How’s the Bite?

Walleye Are Back! Northern Pike - Excellent

Fishermen on the Upper Mississippi River were HAULING in BIG Walleyes a week ago and then the snow melted and cooled the river water.  Fish quit biting for much of the week. But the water is now warming and many species are moving and HUNGRY.
We check with Jamie at landing 615 who has a fishing barge set in the best spot below Lock and Dam 10.  We also talk with Larry, who runs Murray's Outdoors on Thursdays.  He has great information on fishing, rod and reel selection and Roberta's love life.
Finally, we talk with Chad Dolan from Iowa DNR about the work they are doing in surveying Muskellunge (supercharged Northern Pike)_ and whether you should keep a big female walleye that is ready to spawn.  
Bob loses interest before we finish.  If you have any left over Ritalin or other attention deficit drugs.  Please bring them by the store and administer ASAP.
If you have an opinion on the Question of the Week:  "What is the condition of  the fishery of the Mississippi River as it borders Iowa?" send to kenroot@gmail.com
Good Luck and God Help Us!

OMG Big Walleye At their Best!

There is a time each year that the ice is gone, the water is cold and the Walleyes are hungry.  This week, the spot to be is just below the dam at Guttenberg, Iowa.  Murray's outdoors will set you up and point you to the best place to catch BIG Walleye females and some large Ring Perch.
We talk with Jamie at Landing 615.  He expands on his Fishing Barge and how many big fish are being caught.  See the fish on fb Jamie Dinger Page
Larry (long suffering step dad to Bob) gives us instruction on how to rig for Ring Perch and maybe some background on Roberta  (Jail, soliciting, etc) and on what's in the store for fishermen and women.
We also talk with Luke Stoyer from Memory Maker Sports Fishing Charter out of Kenosha, Wisconsin.  He guides on Lake Michigan and talks about how they catch Salmon and Lake Trout.  Very interesting guy.  Maybe you'd like to make a big trip out in the Big Lake..
"Michigan Steams like a Young Man's Dreams
Her Islands and Bays are for Sportsmen"
Gorden Lightfoot 
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
 

BIG Walleye Biting! Boat or Barge, Fishing's Good

Prepare for a VERY STRONG Storm System to sweep across the region but, ahead of it, fishermen are reeling in the early Walleye bite and it has some very big females as large as 29 1/2 reported from Saint Larry at Murray's Outdoors on the South End of Guttenberg, under the (fitting) Big Walleye.
Bob is heading for the Eastern Iowa Sports Show at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls for a full weekend of talking, selling and demonstrating technique in a 50 ft long glass tank stocked with all the species in the area.
Bob also gives some good advice on fishing under a full moon.  The best I've heard from him (ever)!  
Larry had a birthday this week, so please tell him Happy Birthday if you see him because he has declared March to be his Birthday MONTH.
Roberta may become the Telephone Voice of Murray's Outdoors.  Bob and Larry like the idea of you (customers) hearing her voice and imagining that she is beautiful.  Catfish Al Moran likes her in the flesh..try not to imagine anything more.
 

Open Water Fishing on Mississippi River

Ice in Iowa is either Unsafe or Gone.
Very cold water but Bob Urbain says the Walleye and Sauger fishing is good if you pop them on the nose with the jig.  He talks a good game.
Larry has deals on ice fishing equipment before they bury it until fall.
Jamie at Landing 615 in Guttenberg has the fishing barge out and ready for a new season.
How about a new TPE lure?  Very durable plastics that are now available at Murray's Outdoors.   Also new ice resistant fishing line.
Bob will be at the Eastern Iowa Sports Show on March 21-23 at the UNI dome in Cedar Falls.  He will be on the dunk tank (He thinks he's doing a fishing demo until someone hits the target!)
Ken turned 76 today.  (this just in: "Seventy-six is not the new anything")
 

