Jan 17 2023

Will start by saying after this past weekends fishing were making another big move as the area that was full of good fishing fizzeled out just like that. All these years of doing this and I have no clue what’s going on. How one spot can be so good then turn so bad . I would love to blame mother nature but then you here how someone hammered them catching fish all day and night.
Old Minnesota had Richy and his buddies, on a brand-new spot in a fishy area and They may have caught 6 fish?
Are big crew form Iowa. Sarah, Kenny, Carl and Terry. They did not catch very many fish , they did have a grand time and I guess thats what really matters.
The group with them in North dakota also only caught a few fish. Again, my memory has failed me with names. They are the same crew that came with them two years ago. We had both those houses set up close to where Joe and his buddies caught fish for 3 days.
Tammy and her family were in Utah. They did have good fishing with one of the boys catching his first walleye. I think they took home 10 walleyes plus a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
Montana Had first time clients Nicole, Rob and their friend. When I stopped in friday eve they had 2 walleyes, one elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Plus, they missed two fish while I was visiting and landed a small walleye.
Alaska had Joe and his 3 kids all the way from kansas, again a fresh spot and the fishing was horrible, I had also plowed a spot for their buddy and his 3 kids. I’m not sure what happened but by time they left monday morning there was standing water all over that area?
Big Tony has been camping in california and catching fish. every night.
Jamie was in Utah sunday night after we moved it, they did get a few walleyes with his son catching his first walleye also.
Craig and his buddy were staying in the cabin fishing in portables with their sleds. They did real well all weekend.
Yesterday Jonny boy and Big Tony started moving the whole fleet to two new areas. Jonny boy loves his way points so that’s where some of the fleet went. while a couple other houses are going back where we had good fishing 2 weeks ago.
I spent the morning cleaning and prepping all the houses for the big moves. Then I was off to get the new tires mounted on rims for the red baron.
We have to keep an eye on red barons radiator as it has a small leak along a seam. Stop leak helped for now but I will again be having to replace the radiator. I’m thinking maybe we can add some more cushion on the bottom radiator support to help some of the bumps she takes out there.
Again, today we have 3 houses to prep for guest arriving today. Ashly poo made it up to help us out today as Jonny boy had to go out of town on another flooring job.
With all the elusive yet still upper red lake crappies being caught I’m not sure there will be any to chase come march.
We did have our Utah house open up this coming weekend Jan 20th, 21rst. Time to do the back exercises as it’s getting lite out. Darrin rolled in last night as well as scott so we will see how they did sometime today.

Not sure how many times I have said I forgot, my memory is horrible so bear with me. I will be turning 63 and I have always said I’m about 5 years ahead of my time. which makes me about 68
The red barons tire could not be repaired dry rotted. So looking for a couple used tires 235 r85 16. We might have to buy new.
I’m a big chevy guy with the fleet but they sure make crappy door latches. granted these trucks take a pounding but the driver’s doors seem to work worse than the passenger doors. The red baron still has a hick up but i did get to drive her a bit, that sure felt weird after not getting much use out of her the last 2 years.
Red rusty trusty needs a fuel pump.
We did get to the bottom of the generator issue. again, for the second time over the years it was contaminated fuel. 2 gallons of generator fuel had over a quart of water and debree in tanks. Not sure if it’s coming from snow in funnels but does not explain where all the gunk comes from. At least we got that figured out.
So much goes on everyday I can never write about everything, without trying to write everyday.
Mother nature was not so cruel to us this past Christmas week, Last time I measured ice we had 16 1/2 the houses still flood so brings your ice cleats.
We lost our pup Bella yesterday. She sure enjoyed all those days spent running on the lake with us, when I moved houses she would run in front of the trucks, she would follow me all day long at the golf course or mowing for the township. If we had fishermen she knew how to get a few snacks with those brown puppy dog eyes.
We did push the whole fleet westward over the past week. Now were fishing in 9 to 10 feet instead of 8 or 9.
