The conditions have not changed a whole lot in the last few days here on the shores of upper red lake. As far as I know Hillmans is still allowing side by sides and smaller out to the major crack at 2 miles. Mother nature is not cooperating at all. Saturday eve night we got a hard rain with a steady drizzle all day sunday. I met Dan out by the houses to get Brad and Rodger off the lake. They caught quite a few fish over the slot but managed to take a few fish home. Rodger was here all the way from Huston. He is Brads grampa. this was his second ice fishing trip and he said he loves it. they said they would defiantly be back as they enjoy our service very much. last year they fished Winnie.
Big Tony did manage to get a fat 14 1\2 inch elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. He saved it for the hammer to eat as last year he remembered we wanted a crappie or two for dinner table. It was delicious.
Dan and I got Darrin’s house our Tennessee house and their new ice castle back in front of our house in the steady rain. I never have liked working in the rain after 3 1/2 hours I still do not like working in the rain.
The lake seemed to take the rain pretty well. There was water draining down the holes. I did see one hole that was a 8-inch hole and it was now a 11-inch hole as the water whirlpooled into it.
I did just get off the phone with Buddy Hillman. They are allowing side by side and under out to 3 miles. There is a stretch of open water the goes as far as you can see north to south. The strong ne winds last night have open up a giant stretch of open water. That is one of or the reason they all have been recommending no night travel or being off the lake by sunset.
We do have houses open for lodging on shore at this time. I may be able to take Utah and Tennessee back out once I look at the area we want to fish. If we do the customers will have to be shuttled out there on a trailer at this time.
This year is not looking like any other year we have had. Mother nature must have decided upper red lake needed a break from the onslaught of ice houses. Well I need to go get the ice rain off the vehicles. If your headed this way the road is very slick with overnight ice rain. Darrin will be up later today soo we will take a good look at things.
If you follow all the resorts facebook pages I’m sure they are all being updated at this time.

Searching back in my archives 2015 was the year we did not get the houses on the lake until after Christmas. Was fun reading my reports from 8 years ago. I did share one on facebook.
Darrin rolled in with his boss and 2 boys a couple days ago. Darrin headed out with his small homemade sleeper. The first night was on the slow side. Thursday they took the wheeler and portables out a little further and did much better. They did go home with some fish but no elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
After tony and Dustin took Utah out with Dans dolly 2 nights in a row. I decided I would let them set it up for Braad and his grampa Rodger. They then took Tennessee out there to spend the night close to them just in case any problems arose. no phone calls last night so everything must have been fine. I really don’t like that I cannot go out and check on the customers. Tony and Dustin head home today so I will be going out later today on a wheeler to know exactly where they are for tonight. Dann and Mell also arrived yesterday with the new to them single axel ice castle. They were pumped to get her out on the lake. With Darrin’s help they took our customers, a trailer with all the gear, while tony towed Tennessee .
With this late start to the season mother nature has again showed us who is in control. The way I have always looked at these problems and other problem throughout the season it happens for a reason. I may not know why but that’s the way I try and look at it. If something breaks on one of the trucks, customers cancel, mother nature picks on us. It all happens for a reason.
It sounded like a few fish were getting caught out there last night Will Mell getting the first fish inn their new house. I’m sure there were a few other first things in their new house last night. I’ll find out how everyone did later today.
We have a lot of open houses for camping on shore after Christmas as I had too juggle all the reservation that had to be canceled. A couple are still coming with portables and wheelers with a couple still on the fence. It was quite the task trying to change everything especially with my short time memory interfering. I say I forgot every day and it is very frustrating. I imagine all the outfitters had too do the same thing to their reservation books.
Anyway, We wish everyone a merry Christmas and hope you all get everything you want for ice fishing. Give us a call if you want to camp and get out with the portables and all that new equipment.

