CHECK THE REGS

My first fish in the state of Minnesota was illegal.

The photograph above shows a beautiful healthy smallmouth bass, a big smile on my face, and my ever so popular white sunglasses, but there's a big issue that is not shown in the photograph.  This fish was caught during the closed season for bass here in Minnesota, and I had no idea.

I had completely forgot that I wasn't in Illinois, and overlooking the fact that each state has different regulations, even for catch and release.  I'm thankful for the 2 guys that shot me a message to inform me, because, I would have kept fishing on my lunch break while unknowingly breaking the rules.  Big shout out goes to Tom of Voyageur Pursuits and Aaron of Scavenger Fly.  You guys saved me a future fishing ticket, and I THANK YOU!

Minnesota Fishing Dates

Walleye, Northern Pike and Bass - May 13 - Feb 25

Musky - June 3 - Dec 1

Crappie, Blueys, White Bass, Perch, Channel Cats, Bull heads - Open year round

For more information on Minnesota fishing regulations, please visit this link - MINNESOTA FISHING REGULATIONS

If you're traveling or have moved to a new state, don't be like me, remember to check the regulations.

Winter Jigs

+Gramps Mel over at The Pond Stalker has been tying up some jigs to start off his tying season.  That got me inspired to get to tying up some jigs myself.  Pictured below I have 4 jigs.  I completely forgot their weights, because, I'm terrible at remembering those kinds of details.  

Now I know what you're thinking, "why don't you just look at the packages for them?"  This would be a fantastic solution, had I not tore them up and tossed them in  the garbage, and placed all of my jigs in a small Plano box.

Oh, well.

The small green ones, can easily be tossed with my 5 wt, I'm thinking.  The chartreuse jigs with the white marabou tails will need to be tossed with my ultra light spinning rod.

These are super simple to tie, and the panfish love 'em.  There's no doubt that these jigs will fool some crappie, and bluegill at a local warm water discharge this Winter...pretty much the only place around here that you know for sure you're not going to get skunked.

Small Jig Ingredients:

Body - Hareline Caddis Green Ice Dubbing

Tail - Crystal Flash

Bigger Jig Ingredients:

Body - Chartreuse Chenille 

Tail - White Marabou w/Crystal Flash

Links to the jigs The Pond Stalker tied.
1. The Hot Pink Icy
2. Stayner Duck Tail Jig

Fly Tying Season

When I leave work during the week, I have about a 1.5 hours of day light, and that flat out sucks.

Enter Fly Tying Season.

I haven't had the chance to sit down at the vise to put in an extended amount of time in for quite a while.  I'll begin filling my own personal boxes and taking care of any orders that may come in.  One of my goals this fly tying season, is to come up with something new and different or a revised version of another pattern out there.

Now that Wisconsin has extended their trout season, I think I'll be able to find enough time to make it to Southwest Wisconsin, in the Driftless area for an outing.  I haven't made the drive that way in 2 years, since I totaled my car on the expressway, because, of some deer frolicking on the highway at 4 AM.

Clousers are a staple in any bass fly fishermans box.  These simple patterns do nothing but catch fish.  Here are some reds and blues.  My favorite are chartreuse over white, not pictured here.

..and as cabin fever sets in during mid winter, this is probably what I'll look like, as I start to lose my mind.

If anyone is interested in a decal, please shoot me an email at carfoutdoors@gmail.com or book face message, and I will gladly send you one.