Appeldoorns this weekend, a few ?'s

[cyclones]

A college buddy and myself are fishing out of Appeldoorns this weekend. This will be my first time ice fishing Mille Lacs since I was a little kid and we are excited to give it a shot. We are both used to fishing LOTW and URL so our "catching" expectations arent as high but the opportunity to try something different, meet new friends, drive half as far, and experience first class sleeper accomodations are going to be a huge plus. As far as fishing, I have a couple questions. During daylight hours are you just fishing for perch and hope a walleye hits or do you have one smaller perch jig and one larger walleye option? Without any knowledge I was thinking about dead sticking a large shiner for Walleyes and jigging a small buckshot for perch. Also, is it worth a shot to try a big sucker for northerns in the area I am fishing? If so, how far off the bottom do the pike run on ML?

Lastly, is there any nightlife (cold beer, big tvs, jukebox, pool, friendly bartenders) close to Appeldoorns for a few hours when the bite is slow this weekend? Thanks for any info friends!

[TRZ II]

Jack's on Mille Lacs is closed, so you may have to settle for Buzzies-great food!

[chwillia]

I was at Appeldorns last weekend and it was my first time there. The fishing was slow but my buddy and I did seem to out fish the neighbors and some of guys I knew fishing the lake at the same time. We caught 3 Walleyes (2 small and 1 @ 25") and 20-30 Perch. We had ZERO luck with anything other than fatheads. We used plain hooks with a fathead on the rattle reels. We used jigging spoons and such with either fathead heads or fathead tails attached when jigging. We also jigged with plain hooks. For us the fishing seemed best (or least worst) from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM. We fished hard at all times though. We only left the shanty for about a grand total of 4 or 5 hours from Thurs - Sun.

We did eat at Buzzies on Saturday and the Saturday buffet was pretty good and about $12. They had TV's and at least 1 pool table.

[chwillia]

Also, forget about the shiners. We went that route on the rattle reels but the fish seemed to have no interest.

[DRH1175]

We will up this weekend as well in House 12 & 13 Which house will you be in? For us a Fathead and a plain red or Flor. hook seems to work for the rattles. And my go to jigging spoon has been the 1/8oz buckshot in Flor yellow and orange or lime. I have been catching both walleyes and perch on this in the gravel areas uqually.

[hart0670]

I was up with some buddies two weekends ago out of Appeldoorns - buckshots seemed to be the best for us too. We tried putting a few shiners and suckers on the rattle reels but the fish showed absolutely no interest. Best thing for the rattle reels was a red hook with a fathead, or even smaller crappie minnows. It it's not too cold you might want to move around and hole hop a bit as well.

Buzzies is a pretty fun bar, they have a few tvs, a pool table, and decent food. Also, you don't have to drive off the lake to get there. One tip if you do go, lay a track on your GPS, it's easy to get lost coming back after dark, especially after a few beers!

[broman]

There's a bar in Isle as well. But I've never been there so can't say if it's any good. You can't get to it without going off the lake though. I've been to Toucans at Fishermans Wharf (which you can get to without going off the lake). It has a bar, but is more of a restaurant, with a bar. Food is good.

[machohorn]

Buzzies is a nice place for "after Hours" They have karoke on sat nights, Some nights great the next weekend pretty bad, oh well I will be there on Sat night as usual, just look for the group from albertville, the bar keeps will point us out . lol

[cyclones]

thanks for all the info folks. we will be in shack #6 and sounds like Buzzies Saturday night will be a good time.

[Paul Waldowski]

Andy,

You are actually going to be in Fish house #7.

[cyclones]

Oh geez! I was completely mentally, physically, drunkenly, planning on #6. This changes everything! lol

[DRH1175]

House #7 did pretty well last weekend. Read up in the 4th Anniversary thread.

[Red Miller]

Heheheh...thats too funny!

Dude!! Hey, We're in here!!

[Dave]

Thanks to Paul, my boys picked up this 21" walleye, a 11.5" perch and a couple of smaller perch. THANK YOU, PAUL!!!

Yes, it was nice in comfy in the Appeldoorn house.

[Paul Waldowski]

Dave,

Thanks for the nice photos. I hope you don't mind as I added them to our Facebook page.

[bitz]

we made our first trip to the lake a couple of weeks ago on a short notice. Paul and company did a great job of getting us going and we had #6. we only caught one eye about 9 inches (wife had a mount made) and no perch but a couple off at the hole. (just kidding about the mount)

Paul stopped by to check on us and ended up helping with the marcum and went way over expectations as to help etc. we are looking to come back this weekend for a day and for sure will attempt to go with Paul and his gang.

Bitz

[Dave]

No problem, Paul. THANKS again!!!

[winona walleye]

I was looking at appledoons website and saw that the rent flashers and camera's for the weekend. some friends and and I are going to be fishing that area feb 4,5,6,. Do they only rent to people staying in their sleepers or anyone?

[Sifty]

Best thing to do is to call Paul and ask.

Sifty