The Quest...Is there a Part 6?

Boy oh Boy!  Brrr is a popular phrase around the office water cooler this morning.  As I drove in, I couldn't help but take a path leading me around several local lakes.  Sure enough!  The ice that was obviously inevitable was floating over much of the waters.  Even some of the big bays started to show that skim layer.  So is it over?

That's a question I have been pondering all morning.  Not that I can't handle the cold, but will I realistically be able to get my boat into the water?  I've been asked by several people this morning if I am through.  My only response.  I hope not.  Key word there is "hope."  I am not ready to call it a year just yet.  It seems that I am holding onto any possibility to continue my quest, and hope is all I can muster at this point. 

I can tell you this much.  I am going to do everything in my power to get my boat to float once again.  The weather looks favorable even with the crappy reports.  I called a local resident to the Mille Lacs area this morning, and he chuckled at my thoughts.  Good luck was all he had to say.  I was also sent an image looking across the big pond.  Notice the date on the top left, and notice the ice on well, the entire screen.  I guess I will look at it this way.  I have never called it quits without seeing something with my own two eyes.  Not that I don't trust people, but probably because I am a little more insane than most, and I will come up with an idea that just might work.  At least I hope!

Did another year just pass and leave me without the record?  Did I just get outsmarted by a fish?  Was Mike the only one that will put hooks into Edna, Marge or Diane?  Stay tuned...I'm hoping the answer is NO!  And, if you were wondering. Yes, I have lost my mind!

The Quest, Part 5...Wind...Snow...Yeah Baby!

Yesterday was another day.  Another day to bag the beast!  Loge and myself hopped into the truck at about 6 AM.  Not at all in a hurry to head north with the temperatures hovering in the low to mid twenties.  As we approached our destination of lake Mille Lacs, the snow increased with each mile.  "Sweetness!  We are fishin in the snow today!"  was all we said.  The locals gave us the look that we must be nuts.  Oh well, we were pumped.

Fresh off an insane trip a few days previous, my adrenaline was just pumping at the access.  It was snowing like crazy, and I was honestly sweating.  The only problem as we stood up to cast, was that nothing esle was as warm as I seemed to be.  Our reels were frozen tight.  As the snow started to pile into the boat, it was obvious that we had to blow the ice off the spool and the reel every 2 to 3 casts.  If we stopped casting or retreiving for longer than 10 to 15 seconds, the reel was solid and would work.  This was tricky, but didn't phase us one bit.  We had the big girls on our mind.  Once we got the rhythm down, it was actually enjoyable.  Despite our thoughts driving out there, we were believe it or not?  Warm!

It took a matter of minutes to get the party started.  I mentioned to Logan my partner that he should get the net.  He laughed.  "Is that a call?"  He asked.  "I suppose that's what you call it,"  I joked to him.  Well I forgot all about the call I had made when things got hectic.  Within feet of the monster from a few days back, I casted my bait.  With my mouth to the reel, I was blowing the ice off.  Once I started reeling, it was tight, and I thought I had the bottom.  Two head pumps later it was obvious I had a fish.  Immediately it was off, and I was furious that I didn't set the hook.  Was that the one?  Heck no!  I tossed the bait right back, and BAMN!  She nailed it again!  A beautiful fish, and that snow in the background should explain it all.  Love it!

About an hour later the wind was starting to get moving.  We approached the honey hole that has been so good the last few outings.  Still working the reels and thawing the ice off of them with each cast, we were about 30 yards from my fish from earlier, and a few feet from one of the giants when Loge was stopped dead in his tracks.  He screamed like a little girl for me to get the net as his fat beast of a musky came boatside.  Believe me, it wasn't that easy when everything is froze together.  Nonetheless, we sealed the deal and boated his fish.  This big girl was pretty much identical in length, however you can tell that she eats very well, and weighs a good 8 to 10 pounds more than mine.  There is just something about those fall fish that get me worked up.  I just love it when they get so round and plump like that.

