The first weekend of fishable ice has come and gone. I read somewhere that waskish would be a zoo this weekend.? Saturday afternoon I counted maybe 30 portables out of Hillmens.The ice breaking up down on the south end may of calmed things down for sure. The dnr was out there racing around on a sled checking fishermen saturday. Not sure how he got on the lake but I’m thinking Hillmens was probably not thrilled to see that . I say it again common sense should be used at all time on upper red lake. Watch the weather. When its a white out on the lake it can be pretty spooky. When the winds blow the lake can have many variable’s. When the weather warms drastically the ice can expand and play havoc on things. A small crack can explode into a season long pressure ridge. We did not have any guest this past weekend but I did talk to a few fishermen. The reports were mixed. . One guy I gave instructions to said it was slow , they caught 20 and kept 16? That was all day so 4 guys caught 5 fish apiece or 1 every 2 hours. So I guess that would be slow. I also heard of a few that got skunked. I still have no plans on going on the lake un tell I can drive out with blue thunder. The day I drive out there means I will be on the lake every day tell mid march so I’m never in a hurry. Plus my mentor cousin Pete taught me long ago 17 years to be exact slow and patient.I did squeeze in church on sunday. I always feel a bad when I keep skipping, then I end up prolonging going. A few nicer deer were taken the last few days . I had a huge grouse in my sites last night and did not take the shot. I think it was the biggest, fattest, grouse I ever saw. No deer from my stand but more tracks so its very encouraging. My plans were to pull my stand but I’m going to give it a few more shots as the peace and tranquility of sitting there is very relaxing, Plus if I see a deer you get that adrenaline rush . Today the plans are to button up the fish houses and break them loose, I’m thinking they may be going on the ice by the weekend of the 7th. I have added on a ice castle this year but have not named it as yet, They are bringing it up the end of the month.

From 2 to 5 to 7? What started as 2 fishermen Tylor and John last week. Wednesday Bill and Hays spent the night and walked out with not much luck. All though Bill is a photographer and said he never wet a line as he snapped pic after pic of the sunset. I caught the tail end of it and should of snapped a picture myself, as it was spectacular to say the least. Not even sure there’s a name for the color, maybe blood red? Thursday morning hays was not feeling very well so Bill went out on his own. Down at the lake working I saw 5 fishermen counting Bill. Yesterday it was up tp 7. I have had a dozen calls, how thick is the ice, how’s the fishing? Buddy Hillmen of Hillmens resort says around 5 inches, They are allowing walking traffic out to a mile where his road stakes stop. I have heard of 5 fish caught and 1 lost at the hole so that’s the fishing report. Some one said it would be a zoo up here this weekend since the south end had that strong wind . I would have to disagree as I have no one spending the night here until after thanksgiving?All the house are prepped down at the lake and ready to go other then a few little things. If anyone stays down there they will have to be cleaned again but that’s fine with me. Jonny boy did not get out as he was a little under the weather. I did get a shot at a grouse with my recurve going out to my stand Thursday night. It was a shot through the brush and my arrow just missed. I ‘ll always give up being quiet when I have a chance at a grouse, either when I’m going, sitting or leaving my hunting area. Years ago I took a grouse in the air with my recurve and flu flu arrow. I would love a repeat of that. Plus the hammer loves the way I make grouse as do I. I was going to pull my deer stand but now have second thoughts . Some venison in the freezer would be nice. I like cutting up steak in super thin pieces then quick frying for a minute steak sandwich. Plus I’m still trying to harvest a deer with my recurve

I talked to Buddy Hillmen yesterday around 10 am . As of yesterday his plans were to allow walk outs starting today out of there resort. While I was prepping houses down at the lake yesterday there were about 7 fishermen wondering around out there . My son Jonny boy says he may hook up with a guy staying at westwind that he knows and wet a line today, With any luck we could be have fresh walleye with our steak tonight. I’m still doing a little bow hunting. We moved my stand Monday so I have set out there 2 evenings.Yesterday it started snowing like crazy, The snow tapered off around 2pm. We got about 1 inch. I headed to my stand around 3 and darn if a deer had not walked right under my stand some time after the snow stopped. Plus another came racing through heading south while another was heading east. All fresh tracks after the snow stopped. Crazy deer. I might give it another shot tonight but will see.

