Annual Tournament Time

Now that the ice is getting off the lakes it's time to get after those Bowfin.

I think I might have had a shot at one already, but I just couldn't hook it. It bit my black/red Berkley Havoc Pit Boss 4 times. I got a good feel for it a couple of times and it felt like a big fish. I know it wasn't a bass because it was fraying my line. I don't think it was a pike because I couldn't hook it.

Take a second to review the Annual Tournament Rules.

Bit By A Bowfin

FLW Pro Chad Morganthaler:

"I did catch a few bass, and Glenn and I laughed and enjoyed the day, even when I set the hook and my flipping rig went one way and the fish went flying the other. I did catch a three to four pound mud fish while I was flipping, and while I was trying to get the TroKar Flipping hook out of its head the phone rang. It was a writer looking for a story and while I was talking to him the dang thing bit me and made me bleed; I’m gonna have to learn when to answer the phone."

Mike Thompson With October Fin

Mike Thompson proves he knows where to find a late season dogfish. He got this monster on 2lb test while fishing for big sunfish.

Bowfin In the Fall

So where do they go?

I can only recall catching bowfin once in September. It was mid to late September and they were in the maidencaine on Boy Lake West of Remer MN. Got them pitching jigs.

Don's Dock Dogfish

Last night I was over fishing off a friends dock when he caught this nice dogfish.


He got the fish on a little spinner with some cut bait.

2010 MBC Grand Champion IS Chuck Fields!!!

On May 28th on Round Lake North of Brainerd former Minnesota Bowfin Club President Chuck Fields caught the Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Championship winning 28 inch bowfin on a jig. This makes Chuck a two-time Minnesota Bowfin Club Grand Champion. His previous championship was 10 years ago in the year 2000.

Congratulations Chuck!!!

Chuck was the only person to submit an entry this year. It could very well be that rumor spread of Chuck's 28" fish, so no one bothered entering a smaller fish. His 28" fish is the 5th biggest Grand Championship winner in the 12 years of the MBC Grand Championship competition.

Deadline

Grand Championship Entry Submissions are due before midnight today.

Don't Forget to Submit!!!

Less than 10 days until the close of the Grand Championship Tournament for 2010.

I have been informed, although not officially yet, about a couple of fins being caught.

So get out there, stick a pig and submit it!!!

Dogger Sighting

Last night, I spotted my first bowfin of the year but circumstances were such that I wasn't in a position to fish for it before I spooked it.

I would say it was 23" or 24", so it wasn't a big one.

Minnesota Fishing Challenge will have award for the biggest bowfin.

The 2010 Minnesota Fishing Challenge is taking shape. Set for Gull Lake north of Brainerd on Saturday, June 5, the multi-species tournament headed by Al Lindner, is open for all ages and all skill levels. It is also a fund-raiser for one of Al's favorite causes -- Minnesota Teen Challenge -- one of the very best alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs in the state.

Two-person teams enter all divisions with their $100 entry fee, and may register fish in the pike, walleye, bass, panfish or mixed-bag categories. Prizes of MinnKota trolling motors, Frabill ice fishing shelters, guide trips by the best, rods and reels used by the top pro anglers, fishing tackle leaders and TV hosts in the country, and much more are up for grabs. There are also awards for carp, dogfish, eelpout, sucker and bullhead.

The key behind this tournament is FUN, while raising funds for Teen Challenge. After the $100 entry fee, teams will have until the tournament to raise 100-percent tax deductible donations to Teen Challenge in the amount of $500 (for the team). This was a relatively simple chore last year as each team averaged about $1,000.

There is still time to enter. To do so, register online at mntc.org/fishingchallenge or complete an entry. Call Jim Kalkofen at 651-356-5676 or Melissa Varriano at 612-238-6184. With the early spring followed by a lengthy cold snap, many anglers have waited to make a commitment. With the nice warm-up this weekend, think about the Fishing Challenge, and enter this week.