Twitter mania

Everyone these days is trying to figure out ways to utilize Twitter and other social networking systems to their advantage. While I'm not a big fan of either, I also realize these sites have unbelievable potential to link people, businesses and more. My big complaint about using social-networking tools, namely tools such as Twitter, is when do people ever take time to relax and unplug? For many people, fishing, hunting, golfing, camping, biking, etc., is a way to escape from the daily grind of cell phones, computers, TVs and people we just plain don't want to talk to.

Still, what are good ways to use Twitter in our outdoor lives. Maybe there is a demand to read updates of people catching fish or to see in-the-field pictures of a 9-point buck. I'm not sure. But I do like Outdoor News' approach to Twitter, in which staff writer Steve Piatt will hold a Q&A on turkey hunting. Of course, the big Twitter project for Outdoor News will come during walleye opener next Saturday, when anglers can send tweets while on the lake and people around the state can follow the action via their Twitter accounts.

Seems like a lot of work to me, but to a growing number of people linked through their cell phones and computers, it probably seems like fun. Still, I like the approach of unplugging while outdoors — you know, the place where tweet still means the sound a bird makes, not some nonsensical mix of words compiled by twitaddicts. But that's just my two cents.

Show off those opening-day stringers

The Free Press will be accepting photos from the walleye/northern fishing opener for an online photo gallery. Photos should be no bigger than 2 MB, and photos will be accepted until 4 p.m. Sunday, May 10. People appearing in photos should be identified, and catches should be identified as well (i.e. Adam Angler, 4 lb. walleye). If you chose to identify the lake where the catch came from, even better, but we're betting that most people like to keep a good honey hole quiet. We will be updating the photos periodically during walleye-opener weekend, so keep checking back to view the best catches. The final gallery should be done no later than Monday afternoon, but those dates could change depending on the volume of photos we receive. This is a good thing, people — show off your skills and while you're at it, show off what Minnesota has to offer in the way of quality fishing.

Beginning May 9, send photos to photos@mankatofreepress.com.

Fishing for Lakemaids

Last year, Schell's Brewery out of New Ulm and Rapala teamed up to create Lakemaid Beer, which, apparently, is inspired by the legend of the freshwater mermaid, or lakemaid in this case. When I first came across this news nugget, I instantly thought cheap beer, because what goes better with fishing than affordable, tasty beer — although I had my suspicions on the latter part. And originally, this little marketing beauty was only going to be available for 2008. So when I first read about Lakemaid Beer and found myself intrigued, I was disappointed to read that the 2008 designation meant I'd missed the boat. Fortunately for me, I happen to know a guy who's on the up-and-up, and he informs me that due to the popularity of the beer, Schell's and Rapala have decided to give it another go. So this year I think I'll do some fishing for a Lakemaid and see how it tastes.

Of course, I'm in the minority when it comes to fishing and drinking, and I'm definitely not advocating drinking. I often accuse the walleye fisherman of being more interested in the beer than the catch, although I know that as I type those words, some diehard somewhere is ready to jump down my throat. But cheap shots aside, drinking does go hand-in-hand with the Midwestern fishermen I know. And there's nothing wrong with a little responsible drinking to help relax on a weekend away from work, but getting buzzed (or worse) is a buzzkill for me when I'm out fishing. Besides, any bass fisherman worth his salt knows that using his or her senses makes the most sense. So be smart in 2009 as we approach the season openers for walleye, northern and bass. Be safe, and catch your limit.

Chattering about the frog

Normally, as the walleye opener nears, I'm looking over my tackle and prepping for the upcoming bass season. The walleye opener provides the perfect opportunity to tune up the crankbaits and any other marginal bass/walleye/northern lures I have in the tackle box. Now, I'm definitely not fishing bass during the two-week period from walleye opener to my favorite opener, but throwing these lures doesn't hurt my chance of picking up a stray largemouth now and again. Of course, the accidental catch will always go back in the water.

But during those moments when I'm throwing crankbaits and the like, my mind is always creeping over the other rigs and lures in the ol' box. Two years ago, a young salesman at Scheels tried to sell me on chatterbaits. I had no real interest in these lures, as I was set on replenishing my stock of PowerBait worms, specifically the 7" pumpkin seed/chartruesse worms that have landed me many a big fish. So like the on-a-mission fisherman I am, I dished out some small talk and went about my business of stocking up on worms.

Fast forward to 2008, when I decided to try my had at the Chatterfrog. I'm not sure exactly why I wanted to try the lure, because at nearly $6 a lure, the investment isn't cheap, but I think I liked the idea of the blade, which vibrates twice as hard as a traditional spinnerbait, but without the excessive drag that can come from an imperfect rod/reel combo for the weight of the spinnerbait. What I didn't realize is the versatility of the Chatterfrog. Being a jig-n-pig type of guy, I liked the ability to jig the Chatterfrog as much as I liked its straight retrieval. Tack on the ability to skim or pop it near the top of the water, and you have on heck of a bass-fishing combo. I pulled in 190 bass last summer — I'd bet 40 to 50 percent of those came on the Chatterfrog. Yeah, it's that good.

Crappie action

I've been hearing a lot about Madison Lake and Lake Tetonka for crappie action. Haven't got out myself, but plenty of my fishing buddies have, and they say when the winds aren't pushing you around, the bite has been fairly decent. That sounds like most springs, with anglers always struggling with the inconsistent weather and sometimes overcharged winds. I'm thinking this week could be a real good bite for the crappie. I imagine a person could hit several shorelines and pick up a good bite in the shallower, warmer water. But then again, the itch to launch a boat will be too much for most. Still, I'm wondering how the mill on the east side of Big Jefferson is doing? Fellow Free Presser John Cross turned me on to that spot last year, and I was very impressed with the early-spring crappie action. Of course, you have to pick through a few bullheads, too, but there are usually a few takers of the yellow-bellied slimers. I'd prefer not to eat bullhead, but there are plenty who contend the mud-bathing bullheads taste pretty good out of cold water. To each their own, I guess. The only downsize to the mill, I've learned, is the secret about that spot was out years and years ago, and a trip to the mill most certainly will be shared by a few, if not a good contingent, of local anglers.

Minnesota-native Moynagh takes 6th

Carver, Minn., native Jim Moynagh finished third at the FLW Tour National Guard Open at Lake Norman (N.C.) His 16-pound, 12-ounce catch netted him a payout of $28,000. Not too shabby, but not the $150,000 Stetson Blaylock brought in for first. Still, any time one of the boys from Minnesota mixes it up with all the southern bass chasers, I'm always a little excited. On a side note, I spoke with Moynagh after the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup, and the guy knows a thing or two about fishing. With this performance, I'm interested to see if he'll get a return shot at the cup. Maybe I'll see if I can't track him down for an interview and see how the season is going for him.