Had one of those great Borderland days yesterday. Not hot and heavy fishing, but caught enough to keep satisfied. Some beautiful Black walleyes along with a very angry Pike. The allure of Wilderness fishing is far too powerful to keep a true “Hardwater Junkie” off the sheet. The day I don’t feel like staring down a 8 inch hole with the backdrop of Voyageurs national Park out my side window will be the day I hang up Ice Cleats. Don’t see it ever happening, and for those who mentioned guiding will take away your passion for the sport I’d reply it has intensified it. Maybe the passion has been extended with the ability to hook like anglers to what has attracted me to this fishery……Not sure!! Started the day talking with Billy D. over at Rainy Lake Houseboats, we discussed seasonal patterns, and locations that hold more fish than fisherman. To me this is the paradigm of fishing!! Billy came out and met me as I was set up on top of some very nice fish while squeezed into a small highway between two rubble piles.
While never taking my eyes off my Marcum we had a chance to discuss our upcoming 2nd Annual “In Depth Outdoors/Rainy Lake Houseboats excursion” to be held once again next September, and both agreed that last year was just an unbelievable event. I thanked him for extending such a great offer to us allowing all of us to experience the lights out September fishing in the comfort of one of their floating condos!! We both are looking forward to the upcoming television show placing this event in all of our homes. Between shorelunches, seminars, tremendous fishing, and sliding off the back of these cruisers I find myself often slipping into a daydream anticipating next years event. Topping it off my buddy lands a LUNKER on film seconds before we pulled anchor!! All that for a discounted rate for IDO BOYS!! He mentioned what a great group of guys we had last year, and that meant a lot to me. We’ve got a great group of anglers here, and even better people. I wanted to pass that along to all who attended, and all who get their deposits in before this is booked up for next year. I too felt that our group was fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to the entire group and sharing some inside secrets in helping anglers unlock this world class fishery. This pristine fishery nestled into the vastness of Voyageurs National Park is indeed very special, and those who have ever visited Rainy Lake recognize this almost immediately. We did a fantastic job of keeping things “AS IS” and all anglers showed a wonderful respect for this area. The miles of undeveloped shoreline kept some of the chatter down on our marine radios as we came in single file to our final destination. Surely in the other boats like ours many of the boys sat back with their morning coffee, and just soaked in the start of their trip!!
As beautiful as 220,000 acres of water can be in the summer time dotted with over 2500 islands many find the white blanket of winter to be far more than a great fishery. As I type this we’ve found ourselves with a fresh 3-4 inches of powder snow, and a couple deer just came across the lake. I’m out of here!! The lake is calling!! 
Can you hear it!!
Yet another great read Chris! 
Gotta watch for those spotted Northerns!!