Who are we? Post your Bios here!

[reelemin]

reddog - welcome - great information, full life, it all sounds good !!

[reelemin]

wannafish2 - welcome to FM and the Womens forum. It's also great to hear about other women and their outdoor, hobbies and interst.

If you're interested, check out the post about the Womens GTG in a couple of weeks.

[reelemin]

Nathan - welcome to the Womens forum - thank you for your service !

I've mt. bike the bluffs down in so. mn there are some awesome trails around the Wabasha area.

Good luck over there, stay safe, and happy fishing when you return.

[reddog]

Reddog... I like that picture of the fox in the field... I suppose your not a fox hunter huh?

Used to be. Havent harvested one in 8 years. Not that I couldnt, mind you, its just a choice at this stage in my life. Mange and coyotes have taken a huge toll on our population. I'm blessed to even see a fox anymore.

[Sandmannd]

Welcome to FM Janine, nice to have you here.

Nathan, thanks for doing what you do. Folks like you are the true heros of America.

[fishing tech]

Hi, my name is Keith,

I will be 45 in a couple of weeks, I am married (soon to be 20 years), 3 children, 1 daughter who graduates next week and 2 sons 14 & 11.

I grew up playing hockey, soccer , and camping.

I ice raced cars for 3 years.

I have been a Ford Technician for 23 years. I coach hockey, soccer, and fish when I can. I fished when I was younger and started back up about 10 years ago. My father and youngest son are my fishing buddies. I injured my back a year ago and just had back surgery so it has been a while since I have been out fishing.

I am hoping to get out by the end of summer.

I do not hunt but love to eat pheasant and venison.

I hope to retire in 6 years and move to a lake place, fish and continue to watch and or coach my kids sports teams.

I would also like to thanks ALL THE VETERANS for the time and sacrifices that they have made for are freedom.

Thanks Keith

[Sandmannd]

Great to hear more about you Keith. Sorry to hear you work on Fords though

[Lisa Almquist]

Hi Keith! I sure wish retirement for me was only 6 short years away! Let us know how you do fishing when you get out ok?

[The Chemist]

Hi all, my name is Peter Smith. 38 with 3 great children 2 boys now 8(Zach) and 5(Nate) and a daughter that is 2(Emilia). During the school year they are with me ~70% of the time and in the summer it's ~ 60%.

I spend my time fishing Rice Lake in Eden Valley in the summer at the family cabin and ~9 yrs ago started ice fishing the Horseshoe Chain for cats which spawned an idea w/ Dennis Steele to have an FM get together, Cool Cats. I have unfortunately been unable to wet lines in the winter for the past 2 years. Had all 3 out on the dock this weekend and was outfished by them all. Have lived in the cities my whole life (except when I went to college, Montgomery, Alabama).

Used to hunt and fish year round after graduating from college, since hunting has gone by the way side gradually to non-existant 4.5 yrs ago. Life for me took a change of direction 2.5 yrs and now as I am getting my life in order I am getting back to doing the things I enjoy and sharing them with the kids. Now I just need to get my boat in the water.

This fall my parents are taking my sibilings and their spouses, and kids as well as me and the 2 boys (Emilia is too young at this time) to Alaska for 10 days on a cruise should be a great time. This is my mom and dads 4th yr in a row going there.

[Sandmannd]

Nice to meet you Peter. That Alaska trip sounds like a blast. Have a good time.

[Rippinlip]

Hello my name is Mark Pleschourt, and am 41 years old.

I am married to Melissa and we have 4 daughters. 2 have graduated, 1 to graduate this year and a 8 year old.

Our family enjoys the outdoors, I myself have a passion for deer hunting, coyote hunting and a new liking for turkey hunting with a bow.

The family is more into the fishing, especially ice fishing, not so much hunting.

Just recently we purchased 3 four wheelers, a Daddy, Mommy and a baby bear one(my 8 year old says).

Other family interest include racing, I pit for my wife's brother who runs Sprint cars all over the midwest.

We are planning our 1st off-road summer vacation to put some miles on the wheelers.

I have been a member to this site for about 7 years and really appreciate all the information one can receive here.

We live in Dundas, MN.

[UdeLakeTom]

One of the best small town baseball stadiums...Dundas

[reelemin]

good to hear about you Keith, I'm also sorry you have to work on Ford's - but hey atleast you'll always have job security

[reelemin]

Hi Peter - welcome to the Womens forum.

Have a great time in Alaska !!!

[reelemin]

Hey Mark - welcome to the Womens forum.

Have a great time on your wheelin vacation -

[fishing tech]

Reel & Sand,

I used to be a chevy guy before I started at the dealership. I even bought a new chevy a year after I started. But when you work on the same brand for so long it just becomes easier and cheaper. It is a living and is giving me the chance to retire at 51. I will keep you posted when I finally get out. Hopefully before hockey season starts or it won't be until the lakes freeze.

[reddog]

Mark,

What sprint car team are you associated with?

R

[Rippinlip]

My brother-in-law is Leigh Thomas out of Duluth. #29.

We race in the following series, non full time, due to work committments for all of us.

We race Wissota 360's, IRA 410's, NOSA, and have competed with the World of Outlaws.

[Lisa Almquist]

Hi Peter (The Chemist)and Mark (RippinLip)! Nice to meet you!

Peter, how did you come up with the name "The Chemist" or maybe you don't want to share that type of info??!!

Mark, have a great 4 wheelin' trip!

