Counting downs the days is a first for me. Every year mother nature dictates what we can and can not do. This year I guess she decided to keep the fishermen from pounding the lake.
Buddy Hillmans ice road/ highway was only 4 miles out tops. Again his road was top priority. The main road never flooded, some of the side roads were a totally different story. Plowing side road was quite the adventure as you never knew when you would find a slushy area. Once you built a berm on both sides they could become canal of water, anywhere from 1 inch to a foot of water. Driving threw the water when the temps are in the teens caused quite the ice build up on the fleet .
Our rentals have always stopped seeping water once the ice hits about 19 inches, not this year though . With the weight of the snow a couple houses had to be moved shortly after auguring the holes. I can tell you one thing that’s never in the plan.
It sounds like the guys still plan on targeting the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies again this year, only they will be bringing portables and staying on shore. All our houses will be coming home as soon as the last customers leave Sunday, Monday morning.
We did have a couple fishermen this week. Glen and bingo Bob were here for one night. They got off the lake yesterday morning going home with 6 keepers. Desaray and here family did pretty good fishing in Colorado. I never visited them but they said they want to come a gain as they had a grand time on a grand lake.
Jake and the boys ate some fish plus took 4 home Tuesday morning.
Paul and his crew are in north Dakota, they are fishing there third spot in 4 days .Its been a tough bite for them in all three spots. They head home today with another trip in the books.
I fished again yesterday in old minnesota landing a nice keeper and missing a couple fish. I had a outstanding dinner of fresh fish last night and hope to repeat the same dinner for lunch today.

Another solid week of fishing is in the books. Our friend Marty came up to do a little fishing and helping us out Monday. he stayed in our Florida house right where it was from the weekend. He had some action each night heading home Friday. Jonny boy also floated around sleeping in various houses catching a few fish also. Ashly are grand daughter / helper also floated around spending numerous nights on the lake. I would say she caught the most fish.
Tuesday morning we had to get some welding done on the red baron before it could be used on the lake. Marty followed me over to barny’s. He was able to get her fixed up in under 2 hours so we hung out rather then drive back.
The plan when we got back was to start prepping new areas to move the fleet. That plan got the kibosh in no time as we broke another axle. This time on the red baron. The vehicles have took a beating this year.
I heard of 4 blown transmissions, and 1 tractor motor from other outfits. That’s just a small fraction of the damage the lake has caused this year.
The guys got the red baron back to shore Tuesday evening and started to tare it down. Wednesday morning Jonny boy found a axle I had thrown in one of the sheds, I guess it pays to keep as many old parts as possible.. Marty and I loaded up all the broken and used parts and headed to Bemidji to try and track down the parts. Then have the new u joint and half shaft put back together. That pretty much turned into a full day . Getting back home the guys got going into the evening.
Thursday was spent moving a couple houses in between putting the red baron back together. She still had another issue though as a wire had shorted out the fuel pump. Friday morning Jonny boy found the short as ice and snow had disconnected a connection on the other fuel tank. We also broke a second shock on blue thunder.
Ashley and jonny boy had a busy day getting all the houses ready for the weekend.
Brian and his 2 buddies checked in some time Thursday for 2 nights in Colorado, They did fairly well .They went home with some nice fish ,lost a few and also landed a mid 30s pike. I did get to say good bye to them. They were very pleased and said they would come again.
Sean, Jeoff, Michell, and Payton checked into north Dakota. They had some action also. Payton landed a fat 19 when I stopped to say hello around 5 pm. She was using a orange jig. She said she had read my report from the last week. For only being 12 she had got all 3 of the fish they had on the ice so far.
Danny, Bill and the little one Drake would be arriving later in the evening for kentucky as well as Jeff, Lori , Mike and Haile. checking into Florida.
Kentucky also had good fishing in my book as they ate some fish, plus took home 10. Danny said they also missed a lot of fish. 3am seemed to be a good time to be fishing as rattle wheel were going off in more then one of the houses.
Jeff for florida rolled in around 10 pm, Lori lost a big fish at some point. They ended up going home with 7 keepers plus also missed fish.
Montana set empty as the guy was a no show.
