OPENER-THE LONGEST 2 weeks of my life

[missinminnesota]

Heading up to the Grand Rapids area for opening weekend. I have been stricken with walleye fever ever since the ice went off the lakes. My parents own a cabin outside of Rapids, and the fishing is always good. Lines are tied, and the boat is gassed up. Makes the 450 mile treck from Wisconsin well worth it. See you at the Balsam Store!!!!

[Muskydanno]

Hey missinminnesota, just curious where are you at up there? You mentioned balsam store and i was just wondering because i am from around there and my dad lives about 4 miles down highway 8. Just bought land about 6 miles down 8.

[Hugo]

You guys ever fish Lawrence? Used to go up there all the time and hammer the eyes where the river comes in. Caught some nice smallies and pike out of there too. Used to like the old balsam store. Is the cafe still open up there?

Dave

[missinminnesota]

Parents have a cabin on Burnt Shanty. I have fished a lot of different lakes in the area, but that is the one where I have the most success. About 12-15 feet, by the point, pulling spinners with red tailed chubs.
Love the Balsam Store. Tony has beer, lottery, chew, how can you go wrong???

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Fish on!!

[Muskydanno]

Burnt Shanty is a great lake , but there are some dandies just down the road too.Have fished burnt shanty a couple of times. Do you or your parents know the Folvens? A buddy of mine is a folven. His dad owns a cabin on Burnt Shanty. Figured you might know them , its a small lake.
And as a reply to Dave (hugo) Yeah , the cafe is still open next to Balsam Store. Stays pretty busy with regulars. I've fished Lawrence lake a few times. Used to do alot of water skiing on it as a kid since it is so long of a pond and doesn't get much wind.Can't wait to move back up there again. Hopefully by the end of the summer i'm back in gods country!! Unfortunately decent jobs are slim to none so it may be a while as i'm not taking just anything that comes along.

[Muskydanno]

Forgot to add missinminnesota , that Tonys a good man. That store is a gold mine. I don't know what we would do without that store there. Hes got a little bit of everything and his gas prices are usually cheaper than town. As you well know it is quite a jaunt to town , and i wouldn't want to be doing that all the time for beer , bread or whatever. No smallies in Burnt Shanty is there? I've never caught any there but like i said i have only been on the lake a couple of times as there are lakes down the road that i prefer for the kind of fishing i do.

[Hugo]

Muskydanno,

Good luck on the job search up there. I plan to retire in that area someday(in 15 yrs or so) We used to have a cabin on lower lawrence when I was a kid. Caught alot of fish around the bridge. especially before the put the newer one in. We would swim there a little but would head to Riley or clearwater creek most of the time. Didn't like that red water!! Lots of smaller lakes in the area that don't get much pressure.Is Petriches store still open down hwy 7?

Dave

[Muskydanno]

Hugo,

Yeah Petrichs store is still there on highway 7 and virtually unchanged. Not sure if the same people own it but i believe they do. They have had to have made the money to retire about 10 years ago i would think. Sure love that area up there , too bad you have to come down to the cities to find a job you can make money at.

Dan