It was a very hectic week for us this past week. At least for me. I did go out on the lake late saturday eve. I was able to find North Dakota and Old Minnesota with Rick and Matt. They each did a trip in a snow bear while they were here. The bite was tough this past weekend. Old minnesota did catch 12
elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Matt said there was a school of elusive crappies under north dakota when they were on their snow bear trip. Most of the house just had tough fishing with lookers but not many takers.
Tim and Amanda were in Montana. They have also been coming here for quite a few years, they know how to catch fish. They did pretty good and did take home 8 nice fish plus 2 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies plus a couple nice perch. We did let them fish in dustys scout house where they got a couple of the fish. Amanda said she figured they caught over 40 fish. The rest of the houses this weekend only caught some fish. We did check in new customers sunday and yesterday. All those houses have started get a little more action.
I did celebrate my birthday on the 5th and our 47th year in marriage on the 6th. I do not understand how she handled me all these years. I know i can drive the hammer a little crazy sometimes. I’ve always said it was love at first site as I passed here going down some stairs at their house when I met her brother. The back seems to be getting better as I have walked down to the lake a couple times without having to sit down. I still have to be careful with the bending and twisting as I can tell the next morning if I have overdone anything.
Dusty and Jonny are doing a great job without me throwing around orders. I’m still struggling with a foggy brain, I’m thinking some of it has to do with the pain pills so we will see. I still want to stay off the lake as much as possible as it is a Grand Lake That Owes Us Nothing
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Welcome to the new year. I’ll start by saying thank you to all our customers this year and last year. This weekend we still have a couple of our houses available. Texas is the nicest ice castle we rent out. It has a slide out a large kitchen counter a fireplace, oven, microwave, indoor biffy, can sleep 5. Tezas is only open one other weekend this year feb. 7th weekend. The second house we have open is the yeti Tennessee. she is also a nice house with oven microwave indoor biffy tv dvd player can sleep 4.
My fishing reports are much harder to write when I’m not spending anytime on the lake with our customers. It’s always such a treat when I step in to say hi and someone catches or misses a bite while I’m visiting. Kristeen and her son spent 2 nights in the Teneessee. They caught just enough fish to keep him entertained. She said they will be back, which has been one of my goals all these years to get repeat customers. Sometimes I do things a little different than other outfitters and or businesses. I’m fine with that. If it works why change
Bobby and her pup were in Montana she got a few fish 13. She also had a couple friends that set up their wheelhouse close buy. They may be heading to lake of the woods.
Old Minnesota had mark and his wife Julie. They did some fish.
Brian had 3 kids here for a night They are playing a hockey tournament in Bemidji they did get a few last night that they cooked up.
The guys in north dakota were friends of dusty . I know the boys moved them to a fresh spot yesterday.
The boys have another busy day cleaning and moving houses for the coming weekend. Last night California had a school of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Jake called me last night and wanted to know the limit. Utah checked in late so we will see how they do there here for a few days.
I get the stitches out of my back today or should I say staples. I’m not good with pain and that sounds painful. The back is tender to the touch , I also think I should still stay off the lake. I’m defiantly brain foggy. The hammer figures it’s the pain pills I’ve been taking. Some up here call this week still he$$ week. The guys have been doing great I’m assuming there working like a fine-tuned piano, A well-oiled machine. I know we had a couple generators go down, so Dusty is taking care of that.
A few other houses have gotten an elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie on a Grand Lake That OWES Us Nothing Nothing,!

Jonny boy and Dusty have been jumping since Th 26th as this is always the busiest week of the season. It’s impossible for me to keep track of all the customers we have coming and going. I can say the houses have had some slow fishing, decent fishing plus some epic fishing. I would say 90 % of the fish have been caught pre-dawn, dusk and throughout the evening. The rattle wheels have been active . Tim And Joy are here for a few days. The first night they never heard the rattle wheels. They had a exciting morning landing a 19-inch walleye with every rattle wheel stripped and tangled into one gigantic nest of fishing line so they never heard 4 rattle wheels.. When Jonny boy had time, he went over to the shack and put all new line on them.
Chang and his crew had Texas our biggest ice castle with the slide out. They loved the house They caught fish all three days with the last night great fishing. One of them also caught A bonus elusive but still catchable upper red lake crappie. One of the other houses managed to also catch one. Colorado’s owner Bob was here for a few days they went out searching for the motherlode of these elusive fish landing 5 the first day.
Matt was here for montana a couple nights with his daughters. They have only caught a few fish here’s hoping they did better last night. Not working on the lake leaves me lost when houses are moved and who’s in them. I think the girls wanted me to come out and swallow a live minnow for them for luck.
Logan had a crew up last Thursday Friday Saturday they had 3 of the houses rented I think they all went home with a limit plus cooked a few.
Boar and Lori were here for the weekend I met Boar at westwind for a few pieces of fish as he had gotten there fish to go.
There has been a little benefit from not out on the lake working. I can manage the books take care of endless phone calls and message’s. My fishing reports are a whole different thing as not working or being on the lake I almost have no clue what’s happening out there. The fog rolled in last night. I would have a very slim chance of finding the houses out there at this time. I have not driven blue thunder on the lake this year. Shes my baby and has been a great truck for many many years. Rusty trusty I have not driven since summer. The red Baron just sits there wishing he was fixed.
I have talked to a few customers this morning plus Jonny boy. Darrin, Dan, Mel all fished last night. Everyone said the fishing was slow with lookers just swimming away. If you even touched the line they were gone. But at some point, today someone will have had great fishing? Upper red lake has given so many people the best fishing of their life’s. Thats just one of the reasons that make her such a grand lake.
The back feels just a little bit better it still hurts if I get into black beauty. I was thinking at some time today I would like to sneak out there and see how it feels. My drs orders are no bending, twisting or lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk.
The guys are doing a great job out there. I’ve only had one complaint .

