Fishing
Invasive Species
August/02/2011
When it comes to invasive species you can count on government agencies, lake associations, and naive idealists to screw things up. It’s a relatively common chain of events. First the invasive is discovered. Then... Read More...
Why the Crime Rate Drops
June/27/2011
A recent article in my morning newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, discussed the huge drop in violent crime, the lowest in 40 years. Your chances of being killed or robbed is less than half of what is was in the early ninties. What was interesting about this article was the lack of a reason for this phenomenon. After all, the economy should be driving the crime rate through the roof. There must be some rationale that will fit into an equation to describe this miracle that could make it fit under a politically correct banner.
Articles like this are typical. Pundits look at a trend such as the crime rate dropping drastically under trying economical times and they scratch their heads and wonder why criminals aren’t working overtime. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because those criminals aren’t sure if their victims are packing heat.
An example is the ex-marine living in south Minneapolis who was attacked by a couple of robbers that had committed a string of assaults. After they bludgeoned his head he pulled his pistol and fired at them. They hightailed it our of there and were later caught. Click Here For Article
There are plenty of examples of a weapon being used to stop a home invasion or other crime. The statement at the end of the Armed Citizen section of the NRA’s publication, American Hunter, declares that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection.
Criminals are beginning to think twice about taking on someone because they may end up facing the end of a gun. There are 40 right-to-carry states and the amount of individuals who have taken advantage of these new laws and are now carrying pistols has risen significantly.
Check out this web link and you will see for yourself how much of an impact the right to carry has had on crime. One statistic shows that after passing their concealed carry law, Florida's homicide rate fell from 36% above the national average to 4% below.
In Texas, murder rates fell 50% faster than the national average in the year after their concealed carry law passed. Rape rates fell 93% faster in the first year after enactment, and 500% faster in the second. Assaults fell 250% faster in the second year. Statistics also show that crime is significantly higher in states without right-to-carry laws.
It would seem that the media that leans to the liberal side of the spectrum are loathe to speculate that right-to-carry legislation has led to a major drop in certain crimes. This same media predicted wild-west shootouts during much of the political debate that went into passing right-to-carry laws and now they must admit they were wrong. But that will never happen. Instead, the articles related to a drop in crime rates will leave the readers wondering why they are blessed with a drop in assaults, murder and robbery, when the answer is its because the power of self defense has been returned to law-abiding individuals. It is the criminal who is now the one who might face the end of a barrel and a drop in crime is the result, even if some won’t admit it. Read More...
Articles like this are typical. Pundits look at a trend such as the crime rate dropping drastically under trying economical times and they scratch their heads and wonder why criminals aren’t working overtime. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because those criminals aren’t sure if their victims are packing heat.
An example is the ex-marine living in south Minneapolis who was attacked by a couple of robbers that had committed a string of assaults. After they bludgeoned his head he pulled his pistol and fired at them. They hightailed it our of there and were later caught. Click Here For Article
There are plenty of examples of a weapon being used to stop a home invasion or other crime. The statement at the end of the Armed Citizen section of the NRA’s publication, American Hunter, declares that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection.
Criminals are beginning to think twice about taking on someone because they may end up facing the end of a gun. There are 40 right-to-carry states and the amount of individuals who have taken advantage of these new laws and are now carrying pistols has risen significantly.
Check out this web link and you will see for yourself how much of an impact the right to carry has had on crime. One statistic shows that after passing their concealed carry law, Florida's homicide rate fell from 36% above the national average to 4% below.
In Texas, murder rates fell 50% faster than the national average in the year after their concealed carry law passed. Rape rates fell 93% faster in the first year after enactment, and 500% faster in the second. Assaults fell 250% faster in the second year. Statistics also show that crime is significantly higher in states without right-to-carry laws.
It would seem that the media that leans to the liberal side of the spectrum are loathe to speculate that right-to-carry legislation has led to a major drop in certain crimes. This same media predicted wild-west shootouts during much of the political debate that went into passing right-to-carry laws and now they must admit they were wrong. But that will never happen. Instead, the articles related to a drop in crime rates will leave the readers wondering why they are blessed with a drop in assaults, murder and robbery, when the answer is its because the power of self defense has been returned to law-abiding individuals. It is the criminal who is now the one who might face the end of a barrel and a drop in crime is the result, even if some won’t admit it. Read More...
Competitive Angling - How It Differs Relative To the Geography
June/27/2011
Whenever I head south for an angling excursion I’m always amazed at.... Read More...
What Goes Around
June/27/2011
My father always warned me that what goes around comes around. I’m sure he was talking about... Read More...
Fishing Kentucky
April/26/2011
There is a point each year where living in Minnesota is too depressing and... Read More...
Stopping the Spread of Exotic Species - Is It Wishful Thinking?
April/06/2011
In my home state of Minnesota the governor has pledged funds to stop the spread of exotic species. No one wants.... Read More...
They're Going to Kill A Bunch of Fish Again - Part 3
March/24/2011
The past couple of BLOGS I have been.... Read More...
They're Going To Kill A Bunch of Fish Again - Part 2
March/24/2011
Whenever I go on my annual soapbox rant about delayed mortality at fishing tournaments... Read More...
Kenny Chesney Designs Limited Edition Costa Sunglasses to Benefit Coastal Conservation Association
March/16/2011
Music superstar Kenny Chesney announced today he has partnered with Costa to design his first line of signature sunglasses. Proceeds generated from the sale of the Kenny Chesney Limited Edition Costas will benefit ocean.... Read More...
The Weigh-In Bag
March/14/2011
Tournaments need to stop using solid plastic weigh-in bags immediately. For a reason why click on this link and see for yourself how long bass can live in a small amount of water in a plastic bag. Walleyes are even less.
BASS - Keeping Fish Alive
They’re Going To Kill a Bunch of Fish Again
March/09/2011
The fishing tournament season is going to be kicking into high gear soon. It never slows down much in the southern portion of the United States, but up north the hard water and closed seasons hinder competitive angling. I don’t have a problem with tournament angling. I think.... Read More...
Fishing with the Scharas
June/08/2010
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.
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.
Sonar - GPS - Map Chips
March/15/2010
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.
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.
Fishing Alaska
June/17/2009
It’s been a busy month since the Minnesota Opener. Fishing has been good in the Midwest and I was able to take a few days out of the crazy schedule and take a trip to Alaska to visit my son Jason and get in some fishing... Read More...