Have you ever noticed, whenever you catch a fish, all of a sudden, here comes boats out of nowhere? Soon you're surrounded by dozens of boats and they all want to fish where you're fishing!
Years ago, this behavior was explainable. The uninitiated fisherman had no clue where they were fishing. (After all, Mille Lacs Lake has 207 sq mi (536 sq km) it's 18 miles wide and has 74 miles of shoreline... ) They didn't mean to be a$$holes, they just didn't know how to find fish and there was nothing but maps and dead reckoning.
Now, we have electronic depth finders, GPS units with fairly accurate lake chips that will take all the guesswork out of finding walleye habitat. So, why is the "herd mentality" still so prevalent on the lake today?
Are fishermen getting lazier in this age of fast food and ATMs? I'd like to hear some views from our members.
It's the same way if you put out a marker buoy or start waving a landing net in the air or start hollering like John Gilespe out there. All of there are no-no's in my boat. Some people still have no clue on how to find fish or are able to decipher what they are seeing on their eletronics. Just because you have a $30,000.00 boat, it doesn't mean you know how to fish.
-- Edited by muskiemike on Friday 23rd of September 2011 08:22:10 AM
Well at first when you start fishing such a large body of water you want to just catch a walleye. Usually success is limited to the individual knowledge of the fisherman, or if you're lucky to fish with someone who has fished lake and knows were to go.
After some time, the voice in your head starts talking to you "Hey moron, it's a big lake and if know how to read a map go find your own fish." After a little trial and error, then you might also establish your own spots, and next thing you know, your friends are asking were your going today.
But, on occasions, if I am bored, I just might pull up along some ole' timers and watch them just lose their minds. Maybe I will ask some stupid questions to stir the pot. It's almost better then fighting with the wife.
P.S.
When the wife asks "what do you want to do this weekend!"
"I don't know what you're doing but I will be fishing on MILLE LACS."
My dad is the type that stays quiet, "keep the net down, sit down, sush up" he always says. My answer "its mille lacs there is enough fish for everyone and u can't keep any fish anyway". When I'm in my boat I'm always hooting and hollering and boats are always following me. The funny thing is they still don't catch any because they don't have there speed or pesentation right. I'm there to have fun. If I can't express the fun I'm having it takes the excitement out of it.
The thing that bothers me the most is that people sit on the lake all day but when they get to the landing they get all impatiant and grumpy. If u want to get the lake by a certain time then leave sooner! Normally I'm fishing with "rookies" that can't help at the landing. I'm pretty fast at the landing but I could be faster with help. But the people just assume everyone on the dock knows what's going on. The reality is people I'm with don't have a clue.
With all that said, if u bounce a jig off the side of my boat I cut your line and keep your jig.....its happened many times. But if u want advise ill give it to. I've even allowed cmplete strangers tie up to my boat when backtrolling on a calm day. I enjoy teaching people to fish. Its really the only thing I'm good at.
I'm from Iowa and I have learned to fish Mille Lacs the past 11 years on my own using those nice GPS units and chart maps. Still has taken me all of 11 years to be as successful as I can be these days. Still not as good as all you guys and gals that grew up on Mille Lacs though.
I don't understand why people don't want to figure it out on there own. I never move in on people and when I go to a community spot I make damn sure I don't cut in front of anyone.
I don't get the same treatment in return. This summer I went to west side of 4 mi. All kinds of people on top. I decided to fish the transition area to stay out of there way. Started catching fish pulling spinners. I must of had about 10 boats fire up there motors and come cut right in front of me in my line that I was obviously trolling. My point was I stayed away from them. Why didn't they do the same or at least be curtious about it.
So since most of the boats had an MN sticker on the side of there boat and I had a IA sticker on the side of my boat I had to give them shit. When they would make there first pass by me I would say "glad this Iowa guy could show you where the fish are" with a smile and a wave. Then I take off, curtiously, and go find another spot.
If they would be curtious about it I'd probably let them fish right with me and then quietly take off and find another spot.
I'm with you; I think its rude without at least asking if its OK I try to fish around you.
