Tuesday evening I was notified of an alarming situation.
It seems that a couple metro area legislators are trying to hijack funds from the Outdoor Heritage Fund.
For those not familiar with that fund it is one of 4 beneficiaries of the 2008 constitutional amendment known as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy act. It receives 33% or one third of the 3/8ths percent sales tax increase that went into effect last June.The amendment specifically states that the money must be used to "restore,protect and enhance habitat for fish,game and wildlife"
    They are going after the money by way of redefining what the word "protect" means according to Mary Murphy (DFL-Hermantown) the words "protect" and "prevent" are interchangeable.She claims that they have been used that way for 25 years. If the redefinition of the word "protect" is allowed to stand she will be able to hijack portions of the fund for "research" and "education" with absolutely no oversight as to what would be acceptable research or education.She proposes that educating people on the importance of clean water is prevention of damage to the water (or rather a healthy ecosystem another change to the amendment that was voted on and approved by the citizens of Minnesota) I was not a supporter of this legislation(Article XI Sec.15)  from the beginning primarily because of this kind of thing happening but also because of the way it was presented.I was the minority as the amendment passed.We have it as law now so we must do waht we can to stop the blatant disregard for the wishes of the people of Minnesota.We voted on an amendment and it passed now a few in the legislature want to override what we voted on and make it fit their needs purely for political gain.This kind of thing is getting old.Pick up the phone,contact your representatives Tell them to leave our amendment alone.Leave our fund alone.Tell them the additional language that was added after the amendment passed must be removed.Tell them "protect" and "prevent" are not the same thing.Tell them to "protect" their job and WE won't "prevent" them from keeping it

From early childhood "Canadian Fishing" held a certain mystique for me .  l looked forward to the day I would be able to go on such a trip.  And that time actually came approximately 15 years ago when a gentleman from church invited my son, me, and several others along for a week stay.  I have been going back ever since ( approximately 9 years) and look forward to each trip.  That first time we took a  school bus converted into a camper, a tent, canoes, a generator, small deep freeze and of course fishing gear.   We camped along side a logging road in the wilderness.  As I said earlier, this was enough to hook me.  I still "rough it" when I go to Canada.  I drive to the lake/camp site, pulling my boat.  I still feel young enough to be able to tent it.  Sometimes it's pretty hard getting out of the warm sleeping bag on a cool fall morning, but when I do the rewards are fantastic.  Putting on a pot of coffee, breathing in such fresh air, and occasionally seeing wildlife.  It's so peaceful as there is seldom any one else around.  And then to get out on the lake.  Fishing has always been good.  No monster walleye yet, my biggest was a 5 pounder.  I have caught several northern in the 39" - 42" range though.  That was like pulling a log off the bottom!  Wildlife is abundant of course.  One morning I woke up to see moose tracks in camp.  One afternoon my fishing buddy and I heard bellowing so we went down to the lake to check it out.  Saw four or five moose across the bay jumping from a bluff into the lake.  I've had loons swim within 10 feet of the boat, even had beavers playing and watching me trolling that were as close as 25 feet.  On one visit I left the slidding window on my topper open just enough to circulate the air.  When I got in from fishing I went into the topper to get something to eat.  I chased a ground squirrel out.  He liked my trail mix as much as I did.  I had 10 bags made up, he ate two bags of it and chewed into the rest!  This area I fish is a frequently fished lake in the warmer months.  Usually I have the entire lake to myself for a week when I am there.  On my last visit I was somewhat disheartened when I arrived and someone was camping where i had hoped to set up.  But that soon changed as I spoke with them and got to know them.  Mike was in his early 80' and Lorraine ?  and from Canada.  What an interesting couple.  They had an ATV, small boat set up, and a medium sized RV.  One day while eating breakfast inside he looked out the window and saw a bear staring back at him.  Mike said he put the ATV in front of the window to keep the bear away.  The next morning the bear was standing on the ATV looking in.  Guess he must have been hungry when he smelled the eggs and bacon.  He said they travel through Canada until the snow hits them in the behind, then they head for Florida.  He was out chopping wood only weeks after having surgery.  Talk about being fit.  He and his wife were so interesting to talk with.  On that note, I have to say in all my visits to Canada the folks I have met have been very welcoming and pleasant.  
I actually start planning the next Canadian trip as I'm driving back out of the wilderness.  I am not sure if I appreciate the fishing, the solitude, or scenery the most.  It's a "different world", one I definitely intend to return to .

