FM and you

[ChuckN]

It's late, I was fishing this evening and I couldn't help myself from thinking about how much this place means to me. It's been five years since I first joined FM and I have yet to find a better place in this world to connect with people who love to fish, hunt, ATV, snowmobile, you name it..

I cannot tell you the amount of great friends I have met on FM. There's just something about it. Sometimes words cannot describe. Heck, a fellow FM'er loaned me his charished snowmobile for a weekend so my wife and I could go trail riding. My machine has issues (snowmobile forum )and my wife does not get much time to enjoy this hobby much anymore.

Everyone can find help with issues with their personal lives, dogs, hunting tactics and of course FISHING. The amount of information I have absorbed by participating in not only the HSOforum, but the ICE Series, LETS and other gatherings is incredible.

For example, I decided to go fishing tonight at the last moment. I got the truck stuck, but luckily made it close enough to my destination. I decided to just start fishing as I was near the prime time bite. I set up my Otter and realized I did not have the propane tank for my heater. Great. Then I realized I forgot my gloves and hat as I was in a mad rush to go fishing for the first time in awhile. Then my light wouldn't work in the house. (It's been a bad week already I thought to myself. ) Well, I toughed it out in my minimal clothing.

I started fishing. I started nailing walleyes right away and it was fun. I caught a nice bunch of walleyes, some big, some small. This one was my nicest, about 24" that swims for another day.

I honestly believe this night would have been a bust, regardless of the issues, without all the knowledge I have gained from this place. I've found more great products from here and people to who taught me how to use them properly. Tonight I realized the Marcum LX-3 zoom was incredible for those bottom hugging walleyes, the JB Lure Varmit glow, the Go Devil spoon and the Midwest rod/reel package I got from here really made the night a success. Just to name a few. You can find them all here.

I would like to thank all the staff and sponsors who help keep this place for us to enjoy. Cheers to all those who have joined in on the fun and make this place so nice!

Am I the only one??

[brian6715]

Rock on FM!!!! I love IT!!! brian-

[delmuts]

no chuckn, you're not the only one ! this site and the people are great !

[Matt Johnson]

I'm with you Chuck! FM is the place to be! Nice walleye too!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Deitz Dittrich]

Chuck, my trip sounded a bit like yours.. I went out on saturday and drove to the lake got there and reasized that I was low on gas for my truck, figuring that if I got stuck I may not have enough gas to get back to town. So I drove back to town(25mins) and then back to the lake only giving myself about 1.5 hours to fish. I did manage 6 bluegills and 2 crappie.. the smallest about a 1/2 lb.. Good night for as crummy a start as I had...

Got to love FM, everyday I pick uup a few tips on this site!!!

[Iceseeker]

I check it daily. Alright I'm addicted I check it 3-4 times a day. I have learned quite a bit from the site and it is very interesting the information shared to make us all

better outdoorsman.

Iceseeker

[Hemlock]

I feel the same way too. FM is a bigger part of my life than I ever would've imagined a HSOforum could be.

[Mark Christianson]

Right on Chuck.

I have met and become friends with several FM'ers(yourself included).

It's really opened some doors to new opportunities for sure.

Heck, this weekend I met snowgoose out on Big Lake, and he is inviting me to his annual wild game feed this summer.

Seriously though, I have gotten to know a lot of excellent and very knowledgeable outdoorsman, and I appreciate it immensely.

[Moose-Hunter]

Hi Chuck....

I've been on this site for quite some time under two different handles. Sure this site is an absolute wealth of information. Hunting, fishing, dogs, gear.... almost everything that has to do with the outdoors is right here. Great information, tips, hints and a staff that is second to none.

But, for me, it's been much more than that. It's been my second family.

I lost my wife back in July of 2002 after a two year fight with cancer. I started sort of a series of support threads for us and you wouldn't believe the response... Pages and pages of hopes, prayers and well-wishes for Cindy and myself. To this day I am still deeply touched. For those of you that remember this time.... Thank you for making Cindy smile.

My old handle, Dan97, is retired now, but the memory of days gone by and the helping hearts and hands from Fishing Minnesota lingers on.....

[priorbass]

This is the best place I have found to get info...just ask and you get alot of answers...as a site sponer we get alot of feed back on the rods we build...good or bad...so we can then take that info and try to build better...by the way chucken nice walleye...I really like the rod and reel you got it with...you got to send me some of them picks for the web-site...glad I could be a part of your evening of fishing with and good rod and reel combo

[gophish]

i'm five hours away from home. a home that had no lakes to speak of. so coming up here (fargo) and having a zillion lakes to fish on i was in heaven.) problem is i had no idea where to start and had never taken ice fishing this seriously. and then i met someone, someone who really changed my life, they were always there for me, would answer my every question and give me a lot of input and so i could decide for myself. we share our good times, our bad times, and our frustrations knowing that we have had similar experiences and triumphs. I think they are my good luck charm for whenever i'm out fishing, i'm thinking of them and all the wisdom they've instilled in me. i dont know how i'll ever repay them, i only hope i can be there for somebody someday, like FM has been there for me.

gophish

[ChuckN]

Those fish were very finicky and light biters. The ML (medium-light) was the rod with the California Reel. My favorite rod/reel by far!!

[Tripleplay]

I actually made a similar comment on a metro lake thread earlier today before I saw this one!

I can't believe the quality of folks I've already met through FM. I also can't believe the quality of information and the willingness to share the information.

