upper red lake Upper Red Lake Fishing Reports by Cookie

[cookie129]

WOW 35 degrees all day yesterday with a 15 mph wind melted all the snow again. Its 34 right now and never got below freezing last night. Headed out last night to check on Shelly and Mike. They had 5 in the bucket and caught there 6th keeper while I was there. Shelly fishes with out a vexlar or bobber and just jigs and waits for a bite . What a great way to fish as when a fish hits its such a surprise. Seems moving that 100 yards payed offed for now.

I buttomed up blue thunder yesterday and will take it out this morning to check out the three bridges crossing the pressure ridge out of hillmens. Buddy moved a few of his houses over the ridge yesterday. I will more then likly wait to push out as the fishing is fine where I'm at for now. Talking to Buddy it sounds like theres still a good bite in 8 feet of water but everyone wants to be further out. There were a couple portables fishing shallow yesterday and they never moved? I did not want to bother them so will have to wonder how they did. The family is coming up for xmas so I need to prep a few extra fishing rods for the gang as we plan on wetting a line. I also have to get north carolina out of the woods today as It is rented just after xmas. I may have to haul snow off shore again for banking the way it looked last night.

[cookie129]

First off merry christmas to all from Cookie and Kellie. Last night heading out to check on Mike and Shelly and there was quite a bit of standing water on the lake. I do not think theres enough running down the holes to make big holes which is a good thing. The fishing was a bit slower yesterday for mike and shell. I told them my houses never seem to get better the second and third day. Not sure why or how to correct it other then moving the house onto fresh ice. Its very quiet out of Hillmens road with just a couple andlers out there.

Buddy Hillmen has moved most of his fleet over the pressure ridge and has them stung out every 1/4 mile or so. Looking for the bridges became a adventure I was driving nice and slow and just could not make out a bridge untell I drove over a 3 inch wide crack of open water. I then spotted the bridge to the west. The second bridge was bigger but I did not cross it as I have no intension of moving that way yet as the fishing has been good where I'm at for now. I also noticed I still have no heat in blue thunder even though the temp gauge is around 189. When I got home I topped off the radiator,I then got a funnel and topped off the overflow tank. Turns out just like I thought the over flow tank is cracked and spewed out all the antifeeze I dumped into it. I then procedded how to remove it. I had to pull the battery,then the battery trey and move all the wires for the plow. Sure as sh the tank was cracked I repaire dit with goralla glue and will put it all back together today. I hope that solves my heating problem but I may still have to flush out the heater core.

I also set up Gary and Kay the farmer I work for . They fished montana for a couple hours and landed 5 fish with quite a few misses. They fish old school with jig sticks and bobbers and then hand over hand there fish. No vexlars or rods and reels Gary did not even have a depth bomb. So I set all there lines with the vexlar just off the bottom. Mike and Shell are on there own today as I have to go to bemidji this morning. Rick and Diane show up tomorrow.

[cookie129]

Good morning to all. I hope santa was kind to everyone.

Mike and Shell left a day early ,not sure why but when I talked to them and everything was fine, they even left me a tip. Rick and Diane arrive today for a couple nights in florida, I will be heading out to move it onto fresh ice ,detail it and auger 6 holes. There is no snow on the lake so I will have to shovel snow into the back of blue thunder ugg. Mother nature at work again . The temps are going to drop this weekend so I need to make sure all the houses are moved,blocked up and banked. If your coming up I would reccomend some type of ice cleats as its slick out there. Driving out last night to check the houses when we got home from town the standing water was starting to glaze over.It would be nice if it freezes up a bit before the traffic this weekend. All the grandkids will be coming today so we will be all wetting a line over the next three days, should be fun. I need to put blue thunders overflow tank back on today . I have also been drilling out two holes to bolt the plow bracket on the frame and broken 2 drill bits. Running out of room and not sure how to get broken bits out of holes. North carolina need a little more minor work also so I have a busy xmas daay.

[Boar]

Hey cookie, couple things to try is, is to get a carbide bit and slowyly auger at the ould bit, or chip it out with a pin pinch, bit other than carbide can be brittle and once they snap the snaped end can be chiped away at. if you have room drilling from the other side can be an option, but yu have to be straight as an arrow. if it snaped off as it just poked thru the other side causing it to breack the yu can punch it thru possibly. buy the desription, i think if you get a carbide you cand drill out the old bit or bits. good luck.

