A great fishing report and a few things I forgot about last week. Passing in waskish . We had a customer turning into our driveway last week coming from the south. As he started to turn in a semi came a round in the no passing lane. The semi driver tried to avoid hitting him but clipped the front end of his truck shearing off the bumper, headlights, grill before hitting the ditch in front of our house. Kellie aka The Hammer was sitting here at the computer when a full-blown semi came flying down the ditch as it came to a stop just past our house as she was looking out the window not 15 yards in front of our house. God was in James pickup as one fender length they would have been tee boned. Please Please do not pass when going through Waskish it is a no passing zone as there are many many driveways through town. please slow down.
We have been battling mother nature with high winds and some snow on Thursday and again on Saturday. The drifting can cause a lot of havoc with the extra weight causing house to flood. It like the weight causes a bowl shape or plate on the ice and the water trickle out and freezes. As long as the house are blocked up high enough having the heat on keeps the water under the house from freezing. It’s been a ton of hard work to break them loose. California will be the last to get out. The new heater had an issue, so she maybe froze in pretty good. The heater was set for natural gas not propane, so an orifice needs to be switched out. The fishing has been pretty good when we get the houses on fresh ice. Colorado had a nice pile of fish when I stopped in last night, Dominic and his dad Mark had good luck with rattle wheels going off all night in Tennessee. Utah had Olivia and Brock they had good action. We got Texas the new 6 man out with Joe, Pin, Paul, Matt, what a great group of guys. I expect we will see them again. Idaho had PJ, Sheris, Sheva they only got a couple after the guys before them had done rally well. Florida had John and Jeff, they had much better action the last night after we moved it out a little deeper.

This year we have made the decision to maintain our own road system. After all these years of helping others are goals have been to become bigger and better. For our rental customers it will be a free will donation to maintain the system. The public will need to pay a 20-dollar fee per night so Friday Saturday night is 40 dollars if you’re leaving Sunday. Please use our landing when leaving the lake. As the years catch up to me and the hammer the kids are basically slowly taking over. They have much bigger aspiration then I had. I have always just wanted to keep my grandma olga’s legacy to live on as she was such a good host to her fishermen. She was born here on the river her brother Jalmer downed in the Tamarac rive, along moose bank, her parents homesteaded here in 1910. There is a lake south of their homestead named Norman Lake grama’s maiden name. She loved picking blueberry’s and canning them. I always got a pint or two when we visited. She made Swedish pancakes every time we were here. This was my dad and uncle’s stomping grounds Dad use to race cars up and down the Tamarac river. They used to also water ski on it. Unkle Wayne, dads brother worked with Shorty Hillman, Buddy Hillman’s dad on the north slopes of Alaska. Cousin Pete my mentor when I got into the ice fishing business up here was my dad’s buddy growing up. They all went to school together in the little town of Waskish a fishing destination.
The crew Dusty, Ashley, Justin tuna, and Jonny boy went above and beyond earning there keep battling mother nature trying to move houses in that brutal weather Thursday and saturday on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Theres been a few more hiccup’s this week. My post I had started on the 13th is now gone I hit save draft but shes gone. We had to add to the fleet and now have the Burb, Casper, black beauty, rusty trusty. Sitting in the wings waiting for repair the red baron, blue thunder 2. white lightning. I’m sure im missing something. We did loose reverse in Casper so he is back to the tranny guy. I think it may have more miles on it going back and forth to bemidji then on the lake in a year. There were plenty of high Lites the last week remembering names and hiccups is another story. All the houses did really well with the whole team working there rears off. Battling mother nature is no joke and common sense needs to be a high priority. The guys in Idaho landed a 40 inch pike as round as a football the houses have water under them when they released the fish it got under the house but was able two turn down and swim through another hole. Of course, it got all their lines including a pole that went down but was retrieved. Mitch had his son in Colorado when they had a walleye release also got under the house but his son Able was able to catch it buy hand, I may have to add a spear to the house”s.
