There are several reasons anglers don’t have a travel rod for larger lures and full-sized fish tucked away in their vehicle. For one, most are cumbersome and don’t balance well unless paired with a bulky reel. And then there’s the cost of dedicating gear to the sole application of heavyweight combat. The engineers at St. Croix considered such challenges when creating two new models for the popular, affordable Triumph series of rods. One spinning and one casting; both medium-heavy-power rods excel when it comes to handling heavier line, larger baits and fighting and landing big fish. And all at a price that won’t shrink your wallet. “The best thing about these new Triumph travel rods is that they’re built on four-piece blanks that feel like you’re fishing with a one-piece rod; both when ... [ Read More ]
2015 MN DNR: Changes, New Regulations, More Opportunities For Anglers
Changes to the 2015 MN DNR regulations will provide more fishing opportunities – and in some cases bigger fish – for anglers who want to fish for bass, sturgeon, muskellunge, catfish and trout. Changes include: Bass: New catch-and-release bass season is Saturday, May 9, until harvest season opens Saturday, May 23, in all but northeast Minnesota. In northeast (essentially north and east of U.S. Highway 53), no change in spring but fall closure is lifted, allowing smallmouth bass harvest in northeast through Feb. 28, 2016. Sturgeon: New catch-and-release season for lake sturgeon is Tuesday, June 16, until April 14, 2016 on inland waters and Minnesota waters bordering North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. No fishing for lake sturgeon each year April 15 to June 15, to protect sturgeon ... [ Read More ]
Minnesota’s moose population remains at low levels
The DNR has conducted aerial moose population surveys in northeastern Minnesota since 1960. A spotter counts moose as a pilot flies a helicopter across 52 randomly selected plots of 13 square miles. “Survey conditions this year were generally good across moose range, although there was much less snow compared to last year,” said Cornicelli. Data from the aerial Minnesota moose survey just completed indicate that the downward trend in the statewide moose population continues, even though there has been no statistical change in the population during the past few years. Results of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ annual aerial moose survey place the 2015 statewide moose population estimate at 3,450. This compares with estimates of 4,350 in 2014 and 2,760 in ... [ Read More ]
The Perfect Tackle Bags For Combat Fishing
It’s in honor of the service men and women around the world that Plano has designed a new line of military-themed tackle bags - tough-as-armor 3700 and 3600 Military Bags. Constructed with a durable canvas that’s reminiscent of an army rucksack, these fully armed soft bags include two 3700- or 3600-size StowAway® Utility Boxes and feature four external zippered pockets, as well as an adjustable shoulder strap. Word has it that in the days following the Iraq war, U.S. military members relieved stress by wetting a line in the private lakes of none other than Saddam Hussein. Not surprisingly short on tackle, these brave angling soldiers fashioned their own hooks, whittled lures and scavenged odd forms of livebait from the Iraqi desert. Some interesting fish were caught and, for a few ... [ Read More ]
New special Minnesota fishing regulations
Angling regulations will change on nearly three dozen waters this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Among the changes: Anglers will see more restrictive walleye regulations in and around Saganaga Lake in Cook County. Lake Winnibigoshish will have a relaxed, or narrower, protected slot limit for walleye. And northern pike special regulations will be removed on Big Birch Lake in Todd County. Changed and new special and experimental regulations will be posted at public accesses on affected lakes and become effective March 1, except for those involving Sand Lake in Itasca County and connected waters, which will be effective in 2016. New regulations Saganaga, Sea Gull, and Gull lakes (Cook County) and connected waters – Walleye will have a 17-inch ... [ Read More ]
Fishing Differences between MN and CO
As the open water fishing season comes to a close and winter rears its ugly head, I can’t help but reflect on my last few fishing seasons. It’s been 5 months since my return to Minnesota and the 2 years before that I was living in Colorado. A lot of people have asked me how the fishing changes from state to state so I thought I would take some time and share my answer to that question. There are many things that contribute to my love of fishing but one that really stands out to me is the diversity of the sport. I knew that moving to Colorado meant my fishing style would change and that excited me! I love fishing in new landscapes, chasing new species, and practicing new fishing techniques. Some of the differences that come to mind when comparing my fishing adventures in Minnesota to ... [ Read More ]
A Company for the Angler, Big Jon Sports
Most anglers and boaters are often bombarded with the latest and greatest in technology to improve the way we fish and target the species we fish for. This can be quite overwhelming and can often lead to confusion of what is best for the way we fish. Every type of fishing has its own specialized techniques, gear, and presentations that make it unique. These can be overwhelming to those that are just starting out and can often lead to the angler making snap decisions and purchases that they often regret. Over the years I have gone through fad after fad in the fishing world and have also utilized equipment from a large variety of suppliers. One thing that I have found is that many of these companies are producing equipment to catch the fisherman and not always to catch the fish. This ... [ Read More ]
frabill cooler conversion kit BE YOUR OWN BAIT LANDLORD
Plano, IL (March 26, 2014) – To save a lot of cash you sometimes have to spend a little. Take minnows, for example; they’re always for sale but never on sale, so when you buy them in bulk you want every single one to live long and prosper. Putting the bag of bait in the cooler will protect the investment for awhile, but soon, it’ll be a chilled morgue of minnows. So what if the cooler itself could be repurposed as a breathing bait station? Combine Frabill’s new 1437 Aqua-Life , frabill cooler conversion kit with that big ol’ beverage cooler that’s been gathering dust in the corner of the shed and you’ve got a baitfish condo that keeps ‘em alive a long, long time. And then there’s grandpa’s old hand-me-down boat you’ve been fishing from and killing bait in for decades. Again, ... [ Read More ]
A Late Ice Get-to-Gether
We had another successful GTG in south central MN on Saturday! Those that got there early and fished the morning bite did pretty well. We all got to gether around noon for some brats and hotdogs and had a little social gathering around a campfire. While the brats were cooking up, McGurk caught a nice 2 lb bass thinking it was just a sunfish til his rod doubled over! Everyone shared fishing storys and shared what was working for the day, while the kids that attended started to build an igloo on the ice! Some continued to fish after eating. Around 2 we all grouped off to catch an evening bite, with the last 2 hours of daylight being a finominal bite, catching one after another til dark. Everyone had a great time and got to put some faces to the ... [ Read More ]
spring Walleye fishing tips
As spring makes it’s slow but inevitable advance the ice slowly but surely melts then shrinks away. At about this time fishermen anxiously prepare to hit open water. Spring fishing can be the best time of year or the most frustrating if you are not prepared for it. In this article I am going to tell you some spring walleye fishing tips, for some more good tips in general read the walleye ice fishing tips by Jason Mitchell Even the most experienced fishermen never leave their home unprepared and without some game plan in their heads. Assuming that you know how to gear up here are few proven walleye fishing tips to stack the odds in your favor and make your open water experience one to remember. The tips here come from the real-life experience of fishing veterans who have honed their ... [ Read More ]