Yes, that's right. I am a "bucket" fisherman. A member of the thousands of bank fisherman that often get scorned on this forum. I ask you boat anglers to put aside your prejudices and stop scowling at my bucket and I as you troll on by. We are not all evil poachers.

Why do I always have my trusty white (wish it was blue) 5 gallon bucket with me every time I hit the lake? Not to fill with illegal fish, but because it ranks among my top 5 essential fishing tools.
1) Fishing...

Into the Starting Gate

And they're off!

Or not.

I'm getting over the flu and spend the first 4 days at home looking at all the fish Eric has already posted. Yikes! Good thing there is a prize for second place. I use the time at home to research the list and plan my strategy.

Eels? These are fish? They migrate from the ocean? Why not include the turtle I caught or that MA clam? Burbots? Nothing more than another eel but sporting a fin. Only 500...

Around the First Turn

I got my wife out for a short trip to Standing Bear on Tuesday to try for Drum, Carp, and Trout. Scored the Drum as I was packing up to go home.

Headed to Hanson Lakes on Wednesday with my best friend for crappie, white perch, gar, and cat. Got a crappie and white perch.

One fish first trip, two fish second trip. At this rate I will be done in a couple weeks.

I arrived at Yankton by myself at 7pm on Friday. I had until Mother's...

And Now a Word from Your Conscience

Phishful Thinking posed a good question about photographing the fish measurement for the tourney and the director gave a good response;

"It's an honor system"

While up at Gavins last weekend I ran into several forum members plying the fertile waters of the Mighty Mo. I overheard one of the members asking a complete stranger if he could have the "trash" fish that the stranger just caught because he needed...

Down the Back Stretch

I took a trip up to Summit after work with my best friend to get a Large Mouth Bass and Bluegill. He grabbed his gear and headed out to the end of our favorite rock jetty. When I walked out he was walking back with his gear.

"We can't fish here. There's a killer mother goose on a nest that tried to bite me."

I convinced him we could all get along. As the evening progressed I kept forgetting about the goose and almost stepped...