My previous perspectives on fishing were seeing such a "competitiveness" among fisherman whether it was about who caught the most, the biggest or more importantly about where they caught them. What I've found out on the FM forum is that everybody is willing to help everyone (especially us newbies!).

I'm glad I've found FM now and only wish I'd found it sooner. (now can someone explain my lack of work productivity to my boss!)

Thanks Rick for the Forum and thanks to the moderators and other members for all of the help.

[bigbucks]

I enjoy reading it a "few" times each day. It's fun to see other peoples perspectives on things & to learn some new techniques. The daily fixes aren't quite as good now that bowhunting's over, but there's a new season coming...

It's not my life by any means, but it helps plug a little hunting & fishing into almost every day. Lots of great stories & pics.

[CorynTracySellHomes]

FM an me???/

Great topic Chuck!

I can't count the number of people I have met that I count as friends from FM, But it is a bunch!

I can't tell you how much I have learned from this site and the people on this site! What I do recomend is that you sign up and fish L.E.T.S. Chuck does a great job, it is VERY informative, and a heck of alot of fun! I really miss LETS. I met the guys from the metro LETS this summer and they are top notch as well. My hats off to Dan for running a good organisation. These are great ways to meet anglers from this site, as well as make life long friends. I have not had a chance to make it to an ICE series event yet, but I would guess that it is the same! Lots of good knowledge, along with lots of laughter!

My hats off to both Rick and Paul Waldowski, these guys are top notch and without them there would be no FM!

Cory Frantzick

[hanson]

I couldn't agree with you guys more.

If you really want to make the most out of your FM experience, you have to get out and meet the guys that post on here day in and day out. That is what brings this entire HSOforum together for me.

An awesome example would be the Burntside Bash last weekend. This one is marked on my calendar for next year already. Well, the day isn't set but when it is, it'll be marked down.

stfcatfish, Surface Tension, & Chunkytrout were out on the lake on friday greeting people showing up early for the bash. A good number of people slept out on the lake in their portable shelters & pickups that night. I heard it was a good time. I had never laker fished before and these guys helped me out so much, both on the forum and on the lake that day. Chunky did everything except give me GPS coordinates to a couple spots to get me on fish. It was a lot of work getting to that one spot but my brother & myself ended up with 2 lakers. My brother was so excited when he hooked into that first one, I don't think we'll ever forget it. High fives were flying and a little celebration to go along with it.

That trip was honestly something I would never have done without FM.

[ivegottabite]

I would have to agree with everyone else, FM is the best site you can find! The staff here is top notch and everyone else here is always willing to help each other out. This is probably the most valuable tool for me to gain information and knowledge. I have really got hooked on fishing again after not doing it for 10 plus years.

I still hope to get to one of the ICE series events yet this year so I can meet some of the great people here on this site. I also hope that I can meet more people from the DL area as well so I can meet more area fishing buddies

I've said it already but FM is the BEST SITE!!

[Captain B.R.K]

I have to agree with Hanson as well. This is my 2 or 3rd year (man my memory is leaving me ) being on the site and couldn't be much happier with things.

To make the most of this site, take what you read and apply it on the ice. To many guys say "I've done that before, no need to try it" or "my set-up is a never fail- I always catch fish" attitude. Many people make this site the #1 HSOforum and give their 2cents daily. Take it home and apply it- you just might catch more fish than your normal catch!

Also try to be apart of the wonderful events we put on yearly. This is my first year being in the events! Participating in the events has allowed me to meet up with guys like Dietz, Matt Johnson, and Hanson. It has allowed me to put faces with names such as Dennis Steele, Renneberg, and loc9fisher. The fishing is normally good and meeting people is by far the best of all!!

Thanks to Rick and all the other FMer's that make this site go

[mjhowe]

Indeed! This is my 3rd year on the site and even tho I have read every book on the subject, watched every video and visited every other ice fishing HSOforum, this is the only place one need go to learn anything and everything about ice angling. Heck, you guys even convinced me (without ever even suggesting it) that until I visited the great state of Minnesota, I couldnt even call myself an ice FISHERman. I cant wait to come back!!!

As far as the gear, about 75% of the gear I have bought has been recommended here. The expert advice on how to use it is a bonus. The resort listing helped me plan my entire vacation.

The biggest bonus is that there about 300 other people whose trial and erorr/success has advanced my learning curve by about 3000%

My home away from home......Thanks Rick and all the other who make this THE place to be.

[passtheleeches]

Agreed! Since I am somewhat new to the forum, I can say that I really enjoy reading the fishing reports. Puts me right there in the boat or on the ice with you. Sometimes this board is just the little help I need to get through the work week.

A big 'Thank You' to the coordinators and the posters. A job well done!!!

[slick814]

In the 3 years since I registered, I've made a few new friends I wouldn't have otherwise met, tried at least 8 new lakes I wouldn't have tried, and learned new techniques, got tips on what others are having success with, and have made checking the forums at least a daily thing when I have computer access...

I've learned more here in the last 3 years by accident than I had in the previous 5 by trying...

Funny thing is, I honestly can't remember how I found FM... a search engine, maybe... but I know that no one else I knew at the time knew about it. But alot of them do now!!!

[HoleHopper]

I cant let this thread go by without saying something........

CHEERS TO YOU FISHING BROTHERS

"Group hugs,.........$1:50"