Joel and crew, our group had a great time up there. I for one would definitely come to another GTG. Fishing was a little slower than I expected but I got to meet a lot of good people. I even made some new friends while there. I regret to see my ice season end but I guess it’s time. Ballards was great! I can not say enough good things about our guide Kyle, he works hard up there! Thanks for the good time everyone and I’m anxious for next year. Nick
I went with CBMN and he brought his 14′ boat. We got on the river Thursday afternoon for a few hours. Felt great to be in a boat however the fish weren’t going yet.
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James, Joel and crew. I want to extend a thank you for a great weekend at the IDO GTG. Meeting with you and the group was special.I didn’t get the opportunity to fish with the crew but had a great time other wise. Hope you do it again in a location that I will be able to attend.
The accommodations were really good, and a special shout out to Kyle, our “guide” for the two days on the ice.
Joe
the boys and I would like to thank everyone with ido we had the greatest time ever iam hopeing this is going to happen again the time we spent in the bombadeir tucr boys the two from wisc and the one from ido do not want to say names special thanks to ballards everything was great and I guide JALIN THE best James Joe and Mike lets do a summer trip so I can bring my whole family again guys thank you for the wonderful time
I’M A LITTLE LATE WITH MY POST BECAUSE I’VE NEVER DONE ANY FISHING FOURMS BEFORE.WOW,WOW,WOW, THAT’S ALL I COULD SAY AFTER MY WIFE CATHY AND I WERE PICKED TO FISH WITH THE IDO TEAM. I WAS IN SHOCK, NEVER IMAGINED WE WOULD BE PICKED, I WAS JUST HOPING TO GET TOGETHER WITH A GROUP OF LIKE MINDED ICE FISHERMAN FOR OUR FIRST TIME ICE FISHING ON LOW.IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE FOR REGULAR “FISHEADS” LIKE US GUY’S AND GAL’S.SO WE MET AFTER BREAKFAST AND HEADED OUT TO THE ACCESS, LOADED UP THE OTTER SLED WITH GEAR, LOAD UP THE POLARIS SLEDS WITH THE AUGER, RODS, AND MARCUMS. CATHY RODE WITH JAMES, AND THEY PULLED THE OTTER SLED, I RODE WITH JOEL. THE ICE CONDITIONS WERE PRETTY ROUGH AND ON THE 4 MILE RIDE OUT THOSE SLEDS RODE REALLY SMOOTH. JOEL & I TALKED THE WHOLE WAY OUT ABOUT THE PLAN OF ATTACK, DEPTH & PRESENTATION.
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SO WE GET TO THE SPOT IT’S ABOUT 19 FT. JAMES DRILLS HOLES,I CLEAN EM OUT.WE SET OUT TIP-UPS, BOTH THE SPOOL STYLE AND THE “I FISH PRO’S”, THAT USE A ROD & REEL. SO CATHY CATCHES THE 1ST FISH, SMALL SAUGER, THEN I GET 1 ON THE I FISH PRO, WHICH I REALLY LIKE CAUSE YOU FIGHT THE FISH W/ ROD N REEL, IT’S A 22″EYE. CATHY CATCHES A 24″ ON A SPOOL TIP-UP, HER 1ST TIME EVER SEEING A TIP-UP, SHE DOES THE HAND OVER HAND OF CATCHING THE FISH LIKE A PRO.SO THEN CATHY PUT’S ON A CLINIC NOT ONLY CATCHING THE BIGGEST BUT THE MOST. SHE”S DEFINITELY A FUTURE PRO.JAMES DRILLED ABOUT 40 HOLES ,SO WE HOLE HOPPED ALL DAY.WE DIDN’T CATCH ALOT OF FISH BUT WE HAD ACTION, KEPT 8 EATERS.
