The Windy Midwest

When I was a kid I could always remember cool wet springs, hot calm summers, warm falls that slowly turn into cold, cold winters with a lot of snow. Never was there a green Christmas to talk about or how nice the 40 degree winter day was. Now it seems like abnormal temps and high winds are the norm. This winter of course a green Christmas it was not a lot of snow to even make me nervous on a drive. Ice is in high demand because there is not much to find on local lakes. A trip up north is in order to find any bit of ice to drive on with a truck. That’s what led us to the Big Pond for a weekend with Perch and Walleyes on our minds. What we didn’t expect to find was a great wind blowing across the lake. That’s what we found. We made the journey up on Friday night and were eager to hear what the reports were. Last time we were up we found lots of fish more than willing to bite. This time was a little different. ...

New Year’s in Northern Minnesota – by Chris Barlage

With surviving Christmas and all the mess cleaned up the New Year approaches. Sitting in my chair and knowing the weekend is approaching I turn to my wife and ask what the plans are for the weekend were. I nearly fell out of the chair when I heard the answer. “I though you would be gone fishing”. “Yes I will be” I answered with a great big smile on my face. That very second I was on the phone calling the boys telling them I had a free pass for the weekend and it would be a 3 day since we were off on Monday from work. Everyone was in and so it was at 5:00pm on Friday we were all northern bound. Arriving a little late it was time to brain storm. What would the game plan for the morning be? We wanted to hit big water, but soon we would see our spot would not be fishable. It was time to rethink. With Walleyes and Perch on our brain we would find a spot. To bed we went only to wake and realize that we had over ...

Big Water Panfish – by Bob Bohland

It should come as no surprise that most trophy panfish come from bigger waters. They have more forage, more habitat, and just more room for numbers of panfish to grow larger. Yet, many anglers only fish panfish on small to medium sized waters. Whether it is not realizing that there are fishable populations of good sized panfish in the bigger lakes, or whether it is just being hesitant about trying to find them amidst thousands of acres of water, they are missing out on some of the best trophy panfishing available. But with a little hard work, and a couple of tricks up your sleeve you can have all the panfish to yourself on big bodies of water. While most anglers on smaller waters tend to go right towards weedy shorelines or bays, there can often be too much of this type of structure in a large lake for an angler to efficiently dissect. Many savvy big-water panfisherman don’t bother with near-shore structure. They know that it is easier to dissect the off-shore structure in a lake, leaving them less area they have to search. There are two different types of off-shore structure that produce good-sized panfish: Mud depressions, also known ...

First Ice in Northern Minnesota – By Chris Barlage

With some cold weather and reports of people fishing north of Mille Lacs there is only one thing for an ice fisherman to do. Get a few days off of work and get the guys together and hit the ice. So that was our plans. After work on Wednesday we loaded up the trucks and we were northern bound. We hit the hotel early evening and asked about ice in the area. Our plan A lake was told to be wide open earlier in the week. After hearing that we soon came up with a plan B just in case we found open water in our first spot. So feeling a little disappointed to bed we went. Just after sunup we set out to the lake to see if there would be fishable ice. Sure enough there we saw our bay froze over. So paring up into twos and ice picks in hand we walked the shore until we found the point that we wanted to go out from. Drilling many holes along the way to check the ice we found a nice clear 6 inches. So we drilled the ...

Backyard Ice Fishing… Metro Area Lakes – by Matt Johnson

When thinking about the Metro Area, MN, we oftentimes assume that we’re dealing with small fish and pressured lakes. While both assumptions can (at times) be true, you’re only cheating yourself by pushing the Metro lakes aside. Not only do our Metro lakes hold quality fish, but at times they will hold high numbers of these quality fish. The trick to uncovering these gems comes with some effort, but with vast rewards and short trips you will see that fishing in your backyard is more than worth it. The most important key to fishing Metro lakes is being adventurous. To put it simple: don’t fish where the crowds are. We are too quick to join the shanty town when we should be out searching for our own fish. So many times have I found quality fish in lakes where others complain about the fishing pressure. How does this happen? Well, let’s just say it involves a few tanks of auger gas and sore legs, but when you get a glimpse at the pot of gold you forget about the pain. The pot of gold in this story means giant panfish and trophy walleye… and yes, right in your backyard. I’m a firm ...

