This is an angler’s worst time of year, a grey area when nothing seems to be going on due to unseasonable weather patterns. The open water fishing is closed down for the year, for the most part. Even the few spots for shore fishing are becoming hard to get to.
It is looking like it could be the middle of January at the earliest before we could consider getting started going out on the ice. That leaves us with nowhere to go and lots of time to get there.
There was a strong disturbance in the Force this last week with the passing of Ron Lindner, a true icon and pioneer in the fishing world. Ron and his brother Al were both visionaries each having their own strong points and working off of each other.
The brothers moved from Chicago to Brainerd, Minn., in 1968 and opened the highly successful Nisswa Guides League working the Brainerd area lakes. They also fished a number of professional fishing tournaments.
In 1975, the brothers launched the In-Fisherman Communications Network with their magazine that focused on multispecies fishing. The magazine’s success led to a nationally syndicated television show, a series of books and videos all aimed at teaching about fishing tactics and equipment.
Over the years they invented and marketed many fishing lures that remain in most tackle boxes today including the Lindy Rig. They also developed the formula that has helped many anglers (myself included) simplify fishing across the seasons. They developed the “Fish + Location + Presentation = Success” formula that works for any type of fish and any body of water.
Ron Lindner was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and numerous others. His contributions to making all of us better fisherman and better human beings would be hard to measure.
Thank you, Ron, for a life well-lived. May you now rest in peace.
Until next time…keep a tight line.
Dick