Well it was a very good weekend for fishing. Making the rounds Saturday evening was a treat to check into every house as the fish were finally cooperating in a new area we had reached.
The whole crew came together saturday morning to get the whole fleet over the active pressure ridge. With the warm temps the ice has been expanding causing the pressure ridges to heave up. Sunday morning was all hands-on deck as we gathered chippers and chainsaws to knock her down. We first thing we had to pull the bridge, then it was manual labor as the crew chain sawed and chipped her down level. It now sounds like we will be heading out this morning to find another place to cross. At this time buddy Hillmans is not allowing wheel house to go across. That could change but mother nature needs to cooperate and give us some colder weather to lock things up.
There were some fish caught in the houses, some means more than 5? Other houses caught a couple which means over ten? Then there were others that caught a few which is over 15?
Old minnesota had the hammers sister shell chic. Plus we were able to get the wife’s mom out Sandra. The hammer joined them to spend the night on the ice. They did get some the first night with a mix of walleye perch and a some crappies. The second night I joined them for the bewitching hour. We broke out the fish call, set it on nighttime crappie, within less then 2 minutes the hammer had a nice elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. The shell chick got in on the action also landing one. Sandra got a beautiful 18-inch walleye.
Shell chick spent the night out there. and had a little more action over night. They went home with a mess of fish.
Elvis was in Tennessee. He had a fantastic night as the motherlode of elussive yet still
catchable upper red lake crappies came through. He figured in two days he landed 24 He kept 3 for a fish meal and also kept a couple more for our fish fry saturday eve,
I had the whole crew trying to get enough for our fish fry.
Luke and his crew only landed one elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. They did get enough walleyes for dinner saturday night. They decided to spend another night and caught some more walleyes to take home.
Florida had Rollie and Kevin for I be leave the 11th year, same house, same dates. They took home 6 walleyes,12 perch and released a 40 inch pike.
We kept that house on this side of the pressure ridge.
Montana was a open house so Heather and Jonny boy spent Saturday night in there. They only fished a bit but got 4 nice keeper walleyes.
Mike had alaska with his crew they also had good fishing plus they went out exploring and landed quite a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie’s. We try to encourage our customers to not take limits of these elusive fish. These fish have a special place in my heart as a well as Jake, Jonny boy and the rest of my crew. I never stopped chasing them and have always kept our houses out after walleyes closed. I think every year our houses have been the last to come off the lake. I have had some crazy nightmares over the years. I have dreamed more then once going down to the lake and its wide-open water and all the houses are out there floating around on a sheet of ice somewhere.
Colorado had Colby , Eric and there 3 boys. I showed them how to eat a minnow, the one said ahh I’m going to puke. Zakia yells give me a minnow. He put it in his mouth sucked it in like a spaghetti noodle and swallowed it. His dad recorded it and we all cheered when he opened his mouth with no minnow. they all had a blast catching a few fish.
Utah had Jason and his 2 boys they went hole hopping and got a nice mixed bag of fish.
Texas had Lisa, Darrin’s sister she had a few kids with her. They also got a couple fish to take home. Dan and Mel had real good fishing as well as mike and Wendy and Darrin.
There was a horrible accident sunday east of shooks. Prayers to all the family’s. Please if your going through waskish slow down and do not pass over the double lane there are over 40 driveways and roads through town. Drives me crazy.
Our big ice castle Colorado canceled for the up-and-coming weekend. Feb. 8 9 10. We also have old minnesota open at this time.

Will try and make this short and sweet. Dusty was able to take his relatives out over the pressure ridge and catch quite a few different species of fish. We had off and on guest all week with very limited results. We mark fish and see them on the cameras, but they refuse to take anything we offer. The schools of crappies we were catching became very skittish. As soon as you pinpoint them, they race away? All those releases have educated them. We may have to get in on the action by keeping more for the frying pan and wall?
I have spent every year the last 20 years targeting the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Some of the nights have been amazing over the years.
