Its always amazes me how fast the house come off the lake when game fish season ends. I totally understand though as once there home and safe its a relief . Plus no more plowing or road cost the sooner you can get them home your done battling mother nature. On the other hand I seem to find my second wind and head west while everyone is headed east. I guess I’m a gluten for punishment . On the other hand its a time I get to relax, fish and enjoy Old Minnesota. I have squeezed in two naps out there all ready. The hammer, Jonny boy and I enjoyed two nights of fishing, having dinner. We closed out the walleye season, then spent Monday night on the lake looking for the mother load. I told Jonny boy to be watching his bobber at 6:05. I was off by 10 minutes when low and behold I landed my first of the year. A chunking, thick,13 1/2 inch elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. The hammer followed me with 2 in a row with the bigger one pushing 14 1/2. Jonny boy followed up with one more so the mother load was a total of 4. The hammer is looking forward to eating them as they are one of here favorites.
The Dnr did swing in to check on us and said there was 8 people on the lake. So with 48,000 acres I sit her and wonder if I’m going to fish where some one is going to go, someone’s way point, or cut someone off .
Buddy Hillmen’s Highway is again plowed and ready for the next big wind or snow. Buddy brought his big double decker off the lake yesterday and I can just imagine how he felt getting that monster safe to shore. What a sight as they drove by. Duffy was standing out side on the upper deck and gave me a wave as they drove by. That 1 ton truck with a v plow of Buddy’s looks like a tinker toy towing it along the ice road.
Jonny boy and I headed out yesterday to rescue Darrin’s house and also rescue California which has rejoined the fleet. After getting them dug out and moved. with the temp close to 40 I got to enjoy a beautiful day on the lake, even working with out a jacket for part of the day. After unhooking California I headed to old Minnesota to again relax for a hour before the hammer and I headed to baudett to do laundry while Jonny boy held down the fort and again waited for the mother load to possible swim under montana.
We did get a great pic from him around 8 pm with a fat possible male that he released to fight another day or maybe tell the others we will let them go if they bite?
I’m on my own part of the day as Jonny boy starts a temporary job in tell he heads to Alaska to work with the greek in Alaska for the summer. The plan is to dig out the last 3 house and get them to the main road for now.
All the house’s are wide open for the weekend if there’s any one out there that would like to try and land a true trophy fish.
Jake is pumped to get up here as well as Sean as last year get together/crappie hunt got canceled due to mother nature ruining our plans. All the house’s have to be off the lake by the 15th so I have a couple weeks to fish and relax.
Sending pics to Jake just fires him up and is hilarious. He dreams of landing these fish. As the days get closer he will have a hard time sleeping . It will also be a treat to see all the guys again.

Well well another game fish season has came to a close. What a crazy weekend it was. My great plan back fired a bit with the fishing but all the wheel houses I plowed spot’ for seem to do pretty darn good. Mean while my poor houses kinda went out with a bust in stead of a bang.
I think the first spot I plowed was for a guy named Dustin from elk river, that tracked me down on the lake. Super nice guys and threw me a 50 for taking care of them which was much appreciated. Some good comradery was made both visit and they were catching there fish hooking the minnows up side down.
Merl showed up and I plowed a completely different spot for him. He threw me a 20, Then the next day had two more of his buddies wheel houses there. They also caught fish?
Chuck and his wife did well in there spot, Brandon and his dad rolled in Friday night, I put them in another new area. They left early catching 14 walleyes and no elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
All the other wheel house that found spots where I had set the others caught fish. Mean while down where the fleet was a whole different story.
North Dakota was doing the best with Greg and his two buddies from of all place north Dakota. They did have the treat of landing two impressive pike. They also had 5 walleyes for 3 guys. Throw in a few misses and a fish that escaped. Saturday was clear sky’s and slower then slow. They were gone sunday morning so not sure how they ended up.
Old Minnesota was next with Rick, Matt and Matt”s son Joe. They only had 3 in the bucket with a few missed as well. Crazy as the hammer and I fished the house last night for the final walleye night and she landed 3 with at least one miss while I got a big fat zero. All though I did prep and cook dinner while she was saying I got one. After dinner I checked my rattle wheel and there was no minnow? so It must of fallen off when I first sent it down or she sabotaged me while I was out side? All though she would never do that. Wayne and I had a hoot a last year sabotaging each other . From tighten his rattle wheel to cutting his line man did we laugh.
