Portavilla Report

[Portavilla]

Most have been using Suckers and Smelt. We have been using Suckers 4" to 5" with a few decoys as well. The upside to using the 4-5 we have been getting bigger Waleyes as well.

[Portavilla]

The questions most people ask is where are the fish biting. First of all it depends on what you are looking for. Today we have been catching more pike in the deeper water and the Walleye bite has been better in shallower. Three weeks ago you could reverse that statement.

This is how my boys fish Red. They come up stay with dad in his fish house and move from vacant house to vacant house fishing for what they want, or they will take a rent and go house. They will fish for Pike in one spot then Walleyes in another, then Crappies in another. When Danny and his buddy came they got 126 Walleyes a couple of Northern and one was over 40” and a couple of Crappies. Now of course they have a dad that has seventeen houses in four areas and the use of the equipment and plow trucks, but they move, move and move. Ice fishing is like deer hunting; you have to have a couple of stands for which way the wind blows.

This is why we have rent and goes and day houses with half-day rentals so people can do this, however they are the least popular rentals. It seams most would rather move into a house and settle in for their stay. At times it can be like standing on a deer stand when the wind is not in your favor for what you are fishing for. If the Walleye bite is slow switch it up for Pike or vice versa if you are sitting in one place. Play some cards have a good time but if you want a lot of action set yourself to be as mobile as possible. If the snow is deep and you don’t feel comfortable getting off road with your portables spend a night on the south shore and a night on the north shore, stay with an outfitter in deeper water one night and one in shallower water the next night but move around if you can.

Red Lake can offer fantastic Walleye fishing but it is never a given you will still do as good as most places even when the bite is slow but you do have opportunities to catch a trophy Pike or a wall mountable Crappie, just this week I have seen this happen for quite a few fisherman some have caught the biggest fish of their lives and this is what we call slow.

[Portavilla]

Guys & gals,

We would like at this time to thank our guests for all the fine memories we have because of your stay with us. My brothers and I will be telling stories all summer long about some of the adventures we had while trying to keep up with things up there. I have been back for a few days and still wake up at 4:30 AM thinking I have to go fill generators. The last week was probably the best Pike fishing we have had in a long time with 17 fish that were caught in the 36” to 44” range. The Walleye bite was slow but the big Pike was a lot of fun.

Also don't forget about our JOE FISH contest. Just send us email about your favorite fishing trip with your dad and you could be selected to win a pass to fish with Portavilla all season at no charge. Selection will be made prior to father’s day 2009.

Just a reminder we will be sending out pre-fishing invitations for those that stayed with us this season around October for the 19th & 20th of December. Just drive up and we will provide the shack and let us know how the fishing is in the spot we have it. If your email changes let us know so we can update the list to keep you in the loop on this. Some of you will be the first to check out our new 26x10 6-man units and try out our new secrete weapon the NOMAD.

Chris Freudenberg

Portavilla

[email protected]