The bite on Mille Lacs seemed to have cooled with the temperature of the lake as of late. A week ago I got shut out on a Saturday night as did a number of other boats. The report going up had few fish coming to the boat per Clarence Chapman who was fishing the north end. Reports from St. Albans and Indian Point seemed to show more promise. Last week I was writing the Fall bite off as a lost cause. Well, that is where St. Jude came into the picture. Read on for the whole story.
You see, St. Jude is the "Patron Saint of Lost Causes." And last Spring a number of IDA Guides donated trips to Chris Winchester’s fund raiser for St. Jude’s Hospital. The high bidder was Randy Schauer from Farmington. Our own Jack Naylor of Apple Valley accompanied him on the trip to the big lake. On my way around the north end, I saw large flocks of seagulls feeding at the perch buffet as are the shallows of Mille Lacs right now. So I was very intrigued at the thought of big walleye possibly feeding on them from underneath, and the gulls from above. Meeting Randy and Jack at the landing I was greeted with news of an Indian Point/Casino area daytime bite given to them by a giddy fisherman. I understand that same fisherman was also lamenting his destroyed prop. The landing down at Sha-Bosh-Kung is very shallow and dangerous to anything made of stainless steel or aluminum.
(How big/long would you say this fish is?)
We started our night off in St. Alban’s (St. Alban? St. Jude? I am feeling a little something going on…) Bay at dusk. We boated a 26.5" and a 17" in fairly short order. (I had this feeling some else was in the boat with us…) We went through a lull after dark. Partly because of the sheer number of boats in the area! It was like Pool 4 in the Spring! I had never seen it like that. It made it hard to navigate and stay out of each other’s way. I made the call to head North and find some quiet water. Good move on our part. Like there was some divine intervention involved, the big walleyes started looking at our Smithwick Rogues like I look at cheese cake! I got crushed early and often prompting Randy to remark "It was because of the shorter rod he was using." Meaning me. I was using a 6.5 foot bass rod to stay inside Randy and Jack who were using 10.6 and 9.6 St. Croix Wild River rods respectively. Well it didn’t take Randy long to do the old "Tuck, look over there!" and when I did, I noticed he had swapped his rod for mine!
Well it seemed like that’s what happened! I never saw that rod for the rest of the night!! As a matter of fact, I don’t know if I ever got it back! (I fully expect an offer for that rod Randy!) Needless to say, Jack and I were taken out to the old proverbial woodshed by Randy the rest of the evening!
That was until Jack got into the picture! Later in the evening I convinced Jack to try my lucky Super Rogue. He looked at it and by the looks of what that Rogue has gone through, Jack must have had a feeling that this was a special plug. He got smacked by this 27+ inch monster up to the right! By the end of the night the temps were down to 26 degrees, and everything in the boat was frozen! Line, reels, nets, everything that was wet, froze. So we ended the night around 4 AM. Action went on throughout the evening at a steady pace. We worked a 1/8 mile trolling run over 5-6 feet of laid over weeds. We ran below 1 MPH (Thank you Yamaha for the T-8!) And a lot of the bites came on inside turns, meaning the lures were even going slower yet! I found out that the shorter rod was in fact more condusive for moving slower! Less lag in the line and more action to the lure. (Note to self, stock up on shorter St. Croix’s for late season cold weather!)
As we finished the evening, and I was heading home. I got to thinking about St. Jude, and how he was the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. And I thought about how that was really what the bite had been, up until last night. I thought about how great the St. Jude Hospital is to our community, and children who cannot otherwise afford the care they provide. I am convinced that the 4th stick in the boat last night was St. Jude himself. He accomplished two things for sure. He brought me together with a couple of great friends for an awesome night of fishing, and convinced me to donate another trip next year at Chris Wnchester’s event!
Thanks to all I had the honor and privelege to share my boat with on Mille Lacs this year through IDA Guide Service! I am looking forward to booked trips for next fall already!
Oh, and by the way…that fish I am holding above? That fish barely, and I mean BARELY went 24"!!!! Look at the girth on that fish! I thought he swallowed Randy’s thermos! Man this walleye population is in tremendous shape going into this Winter.
Thanks for the report and pics Tuck. Very nice fish. Thanks for donating the guide trip for such a good cause.
Thanks, Bill
What an awesome night of fishing I had Chris. You showed a bass guy that large fat walleyes can put up a heck of a fight. I had a great time and thanks for putting us on a great bunch of fish! I have never caught that many quality fish in one night in my life. I will be bidding top dollar for the trip you donate next year! Thank you for your donation towards this great cause.
P.S. I have not seen your rod or reel(LOL)
The thanks should go to Randy! He bought a number of the guide trips personally, and in turn donated MANY hundreds of dollars to St. Judes!
Well if the big fat walleye GUIDE would have been a little tougher, you never would have gotten that rod pryed out of my hands!
Here is “Jack the Camera Man” and another of his walleye poses…
Very nice report Tuckster! Big walleyes to match the big smiles!