Rick and the boys also left early sunday morning. Not even going home with 2 limits but said see ya next year.
Montana was horrible fishing. Justin, Pudge there wife’s Irene and Janet had 1 fish Saturday morning. I expected it to get better after the first night but it never happened ,all though we did get a tip late saturday night. 3 feet off the bottom was working down off of no name lane. I was visiting when they brought a couple lines up Saturday eve, Not 10 minutes a fish was missed with another caught a fat 18 incher. They ended up with 4 more and also a couple misses. they did say they were all ready planning for next years trip
Florida with Mike, Vicky ,Dan and Justine. there house was the worst. I do not want to say it but I think they got skunked? They were such nice people and I enjoyed having a beer and visiting with them. They all had the right set up just a bad spot for some reason I guess.
Jim and his Ice castle did pretty darn good also. They went home with there 16 I think.
I’m not sure how many times its happened but a big snow fall Saturday night with again strong winds yesterday made a mess of things. Some time was spent opening up the road and rescuing a few wheel houses and skid houses that were stuck or stranded. If there was a good note it was a very light fluffy 8 inches of snow sunday morning.
I also have to rescue a couple houses this week. California will again be joining the fleet as I purchased it from Tony as he is moving on up to a wheel house. Darrin house is going to be a different animal as its a home made job shack. The one good thing is its not to far from the main road. Well just like that and its 9 oclock and time to check the e fluids, fire up the fleet and it hit the lake for the 84th day. With lite winds a possible 39 degrees? I may be working on a grand lake that owes us nothing in a tee shirt.

Another game fish season is about to abruptly come to a end . Its lived up to its expectations as being a grand lake. Were up to 14 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies as they seems to all be loners.
Jake is fired up to get up here as he loves a fishing challenge and has a total fascination with these fish. He encourages only keeping a couple of these elusive fish and I’m right with him. The hammer would love to land a couple this year so we will be fishing after the 26th. My plans are to take my fishing vacation wetting a line, napping and spending a few more night’s in old Minnesota. Jake and his crew will be up on the 7th. Last year’s hunt had to be canceled do to warm, wet conditions. Plus a collapsed pressure ridge. This year I think were pushing over 3 feet of ice so I expect the hunt for the mother load will be a hoot. Bring extra extensions guys and gals. We also have Steph and her crew joining us this year .
Dan and His daughter Micky spent Tuesday, Wednesday in Montana and had two fish for dinner the first night. They headed home Thursday morning with there 8.
I also had time to wet a line Wednesday night before we moved old Minnesota for Ricks arrival this morning. With 3 fish in the bucket before dinner time, walleye and glazed carrots were on the menu. Jonny boy and I had one fantastic dinner as the honey bunny aka the hammer was under the weather and did not join us. After dinner Jonny boy went to fish north Carolina and I threw in a movie, crawled up on the top bunk for a little nap. The next thing you know a rattle wheel wakes me up at 1 am. Jonny boy said he stopped in at 10 30 pm and I was out like a light. 4 fish in old Minnesota on the same spot since sunday. All 4 fish were caught on the orange single hook forage minnow tipped with a fat head. I have been experimenting for a few years to see if the house’s can have good fishing for more then 2 days, I’m still on the fence but it was hard to move old Minnesota as the fishing stayed pretty darn good.
Yesterday was another grind, but such a enjoyable day working out there with jonny boy and no wind and temps above 20. Jonny boy and I moved 3 houses and augured over a 100 feet of ice as we punched out all the house’s. I also had to detail montana and old Minnesota. Another 12 hour day on the lake and I would not trade it for the world. Throw in another spectacular pink and orange sunset. The last thing I did before coming off the lake last night was vacuum old Minnesota. Again I just always get a kick out of vacuuming the fish house’s. I also get a kick out of cooking dinner in old Minnesota and serving up the bounty on the china dishes I have in old Minnesota.

And now the rest of the story.
