The unofficial Challenge Chatter String

[Bobby Bass]

Some wet slushy snow fell overnight, lite rain falling now, temp about 35 and you know somewhere in Wi guys are fishing

[Bobby Bass]

Wi fishing opener was very, very quiet up this way. A lot of empty bait shops and only one photo of a fish in the local paper. 

[dakids]

I'm starting to get a little excited about fishing in a month. lol  I might get out on the river for the opener.

[corny13]

Has anybody tried fishing for Sturgeon on the Rainy River this time of year????  I have a week vacation starting on the opener.. ugh.. trying to think of something to do on the water!!  I suppose there will be a million people up there looking for walleyes in boats!

[Lee Borgersen]

                 Because fishing opener is special.

Ely Echo Editorial

Everywhere you go in Ely, the question is the same: Will the ice be out in time for the fishing opener?
 
 
  more.........
http://www.elyecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=34&ArticleID=12686&TM=43576.05
 
 
Burntside Lake on Thursday, May 2, 2013. Photo by Nick Wognum

[Bobby Bass]

Has anybody tried fishing for Sturgeon on the Rainy River this time of year????  I have a week vacation starting on the opener.. ugh.. trying to think of something to do on the water!!  I suppose there will be a million people up there looking for walleyes in boats!

Looking for something to do eh! Well you could make snow angels or open up a slushie stand. Could take a sleigh ride on the lake and show vistors where people once caught fish on opening day 

[Bobby Bass]

Hey Lee, I was just thinking here. When you come up to fish you might just be in time for opener! 

[Stnmtz]

So how much winter kill are you guys seeing from this winter?  My brother has a few lakes by him that are full of floaters.

[HD]

Corny, I got some friends up there right now fishing sturgeon.
They caught a few, but is slower than when they went last year at this time.

Stnmtz, I juat drove past some lakes and have not seen much for winter kill.

[Bobby Bass]

Still ice bound here 

[corny13]

Saw a picture of Erickson's Landing on Leech....there was some open water..

[Bobby Bass]

Getting warmer and wetter 

[Bobby Bass]

Rain is on it's way, should help with the ice, last of the snow melted yesterday in my yard and ice is puling away from shore and looking really bad. A good rain should really start putting the hurt on it. I still don't think a lot of boats are going to find water to float in except the river is open and that will be a mad house come Saturday.

[Bobby Bass]

No Rain  all went south, We should be seeing fishing boats all over town and went I was out and about I saw just one and it was heading South. Big river and bay is open, a lot of dark fast moving water for the walleye guys come saturday.

[Lee Borgersen]

  A shop in northern Wisconsin

[Bobby Bass]

Day before opener and cold enough overnight to make ice 

[glenn57]

A shop in northern Wisconsin

NOW THATS FUNNY RIGHT THERE..................... dont care who ya are!!!!!

[Bobby Bass]

Well local lakes up north here have 12 inches or more of ice, lots of cancellations and there will be far more people celebrating Mothers Day then the fishing opener, and it does not get any better. Forecast is calling for night time temperatures to be in the mid twenties, that my friends is still ice making not ice melting weather. Not to mention gas prices have jump over fifty-five cents a gallon in the past two weeks. Must be summer, just someone forgot to pass it on. One last piece of news the local power company has announced they are looking to pass on another rate hike to cover damage to the hydro dam from last summer's flood. I suppose making repairs out of profit's and not passing the cost on to customers is out of the question. And while they are at it they are going to make some improvements for another ten mil and add that onto the bill as another transmission fee. So we have less money to buy gas to go fishing on lakes that are frozen over with bait that can't be harvested or transported into the state anymore. Fishing out of a wood row boat with a worm and a safety pin might be the way a lot of us will have to go 

[Lee Borgersen]

Nice post there Bobby but, that would fit right in on the Gripe Site thread


Let's gripe in unison.........
http://mnoutdoorsman.com/forums/index.php?topic=888.0

[Bobby Bass]

Na , not a gripe just kind of the way things are here in tourist country. Tourist don't realize sometimes that we have to pay these prices the entire season not just two weeks when visiting...

[DDSBYDAY]

   All those things mentioned are a direct result of the  clowns that were put into state and Federal Government by the majority of the population.  Not one person I voted voted for got into office.  This was a predictable result as well as it getting much worse.  I know you don't talk politics Bobby.  This isn't the place anyways but don't be surprised how much worse it is going to get.

[Bobby Bass]

Opening morning finds brisk winds gusting to the mid thirties here but temps are in the mid 40's not much open water but the river is open and I have not been there yet but I bet there are lots of boats giving it a shot. 

[corny13]

This Opener    why am I looking at this forum instead of Fishing??????? Ice is too Rotten to try putting out a couple tip ups...

[corny13]

Here is pic taken a few minutes ago on WalkerBay, Leech lake...Opening weekend Icefishing Sunday....Probably have their Limit of walleyes by now!   Mama said NO to me going out as its Mother's day!!

[Bobby Bass]

Much better Sunday for fishing then Saturday, Actually saw a few boats on the St. Louis and a few more being trailered. Water is fast brown and muddy and fishing is a couple of levels below slow. I don't see myself even thinking about going out till the end of the week and that is only if we get the warm winds they are forecasting. Still well over a foot of ice north of me. I did hear that the ice has gone out south of me about sixty miles so it is getting closer to me

[Bobby Bass]

? Was reading over the fishing challenge rules and there is a  point there about soon to be requiring a fish board for all pictures. So what happens to the guys who fish rivers and are mobile? They will have to lug a fish board around with them because a tape will no longer be good enough? 

[deadeye]

Rules?  We don't need no stinking rules. 
I guess I will now have to read them.  I admit it, I didn't read them this year.  I remember some chatter about pliers or cutters so I just used what I though was ok.  I guess in this case, two wrongs don't make a right.  I will try to do better.   

[Bobby Bass]

4.19 for a gallon of gas today    early fishing trips are going to have to be looked at 

[wildlifeminnesota]

4.19 for a gallon of gas today    early fishing trips are going to have to be looked at 

Yep that a .40 over night price hike,,, I see that this morning and just thou they price mix up,,, but I think it can not happen in two places at the same time,, 

[corny13]

Ice is OFF on Leech... walleye fishing tonight!
Did go up to the Rainy River yesterday.... good to get out fishing in a boat, fishing wasn't too shabby either... 63"  25" circ. = 61lbs.  :fishing2:  Smaller ones were fun also.