cookie and the hammer plus Jonny boy and the rest of the crew Merry Christmas

Big Tony
and dusty took Utah out yesterday afternoon with a fish house dolly and dans 4-wheeler. I think Jonny boy gave them a way point that he had saved from previous scouting/fishing They figured they went out about a mile. I had tony give me accurate ice thickness readings. He found anywhere from 11 1/2 inches too just a tad over 12. Everything went smooth. I had talk to them around 7 last night with Tony sending a pick of his four fish and a bonus elusive but still catchable upper red lake crappie. I not huge tech guy when it comes to saving way points, but Jonny boy has it dialed in and can go to any place that we have had good fishing for at least the last 5 years. I’m such old school thinking I can line up looking straight up the river with the biggest tree to the left and the fire tower over there.
Mike and Joany were here for 2 nights they had real good fishing Tuesday getting there keepers. Yesterday was the complete opposite and the fish were finicky. If you moved the bait they were gone.
Darrin was also out there but said it was slow for them when I talked to him last night.
With mother nature not being kind to us I see no possibility of taking and of the bigger houses on the lake any time soon. We do have a 4-wheeler dolly that can take out our two single axle fish houses Utah and Tennessee as long as we stay on our own path and not wonder off willy nilly in any direction. Other than a few cracks that could possibly become pressure ridges this end of the lake has been pretty stable. We may shuttle Brad and his grandpa out Friday, as long as the lake stays stable on this end.
I have been calling all our customers in the books for after Christmas day to see if they would like to bring portables and wheelers and stay on shore. Buddy Hillman has recommended to only go out 3 miles at this time. Sounds like there may be some active cracks at 2 miles Since we team up with him on the ice road I stick to his guidelines with our guests. I was really hoping to get a couple of the sleepers just out in front of our place but not feeling comfortable about that until I see over 13 to 14. It makes it tougher if the customers cannot drive their vehicles out also..
We now have the ice castle we nick named Texas here. We had some guests use it last night on shore to work out any issue that may arise.
I’m going to have to come up with a come on cold cold dance. I’m not a good dancer. Just ask the Hammer.
Christmas to new year’s has always been our busiest week, along with all the other resorts and outfitters up here. It never changes you are always battling mother nature up here any time of year.
Well, its that time of day to get something done here on the shores of upper red lake. That owes us nothing but keeps on giving.

I’m not sure why but as you get older time fly’s buy. None of our guest got skunked last weekend. Jonny boy was able to shuffle a few [people out that did not have transportation..
Jason, melissa, Barb and Andrea had another great time on such a grand lake. They did go home with fish.
Paul and Quinten had there snowbear. They had good fishing in some spots and not so good in others. They commented that most of the ice was at 10 inches. Friday was their slowest day.
The guys that went out sunday morning did well as the fish put on the feed bags. JD and his son were disappointed thay could not stay in Tennessee. I never got to see how they did. Jd sure had a nice machine. Was more of a 4-seater dune buggy. Boy have those machined changed.
Someone named Richard was a no show with not even a phone call. What was weird a s he was so excited when he set his trip up? Duwane and his buddy had a blast and are already planning on coming up again in a week. I never got to see Bin but did message him they did not do so well. They walked out both days. Don and his crew did well. Shawn and his boy left before I could visit them.
Darrin was also here he rented his sleeper to two guys that had called me. Allen and joel. They never paid him. He thought they paid me. We had a few other guests that camped down on the lake shore, with their wheelhouses. I think everyone had a good time.
Jonny boy did get to get out and scout a little bit Saturday. He caught a few. Working out of town is driving him crazy. Just like I was when I first started doing this. When you enjoy what you’re doing its not work it’s just fun.
I’ll be venturing onto the lake with blue thunder tomorrow. Not out to far but just looking around close to shore. I will then have to decide what or if I can get out to at least fishable water. The little cold snap we just had probably made another 1 inch plus.
This darn crazy weather? It warmed up overnight. Buddy Hillman plans on having couple of his smaller sleepers out for the weekend. We do have a couple of our sleepers open on shore again this weekend. If we start getting some houses out customers may have to be shuttled out.
Will play that by ear right now.
Dan and Mel are excited to get up here with their new ice castle.
Some high winds came roaring in late sunday afternoon. A few fishermen got stranded on the other side of a crack that opened up. Sounds like the news made it sound like people were floating around on a hunk of ice. One of my old customers Pat was one that got helped back to shore. The resort was going to collect all the gear that had to be left on the ice and store it for the customers. No one fell in the water that I know of. Just could not get back to shore. The old adage ice is never 100 % safe. With this 48-hour cold snap we had. Hopefully it has locked up all the open water on the lake. We do have some snow that drifted in down at our shoreline so I can give blue thunder and her plow a little work out.
I have also seen a few more elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. I did have a call from a gentleman in Iowa that heard they were slamming the crappies. Not sure where he heard that? He was a little disappointed when I told him that was not true at this time. Well time and mother nature will determine what we can do the next couple weeks, there was a year we did not get the houses out tell new years. All the owners of the bigger wheel houses are going to have to be patience this year.

