Did I get ripped off??????

[irvingdog]

I just had a sleeper on LOW out of Baudette, and bait was provided. It wound up being crappie minnows. Was I screwed over on this? If they could not provide what has seemed to unanimously been described as the best bait recently (At LEAST fatheads if not shiners) shouldn't they have told me that they were out of what was working best? Also, if you've got a sleeper and the owner says that I probably won't have room in the bomber for my portable, auger and all of my other stuff (I took it anyway and managed to get it out there) and then doesn't even provide an ice chisel for hole freeze-up, doesn't this seem wrong? Should I have expected a chisel if they weren't going to do more than one visit at 9 am and another at 4pm before leaving me alone out there. Thank God I brought my auger! I'd have been in bad shape without it. Wake up to holes frozen shut with 2 plus feet of ice (yes, I know it was really cold, but not that unusual) and no check-in until 9 or 10 o'clock?!?<BR>12v. system and no battery? Terribly rickety beds covered the only holes in the house? Can't fish from a cot?<P>O.K. that last one sounded spoiled.........

[Guest]

Where was that out of? Sounded like you had a good time!Did you catch any fish?<P><BR> Thanks

[irvingdog]

The fishing report probably won't be different from many others from this past weekend (3/1-3/3). Between 2 fishermen, we got maybe 20 small sauger (2 at or over 14") 10 tiny walleye, 1 five pound pout and one whitefish. Most of these fish were negative. Although we worked Angel-Eyes, Buckshot spoons, Ugly Bugs, Cleos, Kasmasters and most any good LOW jig-bait in gold, red glow and chartreuse, the only fish came on red Gamakatsu dead sticks, right near the bottom. In 32 feet of water, we marked no fish any higher than 5 feet up on the FL18.<P>As moderators have requested, I won't publicly name the resort. Although I have endorsed good service, they don't want public bashing, so I won't join in. But I think they deserved a D-. Only the son of the operator saved them. He seemed to care where no one else did. Bomber drivers sure liked to sit in the machine and watch you load your gear. Am I looking for to much?<P>I will respond to P.M.

[curt quesnell]

There isnt room enough in or on a bomber<BR>for everyone to bring portables and all their<BR>other gear along. If you want that stuff <BR>along drive out to the sleeper.<P>The rest of the stuff you are talking about<BR>is legit. I dont like being dropped off for<BR>2 days out on the ice relying on someone to<BR>come check on me. <P>Everyone who decides to stay in a sleeper<BR>should make sure you check things out before<BR>you let the bomber guy drive away. If at<BR>all possible, follow the guy out in your<BR>truck so you can drive back to the resort<BR>and sock somebody in the nose if you need <BR>too. <P>Seriously, what if the heat goes down<BR>at 1am and it'll be 9 am till someone comes<BR>to check on you. There are lots of things<BR>that can go wrong, this year you can bring<BR>your truck anywhere with portables and extra<BR>heaters and augers and chisels and more.<P>Winter on LOW is nothing to be taken lightly.<BR>Bring your truck out to the sleeper or get<BR>a room at the resort and come in for the night.<P>Curt Quesnell

[Guest]

Hey Irvingdog,<BR>can you send the name of the resort you stayed at? We are scheduled to go up this coming weekend and have been looking forward to the trip - hopefully not the same resort, but still good to know for future reference. Thanks. [email protected]

[irvingdog]

I E-mailed said resort, asking if I had the option of driving out. They never answered.

[Gopher]

I would not be happy either. We have rented from Steve Sweet of Sweet Sleepers for 7 years and have always had a good experience. We will be in one of Steve's houses March 6-9 and I can hardly wait.<P>Plenty of fatheads and if you have trouble finding shiners he will get some. He has CB radios in his houses plus I have a cell phone for emergencies. He does a good job of putting you on fish. The worst we have had is skim ice covering the holes in the AM, although with cold and thick ice the holes sometimes have to be redrilled after a day or two.

[Guest]

Hey Irvingdog, was there any real deep snow drifts or ridges out to the sleeper - do you think you could have driven out with 4wd??

[marine_man]

Irvingdog,<P>Could you also e-mail me the name of the resort?<P>Thanks!<P>[email protected]

[irvingdog]

Snow drifts are not the issue. Pressure ridges, and safety are. Without GPS, you could easily get lost out there. I don't have info about a Baudette "Fee drive out road".

