After sitting outside in my lawn chair for the first time in 2021 with the balmy temp of 64 degrees above zero on Thursday March 4, I decided ice fishing was over ‘til December.
The next two days were forecast just as warm with the forecast of fifties and sixties after that. I called fellow long-time ice fisherman Paul Proft from Owatonna on Saturday to cry we couldn’t go ice fishing because of the Covid and now after being vaccinated we could go but the weather put a halt on going. Paul agreed as we both shed a few years.
Paul called me back that Saturday saying his neighbor just came from Lake of the Woods with fantastic walleye fishing. The resort they stayed at was going to be open thru March 28, so he was going back one more time.
Paul asked if I could go on short notice, leaving Tuesday March 9 and coming home Friday March 12, as this was the only time slot open at the same resort as high neighbor stays. My answer was the same as, “Is the Pope Catholic?”
Paul called me on Sunday with the “good” news of what to bring and be at his place in Owatonna at 7 a.m. on Tuesday for departure to Zippell Bay Lake of the Woods, staying at Lyon Sleepers.
I arrive at Paul’s ready to go 7 a.m. Tuesday March 9. As we’re packing, his great better half, Julie, thanks me for going, as this would be giving her a much needed few days of peace and quiet. I let her know Genie felt the same way, as I too was a cabin fever mess.
We stopped at the truck stop on Interstate 35 by Dundas, Minnesota, to pick up son-in-law, Steve Davis, dropped off by his better half Meghan. Meghan quietly tells me thanks for getting Steve out of her hair and “Please be understanding and nice to Steve as he has never been ice fishing.”
Away we go, Paul drivind. 404 miles later we’re at Lyon Sleepers, loading our things into a bombardier taking us out to the ice fishing house we’re staying in the next few days. (You stay in the sleeper fish house ‘til you leave.)
The fish house had four bunks, stove with oven and burners on top, gas lights, gas heater, indoor potty, at least two holes per person for fishing, with provided free minnows and free fish filleting plus packaging to take the fish caught home.
We’re fishing by 4 p.m. and the fish are very, very complying in biting non-stop until dark. It didn’t take long to figure out it was easier to fish with one line rather than the two-line allowed limit.
We had to quit fishing ‘til after midnight the second day and eating a “big” meal of fish as we were at the limit of walleye and sauger combination of six by noon on Thursday. We were again at the limit Thursday, so we left at noon, coming home a day earlier than planned.
Fishing exceeded our expectations and so did the owner at Lyon Sleepers. Owner Pat plus employees Scotty and Justin were, as I call it, “best of the best” in service.
P.S. Paul’s neighbor Robert Thurnau was in a Lyon Sleeper close to us.
P.P.S. I’ve experienced walleye ice fishing only one time before as good as this, but never before having to quit fishing to be legal. (We played cribbage while waiting to be legal to fish!)
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.