Sunday, August 31, 2014

Wilderness Solitude at a Wilderness Resort

One of our cabin guests just came in to say the reason for he and his wife come here to stay is because when he sits out on his cabin deck looking out at the lake, all he hears are loons calling, the creek flowing, and seagulls overhead.  He was quite moved in his describing and couldn't find all the words one needs to describe what it is to experience true wilderness solitude.  He said he couldn't find anything like this at home.  I understood completely.
Momma Loon on her nest on Jasper.  She and the father have been raising two
 young loons all summer long.  A Loon family of four on Jasper Lake.

Red Rock Outdoors Blog

Monday, August 25, 2014

Larry and the Bait-caster: A Fishing Journey on Jasper

On Saturday, 8-23, the Wilson party arrived and checked into Cabin 6 in the late afternoon.  Right now at 11:45 AM on 8-24, Lori and her friend Joanne popped into the store looking for bass tackle.  They bought Yum Crawbugs and Booyah bass jigs to put together to form Jig-N-Pigs like I showed them about three years ago.  Less than 20 hours after arrival to Northwind Lodge, I asked Lori if they had done any fishing yet.  She replied in a conclusive, confident tone, "Oh, yeah...we've already caught 19 fish."

By Sunday's end, they boated another 19 fish!  Monday morning it was so windy, after boating four fish, they headed into shore to wait for the wind to die down.  Today, because they were land-locked, which is a rare occasion, Lori, Joanne and I talked more fishing and Lori said that they have now pretty much fished every spot that Jasper has to offer and caught fish out of every last one of them as well.  Jasper has 4.1 miles of shoreline and the Wilson party knows it and all the spots in between probably better than most.  

The Wilson party came here for several years in the past,  but with kids, school and college and activities, they had dropped off the Northwind Lodge yearly return-roster several years back.  But, one day, out of the blue, kids done with school and on their own, Lori gave us a call and they showed up for vacationing once again at Northwind Lodge.  At the time, I recall Lori saying to me that "it had been too many years" and they looked forward to staying here again. We were more than happy to have them back this time with the addition of friends Mike and  Joanne.  As I recalled, they used to fish, but I couldn't remember anything truly notable with their results of years past.  I'm sure they caught fish back then, but nothing really notable stood out with me.

Then, one day, a few years ago, Larry, husband of Lori came in to Red Rock to look for a bait-casting rod & reel.  Having been in the business of fishing and selling gear for my entire life, I felt it was my duty to inform my customer about what he was planning to do.  Over the years, I felt that I'd seen far too many people buy a bait-casting combo with not enough info and then they would go home and stick it in the corner after experiencing their first major backlash - which usually occurred in the first cast.  So, I told Larry to test mine out first.  I had a $350 outfit with Pflueger Summit reel on a Falcon casting rod and 20 lb. test braid (the ONLY way to go with a bait caster - mono really does not work nearly as well), and suggested Larry go out and beat the water to a froth with it.  I just happened to have Jig-n-Pig rig tied on that sales rep for Booyah Bait Co., Yum, and Pradco (which stands for Plastics Research and Development Company) Tim Fogarty  set me up with to try for largemouth bass fishing "because it is a TON of FUN".  I left the lure on and told Larry that it is weedless and he could cast it right into the lily pads or cabbage weeds and it would crawl right through the thickest ones with little difficulty.  It was a fun bait to use because the little Crawbug arms flip like a crayfish through the water.  The other cool part about that jig is that you can let it hit the bottom just about anywhere and it come right to you when you retrieve it.  As far as catching fish with it, I had no real luck partly because I am more in the store talking about fishing that actually fishing these days.  Larry disappeared out the door, and other duties called me to action.  I forgot all about Larry and the bait-caster.

