First of all, I wish I were as good at musky fishing as you- so I really appreciate your posts. Also, my last girlfriend was a city girl who refused to touch fish or to get in the woods, which turned out to be signs of an impending break-up. My current girlfriend loves to fish, and I am proud to say that she kicks my butt almost every time we’re out there. There is something special when you and your significant other are out there on the water surrounded by God’s beauty. I figure those guys that PMed to probably can’t get a girl to go out with them, so they are just bitter . I also know many women, including my mom, who prefer to stay home when her boys go out fishing, but the key is that we would love for her to come with us. It’s fine for guys or girls to stay home, but who gives one person the right to tell any one else whether they can fish ! Anyways, thanks for your posts and please keep them coming!! Good fishing. Will

Beautiful muskie- congrats

Thanks a lot for all your help guys. I can’t wait to get out and try these out .

Thanks,
William

Go back and read the posts. You’ll see that people were talking about shooting/killing their neighbors cats. Now could we please just drop this?

I completely agree with you. We’re all supposed to be buddies here, and use the forum to share stories and help each other. I think cats are completely irrelevant to this forum (indepthangling), so I think everyone will be happier when we just stick to what we love: getting out there and catching some fish.

Thanks for the info. I only live 30 minutes from Cabela’s (I go to St. Olaf College in Northfield), so I usually stop by there every week or two- usually just to look at whats new. Living that close has definitely hurt my wallet, but it’s worth it. This summer I’m sure HOF’s store will probably be my new home away from home.

Hey James, that’s a nice walleye in your pic. My dad went out last weekend on the river, and caught a 20” and a 25” walleye, so it looks like it’ll be a good spring. Personally, I’d much rather be dreaming/prepping for catching some walleye than talking about shooting cats. I think I’m gonna go re-spool my reels now. Good fishing everyone.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m friends with a couple, but I still won’t go fishing with them because they keep everything single thing they catch. I guess you can kinda rationalize it because they actually eat everything, but still it does make fishing a bit tougher at those spots. It’s annoying to see them do it, but some of the hmong anglers I meet are dirt poor, so they actually need the fish to save money.

Maybe central Iowa just hasn’t had this problem- so I should shut-up since I don’t know enough about it. Most of my close family friends are farmers, and cats are that big a problem for them. Sorry if I’m just basing everything I’m say on my own experiences in rural central Iowa.

Mec- that’s not funny. One of my friends is a Hmong, and his Dad died last year fighting in Iraq. Be a little more sensitive about the cultural stereotypes.

We have never claimed to be hunting pheasant to be balancing nature. Some guys here are saying they need to kill cats to save birds etc… It’s fine to shoot cats on your property and to say it’s because they’re a nuisance, don’t try to get the moral highground and say you’re doing it to protect the balance of nature. Sure they might be killing the birds on your land- but that’s kinda short-sighted isn’t it.

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Ah, thanks for the clarification. I was just getting pissed at the idea of someone going around shooting stray cats for pleasure . Still, are cats really that much a problem in the wild? I say unless they’re bothering you, leave em be. It’s not for us to say how nature should balance itself.

First of all, who the hell gets pleasure out of actually hunting stray cats? I completely understand if a stray cat is on your property and is damaging your property- then shoot the damn thing, but I’m talking about who actually goes out in the woods and specifically looks for cats. I’ve been raised a hunter in Iowa, and I’ve been shooting pheasant, rabbits, squirrels, deer, and turkey pretty much my whole life. Rule number 1- respect your what you are hunting. If you’re going to eat the cat, go ahead and shoot it, but if you go out and shoot any animal, such as a 15 lb cat, just for the hell of it- you have problems. You don’t just go out and shoot what you want- if you’re a real hunter you hunt for fun, but you damn well better appreciate your kill and eat it. If you just want to kill something to make you feel good, you’re just a sadist. Again, this is only in reference to “cat hunters” (if there is such a ridiculous thing), not those who shoot a cat that is damaging your property. Hunting season is during the fall- go out and shoot some pheasants, rabbits, deer, and then grab your pole and head out for the lakes and rivers during the summer. Do you cat hunters honestly think you deserve a season- are deer too hard for you to get that you have to go and shoot a freakin cat? Where’s the pride in that? Hunting has a long and honorable tradition, what would our hunting predecessors say to adding a cat season? They’d laugh, and so am I.

Thanks for all the tips and the great welcome guys , I have a feeling this is going to be a great summer of fishing . Would you guys recommend Zumbro or good ol’ Mississippi R. for bass and pike- or is there any preference? Also, do you guys know of any good shorefishing spots at these two places? Sorry about all the questions, and thanks again for the great welcome .

Go get ’em fish tomorrow,
William

Thanks Bill,

This forum really feels like all the times I’ve hung around at my local bait shops exchanging news. I guess during the summer I try hardest for largemouth (no smallies in central Iowa) and hope for some walleye and pike. Plus of course panfish is always great during the summer. My dad has a boat, but I’ll probably just be content with shorefishing this summer since I’ll be here for only a couple months. During the summer in Iowa, I can usually catch a couple 17+ inch largemouth every week, gotta go at night though. Gotta love night fishing during the summer, except one time I caught a fat 55 inch grass carp and I thought I was going to be dragged in. In the rivers, I catch a lot of wipers, crappies, and the occasional walleye. This summer I’m hoping to get my first smallmouth, I’ve heard great stuff about them, but we generally don’t have them in Iowa. Also, pike are pretty scarce in Iowa (except up north), so I’ll try to get a couple of those too. Honestly though, I just want to make sure I get out there near the water because during those hot dog days of summer, there really is nothing better than listening to the crickets and birds with your line in the water. Thanks for all your help guys, and I hope you all get on the water tomorrow- weather’s supposed to be perfect.

Thanks,
William

Thanks Mike,

Would you recommend above or below the dam on Zumbro lake? Back in Iowa, I fish at Saylorville Dam a lot and there’s pretty good walleye action below the dam, but not up top.

Thanks,
William