Once Jonny boy and I got all 5 houses moved sunday, it was back to cleaning up the roads. In between checking in Rick, Bob and John into montana. Shell chick and Jeff into Old Minnesota. Harmonica Mike and his two buddies Shannomn an Rod or Shane? Mike did not bring is guitar so there was no jamming for me. Oh well always next year I guess. We also move North Carolina for jermoy and his gal and a couple of the guys rode in florida as we did the cookie shuffle.
One of the guys commented, “we sure did not move far” Jonny boy figured he may of jinxed them. It turned out all right with the one that making the comment managing to get 3 him self.
Joe landed a nice 22 just as they were leaving Monday morning.
Shell chick is the hammers sister so we visited with them quite a bit and they managed to get 8 so we decided to have a fish fry Monday afternoon . I was kinda worried they would not get 8 more but shell chick is quite the fisher woman and darn if they did not have there 8 when we said good bye yesterday morning.
Mike and his crew in North dakota also left yesterday with there 12 but it was slow in there books, Mike did come over and visit us in old Minnesota Monday night and had a couple beers with Jeff.
Rick, Bob and John also went home with 12 yesterday, Bobby wanted to go for a ride in the red baron so we jumped in Monday and worked on Hillmens Highway for a bit plus made a couple driveways way out towards the end of the road.
I also checked in Terry and his nephew Chad into florida on the same spot as it was only fished 20 hours They were only here one night and got the big fat zero?
Yesterday Jonny boy and I cleaned up the first 3 mile of Hillmens highway. Wow was there some snow on the road, in between I had to clean montana for Dan and his daughter micky. They only had one last night but had missed 5. It took jonny boy and me roughly 6 hours to move all the snow to the south. Once we were done I headed over to old Minnesota where the house must be on the honey hole as I landed 3 fish in less then a hour with one miss half way up the hole. Jonny boy jumped into north Carolina where he caught 5 before dark.
We also plowed a spot for Lonnie and they had 4 last night when I stopped in.
Ken was also getting a few fish where we plowed them a spot, last I had talked to them they were up to 8. plus a couple they had ate the day before.
The plan right now is head out to old Minnesota and wet a line , then Jonny boy and I will be making one more big move for the final game fish season with everyone rolling in starting Friday morning.

Another crazy busy weekend is in the books. I really enjoy giving out my fishing/what’s happening on the lake reports but finding the time has been tough. To say its a grind is a understatement.
I can tell you again as the season winds down I’m never ready for it to end, as I truly love being out there in my trucks, moving houses, plowing the hillmen highway, giving advise, helping other fishermen when they do something silly, Driving into a snow bank, dropping there gun down a hole or any other important object like there keys. Every year all the workers seem to get a little grumpy as fighting mother nature, going from sun up to sunset takes a toll physically and mentally. It also seems I ruffle a few feathers every year and its never my intent so I have to chalk it up as a long season. If I stepped on anyone’s toes it sure was not planned or intended as all most every day plan a turns to plan b and c. Mother nature dictates where I go sometimes as well as any plowed roads that can make our job easier. The cookie shuffle worked very well this year as I tell everyone that gets lost in my maze of trails. I’m not a road engineer.
Man did we get overwhelmed with wheel house’s this past weekend, any fish coming from southwest had to go threw a gauntlet of hooks to find my fishermen.
I had two wheel house’s that I set up at the end of the hillmens highway and was surprised how bad they did. I guess I should of went south not east? The nw road has gotten to much to maintain, there’s one lone house out that way that will need a new trail made .
Its all started Thursday as jonnny boy and I prepped for the weekend with Joe, Zack, Adam and his crew arriving fro florida. Zacks birthday wish was fishing red lake, they had a blast. They went to westwind where they enjoyed a fish fry, plus they took home a few fish with a couple even getting a ride in florida fish house as we moved a small distance to put it on fresh ice for there last night sunday. Last year when they came we landed on the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie mother load? I think they had dreams for a year of repeating that. Every year is different and again this year was no exception.
Ben who proposed in old Minnesota to Shawna 8 years ago were in old Minnesota with there two adorable kids. Louie the fishing machine and his little sister Willa plus there friend Nelli.
They had a blast also with Shawna getting a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie to boot. They also managed to take home a nice batch of upper red lake walleyes.
Hunter and his two buddies were in north Dakota. It was slow but they also managed to take home a batch of fish.
