Way to get the young ‘un out, Matt. You named him well, too!

You have a good point there, Pug.

The irony of this is, if teachers, paramedics, firefighters, cops and soldiers made what pro athletes make, we’d see the same negotiational issues in those fields. Human nature. In a way, I’m glad they don’t make the bigs bucks. Let’s keep the haggling and stikes out of the important segments of life.

I’m with you, Fan. I don’t even think about putting the boat away until we get out of the 40s.

To watch the Hawkeyes make road kill of the Gophers next month!!

I’ve stayed at the Hillcrest in Alma a couple times–cozy rooms and fairly inexpensive. They also have a fish cleaning house.

Thanks, guys. Do you know if the other bays on the south shore (Wahkon and Cove) are ice free, too?

Ditto, Mark. Been getting my fish in the weeds b/n 6 and 10 feet. The crappies are hyper-aggressive.

Bob–Which harbor are you talking about? Thinking about chasing some crapps on ML this weekend.

I would have painted specs on it and passed it off as the new state record crappie.

Nice job on the photoshop.

Crappies can be caught shortly after ice out without the use of a bobber. Try using a long rod (at least 7′, the longer the better), light line and a 1/32 oz. jig. You’ll be surprised how far you can toss it. Retrieve as slowly as possible. Once you find the fish you might be able to vertical jig over the top of them.

Hello. My name is Juggs and I’m a fish racist. I hate pike. Big pike, small pike, I hate them all. Line cutting, foul-smelling, slime emitting, panfish-devouring pests.

I don’t see a problem with these. In fact, I’d probably buy one if I had the money. As far as the ducks go, seems they flush every time I get near them with my 50hp outboard.

This one has always caused me to scratch my head and wonder what kind of logic the DNR has in mind. They already let us use two lines through the ice and on border waters. Unless there is something different about these two situations that makes two lines no more harmful to the fishery, what could possibly be wrong with taking this idea to its logical conclusion and allowing two lines all the time everywhere? Besides, several of you have already made the very valid point that limits are in place specifically for the purpose of pulling in the reigns on harvestation. I can understand that an extra line might get you to a limit a little faster sometimes, and that may be the DNR’s best argument against it, but even they are the first to admit that the vast majority of anglers don’t take a limit on any given outing. Is one more line in the water going to make that much difference. I think any of us who have any experience on the water would say a definite “no” to that one. So again, where’s the logic? As long as I’m on a semi-rant, this seems to me another pointless rule, along with unattended lines and how to define what is a line based on treble hooks, stingers, etc. The COs have plenty to do since they are so understaffed. Why not concentrate on people breaking laws that actually have an impact? I’m all for two lines…heck, why not three or four if it increases your fishing enjoyment. Although we all know the law of diminshing returns kicks in rather soon in this case.

I’m with you, Nick. In this day and age of big business bashing, we need to cut them a break. They contribute so much more good than bad. Besides, it wasn’t like they dumped some pollution into the water. If they decide to replace what was killed off, good for them. If not, this is indeed just a blip on the radar.

Thanks to everyone who donated. Count me in.

John–I’m hitting pool 4 tomorrow and plan on trying this technique as I saw three guys on a wing dam catching bluegills hand over fist last weekend. Care to tell if the fish came closer to shore or nearer the tip of the dam? Thanks….Juggs.

I don’t believe the price gouging claims either. It’s supply and demand. If gas stations are building in that much of a margin over their costs, then any one of them could simply drop the price significantly below the going rate and more than make up for the low price in volume. Can you imagine the lines and hysteria at a station that sells for fifty cents below their curbside competitors?

In my back yard…heehee. A bumper crop this year.

Best batter nothing. Best catcher…period. Stolen bases for a catcher are usually a minor achievement but just for the record he has stolen 21 in 23 attempts for his career. Bottom line, he knows his way around the bases. He’s one of the most fundamentally sound players I’ve seen in a long time. Not bad for a kid in his early 20s. The rest of the Twins could learn a lot from him. I have to say, this is what is wrong with the All-Star voting. Ballot stuffing isn’t the best way to go about it. I’d vote a million times for Mauer but I’m holding to conviction of reusing to vote out of protest over the system.

Hey Putz–Just because the cashier is younger than you doesn’t necessarily make her young!

Putz–The Vingla is a style of Swedish Pimple I believe. It has great action but they’re hard to find.

Why do that when I can drive five minutes and catch plenty of walleyes with a ligit shot at a trophy (although I can’t keep any) at pool 2 of the river. I want my big crappies!! and I’m willing to drive to UR to get them. Well, once or twice a year anyway.

I’m thinking about this whole thing from an economic perspective, too. If the walleyes do take over, given the limits the DNR says they are going to put in place, how many anglers are going to drive the five hours from the TC and however far from somewhere else to fish a lake with a two fish, narrow slot limit? Especially when you have LOTW, Winni, Leech, (am I missing any others) in the vicinity? I’m thinking the attendance on UR is going way down the next few years.

You’re on the right track, Tuck. Crappies don’t need to be managed for, but the (re)stocking and subsequent management of the lake for walleyes will no doubt put the pressure on the crapps. If the DNR had taken all that management time, money, effort, etc. and put it into a different fishery, one that really needed some help, the net result would have been two lakes with great fishing, one for crappies, one for walleyes, instead of one that merely shifted from one species to another. This recent crappie boom wasn’t really managed into existence. It came about as a result of the removal of a competitor.

Exactly why I cringed when I heard the DNR was managing to bring the walleyes back. We have a great crappie fishery like UR with plenty of trophy walleye lakes. I thought they should have left it alone then and I still do. The time and money put into Red could have gone to improve walleye fishing elsewhere. All they seem to be doing is exchanging one species for another. But I’m a crappie guy so that’s why it doesn’t sit well with me.

Steroids….definitely steroids.

Steroids….definitely steroids.

Good for Andy Reid and good for the Eagles. TO is out of work for the rest of the season. I hear the Cancer Society is looking for a spokesman.