About 4 hours later, Larry showed up with that fancy-schmancy bait-caster and jig-n-pig in tow.  I asked him how it went as I saw the reel was devoid of a bird's nest and showed no signs of sword-fighting.  Larry handed it over, thanking me for being able to demo it.  He also added  that he's glad I set him up with the demo and he no longer wants to buy the bait-casting combo because it wasn't for him.  "BUT", he added, "where do you get more of these?", he asked pointing to the Jig-n-Pig rig.  Well, as luck would have it, I knew precisely where he could get more.  I asked him if they were working and he said Lori told him to get some more and return quickly.  I grabbed one off the shelves and showed Larry how to rig it up.  Then, he grabbed a bunch that I put on the bill and disappeared out the door.




It was "Game On" from this point with the Wilson party.  They turned into fishing fanatics!  They'd be gone all day long on Jasper, rain or shine.  I'd see all four of them in the boat, plugging the hell out of the shorelines, working the weed beds and lily pad rafts .  The women would make an occasional visit to the store for a Jig-n-Pig resupply and they weren't excessively wordy. They got to the intended point of their visit and then back out the door they went.  I was amazed at how hard the fishing focus combined with the competitive nature of their fishing.  (!)  Man, you talk about serious, butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners attitudes about putting fish in the boat, measuring them, releasing them, and winning.  Apparently, they've had a rather serious competition going for the last few years and from the calm quiet intensity of it, I would contend that they are betting their homes, cars and maybe even gold doubloons.   In reality, I think the prize is simply bragging rights which makes it even more spectacular.  Annette and I remain fascinated by it all.  I would have to conclude that they are now harder-core fisherpersons than our hard-core guys and I thoroughly enjoy them proving what this particular lake is capable of producing when one goes out and works at it.  After all, they pulled in 19 fish in under 20 hours time here and while that doesn't sound impressive per hour, you gotta remember that they slept, ate dinner and breakfast during that time as well.  

So, it's off to the races with the Wilson party in Cabin #6 for another year. They are on to a solid start on Jasper for 2014!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Northern Minnesota Through Our Guest's Eyes - All the way from North Carolina

Jasper Lake to the east from Northwind Lodge dock
Joe,

Just wanted to thank you again for a truly excellent stay with you this week. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and activity. 

The kids loved the various water craft; we all had a great time taking regular paddles at all times off the day, from early morning through late evening, either just around the docks or further afield and it was perfect for Tracy and I (and sometimes Clare) to take the canoe, while Robert and Clare variously took the kayaks and paddle boards. 

Being able to rent a Kevlar canoe to allow us to do our day trip to Hegman (or more exactly to allow us to portage relatively easily in general!) was a great plus. I can see us next time bringing our friends and letting some base up at Northwinds while the more adventurous go out for a multiple day canoe trip. 

We all thoroughly enjoyed the fishing. We are definitely not hard core fishing people but, even in our 24 hr window, we spent many hours at all times of the day trying everything from pitting our wits against the bluegills and bass under the dock (Clare) and trolling for the big northerns (Robert). Robert will definitely be remembering his first 'big' fish! 

It was fantastic to be so close to the water so that we could go down and just enjoy the beautiful lake scene from the docks at any time. We quite often went down in the early morning (one morning to watch the beautiful early mist rising off the water as the sun was coming up), and always took a late evening trip down to watch the fish rising in the mirror smooth water and the last of the late evening light.

The cabin was definitely great. Thanks for moving us and letting us have 4 - we loved it! So close to the docks. We would probably do fine in almost any of the cabins but on this particular trip the size was just perfect. We spent lots of good relaxing time inside in the living room reading and playing cards, as well as outside on the deck enjoying the sound of the creek and the loons. 

Loons! Absolutely fantastic! It has been a couple of years since we had been up and the calls of the resident loons really do epitomize the vast wild north. Nowhere else (that we have been!) can you see and hear loons calling like they do in northern Minnesota!

Anyway, we wanted to thank you again for the great stay and to assure you that there are definitely those of us out there (even as far away as Raleigh, NC) who thoroughly appreciate being out on the edge of one of the most beautiful wilderness areas on the planet enjoying the quiet solitude and relaxing atmosphere that folks like you provide. 

We will no doubt be back, if not next year, then the year after or the year after that!

Kind regards,
Charles, Tracy, Clare and Robert. 

Morning at Northwind Lodge


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Fishing Next Door on Tofte lake

Delilah and I headed out with the truck for neighborhood trout fishing when the clock struck 7 PM at Red Rock.  I grabbed an ultralight Shimano Compre rod and with a Shimano reel and 4 lb. test line, found my tackle box with Ugly Ducklings in it and dropped it in my Kondos Pack and set it all int the box of the truck.  Then, I chased Delilah around the parking lot as she looked like I wanted to kill via an evil death ray (?) until I caught her at the store's door and put her in the cab of the truck as well.   Goofy dog...

The evening was cooler and spectacular with no wind.  Tomorrow's sun was peeking through today's clouds. It was a precursor to its plans for the next day.  A hint of what would be coming like an enticing movie trailer before it hid behind the treeline for another night.  I was pretty sure that despite the spectacular evening, the trout would not be cooperating.  I didn't care either way.  Fishing has very little to do with catching.  The two are unrelated as far as I can tell.

At the Tofte Lake parking lot, I unloaded the dog, and my light gear and walked to the boat landing.  I followed the ages old, shoreline trail west to the flat point which is has been favorite spot for eons.  When we were kids, my brother and I used to ride our bikes to that spot and cast nightcrawlers with hook, a rock and a well-placed trucker's knot.  The terrain today is very rugged and surprisingly overgrown.  Some have passed through here but not like in the years long gone.  Getting a bike to that point is no longer possible.

Once we made it to the rock clearing, Delilah checked out the perimeter to make certain it was secure.  She may have also been interested in who was there before us, the number of rabbits walking by, an occasional bear, etc.  Who knows for sure?  She's a dog.  Nonetheless, any new area is "dog heaven" to a new dog and Delilah was enjoying the evening immensely.

I set up with various lures and cast them upon the glassy, beautiful water.  There was no wind to chase away the striking clouds above so you could see them without looking up.  As the sun fell towards the horizon to my left and after several casts and enjoying the northern beauty of Minnesota, Delilah and I packed up and headed back to the truck.  The rainbows of Tofte had eluded me once again.   That's why Spaghettios are so easy to catch.  Tomorrow, I'm working on canoe repair in the sun.



Come on up and enjoy the summer and fall at Northwind Lodge!

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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Fishing Report for Jasper Lake and the area

This season, June appears to have been the hottest month for fishing in Jasper and the area, overall.  Having Red Rock Wilderness Store here as part of Northwind Lodge affords us the ability to find out what is biting and where.  Plus, our Northwind Lodge guests caught the biggest fish and most species at the end of May and throughout June.  When the smallmouth were on the spawning beds this season (which is usually the third week in June for as long as I can remember), our guests were catching whoppers in smallmouth bass and the largemouth were doing pretty nicely, as well.

Once we entered July, our weather turned spectacular for the most part.  We had the occasional mega-downpour, but were very pleased with the nice temps and sunny days.  Only one day hit 90 degrees F and everyone was griping at the horrific discomfort and terrible sweatiness it caused - for one day.  I kept reminding the complainers that we had a normal winter last season which means actual temps dipping to -40 degrees F and six whole weeks of -23 to -25 degree F mornings.  It became apparent to me that many among us have really short memories with everything from politics to weather.  Once we made it past our 15 hour heat wave, summer fell lock-step into mid-seventies by day and mid-to-high forties by night.  That went on for days on end.  It was awful to be so comfortable.  I do think it caused some issues with fishing as while we humans like the climate-controlled temps of northern Minnesota (at least for this year and probably never again), the fish find it less enjoyable or at least un-motivating.  The barometric pressure remained high and infrequently moving for many of the days past.  Fishing is always best when atmospheric pressure is changing and preferably on the rise.  When it remains high all the time, while that is better than a fish depressing low, it is not as good as an inspirational rise.  With the more variable weather of June, fishing was more exciting and in that lies no surprise.  June generally brings about bigger fish and more activity in general. This June was no different.

