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Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..


Bobby Bass

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Wind tunnel testing is complete racer is good for speeds of up to ### MPH. (Security note: Actual specs can not be transmitted over unsecured lines) I firmly believe that the air foil on the house will now withstand a full pull on the bungee. Got the ski's so slick that if it is breezy I will need an anchor to stay in the starting gate.

The thing that I found the hardest to do is find good anchor points for the 6 point harness in an all plastic vehicle. I guess that I will just hope that all goes well and I do not need to rely on it to save my skin! I am so ready! Unlike some though I will leave the extra bean chili and dark beers for after the fling. Partly because I do not want to pollute the air and partly because that sudden take off inertia could wreck havoc on the digestive system and I will not have a change of clothes in the racer. Looking forward to seeing you all at the race. Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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Thanks for the switcheroo, Bobby. I had a full breathing aparatus lined up, but didn't want to have the added weight of a compressed air tank. I hate to see that you aren't a full participant this year, especially with all of the work you've put in and all of the newcomer's lined up. On the upside, maybe this way you can jot a few notes down for everyone else to read about. Looks like the Duckslayer has done his homework too. He's pretty tightlipped about it, no matter how much prodding I give him over a cribbage board. That, and he seems to handle his liquor much better than me. Although, he's the one mixing the drinks most times; Virgins, maybe? All I can say is that I'm pretty sure he knows all about my entrant.

Speakin of, has there been a date set? This is more exciting that spring opener!

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Nothing like winter arriving in one night, 12 inches of snow here at the lake. Furnace problems and thought I still had time to put the dozer blade on the tractor. Ice is still good in the bay out front of the Lodge so that is a good thing. Wind kept the ice pretty clear and made some nice drifts across the lake. Going to get cold tonight so we will be making more ice.

Still a go for the Ice fling on December 9th next weekend. Less then a week to make your last modifications. Remember you have to have your shanties at Dugs for inspection. Duckslayer, all I can say is Duct Tape. Remember you have to have a reinforced wall for the sling. So better put something behind that plastic. McGurk there is usually a pretty good cross wind at the top of the hill by the Pines, keeps the fumes moving so to speak.

Almost caught up here cleaning snow from around the cabin and will be going down to the Lodge to help out down there. Frank the plow driver has been busy working on the county roads so we might not have our access cleared out in time for the launch. Hoping no more snow comes before the weekend. Lots to do so I'll be away from the desk for awhile. Keep the chatter yup, I like hearing how the shacks are coming ! From Lake Iwanttobethere (20372)

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Don't let McGurk find out but the reason that I drink the Morgan cokes is cuz I can’t keep up with the big boys that drink the Jack and such. Jack and I have never been very good friends but me and the Capn’ can sail a long way and not get into trouble. Jack is not as bad as Jose though, he and I spent an entire weekend sick after a hootin and hollerin Friday night over in Italy. I am here to tell ya the one place you do not want to be ever is in a furniture store with a bad Tequila hangover, you tell the Lil Mrs whatever she wants to hear in order to get out of that stench, er I mean new furniture smell!

Took the liberty of dropping the shack by Dugs today. It is inside the big locked trailer, Dug has the key for inspection and is sworn to secrecy as to whatever he may see in there.

Lookin forward to Sunday! Is it a high noon start this year? You all take care… Keep working on those shanties! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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The end to a long day coming up here. Our two to four inches of snow became 20 inches of powder. Since I have several cabins around the lake to baby sit over the winter the day was spent moving snow. After moving almost 14 inches of snow on Sunday I have had enough of the white stuff for awhile. Still time for flingers to change over from runners to ski's as there is now snow on the lake in front of the Lodge. Granted it is nice fluffy stuff and it is going to be cold for the next few days so it may stay that way. Hoping we get some wind to move it off the lake. Hammering Hank and Skinny have been launching an old pontoon boat off the fling making a track down the slope. This is compressing the snow and we will have a good base for launching.

