DitchPanda

So your saying every person that works for the Minnesota DNR also owns a bait shop? That would explain the laws

So I was watching @TnRiver46 video in the other species thread where he was throwing a cast net and it made me wonder..how many of you take the time to catch your own bait? Lots of options around me and in a typical year ill: trap minnows,chubs and crawfish for crappies and cats, cast net hundreds of shad for me and a few buddies( my primary catfish bait), catch goldeye and suckers also for cut bait for cats and pick dozens of crawlers off the lawn for anything that swims. Also in the past I've caught small bull heads and green sunfish out of a tiny spill way in town to use on a throw line for flatheads. I honestly enjoy the process of catching bait almost as much as the bigger fish I'm after, plus there's a sense of satisfaction that comes with it. Anybody else enjoy bait hunting?

Is that a rock bass in there? Btw I'm one of only like 3 or 4 guys around here that throws a cast net. Not a real popular method in these parts but I grew up on the Texas coast and everybody does it down there for mullet and shrimp...both for bait and to eat. Best part is my cat fishing buddies that resist it are always whining how they had to drive 25 miles and check half a dozen creeks to get enough chubs for catfish bait. I'm like huh thats funny...I drove 3 minutes, threw my net 5 times and had enough shad for 2 days....oh and I caught more cats than you cuz I didn't spend 4 hours getting bait.

In theory I really like the sentiment of this quote and want to agree with it, but I would just be lying to myself. I love the homework portion of fishing: studying water temps, time of year, gear tweaking and organization the night before a trip, but the reality is I like that stuff because often times it leads to the reward of catching more fish than if you weren't prepared. I've also said numerous times that I can grind out a tough bite with the best of them...but that means staying focused, putting your head down and fishing while looking for the subtle clue that leads to a few fish. Without those few fish you aren't grinding it out your just another angler getting skunked. Guess my point is I don't mind working harder than most and really trying to figure it out...but that is not sustainable for me if I can't indeed figure it out. I've made it a goal this year to fish for what's biting. If I push the bass thing as far as I can with nothing to show, instead of continuing to force the issue ill switch to pan fish or catfish just to feel some tugs. Just told a buddy better to catch a pile of bluegill\ crappie or a couple nice cats than stay stubborn and go him disappointed and ticked at yourself.

Well my eyesight has started to get a little iffy as of the last 6 months or so...but I'm being stubborn and haven't done anything about it. What I'm noticing is the typical.squinting at small print. Guess what? I will be 40 in 5 months...seems like a standard age for eyes to start heir decline. Got a buddy at work whose 42 and he's been wearing them for a few years...another buddy is 44 and he commented last time we iced fished that he needs glasses bad. My mom, dad and sister have had glasses most of my life so its just a matter of time.

Agree...I'm not sure what it is about them but I like targeting them. And they are easily one of the best eating freshwater fish.

We got in the 6 inch range down here. 2 hours northwest of me got hammered...one area got 25".

I have used the Berkley half heads almost exclusively the past few years. The keeper is good but I also use super glue.

The perch thing surprises me. They don't exactly fight hard and you don't eat fish.

And this mystery bait is?

I'm just impressed with your choice of reel...thought I was the only one using those old beat up Garcia cardinals.

My biggest this year was right over 6lbs and it came on a 5\16 BOSS finesse flip jig green pumpkin with a zoom super speed craw trailer.

The newest version of Berkley lightning rods are dang nice for $40-$50. For bait cast reels I like the Abu Garcia black max alot...think its called max x now or somethinvg. My buddy got me 3 of them at the Berkley outlet this summer reconditioned for like $14 a piece. They function better than any other $50 baitcaster I've used so 3 for $52 is a steal. For spinning reels the Daiwa revros is a fantastic reel...honestly feels like lot of $100 reels I've touched.

We had a place where my parents live owned by people who moved here from Vietnam that made Pho and homemade chili paste. You put half a teaspoon in the giant bowl of Pho and it gave you a nice flavor but very little heat...one more spoonful and you were considering suicide. I mean I grew up in the south eating Cajun and homemade Mexican food so I like hot...but duuuude this stuff....wow.

Fishing wise I had a better year for size. Around here a 5lb bass is the start for big fish...in 21 I caught 1 fish that was 5.02lbs and it took til November to get it...this year I caught a 5.13, 5.47 and 6.15 and my first one came in early April in 45 ish degree water. Life wise I'm in a better scenario at work- more money less hours and more importantly I'm taking control of my health and for the first time in 15+ years I started working out for overall health but namely my lower back. Both of those have helped mentally, physically and financially.

I wish I had access to something like that around me. The closest open water trout for me are probably 300 miles each way.

I was grillin in my driveway in a T shirt in 37 degree weather. Guys down south would think I was insane, but if we have a nuclear winter we shall see who lasts longer. well now I've gone and done it

I have heard Matt Allen mention the luhr Jensen hot lips multiple times over the years when talking about deep divers

Ahh heck I don't wanna be that guy..the excluder. Come on in buddy.

Your right I didn't specify a time limit. I did however say north country anglers...and since 3\4 of the US is north of you....I'm just sayin

ice out doesn't count if your lakes freeze for a total of 32 hrs a year.

Sometimes the simplest things in life are the hardest ones to do right. I kinda did the same thing this past year...along with taking better care of myself physically I did what you referred to as a hard reset. I worked less hours than I have in almost 10 years and you know what? I made plenty of money and didn't starve. Oh and I fished more than I have in the past 4 or 5 years and in general was just happier overall. Plan to continue those going forward.

The white bass run is something I wish we had. I lived in Illinois for a year as a kid and we fished below a big dam year round. In that year me and my dad caught hundreds and hundreds of white bass. Ah yes I remember this video

So luckily around me I've got several options at ice out: stocked trout within 15 minutes of my house, bluegills and crappies 40 miles north of me, pan fish up at the chain of lakes where my parents live about 1.5hrs away- have a couple boat canals that load up with crappie and bluegill, a water outlet for perch and a small weedy lake that holds yellow bass and perch shallow pretty early and if the river is right water wise I have a few creeks that fill up and hold channel catfish and even a pike or two. For you North country anglers what species do you normally target right after ice out? Sorry to bring this up so early in the winter..I know we have a long road ahead of us.

Agree with this 100%. Doesn't really matter what your catching, pretty hard to enjoy it if you feel like crap.