Old Minnesota had Shannon and Adam they arrived Saturday for 2 nights. They have been catching some fish. I hope to say good bye to them this morning. They are from Green Bay. I talk to them briefly yesterday. They had 3 plus missed fish over night. They were having a grand time on a grand lake.
California had 3 younger kids from kellier for the day. Jonny boy said they did catch some fish.
We checked a group into Colorado yesterday as well as john and Mike? into California.
Jake also arrived yesterday with Lakin and Gabriel. I just talked to him. They caught a dozen fish over night with only smaller fish the biggest being 14inches.
We also checked in Paul and his crew yesterday for north Dakota.
It was a very busy sunday here on the shore s of upper red lake

Well here goes another fishing report from the shores of upper red lake.
The boys stayed busy all week prepping for the weekend. Asley our grand daughter also got in on the action as she is in training . Richy Rich had to head back home. It sure was nice of him to come up and spend the winter helping us out .
Ashley ready to learn how to plow with blue thunder, she has the fishing down as if were keeping track she is way ahead of me when it comes to catching.
I have a little venting to do before I give a report on how the rental houses did.
When you come through waskish starting from the gas station heading north there are about 24 driveways untell you reach the bridge. The double lines are a no passing. I would be tickled pink if a state trooper or sheriff would start busting the ass hol that think they can pass through town. In fact there more then welcome to sit in my driveway to catch the idiots . The speed limit is all ready 50. Every time one of these jerks it pisssss me off.
Number 2 enough with all the reports of the lake is closed. yes the wheel houses have drawn the short straw this year but the outfits, resorts that live here have gone no where. Every one that has rentals on the lake are giving it 100 %. Knock on wood as we keep plugging away. My houses have always flooded until we get over 20 inches of ice. This year the average ice thickness is around 21. With the weight of the snow when you augur holes it still seeps out a bit . Were not sinking or putting any clients in danger.
Ok sorry
Andy Andy arrived Friday for there second trip of the season. They have been coming up for 11 years I be leave. They always request montana as there house of choice. They also had the Kentucky house rented with Andy’s dad Brad, brother Alex and Steve. Montana had the worst fishing of the bunch only getting 4 keepers. Meanwhile Kentucky got 11 keepers with the biggest a 22 1/2 incher. They also missed some fish and released a half dozen small ones.
Wayne and Paul also arrived Friday for old Minnesota. We hung out. Played some cribbage, had some laughs. There house was slow all though they did manage to go home with 8 keepers.
North Dakota had Nick and his friends they had decent fishing .They also took home 3 limits ,plus ate some fish at westwind.
Lee was set up just to the west and also had good fishing.
I checked in the guys in Colorado when they arrived Friday. I have not been making the rounds this year so not quite sure how they did . I do know they caught fish.
Kevin and Rollie were in florida fish house. They have also been coming for years.They had good fishing, ate a few plus went home with there 8.
John from clam and his gal kellie were in California. They were fishing orange flutter spoons having a grand time on a grand lake. They also went to westwind with fish plus took home there 8.
So all in all it was a pretty good weekend for fishing.
Jonny boy and Ashley will be cutting a few new trails as we shuffle all the houses for the up and coming weekend. I again plan on spending as much time as possible wetting a line in old Minnesota.
The phones have been quiet as we go into the final 3 weekends . Were wide open tell Thursday at htis time with one no show yesterday with not even a phone call.
I previous customer called yesterday. Him and his dad were hammering them. I know right where they were in there portables. he said orange was the hot color as his dad had gotten fat 26 inch walleye.

Wow with only a month left of walleye fishing too go it has again been a brutal season on the shores of upper red lake. The grand lake that owes us nothing.
Last year it was brutally cold this week with wind chills below -60. I will have to say I’m happy were not having that right now
For the second time since my car accident I wet a line yesterday for 3 or 4 hours. Th fishing report In old Minnesota after it was fished on a new spot Friday and Saturday was I’m a little out of practice. I was jigging a gold rattling flyer while watching Boston legal. The first fish hit my lure while I was lying on the bed. It caught me totally buy surprise as I was jigging. I set the hook while lying down. Trying to set up while keeping the line tight was not in the cards.
