A very nice way to end the 2015 game fish season. Minus 29 right now blue thunder fired right up but is so cold can not steer? No squeals just tight turning. I ‘am letting her run for a while . Making the rounds last night was a pleasure, again on the tired side when I hit the lake after dinner must be the food putting me to sleep. First stop was old Minnesota with Scott and his crew. I visited for a bit .Old Minnesota let me down on its new spot ,They did manage to get 8 walleyes to take home but it was the slowest bite all season I think. Nest stop florida with Dave and John while visiting john was working a chubby darter with a minnow head. A fish hit it and he really set the hook. I nice 16 inch fish. Then it was dave turn to bang two in a row off the bottom of the ice. Nice to see some action. I stopped to check on Tammy and the kids as Randy’s truck was gone They had just released a 18 inch walleye when I got there. Randy had taken one of the boys out to the spot they rented florida from me 4 weeks ago. Wow diehard fishermen as its was a little breezy and very cold out there last night. John and Mitch were not at Montana and Larry’s and his crew had called it a night in north Carolina. I talk to Rob and they had had good action and were up to 20 walters caught. Then a quick stop to check on Keith and his crew. They had moved from a mile out and were having better action with a 18 incher landed while I was there. They did land a beautiful 33 inch pike a mile out Saturday morning. The upper red lake elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies were very elusive last night.

Wow it has been just crazy the last couple of days. Thursday I moved 3 of the 4 houses. Dan and Craig were in Montana one more night so she would have to be moved Friday morning. I also got Minnesota augered and prep so the hammer and I could have dinner out there and maybe just, maybe catch a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. While cooking dinner in the stove we relaxed and watched a movie. After a killer dinner steak and bake potato with veggies. I laid down on the bed where I passed out ?fell asleep. It still was not a nap considering it was well after 9 pm. kellie also fell asleep. next thing I know its 1 in the morning and we are low on gas as I had no intention of spending the night out there. I borrowed some gas from Tammy and Randy and they landed two elusive yes still catchable upper red lake crappies. One was pushing 16 inches and Randy released it. Very Nice. They kept the other one a 13 or 14 incher. Plus they had some good walleye action. Kellie and I did not fair as well and only landed a handful of walleye with two that would of been good keepers, the rest were small scuffits.
Should of went home Thursday night. Friday morning was hectic to say the least, First thing I jump in blue thunder hit the key and nothing. Darn the luck. Standing out there in my pajama bottoms and tennis shoes was not happening. I new it was a connection problem the only wrench I had was a huge cresant wrench but I was able to loosen and re tighten the 5 1/6th nut, and fire her up. I vacuumed Florida and was augering the holes when the number 1 auger just stop running, What the! After fiddling with that for 20 minutes I again had to inprovise and have Randy help me out with his auger. He had offered to help me earlier so he was eager to help which was awesome. We punched out 18 holes and moved Montana to its new location. What a great guy, you meet so many nice people on the lake and make many lifetime friends. Tammy and Randy rented florida 6 weeks ago and brought there own wheel house up with there two grand kids this weekend. After getting everyone checked in I got home at 3pm to find a broken water line under the house. Dang the luck? I got the water turned off which was a chore in its self and will be repairing that later today. The houses all caught some fish last night but it was slower then it has been all year. Only a couple elusive yet still catchable crappies have been caught in my houses so far. As far as I know everyone is happy and I will be hitting the lake shortly.

Yesterday was not one of those better days for blue thunder or the red baron and a few other things. I gassed the red baron up early to get on the lake and evaluate the road to our houses. I new from experience that I had lost it as I traveled it with others while it was blowing. Oh well not the first time and for sure not the last time. Leaving the cennix gas station the red baron did not seem right ,It was running good and sounded good but when I punched it I mean gave it a little gas it felt like it had no power. On and off the gas on the way to the lake I knew to take her home and fire up blue thunder.
Buddy Hillmen’s road survived the blow in pretty good condition with a few spots collected with snow but 90 percent of it still glare ice. It never stops to amaze me haw the snow drifts from the tiniest object on the lake. I think you could create a 3 foot drift with a marble given enough wind and light snow. I arrive to the road running east to the houses and she was pretty much blown in, I crossed country to check on Dan and Craig to check on them in Montana and bring them some minnows as all they had for bait the first night was big shiners. They landed two over night and missed quite a few. Looking at here set ups I feel they can use a little help. Neither of them have rod and reels. Craig has two jigs sticks one is about 4 feet long and the second 3 feet long .I think they had 20 lb test on them. Dan had a tip up set over one hole. A rattle wheel on the other with a shiner and a hook and a very small sinker. I told them I would bring out some rod and reels when I came back in the evening to check on them. I then cleaned up the roads around the houses and headed back to the main road to clean up some of the areas that had snow covered. I pulled back in the drive way around 2 pm to find I had broken a plow hose. Kellie pulled in from work and I had her follow me over to drop off the red baron to have Tom see if he can find the problem with lack of power. I also had to get a propane filled to Thaw the frozen pipes under the house. I got everything set up to thaw the pipes and the torpedo heater quit working. Dirty Dog. I then removed the broken line and not with out a fight. Darn mother nature. I headed to blackduck to get a hose made. Brandon was coming up with Bobby to fish florida so I had them pick me up a new torpedo in Bemidji. We met at our house around 6 pm where I got the heat under the house and put the hose on blue thunder so I could escort the guys out to the house. I arrived back home around 8:30, beat but not broken. Today will be a much better day as I try and move 3 of the 4 houses and cut a small trail for now until the red baron is feeling better. I did talk to Brandon before I went to bed and they had landed two 14 inch crappies or was it the same one twice? He also said quite a few small walleyes as what I would expect

