WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
March 22, 2007

Hope everyone made it through another Winter. As for me, the last few weeks have been very crazy and now I'm back into the swing of things and look forward to another season which is fast approaching. My boat is still for sale and if you know anyone looking please send them my way. I will be giving anyone with the help of the sale a guided trip for two. So the upcoming season is only weeks out and I must tell you the excitement just continues to build. I can't wait for the Salmo hornet trolling trips, and those days on Red, but most of all the time of getting back to however those silly fish want to bite. If you're looking to book a trip, please contact me as my schedule is almost full for the 2007 season.

Spring has arrived, and with it has come those warmer days and finally some more precipitation. With the water level much lower then we like, it sure would be nice to get a bunch more rain. So with spring here, the open water opportunities are knocking on the door. From the Mississippi river to the Rainy river, we are getting closer by the minute to finding those rod bending open water outings.

Again this season I will go through a weekly update and checklist, getting everyone excited and ready for opening day. Opening day is on May 12 this season which is only seven weeks away. If you're like me, the excitement has already showed up and I have been going through the tackle boxes and gear, checking to see what needs to be replaced and what needs a little fixing up.

As for this weeks' check, I want to start with the rods and reels and line. Each year so many anglers get to the lake opening day to have problems with line, rods and reels not working properly or breaking. Changing line at the start of the season is critical and making sure those drags are set with the correct tension is a must. As for the line, I recommend using Stren Magna thin in the 8 lb. strength. Berkley has come out with a new braided line called crystal, that makes that braided line nearly invisible in the water. I have not had a chance to use it, but from what I hear, the crystal line is going to be great.

As for those reels, check to see that the drag is working smoothly. When checking to see if the drag is working properly, I recommend tightening the drag until one can just barely pull it out. Pull the drag slowly for the first couple of feet, then in small adjustments back the drag off until it comes off while pulling easily. Once you have tested the drag completely, tighten the adjustment about one full revolution. This may vary from each reel, but typically one can get the drag to the right tension when doing this. Always check the drag each time out.

As for the rods, it is a great idea to check the strength and elasticity after that long winter of storage. I like to take the end of the new line in one hand and pull the line toward the handle of the pole. This should create a life like bend in the pole, making sure that it can handle those fish and hooks sets on opening day. Another great way to test the strength of the pole is to tie the line to a door knob and here one can even practice hooks sets, or pull in an upward motion checking to see if that pole stored well over the Winter. Be careful doing this with the braided lines, as they can cause damage to your hands and door knobs.

As for the local fishing report, I have not been on the ice in sometime, but I have heard numbers of good panfish reports coming from a many of the local lakes, including Pokegama, Bowstring, and Cutfoot. The Perch action on Winnie has continued to produce, with the size of the fish varying day-to-day. Anglers are finding the Perch deep and shallow, and I would expect to see a push of shallow water action as the weather continues to warm.

So as those warm March temps continue to beat away our Winter ice, no better time then now to start getting those open water set-ups ready for those pole-bending days. Don't forget to get those #4 Floating Salmo Hornets.

See you out there,

Sean Colter
member of NMGL
www.seancolter.com