Battling mother nature yesterday with one rookie Justin Tuna. We had 4 check ins. I have not heard how everyone did last night we did have to borrow a generator to bob in his own wheelhouse as he had some issue. The wind was relentless yesterday I had to help friend take his dog to the vet so did not have the pleasure of stressing out in the white out conditions other then I was on the roads instead of the lake. The team had no chance of moving houses yesterday so will have to see how they manage today as I’m sure there are some wicked drifts around the house which causes extra flooding around the houses. I’ll get out there to check on a few of the customers. The houses do not stop flooding until we reach around 19 inches with Idaho needing a bit more as that house is built like a tank weighing in at 9.000 pounds. We have had quite a few customers in the last week. Everyone caught fish on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Always a eye opener here on the shores of upper red lake. Mother nature can be relenting.
Today is the big day of the kellier fire and rescue fund raiser and fishing derby. you can register up to 4 fish. they have two houses out on the lake about a mile out of there north road with 2 flags flying above them one house is yellow they must be register buy 3 pm for drawings. We have a full house as it was quite chaotic down at the lake last night as all the guys were coming in. Everyone I talked to had good to great fishing with winds howling at 20 miles an hour all day and temps plummeting. Go figure she always surprises you.
We did get Alaska, Utah and Tennessee out onto fishable water chuck and his buddy had a couple hiccups with the heat but Ashley Poo and I got her figured out. Alaska was also getting a few, We had a bad extension cord but also were on top of and it got it taken care of. The boys in Utah were also catching some fish. Our plans are to start bringing the fleet out tomorrow. Dusty will be rolling in for the season. The relentless wind turned the snow drifts rock hard so navigating will start off a chore I guess its pay back for last year. Hillmans was dragging their road all day yesterday so she should be in great shape. We did let some friends take their houses out yesterday, so they were digging that Darrin and Dan from d and d fishing were dolling houses out all day. Hope they can remember where there all at as they will be busy tomorrow.
It sure felt great to be busy all day on the lake. Driving the white chevy with good heat, nice seats, windows wipers working nice plow a guy could get spoiled all though I still miss driving blue thunder. Oklahoma and Texas our 2 new 12 buy 22 houses are coming right along Josh and Van did take the day off yesterday to enjoy a little fishing break. Ashly and Justin are itching to get their house on the lake so 2 great grandkids Wesly and Bently 7th generation can catch a fish. The plan will get them on the lake today with their hard house.
A couple of the guys did catch some elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies in 8 feet of water? That surprised me. Time to check the fluids and warm up the fleet. More reports to come on a grand lake that owes us nothing but still keeps giving

Well we were not full-on shore this weekend, but we did have quite a few guys down there. They all caught some fish with some doing better than others.
Seems most of the resorts have been a little busy the last few days as all the bugs get worked out. We ourselves have had a few hiccups but that is part of the business. Jonny boy has been plugging away plus helping with construction of two brand new 12 buy 22 skid houses that we will be renting this year. Oklahoma and Texas are their nick names. I’m thinking they could be on lake by Christmas if they all go as planned. We still have plenty of houses open throughout the season.
As far as ice I expect over 12 inches by Friday at this time. Our plans at this time will be taking our houses out starting Sunday the 14th after they our empty from the weekend.
Lots of excitement with the kellier fire and rescue fund raiser and fishing derby this Saturday the 13th. 11am to 3 pm. This we all be based out of westwinds resort. You are allowed to fish all of state waters or upper red lake; you must be in line to register fish by 3pm.
The lake has been very busy the last few days it’s even busy today with a possible snowstorm coming. Sounds like Dusty will be arriving this sunday. so our full crew should be ready to go. Still have hiccup with rusty trusty that jonny boy is dealing with. Looks like black beauty will be my lake truck again this year. The snow will be welcome for banking houses. So there not a whole lot to write about at this time as all the resorts are open and letting wheelers and side by sides out.
I’ll update in a few days as I still have plenty to do on a grand lake that owes us nothing

good morning to all. It has been very hectic here the last few days as we get ready for the season. I never go out on the lake un tell I can drive a truck, so I have to go by what the other resorts are saying or the help here as far as ice conditions, at this time it sounds like most of the access are allowing side by sides. 2 days ago, it was wheeler so were making ice very quickly wheelers. Now the phone will start ringing when the trucks houses etc. will be allowed. I’m hearing reports of at least 7 inches with most resorts asking customers to not go over cracks. The biggest problem I always see as once there are on the lake some do what they want that’s why they are all so cautious. If you’re interested on safe ice thickness look up the armys core of engineers ice test done on perfect controlled ice it will shock you and kinda cool.