It always gets a chuckle out of me too when boats move in on you once they see a net, I take it as a compliment. What really tops it off is when they are in your back pocket but you continue to out fish them 10 to 1. Maybe there is something to this fishing thing other than just getting on the fish.
That happens to all of us it seems. The back right into my boat and I just keep catching 'em!
Cool, Malmo Mike was here...
Doug...Here is my new car in Paris....a Lamborghini by the way....what a motor in that one man. 600hp. (A Chick Magnet I am told).When you have to go for some beer or the wine tasting you get there quick!
The big lake is intimidating and people who don't know the lake will always follow around the packs of boats. Jonnie I think you need to paint the launch camo and you might have a chance of hiding out there.
Sometimes I think that most Mille Lacs anglers are just like me and they know the lake, have all of the latest technology, and prefer to fish away from others, but that just isn't true. Fishing is one of those sports where you have a mix of participants from the serious angler to the person who wants to spend the day on the water and maybe catch a fish. Those novice anglers don't have all of the latest technology or the knowledge of the lake, so there best option is to follow others. It can be frustrating at times to have people move in on a spot, but at the same time those people are important to the sport and its growth.
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Humana Insurance Representative-Brainerd and Mille Lacs Area
Actually, I am okay with others fishing near me. I know quite a few of them, anyhow. When my guests get hooked on their anchor ropes or when they park on top of mine, it gets my goat a little. Thing is, just cuz I work on the lake doesn't mean I own a spot or anything, but I can tell you some stories.
Yeah, Fife, OSHA yellow kinda Does stick out now, doesn't it. Scotty says the only way we can go incognito in a 52-foot pontoon is to install a Kling-on cloaking device. I'll be watching the for sale section to get one for next year.
I still try to be as curtious as possible, though. (After all, we're out there for the fun.)
-- Edited by tat2jonnie on Friday 23rd of September 2011 01:49:08 PM
I was on a spot and a launch pulled in and parked right on top of where I was catching fish. I just marked the spot on the GPS and realized I finally figured out how to read my electronics. I took it as more of a personal compliment then a threat. I think it's just as much fun with the hunt as the catch.
I certainly knew that you and Captain Nate we're on to all the boats following you guys around. It was rather obvious to Malmo Mike and all other serious fisherman like Fife.
I am a serious fisherman but more concerned abourt havin' FUN. I am getting pretty good at the FUN part at least. It is kinda like Golf. You have good days and and mediocre days too. But when you have a great day fishing WOW -- Mille Lacs is incredible.
That is why we live there dang it.
Of course, the Malmo Bay Bomber boat tries to always keep a proper distance and courteous attitude, Ya KNOW?! It has great sonar and GPS and excellent bait and beers on board. So It is fun to just do a radio Chat with Captain Jon. Keeps him on his toes alright.HA!
The Bomber boat just got winterized so I will be using the launch service as much as possible until hard water season. I have a golf tournament on Sunday. That will be cool and I bought a new putter. The standing joke of course:
We will see if I can keep my putter nice and straight.
I hunt Elk in the late rifle season when there is snow on the ground. That is late November or early December time frame out in the Meeker / White River area of Rio Blanco County....but you are correct -- the muzzleloader guys just finished and early rifle season boys are out on the warm weather hunts about now.
I have a nice pheasant hunting trip coming up first week of November though to Stockton, Kansas.
Great hunting and lotsa birds! FUN! I will bring you guys some smoked pheasant hopefully.
We only have three more golf events before our fall season is over. So I have to go 'Putt for the Dough' ... in the last tournament I won about $100 on an eagle for a skins game winner -- so that makes it fun.
Have fun from Malmo Mike .. I am missing Mille Lacs lake pretty bad. I have not been home since August!
A big THANK YOU to Hunters Point for the WONDERFUL service they gave us up there over the weekend. Had 26 guys on a bachelor party over the weekend up there and everyone had a BLAST!!
And Thanks again Jonnie For putting us on the fish it was AWSOME! You even got the bachelor a nice 25''er and 22 keepers. I had a blast running around helping you out getting everyone hooked up.
And yes it was nuts how there was like 50 boats all around us but didnt see as many nets coming out as we had LOL GREAT TIME!!!!!
