Bill Plantan is the builder of the River Ridge Custom Canoe. I am fortunate to get called to go on a couple of trips a year with Bill and the latest was with Ron and Laura Schara. I’ve known Ron for over 20 years, having organized his Kid’s Fishing Clinics for the Aquatennial and St. Paul Sports shows. I met Laura on the Flambeau River last year but only for an instant. It was fun to finally get a chance to hang out on this trip we took to a lower stretch of the Crow Wing River. Had a great time. Got a chance to tell tales with Ron in his canoe as we drifted down the river and we told stories and caught up on all the latest. Ron is without a doubt one of the finest story tellers anywhere so getting to spend a day with him was like getting first crack at a bestseller before it hits the newsstand.

Laura and Bill had the patterned nailed down. They were using the plastic fluke trailer on a plain worm hook and working it in the slack water eddies. Ron actually hooked the biggest smallmouth but while maneuvering it for a better camera angle the fish jumped and came unbuttoned. I have little doubt he would have landed that 20-incher if we hadn’t been playing it for the sake of the show (we were taping for MN Bound and Due North).

Watch for the story about this trip in the Outdoor News and take advantage of this phenomenal fishing we’re having right now. It won’t last long.