Right from the beginning, Ive loved the balance of utility and comfort that the Alaskan provides for me and my fishing customers. You can also gather more information with up to date fishing reports from Paul Beinke at Walt's Bait and Tackle in Mankato and from Nate and Jesse Green at Corner Bait and Tackle in Madison Lake." Is there a place that we should know about? This is a private, opt-in only list, we never subscribe anyone to the newsletter without permission and we never share member's contact information with anybody, not ever. 1NORTH MANKATO Local developers are planning to purchase the former Norwood Inn/Best Western hotel in North Mankato, which has been used for the past. Light line can be key to catching fish in clear water, and smaller bait is often preferred by both species since they are feeding on very small microorganisms and larvae in the shallows. Productive times are early and late in the day but the windows are fairly short. Twin Cities Fishing Report - February 9, 2023 - video February 9, 2023 An update on ice fishing conditions, what's working, a handful of tips, and the area report. March 2, 2023. Anglers caught the most walleye during overnight hours when using a deadstick tipped with a lively minnow. Lake Washington has approximately 450 homes and countless visitors. All things bite related here. Links to articles, videos and breaking news about the world of fish are occasionally sent to subscribers. We'll be fishing on lakes both large and small, and I am wondering what advice you may have on what to look for on habitat (weeds etc.) Then finally, travel conditions improved so that resorts and rental operators could offer abglers a place get set up, and now the end of the walleye season has already arrived. dealers, Get started right with local safety education, training,
New this year will be tagged walleye in Collinwood Lake as part of new study looking at genetics and angler harvest. While perch can be found just about anywhere you look, the truly large ones that provide excellent fun and tableware are often elusive. Try using redworms at different depths. For the most fish, work 5-10 feet of water over the mud, and trust your electronics. Some areas of slush and water remain near shore where cracks have developed, and ice thickness can vary greatly. The walleyes and sauger are spread out this time of year, so it is important to fish each fish. Anglers are taking a few walleye when using jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads. Active Filters. After youve shared everything youve ever learned, with everybody you can ever reach, then a few people know who you are when they see you. If you live in Skyline, North Mankato, Mankato, Eagle Lake, Lake Crystal or St. Clair you're less than 10 miles from Blue Earth River. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. Both shiners and smaller suckers are turning fish, but don't be afraid to use an oversized chub. Rainbow trout and Brook trout are both being caught in very shallow water near downed trees, weedbeds and large flats. Recent cold temperatures have alleviated much of the slushing issues. Book your own Guided Fishing Trip ! Mar. My interest in the subject was piqued when I saw this in the transcript; "Toxic amounts of chloride can kill " Learn More >> Road Salt Pollution in Freshwater Lakes February 1, 2023. There was also a 42.5 inch catch-and-release sturgeon pulled from Big Stone this week! Anglers should note that more than a foot of snow has fallen recently so slush is developing underneath the snow that covers the ice. Property Types . Minnesota River Fishing Report Card Here's your fishing report for today the 26th of February for Minnesota River. Fishing and water sports are major activities on the lake. Please do your part to help keep our waters clean by properly disposing your trash and other forms of waste. More specifically, it can be found at 44.1732978820801 and -94.0338439941406. While the article focuses on perch locations, the information contained within it is also useful for anglers who want to locate and catch good numbers of sunfish. Even after 40 years, there are times when I still feel like the new guy. You can search for a lake or body of water using the search box below. I'd suggest perusing this article too, Read >> Finding Perch and Panfish By Locating Bloodworms. "If youre up for the trip, you can still finish off the 2022-23 walleye fishing season in north central Minnesota. Contact Visit Duluth for more information. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Ice depths are slowly improving with 4 to 6 inches now reported on area lakes, but the snow pack has caused slush to develop on some areas. Share it with us so your neighbors can learn about it too! Contact the Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council for more information. Biologically, crappies are totally different from sunfish. Anglers have been catching good numbers and good size walleyes in the early morning and during the evening hours. Fishing depths vary from spot-to-spot, mostly depending upon " Read >> Lake of the Woods Report February 1, 2023, "This probably means that for most fishermen, "The Turnover", I mean the absolute scientific event is probably not really what influences fish locations and feeding patterns during the cold water period. The content you are about to view is not owned or managed by Explore Minnesota Tourism, and may not be accessible to all users. Whats worse is that some fix-ups that could serve to improve crappie fishing are going to " Learn More >> MN DNR Panfish Workgroup Where Do We Go From Here? A deadstick set within 6 feet of the jigging hole is helpful. Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. swear their catch improves when the moon is in a "New" or "Full" moon phase. The rig, along with all of the accessories are almost identical to last year's rig, so you may already be familiar with the description. * Stock shelves, tables, and counters with merchandise while merchandising to Scheels standards. While most of the small, shallow lakes are supporting snowmobiles, some of the larger, deeper lakes need more time to build ice. I'm so thrilled that we will shine a light on that fact during the 2023 Governor's Fishing Opener, " DNR. A simple rigging rap tipped with a minnow head is hard to beat. For some larger fish, try deeper waters. Regulations and Safety for Missouri Catfishing. The fishing regulatory body for Minnesota is Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. "The Early Bird Fishing Guide" Jeff Sundin - Fishing Blue Books, LLC 715 Byington Ave, LaPrairie, MN 55744 218-245-9858
The effort to connect ice roads and ice track machine trails with schools of walleyes and sauger mow have some ice roads extending as far as 24 miles into the lake's mid-section. Rainbows and brook trout continue to be caught is shallow water near downed trees, main lakes points and weedbeds. The topic, appearing in the Science Friday podcast segment of January 27, 2023, makes no specific assertion about wheelhouses. Contact the Ely Chamber of Commerce for more information. On the 20-foot Alaskan, in flat calm water, my 115 Pro XSs have all trolled forward at " Learn More >> How Slow Can It Troll + What's So Great About Transom Mounts? Electronics really help to see fish when they are coming through, understand where in the water column they are and " Read >> Lake of the Woods Report February 22, 2023. Board Information & Statistics. The St. Louis River Estuary has some fishable harbor ice but it is extremely important to check ice thickness often when walking out. Find out if theres a raging torrent for torent or a calm mirror like surface using our daily updated stats for over 500,000 fishing locations. Fishing Spots Near Mankato MN Wheeler Park North Mankato, MN Minneopa State Park Mankato, MN Carver Park Reserve Victoria, MN Fort Ridgely Fairfax, MN Cleary Lake Regional Park Prior Lake, MN Round Lake Park Pavilion Eden Prairie, MN Okamanpedan State Park Dolliver, IA Rice Lake State Park Lake Mills, IA Wayzata Beach and Marina Wayzata, MN A bite window is taking shape during early morning and late afternoon hours. Most fishing took place in 22-29 feet of water. The . "Although it can be done year-round, jumbo perch seem to gain massive popularity late in the ice season. "Q) Several of us have been fishing for sunnies and crappies for 5 to 7 years now, often choosing them over walleyes, especially in the winter. As a Best of Staffing Client and Talent leader, Aerotek's people-focused approach yields competitive advantage for our clients and rewarding careers for our contract employees. But for me, the most insightful single article about late season ice fishing came about as an answer to a reader question about Bowstring Lake. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. With a huge shiner run there is still a lot of walleyes in the Rainy River, too utilize a resort when fishing it as well. Another bonus is that the northern pike season never closes. 