Joe and his pa did all rite fishing montana until we moved them. Ashly Poo our granddaughter fished the same house after they left and Only got one 18 1/2 incher.
Chris and his gal were in utah they ended up having to go home a day early. They pounded on some nice perch plus got 5 keeper walleyes.
Bob the owner of Colorado has some decent fishing as he hosted a couple guest.
Keith was with his son and grandson in alaska. Keith had me laughing so hard as he ask if I remembered when we met back in the crappie days, he said him and his son were struggling to find some crappies. I somehow met him and said if I were you I’m not saying but just saying if you go rite over there you may be surprised. It was 20 below when they pounded the fish. Keith said after catching fish they went to the old hudecs to get a room; he had never been here and expected there would be lodging everywhere. They said we have an old cabin that might have a few mice in it if they wanted to sleep there. Keith said all the mice running across there sleeping bags traumatized his son.
They only caught a few fish this time but again had a great time.
Matt and his 3 gals had north dakota, they ate a few fish plus took home a limit.
Haily and her crew caught a few fish in alaska over new years. Not the hoy house
Brian and Stacy old customers showed up with their new used wheelhouse. I had a spot plowed for them. The first night they did really well. Stacy then had a big pike on. After that the bite went south, or should I say west as the couple wheelhouses to the west did fairly well. I think that pike may have been laying under the house for the next 24 hours.
Tim and Amanda were here in florida over the new year. They got 12 the first day and I think another 10 the next day.
Old minnesota has had Tim and Joy all week. They have caught a couple fish but there also here for the atmosphere besides the fishing. Jonny boy fished it last night and got a chunky 23 1/2. I think he said it was his personnel best on red lake.
Jonny boy, I and Asley Poo our granddaughter worked on moving as many houses as possible. Asly got to pull California out of the hole. Mopar Richard, Jeromy their buddy did pretty decent in there over the holiday.
Blue thunders plow quit for a bit yesterday, Jonny boy dug into it and found a loose connection. Really need rusty trusty home so we can get that straight blade out of the woods.
black beauty’s driver’s door decided she would not close. I got it closed then it would not open, so I had to move a few things to crawl out the passenger side. I crawled back in get on the lake and the door pops open. Now it will not close again so i did the Red Green duct tape trip. She never popped open all day but getting out the passenger side got old by last night.
We did get everything cleaned and moved by 1 pm yesterday, the hammer also came out to help, a couple hours later she was towing a fish house, on the lake. Only took 21 years to tow a house.
I also got all new guest checked in. she was a long day on a grand lake that owes us nothing. Another 12-hour day is in the books. Jonny boy was going to make the rounds out there last night so I did not have to go out again.
Today I would like to take a little tour of the other accesses plus kirk is fishing out there with bear paw.
We do have to get old Minnesota on a new spot, ready to fish by 2. Plus make the daily rounds to visit our guests.

Monday is quite a blur as it was a 14-hour day counting a 6-hour trip to Bemidji to purchase another generator drop another off for repair. Seem’ s this year my generators want to throw me fits so if you own one and are coming it would not hurt to bring it as a backup.
I did get out to say goodbye to shelly, bob and their crew. Like always the fishing could have been better but they had a grand time and plan on coming back next year. Shelly was telling me they are going to Africa hunting, how’s that for something on a bucket list. Such a nice family I already look forward to seeing them again next year. Bob sure like to ice fish. as well as fish and hunt in general.
Yesterday with Jonny boy, Jake, Darrin and his boy Joe we made the plan to move all 8 houses just a little further west to get all the houses on a fresh area. We did have a few hick ups, Blue thunder straight blade plow seems to have a bad connection, so Darrin did most of the banking with his plow truck. I have to take our flat tire to get repaired today plus go to Bemidji again to pick up new power cables for blue thunders plow.
The red baron had a hick up towards the end of the day. At this time, it cleared itself up but was flooding itself for a bit. Fuel pressure in throttle body?
