Burb, Burb, Burb, Burbout's the word!

As I am typing this, I am running through a mental checklist of items I need to get ready for my annual Lake of The Woods ice fishing trip. With money, time, 'Honey Do' lists, and fatherhood all factoring in, this might be the only trip I make up there this year.

As always, the main goals I hit the road with is creating memories with my brother and friends, to catch some fish to bring home and eat, and to kick back for a few days and relax. This year though, I go with an new goal in mind...

It's my goal to catch a 30" or better Burbout, and if that happens...
I am going to put it on the wall!!
  

Yes, you read that right: A Burbout hanging on the Man Den wall.
Most fishermen would rather have a Walleye or Northerrn adorning their trophy room, but I of course have my own drummer at times.
I want to wrangle in a a slimy, growling, mean and nasty Eel Pout to show off. The Rodney Dangerfield of MN lakes if you will.

No, I am not out of my mind. Thousands of attendees to the Eel Pout Festival in Walker MN every year can't be wrong, can they?

(speaking of The Eel Pout Fest, check out the link to learn more and consider checking it out: http://www.eelpoutfestival.com/)

I did catch a dandy Burbout a few years back, but didn't think about the possibility of mounting it until it was already cooking in the pot. That's hindsight for ya.

Here is my Top 4 reasons to praise the Pout:

1. Rough and Tough - The two Burbout I have caught in my life (through the ice) really threw some punches on the way out of the hole. Besides that, the real fun happens when they hit the deck and you have to get them off the hook!
2. Taste - Poor Man's Lobster. Period. Boiled Backstraps+Drawn Butter = Crazy Delicious
3. Beauty - Their colors coming out of the ice are amazing. Green/Yellow/Purple/Glossy Black...tons of character! (I would even argue I would be the only person in the Tri-state area that would have a mounted Eel Pout.)
4. Mystique - Some anglers have never seen a live one, let alone caught one. Other anglers hate them because they don't know any better.

So, Thursday I leave for the big lake and my hopes are high. I will be sure to keep you updated on the 'hunt' for my wall hanger. My luck I will just catch a 30" Walleye instead...

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs...

A recent debate I read on a web-forum revolved around the image to the right (awesome shot by the photographer!).

 

 

Courtesy of 'divingduck2006' of www.fishingbuddy.com

Posted Property is always a hot button issue for the modern era hunter. High hunter concentration throughout MN and ND makes finding a chunk of private property a challenge for those that aren't lucky enough to own land. I plan on writing a full article on this subject, but here is the question for today.

This posted sign has no land owner signature, is semi obstructed, and clearly has seen more than one winter in its time.

So, what would you do if you saw this posted sign and behind it was the biggest buck of your life at 100 yards? Or maybe you saw a whole mess of pheasants flush into that slough? I am not shocked that some on the forum members didn't hesitate and honestly stated they would go onto the property because it wasn't a 'legal' sign.

Everyone has different levels of respect for boundaries, and personally, I would not access that property without having a signed permission slip in hand. But clearly some would without a second thought.

What would you do?

Stairway to ...???

Supposedly this video was taken up by my old stomping ground, but you can never be sure nowadays.
Regardless of where it was filmed, it goes to show anything is possible in the great outdoors.(click link below)

Tree Stand Visitor (It gets really interesting at the 1:30 mark)

The real question is, what would you do in this situation?
I am positive that I would have had my bow in my hand instead of the video camera!!

Swany~

Happy New Year Everyone!!

In honor of the New Year, here are my resolutions as they pertain to my outdoor life, and what I have control over...

5. Make two ice fishing trips to Lake of the Woods. Wall hanger Burbout here I come!
4. Finish Top 5 in an off season archery tournement.
3. Go out West for a Prarie Dog shooting Trip with my Dad.
2. Find a secondary spot to bowhunt in ND.
1. Take my nephew on a bowhunt with me.