1MANKATO A Mankato man faces charges after allegedly leading officers on a chase when they arrived at the car wash where he was reportedly smoking . Yes, if you miss the live show, just click here and select the 6:00 hour on Thursday. Then, seemingly out of the clear blue, notices about our future start giving way to news about our past. Every year, the opening of walleye season (which almost always falls on Mothers Day weekend) has folks, Bass are Americas favorite sportfish and also the most accessible. Fishing Reports. Click here for the latest 7 day fishing weather forecast for Minnesota River. Jo hasn't tagged a super-big one yet, but she's the queen of catch rates, claiming the prize for most fish caught overall. Anglers caught the most walleye during overnight hours when using a deadstick tipped with a lively minnow. As far as more legislation on fishing, I believe it's already too complicated. "For those of you who dont have ice fishing planned for the weekend, swing into Rays Marine, Grand Rapids, MN location Friday and Saturday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM both days. Click here >>, Won't Waste My Money on Walleye Stamp March 3, 2023, Panfish Don't Stand A Chance! Fishing Report | Sports | mankatofreepress.com Breaking Fishing Report Outdoor News Dec 31, 2016 Madison Lake area Ice depths are slowly improving with 4 to 6 inches now reported on area. This new SLIM series of waterproof Tuff Tainers feature 3 unique models:Terminal Tackle SLIM: Features 14 interchangeable removable cups (small, medium, and large), purpose-driven isolated small " Learn More and Enter >> New Flambeau Slim Waterproof Box Giveaway. Andtips are available for anyone who wants to try ice fishing at the DNRs learn to ice fish page with information about how to search for fishing lakes online with DNR LakeFinder, how to dress, thrifty ways to get fishing equipment, and how to catch fish through the ice. ", A) Dan, Offering thoughtful answers to your questions about where to go and what to do this weekend will take a little time. A second round of snow last weekend didnt help the ice-making. Anglers are taking a few walleye when using jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads. Nice catfish caught by a boy fishing the Red River / Brad Durick-Fargo Moorhead CVB. "The Mankato area is home to some of the best fishing in southern Minnesota. Lake Fishing Reports MN Fish Winnie Cass Leech Winnibigoshish Pokegama Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 15, 2023 "Panfish - Spring like temperatures have angler thinking of spring time panfish. Walking continues to be the only travel option and you need to check the ice as you go. Lake Washington MN Fishing Reports, Map & Hot Spots Lake Washington Le Sueur - Minnesota 19 catches 390 followers 64 spots Washington Lake is a 1,487 acre lake in LeSueur county northwest of the city of Madison Lake. "With ice fishing in full swing, local resorts, outfitters and ice guides are working hard on the south end of Lake of the Woods. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used boats for sale, fishing boat listings, jetski classifieds, motor boats, power boats, and sailboats. The trouble with this opinion though is that the walleye stamp was not conceived by the MN DNR or for that matter, by any government agency. For those of you who dont " Read More >> Sundin Report February 23, 2023. German Lake in LeSueur County is an 899 acre lake located northwest of Elysian. Soft plastics, wax worms and crappie minnows were all very effective on panfish. But unlike sunfish, figuring out what to do about fixing problems with crappie fishing lakes will be tricky, really tricky. We drew a blank on perch at a second, similar structure for the next day. Yo-yos may be left unattended from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you do not find the body of water you are looking for you can start a new Fishing Report Thread. A calm and hot day set up perfectly for Wired2fishs McKeon Keys Roberts to explore a small ultra-clear lake with his pedal fishing kayak and a few buddies in a canoe. Some anglers fishing as far as 24 miles out, while others are opting to stay closer to shore and " Read >> Lake of the Woods Fishing Report February 15, 2023. Scott Richardson commented; "Yes this is a great article. This fissure in the earth's crust takes water seeping through the earth, heats it to well over 165 degrees, and sends it back up to the surface in steam pits and boil holes. Yo-yos must be attended at all times (meaning you must remain in sight of your yo-yos at all times). This means if you're planning of fishing at night then As of this writing, 10 to 14 inches of ice was common, but its still suggested to work through a resort and stay on their marked roads. 10 miles from Minnesota River. Northeast |Northwest|Central|Minneapolis-St. Paul | Southern, River fly fishing near Grand Marais /Davin Brandt. The moon in the night skies over Minnesota River is in a Waning Crescent phase. Moon phases have split fishing folk's opinion straight down the middle with the bigger impact on saltwater fishing but some freshwater anglers Anglers found crappies very active this last weekend. MLS # 20265151 Light line can be key to catching fish in clear water, and smaller bait is often preferred by both species since they are feeding on very small microorganisms and larvae in the shallows. 