I quickly got another minnow on the lure sent her down. 1 or 2 good jigs and I was marking a fish. Only it was not a fish but my quickly hooked minnow escaping off the lure. Another minnow, back down the hole. I guess I educated that fish as it looked a few times but only nibbled a couple times.
Mean while the rattle wheel went off around the bewitching hour. Rolling out of the bed with my brace on I go over give it a little line, but instead of setting the hook like I normally do.I pulled the line up real slow to feel the fish. I felt it on the line,set the hook and proceeded to rip it right out of its mouth. Glad I was not having fish on the menu as I packed it up a bit later with no fish to take home.
Ashey re grand daughter is up here helping out. Her and my great grand son bently john were going to spend the night out there so we will see how they did later today.

Well the best I can do on my fishing report is all the houses did manage to catch some fish the first 24 hours.as Ashly checked on all them Saturday.
Sean Joff and a friend or relative from Florida were up Friday with there sleds. They managed to find a few fish even getting the guy from Florida his first walleye.
Kevin and his crew were ib Kentucky they also had a couple sleds. Not sure how they did in the house but they did find some fish where they went on there sleds. They even had a little run in with a guy in a v-plow
Shane and his wife were in montana I ran into then Saturday morning. They had landed 4 nice ones fishing large rainbow minnow on a plain red hook Saturday morning. From what I gathered from Ashley everyone was enjoying there stay.
Jonny boy and Richy spent part of the day going out on there sleds looking for the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. There elusive for a reason, they did find some little scuff it walleyes which was a good sign but no crappies.
We did get another shipment of black and red hoodies in with just a couple pink ones.
We only have one house rented later today so the guys have 3 days to get every thing reset for the up and coming weekend.
I did check the ice thickness Where old sota was It was a solid 27 inches, that explained why there was no flood ing around the house

The boys John and Richy and our grand daughter Ashly kept busy Thursday into Friday. After spending most of the day lite out on the lake they started to tackle blue thunder again. Working in the dark with White lightnings headlights giving them light, I have no clue how they repaired her again. From my research they would need a few specialty tools . I woke up Friday morning to look out the window to see blue thunder turned around.
With customer arriving. Ashly was going to clean and detail the houses. Around 9;30 after a couple calls to Ashly I walked over to wake her and crack the whip. There would be plenty of time to sleep sunday. After rousting her I find out once they got blue thunder going they headed out on the lake tell 5 am, prepping for the weekend. I think Jonny boy was on a mission to get all the houses on fresh ice. I again stayed off the lake most of the day, until customers started arriving. I figured I could escort them out so the crew could keep plugging away.
Once I dropped off Cody and his family off at Colorado fish house I drove over to say hello to Rick and the guys in North Dakota fish house. I have no clue what time they checked in but they had 2 in the bucket and had released a couple smaller fish. That was at least a encouraging site as I plan on fishing old Minnesota everyday starting sunday. Old Minnesota is just south of north Dakota 150 feet or so. I can see how I can do after we have clients fishing in it yesterday and today. I plan on fishing it 3 or 4 nights in a row before the guys move it for the up and coming weekend for Wayne and Paul.
Kevin and his crew are staying in Kentucky .They brought sleds so are planning to go find the fish rather then wait for them to swim under the house.
Jonny boy and Richy got the last house moved, California while the customers waited. I did visit for a minute . They were being very patient plus excited to see the house being prepped onto a new spot.
Yesterday morning I took the red baron to the gas station to fuel her up. I’ve got to be honest. It felt good to feel the power of that 454 as I shifted the gears to see how the tranny felt.
Today I’m going to clean up our driveway with blue thunder to see how she feels.
Next week the guys getjust a little break as nothing is rented un tell Friday when again we have a full house.
I’ll shoot for a fishing report Monday morning as 3 of the houses have repeat customers that I can maybe visit a bit.
Its a busy Saturday here on the shores of upper red lake. Red lake adventures has there big walleye tournament today. register at there place. Rodgers is hosting the ice castle event on land I believe? Jrs under new ownership is having there indoor fishing contest which is a hoot.
