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.

On the Sunday KTLK live radio show on May 15th we had a caller that discussed his success with Sturgeon on the Mississippi River. It looks like that fishery may be gaining in fish numbers as well as popularity. He also sent a photo.

This is a photo from Patrick Stoning who said, “Caught today below the lock and dam just north of Winona on the Mississippi. 52 inches long took 50 minutes to get it in the boat.

Great job, beautiful fish.

Last Sunday we had Jim Kalkofen on Outdoor Talk Radio discussing the 2010 MN Fishing Challenge. What a great event. Worth checking out if you like competitive fishing. The Fishing Challenge is a benefit for the MN Teen Challenge which is... Read More...

I’m already beginning to uncover the boats and get the gear ready for open water. As I look around at all the toys surrounding me I begin to realize how fishing has evolved into a sport that requires - at least for me - gadgets. My favorite is the sonar/GPS and I love the fact that they now come with the ability to drop in a map chart SD card and provide contours of the lakes I fish. My Lund Baron sports a Humminbird 997C with side imaging and two slots for the cards. With this unit I can put myself on the hottest underwater real estate for fishing with pinpoint accuracy. I have been using the Navionics charts and love them. So now I’m chomping at the bit to get the boat on the water and work down a contour line hoping for that tug on the line. It won’t be long now.

The kayaks are calling as well. Those small waters around the upper midwest won’t get ignored this year as I take to these fishing holes in the Hobie Outbacks. I also have an Ocean kayak I run in the small rivers and the fishing has been phenomenal out of the Ocean. All of these small watercraft have sonar/GPS units and I use the charts in these as well.

It’s gotten to the point where I feel like something is missing from my trip if I don’t have the underwater eyes and the ability to hang on that contour with the map chip. Am I spoiled? You bet.