A Good Day on the Hard Stuff

[aaron otto]

Have been a solo dad for a week. Wife got home late last night from traveling for work. Please don't take this wrong, best part of me is being a dad, but after 6 days plus of much being the only parental figure in the house; I was ready to fish.

7am Today

The Jeep's stiff shocks didn't agree with old Highway 10. My coffee agreed less. Spilling on my jeans. New roads leading to old places were in the immediate future. Just before heading north on County Road 64 the driver side window framed the shot below. There is something about old barns. Can't explain it, but I find them so cool.

11am Today

Rolled into Bemidji. Stopped @ Crack-Donalds and added to my waistline. That's what you do on fishing trips.

About Noon

Got to meet Matt B. from this very site. As a disclaimer to this post. I couple weeks back I got to meet Matt J. from this very site. Now feeling remiss I didn't post about the trip due to not pulling my camera out of the bag once. Needless to say both Matts are fishy doods. I would encourage you to shoot them a note and set something up. They have taught me more in a couple days then I have learned by myself all season.

Post-Noon-Thirty:

We arrived on location. The day started slowly, but ended very well. Just got done downloading the shots and dinner has arrived. Will finish up tomorrow with more. For now a couple images that came out of the card quickly.

Can't wait for tomorrow.

[Matt Breuer]

Great shots, Aaron! Love the barn shot. I didn't even know you took the one of me on my phone. I am pretty sure I was laughing at a remark about you refusing to hold a fish for a picture... glad we changed that today...

Awesome time on the ice with you, lots of laughs and stories, very fun!

[lispeej]

Nice!

[bassinboy3]

Great pictures and there was some good weather up there this weekend!!

[aaron otto]

After a night at Motel 8 with crack-heads across the hall the sun rose revealing a frosted landscape. I took it as a good sign.

A conversation over gas-station and BK breakfast lead to the topic of having a good day on the water. Being able to relate to the pressures of being a guide I assured my new friend; Fish are the ultimate barometer of Karma and we are going to cash in some points today.

We didn't put up crazy numbers, but I will let the pictures do the wrap up of this story.

Had another great day with Matt. We put a couple real trophies on the ice today. Will be a day soon not forgotten. Was pretty humbling being on the water with such a skilled angler.

[Crappyfisherman]

Great post Aaron,nice pitures.

[aaron otto]

Thanks Dan. Hope you are feeling better!

ao

[Tim Moore]

Looks like a great day guys. Great photos!

Tim

[Crappyfisherman]

Feeling much better,3 weeks buddy.

[leech~~]

aaron, nice report and pictuers. But, I'm a little confused?

Did I miss a picture of you in any of the shots, or were you just making a report on the lives and times of the famous Matt B,? Next time get a picture of yourself in your own report!

[aaron otto]

Shoot leech I'm made for the other side of the lens.

[leech~~]

Hey, throw on some of the Factory hat and suit stuff and you would look like a pro out there too!

[aaron otto]

Yeah right Leech. I'm about a negative ten on the pro-ice fishing scale. Lots to learn. Not hard when a Pro put's you on a fish, hands you a stick, and says "set". Matt wasn't there I would have been a wondering pup on the ice drilling random holes until I ran out of gas.

[dan z]

I love the spinning inline reel shot. Great post!

I meet the famous channel cat guru( Rick.G) on the chain if lakes last week. And he also put me on fish!

[R. Miller]

Great report and sweet pics Aaron!

[Jason Hamilton]

Some really nice photos there. Well done!

[Tod Todd]

Smokin pic's and story.

[Charlie Mason]

<- says the dude with the BA crappie nice job guys

[Jim Kusuda]

Awesome pics Aaron, but is Matt trying to make the curved measuring tape the hip, new gold standard for measuring big gills! If so, I'm in!

[Matt Johnson]

Outstanding report and photos guys!! Thanks for sharing these!!

[aaron otto]

Thanks for all the nice words guys. Looking to get out on some Perch here in a couple weeks. Hopefully we can make a few more images to hold us through the soft water times. Had a blast this season, learned so much.

[123fish]

Enjoyed the report and pics also. Very nice. Just wondering what you thought of that Ion auger that Matt is using?

[aaron otto]

123 That is a tough one for me to answer. First, I'm most likely not qualified to give a decent review. Second, augers for pics has worked out well for me so far. Wouldn't want to screw that up. However, the particular auger company changed ownership six months after the shoot this shot came from below.... So.....

Positives -Chipper blade, quiet, light.

Area to work on - charge length, internal heating unit for Lith-Ion batteries

Overall: In the electric run drill space the two camps seem to be Traditional Auger with Battery Power or drill based carbon blade setup same power source. The idea of an enclosed auger head versus a drill based source of torque allows the user to place the auger down on the ice with little worry of moisture seepage into the mechanics.

The challenge that holds me back from getting one, and assuming most folks, is the 30-40 holes and shot. It would be great for my Wheel-house where you could plug it in between uses. No smoke inside the house from the gas based cousin is a huge plus in my mind. The drill applicant is attractive based upon the duel purposing possible with having a very hefty drill at your disposal. Something I always lug out to my wheel-house and wouldn't need to having that particular model already along. Application in my mobile is really where I would like to see this tech progress. Granted the 100-hole power source is a larger issue then hard water. It does give the guy an option to sew a solar panel into his portable allowing the charge base to ride with a fisherman and maybe charge as you fish? A second batter is another option, but you're fighting the weight. Maybe an advertising angle? Two batteries and the auger weigh less then your's with gas by x?

Bottom Line: would buy for wheel-house, may wait until next year to see what is on the market for mobile angling.

[aaron otto]

Finished the Edit on the images: Photos ready for print. Matt you should be getting some med-rez ones in your email box today. Let me know if you want higher rez etc. Can blow up to about 30 megs if you want to get crazy.

Ready for print.

[Borch]

Nice trip guys. I love fishing up in that area of the state! Funny how the pics always look like lakes I fish even though they probably aren't the same.

Nice fish and great pics!