Incorrect, but a typical generalization.
In the last 20 years the United States has seen about a 6-7% reduction in farmland.
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6-7% in farmland nation wide. That’s a generalization if I’ve seen one.
In our region with multiple dry summers in a row has been the opposite. More rows and more drain tiles every year around here.
I think the land is far better off owned by someone with local interest. Any large corporation is gonna be more worried about profit than local environmental or economical impacts.
I think allowing our enemies like communist China to buy our land is beyond ignorant.
You are correct Dutch. He can’t compete with the online retailers. His only advantage is his region specific jigs and tackle that you can’t get anywhere else. I can’t imagine making a living by selling jigs.
I have a good friend who owns a bait shop, it’s very long hours with very little pay. He does it because he loves it and loves the people. Love doesn’t pay the bills though.
Thank you, China.
I wouldn’t be surprised.
The world has big plans for the superior region. Mainly mining. They want the Copper, nickel, and helium. I think they are preparing/ hoping to forever change the landscape of that region. Any land close will likely be going way up in value should these mines be built.
I hope for your sake you’ve matured a bit since then. That ain’t even in the same ballpark as dispatching a feral cat. You do what you gotta do but to take joy or find entertainment by pitting one animal against another is bottom of the barrel stuff.
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Does that go for hunting dogs too? Just curious where you draw the line there?
It’s a combination of all the things you guys mention, and probably then some.
Access to knowledge compared to 30 years ago is wild. I had to get up early Saturday morning to catch an hour or so of fishing content on tv, sometimes it was local sometimes it was salt water fishing. I had to buy or check out books and pay magazine subscription fees.
Now, with a couple clicks on you tube and the net in general, you can learn anything about any species, presentation, region, etc. that you want. The world of fishing is at your fingertips.
Technology in the boat is obviously very important to be competitive now days. Younger guys are better with tech.
He’s young, but with school leagues he’s been fishing competitively for 6-8 years already. So he’s no rookie to competition. It’s you vs the fish, it doesn’t matter who else is competing.
He’s young, like Brian said. Young guys have the endurance and strength advantage for that all day push.
Like it or not he won it, and I bet you see him win a lot more in the next couple years. Congrats to him.
soo……. how many of these so called “feral” cats are just maybe farm cats looking for dinner??????
serious question!!!!!!!!
It’s usually pretty obvious right away when dealing with cats in traps. The wild ones go nuts. I’ve actually had a tame cat purring at me while in a foot hold trap one time. I was near multiple farms so it’s entirely possible it was just a farm cat but it was definitely tame and friendly. I’m not that cold hearted. I kneeled down, pet it a bit then released it from the trap. His foot was sore but not broken, I’m sure it was just fine. He scampered off to kill more endangered song birds or something.
I did have one fool me one time. It seemed really tame until it wasn’t….. luckily I was wearing heavy Carhartt bibs or my legs would’ve needed stitches.
Physically it’s generally pretty obvious if your handling a feral cat. They’re skinny and dirty compared to a domesticated cat and almost always have fleas.
Best one I’ve seen was on an older boat on mille lacs. It said “send help” but the letters were upside down.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gim wrote:</div>
Stray or feral cats are a serious problem in many urban areas, and this thread is an example of it. People need to be responsible for their pets. Keep the cat inside please.I pick off every single one I see when I’m upland hunting. I prefer to see pheasants, grouse, quail, and turkeys on the landscape. Not feral cats.
Good luck with the infestation.
How could you break the law. You preach every rule all the time bud. Now you pick and choose what laws to follow ? Killing stray cats is not a legal thing to do.
You’re not wrong. Our legal advisor suggesting illegal activities is a little concerning. You could see it as hypocritical even.
That being said, I’m with Gim on this one. Kill them all.
I never knew how many feral cats were out there and not seen until I started raccoon trapping as a young lad …
This. I’ve trapped more cats than I care to remember. Hundreds, and it never seemed to make a dent in the population on my trap line.
It’s a great design. Like a compact crawler harness. I couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of money so I made my own out of some old jig heads, beads, smile blades, and a slow death hook. I troll them at 1-1.4mph and have had good success with them.
There’s lots of guys on you tube that use 20ga. A few of the Hunting public guys use plain ol 870’s in 20ga.
I bought some shells last spring but didn’t get around to experimenting and ended up getting my bird with the 12.
I can’t imagine there’s any noticeable difference inside of 30 yards, other than an improvement in weight and recoil.
At least I didn’t tell people they’re “gayer than aids” like a teenager. I honestly didn’t know adults still talked like that.
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https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/san-francisco-gay-mens-chorus-aids-epidemic/
Gitchi Gummi-
Ironic? No, your trying to say hypocritical, or possibly contradictive.
Telling someone to not litter is good. Reporting them is better. I guess I thought that was obvious, my mistake. Complaining about how gross someone else’s habit is online is childish.