[cookie129]

I had a very busy day yesterday. Detailed all the houses, hauled north carolina out to the area I'm fishing. Moved. augered and banked florida. I had to get 3 loads of snow from shore to bank it. Wow a lot of shovling the back got a work out yesterday. The kids did not arrive untell late so we did not fish. All the houses are being used today so we will have to wait tell tomorrow to fish. I reinstalled the overflow tank on blue thunder and still do noy have good heat. I guess the next thing to try is flushing out the heater core. I must do that today as the temps are going to keep dropping all week. We have a full house today so we will see how the area I'm fishing holds up. I still think they are fish in shallow and could have good fishing in 8 to 9 feet of water. I still have not driven over Hillmens bridges but if you travel over them go slow.

[i'majigger]

Cookie; check to make sure you do not have air in your heater lines as this can cause water to not circulate through heater core. Had this happen on a pickup I owned and had worked on the radiator. Just a thought. Good Luck.

[cookie129]

Its a 84 chevy 350 4x4. The heat has not worked good since I got the truck 6 weeks ago. I'm going to try and flush the heater core later today. the clamps and hose ends look like they could become a charlie brown moment

[empty bucket]

just a thought on how to get those broken bits out of that frame use a di grinder with a carbide bit. as for the heating issue you are on the right track i would loosen the radiator cap and let it circulate that sometimes will let the air out of the system. you got to love those old chevy pickups

[walleyeseeker]

Cookie, I had a 1987 Chevy that never did heat up. I replaced the heater core, new thermostat, flushed the entire coolant system, new water pump, and I can't remember what else. Nothing ever helped that truck. I hope you have better luck than I did.

[cookie129]

wow have i been busy the last few days.no tim to report so this will be quick.were catching fish moving houses .Learned a valuble lesson fishing by pressure ridge and willnever put house that close again gotta go for now

[cookie129]

Looks like I have a half hour to spend a little time talking about the last few days. None of the customers I've had went home dissapointed so that was good. The fishing wasn't spectacular but every one caught some fish. I have ruined another area and moved 3 of the four houses to new fishing grounds.

Dan, Trent and Ben really enjoyed old minnesota and loved the set up. I turned Ben on to a couple pieces of diamond willow and he was digging that. Rick and Dianne went home with there 6 and also enjoyed them self. Norm, Brad and Jake fished 1 day and did not do as well with only taking home 6 fish. They had alot of excitment friday night when a truck got stuck in the pressure ridge right out the front of the picture window. Rick watched all the action from the bathroom window in florida. It took 10 jerks to get it out and the cv joint or driveshaft was broken on a brand new ford truck. Geno, Hunter and there other buddie also got in on the action and watched them get the truck out at 1 am. Not sure why people think they can drive over these pressure ridges. I guess they see a area that looks flat and assume its safe. There may also of been alittle drinking involved. I heard it was not even there truck as the owner was passed out at the fish house. ZOIKS bet he was mad.

We had the two youngest grand kids up for the holidays with my daughter and her new boy friend Eric. I took advantage of him and him help me move houses and gather snow from the shore of upper red lake as there was/is little snow on the lake. It takes about three loads of snow to do one house so times that by 4 and your talking 12 loads of snow trucked out on the lake. Eric was a little sore when they left sunday. Missy detailed the houses on sunday before they left so thanks guys you were a tremedous help. Pat and his two boys Liem and Shawn rolled into minnesota sunday afternoon along with Vince and his crew in florida. Pat and the boys did real well in the new location and got 31 fish the first night into yesterday morning .Last night was slower with the fish very finincy for some reason. Vince and his crew fished in florida next to the pressure ridge the first night and had a bite about every hour.. Yesterday morning when I headed out to check on them and take Tom and John to montana a crack had came behind florida under montana. It then turned and went back the other way where it went under the generatoar and back to the pressure ridge causing both my houses to be floating on a giant chunk of ice. When I came back with blue thunder to get the house's out of there the crack had widen to a foot under montana. The runners must of been frozen in to the ice just enogh to not give. The shiftting of the ice broke the welds on the steal runner and the 16 foot runner came off the house causing the edge of the house to fall down to the frame work . Zoiks I checked with Tom and John and they said the house shiftted a little bit? So they moved there trucks. I spent a good part of the day trying to find some one to weld it once I got it up off the ice and blocked up. With know luck of a portable welder. I will be heading out shortly to try and repositon it, drill some holes and bolt it back together instead of welding it. Brian was a no show for the cabin sunday monday and did not even bother to call and give me a heads up.

