Existing members reintroduce yourself

[Outdoors Junkie]

How about a little roll call here at MNO?  

Let's see who is currently visiting this cool outdoors site these days.  

Tell us who you are, the story behind your username, and where are you from and anything else you want to share!

[MTCOMMER]

 

Oh sure, Ill start it out! 
Well, I am Matt, most of you all know - frequent the site alot and have been a Mod for about 6 months now (I think).  I am from the Metro, but was down in Winona over the last 4 years for school so I got to enjoy some great Mississippi River fishing.  I do alot of fishing, mostly for panfish and walleyes both in the summer and on the ice, but I will go out and fish for Pike and Bass if I want a good fight.
As for hunting, if you are all itching to know, I do mostly deer hunting and turkey hunting, but also do some pheasants and ducks if I can get the time.  I have been blessed to be able to harvest 2 big bucks the last 2 years, one is currently on the wall and the other will be up in a few months.
I definitely enjoy MNO (the website - but Tim is alright too  ) and I look forward to a Metro Ice fishing get together this winter to put some more faces to these names, oh, and the 2011 Fishing Challenge, so I can redeem myself after coming up short this year!  :fishing2:

 

[Outdoors Junkie]

I guess I will go next since we have a lot of lookers and not a lot of posters.   

My name is Dennis, I grew up in Isanti.  Like MTCommer, I went to college in Winona (back in the 90's).  After getting married I lived in Owatonna for 8 years.  My job gave me the opportunity to move to the Black Hills of SD.  I love it here, but I still make it back to MN to hunt and fish.  My family owns a couple cabins in Waskish (URL).  I deer hunt and fish up there every year.

I love spending time in the outdoors (hence my user name Outdoors Junkie).

My two boys have started hunting and it is awesome making memories with them. 

[Cody Gruchow]

Im cody, i live in chanhassen but was born and raised for most of my life in Menagha MN. still have lots of family up there still and hunt and fish up there as much as i can. i enjoy everything about the outdoors. deer hunting is my absolute passion, nothing better than going one on one with north americas most beautiful big game animal. i fish alot during the summer all over the state, northerns are my fish of choice, no better fighting fish in my opinion.

[FireRanger]

I guess I'll chime in next. My name is Chris and I am a Canadian (Thunder Bay, ONT) that has immigrated here in 2002 too marry my wonderful wife . I was employed up north by the Ministry of Natural Resources as an Initial Attack Forest Fire Ranger and spent 8 years sometimes going where no man has gone before. I miss this and think about it everyday. I grew up catching walleye, northern and lake trout and hunting for deer, moose, grouse and ducks. I try to spend as much time as possible getting away from it all with my family be it fishing, hunting or whatever as long as it's outdoors. My two little girls have been introduced to everything I can safely do with them to this point. I'm hoping at least one will be my little outdoors buddy, if not, I got a lot of others too play second fiddle to them! Right Red! I love duck hunting and am going to attempt getting back into troutin' through the ice this winter. I live in Zimmerman, which is about as far away from the cities my wife would let us move. I do miss the 'big backyard' I had in Canada, but can't see myself leaving to go back after all the friends and relatives I've made here  . Anywho...that's about it for now.
 Just too let you guys know...my wife thinks I'm addicted to this forum..oh well .

[JECAMERON]

My name is John. I grew up in Anoka, MN and moved to Zimmerman just over a year ago.
I was a member here for some time about 2 years ago under the alias JCAMERON. I was even made a board specific moderator but went on a little hiatus while going through a divorce. After a long summer of camping/ hiking/ fishing adventures with my boys I decided to come back here. I couldn't remember the password for my old account so I created JECAMERON.
Since I've been raising my boys single-handedly I had to narrow my outdoor hobbies down to a more feasible few. I hunt deer, mostly bow but I haven't sold my rifles so I haven't given up on that. I haven't pheasant or waterfowl hunted for over a year but I still consider it a passion of mine and plan to do so when it becomes more of a possibility. I didn't make it out on the ice last year but plan to take my older boy this winter. My boys and I camp ALOT during the summer. I always get a lot of strange looks from folks after telling the tales of our camping adventures because my boys are so young and we usually went just the three of us. But we always had a blast and I'd like to think I've gotten the spirit of the wild instilled in them already.

