Luke Judge

There’s a reason they call Minnesota the “Land-O-Lakes” and the “10,000 Lakes” referred to on their license plates is a conservative estimate. There are literally hundreds of accessible fishing lakes in some counties alone. Great fishing abounds and people come from all over the world to partake in the pleasure of piscatorial pursuit. You seem to have little clue as to just how lucky you are. If I were you, I would simply go to my nearest bait and tackle dealer. (They are almost as common as lakes in Minnesota.) Any bait dealer knows from day to day who’s catching what, where, and on what bait or lure. Also, be aware that crappie are one of the fish that grow in cycles. A fish of trophy size is an older fish….perhaps 4 to 6 years old. When there have been record catches during any given season on a given lake, the big fish may not come around again for as many years. It isn’t a situation where the jumbo’s exist year ’round and can be caught at all times of the season in every lake that hosts crappies. Walleye on the other hand continue to grow throughout their lifetime and where ever you can find walleye, you can find an occasional trophy fish. Usually, the bigger the water, the better chance you’ll have for knowing there are big fish in it. The problem with that is that the bigger the water gets, the harder time you will have of pinpointing just where in the heck of all that water the fish happen to be at the moment you go looking for them. You can just about look at the map of your area and see where the best looking lakes are. Crappie and Walleye can almost always be found in the same water. If you can’t find one, look for the other. I’ll betcha you will find them if you do a little persistent searching. I’d start that search at my bait and tackle dealer closest to the lakes you choose to fish. Good luck.

Lets just say my dads not the best cook around.

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bait harder time, land o lakes, license plates, lifetime, trophy fish, trophy size

Capt. Bruce Hrobak, owner of Billy Bones Bait and Tackle in Port St. Lucie, Zac Meyer and Josh Mabe and an 8-foot tiger shark caught off the beach near Melbourne in July 2009. Tiger sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks and blacktip sharks are common catches by Treasure Coast anglers. Photo provided by Bruce Hrobak

Palm City anglers won’t have to travel too far for shiners, crickets or the latest jigs.

Capt. Bruce Hrobak, owner of Billy Bones Bait and Tackle shop in Port St. Lucie, announced the opening of a second store location in Stuart. Martin County anglers will be familiar with Billy Bones Bait and Tackle South as it will be known; it is open in the former spot occupied by Gordo’s Bait and Tackle shop for nearly 20 years.

“The whole concept of another shop came up pretty fast,” explained Hrobak. “I stopped by just before Jennifer and Mark Schroeder closed up Gordo’s to wish them luck and to thank them for sending customers my way once in a while.

“Jennifer was concerned about her customers who had said they would miss being able to stop there for their fishing supplies.”

After meeting with the landlord of the shopping center at Monterey Road and Willoughby Blvd., Hrobak realized he had an opportunity to expand.

“I bought some of their tanks and began moving in some inventory or rod and reel combos, hook selections and tackle,” he said. “We have bait freezers stocked with rigged baits, tanks with live shrimp, live shiners and live crickets.”

Like the Port St. Lucie location and like Gordo’s, Billy Bones anglers will be able to pick up bait and equipment seven days a week in preparation for heading offshore for sailfish, snapper and dolphin, fishing inshore for drum, sheepshead, snook or trout, or hitting the lakes, canals and ponds for bass, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie.

bait bull sharks, tiger shark