Jack Pine Brewery Review: Fall 2016

website: http://www.jackpinebrewery.com/

Jack Pine Brewery makes a very tasty Pale Ale I have bought a few time down at the liquor store by my place. In fact, most off sale places in this area carry Jack Pine Brews, and I hadn't been to the brewery until I was driven by a chance to buy some beer on a Sunday to sip on while watching the winning Minnesota Vikings. Somehow, my beer fringe was shockingly bare on a warm, sunny fall afternoon, and I didn't want to have to settle for 3.2 at a gas station, so I hopped in the vehicle and went to Jack Pine with a dusty old growler I had laying around from a trip to Castle Danger Brewing in Two Harbors early this past spring.

I arrived at the brewery, which is located in a large garage/shop in the industrial area off College Drive in Baxter.   Upper middle class Millenials and retirees were both lurking about sipping on brews and sitting in the sun which was streaming in through the open garage doors.   This caused me to pause, as I was surprised to be in a beer hall in Minnesota in which fresh air and sunshine was not only prevalent, but was also being enjoyed by the one's imbibing.   Most of the townie bars around have an aversion to fresh air and sunlight, and smell like stale booze, musty dirty socks, and are frequented by beer soaked, Trump voting local halfwits.
The scene at Jack Pine Brewery was devoid of any slouching drunkards, but was instead filled with young professionals who I assume were visiting from out of town, as we have a real shortage of jobs to draw those types to this community.

I decided to stay and have a beer, and enjoyed the fresh air, sunlight, and great tasting brew.  The people I was surrounded by were sharing their idealistic views, and snap chatting on their iphone 7 or 8S or whatever the most recent model is....

 I popped my flip phone out of the pocket of my sweatpants and tried to pretend like I was texting someone who cared.

I finished my brew and went to the back of a long line to grab a growler.  I exchange mine for a new Jack Pine growler,  and even engaged in small talk with the tattoo sleeved hipsters waiting in line, and left with my filled growler and a feeling of hope. Good beer, good football, and Sunday beer sales made me not dread the inevitable return to work the next day.   It was my first visit to Jack Pine Brewery, but it surely won't be the last.

Brainerd, Minnesota Fishing Report October 2016

via Outdoor News

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 

Minnows and jigs are producing walleyes on Pelican Lake, Gull Lake, and North Long Lake in 28 to 35 feet – northern pike can be had on these lakes in slightly shallower water as well. Crappies are being found suspended over deep water on North Long, Gull, and Cullen Lake, while waxworms are turning sunfish in 8 to 10 feet on most lakes.

S & W Bait & Guide Service/

Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010

Live Music in the Brainerd Lakes Area September 29-October 5, 2016

Via the Brainerd Dispatch:

For week of Sept. 29-Oct. 5; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.

BRAINERD

Eagles Club

124 Front St.

Jason and Danny, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Friday; $5 for all dances for non-Eagle members.

Last Turn Saloon

214 S. Eighth St.

Open Mic, first Wednesday of month (sign-up, 6:30 p.m.)

Bluegrass Jam, 6:30-8:30 p.m. every first, third and fifth Thursday of the month.

Comedy with Tom Garland, seating at 7 p.m. Friday, show at 8 p.m.; $12 per ticket

Liquor Pigz

718 Laurel St.

Karaoke, 10 p.m. every Wednesday

Jam session/open mic, 9 p.m. every Sunday

Shep's on Sixth

315 S. Sixth St.

DJ, every Friday-Saturday in Elbow Room

BREEZY POINT

Commander Bar

30279 Airport Road

Blackout, 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday

JJ'S Pub

Downstairs of the Commander

Mark Stary, 5-9 p.m. Saturday

CROSBY

The Bridge Tavern

26929 Highway 6

Wanted (classic country), 4-8 p.m. Sundays

FORT RIPLEY

St. Mathias Bar and Grill

4640 County Road 121

Reloaded, Saturday

NISSWA

Grand View Lodge's

Northwoods Pub

23521 Nokomis Ave.

Bryan Barber, acoustic rock, Saturday

Fishing for Panfish in the Brainerd Lakes Area

Minnesota's lakes are filled with many varieties of fish, and with so many options, most people fish for the popular walleye.   Panfish can be just as fun to catch, and even better tasting than walleye.  Most people think of catching sunfish as a child's activity, but when the walleye bite slows down, it can be a lot of fun to target sunfish and crappies.

An evening's catch of sunfish

perfect setting for sunfish

The only gear needed for catching panfish is a lightweight rod and reel, bobbers, and a hook with a crawler. Most of the panfish we have been catching lately are up in the lily pads in 4-6 ft. of water.  The best part of catching these fish is they are usually more abundant than walleye, and fight a great deal even if they are not as large as most targeted species of fish.

I like to dip them in Cajun Fry Magic and fry them in hot oil.  I make a homemade tarter sauce and put some butter on the hot fillets. They go well with a cold beverage and some deep fried home fries.   The enjoyment of catching and cleaning panfish has me hooked!

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 
Walleyes are hitting leeches and crawlers on the north end of Gull Lake in 12 to 24 feet and North Long Lake in 18 to 28 feet. Sunfish continue to be found shallow on Round Lake, Nisswa Lake, and North Long. Bass and northern pike are hitting on the weedlines of Gull, North Long, and Whitefish Lake.
S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010

Catching and Eating Fish with Black Spots

Here is some information on the black spots found on some fish caught in the Brainerd Lakes Area.  I have always wondered and found this information on a Minnesota Fishing Forum:
"The "Black spots" are caused by a trematode worm. The worms live in the digestive track of fish-eating birds which is where they lay eggs. The bird defecates passing the eggs into the water, the eggs hatch in the water turning into larvae called "miracidiae". The larvae burrows into a snail and eventually into the snails liver. After 6 weeks of living in the snails liver the larvae turns into "cercariae" and returns to the water. The "cercariae" swim around until they locate a fish, then burrow into the fish and the "black spot" forms as the fish heals and new tissue covers the cyst tissue. THE BLACK SPOTS CANNOT AFFECT HUMANS. "

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 

Walleyes have hit shiner minnows or leeches best during the evening hours in 13 to 25 feet on Gull Lake, North Long Lake, and Round Lake. Look for crappies in 8 to 13 feet on Lake Edward, Cullen Lake, and North Long. Sunfish and bass are shallow and active on all lakes.

S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010