Charlie and Rizzo were in montana , They were very serious about there fishing and went home with there 8.
Jeromy and his gal were in north Carolina Saturday, sunday . They also managed to get there 8.
Sunday was a very tough day as we had all 5 houses re rented. I was planning on moving all of them so we battled mother nature the whole time as a ne wind with 2 inches of snow made it impossible to see. At one point I was getting sea sick as I struggled to see, With the sky, horizon and the lake all the same color. wow what a struggle.
It took us 7 1/2 hours but we got every thing cleaned, moved.
Mother nature has given us another bout of snow so tomorrow I will let every one know how the houses did the last two days as its time to check the fluids and fire up the fleet

Well its always a treat to check on customers and see at least a couple fish in the bucket. I stopped in just before dark to check on Nikki Paul and the kids . They had 3 nice fish with Nikki having the big one so far. Paul was still not on the board but the two boys each caught one.
Joe and his crew only had one but there friends in the wheel house had 3 and 1.
I personally have caught more fish in the last 10 days then I did all season? In fact I put the hammer on the hammer. The only reason I have done so well as it slowed down enough the last 2 weeks I had time to enjoy old Minnesota and fish. I even snuck in two very quick naps, 20 minutes both times. I also do not like the houses fished prior to new customers arrival but have broken that rule twice now. It payed off for me but not so well for nancy and kevin as the third night is hardly ever as good as the first. I was handcuffed a few times because of mother nature and or truck problems. I had a couple houses fished the 4th and 5th night with a little better result.
Today will start off a little busy as I say good bye to nikke and her family we have to get montana moved and reset plus augur 14 holes . I also have to bank Tony”s house the old California. Jonny boy has been fishing just north of it with pretty good action off and on. This may be my next move sunday depending how the weekend pans out.
The hot set up for me this year has been the plain glow pink hook, small northland forage minnow orange and yellow. My genze worms has been a bust but I think its a copy and not the real thing. I also had that crazy looking banana shaped lure that was pink that was on fire. 90 percent of the fish I have caught have been on the rattle wheels as the hammer uses the vex lar more then me.
With only 10 days left in the game fish season I need two big fish for the contest I enter every year on mno fishing forum. Will see how it pans out as I should be able to wet a line off and on starting sunday. Well its getting lite out and there’s plenty to do so every one have a great day as Jonny boy and I have a grand day on a grand lake that owes us nothing nothing

wow where did the week go? Marty and Shelly rolled in sunday for a few nights in montana Marty’s favorite house. We also had Joihn Joe and Roman rolling in for north Dakota. With again the winds barreling down on us sunday. I had no choice but to leave north dakoata where it was as well as montana. The good thing was both houses had caught fish so it would be interesting to see how they would do.
John and Joe were treating there dad to a fishing trip for is 80th birthday. Roman has owned a bee keeping operation for 52 years and gave me a quart of fresh honey “Schelonka’s Honey ” I sure enjoyed visiting with them. They sure enjoyed the house which is always a treat. The hammer was going to make him a cake but was a little under the weather so it fell through. They did end up taking home 9 fish and said they missed just as many.
Marty and Shelly also rolled in sunday. They only managed 4 fish. Monday morning after getting Marty’s diesel running he helped me get the v-plow back on the red baron. They were headed to low the woods for the day, they would be back later in the evening.
Jonny boy and I were able to cut a new trail and get all the houses out of the area as the snow has piled up quite a bit on the nw road and was becoming to big of a chore to maintain the rest of the ice season. I also planned on wetting a line in old Minnesota off and on all week,
Of course mother nature had to have her say again so we have been plowing off and on the main road. The winds were just howling out of the south west that most of the snow was blowing right across hillmen’s highway just like its designed to do. Buddy’s road is in great shape as of today.
Glen also showed up with his wheel house and had fantastic fishing. He told me the secret was a green hook just off the bottom on a dead stick was deadly and lost count of how many nice fish he caught. The hot lure in old Minnesota for me has been a small orange northland forage minnow 6 inches of the bottom. I have landed at least 8 fish plus the ones I lost.
The hammer ,me and Jonny boy had fresh fish out there last night for dinner. I again out fished the hammer but she still loves me I think.
Tim and Kim also showed up Tuesday eve with there wheel house. Last I heard they have caught at least a dozen fish.
