May 29, 2015

Hello everyone, it’s been awhile since I have talked at you.  Things are good, things are busy and the fish are biting (some days!).  Turkey season has ended in a number of states, including my home state of Minnesota where it closed yesterday.  We had a very good season and had some awesome experiences with first timers and veterans.  When I say veterans, I guess both types (war veterans and veteran turkey hunters).  I had the pleasure of guiding for Bud Grant at Camp Ripley earlier this month and even though Bud didn’t get to squeeze the trigger, we did have a close encounter.  His buddy Bob Lessard did bag one, and at 82 years old Bob finally bagged his first gobbler....pretty darn exciting!  You should have been there to hear him and Bud talk about how Bob’s hunt unfolded, I was rolling.  

Another highlight to this past turkey season was that both of my daughter’s had opportunities to shoot gobblers with the crossbow and Elizabeth bagged one!  Alex missed, but she went out all by herself and called in her own birds....pretty cool.  Our son, Mac, didn’t let fly, he was hunting with his bow and arrow and the two long beards that we saw were out just a bit far for his ability.  

So, enough of the turkey’s!  Fishing season is in full swing and with the water temperatures up in the 60’s now the bite is starting to pick up.  The crappies were on their beds last week and the smallmouth bass were on their beds on Mille Lacs just the other day when we were there.  I had two boys from Texas out and they had an absolute blast catching smallmouth bass!  I am preparing now for tomorrow’s Minnesota Fishing Challenge that benefits Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge.  My daughter Alex and I will fish together again this year and we will just have to see how things go!  

-Dan

Spring is Here!

Hello to you and goodbye March!  April is about here and April means Easter, gobblers, crappies, sturgeon, walleyes and wood ticks!  Sorry to end up that last sentence with such a buzz kill, but they are nasty and I would suggest you get the pets and yourself protected!!  

So, what else?  Well, I am pumped to put the boat in the water for the first time this spring and I think it will be on the Rainy River sometime after Easter.  I was on a vacation/mission trip to The Dominican Republic a couple weeks ago and I got to hear gobblers, it was great to hear gobbles again and I’m sure with this nice weather that many of you are hearing them around the home front!  

If you have not gotten into this incredible sport, I would have to say you are missing out!  Kids receive some preferential treatment in many states, so check the regulations and pick a child to go experience one of the greatest sports there is!  I have been asked by numerous people about the new Mills Fleet Farm opening in Mankato and yes, I will be there for the first couple of days after opening.  And I plan on bringing down the new Larson FX 2020T fishing boat, so come on out and we can talk fishing and hunting! 

Happy Easter!  
-Dan

Throw the Spear!

I just returned from a sturgeon spearing trip on Lake Winnebago, crazy!!  I did not have much of a clue on this sport before heading over to this huge body of water, but now I get why so many folks make it a yearly tradition (similar to deer camp).  

After a stop at the Appleton, WI Mills Fleet Farm store for some supplies and snacks, we hooked up with the Mat and Dave Van Elzen at their “sturgeon camp” out on the ice to “cut-in” (which means cut our spear hole).  This alone was quite interesting with the custom machinery that they have set-up.  

From the saws to the custom houses, spears, decoys and everything else that goes into this sport (including the many personalities), it’s really something you need to see for yourself!  And you will actually be able to do so towards the end of March when it airs.  I will not give everything away, but I will tell you that there were some hits and some misses!  And for those you that might not think this is a sport, just head on over there and mention that to some of the 10,000 people that look forward to this season every year!  You will get all kinds of answers.  

One that I was really amazed by was the fact that there are people that have been doing this for over 20 years and have not speared a fish!  You gotta see it to believe it and you can’t kill one unless you throw the spear!!  

Stay warm, Dan

Well, it's been awhile...

And although I have done a lot since the last time I wrote, I’m going to try and get you up to speed.  Obviously we are right smack dab in the middle of the ice fishing season, and it’s been a fantastic year as far as ice conditions in many areas of the upper Midwest.  I know the ice in Iowa is deteriorating quite quickly with so many days above normal, but as you work your way north things are in good shape.  

