Hello everybody,
Fall is here and everybody seems to be busy hunting, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. The trees are alive with the beautiful fall colors that the northland is famous for and for many folks, including me, this is their favorite time of the year. I'm no longer a hunter as I was when I was young. My old body just can't handle the long walks and all the other things that hunters have to do to be successful. Fishing on the other hand is much less of a strain on these old bones and I'll be out there in the boat as long as we have some open water, hopefully into mid November.
 
After the cold winter weather moves in, I get a little depressed at the thought of my open water fishing season coming to an end. I'll have to find some way of passing the time for the next 6 or 7 months before once again I'll have some open water to fish. Ice fishing does help a little bit, but unfortunately it just doesn't do it for me. I do have a shack that I put out on Vermilion, however after a few weeks I get pretty sick of staring down that hole. I'm an open water guy and unfortunately nothing is going to change that. I do have a few other things that help keep me busy during the long cold winter. I am involved in the Star of the north chapter of Muskies Inc. We have monthly meetings in Grand Rapids during the winter months. I also represent the Lake Vermilion guides league on the board of the Minnesota Muskie and Pike allience. The LVGL also has monthly meetings, so I do have a few things to do during the cold dark winter.
 
I guess what I'm getting at here is that for any other outdoors people out there that spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months. There are lots of outdoor organizations here in the northland that meet during the winter months. Many of them need people to get involved and take part in the process. Hunting, fishing, traping whatever it is that makes you smile. There are organizations that support your passion and do more for the sportsmen than you may realize. If you can't go to the meetings, just become a member and show your support for those that do so much for all of us that use and enjoy the great outdoors. Organizations of outdoorsmen give us all a voice in what happens in St.Paul, where all the decission are made that effect us all. All of these organizations are non profits, they only exsist to help us, the outdoor sportsmen have a hand in the process. Check out your favorite sportsmens group on the internet and think about becoming a member.
 
"Ace" <*)))><

Terry "Ace" Sjoberg.