New Sponsors

I am excited to announce 2 new sponsors to fishwithmatt.com!  The first of them is Outkast Tackle based right here in MN!  They make a full line of jigs and plastics for many applications.  You can order direct on their website and I would ask you to give them a try.  I have been fishing their money jig for my jig-worm all summer and have had great success.  They also have a deadly swim jig.  

The other company that I have aligned myself with is not fishing related at all.  It is MN Eye Consultants.  MN Eye performed my PRK (form of lasik) back in July and have come on board.  My vision as of this morning was 20/15!  They have offices all over the metro as well as the state.  If you or anyone you know is looking to have lasik or need to have their eyes looked at give MN Eye a call, you will not be disappointed.  They are the leading provider of eye care in the midwest.  Let your doctor know I sent you and they will take extra special care of you.  

I look forward to growing relationships with both of these companys in the years to come.  I am also working on a vehicle sponsorship at this time...I am getting ever so close to working with either Toyota or Chevrolet.  I will keep you updated on where I end up.      

Costa Del Mar Feature

If you were ever wondering what sunglasses I wear on the water and in all the great pictures featured on this site look no further than Costa Del Mar.  I would like to say thank you to Costa Del Mar for there continued support.  Check out the Costa guide page.  If you are in the market for sunglasses I would like to consider Costa Del Mar.  Their sunglasses truly are in a league of their own when it comes to all day comfort and seeing in the water!  They make a great product and stand behind it.  The technology of there 580 lens is one of a kind.  As you see below I would not be caught on the water without them. 

Day On The Water With Nick

Long time friend Nick Geller joined me for a day of bass fishing on Lake Waconia.  Nick and I grew up together fishing Lake Waconia every day.  Nick now lives in Dresser, Wisc. where he is a dentist so it was a great pleasure to spend a day on the "old stomp'n grounds"!  Nick was fishing a jig-worm when he reeled in this "huge" sunny that got a little to close to the hook. 

These were a couple of the better fish we were able to catch fishing a jig-worm.  We fished most of the day off the deep weed edge in 12-14 feet of water.  The fish seem to finally be getting to there summering holes.  They have been behind all year with the cold spring and the late spawn.  The weeds have also been behind all year, but look like they are finally up good and green where they should be.  The green cabbage and green milfoil are holding fish on the edge.  If the weeds look burnt and dead move on to another area.   

Just Returned

Returned yesterday from the inaugural Ron Schara MN Bound Invitational on Gull Lake.  This event was one of a kind.  It was the first time in years that anyone put on a tournament of this caliber.  The format consisted of 45 professional fisherman, some of which were hall of famers, fishing alone over two days of competition for a total purse of $75,000!   

Last Monday was the first day the lake was open for practice.  I fished 14 hours on monday and realized catching bass on Gull Lake was not going to be easy.  Or I should say catching quality fish was not going to be easy.  I struggled to catch 5, 2 pound keepers on monday.  Tuesday I switched gears a bit and I was starting to catch a few better fish.  I still did not get very many bites and was not liking my chances against the likes of Al Lindner, Jim Moynagh, Mark Raveling, Dean Capra, Tom Whitehead, and of coarse the local guide Richie Boggs.  Wednesday I was back on the water early and struggled once again to get any good fish. It was down right tough.  That evening was the rules meeting and it sounded like it was tough for a lot of guys.  The bite was just off. 

Thursday was the youth/pro day.  I took out a 14 year old boy named Patrick for a short paper tournament.  Patrick and I had a great day of fishing but never caught a fish over 2 pounds.  He caught all of his fish on a drop-shot and a chatter bait.  We were back in by noon with 17 fish on our paper.  I think Patrick needed plastic surgery by the time it was all over to whip the smile off his face.  

Friday morning rolled around and it was go time.  There was a buzz in the air....the anticipation for all 45 anglers was over whelming.  We were ready to get after it.  No longer did I have to hold back on a bite, no longer did I have to leave a spot after catching two fish.  If I was going to win I was going to leave it all on the lake.  The bite was as tough on Friday as it had been all week.  I fished my little hinney off and managed to bag a limit (5) that weighed 9.66 lbs.  I was sitting in 25th place after day one and was only 2 pounds out of the top 10.  I figured if I could catch 12 or 13 lbs on Saturday I would get a check.  I was going to have to fish hard and hope for a big bite or two. 

Saturday I went back to work fishing shallow and was struggling to catch any nice fish.  By 11 o'clock I had a small limit.  I headed 40 minutes back down the lake in search of a big bite or two on a deep spot I had found in practice.  Fished there for an hour with nothing but one small fish so back to the bank I went.  It was there that I woud have my chances to catch a big fish or two.  I worked an area and eventually caught one that was almost 4 pounds.  I realized then that I was one bite away from winning some money and having a top 10 finish.  Their was one small problem, time was working against me and I only had 20 minutes until I had to be in.  I managed to get one more big bite. During the battle of this fish my line got nicked and the fish managed to break off half way to the boat.  I got a good look at it and it was bigger then the 4 pounder I had just caught.  That turned out to be my last bite and wound up weighing a limit for 11.47 lbs on saturday and missed the money by 1 pound.  I was very disappointed but yet happy to finish 18th overall amongst some of the biggest names in this sport.

After day 2 local guide Richie Boggs was crowned the champion with a total weight of 30 lbs.  Congrats to Richie and all the competitors for a great tournament.