This past Saturday was Extravaganza Saturday in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota, where 11,000 plus anglers headed to Hole-in-the-Day Bay on Gull Lake to compete for 150 prizes.  It was a beautiful day and there were people attending from all over the globe.  Just in our party of 11, we had Idaho, Colorado, Chanhassen, MN, Lake Shore, MN and East Gull Lake, MN.  My brother in law Ryan caught the only fish in our party and it placed him on the leader board at 43^rd place.  He won an Aqua Vu underwater camera.  First place went to gentleman from Owatonna, MN.  He caught a nearly 7 pound northern and he won a truck (courtesy of Mills Auto).  

No, we did not do any filming.  But, our next filming will be done in a couple of weeks on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin.  We will be filming an episode of sturgeon spearing and I am looking forward to all the festivities that surround this annual ritual.  I hope you are enjoying the shows thus far in 2015, keep watching and you will see more good stuff on the horizon!  Take care, Dan  

Thanksgiving

There are a lot of things happening in the outdoors right now!  Wisconsin's deer season, people are ice fishing across the ice belt, ducks are going down and all other kinds of things!  Don’t you just Love it!!  

Here in central MN where I live, the duck season closes on the 25^th of November and I am hoping to get the kids back out before the closing bell rings!  My son Mac (12) just shot his first duck early in the week and it was a big green head with curly tails.  He was pretty pumped and so was I, we shot 5 mallards that day all on Gull Lake.  The divers are a little too quick for the little guy and sometimes for me too.  We will see if the girls can whack a few divers in the next day or two.  

I am still holding a MN and WI archery tag for whitetail and I plan on using them!  I was back down to the Buffalo/Pepin county line last week and had a great sit - but cold!  I saw about a dozen deer, including a smaller buck, pushing the does around the field.  I could have easily shot a doe with the crossbow, but elected to hold out for a buck!  We will see what happens.  

We will be trading in the bows for a CVA muzzleloader early December as we head to Bluff Bucks in search of a monster!  In the meantime, we will try some more duck hunting (hopefully), some archery deer and then down to the Ice Show in St. Paul!  Enjoy the season and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
-Dan

Fall 2014

The fall weather has been beautiful and I am hoping that it hangs on for awhile yet.  We were up in Saskatchewan, Canada with Ricky Hart of Lucky Duck and the guys (Max, Cooper and Troy) from Central Prairie Outfitters on our last adventure and it was AWESOME!  We shot numerous ducks and geese and my shoulder was sore for about a week afterwards.  These guys are “dialed-in” on the ducks and geese and I would suggest you look them up if you are up for the hunt of all waterfowl hunts.  

From the calling to the decoy’s to the scouting and the amazing accommodations at Windy Acres, this was truly a hunt of a lifetime for me.  I  know you will love the show when it airs on television! 

Next up is deer part 2.  In a few weeks, we will be back down in southwest WI to try and score a big bruiser whitetail with the Excalibur crossbow!  In the meantime, I will be getting out on the water a few more times and will also try to bag a Minnesota whitetail with my bow and arrow.  We have also been doing a little duck hunting around here in central Minnesota, but it’s not quite like SK!!  

Have a great day, Dan

Smallmouth Bass

I just got back from Wisconsin last week where we met up with Jimmy Bell (Larson Boats Pro) on Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior!  Smallmouth bass were our target and Jimmy was dialed in!  We caught a bunch and really enjoyed our time over in Ashland, WI!  

We stayed at the River Rock Inn and it was just a straight up exceptional time: great weather, people, a king-size bed, and huge bass!!  Even the cameramen got in on the fish catching action.  And guess what, I fell in the lake!  Yep, really did..on Lake Superior.  You will have to watch this show when it comes time to hit the air.  You will laugh your tail off.

Another exciting moment took place when my son Mac shot his first deer (ever!) with a bow and arrow.  This was so exciting for us, I can’t even begin to tell you how proud of a dad I am.  He made a good shot but we still had quite a drag out of the woods (uphill).  Next up for me is some walleye fishing and then we are off to Saskatchewan to do do some waterfowl hunting!  This is the season to enjoy the outdoors; can't get much better than late September, October, and November!  December isn't too bad either ;)

-Dan