Next weekend Hillmans has there super bowl Chile cook off. I asked the hammer to enter. I may also make a entry. Its always a treat to taste different chile’s.
A few more tid bits to try and make the world a little better.
recycle old electronics,
Do not spread fake news “not even a fishing report”
Adopt a pet. I sure would like to have a cat again. The hammer would rather wait.
Learn cpr, be a better listener, always say I love you as you never know

Well we made it home from my moms funeral in Iowa late last nite. Fishing report to follow.
Jonny boy and Richie will be busy today as they get out on the lake to make some decisions on what we can do for the up and coming weekend.
After slamming on blue thunder last week installing a used rear end in blue thunder she lasted all of one day . While plowing out our driveway after a long day before banking un banking plowing moving houses etc she broke a front outer axel shaft. All this snow and slush has put my poor trucks through a work out. Getting stuck then trying to get them out is so much harder on them. I have always babied my fleet as much as possible. This year that is all most if not impossible. We were able to find parts on the way home so hopefully with a little luck we can get her up and running asap.
Some of the outfitters have pulled the plug for this year. Rumors fly on the internet making our winter even tougher? Most of the outfits that live here year long are still open. The wheel houses have drawn the short straw this year.
Every season is different when it comes to mother nature. It is just the way it is. I have been preaching for 20 years she is the boss . One year the ice froze like a skating rink . I could of ice skated all the way to the north shore, another year the lake cracked all over the place? Another year we had over 3 feet of ice maybe closer to 4. Another year we hauled snow from shore to bank the houses. Another year it was 40 below for 5 days with highs 30 below.
Trying to share how all the house’s did last weekend again is kind of a nightmare. We headed out of town sunday while everyone was staying tell Monday. Sarah and her crew did manage to get 4 over 17 with a total of 15 fish taken home. From what I gathered the fish started to bite sunday? No one got skunked as far as I know. Again the rest of the houses caught some fish but I have no numbers. Not being able to visit and get to know my customers has been tough on me. I want to get in a truck right now so I can go checkout the lake my self. After the little slip a couple weeks ago I keep telling my self I can not help period. I’m still hoping I can atleast do a little fishing in old Minnesota before the season ends. As long as I do not catch one over 10 lbs since that my weight restrictions of what I can lift. If I do get any fish I will just have to hoist them out of the hole since bending over is tough with this brace on plus the brace is to stop me from bending.
Again sorry about the poor fishing report, its been a long week traveling to southern Iowa and back.
At this time we are going day by day or week to week as we see what mother nature throws at us.
Again a few tid bits as we all try and make this world a better place.
Laugh more you only live once, laughter is the best medicine.
Be honest its a lot easier to remember the truth then to make things up.
Give complements, open doors, lend a helping hand.
Call your parents,
Don’t hold grudges. forgive and forget.
Love thy neighbor,
Pay it forward,
Lead by example

Well again not being able to visit customers make for a poor fishing report.
We did have Tim and his crew in north Dakota for a few nights. I know that did catch some fish but I have no numbers to speak of.
Scott and his crew came Tuesday for one night. They played cards and enjoyed hanging out. They did have some action around 3 in the morning . They were headed up to low for there annual trip.
I did find a rear end for blue thunder, Jonny boy and Richie worked there rearends off last night . Jonny boy drove her home around 3 30 am. It never ends as now they have plenty of work this morning as they finish banking houses and auguring holes.
Mother nature has not been nice this year, All the customers arriving today will have to make plans to hunker down..
Sitting here on the computer the wheel houses headed to low keep on going by. I sure would be curious how many are registered in Minnesota. Got to be a crazy number.
I did make a trip to see dr about my fractured vertebra. It was very scary seeing the ct scan pics. from right after my accident tell 2 months later. When you fracture them they slowly collapse. Think of squishing a marshmallow on one side as that’s what they now look like. They do not want to see them get any worse or some type of surgery would be in order.
were closed next week as I’m headed down to Iowa for my moms funeral. She had a crazy life with 2 divorces. She then married Bob for 44 years. He has been a great dad to me, Turning me on to deer hunting when we moved to Minnesota when I was 16. he bought me my first rifle a 30 30 marlin.