Merry Merry Christmas to all.
I do have a fishing report from the few fisher people.
Sam and Allie in Montana have put the smack down on fish yesterday. When I stopped in for a brief moment, they were up to 25 fish landed. Another Sam staying in Florida fish house he got 6 Monday, Jordon and Maranda arrived for Florida yesterday they had caught a few.
Elvis came up to use his house Tennessee. Yesterday he caught half a dozen so far and lost a big fish this morning. Josh was here with his crew in Colorado. There are friends of the owner of Colorado. They were here Sunday, Monday and limited out.. Is nice giving out a better fishing report. Mel and Dan are up here in there house. Mel has caught way more than Dan but Dan is getting all their rentals ready D @ D fish house rentals on upper red lake. Starting tomorrow Jonny boy and Dusty will be busting their a$$ off. Darrin will be coming back up to help out. Were pretty much full un tell jan 2nd. Darrin and Dan may have something Dan’s taking the reservations his phone is 218 428 8904.
Yesterday I did venture out on to the lake with black beauty, the back did not care to much for that. Driving very slow I felt every bump. I did get to stop and say hi to Sam and Allie then I bee lined it back home. I need to be patience period.
Hillmans highway is now over 5 miles straight out. Wide enough to land a 747.There is not much broken ice this year as they did not have to bust through but a couple very small area’s
I would say the average ice depth is 16 inches. With this warmer weather coming we will not be making much ice on a Grand Lake That Owes Us Nothing!!!

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This past weekend was the first weekend to have all the houses out on the lake. It was only the second time in over 20 years I was not driving blue thunder with a house in tow. The last time was the year I broke my back and ribs in a car accident. Most are measuring 15 inches of ice. Hillmans are allowing 1/2 ton with single axel houses out at this time.
Jonny boy and Dusty got all the house’s set with no issues. It sure can be nice when things work like a well-oiled machine.
Due to my back surgery, I had last wednesday. The boys are in charge of anything dealing with the lake, houses, vehicle’s etc. I think there was a little issue with the boss plow on blue thunder. It just stops working Dan seems to think there are some wires that are really tight and need some slack.
The boys have also been helping Buddy Hillman with plowing the superhighway. They had 2 houses to move today then Jonny was going to go help do some more plowing. They have over 6 miles if I’m correct. I tried to drive out there yesterday, but the back was just too sore so the smart thing to do was turn around. There was one crack 1/2mile out that could become a pressure ridge when the weather starts to warm. The south side of the road has a big berm, and water was starting to ooze out from underneath making it a bad idea to attempt to cross. The weight of the snow will crack underneath sinking the berm and creating an open slush pocket hidden under the snow. I cannot count all the times vehicles have been jerked out of it. By no means should a person try and drive across it. She cracks every year.
Logan and the guys had Colorado, Texas and Utah. We used to rent logans Dad’s house kentucky years ago They figured they got over 30 fish.
Lonnie spent Saturday in old Minnesota they only got a couple fish.
North Dakota had A friend of Dustin Rick They caught a few fish.
Montana had Dave they got a couple 6 or 7
Alaska and Tennessee also only caught a few fish.
California did really well with Josh.
Florida was a no show without even a phone call he will go on the do not rent list if there is one. Nevada just had one person not sure how it did.
I guess it’s not always as good as we want for fishing. I can tell you it’s not from lack of trying.
We have a few turn overs today so we shall see if it picks up.
My back is pretty darn sore at this time as I’m on restrictions of no lifting, bending or twisting. The pain meds make me puke. Driving to Fargo last Tuesday I almost turned around a couple times.
I have to adjust too not having things my way as I’m sitting on the sidelines for now? I look forward to greeting and visiting customers this winter but for now I’m holding down the fort with the reservation book.
Were all full next weekend except Nevada opens up Friday the 28th. We do have a couple houses open through the week of Dec 22 to Jan 1 2025 but not much. Nevada 28th29th Texas 29th 30th Old minnesota 31rst and new years day.
None of our houses caught an elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. A couple of eelpouts were also caught on a Grand Lake that owes us nothing

Thanks for all the prayers etc. I did make it through the first part now we will see where it goes from here.