we have had a few guests this week. The guys staying in alaska did well yesterday. I told themw I would be sending all our customers over in that direction.
Luke and his dad struggled the first days but finally found them yesterday a little closer to shore I be leave.
Paul and Quinten are here. They figured they have been staying with us 7 or 8 years and are the only place they have ever stayed.. That was nice of them to say. They got there 8 yesterday fishing out of there snowbear.
I did not get to talk to Ron and his buddies they have fished here before so I’m sure they found some fish.
We did have a cancelation last night for our montana house. 2 double beds. stove. oven, heat, indoor biffy, electricity.
Hillmans is now allowing side by sides up to 2 miles out. They also have some live music saturday eve.
I still have not gone out on the lake in blue thunder. We’re getting closer. I’m hoping we will be able to have the houses in fishable water by Christmas? The long-range forecast is not great, but we may keep making a little ice every evening. Paul and Quinten said they saw a fleet of sleepers out on the ice?
Today I’m going to fart around with the red baron here on the property to just run it some more. Darrin will be up this weekend so I hope we can figure out why she jumps out of 4-wheel drive.
I’ve seen some more pics of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Seems they have all been loaners.
Well lets hope for some more cold weather on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

oday will change it up this morning and talk about the fishing first.
All our guest that were here caught fish. Some walked some had wheelers. Some struggled to find fish that were under 17 inches. Getting the overs was much easier. The guys that got out yesterday morning had a nice morning bite before they packed up. Buddy figured we lost an inch of ice with Friday night drizzle and warmth. We should have gained some of that back last night. Bob arrived with the Colorado house and fished a couple days his best bite was with a bobber and secret lure. Alaska and Utah also so arrived so we now have most of the fleet here. They are both open this weekend for on shore lodging… We also committed to another ice castle that will be named Texas as its big with a slide out.
We also had a good week of preparing for when we hit the ice. Big Tony was able to get all 8 generators running.
Jonny boy got the red barons tank off. She had a pretty plugged up in tank filter. with some clean gas she fired right up but this time it moves when you give her a little throttle. Now we still have to figure out why it will not stay in 4-wheel drive.
Big Tony and I were able to adjust the pressure on the boss plow. We had a little mis hap but scathed through without a scratch “Knock on wood” Blue thunder also got a new master break cylinder That shored up the breaks.
I did see a few more elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Plus, a couple pics of some big pike.
We are again going to have friends help us throughout the winter. Jonny boy will be here as much as his job will allow.
we only have one guest at this time so will see how they did. They were walking so we will see.
Tony boy is heading home for a few days so I’m pretty much on my own to keep plugging away.
Again, We do have Alaska and Utha open for some lodging this coming weekend. Dec 15th

Mother nature is not cooperating with us . All the resort have been suggesting boundries at this time. The pot holes that glazed over have not made much if any ice in the past week. Please everyone use a lot of commonn sense. Most of the fishermen have been staying with in 3/4 mile from shore which is plenty far enough to find fish. Anything that rattles will draw them in. A second line set up with a red plain hook and bobber tip with a minnow.
Tony boy walked out and got his 4 with in the last 2 hours of day lite and was able to get back to shore before dark.
Bob went out yesterday again not that far they were biting before he could even get a second line down. He also was able to come in before dark. I talked to a gentleman that did really well yesterday in front of the beach . Seems everyone has been reporting good fishing.
With tony boy here we have been able to get quite a few to do things done. I got new batteries in all the trucks. They have all been started and moved. We do have a issue with the red baron as it will not stay in 4 wheel drive. Plus it will not stay running when you put her in gear.
Blue thunder has a couple little thing I am addressing.
I’m hoping any snow stays away at this time. We do not need any insulation as they lake struggles to make ice. Plus the frozen potholes will be impossible to spot. I have heard they are around 3 to 4 inches. Again, I personally have not ventured out on to the lake so all I can go buy is what others say and what I’ve observed over the years. Please again everybody be safe, Fish with the buddies, if it does not look right, it probably is not. Have a rope, ice pics” a having a vested life jacket would not hurt if you’re riding any kind of machine.

