Tunnel Vision

[DTro]

I've fished since I was 4 yrs old, that's 30 yrs of fishing under my belt. In that time the first half was Walleye, Walleye, and more Walleye. Nothing else mattered.

The second half consisted of a period of a loss of interest due to lack of money, school, and chasing girls... followed by a period of a reconnection with my love of fishing. Most of that was an adoption to my surroundings.....the MN river.

This winter I had a chance to sample a BUNCH of fishing in all parts of the state. One of them was quite an eye opener. This was catching Lake Trout through the ice.

After that weekend, my thoughts were, how on Earth did I miss this? I grew up no more than an hours drive to this lake and I had never done that???

Anyways, the past few years, I've really had tunnel vision as far as my fishing goes. River cats, river cats, and then a few more river cats, with some bonus fish mixed in.

This open water season I would really like to sample some of the other offerings this great state has to offer that I've never tried. Here are a few of the things I would like to try.

Southeast MN stream Trout fishing.

Lake Superior Big Water Trolling for Salmon/Trout

Spring Sucker Run Fishing

Night Musky Trolling

Looper Fishing Lake Superior Tributaries

So who else wants to try something new this Open Water season?

[traveler]

Always:)I'm kind of the opposite of you; 30+ years on the water, and I've changed my focus every few years and moved onto something new. jack of all trades, master of?? trouble with my way is I end up buying new tackle every few years and then listen to my wife gripe about it gathering dust when my focus changes...

[hanson]

Wow dude... thats a lot of Trout in that list.

I ain't going to lie, trout are on my list too.

- Lake Superior tributary Steelhead

- Muskies in any way, shape, or form

- More technical walleye trolling (leadcore, boards, riggers)

Really just want to expand the horizons a little bit more.

[Eric Wettschreck]

DTRO, I'm a little like you. I started as a kid with a cane pole catching sunfish. I was lucky to get a walleye or pike. Then came the teenage years. I hunted and ran a trap line, chased girls, and worked. I didn't fish nearly as much. The Navy and world travels came next. On a far away adventure on the other side of the globe some friends and I rented a charter, and I caught a Marlin.

I got hooked on fishing again.

13 years have passed since my Navy days. I've had the pleasure of fishing many areas of the state. Having said that, I've never been catfishing, laker fishing, or steelhead fishing. I plan to change that.

[BoxMN]

I would like to try lake trout for sure, and after talking with Hanson, I have got to get out and try some catfishing.

My current favorites are smallmouth fishing, and trolling with boards, though I would do that moreif we could use two lines. Still love rigging too though.

Gotta say, the most fun is helping my Grandkids catch crappies and the occassional big fighting smallmouth on Snoopy poles

[BigWadeS]

Mine would be --

Fishing/finding good areas for Channel Cats -- grew up on the Red River and miss fishing for them

Spring Sucker Run Fishing

Lake Trout Fishing -- summer or ice would be a blast

[Schloogs]

I would love to target some smallies and muskies this year.

[IceHawk]

I am a die hard walleye and panfish guy that has traveled many states and areas in pursue of these fish some good runs and some bad! This yr I woulkd like to catch some new fish that I have never experianced. Here are some of my to do and catch list goals for this yr.

Musky

Lake Trout

And with Hanson and Dtro's help Flathead catfish.

[cjac]

I'm going with one not mentioned yet....carp!!

The biggest population of 20 to 30+lb fish that get the least pressure! I watched the In-Fisherman episode a couple weeks ago where they were going after ice out carp. There's a bay just like that on my family cabin lake, and a lot of carp too!

That got my wheels spinning, and so did the thought of my drag spinning too!

Chris

[DTro]

Add that to my list too

[cjac]

I'm sensing a dtro/cjac road trip!

It's Rice Lake out west on 55 by Paynesville, part of the Crow River system. I've caught a few tanks accidentally, one pushing 30lbs on a Rapala Fat Rap no less! Scales were the size of quarters....it was a beast!

Early season the sight fishing and seeing those tanks cruising around is pretty cool....

Chris

[DTro]

Count me in.

off to research spring carp tactics.......

[Jim Almquist]

I am just getting started on laker fishing so it is still so new that there is a lot to learn but talk about a fun fish to catch while you a jigging. The one new thing that I would like to try is fishing for steelhead on the Brule. I hear all the stories when I am Looper fishing and it sounds like it would be pretty cool if you got there when they are running and the bite was on. I watched the carp episode on the Infisherman and I have to say that did look like a lot of fun. That spot they were on looked like the bay just south of the casino on Mille Lacs.

[IceHawk]

You guys come out to Rice to chase carp give me a call I'm game!

[DTro]

I smell something a brewin here

[PerchJerker]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

I smell something a brewin here

Carp casserole??

[Team Otter]

Put me down for chasin' kitties.

[cjac]

I smell....

Lot's of chasing carp, a grill out on the deck AFTER we rake the Haider family cabin yard, push the dock out, etc!

IceHawk, I didn't realize how close you were! Good times to come!

Chris

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yous guys wishin to latch onto a 10 lb carp or a 25 lb Buffalo, you have an open invitation to come to SW MN and experience a guided prairie pothole adventure. I can't guarantee, but I'll guarantee you the thrill of your life, in the name of carp and Buffalo. Rod or Bow, I'll get you on fish you wouldn't believe.

Of course, I'd be willing to take a cat or ski adventure in trade.

[menomax]

I have some close friends that really target carp-URO style. Big long rods, around 15' long, with line sensors, special hook/bait harnesses, special scents-the whole nine yards. They have invited me alone to target these giants and man what a blast- pound for pound what a battle- alot of you guys know that already. Every time I go out with these guys, I always say the samething,"I got to fish carp more" And of course every year I don't.

I mult-species fish every year. Walleyes early, bass in the summer, cats at night, northern/muskie, walleye and smallies in the fall. This year I want to try different presentations, and spend time working those presentations. Drop shots for bass, running lead core for walleyes, fish Miles Lacs for Smallies I could go on and on. Now I'm getting all fired up.

[ocf1]

I've been fishing 2 years but its all been Bass bass bass, but i think id like to add in some panfish, it sounds lame but you have to start somewhere!

[MuleShack]

I'd like to get out to lake Michigan this year and do the down rigging for salmon.

Some friends go out there twice a year and they say it is a blast.

Ice fishing lakers sounds like it would be a great time also.

[Sandmannd]

Hmmmm, do I sense a Carp get together? I would be up for that.

[Papa Grump]

Since Dtro did a little trip down memory lane, I grew up 'bout the same. My grandpa was a diehard northern fisherman on the southern lakes and we would troll for hours in search of the toothy critters during my high school days.Then I discovered dirt track racing and my spring/summer/fall days where shot for the next 18 years till I got burned out. By chance a friend invited me out for a night of fishing the MN river in my own back yard and low and behold, all I could think about was cats and walleyes on the river. Even though I'm back into racing again ( go-karts), there are several species that remain on the hit list yet

Smallies on the upper Miss

Huge Carp up by Willmar ( have a uncle that lives up there and lots of talk about it)

Trout from the S.E. MN area

plus the all elusive Muskie.

[eyepatrol]

As for myself, I'm on the other side of the spectrum here. I love my walleye and panfish fishing and I'll stick to that. It would be very difficult for me to switch to a specie completely foreign to me. Then add in the cost of new gear, new tackle, etc.

I'll stick to my 'eyes and pannies for now thank you.