Good old mother nature made quite the mess out there yesterday. The wind was just howling out of the west north west. Buddy’s main road and north west road was holding up really nice with the snow just blowing across the road. On the other hand my road I made to my fish houses stated to catch snow. Then had a little traffic go down it which captured more snow then I drove through a couple times with the red baron trying to blow the snow off the road into the wind. I could not see half the time and would have to slow down which piled up more snow witch in turn captured even more snow . When I came off the lake last night my road was down to a one lane trail and I will have to cut a new one to the houses. Dan and Craig rolled in at 4 and I escorted them out there where Criag could not see and pulled his all wheel drive into a snow bank causing him to get stuck. He has some type of all wheel drive car. I pulled him out and got them checked into Montana. When I came back at dark they had missed one . I was surprised and ask what they were using. All they had were big golden shiners from superior. I’m going to pick them up some fatheads on my way out this morning. I just came back from the store and the red baron was acting up. Fills like some kind of miss with lack of power. That’s no good at all. Not sure what I’m going to do about it but have to address it before I put her to work. I said good bye to Jeff and shell chick yesterday morning .They had a grand time and it sure is/nice having family come up. Marty and Shell hung out all day as Marty helped me prep houses. I fished old Minnesota for about a hour last night before dark. Caught one walleye that would of been a keeper. I then missed two that got my minnow. I was set up with a rattling flyer and a dropper line with a green genze worm. Watching the vexlar a fish came charging up past my minnow and smashed the rattling flyer with no hooks. I set the hook from the excitement but with no treble hook on it I had no chance to catch him. I can not remember but some one had just ask me with that set up does a fish ever hit the flyer. The anwser is yes. At minus 20 this morning I will not be moving any houses until tomorrow when I plan to move three of the four. I really need the red baron running right. I did rent all 4 houses for the last weekend of walleye season.
Mother nature won the battle yesterday and kept me from taking a nap in old Minnesota. I do not think I will even attempt to take a nap today.
I also had a talk with Buddy about his road. He wants to keep it open but could use traffic and maybe a couple rentals to keep it maintained to his liking. I have all my houses rented on the 5,6,7th of march for a crappie hunt. I also have florida or old Minnesota rented next weekend the 27th 28th. Buddy said all his houses caught some crappies last weekend. For all you guys that missed the crappie boom here’s a chance to land a couple of these very elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies

Good old mother nature made quite the mess out there yesterday. The wind was just howling out of the west north west. Buddy’s main road and north west road was holding up really nice with the snow just blowing across the road. On the other hand my road I made to my fish houses stated to catch snow. Then had a little traffic go down it which captured more snow then I drove through a couple times with the red baron trying to blow the snow off the road into the wind. I could not see half the time and would have to slow down which piled up more snow witch in turn captured even more snow . When I came off the lake last night my road was down to a one lane trail and I will have to cut a new one to the houses. Dan and Craig rolled in at 4 and I escorted them out there where Criag could not see and pulled his all wheel drive into a snow bank causing him to get stuck. He has some type of all wheel drive car. I pulled him out and got them checked into Montana. When I came back at dark they had missed one . I was surprised and ask what they were using. All they had were big golden shiners from superior. I’m going to pick them up some fatheads on my way out this morning. I just came back from the store and the red baron was acting up. Fills like some kind of miss with lack of power. That’s no good at all. Not sure what I’m going to do about it but have to address it before I put her to work. I said good bye to Jeff and shell chick yesterday morning .They had a grand time and it sure is/nice having family come up. Marty and Shell hung out all day as Marty helped me prep houses. I fished old Minnesota for about a hour last night before dark. Caught one walleye that would of been a keeper. I then missed two that got my minnow. I was set up with a rattling flyer and a dropper line with a green genze worm. Watching the vexlar a fish came charging up past my minnow and smashed the rattling flyer with no hooks. I set the hook from the excitement but with no treble hook on it I had no chance to catch him. I can not remember but some one had just ask me with that set up does a fish ever hit the flyer. The anwser is yes. At minus 20 this morning I will not be moving any houses until tomorrow when I plan to move three of the four. I really need the red baron running right. I did rent all 4 houses for the last weekend of walleye season.
Mother nature won the battle yesterday and kept me from taking a nap in old Minnesota. I do not think I will even attempt to take a nap today.
I also had a talk with Buddy about his road. He wants to keep it open but could use traffic and maybe a couple rentals to keep it maintained to his liking. I have all my houses rented on the 5,6,7th of march for a crappie hunt. I also have florida or old Minnesota rented next weekend the 27th 28th. Buddy said all his houses caught some crappies last weekend. For all you guys that missed the crappie boom here’s a chance to land a couple of these very elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies

Still no nap in old Minnesota? Spent part of the early afternoon putting a new starter in blue thunder. What should of taken 15 minutes turned into a bigger ordeal. Taking are time and not rushing we were able to improvise the problem and have blue thunder up and running again. How sweet it is. I then did some clean up work with blue thunder and enjoyed a glorious day out there. Marty followed me home with blue thunder to give a ride back out to old Minnesota where we had frozen pizzas purchased at Hillmens store. Geovontie bar pizza, Jeff said it was now his favorite bar pizza. The fishing was again outstanding last night as Marty and Shell had action all night on the rattle wheels. Marty landed three elusive upper red lake crappies and a 23 inch walleye over night. He released them all. They ate fish last night while we were having pizza. Dan and his dad roll in today around 2 and will be fishing Florida the next few days. Old Minnesota and Montana plus the cabin are all still open for the last weekend of walleye fishing? Its been a very strange year with a lot of my reservation coming just two or three days out. I’m excited to spend some time in old Minnesota the next few days and who knows maybe today I will get that nap. Only mother nature knows for sure

No Nap in old Minnesota yesterday as the day just got busy. Blue thunder let me down when I hit the key .She turned over coughed and sputtered and then nothing. Bad connection or the starter went out. Jeff and Marty got here going after I headed out on the lake. When Jeff turned her off by old Minnesota again it would not start .I was not dressed for working on it out side so blue thunder spent her first night on the lake and we will replace the starter on the lake today. Shell chick landed another elusive upper red lake crappie last night out of the hammers favorite hole . Duke was up to 15 crappies for the weekend and will be pulling out this morning. Marty and Shell moved over to Florida so they would be running on the same generator as old Minnesota. Had a lot of good reports from the wheel houses I talked to yesterday with many many walleyes caught. A lot of smaller fish under 14 inches. I’m looking for the smaller ones as that’s where the big pike and elusive upper red lake crappies like to hang out in my opinion. Brice made a small move yesterday while Goose stayed put where he was . I have to cut them a short trail this morning as the road I took them down is no longer plowed and not worth plowing. The wind did a 180 yesterday and with a little bit of snow at one time it was a white out for a while. Talked to Rob and his wife and they were happy with all the walleyes they caught but no elusive crappie as of yesterday afternoon. Minnesota did all right last night with quite a few 13 inch walleyes and the one crappie, that was the third night on that same spot. Once blue thunder is running I will do the cookie shuffle and move it just 15 yards or so as that s all it takes to get good fishing again. We will be fishing with Shell chick and Jeff again today and tonight and maybe just maybe I will get that nap on the top bunk in old Minnesota today.