With the gas station closed at this time. We are asking our customers to bring a extra 5 gallons of gas for the generators if possible. In the future we may start renting the generators or you would have to bring your own. Again that would be in the future if we went that route. Jonny will be heading up so expect he may be spending some time on the ice this weekend? Mother nature is really being kind at this time with the temps. I expect it won’t be to long and the smaller vehicles will be testing the ice. Were full for the fishing derby and Kellier waskish fire department fundraiser Dec 13th we are full that weekend, I can’t write out all the details but some of the bigger prizes are a fish house a kitty Kat snowmobile 1,000.00 750.00 500.00 alive scope and some others.
My Granddaughter Ashly poo and her hubby Justin are part of the crew this year, they have been busting butt getting everything ready. They are doing a fantastic job. Ashly has worked on the lake before with us. She was also good with the customers which I love.
Hillmans has made a few more upgrades and will be serving some food in the bar tall tail tavern. They may also still have openings for next weekend fishing derby.
We have some fisherman out today so we shall know how they did tonight when I go down to the lake and make the rounds.
father time has finally caught up with me. I just cannot keep up like in the past. What use to take me an hour may take 2hrs. From book work, reservation manual labor, you name it. It takes longer. The bad back is also back with a vengeance etc. We got a great crew as I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel I will be giving 100 percent of what I have.
Sounds like the fishing has started to go gang buster for some this morning on This Grand Lake that owes us nothing

Happy thanksgiving,
Mother nature has decided it’s time to get things rolling. With temps dropping to single digits by sunday eve I expect some walking out by next weekend. Every year is different as your plans can change from plan a to plan b in the blink of an eye. I would say dealing with mother nature is the hardest as you have zero control, she always throwing a wrench in things it defiantly makes thing challenging. There was one year we were forecasted quite a bit of snow on a thursday evening through the night. Friday is always the busiest day. I get up in the early morning expecting a foot of snow but there is just a a dusting. I have all the houses ready to auger so I’m dilly dallying around. I head out with blue thunder 1. This is back in the crappie days and im the furthest west I have ever had the houses. I get about 5 miles out. Theres over a foot of snow with drifts 3, 4 feet high. With no vee plow it takes well over 2 hours just to get to the houses where each house has 4-foot snow drifts around them. Talk about a stressful day.
Kellier fire and rescue has a fundraiser coming up with a fishing derby to boot. 50 dollars ges your entry with chances at some great prizes a kitty kat snowmobile, a lite weight skid house, garmin live scope package 1000,750,500 cash prizes, a generator, led tv, miter saw, auger. You do not have to present to win. Ticket also includes entry into fishing derby. This is based out of westwind but you are allowed to fish on all state of minnesota waters of upper red lake you can register 4 fish, which I assume enters you into other drawings? The date is dec 13 from 11 to 3 pm in front of westwind. If the ice is unsafe Raffle will still occur even if ice conditions do not allow fishing derby.
This year Jonny will be running the houses again with Dusty and granddaughter Asley Poo. You can check out our web page cookiesonupperredlake.com. Our houses are all named after states.
Blue thunder 2 broke down late last season so there is a chance she will not be on the lake this year. Those 2 trucks and boss plow have run our business for over 20 years. Red Baron still has a broken transfer case but the big v plow is mounted on rusty trusty. We also have the white ghost that Jonny purchased last year. Both have 454 chevy motors. I’d say they get 6 miles to the gallon if that. I will start with black beauty again this year with just 1rst 2nd and reverse gears.
The area has grown for lodging over the years with at least houses that are now b@bs. Ross, Robyn, Frank, Harry and Ben, Kaytlen off the top of my head.
We talked to eric from beaon harbor he has got a new steel bridge I’m sure he’s excited to see how well it performs.
The gas station here in town is closed so make sure you plan accordingly. We are asking our customers to bring a extra 5 gallons of gas this year if possible, we will have 5 gallons when you arrive. Also remember there is no garbage allowed touching the ice we do have totes attached to place the garbage in. We are also asking customer that have trucks to possible take some of the garbage bags home with you.
