Well, it’s been a very interesting week here on such a grand lake. With all these guys chasing the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies it reminds me of all the fishing drama 20 years ago. All these guys with their cheat master 3000 finding fish then trying to catch them without spooking them. Back then we have no idea if they got spooked so easy or not. I would assume they were just so many more to catch. For some reason they do not seem to come under the houses like in the past. They all have way points that they own. I guess not sure where you get those owner permits.
we did have jake up here with some friends of his we had the houses set up where we had marked a couple schools of the elusive fish. After the first night it turned into a dud so jake had found some different fish with his crew searching so we moved a couple houses into that area. Trying to be as quiet as possible. Jake had the hotter house and landed a few 9 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies the first night on the new spot while pat and his buddy got one in their house. Jake got a couple 5 the second night. I fished off and on in old Minnesota and missed a few fish the last couple days I have also lost a couple fish halfway up that could be crappies. I give it a shot again tonight as the day bite there has been quiet. I could also fish outside but it’s just not as comfortable as it used to be. We’re planning on a family outing this weekend so that should be fun. Mark in monttana has only landed one in montana so the boys might be moving that house today.
Westwind just posted a picture of a pressure ridge that collapsed I would say 5 to 6 miles out. If you’re out searching for the motherlode stay away from old snowbanks that have collapsed as well as pressure ridges. If it don’t look right do not try and cross it. It would also be a good idea to not travel around after dark if you are not familiar with the surroundings.
Please use common sense out there a fish is only a fish.
On a good note, I did land an elusive yet still catchable upper redlake crappie last night and will go for more again this evening. we will be slowing be bringing houses to shore in the next few days as there not rented.
The boys are having fun taking their clients out chasing these elusive fish on such a grand lake that owes us nothing

The final weekend of big game fishing has arrived. The houses have been doing pretty good with Oklahoma landing a huge 32 1/2-inch walleye with a 18-inch girth. I gave Laura a pink hoodie as a memento of her beautiful fish, they plan on getting a replica of a once in a lifetime fish. They went home with 14 fish I be leave. The fishing defiantly took a up tic the past couple weeks so that’s nice to see. We do have a full house with the crew busting their butts the next 24 hours to get everything set up.
Cross country Travel on lake after this snow mix and high winds is not quite as easy as it was. Stay away from old berms Our main road has been plowed. Ours plans are still to target the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies after the game fish season ends. We have been getting a couple in a few houses but still focused on walleyes.
Theres still plenty of openings after walleye closes. It’s never been easy for me to pull the plug even though I do not get to do the hard work it’s still fun being on the lake every day.
The big game season has come to an end. The houses were full other than 1 no show which worked out for us. Jim and his 2 buddies were in north Dakota where they landed 6 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies Friday night. They got just 2 more Saturday night Jim was just tickled pink as this is his favorite fish. He was amazed the size, thickness, and colors.
We had Tennessee and Utah set up on a new area for 6 first time customers. I had high expectation only for such a grand lake too humble me as the fishing was on the very poor side. Sorry guys next time.
California had Jeromy and his two sons they had action the first night landing a half dozen walleyes. They were a couple hundred yards from the guys in
Utah. Colorado had Bob the owner they had good fishing taking home some fish and catching over 20 I think.
Todd had Florida and Montana with his daughters and hubbies. We had moved Montana over buy Florida as the couple in Florida had good fishing the prior night. Jonny boy found the mother lode of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies and had Todd plus a couple of their buddies come fish where he was after his clients called it a day with their 20. They pounded on them 200 yards from Florida and Montana they kept I would guess 30. We moved both houses Saturday morning only to have poor fishing in the new spot also.
Old Minnesota had my good friend Wayne with a couple of his friends they got a few walleyes a pike a perch so was slow for them also. Alaska was horrible even though they saw fish they could not get them to bite. Idaho and Oklahoma did well but the second night was slower. While Roy just down from them had good fishing Saturday night but not so well Friday night stupid fish.
Texas had Nick and a couple buddies they ended up with a few.
So, to sum up the final week the bite was just so so which was disappointing compared to other years.
Dusty and Jonny boy have been doing really well with the crappie trips which they sure enjoy.
The hammer and I had dinner in old Minnesota after Jonny boy and I moved it. The hammer did manage to land an elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie to carry her nick name for another year on a grand lake that owes us nothing.
The team has most of the week to again move houses to where we feel they could have a big school of fish come under them.
Jake has a big crew coming this coming weekend They do have 4 of our houses reserved but we still will have others still open at this time. My plans are to fish every evening to see how many more elusive yet catchable upper red lake crappies I can land.

Good morning the story continues. Jacob my grandson caught his first upper red lake crappie as well as my daughter missy. Old Minnesota was on a new spot but never turned on like I had hoped. Jakes move over by Joel paid off big time and they all caught the elusive yet catchable upper red lake crappies into the evening until they went to bed. Jake had his magical moment at 5 30 am when he started catching them as fast as he could get his minnow down. I think he said he caught 17 in a row, since he was releasing them all it well could of been the same fish over and over? Sunday afternoon I moved old Minnesota one more time so Marty,Kellie and I could spend the night out there for the final night. We had a great toco dinner, caught just a couple elusive upper red lake crappies and had a couple of drinks as we reminisced about such a great season on such a grand lake. We stayed up way to late waiting for the mother load and Marty headed over to florida around 3 am. Marty started catching fish as soon as he walked into the house and never went to bed. I set up my bobber line and my dangler with the line going through a can it would fall into the hole and wake me up. I woke up at 5 am 2 hours later and both cans were floating in the holes. I grabbed the cans re lized my bobber was gone and started reeling it in and had a fish on. I bounced the fish off the bottom of the ice and snagged the lure a small rattle flyer on the bottom of the ice. I set that rod down and reeled in the other line with no minnow. I put on a minnow dropped it down and a fish came charging up. Yes it was a elusive upper red lake crappie. As I was removing the hook there was another big red line down there. I re baited and sent it down and Bam here came another. 2 in a row and another red line on the vex at the bottom. Now I was excited and ran my minnow down and wham again another as that fish was clearing the hole another would fill in the void. I said honey wake up and caught another, and another and another, I was not even counting as it was one after the other as fast as I could get the line down . Then I lost a fish with my blue phelps jig. The vex was still showing fish down there so I grabbed the hammers rod and reel with a blood line demon put on a minnow and ran it down and wham another fish. The next one was my big one and when I landed it I said honey wake up dangling my trophy in front of her. She set up, rubbed her eyes and turned on her vex and said where’s my rod there’s one down there. I handed her rod all baited up and she dropped it down, now I had no rod and reel set up. I started to try and un hook my flyer with my back to her when she said Crappie. I grabbed the fish threw it in the cooler as we wanted to take a couple home for dinner Tuesday night. I re baited her line and thought oh the rattle wheel it has waxies on it . I rolled it up, peeled off the waxies and put on a minnow as I ran the line down the hammer again said crappie. I dropped the line went to land her fish and the rattle wheel just kept ringing as a crappie hit it on the way down. I landed that crappie threw it in the cooler. By then the hammer had re baited and had another fish on. I grabbed her fish re baited the rattle wheel and ran it down while my sweetheart caught another and another. I landed another one on the rattle wheel as she kept catching fish . Then just like that they were gone. She caught atleast 7 in a row and I have no idea how many I caught. All I can say is Wow what a treat, Truly amazing ,all that hard work looking for the mother load for the houses and it happens the last morning old Minnesota and Florida would be on the lake.. It was bitter sweet as we packed up as I had to go do chores at the farm. Marty stayed out on the lake and cleaned up florida for the move home then went and fished in old Minnesota where he landed 5 more elusive upper red lake crappie’s during the day while I was gone. We ended up keeping 11 fish for a fish fry last night for Ole, Marty, the hammer and I. I cooked up 6 fish 12 fillets ,kept my trophy and Marty is taking two home and I have 3 fish in the freezer for another dinner for Kellie and I

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Been one crazy year here on the shores off upper red lake. We still have to fine tune running a road. We do have some weather coming so besides checking in customers, checking on customers, checking out customers, moving houses we need to batten down the hatches for some wet snow coming Tuesday night. we have so many guests the last 2 weeks the team again has been doing an outstanding job staying focused on what needs to be done. We have what I would say is good fishing not great but way better than the bad stretch we had. We had two jeffs from Ohio that had never ice fished before? they had our 6 person texas house for 4 days. they had a great experience they caught many many walleyes, Jonny boy was able to take them on a crappie trip where they found the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. They ate fish released fish missed fish and caught fish. they already plan on another trip next year.
Nathen’s wife caught a very big healthy pike that made there weekend they also took home some fish.
Kevin and Rolly were here in Florida for the 13 or 14th year and we will have them down for next year.
Ashley poo and Justin had some friends up with their boys, so Uncle Jonny was able to take them and our great grandson Bently on a crappie trip where they landed a dozen elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies, they also caught fish in Utah.
We did have a heater go out on us while Nick and his crew were here at of course 3 am. I was able to move them into texas as it was set up with heat on, they loved the upgrade and will be here again this coming weekend for Texas. They also caught fish in both houses.
Shell chick the hammers sister and her two brothers Mike and Dan were also here this past weekend. Dan has been singing and playing Guitar around the campfire for over 45 years. Saturday night their cousin Scott also came over to North dakota to hang out Danny was playing and singing a old family favorite grama lie soap. Everyone was singing, all the Lites were on in 9 feet of water and Mikey Landed two beautiful walleyes which kind of put the myth of being Quiet while fishing. Sunday early morning I got to remove a hook out of shell chick dog Charlie’s mouth. I’ve done a few out of arm’s fingers but never a dog’s mouth. They also ended up taking home there 4 a piece walleye.
The weather the last few days has been perfect with many customers spending outside fishing and enjoying what mother nature can offer.
Our plans just like every year is target the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies starting sunday we will be moving house to crappie fishing areas. We do have plenty of openings with Jake and his crew coming up the 27th 28th weekend. Mother nature will decide how long we remain on the lake but were looking around the 15 of march at this time on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Just like that and another season is in the books. 79 days and nights on such a grand lake. Every year is different and again this year was different. With the late ice watching all the outfitters and resorts coming up with plan bees to accommodate there clients was very interesting. I had to start right in front of my place as that’s the only place I could find over 14 inches of ice. That shallow water bite can be fantastic and we did have a few nights of great fishing in 7 to 8 feet of water. Getting the houses out to buddy Hillmens highway was a challenge, but with my good friend Marty,s help we were able to improvise and get them over there with out going through Buddys southern berm. From there it was off to find the mother lode. Finding a good late night bite was brutal. Being we rent sleepers I would like the rattle wheels going off all night . We had some nights that the rattle wheels had to be pulled up but not what I have become accustomed to? I found some good fishy areas and the fish would refuse to bite? We slowly migrated out to deeper water driving over millions of fish to catch a few? The sunrises and sunsets never get old and again my phone is full of morning and evening pictures. The red barons v plow got a whole new face lift and was much needed as I demolished it last year chasing the very elusive but still catchable upper red lake crappie. Blue thunder two’s 2nd year on the lake and I could not be happier with its performance. What a great truck.” knock on wood” I expect to get a good ten more years out of her if not more. My good friend Wayne was able to come up every other weekend and we had some good laughs and epic cards games. Mother nature was very kind to us this year as every year is different. The houses flooded just about every ware we set up. Working on the lake everyday was a joy. there were a few cuss words now and then but that’s nothing new. I again met some great people that will or have become life long friends. My goal has always been to have repeat customers .That has worked out real fine as it sure is nice to see them year after year. I never stop learning new things on the lake and Buddy Hillmen taught me a few more things about running a ice road. Helping with Hillmens highway is a treat for me and its sure is nice being part of the team. I had a couple brain farts? One that really sticks out was when I pulled a truck out of the southern berm and then gave the guy my new tow strap and told him to drop it off at hillmens store when he was done with it. I learned a lesson there and will never offer my strap to another fishermen un less they ask. Marty has helped me two years in a row now and still has not experienced the wrath the red lake can produce. She sure can be a eye opener as Randy can attest to when we tried to get off the lake in a white out. We made the right decision and went back to the houses where we hunkered down. Wayne was totally amazed at the wife Kellie” the Hammer ” as she could come out to the houses day or night with all the confidence of a seasoned professional . My working