I was up in Park Rapids area this weekend visiting my grandparents, parents and friends from Texas. Needless to say, there was little time for fishing. My grandparents lake is OK for walleye, good size, but few numbers. August is absolutely DEAD!
Well Friday night we loaded up the pontoon boat with booze and beer for a little boat ride-only brought my rod just in case. My friends from Texas had been fishing all week with only a few small bass to show for their efforts (they rented a cabin on a lake further down the chain). Before FTR, I would have sat out on the lakes one prominant hump with slip bobbers or drifted with leeches or crawlers and lindys—options limited being on a pontoon boat and all. But after FTR convinced me that summer is cranking time, I told my dad to slow to about 5 mph and hit that hump—my dad BTW who I love dearly but hates fishing the river (only because he he has yet to get into number of eyes or a 20+ sturgeon or cat…I will get convince him one of these days). So anyway, as soon as my crank hit the hump, shortly after getting “the look” from my wife and skeptical glances from others for wasting a good happy hour on fishing, WHAM! 20″ walleye. The Texans, wife and dad were all shocked. NOBODY catches fish on this lake after 4th of July. One more pass, WHAM! 18″ eye! Now the Texan wants to try with my only fishing rod. 2 passes later WHAM! The biggest fish yet. After a 10 minute fight, the fish broke off after strongly holding its ground (BTW, my dad has a 31″, 7 1/2 pounder and I have 2 6lbs and we only fish the lake once a year or so-so it really is big fish water). I quickly took my rod back, but no more hits as we ran out of light and booze. Not great, but not bad for 1 1/2 out of a pontoon w/ one rod.
It is sooo sweet to have a average night on the water and still impress family and friends. Thanks FTR!!!
1 liter rum-13.95
1 12 Mich Golden Light-7.95
1 1982 old beater Shakespeare Boron Rod-19.95 (in ’82 $s)
1 #7 Firetiger Shad Rap 5.95
the looks on their faces…PRICELESS.