Last Ice in NE Iowa -- Northern Minnesota Going Strong

Hello again from Bob and Ken,
The ice fishing season is rapidly ending on Pools 10-11 of the Mississippi River in NE Iowa.  We now focus on open water and a potential Sauger and Walleye bite.
Very Cold Water.  Dangerous Ice in Places.  Don't be stupid (does not apply to the producers of this podcast)
We are developing the "Benny Bobber" garment that could save your life. 
Bob will have it on display at the NE Iowa Sports Show, March 14-16 at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.   
A great feature with Curt Quesnell who guides and fishes on Lake of the Woods.  He was on the lake, in his comfortable ice house, as we spoke.  Curt gives an overview of the "Friendliest Ice Fishing Lake on the North American Continent".
If you haven't gotten enough of ice fishing, "Go North Young Man."
(this also applies to old men who have more time and money to do so.)

Strong Ice - Sports Show Deals - Guides

Bob Urbain will be at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines this weekend for a big Fishing Swap Meet.   He's Dealing!   Tackle not drugs.
Back at the Ranch...Murray's Outdoors Mother Ship in Guttenberg, you will find Larry and Benny (you'll thank me for not posting their pictures) where they are figuratively "running naked" through the store offering ridiculous prices on end of season items. 
This is a great time to get new ice fishing tents and electronics.
We also talk with Mike McCormick, a Mississippi River Guide in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
https://mccormickriverguideservice.com/
He talks about BIG ring perch and how technology is changing fishing tournaments.  Forward Scanning Sonar is so good, the only accessory you can't get is torpedoes.  
Roberta (killer of the flower season) may get a tattoo and jewelry from Al.  Please tell me what the tattoo should say.   Send to kenroot@gmail.com
 

Cabin Fever Cure - - Sports Shows

Bob "Mister Minnow" Urbain is ready to meet you at Hawkeye Downs this weekend, Starting at 3 pm on Friday.  He has all that Murray's Outdoors has to offer.  Bop is in Sport Show Mode.  Please approach with caution or you will walk out with more than you can carry.
We talk about a most interesting new product for getting minnows out of a bucket without getting your hands cold.  A tool for leach grabbing as well.
Larry has the latest on Ice thickness and Safety plus the array of ice fishing tents available.
Of course, I need to mention Valentines Day to Bob.  He may propose to a minnow later this evening.  God Save Him!
Happy Valentines to Tanner Speidel and Meredith.  

Good Ice Fishing Continues Sport Shows Coming

Cold Weather this winter has extended the ice fishing season well beyond the disastrous 2024 year.  Now the catch has moved to Ring Perch on Rosy Minnows.
Bob is gearing up for sports shows in Cedar Rapids next weekend and Cedar Falls a month later.
Larry has good information o how to store bait.
We talk with Atlas Angler about the My Catch App and the Walleye Tournament that runs from April 1 to June 29.  A great way to document your catch and provide data to the Iowa DNR for fisheries management.
Are more women engaging in fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation?  Tell Bob when you see him.  Also ask about his twin sister, Roberta.  He and Larry say she is a Hard Case.  Al says she is sweet on the inside.

Best Ice Fishing Season in Years!

Murrays Outdoors has all you need from equipment to bait and plastic lures.
We talk this week with Bob Urbain, proprietor
Larry Hubanks, Slave Worker
Nate Johnson, IDNR Conservation Officer
Meredith Glynn, Outdoor Loving Woman and fishing partner to Tanner Spiedel
Get this podcast at www.murraysoutdoors.com
Good Luck and Good Fishing
And Good Luck Roberta, where ever you are!.
.
 

Thick Ice - Great Time to Fish Ponds and Lakes

Find much more information at www.Murraysoutdoors.com (you can also download this podcast on the website.  Look for the Big Walleye.
Bob is on ice an fishing night and day.
We get the REEL DEAL from Larry on small spoons
Chad Dolan, Iowa DNR on Crappie in small bodies of water
Roberta and Al went fishing and she said he needs a longer pole.  The also are getting into Horseback Riding. 
It's been cold but life is good and the fishing is GREAT!