Yawn, need to hit the rack before I fall asleep here at the keyboard. More snow coming tomorrow night. Lots of plowing to do before launch day.. (20446)

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Winter is here at the lake. Does not matter what the calendar says winter comes when it comes. Sometimes it might never really come. No snow and everything stays brown and dirty. Not to worry about that this year. Sunday night Sunshine Ray was right on and we received 12-14 inches of snow depending on where you live on the lake. Today Sunshine Ray is no where to be seen, he was calling for 2-4 and we received 20 inches of white fluffy powder. Are we complaining? Of course not. When Ray thinks it is safe he will come out from where ever he is hiding. I have several cabins to check on during the winter and helping Hank out with his as he works on the slope for the ice house fling. I spent most of the afternoon driving around the lake and got to watch as things started to disappear under the snow. Driving down Main Street I caught Big Earl outside of his store thumbs in his bib straps as two customers hagger over what appears to be the last snow thrower. He waves with a big smile on his face as business is good, I wave back knowing he has more throwers in the back garage, He did the same thing to me last year.

The town is white and clean. Frank the plow driver is a little over worked but he enjoys his work. Like a little kid he grins holding on to his wheel weaving in and out around the town that he knows like the back of his hand. His blade rolling fresh clean snow into long ribbons behind him. Now the window art on the shop windows do not look out of place. Christmas lights twinkling are reflected off the snow and the town gives off a nice glow. Icicles hang from roofs and pa is outside of his shop swinging at them with his broom handle. At the Dew Drop Inn the coffee pot is on. The bell on the door jingle's with the coming and going of customers. The rug soaked in melting snow. At the Take Your Time the pace has quicken as trucks with plows and snow throwers in the beds come in to get coffee and gas. Laughing men with beef jerky and hard candy head out to their trucks. Liquid money, there is plowing to be done and some extra cash for Christmas and the boat payment. Maybe that flasher for the ice house.

More snow this afternoon, again 2-4 inches and I am hoping that it is just that. Ice house fling in just a few days and it's going to be tuff to get everything in shape and ready in time. Winter is here, and it is about time.. From Lake Iwanttobethere (20467)

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Had a talk with St. Grace about the ice harvest this year. Told how she has to really buck up like a good working group breed that she is. Here's her response.

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A taste of the ice house fling, read it all on Sunday afternoon..You can see how excited Grace is!

Welcome to the Lake Iwanttobethere Ice House Fling, this story is a little long so you might want to pour your favorite beverage and sit back for awhile. Lake Iwanttobethere is known for it's ice town. Every year about this time when the ice is thick and the days are cool the town of Lake Iwanttobethere heads out onto the ice. A huge bungee cord was recovered from a company that had some problems and brought to the lake by the Lodge. In the beginning it was thought that if it was secured to the two big pines that shanties could be flung out on the ice with it. This saves a lot of work dragging shacks out on the ice and with the help of a few bottles of Wild Turkey and some Lodge fledglings, a few minor accidents and the rescue squad the first fling took place and is now history. We like to think we have gotten better at it and it has now become a place to be the second weekend of December. If you could not make it this year here is a somewhat accurate account of the event........

A clear, crisp and cool day for the launching of the Lake Iwanttobethere ice town. The talk of the town the past few weeks has been the fling and that a few of the ice houses to be launched are going to try and slip in behind Root Beer Island. In the past it was a great accomplishment just to survive the launch. Took a few years to get the kinks out of the launching. Some of the first houses had the sling go right through them. A few others went airborne and shattered after hitting the ice. Since then we have made great strides. We are down to having just the one fire truck and Doc Burriem on hand.. It used to be that staying upright and intact would bring a huge sigh and a polite round of applause from the crowd on shore. Lets face it in the beginning people came for the same reason that they go to auto racing, the crashes. Frank the county plow driver with the help of Hammering Hank and Skinny have done a fine job moving snow from our recent storms. They have moved the snow in to high banks and some people have already carved out advantage points to watch the fling. With sheets of plywood down for floors and their bbq's set up they have their own viewing boxes so to speak. The orange barrels have been taken from storage and placed along the shoreline and areas roped off for safe viewing the Fling. Old McDonnell has been running a shuttle service from the town to the Lodge using his sleigh. Filled with straw people are riding both ways and the kids are busy tossing each other off. His mules that he uses for logging in the winter huff and puff and clouds of steam rise from them. They love the attention and want to stay on the move. Besides a sleigh of kids is light compared to pulling a stump......... (20512)

