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.

The sunday night winds I mentioned on my last report created a little surprise yesterday morning. The was a crack in front of the beach about 100 yards out that followed the shoreline south until just after hillman’s them peeling away to the southwest. Somewhere to east is a big chunk of open yes open water. The ice piled up with one spot in front of Frank and Janas place close to 15 20 feet high. There’s slabs of ice 4to 5 inches thick piled on top of ice. Buddy Hillmans of Hillmans resort said some places it could be 3 or 4 layers of ice making it 20 inches thick. In front of their place there are a few openings, so it looks like we will not have to make an opening through it. When we pull our houses out of the woods we will have to find a route to bring the houses to Hillmans highway. Buddy had his stakes out about a 1/2 mile. The ice sheet moved them to northeast a bit. I imagine he will redo them, so his road is running straight out.
There were a few fishermen out, not sure how they did. It looked like they were out in about 9 feet of water. Sounds like there were also a few fisher people down to the south also. Some fishing in 7 feet of water the others in 9 feet.
Just as always as soon as the resort said they were going to open up to walking I get the calls. When will they let wheelers and sleds out? It so funny, once the give the green light for wheelers then the phones will start ringing again. When are they letting single axle houses out. I think they should call mother nature. I do not have her number though.
Over did it Sunday getting things ready, so I was a little sore yesterday, my back has worn out, I did have it looked at, MRI they said I have narrowing of the spine? plus the other few issues that were already there. The plan at this point is keep plugging away. Any help I have this year will be doing most of the grunt work, one thing I am trying to do is not have as many houses rented on Wednesdays. Also giving 110 percent is totally out of the question. Being a grunt, my hole working career has taken its toll. I’m sure all the golf working at golf courses have not helped. Although I never had much pain swinging the golf club just practicing putting and chipping had always been an issue.
As most should Know the limit for the winter is 3 fish 2 under 17 and the third any size. I had a spot two years ago I really liked so I hope I can get the houses to that area.
Heading to Blackduck and Bemidji, this morning. Crossing my fingers, I got the right radiator hose ordered for the red baron. If not going to see if I can find one similar. I imagine if you’re building a hot rod that what they do.
I got 5 of the 6 generators running. One will not fire. I think it might have super bad gas as it does have good spark. The small engine repair shop charges 80 an hour. That sounds like a pretty good gig.
The hammer took a new job and does not work at the cenox gas station anymore. It was a good run. 17 years, Hindsight is always 20 20 we should have looked into buying it when it went up for sale. My thought was I do not want to have to do all the grunt work, waxing floors, cleaning minnow tanks, changing lightbulbs, painting etc. Again, hindsight maybe we could have hired people to do that work.
Time to warm up the car, we did get another 1/4 inch of snow. Hope that pattern stops.

Well that countdown went fast. From the looks of it plus reports from others that have walked out onto the lake, everything looks like a go buy this friday. I myself do not care for the early ice. Our friend Ben was out saturday down towards the south end of the lake. He was out maybe 1\4 mile. There is some piled up ice where the winds just pounded the ice into a 20-foot-high pile. He was standing close to open water. I would say it was the size of a big truck. just a round open hole of ice. Not sure why it’s like that. Once that glazes over you talking maybe one inch of ice. Then throw a layer of snow over that and now you have unsafe ice right next to 4 or 5 inches. I told him to ping that spot.
Most years the first time i’m on the lake as when I can drive bluethunder. The lake was not looking so well last weeks. It seemed we got an inch or two of snow every day. The shoreline was showing some slush. The winds came back in a fury friday with the coldest temps of the season. Saturday morning, I expected the worse only to my surprise 80 percent of the snow was gone. Quite a bit ended up on our shoreline and into the woods. Our property seems to have a vortex or something. I get 3 feet of drifted snow and the neighbor to the north get hardly any?
Not sure what hillmans is charging this year for an access fee, they did post they were opening up to walking starting thursday.
I have been plugging away. The boys did get the tranny in black beauty, sure nice having a comfortable warm truck to drive this year.
Bluethunder got a small workout yesterday as I cleaned up down at the lake. The red baron blew a upper radiator hose. being a 88 were still waiting on a new hose. I spose if you’re working on a hot rod you would just take some measurement then look at the Autopart’s store for something that would work.
Jonny boy and I got the window back up on big red.
I’ve gotten all the houses detailed with the heaters on. I have an inventory list. I sure wonder where all the steak knives go
The hammer and I will be heading down to the cites for thanksgiving while jonny boy and Dan hold down the fort? Now tha most of the resort will be opening up to walking the phone calls will start trickling in when do you think we can take out wheelers or sleds.