2417 Mankato Dr , Fort Worth, TX 76179 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $444,900. Well cover this more in a blog post soon but for Minnesota River right now the wind is coming Panfish anglers still have a little time, but for them, ice shelter removal dates are just around the corner. Also consider an aggressive lure such as a lipless crankbait with rattles to attract and catch fish. Nope, I dont think so, for these two the big secret has been " Read >> Lake Trout Success February 22, 2023. After the weekend well review the current conditions and then publish an update about travel conditions on the most popular destinations. Staying on top of walleye and sauger means constant pushing to open new ice roads and grooming off road trails so that we can keep moving fish houses to the most productive areas. Ice thickness varies on the Rainy River so it is important to work through a resort or outfitter. Also when fishing for crappies in 30 to 35 ft, I never target the fish below the 28 ft mark, typically that's where I find the four to 10 inch crappies, the trophy fish are usually suspended, roaming away from the little ones.". Lake Winnie, Leech Lake, Cass lake and some of the other, larger lakes have well established plowed roads and rental operators on all of them plan to be fully open for the final weekend of the season. Also consider an aggressive lure such as a lipless crankbait with rattles to attract and catch fish. Some crappies are being taken on the east end of Lake Parley in 12 feet and at Lake Wasserman over 20 feet. I personally feel the northern pike slot limit was an overcomplication to fishing rules. Its important to have the right gear for whatever situation youll, In Minnesota, fishing is a very big deal. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. How about tips on how to make the most of your time in a specific city? MN DNR Panfish Workgroup Where Do We Go From Here? Get the latest up to the minute fishing data points for Minnesota River to help you find your next big catch. Perch, and their relationship to bloodworms as a food source was the topic of an article, I published a while back. Find out more. Thats right, the concept of offering a voluntary walleye stamp was developed by " Read >> Won't Waste My Money on Walleye Stamp March 3, 2023. Progress reports, provided on an ongoing basis, were brought forward as a high-priority by certain group members. Some folks have more time than others, but its never too early for an early reminder about when the ice shelter removal dates are coming. Jigging spoons and minnow heads or live minnows on a deadstick have been very effective for walleye and perch. Trout fishing is catch-and-release only from Saturday, Jan. 1, through Friday, April 14, at all designated trout streams in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties. A great mixed of fish is coming from Big Stone Lake including sunnies, perch, crappies and walleye! Posted: February 16, 2023. Fishing on Ottertail Lake / Kvidt Creative. Dig a little deeper, though, and youll, When winter drops its icy fingers across the fisheries of the United States, making the water hard in some places or the air just too darn cold in. Bream fishing during the winter months can be slow. Brosdahl likes to use his mapping to target depressions spread out across 3- to 6-foot flats. Ely MN Ice Fishing Report February 1, 2023, How to Find and Catch Late Ice Jumbo Perch, Road Salt Pollution in Freshwater Lakes February 1, 2023, Lake of the Woods Report February 1, 2023, KAXE 91.7 FM Grand Rapids - 105.3 FM Bemidji - 89.9 FM Brainerd. Anglers with portables also took fish from 10-17 feet of water early and late in the day. Backwater panfishing has been difficult but more stable weather patterns should increase the bite. Remember, fishing licenses expire on February 28, 2023 and new licenses are needed on March 1st, 2023 on all Minnesota waters. Best times has been very early in the morning, often time before 9am. Resorts are working hard to plow out the ice roads and accesses, as well as some new roads to fishing hot spots. "Kayak bass fishing in ultra-clear water lakes and rivers is challenging yet extremely rewarding. Rigged and ready to use, 2022 Lund Alaskan, Mercury ProXS 115 Tiller, Shoreland'r Trailercomplete 2022 package is available now. My heart goes out to folks who struggled to find creative fishing spots to park their ice shelters this winter. Sign up to receive monthly newsletters featuring all the latest news and happenings from MDWFP. Please ensure to adhere to the fishing regulations for the state. For panfish, check out Gull, Midge and Rabideau lakes. Paul. Education, permits, regulations and where to hunt in your area, Local archery ranges, tips for beginners, and advice on the proper
