I do mono as a backing, then tie on my braided line of what length I use. I do place a small piece of tape over the knot, so it won’t work up to affect the line coming off the reel.

CONGRATULATIONS James,
Great to hear that you are doing well with IDO. It was fun being there while you and the others were doing one of the media ads.
Hope to see you on the river or on one of the area lakes.

That’s the way of the future, elected officials side with lake owners to stop you from driving out to fish a public lake. I will not be going to this years Buffalo American legion for the memorial day program as Bruce Anderson will be there and I’m not happy with his bill. May just punch the joker in the nose.

It’s all BS, it is not the duck magnet they claim it is. I have talked with several guys, last fall many came in with no birds shot. Some guys never even saw a single duck. Unless they are calling cormorants? ducks.

I have been buying the archery tags to hunt turkeys, Then I can go from southeast mn. to where every I find them. Now it’s finding time to get out, lot of taxidermy to get done. I have a turkey tail-breast with wings spread going together. Plus the winter walleyes, You can see more of my work on my FB.
Jiggin Jim Taxidermy Ryks

You will find 90% of the guys running to the north end of Big Stone, I have fished this lake several times. jig-minnow and float fishing are the main tactics with this cold water. Although trolling a large spread of lures could cover a lot of water and may put fish in the box.

That’s a piggy, I know a few other taxidermist that would to get their hands on it for making reproductions.

I’m in, Let’s go to North Dakota looking for the zander.
Walleyes european relative that has been stocked in ND.

I have the same issues with my 690 Ranger, rated for 90hp, I went to a 90 hp 4 stroke. wishing I could have been bigger. Granted the bigger would have gave me high top speed and maybe more power for a hole shot. But I changed up props to gave me what is go for holeshot and slow trolling. If I needed a racing boat I could have bought one, I’m looking at a fishing rig, and what gets me to and from the spots. The bigger issue is are you fishing tournaments? then buy a new and bigger boat with the maxed out motor. At that rate your will be going to a warrior, as they can operate the really big tillers.

Park point in Red wing is another public ramp. For the time being your best option is Everts Resort. There is a fee, but having a dock to tie up to and the best part. It’s the closest ramp to the dam, and if you follow the river rules no closing wing dam to watch for. ( like on the Wisconsin back channel)

Well, I guess that covers it, we launch at public ramps, Unless the new management at everts pulls their heads out of thier a______. I like the fall bite, my even enjoys the fall trip. But maybe this year we’ll go farther south. As I will not/ would not put-up with type of actions.

Boys bad news travels super fast on the internet freeway.
WAKE-UP or go broke.

Idling around you may find schools of crappies in open water before they move shallow. I use a slip float after locating them on my f.finder.

while visiting africa, I came across two different sinker rigs they use to keep sinkers from moving. (1) use an egg sinker, place cut coat hanger thru hole, flatten egg sinker to 1/3 of orginal size. This gives the sinker flat areas to stop rolling. Another is to put small wires thru a bank sinker in a cross fashion, then been wires to face slide line. had worked well on rocky areas.

Which boat ramp do your use? I live in Buffalo, had thought of doing a fall run, the chain is about 45min. to hour away.

Fall bass-in can be some great fishing. I have caught some of my largest fish in the fall.

My wife and I, will be there with extra fork and spoon.

Water temps. the past few days has dropped to the point the fish just don’t want to bite. May need to wait a few days.

Rootski, I like that idea, I’ll drive the s ipper to where you want it.

How far is it from vados, for live bait, while heading north?

The rack on the 2nd buck scored 196″. The pike mounted over a sand bottom, looks darker in photo. The Smallie is 95% complete still need to add the crawfish. It seems everyone likes to see the teeth on fish mounted. Glad you guys like them.

I have looking for a program that would be easy to use with my lowrance unit to make my oun maps. Lowrance unit can record sonar info, but need to convert it into a section map.

Would like to rent damman’s boat to keep waterskiers and personal watercraft , at a distance so i can fish. Some guys may used it to guard tourney spots.

Thanks for the heads up.

I have normally done well on waxies, using a small jig (flu-flu, genz bug, even fatboys.)

Depending on the size of your fish. If filleted, you can try doing them on grill. Propane, I place heavy alum foil over grate. Spray with pam oil, so fish don’t stick (they may stick to foil anyway). light grill bring to low heat. Places fillets on foil lightly spray with veggie oil. Then sprinkle with lemon-pepper or Old London Bread Crump Seasoning. Cook until flaky. Turn off heat, Carefully remove foil to pizza pan. Serve. Hope You enjoy it.
You could also wrap fish in foil. Covering with butter. Place packet on grill for 15minutes. Remove and carefully open may have alot of stream.

Using St.Croix rods myself, I feel the avids provide the best deal for the money. I’m sure if you were blind folded, handed each rod to fish they feel very much alike.

You guys make that look so easy. I have a new item for my Cabelas shopping list. Checked out a cuople of the other videos The sauger tape was great, time to hit the river.

Great article guys, what you said is very true. Having guided for over 15 yrs. Many of my trips are fishing lakes from the Metro area to Green lake in Spicer and surrounding area. It’s a great feeling to help a youngest catch their first fish. Even if it’s a sunfish, high 5’s and photos, the kids remember these times. Getting a X-mas card from a youngest that lives in Las Vegas, with your photo in a group of photos is really KOOL. Equipment is a very important part for clients enjoy the guide trip. A list of others guides phone numbers can work well, net-working with each other. To help people catch fish and enjoy the sport we love is a great feeling.

fireline has been my main line very type of fishing I do. I do add a short piece of mono, it sure helps if your changing jigs alot, it also gives a little bit of a shock absorber to your system.

Steve gray’s bay on tonka does have a wash area. Thats the ramp I’ll use to fish tonka. I can wash off the boat and trailer, plus rinse out the live wells and bait well. Trying to do my part.