The 'Real' Opener!

Like many of you, I consider the muskie opener as the 'real' fishing opener.  No longer do we have to fish for something else to pass the time.  This past Saturday was the official kick-off to the madness of 2010, and I'm proud to say that we started it off on the right foot.

Young Ben and I hit the water very early in the season.  3:00 AM to be exact.  A busy schedule for the two of us meant that if we wanted to get any significant amount of time on the water that we'd have to get out there early.  Shortly into our season we had the first nibble.  An explosion in the darkness that caused Ben to prematurely set the hook.  I followed that up with a few good chuckles and that is when we were reminded what specie we were pursuing.  It seemed fitting to have it start that way, and it certainly got the juices flowing.

As if we didn't have the perfect sign to start our season, God blessed us with a muskie sunrise that we'll never forget.  The canvas was covered with every color in the rainbow and I'm sure if you were on the water you know what I'm talking about too.  We bounced back and forth between casting and taking pictures.  With every second we were in even more awe and couldn't get over the brightness of the sky.  The water was calm and if there weren't trees in the distance, you wouldn't have been able to tell where the water ended and sky began.  To make it even sweeter, we got to watch our first muskie bulge the surface and create a wake behind Ben's lure from the start of his cast to the finish.  I could have ended my day right there and I'd have been happy.  The muskie didn't strike, but the day didn't end their either.

A little while later I was given the opportunity to join the crew on KFAN Outdoors for a live report on the water.  I have been lucky enough to be a regular guest on their program and we chatted about what we were experiencing on the water.  During this time, Ben had two more giant's come boatside and nearly gave me a heart attack while conducting my interview.  You can check out the full interview here.  Thank you Billy Hildebrandt and Bob St. Pierre for another opportunity!

Shortly after the interview Ben had to go to work and my partners changed.  I dropped Ben off and Bails and Hennen jumped aboard.  I was bound and determined to get the slime in the boat.  As it turned out, Hennen was just the man to do it.  About 30 minutes into his muskie season he landed the first toothy critter of the year.  A dandy 44 incher that put the icing on my muskie opener cake.  While I would have been satisfied to just be on the water for that perfect morning, I will admit that the muskie in da boat made me smile a quite a bit.  A great start to the 'real' opener..  If this is any indication, I'm very excited for what is to come.  Stay tuned - It's going to be a great season!  Until next time, keep on livin' the dream!

Muskies - Are You Ready?

Boy oh boy!  The anticipation has been mounting and I am giddy with excitement.  Tis a day for celebration in musky country.  The first follow of the year, the first strike, and hopefully the first slime in the net.  Does it get any better than this?  Like the rest of you muskie crazed lunatics, I am ready to chuck the big gear.  Here are a few things on my mind as we head into the 2010 season. 

First and foremost, I think about the fish.  Do I have everything ready for a proper release?  I use a huge net that allows me to keep the fish resting in the water.  I never take them out of the water or lay them in the boat.  A long handled pliers helps to unhook them from the water, and a hook cutter is ready in case it is necessary.  I can't stress enough how important your release practice becomes when you start handling several muskies.  Remember, we are in control of this precious resource.  The camera is ready and a couple of quick clicks ensures the fish is back in the water within 15 to 20 seconds - max!  If you aren't willing to have a plan in place, I strongly encourage you to think again before you head out.  It's that important!

Next, do I have all my gear ready?  I will admit that I have some hook sharpening to do, and I strongly encourage you to do the same.  More fish are lost each season by people fishing with dull hooks.  It's to your advantage to sit down and make 'em razor sharp.  If not, you will be one of those guys talking to your buddies about the one that got away.  It's the difference maker.  If your leader has a kink in it - throw it out.  If your line is weathered and old - throw it out.  You are already spending a ton of money on everthing else.  The connection between you and the fish is the most important aspect in all aspects of the battle.  You'll be thankful when that fish is in the net, or heartbroken when your broken down equpment fails.

Like most of you, I have some new equipment to check out.  I'm opting for a few different rods this year and I'm excited to see what a 9 footer can do instead of the short and stubby 8 footers.  Man has this sport evolved.  I can remember using a 6 foot stick and thinking it was the "cats meow."  When will we stop and where?  I hope we continue to raise the bar each year.