Snowfall amounts here have been lower than expected and travel conditions on the ice remain good. Minnesota River At Mankato is located in Blue Earth County in Minnesota. At the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame, inductees are called legends. As far as Im concerned, these boats are the fishermans equivalent of having a 4X4 pickup truck for the water. It is extremely important to wear a life jacket, bring along an ice pick and rope, and tell someone where you plan to travel. Of course these should only be used as indicators combined with your own past fishing experience fishing on the banks of Minnesota River.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fishingproreport_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishingproreport_com-medrectangle-3-0'); It's common knowlege cloud cover is an angler's best friend. march 3, 2023. There are pods of walleyes and saugers in various areas. Just like panfishing on the river, the panfish bite on inland lakes has also been hit-and-miss but stable weather patterns are expected to help. Jigging spoons and minnow heads or live minnows on a deadstick have been very effective for walleye and perch. Diamond Lake is open to fishing year-round. Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species. For me, the video is well worth watching even if only for the timeline of Lunds company history. Minnesota River fishing report information updated each and everyday for accuracy. For free. Anybody who knows the fishing business knows that you cant really be famous, you can only be a little bit more recognizable. Red River Fishing Reports, Fargo, Grand Forks, Moorhead, Selkirk, Wahpeton, & Winnipeg St Cloud Fishing Reports St Croix River Fishing Reports South Central Minnesota - Faribault, Mankato, Albert Lea, Waterville Fishing Reports - MN Lakes SE Minnesota - Rochester, Lanesboro, Red Wing, Winona fishing reports by Jimmy Fee The Latest in Massachusetts Freshwater Rough Fish of the River During this period of high winds and cold temperatures, only walleye anglers ventured out, fishing from protective hard-sided shelters placed over the mud in 16-20 feet of water. Now I'm from Wisconsin, and you might as well say our state is terrible at managing wildlife. Im seeing Minnesota do the same thing and luckily there's someone like yourself stepping up and hopefully they'll listen to you. I have a Go-To lake that I visit regularly go too and years back the lake association started limiting the (overall) amount of panfish species we can harvest. It is important to be as quiet as possible since fish can be spooked easily. Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL. While the bitter cold temperatures earlier this week slowed the bite a bit on Lake of the Woods, some nice walleye and sauger were taken. Ski resorts, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and
depths, baits, the whole works? Although there are times when a lake make may actually have completely turned over during our fishing season, it seems more likely to me that Read >> Fishing Fall Walleye At Turnover, Find Minnesota Fishing Reports
Don't forget, you can always catch up with Jeff Sundin on the radio program too! Maybe youve been, Walleyes and a variety of salmon are on the autumn menu in the Midwest as anglers have a last chance to fish open water before the winter freeze, Crappie fishing is often associated with open water, cane poles, live minnows and brush piles, but by the time autumn arrives the popular panfish, Autumn is the season of dynamic changes for fishermen, and sort of a mirror image of spring. Join for free today to access the capability once available. In truth, what I have is one of the worlds smallest, small businesses. The walleye bite on Upper Red Lake remains very good, especially on the east side of the lake. Anglers found crappies very active this last weekend. We'll be (in your area) pan fishing this weekend, staying at a friends cabin. Several days of heavy wind have removed much of the snow on area lakes, exposing the slush and ice to bitter cold temperatures. Cloudy. Sampling results for selected water bodies are summarized in Reel Facts Sheets. The "crisis" Klocker refers to is road salt, more specifically, chloride inadvertently carried onto the ice by unsuspecting owners of wheeled ice fishing shelters. Its funny how life works, most of it is spent hoping for news about our future. Mankato has everything thanks to a freak of nature: the Sclare/Far Fissure. Buy and sell items locally or have something new shipped from stores. Among the typical array of questions about the rig itself came this one, a note from Jake Murphy who asks these important questions. The ice is in great shape and ranges from 8-16 inches thick in most areas. Find JetSkis & Watercrafts for Sale in Mankato, MN on Oodle Classifieds. Anyone venturing out onto the ice needs to check ice thickness and conditions often. 