I do not remember the year. The hammer and I were spending the night in old minnesota. Jake had the motherlode go under his house the night before. The hammer and I had caught a couple that evening while we were having a nice dinner. I set up one of my rods with a pepsi can that would tip over if I had a bite. The hammer had her hole with the vexlar. I had the corner rattle wheel tipped with a waxie and the hole next to the pepsi can set with a bobber and a open bail. About 4.30 am I heard the pepsi can fall. I got up in my underwear. The bobber was gone also. I set the hook and pulled up a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. I walk over to the hammer and said honey there biting very quietly. I grabbed her vex put it down the hole and it lit up like a christmas tree. I reeled in the one that the bobber was down. As I fought that fish the line broke. I grabbed the first rod , tipped it with a minnow I drooped it down. it just kept going. I set the hook and another crappie was out of the hole. I again said in a low voice honey there biting. The third one hit the minnow as it was going down. As I brought that one in he was a huge one he had ingulfed the jig. Trying to get the hook out I broke the line now I did not have a rod. I went over to the hammer and in a louder voice I said honey there biting. As I held the fish in front of her. She opened her eyes looked at her rod started reeling it in and said. Hey where’s my vexlar. Then she said I need a minnow. I grabbed the vex grabbed a minnow . She dropped her line in while I turned and thought shoot I do not have a rod ready too go. I looked at the rattle wheel. As I stepped to bring it in and switch to a minnow she says I got one. I quickly took care of that got her another minnow. She got her line down while I took the waxies off the rattle wheel line. Just as I put the rattle wheel back in the water and as it went down she again said I got one. As I dealt with that the rattle wheel never stopped and I had another top side while I also helped her again. It was just crazy fishing! At some point I was able to get another jig on my rod. I had been throwing the fish in a cooler full of water. It was nonstop action one after the other until I said I better see how many we have as the cooler was packed! We were closing in on 20 fish. All this happening in my underwear and the hammer in her jammies at 4.30 in the morning. I will never forget that action as A grand lake that owes us nothing gave us one of the grandest times. Ice fishing in old minnesota.
The crew is out on the ice moving all the houses for the weekend, maybe someone else will have that magical moment.
We will keep moving the houses looking for good fishing.

It’s already been a week since I got to write a report. On the 22nd we spent the day getting all the houses cleaned and pulled out of there spots. My brother Warren from Indiana arrived monday evening. It’s been over 2 years since he has been able to come enjoy this grand lake the still owes us nothing. We had a lot of great laughs. He is very smart and very witty. Jonny boy found the crappie mother lode so we moved old minnesota right where he found them.
Warren checked into old minnesota. Jonny came a knocking and said get out here. Warren got to stand in one hole and catch 11crappies in a row using the strikecheating 3000 fish eliminator. Yes that is what i call the live scope the poor fish do not have a chance. We also went and got our customers from Tennessee so they could enjoy the mother load. With chris running the stikecheating 3000 fish eliminator he called out which hole to drop a line in or auger another hole. With 6 guys running around warren stood at the same hole with no bait landing a few? 11 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies while sipping his expensive whiskey. I also got in on the action getting some? 4. Warren and I kept 7 for a dandy fish fry. We also fished in old minnesota 3 nights in a row catching very few fish and no crappies 30 feet away from where warren caught the 11 and I caught the 4. Crazy lake.
Jale rolled in tuesday. Again, as always, he is possessed with also finding the elusive crappy mother lode. He again found a smaller group of fish. Then they then did the same thing Chris gave direction while everyone else caught fish. I think I may have gotten my biggest ever, but I did not measure her. We did get a great pic and let her go a little more educated. Jake kept a couple so we had a second crappy fish fry.
Barb was here in california where she only caught a couple keeper walleyes.
Norm and his crew came wednesday thursday and the only caught a couple walleyes.
Bingo was here for one night and only got a couple. Ole also spent one night having terrible fishing. Thursday was all hands-on deck as we had turnovers plus new guest coming in.Joe and his dad were here in montan plus chris and his wife and baby were in utah. There friends so we kept them together. Chris and his family caught quite a few perch, Joe and his dad just got a couple fish so we moved them to a new area that had good fishing a week ago. That move also did not pan out. With all the houses on fresh spots for the weekend she was pretty slow with none of the houses having the hot hand ERRRRR,
Jonny boy did take Bob and his crew out with there side by side and portables They just hammered the fish where you can only get to by wheeler or sled due to a nasty pressure ridge.
