I Love HotSpotOutdoors.com Because?

[CANOPY SAM]

my Wife and I are not only adding one new fisherman to the boat....... but we recently found out it will be two!

That's Awesome B-man!!!! Congratulations!

[harvey lee]

Congrat's to both you and your wife on the addition of the family.

Rest assured your days are far from over as far as enjoying the outdoors with the addition of a larger family.

My wife and I have one son, now 39, married with 2 young granddaughters.

My son and I still enjoy the outdoors and my granddaughters also.

last fall, I took my oldest granddaughter Taylor on her first deer hunt at age 11, she harvested a nice 8 point buck. They also love to go fishing with me and believe me, many great days ahead of you enjoying the kids outdoors. This was the best hunt I have ever been on.

[tacklejunkie]

I've learned lots and hope some of my posts have been a benefit to someone.

Yes. Your past reports on Island Lake has been a help. Thank you.

And congrats to Bman on the new addition

[JBMasterAngler]

I stumbled upon this site when I was preparing for my 1st winter lake trout trip in 2007. I looked up ice fishing for lake trout in a search engine and it directed me to a thread from HSO. Been hooked ever since!

This site is directly responsible for me fishing lake vermillion, lake of the woods, ely area lakes, brained area lakes, lake minnetonka, and dozens of other bodies of waters. Not to mention all the different tackle and tactics I've learned over the years.

[Matt C]

The great people I have met and still keep in touch with. I have made some GREAT friends and enjoy meeting new people and hope to continue meeting more of you!

Being part of a site that promotes families being outdoors doing things together.

Local GTG's ice fishing and Fall trolling Mille Lacs for staff GTG, to the Sturgeon Excursion. This is my home page!

[Nick Kuhn]

I love hearing about new fishing technologies and techniques, what people are doing that maybe has never been tried before in the thousands of years fishing has been around. Of course, my wallet doesn't like that because it usually makes me go out and buy something, but it is fun to try new things.

[Garett Svir]

I was drawn to HSO to share information with fellow angling enthusiasts. The best part about fishing is that it's a lifetime sport and you never stop learning. The people on this site are top notch and I look forward to sharing the adventures!

[mrklean]

I stumbled upon HSO back in college when I was looking for fishing reports and ice conditions, I think it took me almost 6 months before I figured out there was more then just a St Cloud forum. In the time since I have meet some great people, seem to meet more every single time we have a GTG. One of the best things about HSO is its a tool we can all learn from so much knowledge on this forums (except sillytown ) to learn from and make us better sportsman.

[Rick G]

I was told of this great site by a close friend. He said this was one site I had to check out, I am glad I did

So many good people here willing to share their time and knowledge. Imho, this is the best fishing/hunting related site going today,because of the members and staff we have.

Thank you to all who have made HSO/FM what it is

[Northlander]

Many many years and posts ago I found FM one day looking for a fishing site. Shortly after I met Steve Foss (FM Pro Staffer at the time)and we started fishing together. I became more involved and became a Pro Staffer myself. Since then I have met many good fishermen and women and have gained a lot of friends. That's what I enjoy the most about FM/HSO is the relationships that are formed here. Of course the knowledge past along is endless.

I owe Rick, Matt Johnson, the late great Jim Hudson, Frank DeLuca, Gary Jenson, Loonasea, Grant Sorenson and many many more a HUGE THANK YOU.

Keep on rockin FM/HSO!

[Eric_Kruger]

I was brought her by all the great people. A good chunk of them live in my area and I have spent a lot of days on and off the water with many of them. I have also shared many hard times with some of these guys! Great site and a ton of info!

[amateurfishing]

....because this is guy base camp 101! Where else can u talk from open water to autos, boats to politics, hard water to sports, outdoors to sales. Advice or comments can come from professionals to those that learned the hard way. From locals to far away, I really enjoy the atmosphere & no nonsense.

[Early Riser]

Remember some of the old handles?

Jigglestick, Wastewater guru, coldone, cheeser, hollywood pete, old ibots….are they around, lurking, drifted away?

[JeremyCampbell]

Honestly I love this site because its pretty dang active.So many topics covered here besides just the fishing.

Found this site by typing the words fishing mn in a search engine and there it was right on top of the page.