[Go Big Red!]

Here it goes:

Name is Dirk and was born and raised in the great state of Wisconsin.  Moved to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2000 after I graduated from UW-STOUT.  From there, I was hired to teach in a NW metro school district and still am.  Moved to Zimmerman where I met FireRanger; cannot ask for a better friend than he to say the least.  Moved again to Otsego where my lovely wife of almost 6 years and our 2 kids reside.  I hunt more now than I fish yet my kids want to fish so I'm caught in between.  I am addicted to duck hunting and deer hunting; my wife prefers me to be gone during hnting seasons.  She claims I am easier to deal with.   Anyways, FireRanger and I chases ducks together and the occasion beer. 

And my wife refers to my involvement with MNO as "Talking to my boyfriends".  She'll never understand.....

[whiteoakbuck]

Hi my name is Joe i grew up in Wyoming, MN and just moved up to North Branch, MN 2 years ago i spend most of my time bowhunting and bass fishing or running trail cams year round trying to learn more about the whitetailed deer and there habitat i still do a lot of my hunting in Wyoming, MN and Chisago City my user name was picked because the biggest buck i ever saw in my life was always bedded under a whiteoak tree and when im not on the water or in the stand im here on MNO there's tons of great people on here and tons more INFO from other hunters so i am glad to be a part of this site thanks to all who keep the site up and going for us to use and good luck in the woods and on the water 

[Bobby Bass]

HIYA, my name is Bobby Bass and I guess I am becoming one of the old guys around here. From time to time I will post but mostly I write stories. I am semi retired and live in northern Minnesota. I am lucky enough to work when I want to which means If there is a good day to go fishing I do and there are not to many days when fishing is bad. I write about a lake called Iwanttobethere and MNO has let me post for the past three years about it here. I also this last year got back into making fishing videos and those to can be found here. I am a Grand Pa with four grand kids who always seem to be getting in trouble and I usually find myself alongside them doing it.

As the handle says I have a fondness for chasing bass but don't mind catching northerns. Still walk trails for Grouse but find myself spending more time looking at things to photograph or video.  Winter is to long so you will hear a lot from me pushing for summer to come as soon as it can.. I to can not say enough about the guys on this board and have made a friend out of Hunterdown, hehehe I even got him fishing for bass!

[beeker]

Hello.. I'm Wayne but in these parts I answer to beeker, old nickname.  I'm in the north branch area and have a plot of land in mcgrath area where I work on trails and foodplots. I tend to dable in just about anything in the great outdoors. rifle deer hunt.. gave up bow hunting a few years back, just didn't have the time. love to pheasant hunt SD and chase grouse around when I can. I also like shooting sporting clays/trap/skeet.. I've been out west a few times just to get something new in the crosshairs.

[The General]

Hi, my name is Derrick.  I can't believe they let me be a Moderator  .  I enjoy coming on here and helping out with what I can.  I hunt and fish everything.  My main passion is Pheasant hunting and Walleye fishing.  In the Winter I mainly fish Crappies.  I've been lucky enough to actually meet a few good people in person around here and hopefully they have turn into some life long friends.  I've lived in West Central MN all my life.  I usually make 4 or 5 trips a year out of state to hunt and fish over in SD.  For 8 or so years I made an annual trip to Canada to hunt Ducks and Geese, but haven't done that for the last 2 years.  I'm always willing to help someone out around here so let me know if you need it.

[22lex]

Name is Alex, or 22lex. I am an all-around outdoorsman that will try any type of outdoors activity at least once. I mainly hunt/fish, but with the 2.5 year at home I have geared up to be more of a fisherman for a few years to get my little boy into it and the outdoors.