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WE REALLY ENJOYED THE “BEHIND THE SCENES” EXPERIENCE. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SHOW WITH JAMES & JOEL KNEELING NEXT TO THE HOLES ALL DAY IS TRUE. THEY’RE OUTSIDE ALL DAY DRILLING HOLES,FRESHENING UP THE BAIT ON THE TIP-UPS TRYING DIFFERENT LURES, & NOT TAKING MUCH OF A BREAK.WE SPENT ABOUT 8HRS ON THE LAKE, & IN THAT TIME YOU GET TO KNOW THE IDO TEAM,JAMES, JOEL & THE FILM CREW, BEN, PAT,& BEN. THEY WERE FRIENDLY,OUTGOING,GENEROUS, & PERSONABLE. THEY WORK VERY HARD AT THIER JOBS, SACRIFICING TIME AWAY FROM THIER FAMILIES. THEY SHARED FISHING TIPS & STORIES ABOUT FISHING EXPERIENCES & FAMILY BACKROUNDS. THEY TREATED US LIKE WE WERE THIER BEST FRIENDS. THEY MADE SURE WE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME.SIDE STORY, ON THE WAY BACK IN WE STOPPED TO HELP SOME GUYS WHO HAD THIER FLATBED TRLR FALL THROUGH THE ICE. WE HOOKED 2 4 WHLRS ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER & HELPED PULL IT OUT THEY WERE GLAD WE STOPPED. 2ND BEST THING ABOUT THE TRIP WAS MEETING OTHER FISHERMAN FROM ALL OVER SHARING LAUGHS & STORIES. HAT’S OFF TO BALLARDS TOO, THEY HAVE A 1ST CLASS OPERATION, FOOD WAS GREAT, STAFF WAS THE BEST, ROOMS PERFECT,EVERTHING WENT GREAT. THANX FOR EVERYTHING PAT & CATHY MCCAULEY
THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY WIFE CATHY GIVING A SEMINAR OR SOMETHING WITH THE IDO TEAM. I’M JUST GUESSING BECAUSE I WAS SITTING ABOUT 40 YARDS AWAY BY MYSELF ON A BUCKET FISHING.
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THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY WIFE CATHY GIVING A SEMINAR OR SOMETHING WITH THE IDO TEAM. I’M JUST GUESSING BECAUSE I WAS SITTING ABOUT 40 YARDS AWAY BY MYSELF ON A BUCKET FISHING.
Pat I hope they didn’t put one of those TUCR rods in your hands thats how they hooked me. LOL
Wish my job wouldn’t have gotten in the way of being up there . Congrats on your experience.
Awesome episode and event gentlemen. Very disappointed (with myself) that I didn’t make it up there. Hope you do an event like this next season so I can join!
I didn’t attend, but watched the show. I think James is truly a guide at heart and that passion doesn’t go away. Was easy to see his sincere desire to make sure his guests had a great time. Reading between the lines, I think he know the bite was tough and was very concerned everyone still caught some fish.
I got to ride along with James during the Salmon GTG this last July. Great conversation, but I don’t think James realized how many times he asked questions regarding if I needed anything. Genuine person that cares about others 
I didn’t attend, but watched the show. I think James is truly a guide at heart and that passion doesn’t go away. Was easy to see his sincere desire to make sure his guests had a great time. Reading between the lines, I think he know the bite was tough and was very concerned everyone still caught some fish.
I got to ride along with James during the Salmon GTG this last July. Great conversation, but I don’t think James realized how many times he asked questions regarding if I needed anything. Genuine person that cares about others
Is the show up on you tube?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Wieland wrote:</div>
I didn’t attend, but watched the show. I think James is truly a guide at heart and that passion doesn’t go away. Was easy to see his sincere desire to make sure his guests had a great time. Reading between the lines, I think he know the bite was tough and was very concerned everyone still caught some fish.I got to ride along with James during the Salmon GTG this last July. Great conversation, but I don’t think James realized how many times he asked questions regarding if I needed anything. Genuine person that cares about others
Is the show up on you tube?
Found it.
Very Nice show. Thanks for the effort to do it.
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