well we managed to make it through the first weekend of having guest here at cookies on upper red lake.
Jake did make it up too help with some carpenter work. We got old minnesota siding repaired where it got damaged last year. Jonny boy and Jaked also were able to replace the large window on montana with a new slider window. That turned out really well. I was the gopher since I’m have minimal carpenter skills. I did pay the price as my back was hurting big time saturday eve. I know that this year I will have to cut down on the manual labor of our operation.
Back in the day I could dig out a skid house break it loose move it reset it in about a hour depending on how far I move. Last year 1 skid house took me closer to 3 hours, this year the crew will be moving them all. I do not plan on trying to move any on my own. We do have a young guy coming up this weekend so I can give him a interview.
we also got some more work done to the fleet Jonny boy was able to replace the power steering line on rusty trusty. i was able to install a new batterie. I need to pick up a new master cylinder for blue thunder. Install another new batterie in the old truck. The red baron has a issue that we have to figure out she fires right up but as soon as you put her in gear and give it gas it sputters and die. Then it fires right back up. Maybe fuel pump?
. The fishing for all our guest was a mixed bag with some doing real well, some so so, some struggled to find under 17s. The lake had a couple hundred hubs out there saturday from westwind the “premier resort here in waskish” all the way around to beacon harbor.
I also saw that a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies were caught. One gentlemen had a 15 he let go to keep the genetics in the system. I also had a friend send me a pic of a big pike he caught saturday.
I still have not been more than a hundred feet on lake. I may have to do the no snow but cold dance. Looking at the long-range forecast were looking at possibly getting the houses on the lake a few days before Christmas. we do have a few weekends completely booked but still have quite a few rentals left. Remember I offer 20 percent off sunday through wednesdays. On a grand lake that owes us nothing yet just keeps giving.

From all the reports I have been reading most if not all of the accesses Plan on letting walkers out by this friday. They are also asking fisher people to get off lake at sunset.
Two of the resorts up here in wasksh sounds like they are changing their policy on lake access.
Red lake remote is letting fishermen off their place as well as beacon harbor.
I have also heard a few outfitters thinking they may have sleepers on the lake next weekend? Our weather says 44 next week one day? They can be wrong as mn weather can change.

As soon as the accesses open up for walking with in 1 hour I start getting calls when can we take out wheelers? I also heard there is a outfit giving rides at this time. I can understand how they can do this as most have Been scoping out the conditions since first ice. SO MUCH DIFFERENT THEN SOME JUST SHOWING UP AND VENTURING OUT .
I MY SELF VERY SELDOME GO OUT ON FIRST ICE AND WAIT TELL I CAN DRIVE BLUE THUNDER. The way i look at it as once I’m on the lake I’m on the lake just about every day until the houses come back to shore. That can be over a hundred days so I’m in no hurry to get out there. Plus, my mentor cousin Pete always said when working on the lake do not be in a hurry. I could not of ask for a better mentor \ teacher then cousin Pete..
Our fleet of trucks. blue thunder, red baron, rusty trusty, black beauty, white lightning and our newest old truck just lake truck al have some ailments. They sure take a beating out there. I had everyone running until the first cold snap. A couple new batterie’s today and will see where we’re at. Again, not that cold out so I’m hoping they all can be fired up and moved around a bit.
We do have a few ice castles showing up this weekend to camp down by the lake. We also have guest in the cabin and 2 of our fish houses on shore being used. Next weekend were all full at this time/
I think Jake still plan oncoming up tomorrow to help with some house Maintenace. Jonny boy should be here Saturday morning Brite eyed and bushy tailed to get to work. He already misses not being here and were not even on the lake yet. He has followed in my footsteps just having a passion too be out there. Plus, he is good at it.
After last year’s fishing success from all the outfitters it will be another interesting year.
A new mn state law has been enacted. If you have any garbage, it must be in a container and not just lying on the ice. If your pet does number 2 you are required to scoop it up. No cig butts should be thrown on the ice.
The keep it clean campaign has really taken off throughout the state. Littering has been a pet peeve of mine since I was a kid growing up in Colorado.
We’re already seeing fish pictures I expect a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies will show up this weekend also.
Thats it for now on a grand lake that owes us nothing yet still keeps giving.

8 degrees this morning with another night of single digits again tonight.
red lake remote posted a few pics they took out in front of their place. Amazing how the ice can do that.
I have been busy getting our houses a final wipe down and inventoried for the up-and-coming season. The new house Tennessee arrived saturday. Very nice house. can sleep 4. 3 would be better.
I expect most of the resort will be allowing walking by friday. That could change depending on the winds though.
At this time most of our houses on shore are still available .
Jake may come up this week to help work on a few things. We have a running joke when we work on this stuff. It has too be bitter cold and windy. No sense working on these projects when jake can be musky fishing and I can be golfing during the summer.
We did get a dusting of snow in the last 24 hours. Then big winds to create white out conditions yesterday out on the lake. Glad were not out there yet.
Christmas to new year’s has filled up just like every year. Hindsight I should not give my 20 percent discount during that week. But that’s not how I roll.
This early fall I had all the trucks started and running. Then the first cold snap and they show their true colors. Looks like a few new vehicle batteries will need to be purchased.
Thats about all for today here on the shores of upper red lake that owes us nothing and as jiggle said last year but just keeps giving.