[coldasice]

IrvingDog,<BR>We are going up Mid-March for a first time sleeper excursion. Will you please give me a heads up on the resort too. We usually run up there with our portables, but have too many guys coming that don't have the luxury of a truck and portable house, thus the sleeper option. Was the resort willing to move you guys, how long had the sleeper been on the same spot??<BR>[email protected]<BR>Thanks!!<BR>

[Guest]

I just called up the resort we are going to and they do not want you driving out to the sleepers. I know this was suggested, but they said ice ridges, snow storms, etc. could be trouble. I was hoping to drive out to bring the portables, guess not.

[irvingdog]

O.K. The sleeper I used was moved before I got there. EVERY RESORT SHOULD DO THAT MUCH! As far a sleepers on LOW, I doubt I'd do it again if for the only reason that there seems to be no night bite to speak of. Eelpout perhaps, but you don't exactly hear of a walleye bite that would justify sitting in a small box without showers or flush toilets for multiple days. Just make sure the resort has you out by sun-up and picks you up after sunset so that you maximize your hours. Even from day houses, you should be able to do mobile runs around the area.

[curt quesnell]

Fellas,<P>After reading the posts I realize, once again, that nothing is simple.<P>Irvingdog just wants to get up to LOW and <BR>fish. He doesnt know the area and could<BR>get into some trouble driving around on his<BR>own, especially way out there if the weather<BR>turns nasty. If your guide drops you off<BR>at least he knows where you will be when <BR>he comes to check on you.<P>Remember this, you are depending on someone<BR>you never met before to make sure you are <BR>warm and toasty in a VERY harsh environment.<P>Bring at least some bait of your choosing.<P>Your own sleeping bags, at least till you <BR>know the operator.<P>A cell phone with a good battery and numbers<BR>to call.<P>Even the best outfitter running 25 houses<BR>and a resort and a life can have some disasters goin on. You sitting out in one<BR>of his sleeper houses will share that with<BR>him.<P>One more quick story. My dad and a buddy of<BR>his got left out in the Canadian boonies on<BR>a FLY IN TRIP for 3 extra days!!!!Lucky them?<BR>No, on the day they were to be picked up the<BR>bait was gone, the boats were empty of gas,<BR>the bread and pop was all gone. They ate<BR>the fillets they were going to bring home<BR>with no breading. But mostly, they wondered<BR>whether or not they would ever get picked up.<P>If you never went fishing you'd never have<BR>a good story to tell<P>Curt Quesnell<P>

[Dr. Bob]

Please see my reply to the thread "Gibbins".<P>I did not add it to my reply but there was also a chisel under one of the bunks. But it was not needed because the house was so well banked.<P>I have stayed in Arnesen's sleepers for many years and they have nice houses (With a spare heater just in case). But recently I decided to try something new and I am VERY glad I did!<P>Sleepers for me are usually a BLAST - but you have to go with someone good - resort and fishing partner. And you have to be prepared. "The Pond" is nothing to mess with .<p>[This message has been edited by Dr. Bob (edited 03-04-2003).]

[irvingdog]

Curt, Irvingdog did not want to do anything but fish the sleeper and the immediate area around the house. I only wanted to have the portable and auger for immediate area usage. The option to drive out was only pursued when they said I could not get my gear out on a bombardier. <BR>Supposing the operators would supply good bait was my error. I was acting on good faith. Oops. Irvingdog (me) is usually smarter than that. I am a merchant in the hunt/fishing industry, and I give my customers the "red carpet treatment". erroniously, I expected the same. This outfitter wasted my time and money. Sadly, they also blew a huge opportunity to have me loudly, and profitably tout their service. Now, instead, they have a very irritated person, who will make sure that if he can avoid it, his customers will not patronize such poor service if he can send him to some one who provides quality service. <BR><p>[This message has been edited by irvingdog (edited 03-05-2003).]

[curt quesnell]

Irvingdog.<P>Your plan was to stay in the immediate area.<BR>My thinking was the guide comming to check<BR>on the clients and finding them and the truck<BR>gone! Then what?<P>It's not good news to me that you werent treated as well as you deserved. Most of the<BR>trips go well and everyone is happy. But,<BR>things can go wrong.<P>Be prepared when you come to LOW<P>Curt Quesnell

[hawksguy]

Irvingdog, I'd be really upset at the way you were treated. Resorters make their living through good customer service. Are you likely to ever go back there? Probably not. Can you e-mail me the name of the resort? [email protected] Thanks

[Guest]

Sleepers are not for everyone. A few tips for the unexperienced. <BR>-Go with people you enjoy spending time with for extended periods of time in a confined space.<BR>-Bring a small keg and bottles of the liking.<BR>-Bring your own bait. <BR>-Bring an auger<BR>-Bring a marine battery, w/ CD player, speakers, plug in for cell phone to call if trouble.<BR>-Snowmobiles w/ GPS to go to the nearest bar at least once and find your way home (or for moving around if the weather is nice.) <P>It can get mighty frustrating sitting in one spot for a 3+ day trip. Especially when it's 3 days of -20 and wind. Most years we hardly get out in our portables. We have never used the guide to bring our gear out. We bring our own stuff out, because we want to be mobile and not "depend" on anyone we don't know well. It's work and hassle, but it pays off every trip.<P><BR>