We also said good by to marty and shell yesterday as they headed back to lotw. The new spot did a little better as they left with there 8.
Starting today we have another busy 4 days. Sunday every thing needs to be moved as we have Shell chick coming up as well as harmonica Mike on sunday

Mother nature has just been relentless this year. The winds seems like they never stop. Drifting in trails left and right, up and down, side to side. With the red baron still in the shop poor blue thunder was again getting a workout as I must of plowed up and down the northwest trail 20 times Friday. As I checked in each group I was also trying to get the winds to carry some of the snow away from the ever increasing size of the snow banks. If to much snow piles up she could crack and flood. After getting our last guest checked in Friday. The hammers sister Nancy and her hubby Kevin I headed home to get the sweetie as we would be joining them for a little fishing and fun. It was a treat to visit with them as its been a couple years since Kevin had been up. Last time Kevin was here he was going to be my scout every year at the beginning of the season once I had my houses on the lake.
Saturday evening they took us to dinner at westwind for prime rib. One of my favorites and again westwind did a great job as its was very tasty. They were in old Minnesota and had the worst of the fishing only landing two elusive yet still catchable walleyes and one crazy sheephead. They did miss a few and the hammer lost one at the hole Friday night .
Coming off the lake Friday eve I stopped to pick up a bolt and washer? Turns out I found out Saturday where it came from. making the rounds Saturday morning North Dakota had 3 walleyes and a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Jamie and his two buddies went home with at least 10 walleyes 1 crappie and a couple perch.
Eric, Beth and there two boys Izeck and bay were in montana. They got 5 the first day and at least 5 more before they pulled out sunday morning. Another nice family that I hope comes back year after year.
Craig and Spenser were in florida . They were up to 9 but had eaten a couple for breakfast. They were also here for a third night but the winds yesterday kept me from even offering to move them.
Sparky and Trent were in North Carolina for 1 night and got 3.
I also had 4 wheel houses out and about Marlo and Randy got 5 at 4 pm Friday and then 1 all day Saturday with a bonus ell pout. Butch did a little better and did well using a rattling flyer with the dead stick never getting a bite. lee and hid buddie got set up in a spot I have my eye on and had 5 in the bucket yesterday when I stopped to drop off a cookies on upper red lake hoodie.
Ryan and his buddies did well out of westwind Thursday as well as Bo and his group landing 50 on Friday. Tom and his grandsons got 2 at the end of the road.
As I was clearing the nw road Saturday I noticed the plow frame move just a hair. Just like that I new where that bolt came from and limped blue thunder home where I spent 3 hours crawling in and out from under neith as I re aligned every thing and tracked down new bolts that red lake had taken away from me. I had been keeping a eye on all the bolts as she has taken a beating since the red baron went down.
the red baron is now home after we went and picked her up yesterday morning. The v-plow will go back on as we push to the end of the game fish season and also prep for our group that comes every year to search for the mother load of upper red lakes elusive yet still catchable crappies.

I think its day 67 of heading out on to the lake. After a nice break of not having anything rented all week its back to full tilt as we push to the end of another great game fish season here on the shores of upper red lake. Just like every other year there’s been ups and downs big fish ,little fish, lost fish and no fish at all. For some crazy reason more then a few sheephead have been caught this winter? Were up to 10 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies . I know of one that was released to fight another day the other 9 were harvested.
Marlo tangled in to that big pike twice a couple weeks ago so I put montana and old Minnesota in the area hoping to land him. I’m assuming Kevin’s 42 incher was the girl. Andy and Andy had the 40 fish weekend as well as Andy’s brother and dad. The hammer has not had the best year but again is ahead of me on fish landed. All though I did wet a line a couple times this week and landed 3 . The plain pink hook with the split shot on the rattle wheel has been the hot set up? Wayne had the hot set up with the hammered gold gemini and then the next time up could not buy a bite on that set up.
A few rentals have came closer to shore again this year and that seems to be a pattern every year. Then more traffic and that bite tapers back off?
Buddy Hillmens Highway is again in great shape after spending two more full days plowing with 3 straight blades, 4 different trucks and only 1 v plow. His big 14 by 28 double decker has made some lasting memories and uses a lot of propane as its 3 times the square footage of any of his other houses.