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I am SO PUMPED! Like a kid waiting for Santa Claus! I just hope that my little contraption will hold together and that the wing will actually keep it from going airborne! Wind tunnel tests show that it should stay on the ice! For those of you that are coming I will have a 5 gallon thermos of hot chocolate and you can have as much as you like, well until it runs out! It is the good Land-O-Lakes stuff too! And if you look old enough and know the secret password (the word is goober) I will have a case of Baileys under the counter to assist in making that hot chocolate even better! No shenanigans either, I am a trained bartender and I will check your ID if ya look close! (Trained = I have done it a time or two before) I will have a heated viewing stand there for the LIL MRS so if ya get real cold you can try to schmooze her for a place to stand in there. Come on Sunday! Can’t wait to see ya all there! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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I to am PRIMED for the event. hehe so to speak. i know that i will again be the talk of the town. when they see what i have instore for them again this year. with my connection with the girls from root beer island. and the scouting i have done in advance. it will truely be A DAY TO REMEMBER. now i am not into talking smack. well yes i guess i am into it hehehehe. you all better bring on your A game. good luck to all the flingers this year and remember its not all about the game. its how you play it. ... paul

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Sounds like we all have some tricks up our sleeves for the event. This years fling is going to be great! cool.gif

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As I write this Hank and Skinny have been back for awhile. They have a new friend from the railroad named Freddie. Freddie is from North of here but has heard of the lake and always wondered what the big doings were when he would run the freight around the far side of the lake. He could make out the lights of the Lodge and in the winter he said he always wanted to visit the ice town. When he heard of our snow problem he called his dispatcher and told them he was shutting down for his 12 hour night and was turning the radio off. With help from Dug the snow thrower was taken off the front of the train and hooked up to the towns dozer. With a promise to return it in the morning Freddie was introduce to the Jones Twins and I can hear the roar of the thrower down at the access. I can't see anything as the snow is being tossed hundreds of feet into the air. Dug just appeared walking out of the falling snow like one of them snow creatures you hear about. He made it into the Lodge and was helped out of his coveralls. Shaking away he said that Skinny and Hank are at the controls and they will have the job done by morning. But they need more Turkey!

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Sooooo, I suppose I should get the roof rake out of the shed. With snow being moved like that, I hope the roof hold until I can get to it! I saw the "Passed" sign hanging on my shack, so it looks like I'll be in. I did have one other slight modification that I can't beleive I forgot to install: a cupholder that rotates all the way around and swivels almost as much. Maybe have to sneak in for a bit with a cordless scrw gun. Now looking at my overall picture, I might not have wanted to go with this design. I guess that is what we call field testing. Should be a good day for it if it arrives like this morning is shaping up! Bright and crisp are just the way I like it. I wear glasses, but I swear on mornings like these, I shouldn't need to.

I'll be walking the wife around town today and making a point to start as many conversations as I can, and get her more involved in the area. She's been a bit skittish being a born and bred city girl her whole life, and hasn't fully grasped that a person can survive without a hot shower every morning. The best part is the irony of the fact that her parents both grew up in the sticks, one of them not having running water at when they were young. Heck, my parents didn't have it for the first few months aftr moving up to northern MN, my Mom from Nebraska and My Dad from Iowa. How quickly we forget. Now, I do know that most all of the town has had this luxury for most of the last century, but it still makes you think; It sure is easy now. We do have the freezing pipes and the frozen septic tanks to worry about (hopefully not like last winter!). but imagine if making sure you had a winter's worth of firewood and a stocked fruit cellar were the things top on the list to do in the fall. I have to say; I think I would have liked the challenge.

On the the fling tomorrow! We'll be partaking in the eve's festivities, and hope all have a safe (yet eventful) fling! And Good Luck to Bobby, especially! Thanks again!

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I hope this gets out to everyone I nearly forgot to tell all of our new flingers that there is a gathering at the Lodge tonight. With so many new flingers this year we forgot about the annual before flinger party. You and your better half's are invited to the Lodge for chili and Wild Turkey. Talk with past flingers about the do and don't of ice house flinging. There will be a short movie of past flings and some of the accidents are highlighted. If your spouse still lets you stay entered you will be given your 2007 arm patch and first aid kit. Hank and Skinny returned the snow thrower to the train this morning and the Jones Twins dropped Freddie off shortly there after. He looked somewhat tired. With a blast of the whistle the train was back on it's way. With the morning light the launch area looks like an arena. Snow is banked up around the launch site and the parking lot and launch glide area is clear. With the high banks and the sun shinning it is actually kind of cozy. Vendors are moving in setting up there tents and already shanties are being placed on the shoreline. After the fling those who dare will be tossed at a ¼ pull out on to the ice and when dark arrives others may be hauled out using four wheelers. Several of the houses have parties going on already and they will be spending the night.