Well, that was pretty much our day.  Things started to get real hairy shortly after that catch.  The wind picked up, and the waves were a cause for concern.  When the air is that cold, anything can happen.  We had already broken 2 reels, and other issues were starting to show their face.  The boat was fast becoming a skating rink as the waves crashed over the front.  It took us a while to get the trolling motor back in the boat after it froze tight to the boat, and turning off the big motor didn't seem like such a good idea.  We called it a day considering these elements, and I'm pretty sure there were some happy people back on shore for our decisions.  A great time spent with my fishing buddy Loge, and a few more huge fall muskies.  Don't worry, I'll be back for the state record before it freezes tight!

Travis Frank - Livin The Dream - Travis@mnbound.com

The Quest, Part 4...Heartbreak and Success!

Where, oh Where do I begin? This past Wednesday my good buddy Mike and I made our trek to continue the quest for the one. This was Mike's first time joining me for what I consider the most intense fishing Minnesota has to offer. Everything was coming together perfectly. The water temp had lowered immensely to what I prefer for this time of the year, and the full moon was only one day away. In my mind, I couldn't concentrate on anything other than that new state record. This is what I have been waiting for all year.

This was not your normal trip to the lake either. We had a camera man lined up to film our day and the trophy of all trophies, but at the last minute he was unable to make it. Dang! This left us with the camera equipment and the challenge of recording our own record breaking catch. We couldn't figure out how we were going to battle the fish, net it, and video tape it with just the two of us, but we were more than up to the challenge!

Much to our surprise, as we approached the waters edge, it was very apparent that we were NOT going to be launching our boat at that access. The entire bay was ice covered! I had a phone conversation with another friend the night before, and he said he thought it was frozen, but I just thought he was crazy. Turns out, he was right! Oh well, we kept on driving looking for a place to launch. It only took us about 10 miles and we had the boat in the water. Here we go!

Spot number one was a small location that I boated Mrs. Fatbelly the year before. She was close to, if not a state record. I released her, hoping this day she would bite again. No can do, and we were off to spot number two. This is where the action gets good. We worked this spot hard knowing there was a state record lurking on it. I had seen a fish that we named "Marge," a few times during the last couple outings. Just as I pulled the trolling motor out of the water, BAM! Mike's rod was bent over to the max, and a muskie came skyrocketing to the surface with a pound of rubber hanging from its mouth. Quickly I netted the fat 44 incher, and then filmed the rest. We found it hard to do it any other way. We got some great footage, and learned that Mikey wasn't the greatest on camera when he is all flustered. Sweetness! Fist pumps, and laughs as we pulled out of spot number two!

As we pulled up to the next spot, I was all jacked up. The conditions were perfect, and they were biting! Not following like the previous trips....They were here to EAT! A few casts, and the trolling motor taking us up to the spot. That's when I started to get real tense. I just knew that we were pulling up to the largest fish I had ever seen, and we had a feeding window that meant she could likely eat. The next few moments were something you couldn't even fathem. Mikey's rod bent over the way that no fiberglass should ever be forced to bend. "You got her! That's the one! You got her!" That's all I could scream as Mikey did everything in his power to tame this wild beast. I jumped from the front and grabbed the net as Mikey fought hard to bring the giant boatside. As I raised the net and looked up, all we could see was what looked to be a 10 foot long fish screaming under the surface. "ITS HUGE" Mikey screamed as the fish went by, and then, just like it never happened, the fish was gone. One loud scream from mikey, and he was on the floor. What had just happened to us two fisherman was a once in a lifetime event that these words won't even put justice to. A fish that would have no doubt shattered the state record was on his line 10 feet from the boat, and then gone! Simply unbelievable!

Once we were over the shock that had taken over us, we continued to push on. I'll be honest, there were so many emotions in that boat at that time, it was almost like somebody pulled the plug on the boat and we had sank. To go from such a high, to such a low was beyond comprehension. We had her. We had the one. It was painful. Nobody will ever fully understand what happened up there, and to most, it is just a fish tale. The one that got away, and sure it was 60 pounds. They all say the same thing and laugh, but we know. We saw her, and doggonit, it was awesome!