Buddy Hillmen has 3 or 4 bridges crossing the pressure ridge and cracks and you need to stop in the store to get a heads up . Remember to drive over them slow there is 18 inch of ice on the edges so driving over fast mess things up. There is plenty of ice to drive over slowly. Its getting light out I need to hit the ice have a grand day

[FHFO]

What day were you fishing ? I'm looking for a updated report leaving tomorrow AM.Cold shut things down??

[cookie129]

the weather has not effectted the fishing to much. If your on them it comes down to location location location. The houses all caught fish last night and it was brutal out there. Two of the houses were fishing plain red hooks with good success

[cookie129]

Yesterday was another busy day. Spent the first three hours of the day repairing montana in brutal conditions on the lake. -15 with a west wind at about 20 mph. Without Tom's help I could not of repaired it. After the repair I moved montana over by the other houses. Then it was hecktic as all 4 houses needed to be prepped for customers arriving at 2. They all arrived on time and I had to have them wait a 1/2 hour untell I had all the houses vacumed and augered. The old strikmaster is getting a little tired and needs new blades. I have the blades 65 bones but was so busy did not want to spend the time putting them on. The time I would of saved augering I should of just changed them as it was a bear punching out all them holes in short order. I got Shell and Marty checked in florida. Sergio and his group of 8 with 5 young kids in montana and old minnesota and jessica and carl in north carolina. After going over the rules of the houses I headed home to take a quick break. The break was short as it was close to 4 oclock and I like to go back on the lake at sunset if I'm on shore. All 4 houses had all ready had some action when I topped off the generators . How sweet is that it always pays off to move even if its 30 yards. Now if I could just figure out how to get more then two good days of fishing I could leave the houses in the same spot. Wisfull thinking I guess. As the evning went on I again headed out at 10 to check on everybody one more time as the winds had picked up through out the day and it was wicked out there. What little snow is around is blowing to the west and 30 miles a hour. To my surprise there are 2 foot drifts all ready around the houses. Every one was still catching fish and Sergio had 9 in the bucket fishing plain red hooks and a fathead. Marty and Shell were getting ready to chow down on 5 upper red lake walleyes. Bob and the guys in montana had all the lights off so I did not bother them but Sergio said they were catching fish. Carl and Jessica came back from north carolina with 5 keepers and are staying in the cabin. Today I need to finish drilling out holes for plow mounts on blue thunder and get that bolted as it sounds like some snow is on the way.

Buddy Hillmens road is in great shape with a berm to follow on the south side of the road and reflectors on the north side. Make sure you check into the store/bait shop as the bridges can and often have to be moved. Be safe out there and stop trying to cross pressure ridges. I learned a good lesson sunday and have no plan to put my houses that close again.I new better and got burned.

[Fishalittle]

We were to the SW of your houses across the ridge on Sat. Night and the crack was very active! My wife jumped three times in the night and we were probably a 100-200 yards from the ridge in a red castle. Seen you make many trips over to the houses. Your renters must have been heavy sleepers to not be scared to death! Moved out deep on Sunday and found a hot spot...ran out of minnows even...trip to shore for more bait and it was on again till I finally crashed at 1 AM. Slower on Monday. Found out finding the he bridges can be tricky in blowing snow once they were moved on Monday night but we made it back safe and wouldn't dream of crossing the ridge without steel! Be back tomorrow for a couple more days of fun before school begins again for the kids! Be safe and happy fishing!

[cookie129]

Happy new year all you fisher people.