No clue what’s going on with the generators, I had changed all the oil on them just a week ago. We had some bad gas one year and they all crashed within hours of each other, but I do not think that’s the problem.
We have Kara and Jeff staying in florida, they brought sleds for some portable fishing. The best fishing reports I have heard are the fisherman fishing miles away from all the traffic on the lake now. Kara jumped in upon their arrival and cleaned a couple of the houses for me. Another great couple of people. One of the perks of this work is all the nice people you get to meet throughout the season. Once we can get things find tuned and running like a well-oiled machine, I’m hoping to visit a little more with old and new customers.
Yesterday was a little comical at times as we had 4 vehicle’s out there with our big move. Quite a few times someone needed something that was in another truck, jack, blocks, chisel, shovel, generator, gas, fish house keys just too name a few. I have no idea where all my shovels have gone so that on the bemidji list also today.
I did talk to jake a few minutes ago he has gotten 5 overnight. Colorado with bob and his crew had 3 both those houses have the pandonimics and are seeing fish plus schools of shiners.
Keith and his 2 grandsons in alaska only had 1 last night when I swung in. California had 1 before dark. the rest of the houses I will see how they did today.
Mark, Tony and their crew from Black pearl fishing have sleds. They said last night all 3 places they fished they caught numerous fish.
I expect the pressure ridge to get a little active today if it warms up as much as they say so we will see.
Hillmans Road only goes out about a mile and half at this time
with a bridge at a half mile. Buddy Hillman did get his Double decker out there.
I measured 16 inches of ice where were fishing so were still getting some flooding. I have also seen some slush pockets out there at this time. Cross country travels with a wheelhouse would be quite the challenge.
We will keep plugging away. Trusty rusty our red chevy may be fixed and also needs to be picked up at the mechanic’s shop. The equipment sure takes a beating out there, I’m still a believer as slow and study, take your time, do not be in a hurry. This is what I was taught from my mentor cousin Pete.

Of course, the first thing on my mind is to say Merry Christmas to all our friends, family and customers on such a glorious day.
I’ll start with a small fishing report from this past week. We were able to have a few guests in our sleepers as day houses before another round of mother nature showing us, she is the one in control. We had a group of 6 that called out of the blue as the arrangements they had made had fallen through.. John and his crew used florida and montana for the day. They only got a few fish with one or 2 21 inchers.. John did have a pandemonic and were seeing fish all day but trying to entice them to bite was tough. They packed it in about a hour after dark.
Robert and his 2 buddies fished old minnesota. They managed 3 nice solid fish, Robert said they had to leave just as the bite was picking up. I headed out to turn the heat off and gather the generators.
Lonnie Adam and Greg came up for the day, they fished old minnesota on wednesday. Adam did land a 32 inch pike. They also caught a couple smaller walleyes
Every year things are different yet are the same. This grand lake freezes, cracks, moves before she settles down a bit. I would say we had close to 11 inches of ice before we got our first wet heavy snow close to 7 inches followed by another 6 or 7 more. This slowed down the ice making. It also caused quite a bit of extra work on all the equipment and resort plans around the lake.
Now getting back to this week when everyone was making their decision what to do. Again, mother nature decided let’s throw in some lite snow followed by high winds for 3 days. Mys well fill in all the ice roads, cause some big drifts around the houses and customers vehicles on the lake.
We had a repeat group of customers coming in friday afternoon, so Jonny boy and I were out in all most white out conditions getting 3 houses ready for their arrival. Once we had them all checked in Jonny boy got working on the red baron again as she still would not run right, and we would be needing that big v plow asap .
We decided it had to be the fuel pump so the gas tank would need to come off. I had a fuel pump that was a little bit shorter but maybe it would work. Working under a old parachute with the torpedo heater and temps below – 10 somehow jonny boy was able to accomplish such a feat out in the driveway. I was surprised to see how much crud was in the tank with what gas was in there broken down. That had to be the culprit. He also found 2 wires that were in need of repair.
