So that's it, another season in the books

[Neighbor_guy]

That's the end of it. Season over. We wait 9months for it to start every year and it's over in the blink of an eye. 

Remember this: ???

Walking out on Third River fishing in 45degre weather. We didn't even have enough ice to take a group picture!!!

The ice never really did firm up enough for vehicles to travel in most places. Despite the extended cold. 

Speaking of extended cold. If you ever wanted to have a cold snap just ask the East Central MDAA to host an event. It was a guarantee to have a below zero day. 

Think back to the Five Tine Challenge???

-10deg and wind blowing 20mph and we still got out there and fished. Only had 8" of ice and had to walk, but we went for it. 

Even the kids got involved. What's -21 to a kid?!?! Nothing!!! They were having fun!!!

This season was a strange one to say the least. I didn't spear too many fish. The ones I did were either donated to others or eaten by the neighbors wandering dogs. I learned just how much fun it was to spear freeze out lakes. Saw the good in people helping others and introducing new people to the sport of fishing and spearing. As well as some of the more negative aspects, trash left behind etc. But when I look back I like to focus positive. Only 3-pike came out of my shack this year. Despite the number of times it was set up. Two of them from a frequent freeze out lake, both 18" or less. And a 24"er that I took with the BOW class we hosted a couple weekends ago, despite my protests. That's right, a spear fisherman who doesn't spear any fish, strange right?!?

 I just want to thank all of you who stopped here to read and share. Please get involved, share, and post pictures and adventures of your own. Just because the actual fishing season is over doesn't mean the forum gets shut down. We will still be here. Stop by and show off your decoys. Share a new spear or tongs you added to your collection.

There are still several big decoy shows coming up too. I will have a booth at Alexandria, stop and say hi. Little Falls is this coming weekend, definately worth a visit. Then the granddaddy of them all up in Perham. 

 

[mrklean]

Was a tough year late ice around the metro and it seemed like when I actually had time to go out those were the days it was brutally cold oh well got some good video this year lots of smaller fish but its a start might actually put together a little video from last year and this years spearing.  Right now I plan to go up to the Alex show so ill stop and say high with the little one when we run through.

[tca12]

Neighbor Guy did a lot better than me.  Speared a 28 incher one hour into my first day, didn't spear another the rest of the season.  Saw a few small ones or nothing the rest of the season.  It really does go by in a blink doesn't it?

[jvm1]

What a fun short season it was. I was able to get out more than other years even with school, saw hammer handles galore, so I think the future of the pike fishery is pretty safe. 

Many memories made this season,  but my favorites have to be spearing with my nephews for the kids event, poking my biggest fish to date, and lastly taking another kid out fishing for the first time. 

This is Marcus, a kid from the neighborhood who I watched ride his bike down to the lake with a bucket and his rod everyday to fish from the dock. Many times he came back with a stringer full of pannies, or a nice fat bass. I invited him to come with me this winter and once we were able to figure out a date he was deadly with the spear. At the risk of sounding like a cheeseball, it kind of reminds me of a kid in Spain who spent his summers walking to the beach to stand on a rock with his cane pole everyday.

[Neighbor_guy]

Great job getting new people out there !!!

 

[MJ1657]

Awesome job on the new recruit @jvm1