Hank and Skinny have headed home for some well deserved rest. Hank wanted to stay but I told him that I will be around the Lodge today and will call him if anything comes up. Just past noon here and the Lodge is busy with members and visitors. All the shanties were at Dug's and all but one has passed inspection at this time. Tess was just here looking for Skinny, I thought that was kind of curious. Another cold one tonight but looks like it will be a sunny day tomorrow for the launch. Hope to see you here at the Lodge or maybe run into you in town. Lots of sales going on and lots of traffic. Christmas lights are on and lots of parking for tomorrow. From Lake Iwanttobethere (20588)

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Definatley a crisp Fling Eve. The cold air robbed me of by breath as I step out of the lodge for a quick glimpse of the launch area. Peaceful looking for now but tomorrow will be more like a state fair. The spectators will be in full force making it more exciting for the contestants.

Just as I was about to go back into the lodge and make my toast to the event I noticed some movement near Nytelyers shack. Is was very quick and then it just disappeard. Wierd. As soon as I was ready to just write it off as a snow illusion it appeard again near my shack. Only this time it stayed still long enough for me to see it was my partner from last year The Great Gazoo. Area 51 loaned him and his technolgy to me last year so I could get the distant prize and receive the free road plowing service. But this year he didn't want to fling with me because of Grace. Seems little green men don't get along with dogs for some reason.

I hollared at Gazoo to get away from my shack and with a big evil grin he waved a #1 finger wave and shot off into the darkness. Hmmmm....

Well back into the warm fire and friends in the lodge. Raise your glass of Turkey and toast to this years fling. Here's to a safe and sucessfull launch to all!

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WOW! 14 hours and 10 minutes to get back to a sober state so that I can pilot my craft tomorrow. Folks sure are nice here at the Lodge! Sure know how to throw a party. Been buying drinks and havin drinks bought all night long. I am sure glad that I had 20 years of trainin in the Air Force on how to keep things to myself. These guys all just keep on about finding out about the wind tunnel testing on my ice house. Notta word from me about it thought I tell ya! HOwever since most of them guys are to hammered to look here I can tell ya that it is rated for a speed of, awwww come one yd didn't think I would fall for that one did ya? Cant wait to see you all out there tomorrow. I wish each of you a good fling and mope that you are safe. I gotta wonder what kind of condition the lake will be in after Pauls fling though! Dan and McGurk may be up to something as well. Time will tell! SLeep tight tonight if your dare! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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Well almost two here at the Lodge. That is Two in the morning. Most of the couches and big chairs have a body in them. A quiet game of cards are going on in the corner near the big fireplace and even the second fireplace is deep in hot coals. The chili is about gone as is several cases of Wild Turkey. Even the Hamms keg took a pretty good hit tonight. All of tomorrow's flingers except for #10 made it to the party tonight. Grace and Bud spent most of the evening together and Barney just slept away the evening on the kitchen floor. Skinny and Hammering Hank arrived around ten or so, well rested and received a lot of good words for all of there work the past few days on the slope. From time to time people would step out onto the deck and look up at the clear sky. All returned in a few minutes with the same comments about how cold it was getting out then head to one of the fireplaces to warm up there backsides. Cigars have been lit and lazy smoke rings hang in the air. Pretty quiet as most are lost in their thoughts. Having been in the fling before I know that I would be going over my mental check list in my mind. Wondering of there is anything that I forgot and second guessing some things that I have over heard being talked about. Since this years fling is for accuracy distance is not a factor.

The three flamingoes that were seen floating in the new ice of a few weeks ago are now the target of the fling. They are about 300 yards straight out from the Lodge. Since the bungee will be angled towards Root Beer island someone will have to have the perfect shot and some kind of steering. Cleaning glasses behind the bar I too am lost in my own thoughts. I will be in Alert One and I have seen what can happen to that rig. Even McGurk says he still has dreams of last year. Duckslayer has been making the rounds and buying several also. He and the Mrs. fit right in with the crowd here. Her and Tess were drinking cocoa but the Mrs was pouring something from her purse into them. The Sparrow Club boys were here but left right after the home movies of the accidents. That's ok, more turkey for the rest of us. Nytelyer also was the center of attention and they are still talking about his fireworks displays. The Johnson Brothers found out we still had an Atari game and spent the night playing pong.