It sure was nice having the weather warm up for the weekend -19 was just a little brutal Just a little.
A big thank you to all We had quite a few guests the last few days. THE GOOD NEWS THE FISHING WAS REAL GOOD WITH SOME spurts of great fishing.
Jonny boy took a few different guests to some way points that he has, they all caught fish. He loves those waypoints as they pay off more times than none. I few even got to catch a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies.
He also shuttled a few people that had no machine to travel. We did take Cailfornia out on the lake for Ozzy and the crews last night. The been coming for quite a few years and is one of their favorite trips besides the angle.
We also put Tennessee and Utah on the lake yesterday. Chad and the guys took their wheeler to the house after fishing for a few hours. I have not spoken to the guys in Utah at this time.
It was nice having our guest this past weekend. I’ve lost some of my touch with remembering names as my old method does not work as well as it use to.
Jonny boy and Dustin are working well together as Jonny makes decision on ice and house placement. We do have a opening for our newest house Nevada. This coming weekend. Our friends dan and Darrin that have been helping us for years have decided to get into the business as well so they still have a few openings this weekend coming up. D@D ice fishing.
I expect all the houses will be on the ice by this coming weekend Jonny went out on the ice to move Utah for the guys as they only caught a couple fish last night.
Scott a nephew had has smaller house on the lake this past weekend. It started off slow but yesterday they had action from 3 am to 7am then another nice run at 9am.
Sean Geoff and Jay also had dollied there house out. They figured they caught 25 fish saturday in the house with no heat.
I did drive blue thunder off the lake saturday. She had a defendant miss so that needs to be addressed. Jake will be rolling in tomorrow night for a couple days of helping out as new door needs to be installed on North Dakota so she will be coming out of the woods onto the ice to get her level.
Tomorrow, I head to Fargo for my back surgery, getting a little nervous but I sure hope and pray it helps me Walk more then 300 yards at a time as I do not want to give up my summer jobs and golfing. Having passions makes work so much easier in life

It’s a busy time as most of the resorts are in the process of getting houses on the lake. I did not make it to church sunday as I always request a prayer for all to have a safe and successful season on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

Being superstitious friday the 13th is never a favorite day for me. I learned to accept it as just another day.. At 19 below this morning any issues can be blamed on the weather.
Shelly and Bob from montana staying in our fishhouse nick named montana started yesterday morning with there side by side in enclosed trailer with a dead batterie. Battling 19 below here on the shoresof upper red lake are always a eye opener. When he tried to open the seat she did not want to budge. After retrieving a batterie charger trying to hand it to Bob I broke the red clamp off the charger welcome to 19 below. They decide the best option would go buy a new batterie in Baudette. They ended up out on the lake buy noon only to get skunked as moving after getting set up was not a option.
Ozzy and the boys in California did find a few fish. They have been coming for years and might get a surprise if jonny boy decides too get her onto the lake on fishable water for the evening bite. Yesterday morning when I stepped into california there was a snap in the door. It broke a metal hinge. Welcome to 19 below
Dane and his buddy staying in Chris’s Custom fish house also found a few again. Battling mother nature, moving after getting set up is not a great option. Welcome to 19 below
Our nephew Scott decided to take is small ice castle onto fishable water so we will see how they did later today. His brand new 4-wheeler did not start welcome to 19 below.
Bob showed up with colorado last night so he will be using his house before he leaves it with us for the season.
Darrel staying in florida coming up from Indiana lost a wheel on his truck just 7 miles from arrival. The tow truck brought his trailor here before taking it to blackduck for repairs. His john deer tractor would not start yesterday morning welcome to 19 below.
One of my golden rules was I do not move houses when it 20 below for a reason. Mother nature at her finest.
Our help rolled in for the season Dusty. Dusty and jonny boy will be taking her on this year as I recover from my back surgery coming up.
Today the plan will be able to take a couple of the smaller ice castles out too fishable water.
I have seen a couple of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies with two close friends getting a couple on their adventure.
Today we wave to mother nature goodbye 19 below on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

well well where to begin. The fishing started off a little slow last week but boy did it pick up as the weekend went along. Yesterday Rizo and his gal figured they caught over 50 fish. Ed arrived yesterday and did well just a little way out. Most of the crews staying down at the lake all went home with limits plus a few had fish frys saturday eve.
I did see a pic of where a side by side dropped a track into a crack and got hung up. I have seen that before when they drop in the track will get hung up under the ice and make it impossible to drive out. No one got hurt or even wet that I know of.
I have also heard of some larger areas of only 5 inches of ice so pay attention to the resorts that ask you not to go exploring beyond their boundaries.
We have gotten 2 to 3 inches of wet snow since yesterday so it is any one guess how this is going to affect the ice condition? Mother nature and time will determine that. If you are venturing out just common sense would be a good thing to have.
Jonny boy has shuttled a few fishermen out that have come with no machines, Dusty should be arriving for the season so he may be able to help also. The phone has been busy off and on we still have many nights open for sleepers.
Our good friends Darrin and Dan have started with a few houses to rent this year D and D fishing. Darrin 218 390 1949 Dan 218 428 8904.
Jonny boy is doing a fantastic job keeping everything running smooth. Making it much easier on my older bones.
I’m going to give blue thunder her first work out in a bit.
The temps are predicted to nosedive in the next few days on a grand lake that owes us nothing but keeps on giving