We still have some shore rental lodging the weekend of the 4th and 12th for early ice. Mother nature decides when the houses can get onto fishable ice. Were still weighing on running are own access one of these years. We do talk about it every year. We still have plenty of days with open houses. I also offer 20% off sunday through wednesday. I’ve always tried to get repeat customers by treating them how I would like to be treated. It something ive been very proud of over all these years on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Well well it’s that time of year again. The summer went well. Jonny boy did most of the guiding out of our boat named Imagine That. My grandma Olga up here use to say eww imagine that in that Swedish accent when we told her fishing and hunting stories. As all grama’s are one of kind, we sure miss her. She is also the one that gave me my nick name Cookie
The fishing this summer was again really good. I did not play golf as much as the years past but still got quite a bit in after work.
Our books are slowing filling up although there’s still plenty openings. Cookiesonupperredlake.com to check out our houses. we have added a house nick named Idaho which has 4 single bunk beds,8 holes, indoor biffy, 2 burner stove top.
This year the Kelliher fire and rescue will be having a fishing derby dec.13th. Theres a big raffle to raise money for equipment ,training etc.. 1 raffle ticket enters you in the derby. The derby will only be held if we have safe ice but the raffle will still be held out of westwind. Westwinds facebook page has more details. They have also added on to their bait shop.
The gas station here in town has been closed so if you’re coming up make sure you have plenty of fuel, snacks etc.. otherwise it is 17 miles back to Kelliher.
I’ve started inventory on the house’s plus getting them all cleaned up and detailed. Jonny has been focused on the fleet as they always need something. Blue thunder is still down not sure if she will ever see the lake again at this time. The white Ghost and rusty trusty will be the two workhorses. Both having big block 454s. Our granddaughter Ashly poo will be coming up to help again this year. Matty has to go to school so he will not be helping out.

I have not decided if I want to deer hunt this year, I’ll have to decide. Rick and Bob will not be coming up as the wolfs have made the hunting tougher. the hammer and I did get to have a grouse dinner so that was sweet. Its not to early to get those reservations in the books

We had a few guests this past week. They all went fishing with either Jonny boy or dusty with great success. Jimmy teamed up with Dusty more as a helper then a fisherman he Thurley enjoyed helping and watching customers landing the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Glen had the 2 boys that were not giving up until they got on the mother lode. Dusty said they would not stop tell his cheatmaster 3000 fish eliminators battery wore out.
Mark is a chef from Rush creek golf course. He is not a golfer so not sure if I can fenagle a free round. He was a diehard fishing outside every day. He had no interest of keeping any fish just loves the chase. Jonny and Dusty also guided a few groups with great success.
Hillmans road is still in good shape, this could be the last weekend depending on mother nature. We still have open houses set up on crappie grounds.
Jake is on his way up with Laken. Jake will go home sun and wind burned as he will not give up looking for the mother lode. Dusty set up a wheelhouse last night around 10:30pm she has 6 on the ice from the house. Utah has Joel they only got 1 perch 1 crappie and 1 walleye. The boys are out moving a few houses this morning.
The weather looks great for the next few days, I’ll take cloudy over sunshine to help save the landing.
For over 20 years I have had trouble pulling the plug. Even though I did not work as much on this grand lake this year. I’m already looking forward to next year. With Jonny boy at the helm we hope and plan on changing things for the better and not get walked on.
One year we even water skipped to get to the crappie grounds. I somehow got the hammer on the sled nick named the “rocket” with her holding on tight we took off across the open water all of 50yards if not more. Coming in as I was lining up a straight shot just as went to speed up the sled stumbled. With no room to stop I hit the throttle, and we shot across like a rocket. We made it to shore, and the hammer said in a pretty loud voice never again.
Buddy Hillman got so good at it he could lean and turn.

This past weekend we had a few houses with customers plus the owners of Tennessee, Colorado.
Tenneessee was he hot house with Elvis landing 14 of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
Bob the owner of colorado had some guest up for the weekend, the first night they landed 15 from the house.
Utah did all right landing 10. Texas had ryan his wife they got a got a couple North Dakoata had Ryan kids they also landed a couple.
Mathew fished and stayed out in minnesota where he landed at least one every night. He also visited the kids in north dakota as they were the same age..
