I hit the stillwater area today for about 4 hours, would have been longer but had to detour to Walmart to get a new crank battery…should have stopped on the way, but the old one was fine a week ago…found out after I had dropped the boat in and parked.

So after re-loading the boat, getting to Walmart, buying the new battery, then dealing with the downtown Stillwater traffic jam and re-launching, we’d lost a couple hours of fishing time. The good news is it didn’t matter!

We started getting short walleyes and a couple cigar saugers right away, drifting with 1/8 jig and another line with a split shot rig in 16 to 18 feet. We only tried leeches, never brought out the crawlers or minnows since the fish seemed to enjoy the leeches. We’d make a long drift then troll back up stream with jointed shad raps, and got 1 fish per pass the first 3 tries and about half the time thereafter. About 3:30 the bigger fish started showing up and I quickly got 4 for the box, and released a 22.5″ fatty.

It was all good clean fun until the electric started on my Honda started acting up. Got it going a few times just by flipping back and forth into neutral, and I should have skpped the last trolling pass and headed in, but the “one last bite” was too tempting, and then I couldn’t get her cranked over and had to troll in. Took over an hour, put luckily I was upstream from the landing or I’d still be going!

Anyone have a suggestion for a NE metro shop to bring the boat to get the starter fixed?

Well, I finally tracked down the information. In case anyone else is wondering here it is, in its full legal splendor. Thank you guys for your help.

Minn. Stat. § 97B.001, subd. 7
A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm in the
following areas:
< within 500 feet of a building located on private
agricultural land or on a public right-of-way if the
building is occupied by human beings or livestock,
unless the written permission of the owner, occupant,
or lessee is obtained;
House Research Department September 1999
Minnesota Firearms Laws Page 35
< within 500 feet of a stockade or corral containing
livestock, without the written permission of the owner,
occupant, or lessee; or
< on any land on which notices have been posted
prohibiting trespassing for outdoor recreational
purposes without the permission of the owner,
occupant, lessee, or authorized manager.

Well, I finally tracked down the information. In case anyone else is wondering here it is, in its full legal splendor. Thank you guys for your help.

Minn. Stat. § 97B.001, subd. 7
A person may not take a wild animal with a firearm in the
following areas:
< within 500 feet of a building located on private
agricultural land or on a public right-of-way if the
building is occupied by human beings or livestock,
unless the written permission of the owner, occupant,
or lessee is obtained;
House Research Department September 1999
Minnesota Firearms Laws Page 35
< within 500 feet of a stockade or corral containing
livestock, without the written permission of the owner,
occupant, or lessee; or
< on any land on which notices have been posted
prohibiting trespassing for outdoor recreational
purposes without the permission of the owner,
occupant, lessee, or authorized manager.

I agree with you Diesel, due to my “limp” status I have a permit to shoot from a stationary vehicle. I was parked in a private field last year and sat in the bed of my truck and bagged a buck…got a call later from the local CO because a hunter on the adjacent property saw the shot and called TIP. I was glad they followed up to make sure everything was legal, I know COs aren’t always your favorite person to see, but I have to respect the work they do!

That’s great to hear. The only times I’ve stopped in that shop the past two years has been to register turkeys in the spring…I’m glad there’s been a changing of the guard, I’ll be heading in a lot more now!!!

Although, come to think of it, I’d better call and make sure these guys will register a bird

I was up fishing off of pine-point this weekend, I’m sure it’s not the same in Trader’s bay as it is in Walker, but we had 10-11″ The warm temps really made for a slushy trek and I didn’t see any trucks but a few big permanent houses were up.

As you take a left off of 61 to get to the boat landing, keep going straight, rather than turning left as you would on your way to the park. This road heads straight for a 1/4 mile or so and then curves right. Park right after it curves and there’s a public path that leads down to the north end of the lake…there’s usually quite a few cars parked there this time of year. Apparently people think there are fish on those subtle 10′ humps on the north end

Fish, did that contribute to the “ex” in her description?

Touche on the tile joke NK, it’s almost as if you were there….

Just one more.
How many men does it take to open a beer?

None, it should be open by the time she hands it to you

Fish, did that contribute to the “ex” in her description?

Touche on the tile joke NK, it’s almost as if you were there….

Just one more.
How many men does it take to open a beer?

None, it should be open by the time she hands it to you

This is like the story going around Brainerd/Nisswa while we were deer hunting. Allegedly a guy came into The Pickle looking for a place to hunt, the locals said “Find a yellow deer crossing sign and start hunting near there.”
The next night the guy shows up with a 9 point to thank them for the advice

I’m sure every hunting camp has their own version.

Now the direction argument is just like Helen Keller, why was she such a bad driver???

She was a woman. (There goes my chance at finding a date on IDA)

This is like the story going around Brainerd/Nisswa while we were deer hunting. Allegedly a guy came into The Pickle looking for a place to hunt, the locals said “Find a yellow deer crossing sign and start hunting near there.”
The next night the guy shows up with a 9 point to thank them for the advice

I’m sure every hunting camp has their own version.

Now the direction argument is just like Helen Keller, why was she such a bad driver???

