Thank you to those that shared input on resorts or areas to visit, my trolling motor power issues, and some fishing spots to check on Leech Lake. We had a very fun and interesting trip, of which I’ve shared some details below. Read to the end and maybe you’ll learn a lesson a better and cheaper way then I did about trailer tires and rims, but I’m guessing most on here know this already.
Chase on the Lake: Overall we enjoyed our accommodations at Chase. The location is great, having a boat slip was very convenient, we loved every item we ate at the 502 restaurant (ate 5 meals there) and the prices were very reasonable. Overall the facility is a bit dated but not in a bad way, our room was very comfortable, and I understand the new ownership is doing repairs. The resort is understaffed, as many places are currently, but everyone was very nice and worked hard to accommodate. The beach area is a bit small but was never overcrowded and chairs were always available. I would recommend and and be happy to return to Chase again.
Leech Lake: This was my first boat trip on Leech. We struggled to find fish of size, and admittedly we didn’t exhaust ourselves doing it. As with large lakes the wind played a part in being able to go where we wanted. We found lots of small perch and panfish that kept the kids engaged. I need to commit to learning the lake more for fishing. We loved the clear water for swimming and tubing, as well as the wonderful moderate temps that come with getting north if I-94 in MN.
Sunday to Friday: Read somewhere to try to schedule vaca’s Sunday to Friday so tried it out. If PTO and schedules allow this will be what we always do moving forward. Weekend to get ready to go and weekend to recover when we got home. Win, Win!
Tire/rim fiasco and Trolling Motor: My trolling motor mishap with the Ulterra is detailed below, small issue, worked out with help from many, thank you. Here is another learning lesson for me, and I’d imagine I’ll take some ridicule for this but so be it, maybe someone else can learn this lesson for much less money than I did :(. I blew a tire hauling the boat fishing over the 4th of July. Changed the tire, didn’t think much of it, old tires or ran something over. Drove 200 miles on that trip, and 300+ up to Leech, and got about 100 miles back from Leech when another tire blew, not the one I put on over the 4th , the other. Changed that tire, got back on the road, and 100 miles later the one I put on over the 4th of July blew. I now have no spare, on the interstate, and it’s nearing 5pm on a Friday. Fortunately I was 15 miles from a town with a tire store that does mobile fixes. They came out, brought two new trailer tires (blown one on the trailer and the spare). As the gentleman was fixing the trailer tire he asked why the “lug nuts are on backwards”. I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out the bevel end goes into the rim to seat the tire, and if not, it will vibrate and ruin the rim and tire. It was at this point it occurred to me why I was having tires blow every 100 miles…I put all the lug nuts on wrong. He fixed the tires, switched the lug nuts, and told me to take it easy getting home then buy two new rims. So, 3 tires, 2 rims…and an expensive lesson learned. Trailer is now at the shop to get the new rims, and while it’s there repack bearings, etc.