He also had a brand new snowmobile that I got too enjoy.
When I was about 12 my stepdad Carl got a boat, they named it harmony after the bar he owned . We took it to the lake one Saturday where my mom went water skiing, When he swung around to drop her off she came right up on shore as she let go to late. She did a face plant right in front of us in the sand. I will never forget seeing that. They were drinking so I do not remember her being hurt.
The last thing is again lets all try and make the world a better place.
If you can volunteer do. Its something I need to do for sure.
Donate your cloth if possible.
As a family try to eat together.
no politics at work

Here goes nothing,
My good customer /friend Larry arrived Friday for old Minnesota, north Dakota and florida. I can say for sure Larry landed 2 16s 4 over 20 one line breaker. all his buddies no clue.
I heard through the grape vine north Carolina did well
California with jarred no clue,
Andy Andy had montana they also did not do well, Blake and Sam were in Kentucky no clue but not good,
The guys in Colorado not good,so moving all the houses in was not the ticket?
The boys have another busy schedule again this week.
My as well throw in some snow coming tonight to boot.
soo sorry about the poor report. I slipped on the ice Friday, I did not fall but realized I can not help/work on the lake this winter period.
I’m sticking to paper work, organizing, recovering.
On a side note we all need to make the world better if possible so here are a few tips. I will continue to throw in a few the rest of the season.
Say hello! nothing chaps me worse then when someone is to good to say hello back. Years ago I worked at touslyy ford. the managers would not give you the time of day. I ended quitting and going to white bear dodge.
Saying thank you cost you nothing.
Support local. No reason to get all your supply’s for the big trip up north down in the cities.
Last one Read more.
We have guest coming through out the week so we will see how they do. Were still handcuffed on where we can go at this time. Hillmans highway is still closed to wheel houses. Rental and portables for now as far as I know.

First things first, we are looking to add to the fleet. wanted running driving mid chevy 4×4 truck, 350 engine ,automatic, tranny. Straight blade boss plow would be nice. Other option is a parts truck 84 chevy automatic tranny 4×4. If anyone knows of one sitting on a farm or behind a garage etc. you can contact me at 218 556 6197.
Fishing report to follow,
It has been quite the week here on the shores of upper red lake, I learned I can not do much at this time if I want to heal.
We had john and his crew in north Dakota, Pat and his family in florida having a grand time on a grand lake. Dominic and his dad in montana for 2 nights Vern in north Carolina.
John and the crew figured they got 25 walleyes,
Pat,Savana and son Dustin? They have eaten fish every night plus got a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
No idea how Dominick did as well as vern?
The boys have had there hands full trying to get our houses out of the area onto fresh ice.
Blue thunders broken u joint turned into a nightmare as the hammer and I had to track down u joint straps All the way to Bemidji. We also picked up a upper ball joint for blue thunder and a alternator for the red baron.
Blue thunder lasted all of one day before blowing out the rearend errr. Jonny boy and Richy recruited some help this morning to finish up moving the house for todays guest.
I’ve always babied my trucks, blue thunder 2 is our banking, unbanking and cleaning up the roads, plowing the driveway etc. fish house moving machine. The red baron cuts a beautiful trail, helps throw snow to the south of buddy Hillmans main road and in a pinch also moves houses. White lightning is our hauling gear around truck plus maybe my new driver to work next summer vehicle . Mother nature has not been kind to red lake this year. there are areas that have flooded. going off road is out of the question with out a v-plow to cut a trail, If snow is not pushed away the weight of the houses combined with the snow will create flooding around houses. There s still 20 plus inches of ice under the water but as the flooded water freezes it basically become a ice skating rink. If the trails have to much snow piled up on both sides and you get a crack or augured hole it basically become a canal full of water and a new trail needs to be cut.
I would say were hand cuffed of ware we can set up at this time. Anywhere there was a house set up during the storm has created slush fields. I would estimate there were over 100 houses out of Hillmans during the storm, not counting rentals.
Will all that freeze under the 20 inches of snow we have out there? Not sure but I expect it will not.
Buddy Hillman had to purchase a tractor with a snowblower just to get his main road back, as there was just to much snow to move. The main road is now in pretty good shape but is closed to all wheel houses un tell further notice. We have our rentals out there as well as buddy Hillmans rentals so our guest can access the houses.
