Backwater Brawl 2005 Re-Visited!!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

What an awesome day! I cant thank those of you who showed up enough. we truely covered the globe or so it seemed of people that drove down to Wabasha and fished the backwater of the Mississippi. We had people from the dakotas, and members from Wisconsin(by the way.. the antalope was incredible..to die for!!!! same with the little kabob things). There were people of all ages, kids to adults, to even people as old as Crappie Tom who helped put this event togeather!!!! I'm pretty sure everybody got fish, I dont see how it would be possible with as many fish that would lite up the LX-3 to the point to where it was worthless because you could not ever find your jig! This trip will be in my memory for a long time! From the barbques, to the stories, to meeting to friends and fishing buddies. To watching the perch king pull nice perch threw the ice with a tip up! A total blast!

I really hope that the backwater brawl of 2006 happens! I will deffinatly make the 121 mile drive one way again!!! maybe next year I will be able to catch fish like that local that was there pounding the fish in the hole next to me...LOL

Deitz Dittrich

[ZapBranigan]

Tom and Deitz Thank you guys for all your work. I got down there about 6:50 and the parking was filling up fast. Turnout was fantastic. Fishing was pretty good but I got to meet more guys this time then most events I have been to and thats the greatest part. Again guys I can't thank you enough I know it's a lot of work but we do appreciate it.

I could really see this becoming an annual event.

[Down to Earth]

Deitz,

Yes it was a great time. A lot of fish caught by everyone. Only wish the size was more consistent. Glad to get a chance to meet a bunch of faces behind the screen name. Yes Dan Thiems' sons pulled a couple really nice perch up on some tip ups they set up. As for me this was the best I could do with the perch.

Andy

[76k20]

Thanks guys for organizing this great event, I know my father and I had fun.

We caught some fish and I put some more faces with names of some fellow fmers.

hey Deitz, that local fella (didn't catch his name) was fishing 10 ft in front of my eskimo beating up those bull sunnies, He made me feel pretty foolish about the 1 rockbass I had caught in the 20 minutes I sat there before he got there . After borrowing a spring bobber from my dad today I realize I Definately need to throw some into the tackle box. I hope everyone else had a good experience today.

Later,

Kyle

[Deitz Dittrich]

Kyle-That guy was doing something different, I saw his lure he was using... and it was a little different than what I was using. IT wasn't the fact that he was catching the big bluegills that amazed me. I did manage a few really nice gills.. It was the fact that I never saw him catch one of them small perch that I must have caught 100 of yesturday! Thats what got me.. HE was from the area, and had obvioulsy picked something up over the years of fishing there.

Thanks for comming out!... And FYI, I never did manage to catch a rock bass yesturday... largemouth, yes... rockbass no... LOL

Deitz

[HoleHopper]

Deitz, I am so good at holehopping that you dont even see me do it . Great time even though I didnt get any sleep the day prior. Could you tell Yes there is something to those spring bobbers and light gear = fish!

All my rods got em now! Thanks to this sight!

[CrappieJohn]

It's really not the organizing that did this...it was those who joined in. What a day. 2006 is definitely going to have to be in the books!

When all this began it was supposed to have happened six weeks earlier.....01/02/05. rust me, this later date was all for the better and will be retained as THE date for the next time around. As most everyone found out, there were simply too many fish at times to rely on electronics for a hook-set. This is TYPICAL for this area and the best part is we touched only one very small part of this complex system of pools and canals. Also typical is for the bite to get better and better as the winter continues to march ahead.

As many found out, the quality of the crappies certainly approaches that of the Red Lake fish.....ask Ryan Johnson. He caught two in the 14 inch range (the largest crappies ever for him!) and several other anglers had crappies in the 11+" range or better.

I feel pretty fortunate to have this kind of fishery within the 50 mile zone, making it an easy trip for a few hours. Even those from the Twins can justify doing this in a day. I had planned to put the ice gear away today, but I think I'll run back down tomorrow and do this again. There are just too many possiblities waiting under the ice.

[fishingbuddy]

Deitz and Crappie Tom

You all are a class act and we had a ball. Kandi's husband just grilled the steaks but it was Kandi's special marinade that set up the Antelope. It was along ride home with those other guys but we made it . We were so pumped we went fishing on Sunday and got some nice 10 inch perch locally.

Thanks again..Fishing Buddy