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Iowa Fishing Reports
DES MOINES IA - The weekly Iowa fishing reports 1/26/12 is gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. NORTHWEST IOWA FISHING REPORTS Yellow Smoke Park Lake The ice is reported to be 5 to 7 inches thick from the handicapped fishing dock on west. Anglers s
DNR Program Pays Landowners of 40 Acres or More
MANKATO MN - Landowners in 21 southwestern Minnesota counties can earn money by allowing public hunting on their private land through the Walk-In Access (WIA) program, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). WIA, which is entering its second year as a pilot program, target
Wolf Hunting Season Proposed
ST PAUL MN - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing an inaugural gray wolf hunting and trapping season this fall that calls for a conservative harvest quota of 400 animals. Wolf research indicates Minnesota's wolf population could sustain a higher quota, but DNR officials
Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey Sets Record
BISMARCK ND - The annual mid-winter bald eagle survey conducted Jan. 13 along the Missouri River stretching from Bismarck to the Garrison Dam showed a record number of bald eagles, according to Patrick T. Isakson, conservation biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. A total of 108
Teen Angler Catches New State-Record Walleye
ROCKFORD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Fisheries salutes 15 year old Nick Tassoni of Rockford for catching a new state-record walleye. The fish was caught on Jan. 7, 2012 on the Pecatonica River between Rockton and Harrison in Winnebago County. Nick Tasson

In Depth Ice Fishing

randall spear?
hi i got a randall spear 7 tine. it has a rope in the end of it it is broke off how do i get the rope inside. the handle looks like it comes off on the head of the tines. does it twist off not sure any help would be great.
dealer and dork fish
I got my gear on and heading out the door for pic's and had company show up and it got dark so I didn't get any pic's :( It will be better tomorrow I will have a model with for the pic's :whistle:
Can it be changed??
Looking at a boat motor that is a a short shaft but my boat motor now is a long shaft can I do anything to make the other motor work? I t will only be used for trolling and point A to point B nothing extreme the motor I am looking at is a 2003 Honda 20 horse
Merc Smartcraft Gauges
I have twin 225's on my fishing boat with the smartcraft gauges,2001 models, they have worked flawlessly since new. I use the troll control every time I fish as I downrigger fish with this boat. I don't know the cost is to add them. I found it odd that hardly any optimax's, (or Yamaha's with their v
Don Starkell Dies
i would of loved to know this man. guess i'll have to know him through his books and do some research. thanks for the good read and putting me on to this story. Rest in peace Don. good luck.

In Depth Hunting

Why keep baiting illegal for deer? Read this article!
Gordie I agree that the business of deer hunting has shifted from that of deer are a game animal(food) to deer are trophies. It seems the focus on deer hunting is all about size of horns now, and to many little else matters. Bear I don't baiting to happen on public land, but don't have a proble
aging venison
That was my first thought now its this :D [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FnpaWQJO0[/video]
Jewel ready to give birth in den
Jonny, I see your trolling again. Maybe you need a job or something constructive to do. Not from me, I am sick of your childish little baby games. By the way Jonny, when are you going to post your exciting hamster videos? Or haven't you figured out how to breed one?
2012 HSO.com Forum Members Turkey Quest Sign Up Thread
DanOmite Adult Eastern
Spring snow goose hunt
I personally despise outfitters and guides, they are and will be the demise of the freelance hunter, leasing land, ect. My advise save your money for a couple years slowly buy a spread, all the gear and put the time and efort in your self, much more rewarding and you won't be contributing to the de

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The Windy Midwest

New Year’s in Northern Minnesota – by Chris Barlage

Big Water Panfish – by Bob Bohland

First Ice in Northern Minnesota – By Chris Barlage

Backyard Ice Fishing… Metro Area Lakes – by Matt Johnson

Ice Fishing – At The Leading Edge!

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