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Posted
21 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

It’s really hard to make the switch because we’re creatures of habit, but it’s so nice to just grab and go now without live bait. 

I agree with this, in both the hard and soft water fishing realm.  Stopping, buying, and trying to keep live bait fresh and alive simply got old.  I've almost exclusively used artificial lures now for the past decade.

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Posted

Meh....... i personally dont think its all that hard to deal with live bait!!!!!!!

 

dont get me wrong..i use plastics but i also have live bait. i the summer its leeches 99% of the time. i like to think of it as a security blanket!!!!! during hard water, depending on what i'm chasing its minnows or waxies............

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Posted

Part of my issue with live bait is that it generally results in a higher hooking mortality than artificial does, especially in the heat of summer.  95% of what I catch is intended to be released, so in order to maximize that, it helps to avoid using live bait.  I'm not saying you can't accidentally kill a fish with artificial that is deep hooked, because you certainly can.  But as a general rule, they are more often hooked in the mouth with artificial.

 

The cost is also ridiculous for some live bait too.  Crappie minnows and waxies aren't bad, but when you start talking shiners, jumbo leeches, and decoy suckers...it gets out of hand quickly.  The last time I bought a big decoy sucker for muskie fishing years ago, they were $14 each.  15 bucks for a dozen shiners and half of them are dead by the time you get to the lake?  Take my left arm too why don't ya.

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Posted
45 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

The cost is also ridiculous for some live bait too.  Crappie minnows and waxies aren't bad, but when you start talking shiners, jumbo leeches, and decoy suckers...it gets out of hand quickly.  The last time I bought a big decoy sucker for muskie fishing years ago, they were $14 each.  15 bucks for a dozen shiners and half of them are dead by the time you get to the lake?  Take my left arm too why don't ya.


I rarely buy live bait in the summer also, with the exception of leeches.  But all of it needs to be kept cool and oxygenated so the bait coolers do prove their value.

 

You might want to shop around for bait prices though.  Maybe out of the 7 county metro you could call ahead.  I found decoy suckers for $3 each over the winter.

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Posted

I got this photo yesterday I don’t know know why the dates are screwed up. 

F40F02A4-D102-43AD-ACF0-BD460123E869.jpeg

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Posted

Just bought my spring turkey license the other day.  Season C it is this year.

 

Figured with the colder temps and abundant snow pack, it might be a while before "spring" is in full swing.  I normally hunt season B.  I really have no interest in hunting in the snow.

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Posted
37 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Just bought my spring turkey license the other day.  Season C it is this year.

 

Figured with the colder temps and abundant snow pack, it might be a while before "spring" is in full swing.  I normally hunt season B.  I really have no interest in hunting in the snow.

That's might be a good strategy. Just can't see the snow gone in the northen area I'm thinking of hunting the first or second season. 

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Posted
2 hours ago, leech~~ said:

That's might be a good strategy. Just can't see the snow gone in the northen area I'm thinking of hunting the first or second season. 

mayhaps Wanderer would let you use his glider rocker..........at least you'd be comfortable!!!!!!🤣🤪

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Posted
3 hours ago, smurfy said:

mayhaps Wanderer would let you use his glider rocker..........at least you'd be comfortable!!!!!!🤣🤪

Sure, that would be nice. 🤗     Probably better then that tree I was leaning against last spring with a knot in my back!  <_<

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Posted
8 hours ago, smurfy said:

mayhaps Wanderer would let you use his glider rocker..........at least you'd be comfortable!!!!!!🤣🤪

You know that it glides???

 

Did you sit in it?  WTH?

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Posted
5 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

You know that it glides???

 

Did you sit in it?  WTH?

dang..i let that slip out!!!!!!!😣🤣

Posted (edited)
22 hours ago, leech~~ said:

That's might be a good strategy. Just can't see the snow gone in the northen area I'm thinking of hunting the first or second season. 