[MJR]

We have gone to LOTW for 3 years in a row with a group of about 20-25 guys, we have always stayed at the same resort for some reason unknown to me, the owner is quite good looking I guess. Anyway we had several cabins and the largest cabin where 14 people were supposed to sleep smelled something awful like a backed up sewer. We complained and took the owner to the cabin to let her determine what the smell is. She said it must be someones bag. I thought why would someone sh*& in their bag and then bring it up here. Anyway she did not want to discuss it any further and said that there is no problem. And for the third year in a row the toilet in my cabin did not work. That was the last time I will go to that resort. I do not really believe in publicly bashing someones business, so all you really can do is just not go back.

[Beerbatter]

Can I get the name of the resorts too. I am planning a trip later this month. Thanks for the help, it is good for us to stay together and share the good and bad info. [email protected]

[Guest]

I had a bad experiance with my first sleeper rental on LOW (a drive out). I'm not very fussy, but the condition of our house was TERRIBLE. It by no means represented the resort brochure- picture or description!! Research a little before you make a trip to the big pond. Questions- e-mail me at [email protected]

[Guest]

I had a bad experiance with my first sleeper rental on LOW (a drive out). I'm not very fussy, but the condition of our house was TERRIBLE. It by no means represented the resort brochure- picture or description!! Research a little before you make a trip to the big pond. Questions- e-mail me at [email protected]

[Guest]

<BR> I am planning on a trip at the end of this month.<BR> Could any of you fine people help me make the right decision about what resort I should use for my fish house rentals?<P> I would be a might peeved if I had an experience like yours irvingdog.<BR> Any referals would be much appreciated.<P> [email protected]

[End of the Line]

I hate to hear anyone have that bad of an experience. I personally have my own sleeper on LOW, and can tell you from experience that saftey has to come first. If you have that bad feeling when the driver drops you off BE CAREFUL. For a service to have that kind of manners should be your first clue. I have been there. There are times paying extra for a service is worth it's weight in gold. Those bad stories usually start with the words "someone had to be somehwere else." I got fed up with some services I received. That's why I built my own. Now I go up, and pay the road fee, and make sure to thank the resort for plowing the road. Do that, and tell the resort how much you like there service, and tell them you tell ALL your friends what a great job they do. Now that resort even plows me a path to my front door when I ask. Now that's service.

[irvingdog]

Did they give you crappie minnows also?

[HawkEYE1]

I have a trip planned to LOTW next weekend and we are tentatively scheduled for a sleeper at Randall's. Does anyone have a report on this resort. Info would be much appreciated - please send to [email protected].

[Guest]

Just got back from the same resort as this post started out with (for those who know which resort it is)... <P>I'd just like to comment on a few things that were brought up and note that you can do better for resorts (I will choose not to go back to this resort).<P>Gas heater blew out both nights. First night we were able to get it restarted, 2nd night it wouldn't. (ended up sleeping with the lights on and stove turned on). We could have called with our cell had there been an emergency, but we were fine like this. Still, this should be a non issue.<P>Houses didn't appear that they had moved much all season. Many, many dinks (7-10" variety). No good fish over 2 days (biggest 16.5").<P>bait was good, service was pretty good (they got us out to the house right away and checked in twice a day)<P>The house was big and fairly comfortable other than the heater (I think it was a 10x16. Lights were marginal, we used a lantern.<P>I'd go elsewhere. Like someone else posted, there are plenty of other operations that will work hard to put you on fish. None of the other rentals were doing any better than us fishing, so it may have just been the cold weather (I realize that is fishing)... I'm not complaining that the fishing was slow, but they should move houses in shallower or something to locate active fish for you in my opinion. There were plenty of reports from the same time frame of people doing well on the lake.<P>------------------<BR>- Addict<BR>-------------------------<BR>"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." <BR>- Henry David Thoreau

[curt quesnell]

Randalls should be a good place. They know<BR>fishing on LOW and are professionals.<P>I dont have any first hand experiance with <BR>them but the place is nice and growing.<P>Curt Quesnell<p>[This message has been edited by curt quesnell (edited 03-14-2003).]

[Guest]

From everything I've heard, I'd go with Lyon's sleepers. They were booked way out when I tried to reserve, otherwise I'd of booked with them.