    Today was our annual trip to Berkley in Spirit Lake IA to purchase supplies for the 2010 Take A Kid Fishing. It was an enjoyable trip with good people.We spoke of trivial things and important ones We shared ice fishing stories good and bad. blah. blah if you are reading this you are doing so because you want to hear about what we got not the other stuff...
    I am not going to give away the surprise but I will say this There will be some very lucky kids next June. John at Berkley treated us very well and we got some incredible deals.Actually everyone there was very helpful and took good care of us even offering suggestions of where to get a good lunch (and it was good)
   FFO - Fishermans Factory Outlet (Fishermans' Factory Outlet) is a truly unique store.They have items form all the Pure Fishing brands (Berkley,Shakespeare,Abu Garcia, Fenwick, etc...) They have  Shucks Lures  made just across the lake. They have clothing,boots,fish houses,bait and people willing to share fish stories.All in all the place is just plain cool.I highly recommend the trip for anyone that likes to fish.It's worth it.I would suggest though go early in the spring because if you wait until after opener you could be there a while i'm told it gets crazy.
    

              Last Tuesday I got involved with this  weekends Ice Fishing Expo and Swap Meet at Northbridge Mall(Saturday Nov 21 8-6 Sun Nov 22 12-5 swap meet Sunday).

               I contacted Ice Team about having someone come down and doing a presentation.
Mike Smith from Clam Corporation returned an email promptly.With the possibility of having Mr.Ice Fishing Dave Genz  come down and do seminars (WOW)
Well to make a long story short it turned out we were too late and it was too short notice.
We Tried.
Mr. Smith asked me to let them know earlier next year and they would put us on the calender.
We Will.
             
              Tuesday night I have a meeting with Jack Baker from NAIFC ( www.naifc.com ) about bringing them to Albert Lea for a tournament.They have an opening for the first weekend in January >hopefully we have enough time to get everything together and the funds raised to put it on.
             The moral of this story is as follows.
                                       Go ahead think big,but do it early so you have the time to get it all done.
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Yesterday I received an email from the DNR requesting an update of club info (President,mailing address,pone number etc..) I was happy to send the info along and thanked them for their contact. TodayI received anothe r email requesting information about how many volunteers have spent time doing natural resource related projects.I replied by letting them know I forwarded the email to the President as he would have better info than I. I also set up a direct email address for him to use for club related activities. If any club member would like an @fountainlakesportsmensclub.org email address just let me know lance@fountainlakesportsmensclub.org and I will gladly set it up for you. We do have webmail so you can check your FLSC email from the library or a friend/relatives computer if you don't have one of your own (how are you reading this if you don't have access to a computer ?) I guess my point is we have this resource to use and I would like to maximize its' effectiveness. I would like to compile a list of email addresses so we can communicate easier. You could receive this Blog by email, get notified of upcoming events faster (and easier for the notifier ) if we had email list. Please consider it. People are starting to find us on the web,lets use it to our advantage.

Monday morning I woke up to a rather revolting sight out my window.It seems Old Man Winter sneezed and dropped a little snow on us.I HATE SNOW.Especially when it comes in early October.It's not that I dislike shoveling-I can't I don't do it ,I have a tractor with a snowblower.It's not that I dislike the cold-I sweat at 20 below zero.I just HATE SNOW.It makes a mess when it melts.It makes kids excited that school might be canceled so they don't do their homework(first hand experience).It destroys visibility and slows travel.It hides thin spots and pressure cracks in the hardwater.If it weren't for sledding(no motor just a hill and a sled) and snow forts and as my oldest daughter calls them "snow sisters" (think frosty only with a feminine twist) I wouldn't miss it one bit (ok I would miss playing on my tractor). By afternoon the snow had mostly melted and by noon the next day it was all gone but it was still cold (too cold to go fishing anyway)Not cold enough for hardwater so really the cold served no purpose.Well I guess I did get out my hardwater gear and tune up a reel.I spun on some new fireline and tied on a new snap.Ice is coming WOOHOO!!! Ok so maybe I don't HATE snow.