Once we got some gas back in her jonny boy fired her up. She revved up fine. we warmed her up and jonny boy took her out just in time to run her down the off-shoot road to our houses which was now completely blown in. One pass down and back and again the red baron coughed and sputtered. At least we now knew it was a fuel delivery problem.
Jonny boy headed home for the night, and we would again tackle it in the morning. I got the dreaded call around 1 am that one of the furnaces in colorado were not working. Once I got out there Rob and I were able to figure it out and get some heat going again. The regulator is freezing up. She will need a new one.
Now this is becoming a long read. We got a new inline fuel filter, plus another new pump that was the right one. Again, the inline filter seemed to clear it up but after one pass yesterday on Hillmans main road she sputters again. Jonny boy dropped the tank again, replaced the pump and filter. As I helped button up the tank jonny boy said if this did not work maybe we should put her in the burn pile. She fired up and for the next 3 hours into the dark Jonny boy helped buddy Hillman reopen the main road out to 2 miles any way. Let’s not forget the red baron also came in with a flat rear tire so that needs to be addressed asap.
I spent most of yesterday in blue thunder cleaning up all the drifting around the houses. I did Spend a little time with our guest which are some of the nicest people you could ever meet, they even have grama out there. They also invited me for their shrimp boil. I love shrimp but I had already planned dinner with the hammer so I did not make it out there. They were up to 11 fish I be leave with a few misses thrown in plus one big fish that got off.
I’m headed out there in a bit to say good morning and let them know the main road is open if they need to come to shore. The winds finely layed down, so we have a day and a half to prep everything for the week ahead.
I would say most of the resorts are either open or opening tomorrow morning. Off road travel with a wheelhouse would more than likely be impossible as the winds have drifted the snow and packed it hard enough you can walk on top of it. The old v plow will be huge this year.
This Christmas I’m so thankful jonny boy is here to help his old man the first part of the season, then I have friends, family and possibly a couple part time people that will be helping me on such a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Well I would say its official we now have all the houses on the lake in fishable water out of Hillmans resort here in Waskish.
With Jonny boy, Darrin and Daves help we were able to dig all the houses out of the woods, cut a trail to hillmans road, cut another road to the north. Then bring all the shacks out to a fishy area. Darrin pre fished the area and did have some action with some real good action around 1am.
We did have a full house this weekend. everyone went to different resorts with a couple fishing straight out from our place.
The crew in the cabin had sleds and were on a mission to fish a certain area they fish every year. I did talk to them briefly, they said they caught fish with a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
Travis and Jim were first time guests. they were here since tuesday so they had quite the adventures as they fished throughout the two snowfalls we had. I would say we got a total of 14 inches of wet heavy snow. Mother nature just never lets up. They did find one slushy area where they buried their wheeler. It was very close to shore, more than likely where bull rushes were growing. They caught fish with some days better then others.
Sean and Carter stayed in montana, they headed down to jrs as thats where Sean was most familiar with. It was a tough bite the first day. I did not get to find out how they did the second day as they were gone in the morning.
Bob his son Noel plus there two friends stayed in Colorado the boys went out from our place friday eve, They did have some action but only landed a couple.
Steave and his buddy stayed in old minnesota just for one night. They were headed over to beacon harbor yesterday. They also fished straight out from our place and caught a few after dark.
Lared and his 2 buddies were in california. I had to call them yesterday to tell them there sleeping quarters were now out on the lake. That was quite a surprise for them. I got them out there after dark so we will see how they did in a bit. just talked to the guys they got 7

Darrin also moved to a new area and had a couple when I talked to him last night. Utah set empty as well as florida.
The snow on the lake will make cross country travel pretty tough. Flooding will also accrue when you auger holes.