Just like that most of the resort are allowing side by side and under out onto the lake. You still need to use common sense. If it does not look right do not drive onto to check it out.
We do have a full house this weekend and will have some fishing reports from our customers.
I’m hearing reports of 9 to 10 inches of ice. I’m sure Jonny boy is itching to get out there and wet a line himself. We will be checking in some customers today.
Darrin and Dan will also be coming up today. They have acquired a few houses and are planning on renting them out this season.
We have plenty of openings still. You can check out our houses on our web page cookiesonupperredlake.com
If your a beer drinker plan on buying beer before you arrive in waskish as the store here in town has no beer? Yes no beer. Westwind does have some off sale.
I’ve decided to have back surgery this year so Jonny boy and the crew will be running the show for a couple weeks.
We have about 3 inches of snow on the ground so its a winter wonderland here on the shores of upper red lake.. I hear a couple of the trucks running so Jonny must be in the driveway.
If I was a guessing kind of guy, some resort may start allowing 1/2-ton trucks out buy mid december. There is a good chance we will be getting some of the smaller houses out on fishable ice buy mid december also. Mother nature will have a lot to do with that decision.
We have heard of a few sketchy areas out there so listen to the resorts you go out of.
I should have a decent fishing report sunday morning as I visit all our fishermen this weekend on a grand lake that owes us nothing

Every year is different. This year is started off with a nice cold wave to make a quick 6 inches of ice. A recent satellite pic looks like there is no open water which makes the ice less likely to shift. With more snow and high winds, the next 48 hrs. I would advise no fishing period. Try to stay off the lake.
It’s not a problem for me as I rarely go on lake until I can drive blue thunder.
We do have some open houses on shore this weekend. I’m looking forward to that first fish fry at JRS.
Sounds like a crack formed last night. Were not sure if it made it up this way but will know later. Heard of just a few fish caught which a few from a fisherman could mean 12, A few to me is 3, not 12, 2 is a couple not 8, Some is 3 to 5.
Jonny boy has been working his you know what off getting all the manual, hard work done as I’m transitioning away from all the hard work.
Not much else to say at this time as we batten down the hatches for the predicted high winds on a grand lake that owes us nothing

thought i would mix it up since i have been working down on our shoreline on a grand lake that qwes us nothing

We have been plugging away on all the shacks the last few weeks. Jonny boy had his hands full repairing old Minnesota. He did a great job installing a new window, rebuilding a wall and putting new runners on her. We figure she’s 48 years old.
We also have added another ice castle which I have named Nevada. It has 4 bunks 20 footer with 4 foot v. I’ll get some pics on our web site soon Cookiesonupperredlake.com
Dan and Darrin also brought up a 4 person skid house that we will be able to rent for them.
The reservations have been trickling in with still plenty of days open for reservations.
I was able to get new paint on old minnesota and montana. Florida is also on the list.
A local got a pic of a large cougar on his trail cam headed south. I have a hard time sneaking out to my stand with a bow in the morning thinking a cougar was in the area.
Ive seen a couple boats on the lake the past week but no clue if they caught fish.
I have plenty to still get done before the weather turns cold. Got the golf clubs put away for the season.
To all the deer hunters’ good luck and enjoy those days in the woods.
This season we will be allowed 4 fish with 3 under 17 and 1 any size.
Our good friends Rick and Bob are not coming up for deer season this year after not having much success the past few years.
well that’s about it for now were looking at another fun challenging season here on the shores of upper red lake

wow been 5 months since i posted anything. The fishing this summer has been bad, good, great, so so. I think I only got skunked twice. We did find a few elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies but not what we expected. Although some fishermen with the cheatmaster 3,000 did get on to them. I believe Alabama is trying to make them illegal. The guys using them Ice fishing have dialed them in pretty good.
At this time we should have the same fleet to rent this year. We are looking for a couple more big ice castle to rent for customers. They pick a few dates when they come up the house is on fresh ice ready to go.
I again will be doing less of the manual labor as the old body just cannot keep up to the young guys. With bear hunting started our books are open and we have taken a few reservations at this time. Old minnesota took a beating last year and does have some major repairs we need to tackle, it always hard to get going on the projects during the summer.as there always so much going on including work. I’ve been rehabbing my body as being 64 is catching up.
Blue thunder needs a new starter installed. The red baron still needs a transfer case. Rusty trusty has been fired up and moved a couple times. black beauty will again be my lake beater she only has 1rst 2nd and reverse. We also may have acquired a custom-made house and will give it a name and put on our website when it’s a done deal.
Jonny boy will again be handling finding the fish for the houses to be placed. After last years cruddy ice everyone up here are hoping for a much better season of ice. Thats it for now on a grand lake that owes us nothing

ice out was the 7th 8th

If I understand right Senator green is going to present a bill to try and make it where these things are studied. Shared with all involved before they try slipping in a bill

