CrazyCrawler

I usually go to Oriental groceries on University Ave in St. Paul. Their smelts are on the smaller side, 4-5 inches. Sometimes I also grab a box of squids ( Calamari ).

Time-wise, it's 3 hour 18 minutes for a 552lb blue marlin in Kona, HI. But I felt the fight with a 5 lb largemouth with a cane pole using 4# test was an eternity, though it lasted maybe only 10 minuts. Also caught a 4lb dogfish that same day and called it the best day of my life.

I use cane poles a lot, especially when fishing for spawning crappies and sunnies. Have 3 telescopic ones, 13, 15 & 18' long but all come down to 1 1/2'. No reel, simply tie the line to the tip. Caught a 5lb. LM while fishing sunnies in 3' of water. Took me over 15 minutes to land it.(No net and was using 4lb test.) What a thrill. Also use it when fishing smaller creek in SE Mn for trout.

Hi, WxGuy, Maybe you misunderstood what I meant in the post. All I wanted to say is that everyone should open his mind and welcome the other types of fisherman. Try to enjoy fishing to it's fullest and not bothered by some minor stuffs. By the way, I've never fished the area east of Hwy 43 and have no idea where the creek you're talking about is, although I've heard about it. As for mortality rate goes, I think it depends mostly on how you handle the fish. I use #1 or #2 red hooks while using baits. If I can't see it on the lip of the fish, I cut the line at the mouth. (Will keep fish if it's bleeding.) I've tried circle hooks, but they just don't seem to work well with trout. Some people simply kept the fish out of water too long, trying to un-hook or snapping pictures of the prized catch. Next time you fish Lanesboro area and see a guy fishing with a 18" cane pole, or a telescoptic rod, stop and say HI.

Why some guys are so happy when the stream is going to be 'Artificials Only' but get so mad if other people propose it to be 'Crawlers Only'? I've used any and every lure & bait. I don't mind people fishing next to me using crawlers when I was using artificials. The best thrill comes when I out-fish him. On the other hand, I like the look of the fly-guy when I let a nice brown go while using crawlers. I think most of them can't believe that a worm dunker ever practice catch-n-release. Everyone likes to catch bigger fish, but when will the cycle ends? 12" was a good one when I started trout fishing years ago. Now a 15 incher is just so-so to me and a trophy has to be over 24". This is only my personal standard and has nothing to do with any regulation/rule change, stream condition/improvment/designation or whatever. I cherish the memories of catching some nice fish and wouldn't like it, in the future, when someone tells me that a 25" brown is nothing to brag about. Why not take a step back, look around, and enjoy the company of other 'types' of fisherman?

Saw same 25"+ rainbow 4 times in 2 weeks. So beautiful and graceful that I didn't even want to fish for it for fear I might hurt it. What would you do?

I just wonder when the cycle will end. Now most people think a 20 incher is a trophy, what would they think in 5-10 years? A 30"+? Trouts may grow to that size in Root but not in the streams we are talking about here. What would you do then? I am a 'Worm-Dunker' and I release 99% of what I catch. The 1% I kept are those that were bleeding, hence no sense to put them back. Otherwise, I cut the line. Don't mean to point fingers but I have seen quite a few flyfishers mis-handle the trout and put the dying trout back and still claim it's a "Catch-n-Release". To me, it's more like "Kill-then-Release". One thing maybe most of you overlooked. As you get older, it's harder to tie on small hooks. I now use #2 hooks. Also it's tough on my shoulder to cast all day. Believe me, the day will only come too soon before you realize it. Don't look down upon those oldtimers dunking worms. And, please, none of those 'artificial only' rules. About winter fishing, why not go down to Iowa instead of stomping the redd, unknowingly destroying future generation(s) of nice trouts? If anyone want a razor-sharp pocket pencil knife. Just say it. Maybe I can drop off a couple dozens at Hook-on-Fishing, although I've never been there. Whether you agree with me or not, thank you for going through this piece(peace) of my mind.