddy having fun and gave up before I got my arse handed to me. Whoever is fool enough to do this has to call me. I’ll buy the beer and post the video. You wash your shorts.