Well, a little good news. Writing our senators and reps has paid off for now. The bills have been tabled which means they suspend
consideration of a bill indefinitely. That sounds like it could be presented again but not this year. I feel we still need to keep a eye on what the federal level is doing. We all need to keep letting Amy Klobuchar http://www.klobuchar.senate.gov Also Tina Smith. smith.senate.gov let them know how we feel.
We encourage all to join upperredlakeassn.com.
This news from the beginning upset quite a few people. I know it was always burning on my mind. It also has made me think about all the times I’ve been here starting in 1966. My mom left our step farther Carl and we came up here from Colorado in a 1956 lite purple Cadillac. We left when he was not around, so he had no idea where we had gone. We arrived here sometime in the early summer. Every day we could we were playing in the lake it was so much fun on the real windy days. We would run full speed into the water tell it made us fall down. I hate to say I’m too old for that now. We also had our uncle Pete and aunt Bertha next door. I do not know how but we were all small enough to crawl through the culverts in the ditch. My real dad came up at some point, so he was able to take me fishing. I would get seasick and crawl up in the bow of the boat. Sometimes I would throw up chumming in the water. My dad encouraged me to keep pucking as it helped the bite. We also got to meet our cousin Stan. He was maybe 12 13 years old. For some reason he took me, my sister and another kid fishing. At some point we ran out of gas way out in the middle of the lake. So we were trying to ore back as a storm was coming. We were getting pushed around in the waves and lost one of the ores. We had no clue we were in any danger. At some point we lost the other ore. Then after a while one of the ores came next to the boat. We were laughing throwing minnows at each other splashing each other. That’s probably how we lost the oars. Then what seemed out of nowhere a big boat pulled up and rescued us. We did not even know we needed to be rescued. When we got back here, we wanted to go down and play in the big waves. It was a firm no. That was 58 years ago.

I will start with a fishing report since I know someone that went fishing on friday and what thy caught. Jonny boy escorted Darrin, big tony and 2 young ones Mason and Major. Tony did bring the cheatmaster 3000 fish catching machine. Most say you still have to get them to bite. The area they fished; I think someone with upper red lake knowledge could have found them without the machine. Jonny boy shared a video of them catching the ever-elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. It looked pretty exciting for all involved. It sure set off many memories of landing on the motherlode. Upper red lake has given who knows how many fisher people the best fishing of their life. I’m not kidding either. Let’s hear some stories! on the facebook pages. Back in the 80s we were here visiting grama Olga enjoying our time here eating, fishing, swimming, The hammer, I and my good friend the Greek. “Grama gave him that nickname because he gave her some some greek seasoning salt ! She also gave me my nickname Cookie when I was just a baby. Anyway back to the fishing story we were trolling spinners because that was the best way. The hammer and greek were catching left and right I could not get a bite. After they had caught many fish, I finally had the big one. It was fighting so good. as we scooped it up, I caught a rock with a little hole in it the hook had gone right in it.
The next day was quite the opposite as I had the hot hand as they both struggled to catch a fish. It might not have been the best fishing that weekend, but it is one of a million stories to remember and share.
I’ve caught my biggest crappie here, the hammer has caught her biggest who knows how many others have? I have caught my biggest pike here as well as the hammer. She has also caught here biggest walleye her on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

I have heard back from a few senators and reps all saying thay are against the land back the bill is hf4780 and sf5080
i was also able to track down waltz e- mail Tim,[email protected]

here is the letter my brother wrote
Dear XXXX

My name is Warren Halvarson and I am writing you to voice my vehement opposition to your calls to cede the remainder of Upper Red lake to the Chippewa tribe. My family has continuously lived and maintained a property on the shores of Upper Red Lake, in Waskish, for over 100 years and at least 6 generations.

The family property is a symbol of our ancestors overcoming enormous homesteading hardship and their attempt at obtaining the American Dream. My grandfather, John Halvarson, died of spinal meningitis after clearing land to make it suitable for farming. My grandmother lived alone and persevered on her own for 40 years after her husbands death. She welcomed many visitors over the years to enjoy her hospitality and the beauty of the area. My father John Halvarson died in a tragic car accident in Bemidji in the early 1970s and our family property is the only tangible thing that remains of his memory.

