Non-Kayak, Non-CA , no Pix- Bloomington Minnesota 6/8-12

Well, first off, I didn't really fish in Bloomington, except for a rather unenthusiastic attempt at Normandale lake Tuesday evening...

Monday afternoon, I arrive in Minneapolis and pick up a couple 24 hour licenses at Gander Mountain. I get two at $9.50 each, as I'm scheduled to leave Wednesday morning. For more than two days, a week license at $27 makes better sense. I get some beta on Lac Lavon, supposedly a good place to fish for Northerns and Bass. I make my way over there, unfortunately to the wrong end of the lake. The end that is populated apparently solely by Bluegill. After futilely fishing for anything larger than a potato chip, I give up and fish for 'Gills just to keep off the scent of skunk.

Tuesday evening, I hit Normandale lake, a completely weed choked body of water not really worth talking about, other than there are summer concerts in the park.

Wednesday evening, after extending my stay for at least an additional day I go back to Gander Mountain, and pop for a week license. Should have known better the first time. I also hit Lac Lavon again, and watch an incredible sky. Lots of thundershowers in the area. I get an unidentified blow up on a Rapala walking bait, and manage to land a 2 lb bass on the traditional wacky rigged Sencko. I miss a couple other grabs, but most likely they were big 'Gills, as I'm waiting 'til I'm feeling the fish move away with the lure before striking. Shades of Roland Martin

Thursday evening I'm at Ann Lake, out in the Eden Prairie area. Plenty of willing Crappie and Bluegills, a C&R bass fishery, and supposedly lots of Northerns. But after 4 hours, I've only got another couple largemouth and some panfish to show for my time. Oh - and my first Yellow Perch as well. But it's all of 4 inches long

All in all, Minnesota has been pretty ok. The weather is cool so far, though a bit electrical. More lakes than anywhere else I've ever been. A true human powered water craft heaven.

I'll see if I can get in an hour or two more of fishing in the AM, then it's back to CA. Where the Sonoma coast report looks like poop.

Regards,
Scott

P.S. My wife agrees that the Oly 850SW is a fine Father's day gift, so look for pix in the future. Hidden 720SW be damned....

Scott - you gotta post these a little earlier.  You KNOW that no photos means I'm already cranky, so the long read for no big fish is just unbearable at this hour! 

   Get back to Cali - the wind will die soon and there's a gaggle of freakishly deprived yak fishermen up and down the coast who are ready to slay and report back on a multi-media level if possible.     You need rockfish after all that inland water.

I really want to get some Abalone, so I keep postponing my first trip to the coast. But it doesn't look like I'm missing out on much unless I want to do the long trek to Big Sur. Figure about 5 hours one way from Auburn. The salt will wait...

Scott