The winds were howling down there last night. Old mother nature sure can be brutal.
Rick and Bob were here for 9 days of hunting. They saw some deer this year but never got a good shot. Bob got a great pic of a buck walking by his trail cam around 7 40 am. He was hunting a different stand south of town when his phone sent him the pic. I still think it was funny.
Jonny boy and Dan also got the new carpet in old minnesota. They said they may be able to knock out north dakota thankgiving day. Time to hit the bricks, I imagine the next report I write will have a fishing report of a grand lake that owes us nothing

I see it as been quite a while since I have written any fishing reports.
The summer has just screamed by this year. The fishing on this grand lake was very good throughout the summer. The water level was high all year causing quite a bit of erosion done on our lake shore. Plus, when we get higher winds out of the southwest the water floods the whole yard down there.
We added another wheelhouse this year nick named Colorado. I should of some details and pics on our web site later this week.
Jonny boy took a new job this summer so he will not be working on the lake with me every day. He does plan to still help out as much as possible so that’s a good thing as my age is catching up to me. I ‘m looking for a full-time helper so if anyone has any interest give me a shout. I do have some help from good friends when they are available, but they will be on their schedule not mine. I have a plan in my head so will see how that pans out.
Jonny boy and Dan are going to get the used tranny put in black beauty,
so, I have a lake truck for hauling propane and other supplies on and off the lake.
I have started inventory on the other houses plus started some cleaning. The red baron is back home after being down all last winter. I love that truck so crossing my fingers she stays running this winter. Blue thunder will, need some tlc the next few weeks. Our other red chevy Big Red seems to be running rough so I have to try and figure that out?
Working at the golf course Oak Harbor this summer we had quite a bit of damage from the high water up on the rainy river as it flooded part of the golf course most of the summer. The water has finally receded but there is quite a bit of work to do up there to get here back in shape.
I’m all most positive that we will be battling mother nature again this year. Be nice if the winds are a little kinder this year.
I was going to hook up with my old friend the Greek last week but plans changed as he had to get down to naples florida to take care of the damage at his place plus try and help the community in is neighborhood.
I have a pretty big to do list to get started on now that I’m done at the golf course. I’m hoping I can try and bow hunt again this year but we shall see.
We also may have to adjust our prices just a bit,
I will decide on that in the next few weeks.
Stay tuned as the countdown starts for another ice fishing season on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Every year is different here on the shores of upper red lake. This year was no exception. It sure seemed we would get just enough snow every week followed by huge winds from two to 3 different directions. Followed by bone chilling cold to battle. It only takes a small dusting of snow with high winds to create 3-foot drifts around every snowbank and object out there. The red baron never got to see the ice this year as the electrical problem never got solved.
The red chevy rusty trusty had to do all the trail blazing. Blue thunder was my daily driver as black beauty is still waiting for a used transmission to be installed. The red baron has always been our back up truck for moving the houses.
I babied the hell out of blue thunder this year. She had a few hiccups but being a chevy she has heald up pretty well this year. Knock on wood as she still has plenty of work to do as I slowly bring the fleet close to shore for now.
Old minnesota will be the last one to come in so I can relax and do a little fishing as I try to land an elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
Last night our fucus was on getting at least one more walleye dinner. The hammer came through after a few lost fish with a fat 17 incher. I followed up also after a few misses and lost fish with another just over 17. We pulled the plug after watching 2 movies and having a grilled cheese and soup for dinner. Jonny boy stayed out there just in case a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie swims by.
The fishing report from the past few days is not anything like last year’s last weekend of game fish season.
We had a nice area all scouted out that was very fishy. The houses were way spread out. The cookie shuffle was done on a couple houses that had done pretty good last week while the other houses were placed into new un fished areas.
Montana and old minnesota had Butch’ s crew wednesday thursday. The first night montana got 9 walleyes. while old minnesota got a 14-inch elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie and only a couple walleyes. Old minnesota got another 14 inch crappie thursday night. Monatana only got a few mor walleyes. Friday we had to move 3 houses for a turnover. Montana had alisa and her guy she also landed a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. another 14 incher to boot. They also landed a few walleyes with one over 22 inches.
Florida had Tony and Tela They did get a 33 inch pike out of that house and a few smaller walleyes. Sounds like both couples would like to come back next year.
Alaska Had joe,chris,rock and Zack. They have been coming for years. Jonny boy use to work with them many moons ago. They did not pound the fish but Joe said the good time they had made up for it. He said nobody on the lake had as much fun as them. They did get enough fish for a fish fry at jrs saturday afternoon.