Shaming someone you don’t know online is beyond childish. You’re just quick with insults and personal attacks because you lack the ability to think of something helpful or intelligent to say. You have no high ground to stand on. You’ve proven that your not worth the time to go back and forth with. You’ll make an argument where you want and ignore what you want and act like you’re superior. All while looking like an ignorant fool. Typical illogical behavior we see a lot from your side though. All to often we see the stereotype being reinforced.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>grubson wrote:</div>
My advice to you guys who are offended or grossed out, watch your own bobber.Found the litterer!
Careful, you know what happens when you assume.
I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that you’re wrong. I bet you hear it a lot. You probably can’t accept that, but you’ll get there someday.
I have always taken care of my butts.
I always had butt cups in the boat and truck or would pocket them until I got home.
I’ve called guys out (both strangers and friends) multiple times for tossing them when I’ve seen it happen.
I’m sure you don’t believe me, that’s fine. I know. In my eyes you’re just that much more of an a** now for making blind accusations and trying shame me because why? We don’t agree politically? I told you to watch your own bobber? Get a life. 
Grubson, John, Bearcat, fins. Please accept my apologies if my post offended you. I didn’t mean to personally attack you guys.
I commend those for quitting. It can’t be easy.
When ice fishing and what do Canadians call cigarettes…
A dart?
Delete
It’s littering just like throwing anything else on the ground.
It’s definitely not the majority who throw them out their window or on the ground. My advice to you guys who are offended or grossed out, watch your own bobber.
I quit about a month ago. Other than a couple bad days, I’ve been smoke free. Let me tell you, it’s not easy. I’m already noticing all this extra money though!! 
From 48 hours before we open netting to 24 hours after I spend every possible minute at the landings. Often all night, I have 6 staff and 7 game wardens that help monitor our tribes harvest. I meet the boats at the dock, help unload the bins, pick the nets, sometimes I go right out in the boat to monitor.
Last year I checked in 4 perch. 4.
Our tribe simply dosnt harvest many perch. So when I see tribal totals from the other bands and landings totaling 1-2000 pounds, yeah it makes total sense.
I was down there 2 weeks ago. A band member wanted to teach himself how to set a net under the ice. He caught zero perch. Zero.
Another one of the reasons we arnt super worried about anglers going over their 36,500 pound quota.
Our tribe? Which tribe are you speaking for? It was my understanding that they’re multiple tribes from Wisconsin who net, as well as the mille lacs band.
This year <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>ice fishing pressure was high, and the perch bite was bananas. Probably a healthy perch population, and a forage shortage. Which is a little confusing since there appears to be plenty of walleye forage?
They are regularly puking up isopod or some kind of bug and also young perch when caught. I really don’t think it’s a forage issue drivingthe good bite. There is a lot of perch and they are competitive.
I’m really surprised the reduced limit didn’t come earlier this winter. I bet they tried to get it through sooner. 5 is a bit aggressive in my opinion. I think 10 would have been a more reasonable number. I think 20 was more than enough especially considering the average size of the fish out there right now.
I was in SD over the weekend. Some lakes had lots of open water, some had diesel trucks and wheel houses on the ice yet. It really depended on the lake. Fish were active up shallow in the weeds. We caught 7 different species in one spot on Saturday.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gim wrote:</div>
It’s pretty shallow in between the harbor and the main lakeOne reason I’d pass on Liberty if you have a big boat. It’s just Ok when the lake is up. If it’s low like it has been and any kind of wind blowing in there, it sucks. If you hit bottom you have a good chance of hitting rock.
Hunters Point and Fishers would be the best east side options for larger boats IMO.
-J.
A buddy of mine launches his 22ft Hughes Craft at liberty, even when it was real low two summers ago. It’s deep enough.
I talked to a gentleman this afternoon at the bait shop who was heading up there with his 1 ton truck and tandem wheel house. He said Hunter’s is open with no weight restrictions. I’d say it’ll be a while yet.
I’m in the other boat. I have rechargeable ones, and AAA ones.
Rechargeable are nice when they’re new, and when you remember to charge it. If you forget, or are on a long night outing and it dies, you’re in the dark. With a AAA light, you toss in new batteries and it’s good as new.
Id be happy with 2 lines in open water or ice fishing. I can’t see myself using 4 very often, if ever.
One thing to think about is the neighboring states, they all allow more lines than MN. Is the fishing worse there because of extra harvest? Definitely not. Go west and you can use 4 lines all year long with no season closure. Personally I think the fishing is better in the dakotas than here. How is that possible? Yes, there are more people here, but there is also far more lakes in mn to spread the pressure around.
The change is long overdue and will not affect the fishing any more than FFS, increasing population, or any other factor.
If they pass 4 lines for the ice season I can see one unintended consequence of this. Minnesota will be secretly hoarding the worlds best marionette puppeteers the world has ever known.
Wow. You’re a good man Randy. Sorry for your loss.