[reelemin]

fishing tech - glad you can take a joke - just razzin ya about the Fords. I had 2 Fords before I became a Toyota diehard. Although when I needed a big powerful truck for landscaping I ended up with a Chevy 2500 HD. Kind of hating it now with gas prices, - but - its paid for.

[fishing tech]

Thats another thing about me. I love joking around and having a good time.

A yota, sorry to hear that and yes the gas prices suck.

[Sandmannd]

Reel & Sand,

I used to be a chevy guy before I started at the dealership. I even bought a new chevy a year after I started. But when you work on the same brand for so long it just becomes easier and cheaper. It is a living and is giving me the chance to retire at 51. I will keep you posted when I finally get out. Hopefully before hockey season starts or it won't be until the lakes freeze.

Just jazzin' ya fishing tech. You do your job and you get paid. I just like rippin on Ford's. They do make some decent lookin' trucks through.

[Sandmannd]

fishing I had 2 Fords before I became a Toyota diehard.

Man, and I thought Fords were bad

[fishing tech]

Now thats funny!!

[Tim_Anderson]

Wow...I came on here to post a fishing report, and one hour and 58 pages later I finally made it through! Interesting to see everyone having so much fun, and to put some faces and bios with some folks that I have been "seeing" on here the past couple of years. With that, I guess it's my turn.

Tim Anderson here. I was born in Brainerd, but raised on Reno Lake in Deerwood, Minnesota since about the age of 6 months. I've been basically obsessed with fishing and hunting since I was knee high to a short sheep. I started out with pike and panfish (all that was in Reno), but quickly got interested in Bass fishing when I got some wheels. Ran with that for quite a few years. I always dreamed of being a guide, and of owning a Ranger boat.

Got married just out of high school, then went to college in St. Paul for a Wildlife Biology degree. Worked as a sharpshooter down in the metro for a few years(deer population control)...pretty fun. After I graduated, getting work was tough. We had our son Ben, and a couple of years later, our daughter Lauren. I went to work in our family business (photography and photo lab) and the rest is history.

Ever hear of the 7 year itch (?)...wife got it and hit the road right about then. That was 15 years ago, and I've been single ever since. Wouldn't mind being married again, but it would take just the right gal. In the meantime, I'm loving life so much, I just can't get enough of it. I keep telling my friends I've got eternity to spend in heaven, and plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead. Right now, I don't want to miss a thing. This world is full of opportunity for adventure, and I've got an insatiable appetite to load up on it while I can.

I worked "The Photo Center" first as employee, then as manager, and since 2001, as owner. I never would have seen myself as owning this business, but soon grew to love the freedom that it gave me. That is, the ability to work whenever I want (day and night), and thus the freedom to play whenever I want as well (when the work is all done). Some good employee support has definitely helped. Recently, the "digital age" has slowed business dramatically, and has given me the chance to start a lifelong dream...working as a fishing guide, and doing it out of that Ranger boat I always dreamed of.

Ben is now 19, and Lauren is 17. I'll be 43 next Monday.Both kids still live with me(Lakeshore/Nisswa area)and I am grateful to have had them here, something many single dads don't get the chance to enjoy. They are busy and gone doing "their own thing" much of the time. This affords me a ton of free time to build and pursue this guiding business that I have been wanting to do for so long.

Nowdays, I spend at least 5 or 6 days a week on the water. What really trips my trigger is chasing the biggest fish around. I am blessed to be able to fish all over the state of Minnesota. I chase walleyes and sturgies on the Rainy River and the Mississippi River in the spring. Pike and Bass in the Brainerd area, and Quetico Park in early summer. Once mid June hits, then I am all about MUSKIES! Quetico Provincial Park (wilderness canoeing/fishing in Ontario)and Lake Vermilion are two of my favorite places on earth to fish. I also fish Mille Lacs alot, because I know firsthand what lives in there! Any lake that has muskies in it though, and I'm there!

I'm at a point in my life where I get more satisfaction out of seeing other people catch the fish. I really enjoy teaching what I've learned, and helping others to be more successful fishing. The experiences I get, and the friends that I make are what it's all about. Probably the most satisfying "job" I've ever had.

In my spare time, I hang with my "band of brothers" from church. Guys who love the outdoors just like I do, but who feel a calling to share what we've learned by mentoring

some boys who aren't fortunate enough to have dads in their lives. We try to take up the slack by taking them fishing, hunting and camping (or some other outdoor activity) every week. Again, a pretty satisfying thing to do...it beats catching another big fish any day. And another great perk...if I'm not guiding, there's always a good friend to go fishing with (it was not always this way...so I really appreciate that).

I'm a big dreamer. In a few years, I see myself guiding full time...up in Minnesota during the summer and fall, and down in the Florida Keys during the Winter (for Sharks, Barracuda, Tarpon...big fish that either have really big teeth, or really like to jump)! I can't wait to learn that game! The other thing I want to do is write about my adventures...(hopefully you'll be seeing some of my articlesand photos soon).The icing on the cake will be to use my platform (outdoor lifestyle and life story/testimony) to share my faith with others. Someone else is in charge of that whole deal...I'm just along for the ride.

Oh, and I forgot to say, I like to hunt more than I like to fish. Gotta experience Montana and Alaska and all they have to offer too. I'd better not get going on that! Scarey thought, but I could easily add a couple pages here on my own...

BTW sorry about the length of this.

Lots of people here with alot in common...that's cool.

RedDog...that was my nickname in high school (it all started on the football field), that for my flaming red/orange hair. It's more gray/brown now. I recently took up coyote hunting in the winter months...something to do until I head for the keys! I enjoyed your pics especially.

Good luck to all this summer. Catch a HUGE one, and let it go!