Every year I ponder where I will start and what goals I have for myself.  This year is no different and leads to great anticipation for what is ahead.  The beauty of it all is that we simply do not know and will not know until we hit the water.  For opening day, a good rule of thumb would be to try anything and everything.  If you live in memories of last year or the previous seasons, then you may be living in a dream that won't reproduce.  I like to think outside the box and continue to change it up EVERY DAY!  This keeps me ahead of the game so to speak and allows me to find fish that I might have otherwise overlooked.  I fish new waters on opening day of the season, and the last day of the season.  Even with several hundred days on the water each year, my goal is to learn something new every time out.  If I follow this rule of thumb, I believe the numbers of fish in the boat will speak for itself and I will be able to walk away with a successful year on the water.

To dispose an early season muskie myth, I will probably start the season with Pounders or another oversized muskie bait.  Think about it this way.  All of the muskie food in the water is at least 1 year old.  They are use to eating fish from the year before, and this year's spawn isn't even close to being ready for dinner.  My experience has shown a binge period for the muskies after their spawn is complete.  This will likely hold true this season, and I encourage you to think outside the box - go big or go home!

I also have a few rules that I live by on every muskie water and they may help you on your monster quest.  First, you have to be where the muskies are if you want to catch them.  Find their food source, and you'll find them.  This could be in 3 feet water or 30.  As my good friend Bob Turgeon likes to say "They are the top of the food chain, they don't lead the way, they have to follow."  Next, remember that all muskie lures resemble food to a fish.  Become good at using a few baits and worry less about throwing everything in the box.  It's called a confidence bait.  They will only eat when they are ready, and if you have your suff together, you WILL make it happen when the time is right.  It's on their schedule, not yours.  Lastly, focus on the key feeding windows and make sure you are casting over fishy waters when they are ready to eat.  Our pressured fish will only eat for short windows of time, and it is imperative to be fishing them when they turn it on.  It's possible to catch 3 muskies in three casts if you play your cards right.

The figure 8 should be your biggest asset on the water.  When done correctly you can up your catch by over 50%.  Do it every time.  Do it with enthusiasm and do it when you are sick of it.  Swing your rod tip deep in the water and change the vertical and horizontal angles.  Remembe that a 4 foot fish cannot change its direction in the water immediately.  Lead them and force them to chase down your offering.  It's exciting and it works.  Do it with passion and you'll get your muskie on the figure 8.

Finally, I head into the 2010 season with hopes of our sport growing yet again.  I'm proud to call myself a muskie fisherman, and I'm proud to be associated with each one of you.  I don't think there is another group so passionate about the fish they pursue and so proud of every catch.  We really take it to another level.  If it weren't for the dedication and love of "OUR" fish, we wouldn't have the resources at our hands today.  Share it, enjoy it and take care of it.  The sport is in my hands and yours.  To all of you that hit the water for the Minnesota Muskie opener this weekend.  Good luck! And, in the words of our resting muskie godfather, Jack Burns, "Catch a big one, and let it go."  Until next time, keep on livin' the dream!

The Walleye Chomp is ON!

Two weeks into the season and I'm already sick of catching walleyes.  Just kidding.  But, at the rate they have been biting I'm beginning to wonder if I have things figured out, or if they are just eating at a faster than normal pace.  With each strike of the bait I'm thinking that it's the latter.  Last night I was on the water and I almost had my arm ripped off from a hungry walleye.  It was  a strike similar to that of a musky or catfish.  It leads me to wonder if this accelerated spring and warm water temps have the fish on a binge that they cannot sustain. 

The first week of the season proved to be extroardinary on big fish.  The second week continued the same trend, but finally started to yield a few for the frying pan.  The funny part is that we've been having such a fun time catching them that we haven't even taken the time to keep any.  I call it stock for future trips, and that's a good thing. 

Home from a 5 day work trip out of state, I snuck out Sunday evening for a quick evening bite and found the fishing better than when I left.  After what I had been experiencing, I didn't think it could get any better.  On Sunday evening I hooked a fish on my first 15 casts.  Yep, 15.  They weren't all walleyes and a couple got off, but I still battled a fish on more consecutive casts than I can ever remember.  It was surreal.

Yesterday morning I celebrated Memorial Day with a few eager anglers.  George and Tom were my guests, and our mission was to get George his first walleye ever.  Being from the non-walleye rich waters of Tennessee and the fact that he hadn't fished in over 20 years, I took it as a good accomplishment when the 72 year old southerner posed for his first ever walleye picture (above).  We had a blast all morning catching walleye, bass and hungry sheephead.  It was an adventure that I was told got George back into fishing.  In fact, my email this morning read something like this..."George said he is going to the store when he gets home to buy fishing equipment and he plans to start fishing again."  That comment alone makes me smile. 