Our day continued, and we quickly had new life in us. I had seen another record on this spot, and we weren't about to quit. 20 minutes later, we were rolling again. "There's one!" I had a nice one screaming boatside behind my bait. She didn't eat, but 2 casts later Mikey had another scream boatside. The air felt so tense, you could have cut it with a knife. Then a short time later, I saw her. Another potential record breaker that I named Diane. She was at my feet, and chasing my bait right below me. If you haven't experienced something of this caliber, you are missing out. She didn't eat, but gave us the hope we had needed.

Trudging on, and we knew that we had one more good run about to take place. The moon was going to rise at 3:58 that afternoon, and that means feeding time if you are 55 pounds. Just like clock-work, at about 4:02 I had a fish scream to the boat that almost made me wet my shorts. She didn't eat, but looked as large as the one that got away. A definite record breaker. Edna was her name, and I wanted her bad! About 15 minutes later, Mikey did it again. I just happened to be looking his way when the water literally erupted 10 feet from the boat. A very large muskie grabbed his bait and went instantly airborn. Three feet out of the water she came, and I have never had the net ready so quickly. As she became an amazing acrobat, she spit the bait, and jumped literally right into the net. The most intense 5 seconds of Mikey's lifeended with a fat 46 inch muskie in the net. Awesome!

That ended our day. A day that neither of us will ever forget. We had "The One." We lost "The One." A trip filled with anticipation that did not dissapoint. A quest no doubt that I am determined to conquer. We were so close that it almost hurts, and although we boated 2 very respectable fish, nothing will ever change what I will remember. We filmed as much as we could, and I will show you this film when it is ready. Whether it makes it on the big screen or not, I hope that you can take from it the intensity and passion that was shared on that big lake. Picture number 2 is a still shot that I took from the camera, which is why it has a different look to it. I'll never sleep the same as I did before that trip...What a day!

Travis Frank - Livin' The Dream - Travis@mnbound.com

Opening Weekend Deer Hunt

I recall sitting at the kitchen table many years back.  Grandpa would tell us stories about his deer hunting days.  "20 below zero" he would say, "and winds from the north blowing 30 miles per hour."  I thought to myself, could this story really be true?  "oh yeah, and the snow!"  He would say, "Must have had 2 feet on the ground!"

Was my grandpa some sort of super hero?  Or, is this story totally blown out of proportion?  This past saturday was the deer hunting opener, and like thousands of hunters across our state, I FROZE MY TAIL OFF!  Now the weather was right around 30 degrees all weekend.  We did have the blowing snow, and winds from the north at 30 miles per hour, but how in the heck can a guy sit in a tree all day when it is 50 degrees colder than that?  Grandpa...You must have been tough as nails, or just a really good story teller.

For the past several seasons, Minnesota has not seen an opening day deer hunt that has been this blustery and cold.  Must have been why I found myself reliving my grandfathers tales.  Brrrr...Was the phrase of the day, and I do believe everybody said it at least once!

How did the hunt go?  I don't care if it is 50 below zero, if I am in the deer woods, it is a great day!  Yep, I saw deer to boot!  And, so did my hunting party of 10.  While not perfect hunting conditions, we did manage to tag a few nice deer in this opening weekend cold.  Day 1 for me was more about taking in the cold air, watching deer in front of me, and laughing at hunter blunders.  I saw 7 in total, and one very nice buck.  In fact I saw the buck twice.  Both times he was chasing his fine lady, and both times they ran circles around hunters that never saw them.  Let me explain.  Saturday morning I watched the neighbor climb out of his deer stand across the road.  As he got down and walked to the truck to meet his buddies, he failed to look behind him as a very nice buck chased a doe under his tree.  It was a very small chunk of trees, and I never saw the deer exit.  The hunter drove off, and I chuckled.  That afternoon the hunter arrived again, and I just knew what was about to happen.  As he got out of the truck and got his gear ready, the big buck and his lady exited quietly out the back side again where they came from, and the hunter clearly never saw a thing.  Guess it shows how smart those deer can be!