Sergio and his group did really well and headed home with 32 fish. They had tremendous fishing. Marty and Shell were in florida for the second night and the bite was not as good, seems the house's never get better the second night. Joel and Luke are in North Carolina and were up to 22 last night . Shell Jeff and Chase arrived around 10 and to my surprise brought blue thunder 1 back home from pine city so I have a parts truck on hand. How cool was that and unexpected. We had a couple cocktails through out the evening as I waited for Nate to arrive with his group for Montana. They had some vechicle trouble and rolled in at 1;30 am. Talked to Jessica and Carl in the cabin they headed way out on hillmens road and had a fantastic day of fishing .Sounds like there is a good bite going on out deeper with a few bonus elusive upper red lake crappies to boot.

Marty came to shore yesterday and we were able to get the plow mounts bolted on blue thunder which was a project that needed drastic attention. The wind has been howling for 48 hours and I think most of the snow on lower red lake is now around my houses. Wow there are 4 foot drift its just amazing where it come from. Blue thunder and the red baron are about to get a workout. Wayne arrives for Montana today and Nate and his crew are switching to florida. Chase is going to help me do some plowing and what ever other work I can find to do.

[cookie129]

Good morning to all you fisher people. Another fun but busy day yesterday.Marty and Shell stayed two nights in florida and Marty was such a big help.Thanks again Marty if ya want to come up and fish and help me out just give me a shout during the week. Natte, Holly and the other two guys had fantastic fishing when they checked in at 2 am, they have eaten some fish and are enjoying there stay in montana. Luke and Jeff decided to spend another night in north carolina. Shell chick,Jeff and Chase have caught a few but it has slowed down. Wayne is in florida and missed a couple on th erattle wheels but was throuly enjoying himself.

Last night the bite had really slowed down in the house's. The plan is to move all 4 today before we batten down the hatches for 4 to 8 inches of snow starting today. I set up a few fishermen in there wheel houses yesterday, Wild Bill and his two buddies were one shy of there limit last night and they are completly buy themself. I also set up a few other wheel houses around the lake and they all were catching fish and happy with there locations. How sweet is that.

Chase will help me again today and what a asset having a young buck helping me out for a day. Wayne has to move to montana today as Aaron and his crew arrive for florida. Dave rolls in for the cabin and North carolina. Shell ,Jeff and Chase may stay again tonight they were going to decide today. I will be spending my spare time wetting a line with Wayne as he is one of my best friends.he is also one of the best fishermen I know. I've learned all sorts of tricks from Wayne that catch fish. The plann this morning is get all the houses on fresh spots, I'm staying in the area I'm at for now and hoping we have not fished are honey hole out. With all the snow around the houses it only makes sense to dig in right there with plenty of snow around to bank the houses. With a high of 11 below sunday banking the houses is going to be evry importent. Time too warm up the trucks and get ready too hit the lake I expect great fishing the next two days so it willl be interestting to see if I'm right

[cookie129]

One of the wheell houses I set up yesterday landed a elusive yet still catchable upper red lake crappie. Lets just say I was shocked and would of never expected a crappie too be in that location. Very interesting.

Make sure you go over Hillmen's bridges slowly. There is plenty of ice on each side and going over slowly keeps the edges of the ice form breaking up. Stop in the store to get your road pass and latest imformation on bridge's. Keep wheel houses away from main road atleast 50 to 100 yards to the north. It keeps main road from drifting with this storm coming. Have fun and everyone be safe this weekend

[cookie129]

Yesterday was one long a$$ day. With the impending storm I was determined to get all 4 houses on new spots, fresh ice ,all blocked up and banked to the hilt. I had a great plan but as always murphy's law takes over. Jeff and shell chick had a flat tire so we delt with that plus I had to come home and unload blue thunder 1 form th etrailor Nate and Holly,Spencer and Andrew has a fantastic time and siad they would be back. I receved a email that Lyn would not be able to show up for old minnesota. I needed to get north carolina and florida moved first as they were showing up at 2pm check in time. Dave and his family called around 3 to say they arrived. I came to shore only to find out they were not ready to go and I still had montana and old minnesota to move. I gave them 15 minutes to get ready as I had to get out there and move those two house. In the process I figured out I had another no show for florida. Ouch two no shows on a big weekend. Thats to bad as I had other calls for this weekend that I turned down. The season is short and a guy hates to loose that income plus all the hard work I put in getting the houses on fresh ice. I set up Chris and Tim in a new spot and they had there limit in 2 hours with another bonus elusive upper red lake crappie 15 1/2 inch that Tim released .Way to go Tim. I have a pic on facebook under John Halvarson she was a beauty.