So this morning we hosted a fishing event for the Cub Scouts.
    I think they had fun and some caught fish.  Small fish but still fish.  There was one boy who after 15 minutes or so of his turn at our station that said "this is why I don't fish...it gets boring after a while" 
    I understand what he was saying but it reminded me of a fishing outing 4 years ago. At this particular outing there were three generations of my family fishing my father,my oldest son,and myself.
    After about an hour of fishing by blackmer bridge my dad was complaining  "there's nothing biting","waste of time" and things of that nature.
    My oldest son (he was 8 at the time) was sitting calmly on the bank enjoying the evening had apparently heard enough because he turned and looked(quite sternly) at his grandpa and proclaimed "Grandpa,It's called Fishing not Catching ."
    That was the moment I knew I no longer needed to worry.My son gets' it .  No matter how many hours he spends with his face mere centimeters away from his Gameboy screen or how long he sits at the computer he gets' it. I did have concerns before that you see he and his older sister live on the east coast with thier mother and I don't see them very often.They at the time lived with thier granparents on her side and well lets just say they are not the most  "outdoorsy" people (with some legitimate reasons grandpa is legally blind and grandma was just never around it) So when they come to visit I try to make the most out of the visits and do things I know they won't do out there(fishing,snow tubing,etc...)
    So imagine my surprise earlier this spring when I asked my son what he did that day and he replied "I went fishing" .  I had asked him before if he had been fishing lately and was told "no theres no place close enough for me to go by myself and mom doesn't want to take me" so on this day I was amazed and asked for the details.
     He responded " we had a homeschool trip today and went to a park and the girls all played and the boys went fishing in this little pond" I asked him  if he had brought his own pole "no I borrowed one I couldn't find mine" I asked if he caught anything and he said "yep a small bass and 3 carp" 
    Before I could ask if he was going to go again he said "I made mom stop at the evil empire (walmart) on the way home so I could buy a new pole and some hooks...I am going again tomorrow" 
    A few days later I asked how the fishing was he said "kinda slow nothing was biting so I didn't catch anything" I responded "that's too bad" to which he responded "it's ok Papa after all it's called fishing not catching"

About a week ago I went down to the channel to do some night fishing.I was Walleye hunting so I had a new cup of leeches and was rigged with my favorite setup (blood red Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap).After getting situated I wrangled a big fat leech onto a brand new hook only to lose it to a stinking bullhead! No worries I changed depth a little and hooked on another leech this time the darn thing wiggled off the hook.I had double hooked him so I was rather surprised to find him gone when I pulled up to relocate.This happened two or three more times.I was irritated to say the least so I decided a new hook was in order.I re-rigged  with a worm hook with the thought that  the extra barbs on the shaft of the hook would impede the wiggle ability of the slimy sucker.I was right.I didn't lose anymore leeches to wiggle power and caught a nice 18" Walleye.Fast forward one week to last night.Same setup,same location, same time(hell same cup of leeches)only thing different was the temperature.I started fishing about 9:30 by 9:35 I had a Perch on the line.This went on and on Perch after Perch.In between Perch catches I had something biting but I couldn't get the hook set.I started to think about it.Those worm hooks were purchased in probably 1998.If you leave a sharp knife in a drawer for 11 years just the exposure to the atmosphere will make it less sharp (i'm not saying dull but there is a difference in the edge)so I would suspect that the same is true for fish hooks.I don't know what was playing me but it hit hard and would run like the dickens right after so I am assuming it was the Patriarch of the Perch family (Walleye Perch and Sauger are the same family of fish)But alas I had a 11 year old hook rigged and could not set the hook.Before I left I caught(and released) eight Perch ranging from 6" to 9" and I changed hooks re-rigged with a blood red Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap.I'd rather set the hook on a Walleye and lose a few leeches than catch little Perch all night.

