Sometimes I Get a Chance to Go Fishing

I don't like to leave too often during our season because invariably, somebody needs something or something breaks when I'm gone - at least it feels that way.  But, I do like to sneak away to Wood Lake every now and then.  Here I am with my friend Paul from about 10 days ago.  

It was a good day of fishing.

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Another Fall Day on Jasper Lake at Northwind Lodge

Now, that global warming has officially set in on northeastern Minnesota, we are dressing appropriately and still getting out on the water to nail some lunkers.  This is Connie Wegisin from Ohio with her northern she caught yesterday.  That was a particularly chunky monkey she brought into the boat.

The weeds in the lake this year are unlike anything I've ever seen before.  It's weird how some years we have no weeds and think the rusty crayfish have moved in and killed them all.  Other years we have normal weeds, and this year we have weeds up the wazoo.  And yet, my garden croaked and was a waste of  $28...  The brush this year is thicker than peasoup and the growing season was ridiculously short for everything.

As a result of the thick weeds in the lake, the Wegisins were casting topwater plugs because even the weedless are hard to do right now.  Red and white is hot and I think Connie was using a Spook or something similar - Tom couldn't remember the name.  Anyway, the haukies are pounding red and white and Connie caught one of these:

So, if you were staying at Northwind Lodge right now, not only would be enjoying cool weather, but you could be taking advantage of the serious northerns rising from the cover of cabbage weeds to attack easy targets twitching on top.  I don't want to rub it in.  Oh, what the heck; yes I do...

Nice northern pike, Connie!

They put it back in the lake, too!

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Windy Day on Wood Lake

Here is recent blog post in our Red Rock Outdoors Blog about a recent trip to Wood Lake with friend and Northwind Lodge guest Paul Edwards.  Lots of wind, one really nice walleye with the JVC Adixxion II camera worked both above and underwater.  Yes, it is definitely waterproof and dries off very rapidly.  Between the driving rain and dunking,  "waterproof and rugged" is a good thing in little action cameras.  

To see the new post - Click Here

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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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