Day 16, January 03, 2009

Man oh man was it nice having help yesterday. We hit the lake at 8am as the sun was coming up. Our first plan of attack was to plow out the people I had set up before the big blow on Thursday and prep a new area for at least 3 houses. What a beautiful morning we were rewarded with. As the Greek cut us a new trail he marveled at the beauty of the pristine day. The snow we stirred up created an awesome rainbow and the Greek loved life driving the Red Baron.
With a plan in our head I grabbed Utah while the Greek prepped our new fishy area. Once we finished Utah we went to retrieve Montana and check on the guys in California and Wayne in Old Minnesota. While we were prepping Montana Wayne caught another crappie. Darn the luck, as I was ready to vacate that area. After finishing Montana I decided I would just put Minnesota on a new spot as Kellie and I were going to fish with Wayne and Kellie loves having a chance at a crappie and can care less about a bottom feeding walleye.
As We met Andy and his crew of 6 and Pete and his crew of 4 I escorted them to there houses as the Greek went to the end of the road to plow a spot for Chuck and his buddies and there hard houses. I then met the Greek and we cut a new trail to New York.
I told Pete and his crew I would move the house today if the action did not pick up. We may of paid for that glorious day yesterday as they are predicting some more nasty weather today.
While we were prepping Montana for the move and the Greek wanted to bust through the snow bank to the north to get into some favorite area’s but I told him that may be a bad idea as it looks as though it has sank.
I sent a couple of groups out of Hillmens and one group caught 2 crappies while the others caught at least 3. Just like last year there were quite a few smaller walleye 10 inches living with the crappies. It is very frustrating not being able to fish out there.

Day 15, January 2, 2009

As I headed out on the lake yesterday I stopped at all the spots I had people fishing. Thad was in the closest and had limited action with 4 keepers in the bucket. Joe Jenson rolled in late and had a nice flurry in the morning but only landed one keeper. Phil and his wife son did the best with 5 keepers. Brian’s spot was not very good at all. I fished with Wayne for a bit last night and landed one just under 17 and Wayne lost another at the hole. We also were marking fish which was a god sign.
Rob and the guys in California were not doing well even after I put them on a fresh spot. They did have some action though and were marking fish that would not bite.
Mother Nature slapped me in the face yesterday. After prepping three areas to move Minnesota, Montana and California I headed in to get blue thunder, About the time I arrived back the wind and light snow was playing havoc on the areas I prepped. I was not a happy camper as I struggled to get California to its new location. What normally takes under two hours turned into over three hours. I had no choice but to throw in the towel and coma home after I got Rob and his crew in California. Joe and his group are drifted in as well as Phil and his wife and kid. I will be heading out at day light to open up a new trail for them and then do my best to get Montana, Utah and old Minnesota into new areas.
I placed Utah close to the road so I could grab it on the way in. That turned into a hassle as that trail had drifted in. I open up a new spot and left it there and when I came back later that trail was also drifted in, very frustrating to say the least. Oh well today is another day. The Greek will be helping me today, so at least I will have both Blue Thunder and The Red Baron at my disposal at the same time.

Day 14, Wow

It has been quite a interesting few days. The fishing has not been spectacular and I was a little disappointed in the action since Sunday. With one big group in Florida and California for two days they figured they each caught 6 fish. There were two crappie caught with the second one escaping down the hole. I did move Utah for the guys and the fishing picked up a bit for them with fresh holes with another bonus crappie caught. Pat lost his glasses down a hole. Rob and his buddy were in Minnesota for two days and only caught a couple of fish. They also headed out on a adventure one day but did not fair well out deeper either. Kellie said they called and wanted to say thanks again they had a awesome time.
Kevin and his family were in Montana on Sunday and they also had slow fishing.. Kirk and Bob were in Florida last night and Kirk called to say they had 2 keepers and another bonus crappie.
I have Thad and DJ fishing in shallow, Phil and his family out a little further, Joe Jenson out just past a mile and Brian just past 2 miles. I will be checking in with all them to see if there is a better area to start moving the fleet.
It has been a very busy for me. The little dusting of snow we had Sunday turned into 4 inches and threw a wrench in all my plans. Blue thundered developed a antifreeze leak and in the process of repairing it I had a antifreeze shower. Yesterday we woke up to 28 below.
I now have the v-plow on the red baron and will be cutting some new trails, just do not know which way at this time. We are limited to going to the north with the giant snow berm. That only leaves us to head west or southwest at this time.
We have also added a new deluxe house to the fleet Idaho.
It is a very heavy house but has some nice amenities. Brian, Dean and Matt are working out the bugs and I will start booking it as the phone calls come in.
As far as I know it will have satellite TV for the football fans with two TVs, and running water, but I may not mess with that. We will see. Four single beds and it is 10×18. It has a two burner cooker, 8 holes, indoor biffy, ceiling fan, lights and electricity. Well it’s time to hit the lake as I prepare to move all the houses in the next 24 hours. Let’s hope the fishing gets a little better.