To all our guest coming the rest of the year if you can bring some portables, and machines we can direct you or possible take you to some possible outstanding fishing on such a grand lake that owes us nothing.
This coming weekend we still have old Minnesota, Utah, and Texas open feb 2nd 3rd. We also have Montana open saturday night.
Jonny boy had his appendix removed monday so he is out of Commision for at least a few days.
Darrin,Dusty possibly jonny boy? may be able to shuttle customers out over the pressure ridge to unfished territory as getting over it with trucks may not even happen this year.

she was a little busy out on the lake this past weekend. For some reason just like most years when we help a wheel house they always seem to do better then the rentals. it has to have something to do with the noise?
We hosted operation freedom outdoors out of Oklahoma. They had 4 houses for the weekend. North dakota, florida, montana, and utah. With all the houses on fresh spots we sure expected better fishing They did get to take home some limits but it was a tough bite. There host plans on bringing another group next year.
Alaska had John the owner of that house and his buddy Alex, Alex did get his personal best a fat 24 inch walleye. They also had slow fish maybe landing a half dozen fish.
Colorado had andy and two red lake rookies. They took home 11 plus a few dandy perch.
Tennessee had Elvis the owner of that house and his cousin they did not do well at all so we did move them to a new location where they had a little better action but only took home a couple fish.
Texas the big ice castle with the slide out also had the owner and his family. Not quite sure what happen there? as my friend Rod I had set up just to the south did real well. Saturday night and sunday morning was excellent fishing catching and releasing fish.
California had Ben and his two boys they did manage to catch a few fish.
Old minnesota was a no show so me and the hammer had dinner out there and fished for a couple hours. I lost a nice fish halfway up om a rattle wheel, the hammer my wife lost a fish on her rod and real then we had a couple more bites on the rattle wheels then packed her in for the night.
Preston rolled in with their wheelhouse later friday night. I gave them a general area to go to. They had real good fishing both nights.
Jonny boy worked on rusty trusty as we broke a cv joint axel. Of course, Napa sold me the wrong part. I even told them I just drove 70 miles are you sure it’s the write one. Oh yea they assured me. Not the first time and not the last.
I think the big rumble saturday night was a new crack that formed along buddy hillmans road on the south side. There were a few spots where the ice heaved up 3 feet. Never ever try to cross that south edge of the road. There were a few trucks that tried this past weekend. They had to be pulled out.
Not many elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie caught this weekend that I have heard of.
Ashly came up this weekend with our newest great grandson. That makes 6 generations that have been on such a grand lake.

I guess we can start with how the houses did this past weekend and go from there. First some fish means more than 5, a couple can be anywhere from 7 to 12, a few can mean over 15. Anthonys crew were in Texas, she had her first outing on the ice, she is a big heavy house, but she caught a few fish with the first 24 hours better than the next 24.
Old minnesota had our great friend Wayne he had a couple nice runs of perch taking home a couple 9 nice one. Plus, he got his 4 walleyes plus a couple extra released. He thought he had a big big elusive upper red lake crappie it turned out to be a big sheepshead.
Florida had our crew for their 10th year from Iowa. Sarah, Terry, Ken, Carl. they were sharing a generator with a new guest Elibeth and her hubby in montana. She had a camera and saw fish the whole time they were here but could not get them to bite. Carl had a big pike on he said the head was 4 inches wide before it snapped his line, they had a chore after as the fish had gotten all the lines in the house, so they had quite the mess to untangle. Both houses only caught some.
Colorada had mike and I want to say Steave. This was not there first-time fishing together they caught quite a few fish 40 counting some nice perch they also went home with their 8 walleyes. Mike made another reservation in February.
Lisa and her family were in alaska. They caught some fish and took some home but not sure how many as they left early.
Tennessee had his two boys with the 4-year-olds birthday to boot. He wanted to go fishing for his birthday. They left early Monday morning but I did get a thank you message as the boys had a blast catching fish.