I have countless memories of swimming in Red Lake with my grandmother, cousins and siblings. Countless memories of campfires and enjoying the awe inspiring gallery of stars overhead. Countless hours spent fishing and communing with mother nature in all her splendor. A price cannot be put on the sentimental value that the lake and the surrounding wilderness has in our hearts.

While I can appreciate the intent of the perceived virtuous pursuit of appeasing the native tribes. They already control the majority of Upper & Lower Red Lake. Any attempt by you or any other officials to change existing agreements, treaties and boundaries is in my opinion Unconstitutional and profoundly unjust to people that have lived on the lake over the last 100+ years.

Please consider the economic impact of removing the area from general visitation. Please consider the emotional impact on the families that currently live there and make their living there. Please remember the profound beauty of the lake and general area is a gift for countless future visitors to cherish and behold. Sequestering this resource to a few designated few is discriminatory in nature and robbing the greater population of it’s grandeur.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. Let the natives hold what they have already and let the people who homesteaded the area keep their homes and rights. That is the right thing to do. We must all learn how to live together in peace and harmony,

So this will be more about asking for everyone’s support. If you have not heard the red lake nation has taken steps federal and state to acquire all of red lake and a 1 mile buffer zone around the lake. They would take big bog state park, the boat ramp access Plus the red lake state forest. I beleave there top priority is getting control of the lake. This has put a emotional toll on all it effects. Our best bet is to start asap e- mailing or calling as many of the state senators and reps from your districts and others districts as well. If they were rewarded a mile around the lake we would lose our home, business, and waskish would basically be gone. There would be no access to the lake .
This is a small community. This effects every hunter,fishermen,and visitor to the area.
My great grandpa Norman came here in 1909 and homesteaded here. my grandmother Olga was born and raised here. She lived her entire life here 92 years. She raised 3 children here. My dad John was going home to bemidji from waskish when he was tragically killed in a car accident. He was only 38 years old. This winter we had our great grandson here to make it 7th generation. This is Mary K Kunesh 39 dfl. Anyone in here district needs to call and or email her. even if you are not in her district call or email to oppose the land back bill 651 296 4334. This is 34 dfl John a Hoffman 651 296 4154 Grant Hauschild 03 dfl 651 296 1789 all the support we can get would greatly be appreciated.

here is our rep [email protected]
also [email protected]

if you have a minute to write them a email
There is more than a handful that will be affected.

I know that makes me a hypocrite . It’s a catch 22. dam if you do dam if you dont. I feel that if you use one they should only be able to take a couple fish. Once word gets out that a small lake has trophy crappies it could get devastated. Red lake is a little different being we can only fish a third. I’m still calling it the cheatmaster 300 fish eliminator

yesterday may have been the last hurrah for me. I jumped in with jonny boy in his razor to go on a crappie hunt using a cheatmaster 3000 fish eliminator. Mark and Carry also tagged along as we headed out off of our landing. Jonny boy has been out on the lake almost everyday since we brought the houses home. They have had some epic days of fishing as Andy would say. I have to admit that using that machine can be a lot of fun. The first couple spots we checked before the pressure ridge we fought all year at 4 1\2 miles. Scanning the first 2 spots we saw nothing. On the third stop we saw a small school of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. The poor fish did not have a chance as we were able to auger right on top of them. The fish were spooky and scattered the first holes we augured. They did not go far as some trickled back in to hammer my chartreuse rattling flyer with no bait. I banged out 3 in a row as fast as I could run the lure down. I had my 3 I wanted to keep in less then 2 minutes after I started fishing. The third one inhaled the lure, As I tried to get the treble hook out of its throat my vex was still lit up like a christmas tree. By the time I got my line back down they were gone just like that. Mark did miss a couple and Carry got one. After scanning around a little bit more they were just magically gone. I have a theory that they just hunker down in low spots. Thinking as in the past how you can catch fish out of one hole but 2 feet away you cannot mark a fish? We loaded up and headed out to check another area. After a couple more scans we arrived at the pressure ridge. Man did the high winds a week ago change the pressure ridge. She broke up and changed the whole thing, just amazing how chunks of ice the size of a car 20 inches thick can be stacked up. It looked like if you took your time and checked you could now find a spot to cross without a bridge. I guess we could of used that big wind months ago we might not have had to move the bridge sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. Jonny boy had a spot they found after the big winds to cross. We got to where we had some great fishing the last weekend of the season. Again, auguring a couple holes and scanning nothing. We kept heading west, about the fourth spot we checked there she was the motherlode of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. 2 huge schools again they were very skittish and kept moving away from us. I would say after chasing them around for 20 minutes they came back to some of the holes we had already augured. Just like that it was game on for the guys. I ended up keeping a fourth that again inhaled my lure. Jonny boy also got his fishing equipment out to catch a few for himself. I would guess I missed way more then I caught as they would charge up and take your lure still going up. I lipped quite a few from that. We ended up staying in that area the last 2 hours of fishing. Mark and Carry got there 10 a piece, Jonny boy kept 3 and I kept 4 for a total of 27 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. With no wind and the sun shining almost 60 degrees we headed back to shore. The landing’s are starting to get a little muddy as the shoreline ice begins to melt. I’m not sure when we may be able to keep getting out. Back in the heyday we were water skipping my sled out onto the good ice. I even got the hammer on the back of my sled once. Of course, when we got out there, they had quit biting. Coming back as we were approaching the open water my sled sputtered as I hit the throttle. It was to late too abort so I feathered it a bit, she took off and we screamed across the water. When we got to shore the hammer said in a pretty loud voice never again.
I expect I will be hearing from Jake, as he comes home from the oil fields. He is possessed with these special fish. Big Tony and Darrin mentioned they would also like to get back up for one last hurrah on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