She was a woman. (There goes my chance at finding a date on IDA)

Well, unfortunately I ran into a similar situation this weekend at this bait shop. I was pretty disappointed as I’ve gone to this shop often the past 6-7 years. The older gentleman behind the counter (I’m assuming that’s Jim) is always helpful and since reading this post, I’ve made a point to ask whoever is there what’s biting in the area just to see if I’d get the same response that was mentioned, I never got any advice worth using, but over all they always have at least feigned some information.
Well, Sunday the 12th, I stopped in for my third time that week, spent about $12 on misc. tackle and asked for a carton of crawlers…I paid, and then asked again, politely, for the crawlers since the younger guy with a junior high attempt at a beard and an attitude just as spotty, apparently forgot about them. No big deal except that he then THREW them down on the counter and walked away without the “Good luck” or “Thank you” I’m used to from this shop. I wasn’t terribly offended, crawlers sure aren’t a carton of eggs or anything, but I’ve grown used to them giving great service and was very surprised at this. I’m not sure if this is the same person you dealt with, but I really hope he doesn’t do that to everyone or they’ll be losing lots of business, or worse, they already have!

I was out the 11th & 12th, and picked up a few smallies jigging/rigging for eyes in 11-14 fow. Crawlers got 3, leeches 1 until the sheepies moved in
I threw an X-rap towards shore for a little while, to try out the new “hot bait” and caught two more. The key there was the let the bait sit for 3-4 seconds in between twitches, they weren’t taking anything agressively.
I haven’t seen them busting bait on the surface in shallow at all, but I’m assuming the warm-up will probably help with that.

All the areas Slider mentioned are good, the only problem is the crowd on opener. Avoid using a net if at all possible, otherwise you’ll be playing bumper boats in no time!
There’s also a nice sunken island between grassy and Grandview that’s a little harder to find, and gets less pressure that first morning. 14ft surrounded by 40…find it and you’ll be in business.

Have any of you guys tried the Storm Hot n Tot? I got one for a birthday present last year, threw it in the bottom of the box underneath the shad-raps and bombers…until one slow night on the croix I decided to give it shot. (You know, a guy will try most anything after a and nothing biting) and WHAM I found a new trolling bait! It’s a small bodied bait with a large rounded lip that runs deeper than the similar size raps and has a very erratic motion – for under $4 it’s worth a shot. F.T., and the Gold colors produced for me on a few different bodies of water.

One thing about it though, I bought another one that had a metal snap on the front (that I assume was intended to improve the action ) and it doesn’t work at all.

I’d really like to get out there and meet some of you guys, but I’ll be heading up to Brainerd to freeze my tail off and donate some money to charity in the Jaycees ice fishing contest…who knows, maybe I’ll catch a perch small enough for 100th and win a few grand. Well, maybe not.

I got out to Baldy Saturday morning for a few hours…I wanted to get away from the Island cluster so I went to 26′ farther north before I ran into the next group of homes, the FL-18 spotted some action and I was drilling…you’re right about the sharp blades putz, I got new blades on my lazer last year and it makes all the difference in the world, never again will I go withough sharp blades. Anyway, I got 1 snake and a few perch. Missed one on a tip up and had another break me off. I’m going to have to start sneaking out of work early to catch the sun-down walleye bite…this darn job!

It’s real, although the deer just died according to the Star Trib http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5156880.html

My guess is that his neck finally gave out after holding up that HUGE rack for all that time…can you imagine seeing something like that in the woods?

It’s real, although the deer just died according to the Star Trib http://www.startribune.com/stories/531/5156880.html

My guess is that his neck finally gave out after holding up that HUGE rack for all that time…can you imagine seeing something like that in the woods?

I applied for a WI permit for the first time this year, one 5 day season in MN just isn’t enough now that I’ve been hooked. Does anyone know how the WI lottery stacks up to MN, I’ve heard it’s easier/more likely to get a spot in Sconny…I hope that’s true!

I applied for a WI permit for the first time this year, one 5 day season in MN just isn’t enough now that I’ve been hooked. Does anyone know how the WI lottery stacks up to MN, I’ve heard it’s easier/more likely to get a spot in Sconny…I hope that’s true!

I saw 6 hens Thanksgiving morning – hanging out in parking lot of Arden Hills City Hall (less than 10 miles from the downtowns of Mpls and St. Paul) near Highway 96 and Lexington Ave. My brother got out and ran after them with the video rolling, it was pretty funny.

Steve, if I send you a video clip can you post it? We were just a literal stones throw away from getting a wild Thanksgiving bird…in the city!

I saw 6 hens Thanksgiving morning – hanging out in parking lot of Arden Hills City Hall (less than 10 miles from the downtowns of Mpls and St. Paul) near Highway 96 and Lexington Ave. My brother got out and ran after them with the video rolling, it was pretty funny.

Steve, if I send you a video clip can you post it? We were just a literal stones throw away from getting a wild Thanksgiving bird…in the city!

Thanks for the advice Steve – I hope this works!

Thanks for the advice Steve – I hope this works!

I’m not sure what’s going on with the picture, I’ll give it another shot.

I’m not sure what’s going on with the picture, I’ll give it another shot.

Here’s a pic (low quality off the camera phone) of an 8 pointer I got Saturday morning.

I agree with you guys on the fact that my Dad was watching and probably did a little long-distance drive on this guy, just like how he pushed my first deer to me 10 years ago.

There’s nothing like sitting silently in a tree to help you reflect on the people that have made a difference in your life.

Here’s a pic (low quality off the camera phone) of an 8 pointer I got Saturday morning.

I agree with you guys on the fact that my Dad was watching and probably did a little long-distance drive on this guy, just like how he pushed my first deer to me 10 years ago.

There’s nothing like sitting silently in a tree to help you reflect on the people that have made a difference in your life.

Last year was my first season of duck hunting and I basically just sat back and let the other guys manage the spread and calling, and started blasting when it was time. SO, my goals for this year are pretty simple, starting with calling in my own birds and not whiffing quite so much Also I’d like to get my little brother hooked on the sport (although if he’s like me he’ll be addicted the first time he sees a duck set its wings)
I’ve put a lot into getting equipment ready for the year and I can’t wait!!!