What happened with trips East '09

Cliff and I went to fish Lake Kinkaid in southern Illinois the same week as the Musky Road Rules challenge. We obviously didn't check their tour schedule beforehand. When I was there the year before, we were the only ones on the lake two of the days (true, one day it was snowing and the other we had to break ice), and there was NO ONE else at the Murphysboro Motel. This year, the whole motel was packed with Muskie boats. Most with sponsors. Kinkaid isn't tiny, but it doesn't fish very big, either. Queueing up to head into coves isn't all that productive. I caught a 30-something and then we switched to Walleyes for a couple days. Didn't catch anything. Either they were in full spawn or we just don't know how to catch 'em (very likely). Pull in to the dock on what turned out to be our last night and got inspected by the officer. Bad extinguisher, horn broken, no whistle, no lanyard on the tiller key, something else I'm forgetting...in short, more violations than he's ever let someone off with a warning for.

My one Muskie:

Had been reading here about 80-Walleye days at Red Wing while in Illinois. So we drive all the way back to try it out (keep in mind I already flew in from Oregon for the trip in the first place). We get excited to actually catch fish and head out there for our first day and catch...wait for it...Nothing! Try again the next day, in freezing rain, again, nothing! The guide Swede asked how we were doing while we pulled out...we told him our sad story and he informed us they started spilling water over the dam the night before we got there and it put all the fish down. Typical, just typical.

I come out for three weeks in July. Bad luck started one week before even before I got there. Cliff was up on a ladder, fell off and broke his ankle. His participation was in doubt, but he wasn't about to let some doctor tell him whether he should go fishing or not. Also just before I get there, y'all had some big storm up North that turned URL and LOW (Big Traverse out of Baudette) into a big mud puddle. Again with the timing.

Cliff with the only fish we caught on Upper Red Lake, a Sheepshead (notice the walking boot on his foot...that wouldn't last much longer):


Next week head to Nestor Falls for the week. Neither Cliff nor I catch any Muskies (missed a few, painfully) until the final day, when the wind was finally going the right direction (you know, anything but out of the North) and got a couple mid-30s...so not a total waste. In the middle of the week, I went out with Bob Pieske, resident expert Muskie fisherman in Nestor Falls who gives out tons of advice on muskyhunter.com. He was a very gracious host who showed me how easy catching muskies can be. He's also a very short and accurate caster who doesn't miss a spot. If you're in the back of the boat, don't expect to catch anything, he hoovers 'em all up (as a good fisherman should).

Bob with the littlest Muskie I've ever seen:

Bob with a bigger one:

One of my Muskies:

A rather large Walleye (for me), keep in mind that net is monstrous big:

URL isn't any better on the way back. Almost capsized on Cass in the wind. Went to Little Wolf since it was tiny. I like that lake, though we burned up the Minnkota when the blade got wrapped with mono. Big motor stopped working, forgot why. Down to one kicker (glad I bought it specifically for the trip). Typical.

A Little Wolf Muskie:

How Cliff is dressed should give you an idea of the weather. Keep in mind this is JULY:

We also had an ice fishing trip on Mille Lacs ("They were really hitting before you got here and the temp dropped to -20").

Our little shack:

Cliff inside the trying to figure out the flasher: