Good to meet you: TL, FM, and Uff.

[mizefish]

Finally got to meet 3 of my Rainy Lake idols last week.

Tearin' Lips(1Stop), Fishmeister(Hardees), and UffdaPete(IslandView dock)...RainyDaze, I'll get to you next year.

I'm Brad from Chicago, part of a group of 20 (Contact Us Please) who every year manage to coax a few fish up from the reefs by trolling crankbaits. Mostly deep Reef-Runners and 20ft. Taildancers. Ask nicely and I'll share the hottest colors, and yes, some worked better than others.

Fishing was good Saturday-Monday (7th-9th).

AND THEN THE WIND STARTED TO BLOW!!!!!!!!

Rainy isn't just uncomfortable in big winds, it's scary!

Tuesday was a deluge followed by a hurricane.

Wednesday was a hurricane followed by a deluge.

Thursday was a gale, that died after nightfall.

Friday we came home a day early.

All this despite a 10-day forcast of NO WIND prior to the trip. Well, that's weather up-north, I guess.

Still, we caught some fish. Pike were biting pretty well. Had a 38", two 36"s, and plenty of 32"s & under.

Nice size walleyes, too. Got a 26" and a bunch of 21"-24"s.

Trolling in 30-40 FOW around the popular reefs was our tactic mostly. Best fishing was Monday evening, flat calm, out on the hump-fields north of Lost Bay & Cranberry Bay.

Couldn't go 5 minutes without a hit. Got my 36" that night.

Best 4-hours I've ever spent on Rainy.

Oh, gotta great story for the FishStory thread...is that still going around?

Brad from Chicago

[Rainydaze]

Congrats on some nice fish Brad! I feel your pain with the latest weather pattern. We've been getting pretty beat up out there as of late, but the show must go on. Amazingly enough the fish have continued to snap through the mayflies and unstable weather... Take care Buddy! Life is good here on Rainy even in the wind! Ha

RD

[riverdancer]

mizefish.Our tribe was up there the same time, and I belive the best part was hereing revile before we left dock, impressive. I will have to admit the weather was not the best however this was the best fishing we have had up there. I think the final count was over 200 walleyes with the biggest at 27 1/2 in. We mainly kept with live bait with leeches doing the best and our neighbor found the crawler bite, I think you would be the group we met on the dock also???? We had the white Triton. We were looking for you Friday but sounds like you left early. Maybe we will run into you agin next year,

[mizefish]

Riverdancer, sorry about the wake up calls. BugleBoy is the nicest guy in the world, but I cringe every time he blows that horn at dawn. I guess the tradition started when we had the resort to ourselves one year.

So YOU'RE the one with the white Triton. Man, I had boat envy the entire week, looking at that beauty.

Two hundred fish is amazing. If I had better manners I would refrain now from asking you to take me out with you some morning or evening next year. But I don't. So will you?

We troll crankbaits pretty much exclusively. It's easy and lazy, I know, but I'm just a passenger and the captain dictates how we fish. The couple of times I've gotten him to drift or anchor with Lindys we've only done so-so, boat control being a major weakness. Also, honestly, we're probably missing alot of bites just because we don't know what the look like or feel like. I understand a nibble. But a small thump or tick as I've heard walleye bites described might be way too subtle for guys who are used to bites being indicated by wildly thrashing rods in holders.

So either a kind-hearted fellow camper tutors me for a few hours (I'm a good netter & navigator) or I pay RainyDaze a couple Franklins for the same lesson. Either way 200 fish tells me I gotta learn the ins & outs of Lindy rigging. Might actually have to put the trolling motor in the water. Imagine that. See what I'm up against in my captain's boat?

By the way, I was the fool in the cowboy hat all week. Kept the sun off, but boy did my wife give me crap.

[Rainydaze]

I'd suggest paying the Franklins to Daze!

RD

[riverdancer]

Mizefish, I really did think the bugle was great, in fact we had a couple of kids that could have used it, I would be more than happy to take you out next year. We already booked the cabin and I think it's the 5-12 next year. Look us up if you are there. By the way the boat is for sale!

Always keep fishing

[mizefish]

That was funny, Daze. You made me laugh out loud, so I think I WILL pad your wallet a bit next summer. Plus, I can tell you're a good dad by all the comments you make about how jazzed your client's kids get when you put 'em on fish.

And Riverdancer, I'll hunt you down, too, for an evening of Lindys & Labbatts (or Diet Pepsi...your call). We'll consider it a test-drive, assuming the Triton is still for sale next summer. I'll also buy you dinner at IslandView, but I insist you try Trella's Special Bowtie Pasta. Not on the menu, but they know exactly what you mean when you mention it...grilled chicken & mushrooms in a garlic wine sauce over bowties. BAM!

Glad the BugleBoy was not a major nuisance.

We always go the weekend after the 4th, so it looks like the 5th thru 12th for us too. Hope it's average weather next year...79 and a slight breeze.

Thanks for writing, guys.

[riverdancer]

Sounds like a plan.

[Rainydaze]

Sounds Good Mize!

I'm just sitting here on my deck looking over the lake right now. Not a day goes by that we don't realize how lucky we are to have this tremendous fishery in our backyard. Sometimes I struggle with what to do especially in the fall. The grouse have made a nice comeback, fall fishing is second to none, ducks, bowhunting... And of course ice fishing is just around the corner. If you haven't experienced the mighty Rainy in the winter time your selling yourself short. We can either take the highroad in my 16ft carpeted, heated, knotty pine, thermostatic controlled, luxury house on wheels or take the portables out to nowhere. Small crowds Big fish is what I always say. LOTW certainly doesn't have anything on us besides a better marketing campaign. THe secret is getting out though. On a side note I slipped out with the fishing queen last night and honestly have to say had a tough night. We boated 8 walleyes, but they were tighlipped. We were on some big fish, but they are still feeding on the mayflies. One of the longest running mayfly hatches I can ever remember. I guess the conditions are just right. I would have moved out of the hatch if I were with clients, but stuck it out in the mayfly scum, and reaffirmed the tough bite. Ha! Gotta love Rainy though! The fishing queen caught a nice 8lb northern that literally jumped into the Lund Fisherman! Good Times I tell ya! Get up here the fish are darn near jumping in the boat. I may have to issue Walleye helmets when you step on board from now on!

RD

[mizefish]

That was a great post. Do you do any writing for outdoors publications? Regarding the fish jumping in the boat, that's actually happening on the Illinois river thanks to an invasive strain of Asian Carp. Something about the motor noise freaks these fish out and they go airborne. Broken windshields, bloody noses, the whole deal. I've probably tossed the articles my mother-in-law sent me, but I bet if you Google Asian Carp Illinois River you'd find an article or two. Better would be to see the photos or even some video. It's funny as hell. If I were a better computer nerd, I'd sent you a link, but I can't even figure out how to post a photo. Wifey has green-lighted a September trip, maybe a long weekend. If you're not grouse hunting that might be a good time for my Lindy lesson. Of course at that time of year you'll tell me trolling Reef Runners is the only option!!!

[Rainydaze]

Hey Mize,

That will be a great time to come up. When you finalize your plans give me a shout, and we can work out the details. My email is [email protected]. Yes actually I am a writer for the Outdoor News publication. Typically those articles are a little more serious though! Take care buddy, and I look forward to meeting you. You'll be a lindy fishing fool!

RD