Utah also had a couple fish but did not pound them by any means so the first weekend all the houses caught fish.
Darrin and Dan took out about 7 houses out with a dolly. Of course, they all did well. That seems to just be a given Maybe when they get set up the noise is much less then the rentals with all the vehicles activity. Dan and Darrin also got all the house ready Friday. I could never have done any of it without them they busted butt.
Jonny boy did a podcast a week ago so we were able too watch that. He did a great job considering they never went over what they would be asking. It was episode one of many many more it was called On The Road With Ice Castle Ep 1.
Mother nature finally gave what everyone wanted with a nice cold snap. Then she took a deep breath and has blasted us with high with white out conditions. We had a turnover with colorado and north dakota so the guys were out there getting her done.
I had to get wayne off the ice we then spent part of the day putting his car under the parachute with the torpedo. Our 2 set of guests arrived so I escorted them out to meet jonnny boy so he could get them to the houses in such nasty conditions. Buddy hillmans road was doing what it was designed to do. The winds were howling down the road. With no obstacles and so wide. She was pretty clean. Now around all the houses is a different story as I do not want to even see how big the drifts are getting around them. The boys will have to work as a team today to get our houses out of what buddy calls their nests. Sitting up here in the house you would never know how nasty it is out there. I will worry about all the houses tell the boys can get them moved. I’m sure there’s 3-foot drift around them all.
I’m sure it looks like the moon surface out there this morning.
As I’m trying to have all the help do any lifting, shoveling, and all the manual work etc. it’s very hard to go out there and not have some type of issues. Turning a generator, turning a box, lifting a generator out of a box. lifting gas cans, stringing out a extension cord it’s all very hard for me and my back. It’s also very frustrating I’m really not sure how I use to do it all other then adrenalin.
Of course, we have to mention the fleet. we will be needing the v plow as the wind packs the drifts rock hard. rusty trusty did not want to start yesterday. Blue thunders plow stopped and started working. black beauty is my driver as I cannot spend all day in blue thunder like I use to and now it has heat. time to check the fluids and fire up the fleet.

Well, the shrieff made the big announcement that the lakle was being opened for motor vechicles. Each access has their own agenda on what they will let go on the lake. There all pretty much different. I have to concentrat on Hillmans as thats where we take our houses out of. Thats the road we help on as it has been nicked named the Hillman highway, makes a highway in california look small. You could lane a 747 on it. It’s a big job to take care of but Budddy takes alot of pride in that road. You never want totry and gosouth off his roal or you could reget it.
Just like jonny boy has the passion to find the fish. I love all of it most of the time but a more than a few cuss words of been said over the years.
Tony bot and Dustin had to head home for a week as they do drywall and have aproject to take care of. Darrin, Dan, and Jonny boy will be headed up today to replace them for the weekend.
Darrin is a farmer so he gets things done so he can fish as that his passion as well as Dan.
We did make it through the first week on the lake and all and all it was very successful. We now have all the houses on the lake with the ice castles going out from the shoreline today.
Dan and Allen were here monday and tuesday in florida. They ate 7 fish the first day. They had portaables so Dustin tookk them out to another area where they did get a few more fish. I think as my memory is still bothering me.
Scott and is 2 son inlaws were in tenneessee, they only got one fish so we let them switch out to utah,they did have better action there. Dustin was puzzeled why teneessee was slow so he fished in it tuesday and landed 4 before dark. We then let our good friend Lonnie fish it yesterday and he caught his 4 and many many more, Lonnies wife Lisa sends up homemade soup for us so lonnie takes care of us out there. By the way her soups are better the Campbells soup. I think they got there reciept from her.
I have all the houses scattered all over the lake, so it should be a interesting weekend.
Mother nature is still picking onus and now gave us another 2 inches of fluffy snow to deal with. I guess atleast it was not the wet heavier snow. Never saw it coming so I was not able to do my no snow snow dance. Last I read it was going to be less than an inch.
We will have roughly 80 holes to augar. I do not plann on doing any of them as the old back is getting old.