From what I have been reading and pictures posted the winds were plenty strong enough to move the ice to the north .
I was down at the lake off and on all day yesterday . You could hardly notice it was windy down there as our property has 8 acres of trees. The ice looks about the same as it did 3 days ago but again I have not stepped out onto the ice.
I hope to hook up with Buddy Hillmen today to see what he has to say as we use his access to run our rental operation.
I’m still plugging away detailing the houses. I had blue thunder down at the lake yesterday and Jonny boy noticed a few loose bolts on the drive shaft which was a huge catch and more then likely saved me from damaging a drive shaft “Good job buddy” We also found a little repair Job on North Dakota while we were getting it off the ground.
I forgot to mention a good friend of ours and his son Harry and Ben have a beautiful cabin they are renting this year. The Dahlin Lodge. dahlinlodge.com I think it sleeps at least 6 guys.
I did get out to my new deer hunting spot last night. The winds were moving the trees around quite a bit so no deer last night. I did have a grouse that snuck up to me from behind. He then flushed right under my stand. He all most caused me to fall out of my stand. He was lucky I did not see him as I always have flu flu arrow when I’m hunting with my bow. The plan is to sit again tonight as it was so peaceful out there last night. well its after 9 and we start at 9

And just like that they were walking on the lake. saw Tyler was fishing yesterday, I think its his goal to be the first one to catch the first fish every year. My phone was crazy yesterday with call after call How much ice? What I’m hearing is 3 to 5 inches with walking traffic by the weekend. Of course just like every year the north shore still has open water? With this warm up and winds a crack could turn into a pressure ridge so common sense needs to be used at all times.
Jonny boy and I got a few more things done yesterday and are plugging along, the reservation book is slowly filling in with weekends but by no means full. A lot of our same customers have called which is always a treat. I see a lot of outfits offer houses on shore for early ice . Give us a call and we can also set you up.
Jonny boy helped me move my portable stand Monday so I plan on trying to stick a deer tonight and possible tomorrow . Then its time to hang up the bow for the season.
All the houses are coming along as I do inventory and track down all the pots, pans, silver ware, tvs, dvds, ash trays , comforters, pillow cases, dishes, etc.
We plan on firing up the generators and augers today. I’m sure Jonny boy is dying to wet a line as he loves to fish. He has that passion that he shares with Tylor. The weather would not cooperate the fall with our boat.
I may be adding a grand ice castle this year? It will sleep 4 and also be a non smoking house.
If ryan that was going to stay here in the cabin next week sees this give me a call

Well well well its that time of year again. Reports of ice as far as you can see? We have gotten roughly 3 inches of snow as the ice formed so there’s a layer of snow covering the ice sheet. I have not seen a picture from space on the internet yet but expect that will show up soon. I expect a few locals will be walking on the ice to start checking things out today? The one nice thing as the first few hundred yards the waters only a foot or two so if you do break through your feet may get wet. Once people start to venture out on the lake please use common sense. A pressure ridge can pop up any time especially when it warms up a bit or the wind start to blow, no fish is worth a rescue operation.
You can see some piled up ice way out as the winds were blowing pretty good a few days ago.

Our good friends Bob and Rick headed home after a week of deer hunting. Bobs son Luke also came up .It was nice seeing Luke. It had been quite a few years since Luke had went off to collage. The area we hunt was pretty bleak. Luke did see 2 deer, a buck and a doe, Bob saw a doe. Jonny boy our son and I also hunted with our bows. We never saw any.
I may get out a few more times when it warms up a bit.

We again had some great meals, a little cards. I did my smothered burritos , Rick did a few meals in his dutch oven.
We got the water drained in the 3 season cabin . I’ll get the other cabin cleaned up today. We will also have to drain the water in the laundry room today.
Jonny boy and I got the new gas tank in the red baron just in time before the super cold hit. I’ll fire her up today.
I will also fire up blue thunder again today. White lightings water pump is out. We thought it was the lower radiator hose so I dropped the ball on that one. I have to decide what to do about that.
Old minnesotas furnace got a good cleaning and seems to be working real nice .Knock on wood.
We will be firing up all the heaters this week and giving the houses one more cleaning before we pull them out of the woods. We did add one new house this year California, it has 3 beds,6 holes,4 burner stove. indoor biffy.
Every year the reports start trickling in about ice conditions, I personally will not be walking out on the ice any time soon. I imagine I will have blue thunder on the ice around dec 7th give or take a few days.

The reservation books are slowly filling with quite a few repeat customers. February still looks a little bleak. We do still have plenty of open dates with 20 percent off sunday through Wednesdays.
We will be able to keep 4 fish again this year with one over 17 inches. I expect good fishing again this year after going out with the dnr checking there nets this fall I was way impressed.