Unfortunately, I waited all day for that deer to come out of that woods and cross the road into my property.  It never happened, and I only have a good story to tell about a hunter that I don't know.  A few hungry does and fawns closed out the last light of day one, and I was soon looking forward to day 2.  Sunday morning brought almost identical winds and even cooler temps.  Brrr...was again the word of the day.  I only saw one deer that morning, and you guessed it, the guy across the fence shot that one.  He was 8 points.  I guess you can see a lot when you overlook a square mile of freshly picked beans.  That afternoon I decided to pull the trigger.  Not out of frustration from the activities I had witnessed, but out of the joy I get from any deer.  We passed on watching the Vikes game, and made a small deer drive.  While I'm not a big fan of this approach, it did get a few deer moving, and I safely tagged a large doe.  Not exactly the way that you would draw up the opening weekend, but then again, I don't know if there is a textbook hunt.  Our group of 10 claimed 9 deer those first two days, a couple bucks and the rest were does.  A cold beginning to the season, but remember, Its just the beginning!

Minnesota's Deer Season is Here!

Photo courtesy of Mike LentzAh Yes,  the time has come!  Deer season is upon us yet again.  A time where men put on the brightest colors that they will wear all year.  A gathering that for most carries a tradition explained only by those in camp.  Its the biggest hunting day of all Minnesota seasons, and met with much anticipation.  Is this the year of the big buck?  Most have dreams of it the night before, and hope that this just might be their year.  The laughs, the stories, the fun, and oh yes, the big buck!  Is there anything better than the Good Ol' Minnesota Deer Opener?

This Saturday, Hunters will fill the landscape covered in blaze orange.  What is the outlook?  It seems that we will have another great year of deer hunting in store.  Mild winters have kept the populations high, and we have a new look format for much of the state.  With the past few seasons allowing hunters to take up to 5 deer a piece, things have taken a turn in certain areas.  Some hunters may now take only 1 or two.  Many of the zones are now seperated into areas with different hunting seasons.  We no longer have different weekends available where we once hunted, instead it will be a 10 day season for most, and even longer for others.  But it just might not be such a bad thing after all.  When it comes down to our deer herd, it really falls on the shoulders of the hunters themselves.  What to shoot, and how many?

Photo courtesy of Mike LentzThe mindset of the Minnesota deer hunter is slowly evolving.  Not too often do you go to a deer camp any more where the motto is "If its brown, its down."  Hunters are longing to see Mr. Big walk in front of them, and have now taken it upon themselves to do what we call "Quality Deer Management."  They are no longer shooting the first deer that steps out on Saturday morning.  Some groups are only shooting the appropriate does to keep their herd healthy, and will only harvest a buck if he is mature.  While this isn't the case everywhere, many groups have adopted this hunting style, and are starting to see the results.  Instead of taking a fork horn buck, the hunter has taken a doe for the past few years.  Now these bucks that have survived the first year or two of life are starting to reach maturity.  What does this all mean for the Minnesota opener?  Well, it just might mean that you could have that trophy of a lifetime walk under your tree stand.

I love big bucks, I love watching deer and I love everything related to deer hunting.  Its one of my biggest passions in life.  I don't consider myself a trophy hunter, but I also don't consider myself a huge meat hunter.  If its possible, I am somewhere in between.  I like to hunt for the meat, and I get a thrill out of each deer I am fortunate to harvest, however I am very selective and really get jazzed when I see a brute walk out.  Does that make me a trophy hunter?  Not sure, but I am all for the new approach to deer hunting.  I would love to have more chances at big mature Minnesota bucks.  The fact is, it will take the "quality deer management" approach to allow this to happen more often, and it will take some time.  I'm not saying that you shouldn't shoot the deer that you want when it steps out, but I will make it a point that one cannot sit in camp wondering where all the big bucks are when the deer pole has 6 spike and forkhorns hanging from it.  That's what the guys at my camp do every year, and yet we have the same conversations year in and year out.  Where are all the big bucks??? Simply drives me nuts!

Like the last 3 years, I will take the same approach into this weekend.  If it's a trophy, then I'm gonna take the shot and love everything about it.  If not, I'm going to wait for a doe to keep my herd in check, and I'm going to love everything about her.  For me its all about the hunt and the fun, one of these days Mr. Big will step out, and its going to be very special.  Just maybe it will be this weekend.  Good luck this weekend!  May your deer hunt be filled with laughter and fun, and may you get the deer that you are after!

Travis Frank - Livin The Dream - Travis@mnbound.com