vacation was just that as I went on the search for the mother load of the very elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Randy and Tammy ended up getting 14 which was pretty darn good. All the houses managed to get a few here and there as I kept moving them . I never managed to land on the mother load like last year when the hammer and I got 27 in a hour and a half the last night old Minnesota was on the lake. Oh well there is always next year. This year I changed up gears and kept my mouth shut in preparation for my crappie hunt. The crew were all rolling in last Thursday and I did not want to be over whelmed with fishermen like last year. It could not of worked out better as the fishing was outstanding with over a hundred elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies caught and released to fight another year. Jake and Gabrial kept 4 for a meal. Ole kept 5 to take home. The hammer and I kept 7 total since the end of walleye season. Brady, Shawn, Wes, Joff kept a couple for a fish fry Saturday night. Florida, North Dakota and Montana all caught some elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies after dark which was great to see. Old Minnesota had Don and his buddy and even after moving it Saturday it still did not produce a elusive upper red lake crappie. Don did land a dandy pike on his rod and reel and that may of been the reason there were no elusive upper red lake crappies under the house. Adam / Ginger ended up with only 4 and is still looking for that wall hanger. Tim and his son Leon managed to get 11. The guys in the white ice castle got 6 after I talked to them and gave the suggestion to move. Randy fished the exact same holes he fished where they got the 14 and got skunked. It sounded like Buddy Hillmen found the mother load with some clients / friends and caught 70 while his other group got 45 Saturday into the evening. Yesterday morning I headed out to bring the fleet home. The timing could not of been any better and it is such a relief to have them home and on shore. I slept like a baby last night as all the worries associated with having the houses and fishermen out there were gone for another year. The liter I picked up last year has been nothing like this year. Thank you fishermen as the word has got out that it will not be tolerated. All the outfitters and resorts are on board and not afraid to make a phone call if need be. It may sound kinda of funny but I’m hoping I can spend a few more days out there in blue thunder policing the lake for liter. There is nothing worse then seeing that crap floating in the water and washing up on the beach. I huge thank you goes out to all my customers as with out you I would have nothing to write about . As Dave the old timer said it a GRAND LAKE AND It Owes Me NOTHING! NOTHING!

Ole ,Marty and I are headed off to low to do some pike fishing tomorrow. Wish us luck

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Sunday feb 1rst was the first day since the houses have been on the lake where we had no houses rented, wow what a run the team deserves plenty of pats on their backs. Having our own road has been something new for us as well. The one thing I’ve notice is all the space we have not covered, we have not had a slew of traffic but that expected with something new. We have had a few problems / breakdowns with the fleet which is to be expected no matter where you’re on the lake 10 miles on the lake with our trucks are like hundreds of miles on the highway. Casper the white chevy we acquired last year has lived up to her name with a mystery tranny problem that keeps haunting us. Ashly says we need to change her nick name? She may be on to something, but I can be stubborn as in my eyes he is living up to its nick name. Been back and forth to the tranny shop 4 times. With out mentioning the shop I would not recommend anyone to his place. Rusty trusty has had door issues window issue broken welds new hub new used wheel no start a couple times. Plow going up. We did get new door pins for the burb what a difference that made . Blue thunder just sits there saying cookie save me. Same with the red baron.
On to the fishing. Fishing and catching has gotten way better the last 10 days. I even spent some time in old minnesota something I need to do more of the rest of the season. We did have the Rick Hughs group last weekend for 3 nights what a great group of family and friends. Rick has one bad ask fish house with 3 slide outs. They had a great time. A couple of the guys brought sleds and went on a 275 mile ride the first day said they never saw a sled on the trails that day. We did have to move the north dakota house as it landed right on a big rock, once we moved her, they did get a few fish.
Chris and his wife and kid took home 12 out of colorado and also had a great time.
Our grand sons Jason and Jacob stayed in nevada where they did have some action not sure if they kept any to take home as I did not get to say goodbye.
wyoming had dana and his son red lake did get Dana phone.