Hillmans has a bridge over a active pressure ridge about 1/2 mile out. I’ll know more about what Buddy Hillman will be allowing out later today. I did here that Buddy Haillman has some rentals still available for the season on a grand lake that owes us nothing, The store number is 218 647 6504

I did take the razor out on the lake yesterday to measure some ice . The least I found was just under 12 inches. The most was just over 14. I also checked out the pressure ridge that have bridges. The pressure ridge starts really close to shore south of westwinds.
It does sound like most of the resorts are not going to let any wheelhouses on the lake until after this storm system passes through. The weather pattern keeps changing day to day. Now its saying some snow every day tell saturday.
I think we should be able to start moving the houses out of the woods sunday, then get them all over to Hillmans resort as that’s where we go out of.
Not sure how the guys down on the lakeshore have been doing. They take off today. we now have a couple houses on shore that have opened up do to the weather. The guys also canceled the cabin.
Our longtime friend Kirk is out on the lake. Jonny boy was heading out to wet a line with him.
I’m still plugging away got a new list started so that will keep me busy. The whole fleet of trucks have some kind of repair.

Mother nature has put a hold on getting the houses on the lake in fishy water. I do plan on going out with jonny boys razor today. I’ll look around, punch a few holes, measure the ice myself. It would be nice to get them on the lake before the next batch of snow drifts on our lake shore. With possible snow starting wednesday mother nature has the upper hand which is nothing new.
We did have quite a few fishermen here the past weekend with no one getting skunked.
Jason had melissa, barb and Allisa? Melissa was able to land a elusive yet still catchable over 14-inch crappie to get her master pin from the club the girls belong to. She was pretty excited. They all did well and took home a few walleyes. Melissa had to release her crappie to earn her pin I be leave; Jason used Jonnyboys’ razor to haul the girls and gear.
Old minnesota had Rick and his buddy, they went down to jrs both days and were happy with the fishing.
Ozzie and his buddy fished some cribs, they did really well the first 2 days, yesterday was a bit slower though.
I never got to visit Patrick and his buddy as they were not at the shack the few times, I swung in to grab the garbage, I know they did have a wheeler issue but were able to clean the spark plug good enough to get it running.
Bob plus his crew had colorado plus 3 ice castles staying out in front of our place. They had a huge fish fry friday night..
I did play one game of cribbage with Jason and the guys in the cabin. We played red dog which they had never played. Jason and i won as they landed in the stink hole on their last count.
Boar his wife Lorie also camped down on the lake shore. Boar said the fishing was outstanding.
Never heard how Mason and Logan did.
Again facebook was lit up with pics of fisherman catching out of all the resorts. No clue why we’re seeing so many crappies. I guess there hungry. All those 10 and 11 inchers we have been letting go seem to be pushing into the 12s now.
Up here on our end there is a pressure ridge out 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile that westwind plus Hillmans had to bridge.. Westwind battled the pressure ridge as the warm temps caused it to expand and sink a bit.
I be leave most of the resorts are in a holding pattern until this snow comes in and then we get a nice string of cold weather again. There all different though so checking with the resorts that you plan on going out will be your best info. the next few days.
Jonny boy will be up helping now for a few weeks which is huge for us. So far, I have been able to clean all the houses. plus yesterday I took north dakota off it blocks so I can jack up the houses at this time. Digging and moving them all on a daily basest may be different story.

I would say here on our end the fishing was good, bad and ugly.
from the guys we had here. One group that walked straight out to 11 feet of water figured they landed 40 friday with siver being the hot lure color, saturday they wanted nothing too do with jigging and hit just the set lines.
Jonny boy was giving rides out to a area he fished last year plus he fished the first day out there. One of the guys got a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie a fat 15 incher. They were fishing in 8 feet of water. Jonny also came in with 3 nice keepers, so the hammer and I had fresh fish for dinner, One of the group went out of beacon harbor. they did pretty good the first day the next day they went out from hillmans, then saturday they went back to beacons.
