feb 22nd 2023

Another week has blown by, we have had great fishing in our area, not so great fishing in our area, so so fishing in our area. searching for a great walleye bite is hard if you get caught up chasing schools or school of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Again, as the weekend approached so do all the wheelhouses.. Its impossible to put every house on the hot spot as the fish swim. There are so many spots that had been good even before we moved. When there’s a gauntlet of houses it sure makes it hard for everyone to catch fish. This week the plans have changed as the final weekend of big game fish. I’m not plowing spots near our rentals. Last night all three house I had occupied did very well with jeff in florida getting a fat 19-inch walleye while I was visiting. The guys in old minnesota were done within an hour of arriving. Well, what was different? There were not 50 houses and hundred vehicles traveling around.
I want everyone to catch some fish but it’s so disappointing when you have someone visiting that you want to get to experience what red lake has to offer, some of the best fishing you may ever experience.
As the big game fish season comes to a close i have always stayed out a couple extra weeks weather permitting to chase the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. The 3 inches of snow and wind we got filled in quite a bit of area, so we have two roads that go to our houses with no place to put a wheelhouse. Jake and i were talking. The guys that invest in these units are fishermen. Some of the clients we have may get out and fish once in the winter. It really is not fair to them when I plow spots close to where we have spent all week prepping..
7o days in a row on the lake can burn a guy out , I would say I’m a little on the burned out side.
Last tuesday morning Ashley poo called. She somehow got a hook in her middle toe. Not quite the way to start the day. Using the string trick I was able to get it out. Darrin was also here to help move houses. what looked like a much-needed slower week again turned into a busier week? With 48 hours before our first guest, plus family coming up.
old minnesota had Gary and kay for just a evening of fishing, they were sharing the generator with donald from lee and tiffeneys crush whitetail tv program. Gary and Kay landed 2 walleyes and 3 elusive yet catchable upper red lake crappies. Donald had better fishing taking home 9 plus a a couple walleyes.
Wayne was then in old minesota for the weekend. he took home 9 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies and 2 walleyes, he figured he could of done way better if he did not sleep through the best bite saturday eve.
We moved old minnesota tueday so i could relax and enjoy a fresh spot. That plan did not work out as I had a chance to rent it tuesday eve. Ben and Chad crushed the fish, then they had a buddy come up with his wheel house yesterday.
North dakota had jake and his family. After the first night we moved it to a new location, he also had some fisherman coming up with their wheelhouses. They planned on looking for the mother load with there livescopes. lets just say what a game changer, its like shooting fish in a barrel in my opinion. I got in on 5 minutes of action with Gabe and Jake they were attacking the plastic bait before it could reach the bottom. In one hole we landed 15 fish in les then 20 minutes. jake kept 8 for a family fish fry I released the 2 I got.
We got spots plowed for his guest and they all did really well. They all could of kept limits of fish for the weekend but most of the guys only took a couple besides the fish they ate while they were here. Dan and I moved north dakota for Ben and his family they had a grand time on a grand lake catching a abundant of fish sunday monday night. They also had 4 fish over 15 to get mounted.
Colorado had Lori and her crew they did ok. they sure know how to have a good time though. They ended up pulling out early after one of the guys augured a hole to close to the house creating 4 inches of water around the house. Darrin and Ashley got it up before darrin rolled out sunday. Then Dan and I moved and set it up for jason and his family where they put the spank on the fish both nights. They even got a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake walleyes.
We moved Florida after don left to be closer to old minnesota . For the first time our youngest son Joe was coming up with the two grandkids Greata and Luka to fish with our daughter missy her hubby eric matty our grandson. Kellie the hammer and I joined them saturday for a good part of the day. We ended up with only landing 2 fish just after dark. I sure was disappointed but that’s fishing. Eric did get a fat 19 incher friday night. Meanwhile a couple ice castles we set up were crushing the school of elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies,just to the west of us.
Dans house did get in on the action as him darrin and ashley caught fish tell they ran out of bait. they were also just to the west of us.
Montana had dan and his wife and dog for 3 nights we moved them after the first night and they did much better having action both nights.
California had ben and his two sons they had decent action but it got really slow after they caught and released a 39 inch pike.
Utah had our grandson’ s Jacob and Jason with two buddy’s they did all right being they arrived with zero fishing gear.
Blue thunders heater core went out saturday eve, so she spent saturday night out on the lake. We vise gripped the line to get her home sunday evening. man was that a cold ride when it was 7 below. Hindsight I should of driven it in sunday while the sun was out.
Here is a few of my frustrations. A semi just passed a truck and fish house in front of our place in a no passing zone. wtf are people in such a hurry through this town?.
I think we plowed about 10 spots for wheelhouses last weekend. Alan and her team crushed the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie plus they had quite a few walleyes. Tyler did really well all though his boys did go out in there portable. I plowed a second spot for brian and stacy they did really well sunday eve,. dan did really really well. ken and his two buddies crushed the fish, darrins sister crushed the fish other house did well.
old minnesota had a cancelation for this up-and-coming weekend. Just like every year my plans are to now chase the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. we’re planning on teaming up with buddy hillman and keep his access open a couple more weeks depending on mother nature. I’m hoping all the customes this weekend make it up seeing the cities got hit pretty good. There are lots of places off the main roads to set up your wheel houses. we also will plow a spot if you call me when you arrive and get your road pass. I’m sure I missed quite a few highlights from the past 8 days. With out Jonny boy and his ability to fix all most everything this season would probably never happen. ashley poo our grand daughter, our good friends darrin and dan tony boy.
We have started planning on having a shop next fall to try and keep the fleet in a little better shape. she is a little breezy out there today so we will again be taking our time moving the whole fleet on to fresh ice.