Utah had Cole and his crew they searched for the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. They looked for crappies during the day we also moved them after the second day where they had better action there last night.
Asly poo managed to get 3 in one sit one evening, Dusty got 4 out of his house in a couple hours. I got a good keeper last night but came home just before dark to make my home-made pizza .
Tennessee had Logan and his gal they did really well. That house was closest to the main road.
Florida and Montana only got a few but still enjoyed the comfort of the houses. They also went looking for the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
The crappies have been getting chased all over with the cheatmaster 3000. Jonny boy and Dusty have taken a few customers out with good success. Jonny boy said the last 2 guys he took out released there biggest a 15 1/2 and only kept 5.
The crew have been doing a great job visiting our customers through out there stay. They may or may not realize they are carrying grama Olga’s legacy of being a great host. On a grand lake that owes us nothing.
We do have plenty of weekday house available with Idaho, Tennessee , Nevada and our 6 man texas open the weekend of the the 13th. Texas 19th 20th 21rst also canceled the last weekend .

Our team has been grinding since my last update. we basically had another hell week being so busy, then throw in a few dustings of snow with high winds making plenty of drifting and cleaning of our first ever ice road. We were swamped the 12th 13th starting a little slow down on the 14th 15th with another full house on the weekend of the 16th. Kevin and Max came up again after the first night they packed up and moved in a bit closer where they landed 20 walleyes 2 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies a half dozen perch by far having the best fishing of any of our houses in the past week.
Tennessee with Braydon and Serenety managed to get 2 limits the 19th 20th .
Jonny boy and his sweetheart Heather/Feather went out to go fishing in Alaska Sunday eve. the 18th again in crazy winds only to run into trouble with the thermostat. I don’t think they ever got a line down.
Ashly Poo and Justin Tuna have been averaging 1 fish a night with most night not getting a line down until after 8pm. taking care of a 2-year-old living in a fish house has its own challenges. He did get to ride around with grampa checking in customers being in black beauty with me. he was a handful after a few hours he put the truck in reverse, so I had to start turning off the truck and take the keys After a few hours he was into everything and I would do it in a heartbeat again what great memories for me and hopefully him being a 7th generation on a lake that owes us nothing.
Our crew from Iowa were here for the 12th season Sarha, Carl, Ken and Terry, they again brought us some breakfast burritos and venison. Thanks, they hit the spot. Carl shot two deer within minutes a nice buck and doe thanks again we will see ya next year.
Mike and Kevin were here in Minnesota for two nights they did not do well but still enjoyed their stay.
Andy, Andy, Sam and a few of the guys were up with a wheelhouse and Alaska. We moved them the second day way out where the fishing was not any better. The team went out and got it after they left. It was good seeing them they have also been coming for years. Already planning their trip for next year.
Josh and his two buddies in Wyoming got a few last nights plus a bonus 13 inch elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie this morning.
Florida is up to 6 with 2 nice overs they got here yesterday around 4. All and all it has been some brutal fishing with mother nature always throwing her 2 cents in.
Last week there were a few trips to Bemidji. We got Casper back on the 17th from the tranny shop after a 4000 bill only to pull into the driveway dripping tranny fluid. They came and got it Monday and me and van went and got it on the 21rst as our mattresses for Oklahoma and Texas finally came in after a month wait. Of course, when we got home it was getting dark and the winds were howling out there as we went out to unload and load mattresses. No sooner that we got our road all cleaned up and got just a trace of snow on my truck windshield just enough with the falling temps and 20mph wind the road need to be addressed again. Rusty trusty is getting warmed up as she did not start yesterday morning and we had no time to fart with it until later today. Black beauty has no power steering for the last 2 years so it irritated my arthritis last night so I have to stay off the lake a good part of the day today on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Where to begin this past week. We had some tremendous fishing followed by some not so good fishing. Wednesday Sandy and her hubby figured they caught over 50 fish closer to 60 in our Florida house.
Ed and Dianne also had 2 good days of fishing landing 21 the first day and 17 the next day in the Utah house.
Bruce and his son were in California house they got 2 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies maybe a walleye or two. They were our furthest house west we were able to move them back a mile or two where the fishing did improve.