Just a little more detail about Chris Winchester’s benefit for St. Judes….and since I’m not a bass guy…I’ll do the best I can.
There is a St Judes Bass tourney every year. To decide which boat starts in 1st…2nd…3rd..ect place, each participant holds benefit auctions.
Chris had an awesome set up last year the first…but not the last I’ll be attending!
It was held at McArthur’s Wood Grill Restaurant just outside of Miesville (Between Redwing and Hastings MN).
Sorry for the of topic rant! Back to St Judes!
I recall two things about the meal. The walleye was absolutly the best walleye I’ve ever had at a restuarant…but even better was the Crawdad Hushpuppies!
I don’t think either of those items are on the regular menu…but if they are ever served again…I’ll be down there!
So, silent auction, dinner, live auction…what else?
It was a very enjoyable evening with all proceeds going to the tax deducable St Judes Foundation…which most people know that Danny Thomas started years back.
What for a post this spring from Chris again…I know that I’ll be tossing in a <a href=”www.idacatguides.com” target=”_blank”>Trophy Catfishing and Sturgeon Fishing Adventure</a> trip again!
Hold on! I haven’t run out of wind yet!
I was the lucky bidder for a trip with one of the other top guides…<a href=”www.idaguides.com” target=”_blank”>Dustin Stewart</a>!
My trip with Dustin was one I’ll never forget! You know how you look out the window in the morning and see frost on the ground? You just automaticly know that it’s cold outside. That’s exactly what happens when Dustin looks a a piece of the river in front of him. There’s a eddie in that rocky back…Fish! There’s a bulge in the calm moving water…there’s a rock or some other obstruction there…FISH! I was truely amaze at what this river rat could see by looking at a seemingly blank piece of river. I use something that he taught me every time I’m on that water. Thanks again Dustin!
I’ll return this thread back to it’s regularly scheduled programming…
Thanks Chris T and Dustin (and the rest) for donating to a great cause!
Hope to see you at Chris Winchester’s next St Judes Benefit this spring!
Whew!
I got a little dizzy with all the direction changes 
but yeah, what he said!
Nice job Tuck. Glad to see you guys getting on the fish again!
What Wade said too…if I didn’t say that already!
Nice Report Tuck.
Man, I have a buddy coming on Thursday from Florida and I was hoping to get into this bite just perfect, but looking at your water temps, it may be to late.
Nice report Tuck!!!
I can’t wait to get up there and take another crack at them through the ice. 
great report Tuck !!
What did you have for water Temps ?
Thanks, and it is 42 as of gametime Saturday night.
Thank-you to Chris Tuckner for the great night on the lake, and Thank-you Randy for including me again to join you on another St Jude Guided Trip.
On our way up to the lake Saturday night, Randy and I were talking about the few posts that have been up the last couple of weeks, the dirty water, the sudden and HUGE drop in the water temp that was being reported, and all of the negatives.
But trying to be the more postive guy. We also keep saying the if there are fish to be caught on this night, CHRIS TUCKNER, will be able to find them, and find them he did. After a strategic move to get AWAY from the crowd of boats we had an area pretty much ALL to ourselves. Chris infact caught the the first three Walleyes. AND that made total sense to me, Seasoned Professional, and two Bass Guy Rookies. ( AM sorry Chris, I do think I have to take an Assist on you loosing your rod to Randy)( and I really do NOT know where it is after I pulled you out of the ramp).
The fishing conditions were probably the best it had been for AT LEAST the last two weeks. wind laid down, the weeds laid down, and Chris laided down the law, Walleyes or Bust. The fish did not take long to cooperate either.
Chris, We greatly appreciated the extra effect and staying late, the fish keep saying, “it is not time to go yet-boys.”
I really also do not mind being called “the Cameraman”, it does have a nice ring to it, and with that I will add a few pics here from my camera, sorry if there are a few of the same fish as the other pics.
Thanks again Chris and Randy for the GREAT NIGHT on the water, I enjoyed the fishing, the stories, and the laughter…
Jack…
This first pic is Randy with the last fish of the night, Wow, what a finish..
Here is Chris with a VERY FAT Walleye. Man are they ALL solid fish.
Jack..
Randy with another one.
Jack..
Yours Truly with my nicest fish of the night, a little thin, but at 27 1/2 inches, a real beauty.
Jack..
Thanks for the kind words. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. This was just one of those times…
Sure was fun though, and a great trip to remember for me!
I just saw these posts and want to thank all of you. I have really enjoyed doing these fundraisers and will continue as long as I am able. Thanks to all of the guides who donated their time. I hope to see you all there again. I promise the meal will be every bit as delicious and plan to have some entertainment this year. Thanks Chris
As long as it is not the Klawitter Kwartett!
He would play anything to get at those hush puppies again!
GREAT JOB TUCK!!! thanks for all you do for St Judes! it is a tournament that is very close to my heart. see you next year @ McArthurs for an even bigger and better fundaiser!!
Nice report.. Good job guys..