Jason Mellissa and barb stay in alaska where they landed 4 out of the house.
Kevin Max and Cam went hunting for the mother lode and had a adventure as they went over a crack 8 miles out, they had a heck of a time getting back across with Cam damaging a rim and tire. The area they crossed was a wide crack that froze over and was only 8 inches thick. If you come up crappie hunting be aware that that crack is to the west of rocky point.
Everyone that stayed last weekend went out on the hunt during the day using there cheatmaster 3,000$ fish eliminators. They were skittish and elusive when you found them, but they were still catchable. with lots of fish kept plus released.
The Lamser crew showed up for a day of fishing Steve, Megan, Bob, Theresa, Stephanie, April, Tony, Kristi, John and my helper one year James.
They all used to rent from me and come up for our crappie hunts back before the cheatmaster. They took home 39 and 2 sheephead. It was good seeing them all. I checked in on them a couple times as they were enjoying such a grand day on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Jonny boy and Dusty have done a great job figuring out where to catch them. They have seen some patterns but keep that tight lipped for the customers only.
Ashley and Justin came up for just saturday eve, they only landed one, but she said they did not fish that hard. They also came to take Matty back home. It was bittersweet as me and him really had some fun out there learning how to work on the lake, checking on customers trying to sell hoody’s, fishing, he got to check in on customers, he also went out fishing with the guys staying in the cabin all on his own. He called them his customers. He was also home schooling. Which he may have dropped the ball a bit on that. He wheeled and dialed for a sled he got us to trade our red and silver truck for. We also worked on the hammers old sled we did getting it running briefly but never got it running good enough to ride.
We still have most of the fleet on the lake. we plan on at least sticking it out another week but will keep a eye of the weather. The ice road is in great shape the access is still ok. At this time we have houses in crappie grounds still open for this coming weekend. I’m sticking to the 25% off. We also have some on land lodging. Cookie 218 556 6197

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This past weekend we had a few houses with customers plus the owners of Tennessee, Colorado.
Tenneessee was he hot house with Elvis landing 14 of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
Bob the owner of colorado had some guest up for the weekend, the first night they landed 15 from the house.
Utah did all right landing 10. Texas had ryan his wife they got a got a couple North Dakoata had Ryan kids they also landed a couple.
Mathew fished and stayed out in minnesota where he landed at least one every night. He also visited the kids in north dakota as they were the same age..
Jason Mellissa and barb stay in alaska where they landed 4 out of the house.
Kevin Max and Cam went hunting for the mother lode and had a adventure as they went over a crack 8 miles out, they had a heck of a time getting back across with Cam damaging a rim and tire. The area they crossed was a wide crack that froze over and was only 8 inches thick. If you come up crappie hunting be aware that that crack is to the west of rocky point.
Everyone that stayed last weekend went out on the hunt during the day using there cheatmaster 3,000$ fish eliminators. They were skittish and elusive when you found them, but they were still catchable. with lots of fish kept plus released.
The Lamser crew showed up for a day of fishing Steve, Megan, Bob, Theresa, Stephanie, April, Tony, Kristi, John and my helper one year James.
They all used to rent from me and come up for our crappie hunts back before the cheatmaster. They took home 39 and 2 sheephead. It was good seeing them all. I checked in on them a couple times as they were enjoying such a grand day on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Jonny boy and Dusty have done a great job figuring out where to catch them. They have seen some patterns but keep that tight lipped for the customers only.
Ashley and Justin came up for just saturday eve, they only landed one, but she said they did not fish that hard. They also came to take Matty back home. It was bittersweet as me and him really had some fun out there learning how to work on the lake, checking on customers trying to sell hoody’s, fishing, he got to check in on customers, he also went out fishing with the guys staying in the cabin all on his own. He called them his customers. He was also home schooling. Which he may have dropped the ball a bit on that. He wheeled and dialed for a sled he got us to trade our red and silver truck for. We also worked on the hammers old sled we did getting it running briefly but never got it running good enough to ride.
We still have most of the fleet on the lake. we plan on at least sticking it out another week but will keep a eye of the weather. The ice road is in great shape the access is still ok. At this time we have houses in crappie grounds still open for this coming weekend. I’m sticking to the 25% off. We also have some on land lodging. Cookie 218 556 6197