Well I believe 30 inchers iced get some added press, so here is MY story!! 2 a.m. I am restless beyond belief thinking about where to set the team up today. C-Bear thinks I need a couch visit to discuss my angling addictions!! 
I Have had 2 days off IN A ROW in which I’m not very accustomed to, and frankly that is too much time off the sheet for this guy!! Like the rest of the state we have another front passing through throwing curveballs into fish emotions. Our Big fish parade from a couple days ago took place in a high pressure system with warming temps. Now looking at our weather forecast we are entering the flipside with plummeting mercury, snow and wind. Against my initial thinking (2am) I set up on top of our last hot bite around 8:30 am. I assure you the fish pushed out for one of two reasons; Weather or seasonal baitfish movements. 
Either way we were on yesterdays bite with a new group who always can care less about yesterdays action. Close doesn’t count in fishing either!! I’m kicking myself for not making the right set up initially. I call that Mid-day we’ll move if we don’t drop the hammer soon. FOCUS TEAM FOCUS!! Minutes before we are going to make the big move we pop a few medium sized pike then miss a few and snap off a couple times. We elect to “HOLD POINT” which is funny as I just discussed this on our last fishing report. I guess I figured might as well follow your own advise sometimes……Heck Might work 
. Fish remained rather lethargic, and as anglers the big question revolves around deciphering if this is a weather induced factor or they have moved the buffet line. Well we stuck it out and around 4:15 guys were starting to get ready to call it a day. One of our customers came to my Otter and asked what I’d been seeing. I replied same or less than you pal!! But I assure you we’re on Big fish waters and things can turn around in a hurry. “I’m holding out for that 30 Incher, and this is PRIME TIME!! I suggest you do the same”
I watched him shuffle back to his shack. I remember thinking to myself how this biz is a what have you done for me lately. This group is fantastic, but of course everyone wants to be the group putting the heat to the big girls. He had just zipped up his shack when I witness the most beautiful thing an Ice angler can lay his eyes upon….It was the massive red mark leaving a huge tail peeling off the bottom ever so slowly. I slightly raised my 1/8 oz. Lighting spoon trying to remember if I had tipped it with a minnow head or full minnow. Minnow Head! CHECK! I popped it and slowly raised it away. She followed and lined it up. It was man versus the elite beast. She stared it down, and I whisper to myself YOU WANT THIS!! I…….HELD POINT!! She Pounded the spoon and I ripped her hard. My TB WALLEYE SWEETHEART WAS LOADED UP FELLAS!! Drag immediately squeeled as I hollered “BIG BIG BIG FISH” “BIG FISH” I think my customers probably hadn’t fished with me enough to know that if I holler big fish IT PROBABLY GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE!!
I wrestled her up and down the water column not brave enough to try flip my transducer out on the ice with my one hand. My house was nearly dark and I was operating by the glow of the marcum which revealed a mark I was begging to see in person. Of course she wrapped in the ducer, and there was a moment of truth when I grabbed the cord and spun it hoping I was spinning it the right direction to free my line rather than tie some new “Girlscout knot”. Then all at once the ducer was free, and once again the weight of a heavy fish headed back to the bottom!! I eased her to the hole to witness the plunger like action with water pumping into the portable. I didn’t want to yell for help anymore. This is you vs Me BABY!! I hit my knees to witness what keeps me awake at night. A head only an “Icehead” could love. A TRUE BEAST!! I dropped my rod and went after her with both hands!! Out she came…….ALL 30 INCHES!!
This TRUE 30 INCH TANK at the closing bell (Only a couple hours ago) extends our streak to 11 of our last 13 guide trips with walleyes exceeding the 26 inch mark!!
Today started at 2 am and thus the reason I assure you work inside your passion, and you’ll never have a real job!! Born to fish!! So happy we can fish together with so many nuts just like us!! 
Team……..THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!!
Great read as always Chris and congrats!