With nothing rented all week my plan was to turn off the heat in 4 of the 5 houses but just like every other year I could not do it. Jonny boy has done a good job cleaning , he has also had lots of compliments with his customer service which is huge as I strive for repeat customers. It make our job that much easier.
When were on the same page moving houses is not a chore. I have not moved many houses with customers here this year as the fishing has been good enough. I also still get a kick out of vacuuming the fish houses. The new carpet sure looks nice all vacuumed up.
I hate to bring up the fleet Knock on wood. Blue thunder, the red baron and white lighting have all done there duty . Burning up another transmission stunk but was completely my fault. I sure hope I learned my lesson on that one.
I guess I have to throw in a little rant and I hope I do not offend any one. I have no problem plowing a spot for a wheel house but its all most a insult when they offer me a 20 dollar bill. I spend 3 to 4 grand just on keeping my fleet working. At 20 a pop you do the math. That’s not even counting gas or fluids.
Sorry not much of a fishing report as it was quite this week. Jonny boy caught quite a few fish but he was out on the lake 5 of 6 nights. He sure has a passion when it come to catching fish.

Well we survived another weekend and another wind storm on sunday. I have no clue where these weather men get there info but yesterday was not lite and variable winds by any means.
Due to the red baron being down we had to improvise where the houses would be set up. The new road I made to rescue the houses would be the easiest place to set up 3 of the 5.
Leroy and his boys and grandsons showed up right on time friday and we got them all settled in north Dakota and Florida. it was nice seeing them all they have been coming for years. Two of the boys come all the way down from Alaska just to spend time fishing with there dad.
I was able to visit with Leroy when the crew went to town . He has had a very interesting life that’s for sure.
Of course the fishing could of been better for them but they did have 7 or 8 laying in front of north Dakota sunday morning, Not sure how the grand kids did in florida as every time I stopped they were gone. They went to westwind for there prime rib dinner Saturday eve and had also gone to breakfast Saturday morning.
Kevin and Rollie rolled in right on schedule also . I had to switch them to montana due to mother nature and we kind da figured this was there 8th year. The high lite for the weekend was a 42 inch pike that Kevin landed. After they released him we think it camped under the house as they never caught another fish Saturday eve. They only went home with 6 walleyes but said they will be back again next year .
Wayne would be the late comer and arrived about 5 pm. As I escorted him out on the lake I felt blue thunders steering was not feeling right. She had just went through two days of hell. I kept thinking on my way out its just my imagination as I steered back and forth like I was warming up my tires for a nascar race. Once I got wayne out to the house we took the flash lite and blue thunder would be spending the night on the lake as the front differential u bolts were loose.
Saturday morning after I made the rounds. Jonny boy met me at old Minnesota where we discovered the u bolts were toast and I would have to make a trip to Bemidji for new bolts.
Arriving back at old Minnesota after dark Jonny boy was hanging out with Wayne and his friend jake. We got at it right away with flash lite’s in hand, With temps below zero and a cool breeze. It was sure good to have Jonny boy there as there’s was no way I have the arm strength to tighten them bolts. After we got the wheel back on and checked things out I headed home to test drive and park her tell morning so we could check things out one more time in the lite.
Wayne and Jake only ended up with 5 fish but Wayne said they should of had at least 10 as he had lost 5 himself.
Mr weather man nailed the winds for sunday. Before noon sw winds were blowing well over 20mph making another mess of things. As I escorted Wayne off the lake with his car I gathered the generators, and secured things as I had no plans to go back on the lake.
Mean while Jonny boy was able to replace the left front drive axle on white lightning so we would have a second truck with 4 wheel drive.
Yesterday a little cleaning, a full day of plowing, Once again Hillmens highway is in great shape. There’s still more plowing to be done but that can be done as we go on and off the lake the next couple days.
I’m still chasing that nap in old Minnesota. With all the house open in tell the weekend I’m hoping to catch a second wind as its been a grind. No word on the red baron other then the casing was cracked and they were looking for a core to rebuild. That bill is going to hurt but I have accepted long ago that its part of the business as they take a beating out there. Once the red baron is back home we will be starting to prep to again chase the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Wish us luck as a little luck never hurt any one