Jake was up in his house searching for the mother lode of crappies it seems they have been harassed enough as when you find a school they race off knowing their friend and family fish members don’t always come back when they go up out of the water through that little hole. Jake staying in his house North Dakota did manage to land 9 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies but he worked his butt off chasing them around on his own. He did keep them all as he is planning a fish fry for his crew on the oil rigg His house was also quite a way from the fleet all by itself. When he left his house was moved back to what we felt was better fishing. As he caught maybe 2 fish in the house.
I did drive out to check on Kevin and Max house and was surprised a wheelhouse was set up not 15 feet away from their house. There was also a snow bear and a group of crappie chasers just a stone throws away to the northwest.
Dustys Uncle was up with 2 buddies he got 9 keepers out of Idaho while the others each caught one including dusty. They were here just one night. They did leave a dirty pan and utensils which is a no no as the rule is you leave the house like you got it.
All the houses were moved over the past week some a couple times. The weekend started thursday with a few groups staying 3 nights. Ted and his dad Dave were in the new Yeti Wyoming they did terrible the first night, so the team were able to put them on another new spot where the fishing much improved. Texas had Gregs crew they were all enjoying the new house and already want it booked again next year they caught fish ate fish and were taking their limits home I believe. Idaho had mike and his 2 buddies they also started off bad so the team moved them where the fishing was much much better.
Rick Ryman was here in old minnesota his favorite house he has been coming for over 14 years. I’ve let him check in early for years as they drive from Illinois. He has always brought a couple lobster for the hammer and I plus he always asks us to come have some food in old Minnesota. Jonny boy and I were able to stop for Biscet and gravy yesterday morning. They checked in thursday around 10 am when I stopped by 4 hours later, they had 5 already during the day. Things were shaping up nice for the weekend.
Eathan and Ethan showed up early, for florida so I pointed them out a spot where they landed one 17incher and missed 3 or 4. During the day that has always been a good spot. They had 7 from the house the next day. Montana also was doing well with Cindy landing a 25-inch walleye that she released.
Oklahoma had andy and his crew they also had a blast catching and keeping fish.
I set up a friend Chris that we met 20 years ago where he did well even catching 4 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
Boar and Lori got there 8 keepers. Utah with Jeff and Beth next to them could not buy a bite when I swung in last night.
Jon and his two kids rolled in for one night in Oklahoma so will be interesting to how they did with Oklahoma in another new spot. Wyoming also were new for one night so hoping they did well on that new spot.
The fleet Casper the white chevy may be coming home this week with a new tranny, Jonny boy had to do some welding on rusty trusty, The burb also was having problems and needs a new plow motor. Black beauty has only had 1rst 2nd and reverse for two years. I’ll keep babying it as its a fish catching machine all though I will always miss blue thunder as we stole the chains off her yesterday. The red baron looks sad just sitting there but we will get a transfer case in her one of these days;
Jonny boy and Van are out cleaning up our roads this morning a little snow and 15 mile hour winds always make a mess. I’m sure there a few good drifts around the houses also on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Its been quite the week here on the shores of upper red lake. Of course, I’ve lost track of all our customers results but we have had some great fishing with last night seeing California with Bruce and his son catching not one but two elusive but still catchable upper red lake crappies. Weve also had some family up from Christmas to just yesterday so have had some extra hosting as well. Matty our grandson that helped me last year spent quite a bit of time hanging out with his sister little brother Wesley and Justin. Oliver the dog Cortney and Sam caught quite a few overs in the Montana fish house but managed a couple under 17s there last night. Plus, Ashley poo got me the recipe for her roast beef sliders can’t wait to make them. One time we had a group that yangs wife made a cold salad that was to die for. I ask for the recipe when I got it it must have had 40 ingredients with many, I had never heard of so I never did make that it was so good. The coleslaw I make came from some guys that raced cars at Princeton.
Ben was up with his two boys in North Dakota Solly and Louie they had great fishing. Ben proposed to Shawna many years ago in Old Minnesota
Alaska also so had some great fishing with the owner of that house.
Bob who owns Colorado was here for a week. They moved twice and also had some great fishing.