I grew up for a few years in MN, then about 9 in Montana, and the remainder in our great state of 10,000 lakes. I was fortunate to have both grandparents "up north" cabin people and that is where I really got hooked on outdoor activities. I have been a member on MNO for a few years now, took a little hiatus over the spring/summer of this last year and now back on track helping, and gaining knowledge from the individuals that frequent the site and contribute.

[HD]

Well, here it goes....

I'm Hunterdown (Hunter, HD); I have been a member of this site for a few years. It started with visits to the Rushpoint store web site for fishing reports (they had a link to this web site)

I am an outdoorsman, to the extreme (or so, my wife says) during the summer and winter, I fish for pike (like a mad dog) till season closes, then on to pan fish. Spring and fall, it’s turkey hunting and food plots. When it's hunting season....I hunt! Geese, ducks, bear, deer, grouse, squirrels, rabbits, and pheasants....whatever....if it creeps, crawls or swims...I pursue it. I am also involved in teaching kids about the outdoors so the next generation can see what it has to offer. There is nothing like being in the stand, early morning on a fall day and seeing the smile on a kids face being able to harvest that first deer. I like bow hunting, out of all the hunting, the most. Because of the solitude it brings me with the length of time I can spend in the woods. 

I have written a few short stories and articles for the web site (of which, I wish I had more time to do) so, don’t be surprised if you see one now and then.

I would also have to say, that I have had the privilege to meet several of our members on this site. And I have made some very great friends along the way. And yes, I have on occasion, caught a bass or two....by mistake.... 

I have gone fishing with Bobby Bass, The General, Ddsbyday, Fawkinnae, Sandmann, Wildlifeminnesota, Woody, BiggA, JCameron, Kenhuntin, Mayfly, Icebanger, GG, Randy, Don Stenseth, John Wester (and so many others) My son and I went on a fun shoot with Thunderpout, Cody, Fireranger, Go Big Red, Deadeye and Beeker… I’ve met JimmyC and Bigslick….and the list goes on…. (If I missed anybody, I’m sorry)  Oh, and, I can’t forget one that I wish I could go fishing with…Lee

All of which, I am proud to call friends!

I appreciate what MNO has done for me in the way of feeding my outdoors addiction. And, in letting me help out with the web site. I find it rewarding to be able to help others share in the great outdoors.

Hunter

[Stensethfan]

First off it is very cool to read about all the backgrounds of many of the people I look to for entertainment and tips/knowledge on MNO!  My wife also has accused me of being addicted to MNO and I like that fact...it is fun here!

My name is Luke, A.K.A. Stensethfan.  I learned of this website through my Uncle Don Stenseth and have always thought of him as a second father.  Not to mention he was very particular with his photography skills that many of you, I am sure, have seen on this site.  Hence the name.  He also taught me everything about the hunting woods and whitetails that I know today.  Unfortunately we lost him two Augusts ago.  It has just been recently that I have started hanging out and posting on MNO again after his death and I am glad to be back!  Uncle Don met many of you out at the Peltier gathering a few years back and spoke very highly of all which makes me antsy to meet up with anyone and everyone this winter if there is an Ice fishing gathering!  

I grew up in Cedar, MN and did not catch the hunting bug until I was almost done with college.  I had always fished with my dad, but just never was able to find that person who had a spot in deer camp or land to bring me along hunting.  Because of that I am 100% whitetail driven these days and would hunt everday between opener of bow season and the close of bow season whether it with a bw or some sort of firearm.  Unfortunately that is not possible with my 1.5 year old boy and wife at home.  I need to be a dad also so i am trying to balance that these days.

That pretty much ums it up for meand I look forward to meeting the members f MNO and maybe even sharing a boat, deer woods or cold onein the near future with some of you.  I look forward to reading more members bios on here!

[Fawkinnae]

Hola Amigos - just working on my Spanish a bit.

Oh yeah, I am Doug Benson aka Fawkinnae - (coincidentally I have a little t-shirt business with the same name - what are the odds?)

