Not good. REALLY not good.

I always get a little excited come March Madness time.  College basketball is one of my favorite sports to watch, and the tournament is the best sporting event there is, IMO.  I usually get into a few different pools, and I have become accustomed to at least being competitive, if not finishing at the top.

Not this year.

First, the good news:  my predicted championship matchup - Ohio State vs Kansas - is still intact.

The bad news:  not much else is.

If you predicted that an 8 seed, a 10, TWO 11 seeds, and a 12 seed would all be in the Sweet 16, well, you're much wiser than I am.  My bracket is ranked a stellar 4,681,6991 out of all the brackets entered on ESPN.com.  That's right, there are nearly FIVE MILLION better brackets than mine.

To throw my epic failure into sharper relief (and to highlight the craziness of this year's tourney), my aunt Alice, who, according to her sons has maybe watched two college basketball games in her LIFE, is leading our family pool, and is in the 91st percentile for ESPN.com brackets.

*sigh*

There is hope, though.  3/4 of my Final Four is intact, so if everything works out MUCH better in the final rounds, I can at least avoid coming in dead last.  Moral victory, or something.

Come on, bass fishing season.  At least if I suck when I'm out fishing, I'm still having a good time and getting some fresh air.

A few from 2010

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures from last year, just to whet your appetite for 2011!

Caught this chunky 5lb 1oz piggie on a Northland Jungle Jig with a black/blue Sweet Beaver trailer.  Obviously I was fishing solo that day, so it was tough to get a good photo...I need to learn to bring a mini-tripod with me so I can get some better pics!  This wasn't the biggest fish of 2010, but it was probably the most fun.  I pulled her out of some REALLY thick slop, and it was quite a battle.  It definitely goes to show you why fishing bass on Leech Lake can require some heavy-duty combat gear.  Thank goodness for the strength of Power Pro line!

An excited customer with his personal best largemouth, taken on a white Booyah spinner with silver willow blades.

My favorite non-paying customer (my older son, Wesley) with his personal best, a 2 lb 15 ouncer.  We're going to get him his first 5-pounder this year!  Wes caught this one on a Northland Jawbreaker spoon.

Coming soon!

While the Leech Lake area gets worldwide acclaim for its walleye and muskie fishing, it also has a growing reputation as a premier bass fishery.

This blog will be (mostly) about bassin' in the Leech Lake area - what gear you'll need, what presentations to try, areas/lakes to fish...the works!  Feedback and personal stories about the same are not only allowed, but encouraged.  I want this blog to be a learning tool for everyone who views it, myself included.

We're still more than two months away from the MN bass opener, but I will be checking in periodically until then.  I'll maybe post a few pics from last season, and a few ideas about what I'd like to try this season.

Until then...

Tight lines!