Buddy’s double decker fish house that sleeps 11 has been open every weekend as fisherpeople keep canceling? Everywahere I have measured ice has ranged form 19 to 22 inches.
I got recruited to clean old Minnesota this morning, as the boys work at getting all the houses set for guest arriving today. With out bluethunder there will be quite a bit of number 2 shoveling for the guys. Throw in 50 plus hole augured I might have to buy them dinner tonight.

I ended up on the lake for a good part of the day yesterday as we had a flooding problem a mile off the main road where we had the houses. None of the houses had any flooding problems but our main road cracked from the weight of all the snow plus the mild temps might of had a hand in it. Stupid mother nature is again showing us she is the boss. Always has been and always will.
Years ago we also had a similar problem as the lake. It cracked all over and most if not all the secondary roads flooded. Some became very deep, then the cold temps blew in glazing them over. Throw in a little blowing a snow to insulate them. Next thing you know your driving along and crash you brake threw only to be hung up from all the ice chunks sitting in over a foot of water. You had no real idea which road was safe to drive on.
The big storm sure made a mess of things in a good square mile of the lake. Yesterday the first thing is blue thunder was out of commission due to a broken u joint . The red baron was sitting out on the lake next to old Minnesota and would not move as the rear brakes were frozen with ice.from plowing on the Hillmans highway, then driving threw water.
We get the torpedo out there and the stupid thing will not work. Back through the standing water on the “secondary roads” breaking though the ice that had formed to borrow a working torpedo. Plus buddy Hillmans parachute to cover blue thunder up to block the wind. Oh did I mention the wind was howling out there yesterday out of the north west with the temps hoovering around 9. I”m in my pajama bottoms to boot, plus tennis shoe as that’s the easiest things to ware having this brace on.
Finally after some chipping and heat we got her to move.. I would cut a new trail, she started off well but after 2 football field the pure white snow blowing off the v-plow turned into wet slush. Now I’m throwing slush instead of snow. Getting around to the house I went through 2 or 3 more slush pockets. Having no choice it was hammer down until I hit snow again. We now had a trail to the houses and blue thunder with water filling them in not wide enough to pull the skid houses through . It doesn’t end here though.. I go back to get jonny boy so he can take out the drive shaft and bring it to shore as we need a vise to install the new u-joint. Its also time to fill up the red baron. Pounding off some of the ice on her at the gas station.
I came home to take a break waiting for him to call and also get out of my wet tennis shoes.
Of course the place where you install the u joint is mushroomed so jonny boy has to try and file it down enough to in stall the caps. Again we head back out but now at least I have more clothes on plus boots that the hammer had to help me put on, stupid brace I can not tie my own shoes.
I again try another route around the water and hit slush again. I drop off Jonny boy Then try to make the trail wide enough to get the skid house out of the area. Jonny boy calls to say we need u joint straps as the other ones are to damaged from when it broke. I again head back to pick him up. We head over to help Richey rich’s house turned around and back to the main road. W3e get that done, turn around to go back out to retrieve white lightning which has been idling all day.
Now the sun is setting, the generators need to be filled . I come home to start chipping and hammering ice off the red baron ,jonny boy and rich pull in to help me. As the three of us are hammering away it totally reminds me of deadest catch when they have to de ice the ships. One hour later I’m off to Davids to put her in his shop to hopefully melt what ever is left. The hammer picks me up and I’m physically and mentally shot. I guess a little hard work pays off as I had my best sleep since my car accident.
On a bright note we have fisherpeople in montana, florida, north Dakota, and north carolina . I can say some fish have been caught but how many? Buy who is another story. I’m not making the rounds at this time due to my concussion .
Today the goal will be to get both ice castles out of the area followed by old Minnesota and California.
I would say yesterday was a grind. Today we also be a grind. we need to get blue thunder up and running. Jonny boy will have to install it out on the lake with a predicted high of – 10.
I guess all you can say as That old timer Dave told me with spit coming out of his mouth. Its a grand lake and it owes me or us NOTHING! NOTHING!