I am primarily an open water fisherman who continues to get more and more interested in ice fishing each year. I live in Maple Grove. I try to get in a couple bigger fishing trips each year to Canada and get out on most weekends during the open water season. I like rustic, inexpensive trips the best and enjoy camping. I am also in a Tuesday night fishing league in the west metro.

I've made some GREAT friends here, some I've met and some I haven't met yet. I still have lots to learn about fishing and I have many other outdoor interests as well. I really enjoyed all the deer hunting chatter on the site this fall. I'm a landscape architect by training and have worked for the DNR and the National Park Service. I've always felt this is a safe place to ask what sometimes feel like dumb questions.

I have the t-shirt concession at the Eelpout Festival. If you find yourself up there in February please stumble into the weigh-in tent and introduce yourself.

I'm really looking forward to another ice fishing gathering this winter. Oh yeah and MNO has helped me to improve my typing.

Hope to see you all on the ice.

[DDSBYDAY]

    Hi,  My name is Scott.  DDSBYDAY.   I am a Hunter/fisherman when I can be.  I started hunting when I was about 7 and my first wild game was a shrew.  The weapon was a daisy spring loaded bb gun.  Those little shrews are tough.  I used to watch a show called the rifleman.  There was an episode where he lit wooden matches with his rifle.  It only took me about 1000 tries to eventually light that kitchen match but I did it.  As far as fishing goes my family went to the lake of no fish every weekend during the summer.  As soon as I could cold start the 7 hs motor 2x I could take it out by myself.  I never looked back. I to this day, at 50 years old remember loosing a couple of fish that I never saw.  I was afraid to see what I had at the end of my line.  The trusty zebco closed face would release them before I could see them.   I tried marriage twice.  I did not mind it much but my wives did.  So after getting kicked off the island of misfit toys twice I started doing stuff I liked to do.  I have two ankle-biter pups that keep me company.  I have two wonderful young men that I am proud to call my sons.  They are both engineers.  (I was a little dissapointed to find out they did not get to drive the train).  I felt better when they said they design stuff.  Which brings me to why I am here.  I design fishing lures.  I fish the Lake of no fish so you have to work at everything you get.  I just can't bring myself to buy a lure at a store because I always find something wrong with it.  (Just might have been a reason the super models kicked me to the curb ).   I came here to see if I could have some help trying out a couple of lures for me.  I have met some good people here and can't wait to meet some more.   :fishing2:      I am a dentist by day for 20+ years and I still love it. 

[Big Slick]

Big Slick. (aka Jim)
The name...I used to play alot of poker and I'm a fairly good sized guy. It just seemed to fit.
Like fishing for just about anything that will bite and deer hunting. And like many other people on this site, I don't do either anywhere near enough. Don't have any trophies of fish or deer on the wall...YET. I also like snowmobiling and will most likely get back into the ATV riding when the kids get a little older. We live north of Buffalo and am currently working as a truck driver for a local business.
I have meet a couple of the people from this site and look forward to meeting more.

And the only reason anyone else has won the prestigious "MNO Fishing Challenge" is because I let them.  

[lentz]

i have been gone for awhile and im back. my name is jake i live in maple grove mn. i am geting into bow fishing went out for the first time 2 nights ago with my sisters boy friend and saw lots and missed like 30 times i am a avid deer hunter gun and bow practicly every weekend open i hunt Mn and Wi. i like ice fishing more than open water

[UplandObsession]

So its been acouple months since I have been on the site so I thought I would reintroduce myself. For those of you that weren't at the winter get together
On clearwater lake. My name is Isaiah, 23yrs old from central, MN
In the fall I live practically every where there is something to shoot preferably grouse and woodcock. And in the summer and winter I try to spend as much time on the lake. I am currently Deployed to kuwait and Iraq so it will be 11 months or so before I can get back to the woods and lakes.