The guys in utah walked out of hillmans friday, they caught just a few. I worried about the into the evening as a squall of snow came through with some strong winds, they finally came in,they had some heater problems, they only had a mini sunflower to stay warm. With the temps dropping and the wind blowing I was shocked that they stayed out there that long. I had them come up to the garage and we got their other heater going as it had a bad connection.
The guys in Minnesota were cleaning fish the first night.
There were alot a lot of bigger walleyes getting caught all around the lake, I have been seeing on the web. I’m quite surprised were seeing these size fish, anywhere from 25 to 28 inch walleyes.
I also saw a local that had a pic of steam coming off the lake around sunset friday night. Sounds like it was out towards the end of big reef. Once Ii can drive on the lake I will not be driving anywhere near that area.
Beacon Harbors guys posted a couple thin ice signs to the left of their place. Maybe in 9 to 10 feet of water.
Have to make it short today as I need to get the cabin ready for guest coming in this afternoon. If you come up listen carefully to the resorts as they have been checking ice everyday.

I’am not ready to battle mother nature, A dusting of snow tuesday night followed by 30 mph winds basically packed 4 feet of snow down on our lake shore in front of the houses. ERRRR. Blue thunder got its first good workout yesterday when i got home from a trip to Bemidji. I spent close to 3 hours plowing snow. I got stuck twice, where I had to dig out with the number 2 shovel. I still have some more to do today but was able to get done around 8 30 just before we had a few guests arrive., I did drive onto the lake about 100 yards . We have a few extra guest camping down there this weekend so they will be on the lake shore on ice.
Wow the crack down at JRs sure made the news as the story keeps getting crazier. Had a guy call today that wanted to know how many houses went down? The national news said 200 fishermen were stranded floating on an iceberg.
The guest we had down there tuesday all left a day early as those winds were wicked. 4 groups of 2 and 3 guys. The best figured they got 20 fish, the others were poor 1, 1, 3, with a few lookers.
Still do not have a full-time helper this year, I do have help here and there, but she is going to take some extra planning this year, then throw in mother nature. This may be the most challenging year I’ll ever have. I’ll take all the prayers people want to dish out. Time to get dressed for outside. I have plenty to do on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Each day we are getting closer to crunch time here on the shore of upper red lake.
We had some excitement here yesterday as the winds pushed the ice sheet opening up a wide crack down towards the south shore.
Jrs. resort got a bridge out to a spot so as far as I know all the fisher people were able to safely get across.
Last night the winds were howling out of the southwest so once it gets light out, I imagine all the resorts will be sending someone out on the ice to see what she looks like before they give the green light to go out today.
I keep hearing 3 to 7 inches of ice? I still have not gone out as again I’m in no hurry. I like to wait tell I can drive blue thunder on the lake.
I have seen quite a few pics of open water spots on the lake. She is a big lake so without flying over who know where they all could be. Once we get a good cold snap and calm winds those spots will glaze over. So, you could be checking ice that goes from 6 inches to 1 inch.? That is the reason the resort have to hold off letting machines on the ice as once there’s a green light, they may end up going all most any ware.
We do have a full house this weekend with guys staying in the houses on shore. It’s a good way to start the season to work out any details before the houses hit the lake.
We plan on going out of Hillmans resort again this year.
As I get older my memory seems to be slipping a bit, so I would ask all bare with me this year.
Both the red trucks still need to be driven around a bit to work out and bugs. Will get the plows on them once the houses come out of the woods. At this time, I think we’re looking around the third weekend Dec. 18th possibly to get out on the lake. Mother nature will be making that decision for us.
We were not home over the holiday, but it sounds like she was pretty busy out there Saturday, with quite a few fish leaving the lake. I did see quite a few pics of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Today I have some errands to run so I’ll know more about the lake conditions when I get back home.
The books are starting to fill in a bit more but there’s still plenty of houses open throughout the season. Christmas to new year’s is pretty much full. Gotta hit the road now as it is getting light out.