I ended up sticking around and got to know the site a bit.Kinda nice to have all this information for fishing and be able to ask a question or give a thumbs up to someone with a wicked fish picture. The search function has helped me alot too when looking for questions for a certain area or backtracking different fish species info.

What I like about HSO is when it comes to fishing reports "most" folks here hold a positive attitude to others no matter the lack of how many fish others caught,if any ,or what size and even the species they chose to target, Hso members seem to be pretty cool about encouraging, ready to lend advice or give there two cents when a question comes there way.

[minnesotathorn]

I have this as one of my favorites on my computer. check it every day. have not done a lot of posting as im getting older & not sure my skills are as good as when younger. have got hooked on a few new things to do in my retirement from this site. gotta give eyeguy a big thanks for all his bird & cooking advise. but many others have also given me new ideas also. so thank guys.

[Comit 2]

I know when I was learning how to fish there were more questions then answers. So I come here to find answers and to give them when I can.

I am on my third name here. Red_ball, Muddog and now this one. I can't believe I miss spelled comet and had to add a 2 behind it, like someone else has that call name. Oh well. Sorry, but if I see someone posting just to muddy the water I just can't help myself, I just have to call them out on it. I would like to have Muddog back though.

Keep up the good job and I am glad you are here!

[Scott K]

I stumbled apon Fishing Mn back in 05, looking for info on the crappie boom of URL, I have gotten to know a quite a few members, and staff. I have had some rough times in my life in the past 5 years, and I tell you, I found that there are many staff and members that have helped me. I am very gratefull for that. I would also like to thank Rick for everything he has done. HSO has been like a family to me. One big family.

[Dave S]

HSO has been set as my HOME page on my computer for several years now. When I first got the internet several years ago, I posted on another site that decided to shut down their forums. Same with the DNR. Neither had an interest in bringing on moderators and some great stories, great information and even greater people seemed to disappear.

A friend of mine was looking at an outdoors site during lunch break one day and he called me over to see a pic of a huge muskie. Ever since, I've been a member of the HSO family. It's certainly stood the test of time, the occasional controversial post and some good 'ol ribbing from time to time. Be it over a sports franchise, favorite NASCAR team or any other menial interests we share.

A HUGE THANKS to Rick for offering the best outdoor site on the web.

Although I've recently changed jobs again and my time has been limited and posts are few, I still try to get on to see what's new in the world of the outdoors.

[DARK30]

Time sure flys by. I don't remember how I came here but I'm glad I did. Had a lot of good times over the years with a lot of people...Backwater Ed comes to mind. Anyways that reminds me, I should give that old rat The Fishhead a call.

[Pherris]

All of the above. I visited participated, have met great people and visit my favorite forums on a daily basis.

[Shack]

Hey DTro!

Thanks for sharing everyone.

If you Love HSO keep those stories coming.

[swamptiger]

Great site. I started out posting in the URL and LOW forums back around the time of the great URL crappie boom, and eventually "graduated" to Sillytown.

Somebody level-headed has to keep those knuckleheads in line...

And where else can a person learn how to make your own honey and grow your own tobacco?

[leech~~]

I joined up after "Leeching" fishing spots and ideas off everyone for about 2 years, thus the tag Leech~~. Got tire of sitting on the side lines and not being able to add my thoughts so I joined up. Since then I have met a lot of great folks and have done some Ice fishing, sleding and GTG's with at least 30-40 of them on here. You can always seem to find someone to do what ever type of activity you are into. Lots of good helpful hints on fixing things and tips of all kinds.

One interesting thing I have found out when meeting folks on here, is no matter what their views on life are behind the key board, when meeting them in person they all seem to be great people when you can meet them face to face and look them in the eye!

[Ebiz]

Back in college I worked with a guy who used to poke around on here and have spent a lot of time on here since. We somehow started calling it the "fishing liar chat room" and the name stuck, in fact just a month or so ago I asked the wife if she liked the recipe for whatever it was we had for dinner - without missing a beat she says "yeah it was really good, was it from the Fishing Liar Chat Room?"

[Slab_Supper]

I love this site because I can spread the truths about the best fishing bait known to man... Pickled Eggs that have been marinating in beet juice! You name the species, they will eat it up. Just remember no yolk!