Today is December 1st, 2010, and despite the recent fury of Mother Natures "Snow Machine" we are currently making ice at 17 degrees!! As important as it it for all of us to slide that first monster walleye out the hole we need to always think safety first. I always remember my grandpa telling me "Being the first one on the ice every season will probably mean you won’t be the last one" LOL!! We currently "BOAST" only a couple inches of sketchy ice in the bays with some main lake water yet to "Gel". Our ice formation has been hindered by approximately 30 inches of snow from November 11th-November 30th along with high winds on the main lake!! This has left guys like myself anxiously pacing back and forth to the landings while re-packing gear over and over. I’ve pleaded with the "Snow Gods" that International Falls has no interest in trying to gain further national attention for any new snowfall records. So please no matter how anxious you are to test out your new equipment, or to put that needed bend in your rod to hold off at least another week.
I hope to meet many of you at this years ice fishing show. I’ll be the purest form of "Ice fishing Kryptonite" in the Marcum Technologies booth. Soon enough we’ll be able to utilize this years new toys on early season walleyes and pike. We have a few different public landings that people are able to utilize. Rainy Lake Marine plows an ice road onto Sand Bay, and this most always is the first "Ice Road" of the season. They will have a pay box as you enter the ice, so please support their cause as this is no small effort. There also is a road most years at Tilson bay that is plowed by a private party, so no guarantees here. Lastly there is a road off the Voyageurs National Park visitors center landing. I would not expect any ice roads for vehicle use to be ready to go for a few weeks yet. As many have eluded to before Rainy Lake is the Portable fishermans paradise allowing anglers first access, and true remote fishing without the common high levels of competition elsewhere.
As my guide season kicks off here in a couple weeks I will be targeting both large walleye and pike with some occassional nice perch. Over the past several years we’ve been fortunate enough to ice on average 20-35 walleyes surpassing 27 inches each season. I will have customers pinpointed on a couple of different patterns in which we prefer to target these elite fish. One such pattern we work will be a shallow pattern in neckdown areas searching aggressive walleyes and pike in 8-12 feet of water. This bite can be very exciting as by the time the fish are captured on your sonar many times your crossing their eyes on equally aggressive and "ANGRY" fish. Fish located on shallow feeding shelves are there for simple reasons, and that is to pack on some holiday "LBS". We like to refer to this particular bite as the "Eat……Or Be Eaten" due to our enourmous Northern Pike that frequent these buffet lines. Another pattern we work will be a slightly deeper 24-32 foot first line break with some current flow. A commonly referenced "Current Break" for all you river boys!! This pattern also has a rich history of producing some of Rainy Lakes largest walleyes of the entire season with many wall ornaments iced every year. Fish from 27-33 inches have been caught with consistency on these shelves over the past several years. Walleyes in the 12lb class seem to be landed every year, so a true "Borderland Giant" is not out of the question. Last season a local angler iced a 30LB world class Northern Pike!! At 46.5 inches this fish looked like it swallowed the missing neighbors dog!! Anglers are often testing tackle with our Large Northern pike flying high in the water column, so keep one eye open for those cruisers……Then tie yourself into your portable!! Check out this pike we landed on a tip-up last season! Still have the scar for memories. http://www.idofishing.com/videos/viewvid.php/Number/856260/rainy-lake-pike-w-chris-granrud-jan-12-2010 Truly a great time had by all with legitimate chances at a new PB everytime on the ice!! The sight of watching a customers eyes being chased by a mark bigger than they’ve every ecountered on their Marcum Sonar is worth the price of admsission for me!! We like to utilize the "Lightning Spoons" and "Vertiglows" from www.customjigsandspins.com tipped with a shiner head, or full smaller shiner for these monster fish. The bend in these spoons along with the brilliant color schemes are often found irresistable for our walleyes and Pike. These are 2 of my longtime favorite weapons, and are currently available at the Rainy Lake One Stop if I haven’t bought them all yet!! Just ask Laura, and she’ll walk you over!!
When planning your next trip to International falls to explore Rainy Lake leave the hectic "Hustle and Bustle" of todays world behind when you hit the scenic 2-lane cut through the Norway pines. Keep your eyes peeled for wolves, moose and deer. Remember the good ole days with grandpa, and we’ll do our part to help build future memories you can pass on. Our 220,000 acres of pristine paradise found within the confines of Voyageurs National Park will surely win over your heart like it has in my family. Many ice anglers like myself simply enjoy the untamed majesty of our National Park during the winter even more than in the summer months. The many furbearing animals call this "Winter Wonderland" home, and roam free. You have as good of a chance to cut the trail of a pack of Timberwolves as you do another human being if your looking for an adventure. Fire up your snowmobiles and pack up your Otter Portables you will never get the 2010/2011 season back again. Everyone needs to experience fishing for Wilderness Walleyes and Pike early in the season. As my personal guide schedule continues to get more hectic each season I am currently working with yet another guide to help meet our demand from our adventure seeking clients. Those of you looking to book your groups trip can either PM me here on IDO, Email, or of course do it the old fashioned way and call!! We always enjoy talking fishing!! As always bring your camera as those precious photos will all too soon serve as a great reminder while your back in the big city what life is really all about. I often find myself daydreaming of being cozy in that portable house chasing monster fish. I hope very shortly to have the official kick off to the 2010-2011 hardwater season here for your pleasure. Smiles of customers with Giant fish have built our following,and wouldn’t want it any otherway!! Better yet for those of you who have followed us for the last several years…….come on up and be part of the fun!! Life in the game is far more rewarding than riding the pine!! In case you still have any ability to sleep at this point in the game sit back and pour yourself a hot cup of coffee while you watch this show of our true "Off the beaten path Monster Walleyes!!" http://www.idofishing.com/videos/viewvid.php/Number/739892/off-the-beaten-path-for-rainy-lake-walleyes