There are lights on down in the parking area and along the shoreline as several people are staying over night in there shacks to be here at first light. We are as ready as we can be and I just turn the outside lights to the Lodge off. Anyone still here will be spending the night. I toss a few logs on the fires and make my way back to my office. Leaving the door open I grab the quilt and stretch out on the couch. Morning will come soon enough.. From Lake Iwanttobethere... (20631)

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Welcome to the Lake Iwanttobethere Ice House Fling, this story is a little long so you might want to pour your favorite beverage and sit back for awhile. Lake Iwanttobethere is known for it's ice town. Every year about this time when the ice is thick and the days are cold the town of Lake Iwanttobethere moves from the land to the ice. Two huge bungee cords were recovered from a company that had some legal problems with them and brought to the lake by some of the Lodge members. In the beginning it was thought that if it was secured to the two big pines that shanties could be flung out on the ice with it. This saves a lot of work dragging shacks out on the ice and with the help of a few bottles of Wild Turkey and some Lodge fledglings, a few minor accidents and the rescue squad the first fling took place and is now history. We like to think we have gotten better at it and it has now become a place to be the second weekend of December. If you could not make it this year here is a somewhat accurate account of the event........

A clear, crisp and cool day for the launching of the Lake Iwanttobethere ice town. The talk of the town the past few weeks has been the fling and that a few of the ice houses to be launched are going to try and slip in behind Root Beer Island. In the past it was a great accomplishment just to survive the launch. Took a few years to get the kinks out of the launching. Some of the first houses had the sling go right through them. A few others went airborne and shattered after hitting the ice. Since then we have made great strides. We are down to having just the one fire truck and Doc Burriem on hand.. It used to be that staying upright and intact would bring a huge sigh and a polite round of applause from the crowd on shore. Lets face it, in the beginning people came for the same reason that they go to auto racing, the crashes. Frank the county plow driver with the help of Hammering Hank and Skinny have done a fine job moving snow from our recent storms. The use of the train snow thrower on Friday night made is all possible. They have piled the snow in to high banks surrounding the launch area and some people have already carved out advantage points to watch the fling. With sheets of plywood down for floors and their bbq's set up they have their own viewing boxes so to speak. The orange barrels have been taken from storage and placed along the shoreline and areas roped off for safe viewing the Fling. Old McDonnell has been running a shuttle service from the town to the Lodge using his sleigh. Filled with straw people are riding both ways and the kids are busy tossing each other off. His mules that he uses for logging in the winter huff and puff and clouds of steam rise from them. They love the attention and want to stay on the move. Besides a sleigh of kids is light compared to pulling a stump.

The parade started in the parking lot next to Dug's repair. The shacks were pulled out from the parking lot after passing inspection. The local high school marching band is out in the front of the trailers in their parkas and the rest of the town falls in behind the shanties. The towns fire truck brings up the rear. The fire truck and the volunteers have not had a call in two months and everyone in the department was hanging on somewhere. A assortment of 4 wheelers, hay wagons and pickups followed the shacks to the town's park. A few RV's also make the trip. The winter Ice Queen and her princess grace a flat bed float. The Queen who is elected during last winters carnival is somewhat pregnant this winter along with two of her princess, there lies the reason for the flatbed float. People line the street and clap as they go by and then follow on foot or jump into the hay wagons. As the parade pulled into the park Hammering Hank changed the music blaring from the softball field speakers from Polka, Polka to the song Danger Zone from the movie Top Gun. The song has become the theme for the launch. The houses are lined up in the order of launching in the staging area. All but the last shack have there tarps removed and are open for viewing. People gathered around the concession stands and the Mini Dounuts are always a favorite. Chuck and fellow members of the Lodge have been serving pancakes and sausage from the Lodges tent and are accepting donations there to help with some of the costs of the fling. We kind of went over budget this year. Wild Turkey ain't cheap anymore. Mindy and Mandy were serving root beer and hot cider in the main tent. Masterbaiters has a tent up showing off their heaters and a wall of ice poles and lures. This is a big event here at the lake, as the ice town is reborn each winter. The entire town has shown up at the launch. There was a brief service as no one was going to be in church today. Not to mention business are spread across the park peddling anything and everything that you need to go ice fishing with. The hillside and softball bleachers are already set up and staked out with blankets and heaters, a few chairs are scattered down by the shoreline but the locals know that the higher you are up on the snow piles the better it is to see the launching. The two large weather balloons float above the public dock and they are straight up as it is a dead calm day. A few kids with slingshots hide behind a mound of snow and take aim at the balloons. There pellets fall short to land out on the lake. The Sunshine Ray is doing a remote broadcast and it is being picked up and rebroadcast around the country side.

