MN Fisher

I'd check the fuel filter first - sounds like a clog.

Dunno - kicked her out years ago.

Hah - (sing-songs) You're older than I am 59 this November.

Or re-organize the tackle boxes for the 5th time Or plan on the mods to our rides (been drawing up plans to mod my canoe) Or maybe have a coffee-klatch to discuss...whatever (though if it's sports other than fishing, I'm useless)

I live by Lake Minnetonka - have no choice but to see Black Lake or Emerald Lake when I go out as I live on Phelps Island. I haven't seen anyone driving on the lake, be it Black, Emerald, Cooks Bay or Spring Park Bay in over a week. People are still walking out to do some fishing, but that's it. Far as open water...was starting to see some open places along the shorelines of just about every bay or small lake in the group, but that went away with last night's frigid temp. I doubt we'll see an average Ice-Out (Apr 14), but I think we won't even have floating ice by opener. Though I do remember an opener back 40 years ago when I lived in Bemidji where we WERE fighting floating ice the whole weekend.

We just got dumped on by 6"-8" of snow. Last night's low was 7 - it's a mess here today.

Get a bottle of 'Simple Green' - follow the instructions. That stuff will literally clean anything, marine carpet should be a snap for it.

Opens to keepers Memorial Weekend now - how about Ice-Out to the normal open date? I would cheer for that - get more 'practice' in before I start stocking my freezer.

I hope it's not C&R only you're asking for - some of us like eating Bass. If it went to C&R only, I'd probably fade away from fishing all-together.

I've owned it since it was new in the box. Kept it up and still works like it was new. I take care of my stuff

Just a look at my rod/reel collection - be kind, I'm just getting back into fishing after over a decade's absence Left to Right Pflueger 640 on a 4.5' LA/F Ugly Stick - this is my panfish rod, loaded with 4# mono -30+ year old reel, new rod Cardinal 562 on a 6' MA/M Berkley Enforcer - loaded with 8# mono -rod and reel 30+ years old Garcia Avocet RZ on a matched 6.5' ML/F Avocet RZ rod - loaded with 8# mono - new purchase Pflueger Trion 30 on a 6' MA/F Ugly Stick - loaded with 8# flouro - new purchase Ambassadeur 500r on a matched 6' MA/M Ambassadeur rod - loaded with 25# braid, 12# mono leader - 15 year old pair I know I'm light on variety right now, but remaining money the wife deigned to allow me to spend is going for mods on the canoe as well as a Lowrance and a portable mount for the transducer.

Full strip-down,clean and re-lube/oil in the spring before the season opens. Takes a bit of time, but my 30+ year old Pflueger and Cardinal reels still work like new.

For greasing the gears on my Spinning reels, I've used White Lithium for years and never had an issue.

Machine Oil will also be fine for the bearings as long as it's the "Light Machine Oil"

Can we call my method 'Random-pattern'? I have a plan when I go out, but it's more 'fish this area and see what comes up'. Far as planning exactly where in the area, what baits to use or even the technique (do I use Texas rig here or a Ned rig?) it's a random-numbers game. I go by 'feel'.

Minnesota has no slots in any body of water.

Study the lake/pond/stream/river you'll be fishing. Contour maps are a must but also pay attention to the plant growth both in the water and on the shore.

I don't know about the 'cut-bait' - in MN it's illegal to use any game-fish as bait...and they consider sunnies, crappie and perch to be 'game-fish' here. I'm not much a fan of Rainbows for eating either. Brookies have, as a chef would put it, a much more delicate flavor...definitely worth a try, though wild-caught, not farmed.

I'd say Spotted Bass too - they've been introduced into CA, didn't know they'd made it to WA

Unless it's a creel full of Brook Trout (runs and hides) (yes, I do go out Trout fishing now and then)

One reason I cheer the fact that my wife doesn't like fish either...more for me.

Google Photos or just Google-Drive?

You should not let me into Dick's without an escort - granted, most of this I needed to replace things I hadn't used in so long they'd gotten...ugly...but still..... Replacement items 2/0 and 4/0 Worm Hooks Selection of bullet, egg and drop weights (steel/tin to replace my old lead ones) Size 4 and 6 baitholder hooks selection of split-shot sinkers (steel/tin to replace my old lead ones) couple pear floats New items - just because Rapala DT-4 Couple of rattling crank baits Couple of frogs Size 0 and 1 Mepps Comets for panfish

Minnesota has had the same keep limits in effect since I was a teen (40 years or more), and we still have an excellent Bass fishery all over the state. People keeping some eating size (2#-4#) has had no deleterious effect on the number of trophy-sized Bass caught in the state. IMO: A C&R only law/response will only hurt the hunt for the next state record in whatever state implements it. And that's also from my College Education as an Aquatic Biologist.

Even larger lakes can benefit from some culling for the grill. The one I'll be fishing is 14,000+ acres and I'll be seriously considering putting any Bass in the 2#-4# range in the ice-chest rather than back in the water. Over 4# and it'll be C&R only, but I do enjoy my lemon-rosemary Bass from the grill.