I have never stopped targeting them. We use to have a crappie get together/ hunt. Lots of auguring before the cheatmaster 3000 fish eliminator. Just about every year I have our houses still on the lake targeting them. 2015 was pretty darn good.

Yesterday we spent most of the day getting the fleet out front of our place. The biggest obstacle was pulling them across the pressure ridge. I would guess the pressure ridge bridge was moved over 15 times the last couple weeks. Anyware from 3 to 5 or 6 guys at a couple hours a time that roughly 150 hours of manpower.
Traveling on the ice at night was also a obstacle this year with lack of snow. Many of our customers had to be escorted back to the bridge as there was never really a plowed marked road as we had to negotiate around and through piles of broken refrozen ice fields.
I towed old minnesota home in blue thunder. She sure needs another tune up and some exhaust work. She has gotten quite a bit louder. We did scratch out another year out of old Minnesota. Ole and I fished out there last wednesday catching a couple 4 crappies and a limit of keeper walleyes. Wayne and I fished over the weekend we landed a few 15 walleyes some
2 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies, 2 giant mooneyes. I also lost quite a few fish throughout the week and weekend. We need to replace the whole runner system into steel if we want to have her out on the ice again. I even spent sunday night out there getting woken up 3 or 4 times from the rattle wheels. Having the house over the pressure ridge took a lot of worry away and I did sleep well last night not having any customers on the lake.
The first group that had north dakota got here early Tuesday it was so nice out they fished outside. I told them what I knew, and they landed 17 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. They landed a couple more the next day in the same area.
Thursday we hauled her another 1 1/2 miles west with montana. Jake had a crew looking for the motherlode of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lkae crappies. Jake figured they landed and released over a hundred with just a couple meals kept. I think each house got one overnight.
We had Scott had his family in Tennessee and Utah they hit the motherlode last year but this year was quite a bit slower. They had 7 or eight people so they were able to eat some fish.
Don with Lee and Tiffny outdoor show The Crush from Iowa,
also came up again .Him and his buddy also ate fish both days and took home a limit.
Mike and his crew were also back again. They only caught walleyes but had a grand weekend on a grand lake.
I set up Rod again in his ice castle for the weekend with my bob, rick and john plus 2 other ice castles. Rods house got 6 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Plus they all took home there walleye limit.
Colorado also went out with Jake and crew looking for the motherlode. They also caught some nice fish out of the house.
Our plans at this time as to take most of the fleet back to some areas we have had success catching crappies in the past for this coming weekend. I would say we got close to 7 inches of snow with high winds. Tony headed home as well as Darrin so it’s me, dusty and jonny boy.
I’ll wait another week before we thank all our new and repeat customers this year. All and all this past week has had some great end of the season walleye fishing.
We could not have done any of this without all the help from the crew from Jonny boy, Big Tony, Dusty, Darrin and his truck. Dan and his plow truck with Mell cooking the crew many breakfast’s Thank you so so so much guys. I could never have carried on without all your help
Jonny boy will be guiding the rest of the season searching for the mother lode of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies. Here is his direct number 218 508 7036.