[deadeye]

Great time at the winter get to gether.  I wish to extend a big THANK YOU for your service.  I know it is not a good time being in Iraq.  We can relax and enjoy the 4th of July only because of the sacrifices of people like you.  Again, thank you from all of us at MNO.  Our prayers are that you return safely to Minesota.

[Randy Kaar]

Yes, Thank you for your service! Hope you have a great 4th!

randy

[lentz]

ty for your servise

[mncowboy]

i am Monty from princeton, mn.   i do alot of hunting and some fishing. i hunt with rifle, shotgun, bow and muzzle loader as well. i also cast and relaod for shot gun, muzzle loader and some rifle.


monty, aka mncowboy

[Lee Borgersen]

Hi,

My name is Lee Borgersen. I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. I was also a member of the 1st place Wanderers 2008 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. My wife Borgie single handedly managed to place her 2011 Fishing Challenge Team Borgies Raiders into the 2nd place this year.

We are both looking forward to the 2012 Fishing Challenge. It should be a real blood bath next year. :fishing2:

Oh, Did I mention that I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team?  

[Bobby Bass]

Hi,

My name is Lee Borgersen. I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. I was also a member of the 1st place Wanderers The Lodge 2008 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. My wife Borgie single handedly managed to place her 2011 Fishing Challenge Team Borgies Raiders into the 2nd place this year.

We are both looking forward to the 2012 Fishing Challenge. It should be a real blood bath next year. :fishing2:

Oh, Did I mention that I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team?  

The 2008 Fishing Challenge winners were called THE LODGE not the Wanderers.... must be getting old there Lee..  

[Lee Borgersen]

Hi,

My name is Lee Borgersen. I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. I was also a member of the 1st place Wanderers The Lodge 2008 Fishing Challenge Championship Team. My wife Borgie single handedly managed to place her 2011 Fishing Challenge Team Borgies Raiders into the 2nd place this year.

We are both looking forward to the 2012 Fishing Challenge. It should be a real blood bath next year. :fishing2:

Oh, Did I mention that I am a member of the 1st place Barbarians 2011 Fishing Challenge Championship Team?  

The 2008 Fishing Challenge winners were called THE LODGE not the Wanderers.... must be getting old there Lee..  

   Once again I stand corrected Old? did you say old?

[Bobby Bass]

Updated: I go by the handle of Bobby Bass and have been a member on this site for several years. I spend  much of my time fishing in the summer and chasing five grand kids and three dogs.  For the past eight years I have been putting thoughts down in stories and created a place called Lake Iwanttobethere by accident. Now eight years later I have over 1.8 million hits from people reading the stories of Lake Iwanttobethere on three different sites and a new goal of reaching 2 million. Also the last few years I have gotten around to making fishing videos which is just another way of sharing the outdoors with others. As for the Lake here is a sample from my web site of what it is all about.

Bobby Bass is the manager of the Lodge here at Lake Iwanttobethere. He is also the part time building inspector, a part time fishing guide, a handyman and a wealthy hundredaire. The lake does not have a millionaire or for that matter a thousandaire so Bobby fills the niche as a hundredaire. He usually flashes a hundred dollar bill to pay bills with. Of course most of the time the bills are around ninety-eight dollars or so but Bobby always leaves a tip.

From time to time Bobby forgets to use the spell check and some of his writings may have a different meaning then what was intended. Then again sometimes it is done on purpose just to see if people are really reading what he is writing. Being the building inspector and the manager of the Lodge puts Bobby in contact with a lot of people during the course of a day or an evening for that matter.

The story here is not so much about Bobby as it is about the Town and waters of Lake Iwanttobethere. Bobby has been telling the story for over six years now and there are hundreds of stories about the lake and the people who live and visit here. The stories like the lake are never ending and there always seems to be something going on and most of the time Bobby finds himself in the middle of it.

This new web site is a place for the stories to find a home so to speak. The stories are out there to read but the Town fathers found some extra money ( cash from the two parking meters on main street) and decide they would take a step forward and put the Lake out there on the Internet map.