After getting Dave and his family in Northh carolina it was off to move montana. The move went well and I had Wayne wetting a line in know time. Headed over to old miinesota the last one to move, it was dark. I try not to move houses after dark but had no choice as I wanted it moved before the snow hit. It was good experiance incase i ever have to move a house in the middle of the night. The wheel houses I talked to had slower fishing in the area were at and it may be burned out. Ruined another good area. Time will tell. Just as I finised banking minnesota the snow started coming down. I came home ate dinner got gas and headed back out at 9pm to play a few game of cards with wayne and wet a line. I landed two one on the rattle wheel and one on my rod and reel with the vex i also checked in with Chris and Jim and they were way happy with there spot. I talk to all the wheel houses that are around me today if I get the chnace just to get a feel if the area is fished out . I was happy with the two i caught as I was also playing cards.

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[bturck]

do you require deposits with your reservations cookie? kind of sad when people don't show or even give you a heafs up. agree dollars lost don't come back. sounds like you keep those houses moving, which is a good thing. doesnt take long to burn a spot out.......sounds like you folks will be plowing some white stuff up your way....good luck

[bturck]

do you require deposits with your reservations cookie? kind of sad when people don't show or even give you a heafs up. agree dollars lost don't come back. sounds like you keep those houses moving, which is a good thing. doesnt take long to burn a spot out.......sounds like you folks will be plowing some white stuff up your way....good luck

[BigDogRob]

Yes, a deposit should be a definite part of a reservation! 50% for sure and within 24 hrs too bad...it sounds harsh, but you also have a business to run and a livelihood... keep up the good work, as I talked to one of your "wheelhouse folks" who was very happy with your service!

[cookie129]

Most times i do require a deposit but in this case i dropped the ball. Oh well live and lear and I did manage to reny both for saturday so not a total loss.

well all my hard work paid off. I would guess we got 5 to 6 inche's of fresh snow.With the wind blowing the lake is full of pillow drifts. Wow there were some cooll looking drifts out there. There not wind blown hard yet and as long as a guy watches what he is doing can still travel off road.Its when you hit a spot where there was a wheel house or hard house that it gets interesting to say the least. i was tooling along last night cross country at a very low speed in blue thunder when i rolled over a froven mess. Every thing in the truck ended up somewhere else. Glad i was going slow or I would of been air born.

Now for the fishing report, Arron and his group fished florida for the day and ended up with 12 keepers. I have caught 4 hanging with wayne while playing cards and having a hoot. North carolina has been slow but when 1 guy has 4 lines down its nothing but bad ju ju in my book. I also rented old minnesota yesterday .The first time I stopped to check on them yhey were napping after the long drive. I ate a minnow in front of the two kids and boy did there faces lite up.To funny. Boar pulled out around noon with there fish and thinks the area still has potential.which is good because moving houses with all this snow just got a little harder. I'm sure we will be working on Hillmens road all day so I'm glad no one is coming in untill tomorrow. Wayne may stay a extra day. Lets hope because I sure enjoy his company. The red baron is running as I type while blue thunder has a bad starter wire that I thought I correctted yesterday. The red baron also needs new plow lites as the old ones have broken off . Blue thunder needs tail lites so I have one truck with headlites and no tail lites and one truck with tail lite and know headlites. I guess i could hook them together. Oops just looked at the calender and I have Matt and his wife coming today with Todd rolling in tomorrow. - 22 this morning burrr

[Teebones1977]

Hey Cookie! Glad to see you're on the lake this season. And your houses are putting out some fish. Keep up the good work! Jake

[mnelson]

Got back yesterday after a maiden voyage with my ice castle on red lake. Fished Thursday late afternoon and all day Friday. I am sure there are a lot of good guides up on Red, but wanted to send out a big thank you to Cookie for guiding me and my 3 kids out to a safe and very productive spot!