Last night was more of the same since I couldn't resist the chance to get back out there.  Bails and Mike joined me and we proceeded to catch fish hand over fist.  In our short hour and a half on the water we landed about 35 to 40 fish.  We weren't looking for a meal, rather a tug on the line, and if you catch a fish on almost every other cast, then you don't care if they are bass, walleye or a sheephead. 

The bonus to all of this recent action is that I've been able to continue finding new areas and new walleye hot spots.  My growing list of "sweet spots" gives me an extra sense of satisfaction, the option to release several limits of nice walleyes makes me feel good, and the thought that this might continue for a few days leaves me excited.  To put it in simple fishing terms.  The bite is on.  We are simply blessed to enjoy this great fishing right in our back yard.  Hurry up and get out there before this action slows, or call me if you want to join the fun.  Until next time, keep on livin' the dream!

Opening Week - The Summary

Opening week of the 2010 season has officially come and gone.  As I sit down to write about it, I believe I am going to consider this the best metro start that I have ever had.  Not exactly for the numbers of fish caught, but rather the quality of fish in the net.  At times I would have thought that I was fishing Mille Lacs, Leech or Lake of the Woods.  Certainly not the metro waters.  During the last 5 days out, I have not left my home territory of Lake Minnetonka or Waconia, and yet I find myself with another album full of big walleye pictures.  I think it is safe to say that I am one lucky fishin' dude.

The average walleye in the boat since the start of the season has been about 24 inches.  As I wrote about in the previous couple of journal entries, it has been far more common to see a big walleye than a small one.  The biggest of the season thus far is still just under 8 pounds.  A hefty mark that we have now tickled several times.  In fact, I snuck out last friday for a solo mission and I found a school of "swine," that went in this order.  25, 26, 27 and 25 respectively.  What made it all the more special for me was the fact that I told myself that I was "NOT" going to fish any spot that I have fished before.  I was on a mission to find new territory, and that is just what I did.  I started out cold, but after about 3 hours I finally got dialed in.  Before the day was through I found myself with 10 fish over 22 inches.  To say that I was happy with the results would be a total understatement.  Just ask my fishing buddies.  They are still hearing about it.  I now have even more goodies in my bag of tricks, and that makes me happy. 

As fast as this all started out, I am now left to wonder.  The pattern that has been working for me is in jeopardy of changing, if it hasn't already.  With a water temp that started out at 53 degrees on opening day, we are now hovering over 70.  Last night we plucked 5 dandy eye's, and this morning they had all but dissappeared.  Sadly, my guests were left wondering what could have been.  I'm sure the 90 degree sunshine didn't help matters, but it's all part of the game I guess.  Will this streak of big walleyes start up again?  Will the summer of 2010 be the best walleye season yet?  Who knows.  One thing is for certain.  Musky season is only a couple short weeks away.  Then I'll have to decide if I want to catch 5 lb walleyes or 50 inch muskies?  Hmmm... I think that's an easy choice, and a good problem to have.  As always, you can see more pictures in the walleye photo album.  Until next time, keep on livin' the dream!

Early Morning Success!

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again.  There is nothing better than watching the sun rise over the lake.  Today we did just that, and now I get to write about what we experienced.  I am blessed and life is good!

Longtime fishing friend, Matt Peters, proved me wrong and made it out of bed several hours before I ever thought possible.  I guess the FLW tour does teach a man that the early bird still catches the worm.  He met another fishing fanatic, Tony Groskreutz and myself well before the sun even thought about showing its face.  Our mission was simple.  Hit a few Tonka honey holes early, then head to work.  Hopefully somewhere along the way we would get a good bite or two, then we could have something to think about while we slaved away for 'the man.' 

Our outing was over before we knew it, but we were able to accomplish our goal, and we did it in style.  Matt caught the biggest walleye at about 25 inches, and Tony landed the smallest at rouhgly 12.  They weren't exactly jumping in the boat for us, but it is safe to say that we chose quality over quantity, and we all got in on the action.  I just cannot get over the average size of the walleyes we've been getting on Tonka this year.  It's been a hoot!  I also took a moment to work on my camera skills, and I managed to snap one of my favorite pictures of the 2010 walleye season.  Granted the season is only 4 days old, but I am still very pleased with this photo and I now have a benchmark to try and beat.  I want to thank Matt and Tony for making me get out of bed extra early this morning, and I look forward to many more pre-work outings.  From the shores of Lake Minnetonka, keep on livin' the dream!