As for recent activity, there have been quite a few customers coming into Red Rock (our store and the Northwind Lodge office) asking for very specific lures to catch northern pike.  We have thousands of lures in the store here and whenever we don't have the exact color/design/brand in stock, we get a lot of varied remarks of great disappointment.  "Well, one would think that with 25,000 lures in stock, you'd for certain have MY color/brand/model!"  When I ask what they are using that specific color to catch, they invariably say "northern pike".  At that point, great restraint must be put forth on my presentation that five different customers have been in today all asking for a really different specific lure "for northerns".  That in itself should really easily indicate that the northerns are biting and they are biting EVERYTHING.  Northern pike are like that.  They can really be biting and they pretty much are biting from a reaction to the lure. How do I know that?  I've personally watched LOTS of northern pike under the ice with underwater cameras.  It also doesn't hurt that I fished hard for many years as a guide.  For more current data, Rapala came out with their Scatter Rap which is a whole line of lures that wobble when pulled through the water, but then suddenly shoots off in an erratic motion.  That erratic, occasional veering off-course makes fish take notice.  That notice can result in a reaction strike.  Northerns are reactive fish.   Yes, there are occasional times when they do hit one color over another, but more often than not, they will hit all the lures in your tackle box and sometimes even a six inch yellow, plastic, braided rope with a treble hook attached.  Fishing northern pike is the easiest of all the fish and they are very aggressive.  That is why the limit for them is three.  The trick is finding the big ones.  There is a reason that big fish are big - they are not stupid.

Now, does that mean that northerns will hit every lure you throw out of the boat?  No.  Sometimes, they are simply not in the mood.  The point that I am trying to make is that if you don't find your exact, trusty, confidence lure for northern pike, don't worry about it.  We have about 100 others that will do quite well and on some days nothing works.  Incidentally, the exact same thing can be said for worm harnesses and spinner rigs for walleye fishing.  Colorado or Indiana blade - it's not going to matter that much.  Spin, flash, bite.    For July and August, slap on a  fluorescent orange, chartreuse, or copper colored blade, hook on a worm, and throw it over the side.  Troll around the cabbage weed bed edges and be on the bottom.  Other colors will work as well. They are really more interested in the worm.  


As of late, northerns and bass have been slamming top water lures like Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs, various poppers and  Jig-N-Pigs which are pretty weedless and fun to use.  The best fishing in Jasper appeared to be from 5 AM to 8 AM when the pressure seemed to increase every day for the past ten days.  That was for the Kowalyshens in Cabin 7.  Jim Rhoads and son Dan, and  grandson Abraham did well during a wide range of daytime hours.  Terry Rose, caught fish at all day times but noted that the fishing was a bit slower overall this season.  I'm still holding the spectacular weather to be responsible for slow fish activity.    What was inexplicable was that the bluegills disappeared for the past two weeks.  Normally, this time of year, they are jumping in the boat.   We'll have to see what the rest of August and September brings.  

Lake trout have been hitting big jigs at 90 feet in Snowbank Lake.  Catching lakers at this time of year requires a special skill set.  Rainbow trout in Tofte Lake (next door to us) has been producing some nice rainbows from trolling with Salmo Hornets in Rainbow Dace pattern which is exactly like the minnows that are in Tofte.  To use these little beauties, you simply troll them behind the boat about 150 to 200 feet....and the rainbows are tasty!

We'll see what this week brings.  I'm hoping to sneak a little time on the water as well.  For the bulk of the summer, I spent my time talking about fishing in the store for 12 hours per day, seven days a week since the first week of June which was my last trip to date.  


The ax is becoming dull.  I need to go sharpen it.

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