I have rented houses from cookie a number of times over the past 6-8 years and have always had great success and service from him.

This was the 1st real ice fishing outing for my 3 kids and they loved every minute. We caught and missed a number of fish, even were able to pull up a nice 15" crappie. We had a great fish fry and enough to bring home for another. It was a great experience to share with the kids and a trip they will never forget.

If you are looking to rent houses or have some guide you out to a safe productive area on Red, I would highly recommend Cookie. Great guy, works hard, and takes a lot of pride in putting his customers on fish. Thanks again Cookie kids and I are looking forward to the next trip to Red!

[goat704]

I know I'm a newbie on here but in my book, one guy with 4 lines is more than bad ju-ju, it's also very illegal. As a outfitter I would hope you would enlighten him to the state law and ask him to follow it.

[cookie129]

yes i did enighten him and he stopped as far as I know.

[ozzie]

Happy Birthday Cookie!!! Love reading your reports and hope all is well with you!!! Keep up the good work

[cookie129]

Things have been a little hectic the last two days with the 6 inches of snow. Nick, Derrick and there two boys Ely and Dillon stayed in old minnesota saturday night. The kids had a blast and it was fun to see there smiles.. The fishing was a bit slow for them all though 3 of the four times I stopped in they were all in bed. They did take home some fish sunday morning and left the house in great condition thanks guys. Wayne had to go home sunday after all. He did not catch a lot of fish but had a fantastic trip partting with everyone thursday night. We played quite a bit of texas hold em as he loves his poker. Dave and his family also went home with fish, they used north carolina has a day house and also had the cabin. The guys in the cabin yesterday went out of westwind about 4 miles and figured they caught 20 fish yesterday. Plain red hook has been the trick the last couple days as the fish have be come lathargic with all the snow cover.

I spent about 4 hours and two tanks of gas plowing Buddy hillmen's road. Coming off the lake in the afternoon I pulled on to the hwy and the Red Baron started to shake. I assumed I had a flat tire and limped it home. When I got home it was not a flat tire but a compleatly worn out wheel bearing / hub assembly. A trip to blackduck yesterday for a 180 dollar part. I'm hoping there,s no other damage and will no more later today.

Matt and Tammy have been fishing in Florida since sunday and are enjoying them self with Tammy landing the biggest a 18 icher. Matt and his crew checked in to montana yesterday .The door handle broke on the fish house sunday morning. I picked up a new one yesterday and need to install that later today. They had 8 keepers last night when I checked in on them. The Goose and Rich have 4 keepers when I stopped by for birthday dinner. Sunday I plowed into one of the extension cords on montana I looked at one in kellier and they wanted 94 dollars for a 100 foot 14 gauge cord. I had to pass on that as I want attleast a 12 gauge. I still have not gotten to bemidgi to drop off my third generator thats not giving out power. The house have all been catching fish and I have a couple days to decide if I want to move them. After writing closed on my calender thursday I ended up renting all 4 house to a group heading to Lake of the woods and wanted to fish from noon to 5. That really puts me in a small window if i want the houses on fresh ice friday for the weekend. oops what was I thinking.

I also made a huge mistake and never checked out the bridges before the snow storm and have no idea where I can push the houses over the pressure ridge. This willl make it a little more interesting when I push to the west as the skid houses can not use the bridges. I have heard through the grape vine that theres some good fishing out there. The heat is stilll not producing in blue thunder two and a heater core is going on the list of repairs as she was a little cold when it was 22 below yesterday morning. Still loving the work. A little tired but that happens when you get older every year.

Buddy Hillmens road is in great shape, the wind was un bearable out there yesterday and the snow was diffently moving around and drifting around every object on the lake.

[PerchTasteBetter]

Happy Belated Birthday Cookie!

Our birthdays are one day apart. Hope it was great. Looking forward to coming up with my buddy and son on Jan 23rd -25th. I hope the weather cooperates as I was one of the ones that you had to cancel last year. We did happen to find another outfit out of Black Duck that had houses on Red Lake but nothing compared to your houses. (From the looks of them) Have a great day and stay warm. See you in a few weeks.

Tony