ow just 7 evenings of big game fish left for the season. Mother nature sure threw us a couple curves this year. With record warmth, lack of snow, rain, 4 degrees this morning.
the fishing went from great to just so so for all our houses.
Colorado probably had the best fishing of the fleet. They caught 15 walleyes 4 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies, a couple perch they also missed 18 fish.
Darrin did get 9 elusive upper red lake crappies Saturday night. plus 5 walleyes and quite a few scuffits. I have always said if your getting very small walleyes the crappies are in the area.
Texas had decent fishing thursday then she fizzled out.
California had a few fish, The guys in alaska and utah went with the snowbear friday and it was ugly only landing 3 fish, sounds like he did much better saturday.
I set Rod up with his wheelhouse they did get a couple elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies 4 plus a few walleyes.
Old minnesota has just done all right, Heather did get an elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. She also lost a big walleye at the hole. They love the charm of old minnesota and I expect to see them again.
Tennessee just did so so with 2 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies and 5 walleyes.
North dakota and florida had rick, lenny, len jr.and Mike? those two houses had the poorest fishing only getting a handful of fish.
Montana had Jason and his two boys they also managed to get a few fish but nothing to brag about.
Yesterday I drove from this end of the lake all the way to rodgers in black beauty 1\2ton truck in 2-wheel drive. I cannot believe all the area that looks like no one has fished all year. There is a area I would like to get to I have been trying to get back to that area for years. This may be the year. Jake will be coming up towards the end of the week. I going to talk him into going out there with me if mother nature cooperates.
I have been reading all the archive’s from years ago. 2015 was the year we pounded on the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie, that was the year we all had the magical fishing that this grand lake can offer.
Watching all these fishermen with the cheatmaster3000 fish eliminator as my brother and I call it. The poor crappies do not have a chance. I know we sure would like to keep catching them for the next 20 years. The hammer and I sometimes will keep 3 with noodles and veggies is enough with left over fish. My personal opinion if you harvest fish with the cheatmaster 3000 fish eliminator you should at least only be able to keep half your limit. Watching 6 guys keep 60 is tough to swallow. The dnr does not manage this lake for these special fish she is a walleye lake. They have been doing a fantastic job with the walleyes in my opinion. I never expected to see trophy walleyes.
We’re hoping to do some tip up pike fishing the next few days as it’s always fun to tie into a big fish.
We have a few open houses for the week and a full house the last weekend of big game fishing. Our plans are the same as every year for the past 23 years to stay out looking for the mother lode of the elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Will have to keep a eye on the pressure ridges, plus have some back up plans for getting the fleet home. Yesterday the crew and buddy hillman had to move the bridge again. I can see why he does not want wheelhouses going over it as they spent close to 2 hours chopping and giving the trucks a good workout. It now sounds like they are again working on it out there at this time.
I also plan on fishing every night just to enjoy the relaxation. Might even talk the hammer into spending the night out there on a grand lake that owes us nothing.

we started see alot of 7 inchers a few years ago then they were 9 then 11 now pushing over 12 there was a huge spawn that happened in 2017 or 2018. the other reason as more guys are using the cheatmaster 3000 fish eliminator

3 years doing this here on the shores of upper red lake. Every year mother nature seems to give us something different. With all the warm temps we were lucky the fog and clouds kept the sun from doing his damage. The rain we had last week had me a little worried as the water was going down the holes like a toilet being flushed over and over and over. We did drill some extra holes around some houses to stop all the water going down just one hole. When the temps dropped the water slowed down by morning most of the water was gone other than some spots the water was too deep to freeze in one night. As of yesterday, I would say 99 percent of any standing water has refrozen. I did see just a couple holes that were close to be big enough for a tire drop in. There really is no way to check every inch of ice out there so that’s why they say ice is never 100 percent safe. In the last week I have not measured any thing under 19 inches. Hillmans bridge again. Finding a good spot was quite the chore as the pressure ridge had gotten quite a bit wider. You could see why Buddy Hillman did not want wheelhouses to go over it as some would have been stranded up to 6 hours as that’s about how long it took to find and prep a new spot. We were able to still get to our clients, but it was around about way. This past weekend three vehicles tried to cross the south side of hillman’s highway. When it cracked and sank it basically created another pressure ridge. As I have said over and over for years if it doesn’t look right don’t drive over it. All three had to be jerked out.
Now for the fishing report I had heard that a few wheelhouses that set up a lot shallower caught quite a few fish over the weekend.
Our houses all did very well with most catching more than a few. We did get our old friend ole to come up before the rain and he was just tickled pink to catch 10 elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappies Plus his 4 walleyes. It made up for the previous week when he had gotten skunked.
I was able to enjoy old Minnesota a couple times even landing a couple fish.
Jonny boy and his sweetheart heather\feather fished old minnesota catching a few of the ever elusive but still catchable upper red lake crappies. She managed to set the hook and land 7.
North dakota had Tony and his family they took home their limit of walleyes plus a couple bonus crappies.
Florida has Jessica and her son and his friend they have caught a variety of fish all three days. Austin her son wants her to by florida fish house.
Boar and his wife were in Montana Boar figured they caught more than a few fish over 50.
Colorado had Kyle and his buddy’s they had fantastic fishing.
Tn had Steve and Magen they only landed 15 fish but did miss quite a few.
Texas did the worst off all the houses? They had a grand time anyway.
Utah has Britt and his dad they caught fish the first night saturday and planned on keeping fish last night. Let’s hope that plan works.
Friday was a chore trying to bank the house as all the snow was gone. As the temps dropped, we did get a little bit of snow but good old mother nature had to throw in 25 mile per hour winds.
Now looking at the extended forecast we will start making more ice by Wednesday, Thursday. We do have Tennessee open next weekend plus some houses open during mid-week and next. The big game fish season has only 12 nights left, wow what a crazy winter.

You guys are rite there was some crazy stuff. Closet clampers, taking a minute or more to count to 10 watching grown men eyes watering in pain.