2 min read. Within the depressions, he uses MEGA 360 to look for any irregularities (deadheads, weed patches, etc.) Deadsticking fresh dead minnows or deadsticking small jigs tipped with wax worms has been very effective. Before dropping aline, be sure to learn and abide by Minnesota's rules, regulations and other helpful information for fishing. Questions about everything from navigation systems to fishing knots can be answered for you, in real time, by guys who know what theyre talking about. Low 21F. To learn more, visit the DNRs Lake Mille Lacs fishing regulations page. At the Northwest Angle, 9 to 14 inches of ice is reported with walleyes and sauger both hitting in 20 feet. The possession of black bass under 15 inches while in Paul Love Park or on the weir is prohibited. Look for any structure in the lake and try various depths. Plan ahead for upcoming Twin Cities Trout Unlimited events. For up-to-date fishing information lodging options, or to pick up live bait and fishing supplies, contact Pam Hammond at Roy's Store (662) 827 - 2588 or Mike Jones at Bait N Thangs bait shop (662) 827 - 2666. On the deadstick, use a live minnow on a demon, plain hook or ice jig set a foot off the bottom. Travel has been easy. The best crappie action has been during early morning, late afternoon and evening hours. But if the warm weather were to continue, it could shorten the duration of "quality" ice conditions, that would be bad news. Finding a spot to fish wasnt a big problem, we drove out onto the lake, following a plowed road leading to one of the few popular fishing areas thats been accessible this winter. Conservatively, I would say that around 60% of the lake hasnt been touched this year because of travel conditions. In a message yesterday, List wrote; Q) I heard yesterday (that) the perch bite on Winnie is " Read >> Perch Fishing Q&A February 16, 2023. He also reminds that a fishing license must be updated yearly. How Slow Can It Troll + What's So Great About Transom Mounts? Setting some tip-ups near vegetation covered shorelines in around 5-12 feet of water has been best. Success varies from fish house to fish house but those working at it typically catch a good meal of fish before the day is through. The weather has presented anglers with a 'good-news, bad-news, scenario. There was also a 42.5 inch catch-and-release sturgeon pulled from Big Stone this week! Mankato, MN. Measurements taken at the Hwy 68 access showed 15-20 inches of ice and about 2-4 inches of snow in most areas. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. But it would appear that now Ive shared the boat with enough people, drifted past enough milestones and passed along enough information so that Ive become famous. On the jigging line, use a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail. Our Minnesota experts can answer your questions, offer advice, or plan the perfect Minnesota trip for you. The Rainy River is frozen and was giving up lots of nice walleye bite before the deep freeze. Fishing Report Lake Washington - 3/1/2023 10:12:32 AM Statewide creel and size limits apply to all other fish species. TEST ENGINEER - (QUALITY DEPARTMENT) JOB SUMMARY. Some pike are being taken in the bays over 10 to 12 feet. Our recommendation is based on aspects about the weather conditions, moon phase & water conditions. Your belief that the voluntary walleye stamp is, in your words, a government money grab is understandable. P, ractice your casting indoors through open gym casting sessions at the Dayton Downtown YMCA in Minneapolis. Yo-yos left untripped during this two hour period and yo-yos left unattended at any other times can be confiscated by MDWFP law enforcement officers. During this period of high winds and cold temperatures, only walleye anglers ventured out, fishing from protective hard-sided shelters placed over the mud in 16-20 feet of water. Blue Earth River At Highway 169 At Mankato is located in Blue Earth County in Minnesota. As happens each ice season, some anglers who have been fishing 20 plus miles out have started finding fish a bit closer to shore. Suspended crank baits, spinner baits, and worms are a good choice. Minnesota Outdoor News Fishing Report - January 3, 2023 Site Staff January 3, 2023 Please do your part to help keep our waters clean by properly disposing your trash and other forms of waste. some of the larger, deeper lakes need more time to build ice. Want to know the best spots in Minnesota? from a north westerly direction which means fishing is optimal. Much of this can be applied to many different regions as well. Streed said warm weather has created spotty ice conditions.. Listen every Thursday at 6:20 AM and get additional fishing reports and information. Minnesota City: North Mankato 101 - 200 Acres. All yo-yo's must have a waterproof or metal tag attached and visible above the water surface. and report the catch. Measurements taken at the Hwy 68 access showed 15-20 inches of ice and about 2-4 inches of snow in most areas. Then this will mark the beginning of my 40th year as a professional angler.