As the walleye season whines down I will be moving all the houses at least one more time. Montana has Danny and his dad coming this week so I will be moving Montana twice. I’m going to try my hardest not to cut any more trails and will be running my houses up and down the road system I have created. The red baron and blue thunder have gotten another tough workout. Both trucks burned up a tank of gas yesterday cleaning up the mess mother nature left us. Which is fine and is to be expected. Its part of the job. The red barons cutting blade on the right side is gone? With out that blade I need to baby her the rest of the season as I will be damaging the mounting structure without that blade. She has been a great v plow and deserves some loving care. I will be doing the cookie shuffle with the houses as I reposition them on new ice, they may only be moved 30 feet as that’s all it takes if your on a fishy area. Bryce landed two elusive upper red lake crappies less then 40 feet where the hammer got her two and I got my one. Stopped to see Goose and Sandy last night and there house has been slow.50 feet away the other two wheel houses have had great fishing. Derrick an Drew had company as there buddies showed up with a wheel house and parked right where I was going to go? Then around 4 Jim another friend shows up with a fish in tow and driving a 2 ton dump truck. a 550 powerstroke wow what a truck. I’m not a ford fan but what a truck. Duke landed there 9 crappies 40 feet from where Minnesota was when Wayne was here. A very fishy area that’s for sure. I did notice that there is something different there but will keep that to my self. It will be interesting to see how Rob does as they set up on a different looking area and then his uncle showed up with a wheel house a couple hours later. The 16 inch crappie that Keith caught along with the other 3 are at least 1 mile if not two from where I’m at. Very interesting that’s for sure. They are set up in a isolated area that everyone out there just keeps on driving by. I have no interest in going there as its another two miles of plowing and not worth it. It will be a great area to search in march as we look for the mother load. Jake is coming march 5 6 7 with his family . His buddy Brady will also be coming up with a couple buddies. Lets hope mother nature is kind to us that weekend.
Shell chick and Jeff fished north Carolina last night and shell texted me a pic of the first elusive upper red lake caught out of that house. They move into Minnesota today for the next two nights and I will be taking a nap on the top bunk at some time in the next two days while the hammer visits her sissy. Marty and Shell headed to Montana after dinner last night, they have landed quite a few walleyes there and will be here two more nights. It was nice to see Tom’ Mike’ Leanord and meet Toms son Jack .They are fishing in Florida and have had outstanding fishing. Last year I had to cancel Toms trip as mother nature and a strangle hold on me. Life is so funny last year I was miserable trying to rescue the houses all season. This year has been a complete 180 and I’m so thankfull for friends and family. I think no I know grandma Olga would be very proud of us using the property to carry on her legacy and taking care of hunters and fishermen.

she never stops to amaze me. Last night the wind blew so hard I completely lost my new road as she was filled in this morning when I got out there. The fishing was extroidanary Tough word.
Duke landed 9 yes 9 elusive upper red lake crappies. Old Minnesota also landed 9 elusive upper red lake crappies. Florida got 3 that they let go to fight another day. Derrick and Drew ate 6 and released 3 crappies to fight another day. or educateded them. Marty and Shell chick, shell and Jeff, Kellie and I went to westwind for dinner. There special was a prime rib sandwich for 11 bucks and it was tasty. Best prime rib sandwich I ever had hands down.
Goose and his gang did real well for walleye but no crappies in there wheelhouses.. Mark and his buddy did ok and got 9 walleyes so far no crappies. Keith took good directions and landed a 16 inch elusive upper red lake crappie plus 3 more. Plus many many walleyes and two pike and a few perch. They landed on a very fishy area and I will keep a eye on that spot.
I spent the first 2 hours of the morning plowing out my drifted in road as the wind was just howling out there last night. I’m headed out now with blue thunder to do some clean up work. Have a grand day I know I will have a grand day on a grand lake that owes me nothing

Only 10 nights left of the 2015 game fish season makes it bitter sweet for me. My plans at this time are to soak in every day and really enjoy the rest of the season. I have had a blast this year and love working on the lake the season is just to short and had flown by in a blurr.
Yesterday was another great day on such a grand lake. After checking in on Angie and Dennis I cut a new road to the houses with the red baron. She took a beating and at one point I could tell something was dragging. Upon further investigation the right side of the v plow had broken part of the scraper and the edge was digging into the ice. I will see what I can improvise this morning and go from there. Dennis commented when I was cutting the new road that every time he had a fish looking I would come by and chase it away OOPS. After discovering my broken plow I headed home to get blue thunder and move north Carolina and clean up all the road system with the straight blade. Once that was finished I stopped by too say hello to Dan from outdoor authority, He has also had a good season and such a nice guy. He said they had caught quite a few crappies a week ago but it had slowed down? I have a sneaky suspition where they went but getting there would be a problem until the walleye season ends then its game on for two weeks at least as I vacation on the lake with the hammer. Jake will be up to pop a hundred holes looking for the mother load and staying in his favorite house Montana. Angie and Dennis have had a grand time and were going to go have fresh fish at westwind the premier resort on the shores of upper red lake. . Tony and Katrina fished in his portable last night and it will be interesting to see how they did. Tony will help me this morning as I move Minnesota and Florida onto fresh ice for the weekend. Marty has Montana for the next 4 days and shell chick has north Carolina Friday Saturday and old Minnesota Sunday and Monday. I still have old Minnesota and the cabin open next weekend. One more plug if your looking for a gift for the honey bunny stop by Sandy’s shop on the edge of town. Its always nice to bring a gift home to the sweety pie even if its a loacaly grown bag of wild rice. have fun this weekend and by all means be safe out there