Utah had Jarred his brother and friend. Jarrod has been here a few times. They only managed to get 4 nice keeper walleyes plus a few smaller ones. Jarrod said they plan on coming again next year.
Old minnesota and Todd, Danny and Drake they only took home 4 or5 keepers. Drake is 4 but still remembers me eating a minnow last year. Danny is a nephew of ours.
Northh dakota had Jim his boy and son inlaw. They had a few fish also but nothing to brag about. They were here last year also the last weekend, so they have got to see the good with the bad in there two trips.
california had by far the best fishing. Tammy, Bob and Tony. They ate fish plus also took home there 3 limits. They want to come up this summer and stay in one of our cabins. They also were repeat customers.
We also plowed a few driveways for wheelhouses. Nicks house land 8 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
Presstons house got a elusive 14 inch upper red lake crappie. plus a few walleyes.
Rods house did so bad friday night we plowed them a new area where they managed to get 5 keepers plus a pike.The few other wheelhouses I’m not sure how they did.
Lonnie’s crew of 5 wheelhouses did pretty well I believe, they were the closest houses towards shore to boot. The hammer and I spent some time with them saturday night, Lonnie and Lisa have become pretty good friends over the years. Lisa even got a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie.
Hillmans had the band the crappie floppers but we missed out this year. Its just a group of guys that jam together once a year at hillmans. Last year I played harmonica with them for one tune, so much fun.
Jonny boy is going down to florida this week for a must deserved vacation. He sure has come into his own up here in god’s country. As parents kellie aka the hammer and I cannot be any prouder how he has stepped up and helped us get through these tough winters as we are not getting any younger.
My plan this week is to just plug away and dig out the last 5 houses. I’ll pull one in every time I come to shore this week. If I find a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies all the better. We might have a guest this coming sunday depending on mother nature.
To all our new and old customers be leave me with all my heart you all keep me going. Thank you so much. As I get older its harder to make the rounds after a day working on the lake. After dinner I’m spent. This year at least 2 to 3 days a week was dedicated to fighting mother nature. Gotta go for now

My guess is mother nature took a good look around the lake and found some snow she had not blown around, so yesterday a north north east wind put a nice chill in the air and again drifted in the main road to the point of needing plowing most of the main road again. Our driveways at least did not fill in but there are some drifts to knock down.
I have never really counted down the days tell the season ends but this year with the amount of snow on the lake I have caught myself counting them down. 4 nights to go 5 if you count sunday night.
With predicted light and variable winds today and tomorrow Jonny boy and I may be lost out there.
The hammer and I decided we would get in another night of fishing and have dinner out there. I got her set up first. she missed her first fish of many within ten minutes. It was quite comical as I tried to get my set up, she kept losing fish or missing them. Every time I was threading my line on the jig she would have a fish on. I would drop what I was doing go pull her vex line up only to have her lose another fish. A couple of them may have been keepers but we will never know. She commented there were all sorts of fish down there as I turned on my vex only to have her batterie die within seconds of me getting my line down. I set her up with mine so we could put a charge on hers.
Now it was time to start dinner, so my fishing was done. dinner turned out ok with fish, Brockley, and noodles.
The hammer did land 3 fish but there were just little scuffits. One may have been pushing 15. After dinner we fished for a little longer then decided to pack up as I was beat. Packing up is a big chore also. Coming in we had made the right decision of bringing red rusty trusty as we would never of made it in with the car.
Brian and Stacy have been in florida we checked them in tuesday, this is there tenth year staying with us on the anniversary. They did all right the first night getting a 18, 16, and 15-inch walleye,6 keeper perch, and 1 very elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Stacy had commented she sure would like to catch one. She was rewarded with a nice 14 incher.
Jake was also up sunday , monday. He helped Jonny boy and I move a couple of the houses. They caught enough to have a fish fry at westwinds monday eve, Jake and Gabrial just love the way they do their fish there plus Gabrial always has a bowl of westwind famous wild rice soup.
Tyler also came in with his 2 boys, we had plowed them a spot and they had 6 fish to eat. They also headed home yesterday with at least 5 more they caught yesterday.
I also set up mike and his two buddy’s in north dakota so we will see how they did today. They were only staying the one night.
Of course, we have another busy day as montana and old minnesota have guest coming today as well as setting up Darrin’s 2 houses for his cousins. Friday will be busy as old minnesota and montana will need to be moved and reset plus, I be leave we have a couple wheelhouses coming. With all the snow they are basically getting a driveway off the main road.