Budddy hillman will be allowing our customers drive to there rentals as long its a 1/2 ton or less. Then they have to follow us to the rentals. He is also allowing single axel towed out by dolly. Dan and darrin said they will tow a few houses in and out for a fee. They just need to call me to get on their list 218 556 6197.
We do have 3 bigger ice castle rentals to take out today with a heavey duty dolly and side by side. I have no idea when bigger rigs we be allowed out as that again is buddy hillmans decision.
My guess could be sometime next week after we see how the weekend goes. There are cones at the end of the highway so that means go no further on such A Grand Lake That Owes Us Nothing! Nothing! as the old timer Dave screamed it out at me. While we were fishing.

Well, its been a interesting start to say the least. With the sheriff closing down the lake last week most had to improvise to get clients on and off the lake. At first it was no vehicles un tell they surveyed what the conditions exactly figure out where the open water was. This end of the lake has not really had any issue knock on wood. After a couple days they decided outfitters’ resorts and their workers would be allowed to shuttle customers out onto the lake. That kept me my help super busy. Dusty Handed most of the potables going out for the day with Tony also helping off and on when he was not shuttling our customers to the houses we have on the ice. Dan and Darrin were also able to haul a few customers out as she was just a little hectic. I even took Barb out with my car when she arrived. Her and melissa were in california fish house. The first night the rattle wheels kept barb up most of the night. The second night was just the opposite? Barb did bring me a chocolate cake for my birthday. somehow they found out my favorite is German chocolate but she said she stopped at 3 places and could not find one. They did go home with a couple fish.
Monatana did not do so well so Jonny boy was nice enough to move them for their second night. They did much better landing and missing quite a few fish taking home 8.
Utah also had a couple days of good fishing. Florida was a little quiet. But they hired the snowbear all 3 days getting spoiled. My cousin and his two buddies came from Colorado. They are avis walleye fisherman. There plans also got changed due to the closure. We were able to get them in there portable to a couple other spots. Where they had good action even catching a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. They also had action on tip ups away from Tennessee . Minnesota has Shawn and his son we also moved him yesterday so will be checking with him in a bit. We’re hoping to get the rest of the fleet out on the ice in the next few days. The sheriff said they will be making a new evaluation today. on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

well it has been a interesting last few days here on the shore and lake the past few days. Putting a ban on all motor vehicles had to be done as to many issues with the ice sheet moving around. Up here on this end we have not any issue yet. all though I take my rentals out of Hillmans and follow buddy hillmans guidelines. He ask do not go out more than 3 miles yet when I went out on the lake with dan there were many fisherpeople well beyond 3 miles?
Buddy has been doing this for a long long time. His dad Shorty worked on ice roads in alaska I believe. He also worked with my dad’s brother Wayne up there. If fishermen will not play buy the rules or guidelines it can cause more problems. I say if it does not look right do not try and cross it without a further look. Winds and warm weather can cause the ice to do different things. As tigger says the lake is not singing yet, he also has years of experience on millacs.
We do have the permission to shuffle clints on and off the lake at this time. Big tony and dusty both are set up with trailers.
We also have 2 ice castles out on the lake at this time., Nicky and Zack spent 2 nights out there in Tennessee. They did get a few fish with Nicky catching her first walleye. They are from Michigan so they have a long ride home. from the sounds of last night was pretty slow out there in the area we are fishing.. The boys are going to check some ice to see what other options we have at this time. Curt and his son did not do that good yesterday they did get a couple keepers plus curt got a true 15 1\2 inch elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie They also had a big eelpout on up to the hole before it snapped the line.
The guys took a group out yesterday with their hubs and dropped them off they ended up keeping 10 or as fisherman say “We Got A Couple”
We had a quite a few fisherman staying down at the lake front last weekend for new year’s The wheeler Bann was bad news as everyone were catching some fish . With quite a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Alot of people headed home a couple days early. She been pretty quiet since with very limited action out there. I may be able to drive blue thunder on the lake buy thursday then we can think about getting the fleet over to hillmans highway for the last of the late start to the season.
Dan and Mel are packing up and heading home today, Dan is so much help. They plan on coming back on friday.
