Results from the Jolly Ann Marine Company Picnic.
Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting Wade Kuehl owner of Jolly Ann Marine, in person for the first time along with his father Joe. I’ve been talking with Wade through Private Messages on IDA for well over two years now and Saturday, found out that my suspicions were correct. He’s a stand up angler and person….and I’m guessing his father had much to do with that! It was a pleasure meeting the both of you!
(Note to T1Blondie: I talked Wade into holding the kitty kat on his lap, although it didn’t take much in talking. He smelled and looked great the rest of the night. Might not want to wash those clothes….)
Here’s Wade with the largest Flathead of the evening. 42.10 pounds on the digital scale. I think I over heard Wade saying…”No damn walleye ever fought like this”!!!!!!
Wade and Joe explained that they have caught catfish before…but I think they have a new outlook on chasing kitty’s after Saturday night.
Joe started out the evening with a number of smaller fish ranging from 10 to 13 pounds. They gave them a good tussle.
The tackle of the day was the standard trophy catfish rigging using my favorite brands. A 10/0 Gamakatsu hook with 6 inches of 80 pound Power Pro for leader. Then a Berkley 100 pound test swivel with a 4 oz No-Roll sinker, all attached to the Garcia 7000 with more of the 80 pound Power Pro. For rods we used a variety of medium heavy custom made rods from Mike and Mike at Hooked on Fishing in Rochester. I might add that Wades fish gave the HOF rod a REAL work out!
I found myself fishing Sunday night with two employees of the new Sportsman’s Warehouse in Woodbury. Jake Hayes (Fishing Dept. Expert) and Chuck Boyks (Hunting Dept. Expert). Jake hunts for catfish and anyother BIG fish along the banks of the Mississippi in the St Paul area. Chuck is a multi species fisherman that you’ll find wetting a line almost anywhere, but pretty much grew up on the Mississippi. His love is hunting the Spring Lake area of Pool 2. If you get a chance to stop in to Sportsmans Warehouse, ask for Jake or Chuck by name, these fella’s have a real passion for fishing/hunting and it shows!
Chuck was the first “batter up” and when the rod started bending was quick to set the hook on this beautiful 27+ inch walleye…as it came to the boat…I commented “oh, it’s just a rough fish” and as I netted this brute they both looked at the fish and then me with their mouths about 6 inches from the boat floor.
Can you say "personal best"?
Using the same standard set up as above and still using bullheads for bait, Jake had the next run which brought a walleye in just short of 26 inches. The boats shortest walleye for the year… Jake didn’t seem to mind. We didn’t have time to net her when the rod on the other side of the boat had the tell tail bit of a flathead!
Pictured is Jake with his 25++ walleye and Chuck with his 10 pound flathead.
Our largest flat of the evening came in at 21 lbs.
When I dropped off these two fellas at the dock, cat scratch fever had set in. I’m not sure what Chuck was going to do at 11:30 at night, but since Jake had today off…I hooked him up with some bait and he was off flathead fishing for the rest of the night on the banks in St Paul!
It was enjoyable to share a boat with you guys!
One more of MR. SMILE!
He even looks like a cat guy!
Great fish BK!!!
I had the pleasure or misery(depends on how you look at it) to fish with Wade one night last fall.
Can’t wait to do it again!!! Awesome fish Wade!
Fish that big ought to be called Durocs, Chesters, or Hampshires!
I am now extremely excited to get out ther on Friday night
Save some of those hogs for me
Awesome report.
I am hoping to get out for these fish in the coming week. How long do you expect them to be going like this for?
Dan
Until they stop Dan!
Until the end of July for the hot bite…mother nature willing.
Nice fish guys. I can only imagine how bad the skeeters were out there Saturday night. We sat around outside at Evert’s for awhile and they about carried me away. I met Wade earlier in the day and I was all ready to talk Marine Radios with him and found out you guys had just left—oh well, the beer was cold and the company was good anyway. Of course Chris was down fishing off the dock and had one big something on for a few minutes till it came off.
I was a bit surprise that the skeets weren’t too bad…they weren’t great, but very manageable as far as skeeters go…
You should have waited up for us Redneck, we came in about 3:30 am…
Sorry we missed you…the cat’s were calling!
Great report thanks for sharing
Larry
Brian,
Those are some nice Cats.
Walleyes on BULLHEADS??? Get outa town…
Jack..
I’m thinking Wed night/Thurs morning you might have another 10 coming your way…make room in the freezer!
Good report Brian
Those fish are what its all about!! And the cats are nice too J/K 
We have been getting quite a few smaller flats but I think an eye was our biggest fish Saturday 
I was misquoted. It was my pops that said “no walleye ever fought like this”. My official statement was “once I put the hammer to her she never stood a chance”.
I’m just glad it was my turn to grab the rod and set the hook. Although, it would have been sweet to see my pops fight that critter. The power of that fish was incredible! Brian kept saying, “How long are you going to let that fish swim around out there”? LET that fish swim around out there? Like I had a choice. My dad says, “Nice job getting her turned”. I didn’t turn her. She decided to turn… and I was thankful. She is back swimmin’ in the Mississippi of course. Please consider releasing bigger fish so they can fight again some day.
I can’t thank Brian enough for showing us how to fish for sumo kitties. You da man!
Dad and I also got a chance to fish for eyes with James Holst the day before our trip with Brian. Dad and I thank you for a great time on the water James! I got to meet Dustin, Redneck, Redneck Jr. (congrats on the second place finish boys) and a few other IDA members while I was at Everts. A special thanks goes out to Dean at Everts Fishing Resort. What a great guy. If you want the chance to catch the fish of a lifetime, give Dean a call and spend a few days at Everts. He gives his guest excellent information on the local fishing and the hospitality can’t be beat. Thank you for everything Dean! 
And if you want to chase one of these big cats and don’t have the proper equipment or know-how, give Brian Klawitter call and book a guide trip. The cat bite is just getting started. Have a great summer everyone!
Brian Brian Brian
In my younger days I use to chase cats on a regular basis but as I age I have grown to perfer snuggling the Missus at 3:30 AM.
Wade
It was great meeting you and we’ll be talking in the near future. A Marine Band radio is the next upgrade to our boat.
As far as Dean goes,if he ever tires of the managing the best resort on the river he can always go into the fortune telling business. He told me Saturday morning “I have a feeling it is your day” and I thought is was blowing smoke.
It’s like the boy and I say every time we come down the hill to Evert’s “We’re home”. Anyone looking for a great fishing vacation couldn’t do better than that place. The fishing is great, the resort is unbelievable, the sunsets are fabulous and I have learned more about walleyes at the Evert’s campfires in the evening than I ever learned in magazines!
<snicker> I’ll never tell….
I got her in the boat though… eventually.
I was just being “patient” with her.
Bass,golf,and now catfish.
Ryan Hale