I'm not saying you can't fill your tag with snow on the ground, just to be clear.  You can.  I just prefer to hunt them in "spring-like" conditions instead of "winter-like" conditions.  The snow inhibits my ability to sneak into the blind like a ninja too.  Its crunchy and makes a lot of noise when its in this thawing and freezing cycle.

Edited by gimruis
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Posted
1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I'm not saying you can't fill your tag with snow on the ground, just to be clear.  You can.  I just prefer to hunt them in "spring-like" conditions instead of "winter-like" conditions.  The snow inhibits my ability to sneak into the blind like a ninja too.  Its crunchy and makes a lot of noise when its in this thawing and freezing cycle.

i wanna see a picture of you in your ninja outfit and sword!!!!!!!!🤪🤣

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Posted
2 hours ago, gimruis said:

I'm not saying you can't fill your tag with snow on the ground, just to be clear.  You can.  I just prefer to hunt them in "spring-like" conditions instead of "winter-like" conditions.  The snow inhibits my ability to sneak into the blind like a ninja too.  Its crunchy and makes a lot of noise when its in this thawing and freezing cycle.

I'm sure when it's time to mate, it's time to mate.  But, who wants to have their cloaque hanging out when it's cold!  :unsure:  :grin:

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Posted

Spent the day on the lake with my dad and Riverrat316. We had a blast catching gills, crappies, perch, bass, and pike. We were fishing for gills and crappies. 8-13 feet was the ticket for us. 

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Posted

moose...what are the conditions on top of the ice.???  lot of slop up in the northern part of the state from the reports i'm getting!!!!!

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Posted

There was a good crust not much slop. Where the plowed road was its slushy and full of water. 

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Posted (edited)

I think it should be all froze up after tonight it said -2 this morning on the truck.

Edited by monstermoose78
Posted
4 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

Added another decoy to my collection I believe its a long tail duck decoy. You tell me?0AFD7A85-F083-47B2-8D9A-A4332B9CEAB4.thumb.jpeg.e123b03b3b87a66e280c3a2ce5f6bfb4.jpeg


I agree!

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Posted

Well I busted through near shore knee deep and twisted my knee. The fishing was good in the 6-10 range. I am done unless I head up north. I am doing ok but that water is cold. I did not take many photos as I was trying to get some fish for one last fish fry.

57A40DC4-4169-4BCC-9A13-A92BFF0E31AB.jpeg

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Posted

Glad you didn’t get hurt worse!

 

Its getting to be Turkey time now anyway.

E97A1947-B732-4416-B6A5-7FD6F4C53207.thumb.jpeg.cb668fd065380b997f8e4d7a7e65beda.jpeg

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Posted
57 minutes ago, Wanderer said:

Glad you didn’t get hurt worse!

 

Its getting to be Turkey time now anyway.

E97A1947-B732-4416-B6A5-7FD6F4C53207.thumb.jpeg.cb668fd065380b997f8e4d7a7e65beda.jpeg

Can I shoot, shoot one of them!  :grin:

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Posted
14 hours ago, monstermoose78 said:

Well I busted through near shore knee deep and twisted my knee. The fishing was good in the 6-10 range. I am done unless I head up north. I am doing ok but that water is cold. I did not take many photos as I was trying to get some fish for one last fish fry.

57A40DC4-4169-4BCC-9A13-A92BFF0E31AB.jpeg

50F07E88-4E8B-4143-8911-D9A8A785572A.jpeg

Early and late ice is a good time to use your head, oop Spud!  :P

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Posted
6 hours ago, leech~~ said:

Early and late ice is a good time to use your head, oop Spud!  :P

Well I am not good at using my head 

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Posted

I don't consider the season to be done until I fall through at least once😁. Well done Moose🥶

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Posted
On 4/9/2023 at 8:56 AM, leech~~ said:

Can I shoot, shoot one of them!  :grin:

They changed their pattern today.  I set my blind yesterday just cuz but figured things would change by Wednesday and they did.

 

I’m gonna actually have to hunt them now if I want one!

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Posted

all the creeks and cty ditches are running full here too.....  thawed to fast....  

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