As most of you have noticed the weather has been getting cooler lately not cold but cooler.I like fall it brings better fishing,better sleeping and fewer mosquitoes.About the only thing I don't like about fall is that I know that winter is just around the corner.
    I am not a snowmobiler nor am I a skier( I used to x country ski but that was 20 years and 100 lbs ago).I played hockey as a child / teen but am no where near fit enough to do that anymore.As you can see I have virtually no reason to like winter.
    That all changed a few years back.I was introduced to Ice Fishing (notice the use of capitalization to denote my reverence for this most holy of activities).I think possibly the reason I enjoy fishing the hardwater so much is I do it primarily at night when the kids are sleeping(this allows me to fish without guilt).This year I think my trips will be fewer and longer in between as my primary Ice Fishing buddy has a baby of his own now.I think i'm going to have to find something else to occupy my time...

...Enter the Fountain Lake Sportsmen's Club Ice Fishing Classic and Take a Kid Ice Fishing weekend.This years extravaganza will be held February 20th 2010 in conjunction with the City of Albert Lea Winter Carnival.many more details to be nailed down but thats the info I have so far.We are looking into a booth at the Ice Fishing expo in St.Paul this December to promote and sell the Icentials Ice Fishing Caddy.We are looking into a calendar "the Fish of Freeborn County".We are talking about a banquet.We are having a pancake breakfast in October at the Eagles ClubI don't think I have to worry about downtime!

    I joined the club because I believe in what it does.I will remain a member because I believe in what this club can do.We can get more kids fishing.We can get the lakes healthier.We can make sure there are fish for our kids and grandkids to catch when they want to catch them.It will take time.It will take money.It will take more members.I am personally challenging every member to sign up one new member by the end of the year.If we do that we will have doubled our membership.If each of those signs up one new member we will have tripled our membership.Imagine twice as many people to draw on for Adopt-A-Highway.Imagine three times as many for Take a Kid Fishing.Lets show the community what a Sportsman is.Lets show them who the Fountain Lake Sportsmen's Club is.

This past weekend I celebrated a birthday.Not a milestone birthday just another year older.It was however a special one as my Wife and I along with our two children took a vacation.I understand that this is not necessarily anything extraordinary but it was special to us as it was our first "family vacation".I won't pretend that there were any Chevy Chase moments and the setting wasn't Wally World,Europe or Las Vegas but it was every bit as spectacular.We went to visit family in Wisconsin at some lake property owned by friends.We stayed in a pop up camper as a "test" ( a friend wanted to sell it to me I told him if the wife couldn't or wouldn't sleep in it it was no sale)It was 97 degrees on friday.There was no A/C.There was no breeze(even on the lake!).It was brutal.Wisconsin charges $24 for a 4 day non resident license( I only had 3 days at best) I asked my little fishing buddy if he wanted to go fishing.He said NO.We managed to get out for a boat ride thursday night and again friday morning.I was able to fish for about an hour friday evening and caught a whopping 8 inch large mouth( $24 for license / 8 oz. bass = $48 /lb take that crab fishermen!!!) Saturday was cooler but still humid the Wife and kids went with Grandma.Grandpa and I headed out to the bait shop.I bought two fake frogs spent $10.Fished for about 45 minutes where I caught nothing.Grandma and the family returned at lunch and it started to rain.We had planned on leaving Sunday morning but with the rain we tore down and came home saturday night.SO to recap I caught one fish($48/lb) damn near got heat stroke had my trip cut short by rain.So the question is Why did I go to Wisconsin? Well we bought the camper.The kids had a blast and my Wife had S'Mores(chocolate makes her happy and when shes happy I'm happy) We get to go again(just not this weekend! was the decree set from upon high)So I thought I went to Wisconsin to go fishing but in reality I went to Wisconsin to make memories that will last forever.