Day 12, December 29, 2008

I have been on the lake 12 days in a row now. Old Minnesota, California, Florida and Montana were all moved Friday and Saturday. I kept Utah on the same spot just to see if the fishing would die out there or still be good as the house had only been fished on the 19 and 20th and they did rather well.
Chris, Gordy and Phil rolled in Friday afternoon and fished at the end of Agassiz road. They did not have much luck there even though the grandkids and Phil we 20 yards away fishing in New York catching a couple of fish.
John Weston fished by Utah with his dad Jim and his son. They had on and off action both days and went home with there 9 fish plus ate a couple. Chris and his crew moved over behind Utah and headed home with there 15 as there were five of them. Lee and Sherry were up just for Saturday and fished Utah. They did not do to well as they just could not hook them. Lee said they marked a lot of fish but they were lookers?
Jerald and his crew are here for 3 nights and I told them we will move Utah today if they did not do well last night.
Pat, Ryan and Steve are in Old Minnesota they also showed up Saturday afternoon .When I checked with them Sunday morning they had caught 20 walleyes and two yes two bonus crappies Sunday morning.
With all the houses occupied last night when I made the rounds it was a little slow? It seems to be a fishy area so not sure what happened. I guess that’s fishing. Johnny boy, Big Tony and Joel fished New York at the end of the road and got 6 keepers late Saturday afternoon. Joel said it shut down at dark. Big Tony wants to come up and help me out this winter. He’s a big guy and would be a lot of help.
California had a furnace problem and we had to put on a new regulator and thermostat in it. Blue Thunder has been acting up in the transfer case. I will have to do some research on that. It felt good moving the houses Friday and Saturday. It went fairly well but there may have been a cuss word here or there as it is still hard work.

December 25, 2008

Our fishing adventure went pretty well. My granddaughter Ashley caught 5 walleyes with two under 17. Cory caught 1 and lost one, Jason caught two over 18 and Kyle got skunked. He must take after his grandpa, although I did catch a fish. The second one I handed the rod to Kyle but he lost it. The kids were well behaved for the most part and will be trying it again today. Ashley used one of the rattle wheels with a pink frosty. We fished about two hours so I would say the fishing was pretty good it started off slow until the sun went down then we had a nice flurry. Gotta go they are all up and ready to open presents.

December 24, 2008

Just came off the lake and it a little lonely out there. We will be going to cut a down a xmas tree a little later and then we will be taking 4 of the grand kids fishing in old Minnesota. I hope there biting as the kids lose there interest quick. We can put a movie in for them and let them play with the minnows I guess.
With Phil here I have made a to do list to keep him busy.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday.

December 23, 2008

With Xmas right around the corner it has been a little quiet here on the lake. My plans are to move all the houses by the weekend to a new location. I will also be taking all the grand kids fishing not the first time. Phil will be helping me. We also have plenty of little projects to keep us busy here. I hate to talk much about the trucks red baron and blue thunder. I had to replace the blower motor in blue thunder today and top off the transfer case. The red baron also has some maintenance issue I need to tackle before we put the plough on. The little red truck that could needs a tune up all of a sudden.
The generator needs the oil changed. It also seems every time I go outside I have to shovel snow or plough snow.

Day Five, December 21, 2008

Well day five on the lake I believe. We had a nice little snow and wind storm yesterday afternoon about the time Jake and I went out of Hillmen’s looking for some fish. Oh well next time.
I did move California for frank and the boys. Frank and Danny AKA little buddy rode in the house while I towed it. We got them set up and they all had a great time. Frank said they caught a total of 23 fish after I moved them. Montana was the slowest house and not sure if they ended up with 4 limits or not. Florida had 8 yesterday and 1 crappie. Old Minnesota got there 6 and released quite a few. Utah did real well Friday night and had thier 9 by 11am on Saturday.
Adam and the guys went to a spot I recommended. They headed out Saturday morning and were back by 3pm with there 12.
Today they were going to check out the center bar for a couple of hours before they headed home.
Jake is spending the night on the lake and I ‘m ready to hit the sack. I was out fishing with him for a bit and we released 5 walleyes all under 17 inches. It’s a nice fishy area and I will be bringing all the sleepers around that area in the next few days.

December 20, 2008

Yesterday was our first day with a full house.
Everyone was catching a couple of keepers and missing a few fish. Frank, Danny and Swaggs all missed a fish while I was augering two extra holes in California. The beer was going down and getting spilled to boot.
Barb and Pat are in Minnesota and in total relaxation mode. I spent a 1/2 hour or so visiting and they are very nice people.
Frank and his crew have three houses and Swaggs was up to 22 beers when I stopped in. That’s about 21 too many beers for me. Little Buddy aka Danny wants me to post a pic of him with his fish. I guess he thinks he will become famous? He has to catch one first
Adam, John and Ed rolled in around 10 last night so I will not know how they did until later today.
I will be moving California later today as Frank and his crew all want to be closer today and tonight for there card game.

December 18, 2008

Today was another busy day. I had to pick the Red Baron up as I had the lock outs rebuilt and a cooling sensor had gone out. I then packed up a few things and took Utah out to a secret spot. Again it was a busy day but all five sleepers Old Minnesota, Montana, Florida, California and Utah are ready to go. Frank and his crew will be arriving around 10 am with Barb and her husband pulling in around 2 pm. Then it will be a late night when Adam and his crew roll in around 10 pm. I also would like to get both of our day houses New York and Colorado on the lake Saturday. Still not sure about bringing out Alaska but I have a feeling it will be on the lake sometime after Jan.1rst. It was quite busy out there today as rentals were going out on the lake most of the day.
I will have a great fishing report this weekend as we host close to 30 fishermen over the weekend. Let the fun begin.