Not sure where summer went but she’s on the verge of heading south.
I personally have not been fishing but have heard of a few fish getting caught.
I can tell you first hand there are fish out there as Tuesday I was able to ride along with Tony the big lake specialist as they pulled there survey nets. Tony said they have been averaging 25 walleye per net. It was quite interesting pulling in the nets . Quite a verity of sizes with the biggest one around 23 inches. There also getting quite a few golden eyes which will be good for the pike. All the walleyes caught are aged and checked for male or females. There were also some pike, perch, sheephead.
I’ve wanted to get out fishing but its seems I’m at work when its not windy. We will keep a eye on the weather and try and get out. The plan is to pull the boat out mid October at this time so we should get out a couple of times you would think.
Its also time to tackle the to do list for the up and coming winter. Last weekend we were able to pull the gas tank out of the red baron as it started to leak gas at the end of last winter.
I got some new rear shocks for blue thunder. The white chevy has a antifreeze leak so there’s plenty of truck work to deal with .
We also added California to our fleet of fish house’s. All the houses need to be detailed out.
I expect good fishing again this winter. Every year is different , last years early ice was a nice bonus.
the winds are howling today so no fishing for us today.

well again its been some time since I have posted any fishing reports. There was a window when the big pike turned on. Last week I stopped at the beach where the dnr were doing some seining samples and I was amazed at all the small fish they caught. It was very cool to see. They have 5 spots they do. There were small 1 inch Quillbacks, sheephead, crappies perch. 3 inch walleyes, suckers, shiners, emerald river and spot tale. they bust of had 300 little fish . To think that was just a fraction of the lake just amazes me. I’m going to try and find a crankbait that looks like a sheephead.
My brother Warren is here for a week ,it sure is nice having such a nice brother as he always brings me gifts, He brought a small speaker that will pick up phone through blue tooth way cool. We did get out and fish sunday and managed to catch 10 fish with only 3 being keepers. Not quite sure where the big ones are hiding but we will be getting out a couple more times.
the lake is still way down . We had a little run of 4 inches of rain and since then barely a sprinkle. Still loving my job at the golf course, free golf is very good .
Hunting season is just around the corner and I expect Bob and Rick to make plans to come up in October.
Had a couple more emails for ice fishing, some people sure know how to plan.
I just missed my goal of canning 12 jars of blueberrys. I’m all ready down to 4 jars.

It’s not always about the fishing here in what most call gods country. Wayne and I were on the lake sunday morning and ran into Bill from grand raids so he ask why I have not been posting reports. Summer here in waskish is soo much different then our busy winters. As summer heats up the fishing can slow up that’s for sure. The big Pike can be fun to target. I do have my favorite summer spots, with early morning being better. Working at the golf course in Baudette Oak harbor golf course and taking care of the ball fields and park here in town keeps me pretty busy Monday through Friday so fishing is more of a weekend deal for me .
I never did well looking for morel mushrooms this spring. The wild strawberry’s on the other hand are ripe for the picking. There tough to pick compared to blueberry’s. Monday when I got home I was on a mission to go find enough for 2 strawberry sundays. It took about a hour and more then a few skitters but the hammer and I had fresh wild strawberry sundays after dinner.
The blueberry’s look small this year and were still green. I have a spot up towards baudett that I need to check out hoping The mother load is there.
We have a pretty good sized bear running around. I saw him or her yesterday. She ran across the dirt road then made a u turn and ran back across the road again. Beautiful looking fur looked to me like a 200 pounder?
Justin my tree trimmer and his friends were up last weekend. They managed 11 keepers Thursday late afternoon evening. The wind switched up Friday and Saturday and the fishing slowed down. I think they may of got another 10 over the weekend dodging the thunderstorms.
Our good friend Wayne came up to help me replace a water pump/impellor on my kicker motor. I had never done that before but with Wayne’s help and a extra trip to Bemidji we got her done.
I have 4 older gentleman coming up today so will see how they do tonight. Wayne and I did wet a line sunday morning . She was quite breezy out there. We drifted my go to spot with hardly a bite? Oh well. Mother nature always seems to have a hand in the oven . If they bit all the time there would be nothing left.
We have some family coming up over the 4rth of july so should be getting out a few extra times this next 10 days

well its been a while since I threw out a fishing report . I had a crew from mnoutdoorsman.com this past weekend. I have become friends with a few of the guys on the forum site so they had a get together up here. Most of the fish were caught in shallow water still . Me and Wayne managed 4 keepers in 4 feet of water before the rain chased us off the lake. barry and I checke d out a deeper spot by the rock pile s and managed 1 with a half dozen sheephead. Other then a family get together over the forth of july the cabins are wide open the rest of the summer.
I did have my first e mail for ice fishing. Wow nothing like planning ahead. We have some maintenance to do the boat ,then the plan is to wet a line again this weekend