Elvis showed up with a new Yeti that we will now be renting named Wyoming.
I have personally had a few hiccups with my booking but have been able to manage to make sure everyone still were able to fish with a little Scrambling. I like blaming my mistakes on getting old and not as sharp.
So far running our own access road system is working out with close to 7 miles of road, there is so much space out there to find a spot just remember on red lake the bigger the open space can the better fishing. Travel is still pretty good with good common sense; this warm weather could change the ice with pressure ridges as the ice expands.
The general was here in his wheelhouse and slammed them also catching 4 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. The second day they did the cookie shuffle and hammered them again. Dave group had old Minnesota and caught fish.
Jeff and his crew got to break in Texas one of our new 6 person sleepers They had a gas and really enjoyed that we checked in on them and also moved them once or twice I lose track.
Cory and his crew had Idaho and Tennessee for the past weekend. One of their crew drove up from Duluth and ended up in Fargo Donny Lane took over 8 hrs. to get here what normally takes 3.
Curt and Jeff are here from Oklahoma. I had asked if they had any things for decor, they brought quite a few nick knacks as people call them. A few native things and also the Sooners memorabilia as Jeff works and the collage Thanks guy much apricated.
Tracy and her crew stayed in Nevada and did really well also.
The hammers sister and Hubby Kevin also came up with their son Max, and his friends they found the motherlode of crappies with help from the cheatmaster 3,000 fish eliminator. Got a great pic of max with a trash can of fish. They also had 22 people in their fish house Friday night. Its been one busy busy week on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Today we will start by saying thanks you to all our customer’s this past week. Trying to grow the business has all new challenges but were plugging away attempting to all get in sync. The silver suburban name the silver burb had the alternator freeze up leading to the belt also get smoked. Once we got everything done it was dark when we got her to shore. We also pulled the belt tensioner and top radiator hose. So, my mission was to track down the parts on saturday. Saturday evning while installing the alternator we fried out a connection that had to be troubleshot as we had no power going to the ignitions after a few hours we got her back running. We then fired up rusty trusty to go out and get the help ashley and justin house set up. I have always tried to not move houses in the dark, but this was good training for the kids. After I got the kids set up, I attempted to clean up our new road system. Only to have a wheel barring lock up on rusty trusty we got her home where Jonny boy tore into so Elvis could go find the parts yesterday. Jonny got her back together.
Running all these houses has the whole team hopping yesterday as we attempted to move, clean, reset 9 houses. all before 2 pm. With help from our friend Mike of ice castle outlaws jumped in to help Jonny boy with plowing new spots and getting all the skid houses moved. Dusty worked on all the wheelhouse while Justin and Ashley cleaned and helped set up the houses. We did have a couple no shows do to flu and weather, when someone cancels do the weather it drives me crazy what do you expect when you book an ice fishing adventure in Minnesota. Of course, the fishing shut down with slower fishing for most but that’s expected sometimes. The fishing did get better last night. I’ll be making rounds a bit later.
Running our own access this year has also given us new challenges, so far so good as it is a work in progress. Our road crosses hillmans road close to shore if you go out of our place, please respect buddy Hillmans Road and only use our landing for coming and going off the lake. We still will help buddy hillman if ever needed as that’s what neighbors do. help each other.
Meeting customers and checking them in has also became more of a challenge as my memory is just not like it used to be. Getting old sucks.
The god news as the convenient store will be reopening at some point this month under new ownership. The hammer plans on trying to work there again as she does miss seeing all the locals.
We have fishermen in quite a few of the houses so I’ll be making some rounds in a bit as half the team is again moving a couple houses this morning. Jonny boy is guiding a few customers in a snow bear today looking for the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. They did find a school a couple days ago. Dusty also got out and found a few not sure if any were kept. Custom Chris found a big school, then said 3 portables moved in next to them. What I see is potential customers some have other opinions on a grand lake that owes us nothing.
Yesterday I think I had well over 60 phone calls which make things more challenging as ever. By the end of the day, I’m shot and it’s hard to get that second wind like I used to get back out in the evening to visit. The team has been doing a good job of checking on them also. Remember if you ever have a issue please call as a text does not alert me like a phone call.