The final weekend we have 5 of the seven houses with repeat customers, just the way I like it on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Another week of mother nature has worn me out. Being 62 does not help.
Trying to keep track of the past week has been tough. With the impending snow and winds predicted we had to decide if our best move would be to get the fleet closer to the main road. At least this way we would be able to get to our customers if any problems arose. I would say last thursday may have been one of the hardest days I have had on the lake when it comes to moving houses. We moved 9 houses. The weatherman was right on the money with the snows and winds. Friday the access was closed to wheelhouses. We were able to get our customers checked in. With our house spread out from 2 miles to 5 i expected some good fishing could be had from at least some of the house. Saturday we spent the better part of the day moving 4-foot drifts away from the houses and reopening all the driveways as they were completely filled in.
Utah with Andy, Doug and John had the best fishing of the fleet. That house was out about 2 miles out, Super nice guys. They were happy to go home with 9 fish plus they did eat a few .
Florida and Montana were out closer to 5 miles with a few fish caught both nights.
Old minnesota and North dakota were not rented tell saturday.
I sure expected better fishing in those spots only to be disappointed. Wayne and Paul headed home with 5 walleyes 3 perch and a pike.
Alaska had Fred, Melisa and there 2 friends they did also get some fish but again nothing to brag about.
Today we have a flat tire to deal with, an alternator that going out plus a couple houses that need to be moved.
Wish us luck as we try to finish off strong here on the shore of upper red lake that owes us nothing

Man oh man did that last storm pack a punch. Most of the resorts lost reservation this past weekend as again mother nature showed us she is the boss. I had Norm, Bob and Paul arrive wednesday for caifornia. Friday morning they were staying a little later than expected as the road was completely gone.
Thursday as the snow started it came with a very strong wind. Jonny boy, I and Darrin were out trying to get all the houses moved. After digging out old minnesota and North dakota getting them out of there spots onto our main road it became impossible to see to plow new driveways for the houses. We made the decision that we would have to abandon ship.
I had marked our road with tree branches. We decided the best thing to do was follow each other off the lake. The guys staying in alaska from Oklahoma had gotten to shore in just the nick of time. They had a grand time, caught some fish, ate like kings. As we worked our way back to shore at times you could not see 10 feet in front of you. Safley back to shore the snow started to taper off giving jonny boy just enough time to gather some supplies and head back onto the lake as Lori and her crew were here for monatana. Jonnys plan was to stay out there with Darrin. There would be no doing the rounds thursday night.
As the winds changed directions, she picked up to well over 30 mph with even higher gusts. Jonny boy and Buddy hillman tried to save the road by plowing well into the night. They thought they may have saved the main road
Friday morning was a no go getting on the lake. No one would be going out or coming in until the winds subsided.
I had to call all our customers and give them the bad news. Tanners crew were scheduled for 3 nights so I let them know we could possibly have the houses ready saturday by 2.
Dane and Sarah were going to stay in our cabin friday night. The winds were going to subside in the evening. Darrin was able to come off the lake with jonny boy plowing over to Norm to get them off the lake around 3. All the work thursday night had saved some of the road but not enough to get fisherman out onto the lake. Buddy Hillman was out on the lake with his tractor and snowblower working his way through the mess. Gregg was running his v plow. Jonny and I headed out about 630 pm to move four houses in the dark. She was minus 20 with a full moon as we worked well into the night getting done about 11pm. I went to plow some on Buddy Hillmans Road while jonny boy set up Dane and Sarah in north dakota. I rolled in around 1 am beat tired. 7an came awful early as jonny boy and I had to get all the houses prepped augured, heat on for Tanners crew.
Loris crew in montana hammered the fish friday catching fish all day. saturday was just the opposite as they would not bite. They headed home yesterday with 16 plus they ate fish one night. They are already planning on another trip next year. I think that will be there third year,
I’ll see how Tanners crew did later today. They have been catching some fish.
Sarah and Dane went home with 7 from north dakota.
California and Florida set empty all weekend.
Utah canceled for next weekend Feb 18 19th
Wow what a week I think we also have another round of weather coming mid week.

The weather gods sure seem to be mad at us here on the shores of upper red lake. Tuesday with the temps above freezing as a slight mist started early afternoon turning into a freezing rain. The perfect storm. It seemed the ice rain would settle down the top layers of snow from blowing. No not to be. Waking up to 2 to 3 inches of powder snow the winds again picked up blowing all that lite snow across the now frozen layer of snowpack. We battled white out conditions all day. Again, all the roads were blowing shut.