The town and Bobby always encourage you to stop and visit us here and add to the ongoing story as Bobby can't always be everywhere. Some of you have already been here and are members of our Lodge or you may have spent some vacation time here. Still others may think back to fishing with grandpa in his old boat and he would tell you stories of a place he used to come to. You would sit and listen to gramps with a warm soda and worms that were starting to smell a little as they cooked in the hot summer sun. The lake is really not that far away, just over the hill around the bend and just past where the Peterson barn was before it burnt down. If you get that far then you just have to go a little farther to where the produce stand is come fall. From there your nose will take you the rest of the way, past fields of corn and trees heavy with big pie apples.

You will hear the mooing of cows from McDonnell's farm but keep an eye out for the old one horn bull that walks the banks of the little creek that is filled with brookies and lined with ripe berry bushes with fruit as big as your thumb. Here you can sit in knee deep lush green grass along the bank and a bologna sandwich never tasted better. Ducks swim along the banks and deer will come down to drink and not even look at you twice. Bees hum in the background and birds chirp just out of sight. Clouds float across the sky and when you lay in the grass and look up they make pictures of pirate ships with billowing sails or lions and tigers.

Time has a way of standing still here at Lake Iwanttobethere, fishing may not always be great but it never seems to be really bad. Coffee tastes a little better, beer is a little colder and friends seem to be a little bit closer. All you need is just come visit us here.

[rod-man]

Hi All
MY name is Frank
I am 52yrs old disabled/retired for 5yrs now
I have hunted and fished since the age of 4
I am a professional custom rod builder
I have been building rods for 34yrs
I fish for anything but love panfish
there all fun if you tackle your self right
I mostly bow hunt now just to have more time in the woods
all our kids (4) are grown and left the house so
we do foster care (have 5 foster kids in house now) and are in the process of adopting a sibling group of 4 that we have had for 8mo now some people think were nuts (because we were empty nesters) be we love these kids and they need a chance at growing up in a loving family environment
If anyone has any questions about rods hit me up I'll answer if I can
Frank

[cookie]

cookie here,
 Where to begin my nick name came from my grandmother olga here on red lake.  When I was born in colorado she came to see me.  My sister was just starting to talk and knew the word cookie so grandma nicked named me cookie. My dad hated it and said no son of mine will be called cookie.lol. My parents were divorced and I had a step dad in colorado. My dad moved back to minnesota when I was 12.   My dad died in a car accident leaving Waskish heading home to bemidji when I was 18.
 I was 6 the first time I saw red lake we came and spent the whole summer here. I moved to minnesota when I was 15. I got married to kellie when i was 17 and she was 15 we raised are kids in forest lake ,34 years later and were still in love. We had 4 kids and lost jason when he was a year old. All are kids are grown. We have 5 grand kids all from my daughter. Our oldest John loves to fish and Joe love theater, golf,improv and not much for fishing. I shot my first buck a 10 pointer when I was 18 with a 20 gauge. I shot  another 10 pointer when I was 19 with a 30 30 I then started bow hunting and quit hunting with guns. I shot a small buck with a compound and now will be trying to take one with my recurve. One of the highlites of hunting for me was when I took a grouse out of the air with my recurve and a flu flu arrow 5 years ago.
I came up here Waskish the winter of 2001 to care for my grandmother she was 91. She passed away in april of 2002. My brother and I bought the property from my cusin who inherited in a kinda shady deal.
I started cookies on upper red lake with one fish house and the two cabins. I moved my wife up here in the spring of 2002. It' s been a challenge but were hooked for life now .I grew up chasing trout in the rocky mountains and my first love for fish in minnesota were pike. Fishing and hunting with my best friend the greek for 34 years. He always had a boat and we fished mainly pan fish and walleye. I'm still trying to get hunters in the cabins in the fall like grandma. She had bear, grouse, duck and deer hunters .

[deadeye]

Cookie,
Real cool story.  Thanks for sharing.