Jim Gronaw's Comments

Mornin' Jim! This funny...I was just re-reading your article in The Panfish In-Sider from last spring!! And, here you sent me a message!! Good stuff! Jim, it would be worth the time to take a trip up here. I would suggest at least two trips. One in the winter and one early summer! When I moved away in 2000 for Kentucky, I didn't think anything about what I grew up around. I had access to hundreds and hundreds of lakes within minutes of my parents house. Heck, I lived on a 5 lake chain and had 6 more around that. AAfter spending 8 solid years in Kentucky and not being able to fish as much as I used to and pretty much being forced to ask permission to pond fish, I realized then that I grew up in a very special place. I'm now taking full advantage of my area!
So, Big Jim, I have a place for you to stay when you decide you want to come visit! We will gill fish, that's a given. Think multi-species! The bass fishing is almost untouched! Be sure to put the for sale sign up before you leave...I know you will not want to leave! Take care!

Hi Jim,
Read one of your recent comments where you've got to decide about early retirement. I retired almost 10 yrs ago on the first day I was eligible from the fire dept. I was burned out and had a small business I worked hard at on my days off. Wanted to spend more time at that to catch up. Now the guys who do the same job I had at the firehouse make about 75% more than I was making. I will never catch up and seem to work all the time at my small business that somehow turned into a job. I have some freedom I didn't, but nothing like I hoped. I learned to carve santas at the firehouse and haven't carved a new one since I left. At the firehouse I was trapped so I had time. Now I'm free and don't seem to have time or initiative to do something I loved and my family treasured. I'm much deeper in debt since I started drawing retirement pay too. Put on about 40 lbs also. Sure didn't figure it this way.

As you can see, I blew it. Early retirement was a smart decision for me. I just played it out dumb. One good thing... I started back fishing a couple of years ago.

Life is short. I encourage you to go for the gold. Just keep your eye on that gold. Watch your line too, you've got a bite!

Boogieman

how do you find these places? is there a website you use?

what is the name of the pond or lake you fish at?

New profile picture!

I like it!

Hey there friend! Thanks for the comments! It was super fun, reconnecting with an old close friend! Andy and I used to fish non-stop in high school. We even pulled a 36 hour stunt in the boat, never got out...just fished! We are planning more outings so, stay tuned!

Yeah Jim, those hybrids pull hard. I'd compare them to a smallmouth for that matter. 6 over 11"? Shooting for a 12"? You must have some nice waters to fish? It took me a while to break 10"!

Good luck!

Bill

Jim if you will look at in the pocket of my bibs, just below the bottom crappie , you will see the knife

Thanks for looking at my new pics! I agree with you on crappies...they are so dang friendly, just the nicest fish you could ever meet!

Jim I checked again the map it feature IS there! When you edit photos,click on and Map it and its very easy to use. u click in the direction of of the country,state ,and use zoom and nail the area.Maybe u r playin' possom and dont want me to know where those lake are !!Ha!

Jim I dont see the map it feature anymore at this site.Of course maybe it was another site all along that had it.

Maybe Bruce will put it up .A map it feature allowed one to show the lake on a map to others

The bluegill are about 7 1/4 inc. long. They were really fat because the were putting on the weight for this coming winter. They were so fat I was able to get some thick flap meat as well.

Hey Jim I would like to see Rocky Gap lake on a map.Do you ever use that map it feature when you add photos.That would help me see how far it is from me.

Good morning
Smithville Lake is next to the town of Smithville in Missouri. We are just north of Kansas City. It is Army Corps land and home to quite a few bass tournies and some pretty good bluegill fishing at times. My daughters love to fish, my boys are ok with it. They all like to watch me clean fish (which I am not good at) but amazingly no one wants to get their hands dirty.

Jim, Thanks for all the great comments! John and I had a blast! We are very fortunate up to have so many lakes and the fact that most everyone, but me and John fish for walleyes! LOL!!

Thanks Jim and I hope I can keep up with you guys! When I'm not fishing Im an outdoor photographer. Got 2 be outdoors! Ha!

Hey Jim,

Okeechobee does have some panfish guides however they have NO fly rod guides. I have looked many times for fly guides and called several and they will tell you they are Bass guides that can show were the panfish are. I hired one several years ago that was a "panfish" guide and we spent most of the day looking for fish. Now with the lake back up there are a few airboat guys that are catching Bluegills in the back country.

Terry

Jim, the same small lake. I'm just refining my big gill pattern for that lake. I do alot of research in the evening for new trophy lakes and spots. I look at creel census from the MN DNR. Research is vital for any kind of consistance, as you know. Keeping your findings secret, well that is another story!LOL!!

JIM, THANX FOR WRITING BACK. LUCKY YOU, HAVING GREAT WATERS TO FISH JUST 20 MILES FROM HOME. NICE BASS IN THAT POND, HUH?? ANY PICKEREL?? I LOVE CATCHING PICKEREL. GIVE ME A QUARTER OR THREE EIGHTS OZ. KASTMASTER & I CAN CATCH THE HELL OUT OF THEM ALL DAY!! FUNNY, I FOUND PICKEREL & SMALLIES LOVE THE SMALLER KASTMASTER, DONT KNOW WHY, THEY JUST JUMP ALL OVER IT. AFTER CASTING & BRINGING IT BACK IN, NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE LURE, YOU MUST WORK IT TO GIVE IT ACTION. THE REAL SMALL SIZE IS GREAT FOR GILLS, CRAPPIE & PERCH. TROUT ALSO. GREAT LITTLE LURE. ACTUALLY ITS A SPOON. YOU CAN FISH IT HORIZONTALLY OR VERTICALLY. WORKS GREAT BOTH WAYS. SEA YA, JEFF.