So yesterday started off early on the lake as we had 2 houses rented for the day. I also had 3 groups that would be leaving in white out conditions. Then checking in Norm, Paul and Bob. Our friend Darrin is up fishing, so he jumped in to help us as we had to get down are 6 mile road to get 3 houses out of there. I cleaned and prepped florida and montana for their moves as Jonny boy made a couple new driveways for them. Now were facing another batch of snow followed by more high winds out of the nw. I have heard that some of the resorts may close the access for wheelhouses if the winds get too nasty.
Now a short fishing report.
Florida had Nick and his dad Chris. They did go home with 8 fish plus had a couple to eat the first night.
Bev and Mark and there 2 dogs Misty and Walker were in montana they also ate some fish and took a couple home.
The crew in alaska were here 3 nights form oklahoma. They had action, ate a few fish plus took a few home. They also landed a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
Dennis and his crew were in north dakota sunday monday. They landed 8 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie’s plus a few walleyes.
Jen and the girls fished california in a new spot monday. They fished just for the evening taking home 7.
Today we are quite busy again as we move more houses plus check in customers plus battle mother nature. New roads will have to be planned and made as the weekend approaches.
I’ll try my no snow snow dance, but it seems to of lost some of it ju ju.
Time to check the fluids, look over the trucks on such a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Been a super busy few days here on the shores and lake of upper red lake.
Of course, we again had to battle mother nature. Friday night into saturday eve, the snow kept floating down to earth. Of course, we had some wind to fill in all the driveways we had running east to west. The one good thing as it was not a crazy wind so we were able to just run the plow trucks through the powder and drifts around the houses..
had some crappy news about the dewalt generator. Fleet farm can not fix it . Turns out the generator is a genarac brand with a dewalt casing. The 800 number for dewalt promps you to some places to get it repaired. The catch is they will only work on generac not dewalt ? Wow just wow. The manager at fleetfarm is going to dig a little deeper, for now I’m out a generator.
Friday eve I was so worn out when I got our last customers checked in I was not able to go back out to make the rounds.
We had also set up a few wheel houses.
Friday eve the fishing was not that good. with all the houses on fresh spots I sure expected better fishing.
Saturday evening it did pick up for most so there was some good news.
Old minnesota had Justin and his crew. A big shout out to justin he sure left the house in immaculate condition. They ended up with a mixed bag of fish. 7 walleyes 1 crappie and a couple perch.
North dakota with Robert and his crew had at least 7 walleyes plus a couple they ate. 3 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies a few perch plus the big bonus. Around 5 30 am Robert tagged into a monster pike. Everyone in the house had to get up to deal with the battle. She got every line down tangled up., Robert said they got some video that needs to be edited. He also said I need a tape measure in the house. They did land the fish as a team. A couple great pics and she was released to fight another day. It was well over 40 inches.
Montana had Joe Cindy and their grandson Jadden. They caught a few perch and a dozen walleyes. They enjoyed their stay I think it was Jadden’s first ice fishing trip.
Florida had Rollie and Kevin, they drew a short straw and never got a fish the first night. This is a annul trip they have been making for years to Florida fish house. They did manage to get 4 or 5 keepers. What really surprised me was the house was about 50 yards from some fantastic fishing last weekend? All those elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies must of headed east as they sure did not come south west.
California had Brian and Will they had a livescope . Man, what a tool that can be. They had a few fish but they were gone sunday morning before I could talk to them.
Danny Jr and his crew drew the shortest of short straws. Danny said they never catch fish together he was not fibbing.
Utah had 3 guys I did not get to spend much time with. The first day I set them up on a spot witt here portable They landed 8 fish. Friday we got Utah set up for them to check in. They did end up catching more fish saturday eve then friday. Super nice guys that I’m embarrassed to say I cannot remember their names.
Just never got to spend much time with them. I know their trip was a Christmas present from one of their wife’s.
Of course, Mike and Matt did pretty good in the wheelhouse. Taking home 10 walleyes 7 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies and a few perch.
Pat and his buddy did all right. They were here again last night so yesterday we plowed them a new area to fish so we will see how they did this morning as again when I came off the lake last night, I was a bit tired. I hate to admit it, but my age is catching up to me. I’m not getting that second or third wind like I use to.
We also plowed out a spot for Jim turns out I use to play pool with him 25 odd years ago. They had better fishing saturday eve then friday.
Yesterday we moved 3 house’s before 3 as we had 3 crews coming in. I will see how they all did this morning.