Macsimus

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Wishing you a speedy recovery QB!

Props to both of you for hanging in there for a tough day. 37 is a bit nippy even for this tundra dweller. Even so, I'm still jealous. Great read, as always.

If only you would've asked me beforehand. You should've hit Woolly. Caught the heck out of them in there a couple of years ago. Seriously, what is it about making a bait change, getting a bite within the first or second cast and then nothing?? I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me. I believe they're decoy fish. They are chosen by their peers to divert us from the true pattern for the day.

Love to see kids catching fish!!

Hey Daryk. I hope you were able to get out and wet a line this year! Had another wonderful season up here this year fishing derbies with my son and grandson. Managed to win a FOM Legacy tournament with the latter which is always a thrill. If you ever have reason to be in MN, you have a standing invitation for a day on the water.

March 1st, Lord willing. Just about to enter the hibernation period here. There is nothing like 3 months of winter confinement to make one fully appreciate the Rock and her charms. Hope you guys have a great winter!

Great picture!

Met him at the 2013 Classic in Tulsa. The man just exudes class.

Joe Balog's take on the subject: http://www.bassfan.com/opinion_article.asp?ID=1406#.WAinMRlOlAg

You just need to join us farther north for a longer healing period.

100% dead center, sir. The only good thing about the forced winter layover is that it gives my abused joints time to heal in prep for next year's campaign (and remain married I suppose). Quill, congrats on another great day on the water!

Vernon, this is the one I have on my boat and I really like it because it is adequate for getting back in the boat and not a "mish mash of hardware" as you so aptly described most of them. It's called the E-Ladder and it bolts to either the jack plate or motor. The red dot towards the bottom is a spring-loaded pin that when pulled allows the ladder to drop down about a foot. Some upper body strength is still required of course as you have to grab onto something on the transom to help hoist yourself in. The comment made that this should be practiced is a great one! Getting out with just a bathing suit on is one thing, but, getting out fully clothed with a rain suit or other heavy clothing on is quite another. Falling into the water fully dressed brings on a sense of panic as it's very difficult to move in the water and the wet clothes add a lot of weight when trying to get out of it. I saw a guy fall out of a boat during an early spring trip to Sturgeon Bay (water temps in the 50s). The boat was still tied to the dock which was a good thing as it took 2 guys to haul him in.

Very happy to hear that you are on the rebound, Bill. Wishing you a quick recovery.

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+1 on the excellent customer service from UFP. Dennis, "DABS" who moderates the BBC Trailers and Towing forum and is a UFP warranty and customer service supervisor, is a tremendous help as well. As a card carrying member of the mechanically challenged, I sure appreciate the kind of assistance available from folks like him.

Go Golden Gophers!

Dang it all. Not gonna make this one.

+1. Thanks for the good laugh and excellent detective work. Perhaps Jolicious could do a fishing detective show in which he figures out the unidentified lakes of all the other fishing shows. Linders were famous for this.

Dang fine product! Gitch ya some.

Amen. 40,000 acres, 365 islands, shallow weedy bays, rock reefs, crib docks, muskies, northerns, LM, SM, and Crappie. What else?Oh yeah, almost forgot Waldos.

Have a great trip! Beautiful lake and great multi-species fishery.

Thanks everyone. I was on Pool 2 which is anything but a wilderness experience. Numerous refineries, water treatment facilities, and barges give it that nice industrial feel. But, it's the closest fishery open for gamefish until the 2nd weekend in May (it's open year-round). It's been C & R for many years and it's been amazing to watch the fishery develop after the Twin Cities stopped treating it like a toilet. You still couldn't convince me to eat anything out of there. The Miss River below Lake City is beautiful as Lake Pepin acts like a settling pond and the water clears considerably downstream of it. As you noted, Champ, it's a great fishery. Navigation is tricky with the wing dams and closing dams but there are map chips to help with that. It's a different world from fishing natural lakes and I really enjoy it.

Sounds like a great morning on the water. You must've left BV in the middle of the night to launch by 5:30!

I'm forced to admit that it really fought and was a blast to catch. I think the river dwellers are more muscular than their lake cousins.