Jake set up some younger guys on hos spot he got 26 crappies. The guys gave him a ride in when darrin wheeler would not start. He asks if they catch any try not to keep them all but 50 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies are no more elusive.
Jake will be back in 2 weeks to help move houses and scout for good fishing for us.
Darrins sister also got a 15 1\2-inch crappie. We still have some fish house lodging on shore this coming weekend. Everyone is hoping this cold weather coming will lock up the lake for the winter. We are allowed to transfer fishpeople out to fishing grounds, but they are not allowed to bring machines out on the ice at this time. We can take some fisherman out but they need to contact me first. 218 556 6197.
Well, it’s time to go to work I have a predator generator I need to pull and clean the carb plus a couple oil changes.

Dan, Darrin finally found a good spot. They did really well wednesday night with Mel catching fish all day thursday.
Jake and Laken fished in our utah house not 30 yards away and caught one big walleye and a little scuffit. Jake is obsessed with the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie and landed on the mother load, catching 26 during the day using the cheating live scope. He did only keep 4 for a family meal. He did not want to go home.
We moved utah for spence and his buddy and I will be checking on them in a bit.
with everyone staying down at the lake keeping track of names is almost impossible. I know that none have been skunked with some doing better then others.
We still have some lodging on shore for this weekend. Our two biggest house the new ice castle Texas and North Dakota.
I did travel on the lake again yesterday with dan. We toured around so I could get a lay of the lake. Alot of portables out there for sure Dan and Darin shuttled a couple of our guest out the last two days, one couple staying somewhere else had trouble getting the outfit to come get them. After calling 5 times they gave up and started walking when another fishermen gave them a ride in. Let’s just say we have a new customer, and these people were not happy.
Darrinn had to take his cousin home but plans on coming back to celebrate new year’s here on the shores of upper red lake.
My back has gotten to the point where some kind of surgery could be in the near future as being on my feet more then 15 minutes create extreme pain that causes me to have to sit down to get the pressure off my back.
With mother nature slowly starting to add a little ice we might start seeing 13 possibly 14 by the tenth of January.
we have been finding 11 inches almost everywhere. There have been some of the potholes that froze around 8 or 9. There was also a healed crack less than a foot wide that was 3 inches.
You want to go over them at a 90-degree angle. I have not been down to the lake this morning to see what kind of room we have left. we may be able to start parking a few on the ice edge just over the sandbars. There is a chance that utah will be open tonight and tomorrow on the lake in a fishy area. Having a side by side or wheeler would be a plus to get to the house. A ride could possibly be arranged.
Jonny boy finally got to come home from working out of town. Its driving him crazy not being here. He should at least get his fishing fix the next few days.
I sure would like to go over the lake in a airplane to get a better prospective of the crack and how its shaped and moving around. It will be a while before we start seeing vehicles’ om the lake as once you open that fishermen think they can go anywhere. If you try and tell them where not to go it’s like it goes right out their ears as they are so excited to be here.
Everyone have a happy new year I believe we will on a grand lake that owes us nothing but just keeps on giving..

Dan and Mel did not do so well out if front of our place they did get 2. Yesterday Darrin rolled in with his cousin. Thay took his smaller homemade house out him and Dan went to try a different spot. They are towing their houses with a wheeler and dolly. If they had no luck last night, I expect they will go look around out further.
Were still not making much ice. I have most of our sleepers still set up on shore and available this coming weekend do to all the cancelations. I would have to imagine most of the other outfitters are also getting cancelation left and right.
Sounds like Jake is headed up for a couple days. We have a door we need to replace on North Dakota. It has become a tradition to work on these projects when it’s cold out. Our corner of the lake still seems to be ok. 11 inches of ice and holding at this time. Hillmans is allowing side by side and under to travel out 3 miles with a open crack at 4 miles. I would not recommend driving around after dark. I’m going to have to go on the lake with Darrin’s wheeler again today. Getting the itch but still waiting to drive blue thunder on the ice. The first year I have good heat and I’m going out on a 4-wheeler.
Mother nature looks like she might be letting up on her cruelness. Only time will tell.
I have seen some reports of good fishing. She has been pretty quiet up here compared to most years.