Several bon fires have been started and the air is heavy with the smell of wood smoke and the clinking of beers cans pulled from coolers. The local boy scouts have there trailer here and a sign asking for the empty aluminum cans. HP from the local paper is here with her new color camera! The Town Hall is parked at the landing a safe distance from the bungee cord. This year hay bales have been placed around the base. They will help keep it a little warmer and as a bumper just in case. They will be sending out a test log so we can get an idea of ice conditions. More show then anything it will get a full pull. Kids play on top of the snow banks and some are busy making snow sculptures. Already a band of snowmen have been made, they to are looking out over the lake. A few of the snowmen have had to have their hands censored by putting paper bags over them. This years flingers are around there shanties answering questions and shaking hands with well wishers. All except the #10 house which is still under wraps. Rumor has it there is a question on if it will be allowed to be launched or not. Dan Theim and Grace are a crowd favorite with kids petting Grace and asking what is in the barrel hanging on her neck. Rumor has it is Wild Turkey. The Sparrow Club has a small crowd of onlookers all dressed in the same light green ski jackets with a little sparrow on the shoulder. Just like a flock of sparrows they flutter and scatter when ever anyone comes near there shanty.

I gather with the launch committee and some of our local riders who on four wheelers will act as chase units in case of any mishaps. Past experience has shown that most if not all accidents occur at the launch itself or when the shacks hit the ice at the bottom of the hill. Seldom does anyone have any problems out on the ice. Since Dug did some repair work for me and really wanted to take the fling this year we traded positions. I will now be in Alert One set up on the second set of Pines with the spare bungee. With handshakes and pats on the back along with women who give me short kisses on the check while still others point fingers at me and make the sign of the cross across their body I set off to Alert One and with Skinny's help got myself inside. Since it was set up for Dug it was a tight fit for me. I did check over my equipment including the chain saw and ladder strapped inside. This year we are going to keep the gas can on the outside of the shack. The first aid kit was duct taped in it's place as was the Wild Turkey. Also two wool blankets and some water for patching. Skinny closed the door and I started the wipers on the windows which are pointed out over the lake and the launching site. The extension cord was plugged into the side of the house and I had power. The electric heater came to life and I sat back in my seat with my laptop so I can watch and write at the same time. Turning on the am radio and the intercom I pour myself a drink from the Wild Turkey, had to make sure that it was of the proper age and had not spoiled since yesterday.

Some of last years flingers are here today but not as flingers. The Jones twins are having to much fun drinking and are dressed in there polar cheerleader outfits. There cheeks are quite red. Willie Wrenchead after his rough ride last year losing parts of his house also has declined to be flung again this year. Big Earl has added an addition to his house and the committee thought it would be best if the dozer just drags him out this year. Earl is here and his house is down on the shoreline. He is sitting on top of it with his bucket of chicken wings and full length beaver coat. His house is decorated with Christmas lights and the generator is running. The SHOP at EARL's sign is flashing to the beat of the music. Weird Willie's house which was a converted plane fuselage has been converted into a boat and is no longer workable as a ice house. The Mpls couple have not been seen down on the ice this year. They to might have been a little hesitant after there ride last year. When the day is done the bungee will be open to send other shacks out on to the ice. By night fall the town will have a general shape to it and in the next few weeks it will fill up with houses and the light poles will be installed. The roads will be plowed and mail will be delivered to the shacks instead of the cabins. Mark the mailman is already being asked for change of address cards. The town of Lake Iwanttobethere will be on the ice and for the next few months the land will be quiet and the frozen waters of the lake will be alive.

The last of the smaller kids are brought inside the town hall and out of the way. There little faces line the windows looking out over the launching area.. Actually they have the best seats in the town The launching area sits below the Lodge and overlooks the Lake and the park and public access. There is a slight gently rolling hill that leads down to the ice. The two Large Pines sit at the top of the hill and the ends of the large bungee cord are attached to them. The towns dozer is attached to a release that is then attached to the bungee sling. Hammering Hank is in charge of the bungee fling and you can hear him clear his throat on the mike as he calls attention and welcomes every one to the 2007 Ice House Fling. Sealed up inside Alert One I have the old am radio which is ducted taped to the ceiling tuned to KCUM and I can hear Hank over the airwaves on Sunshine Ray broadcast. Hank starts off by asking for a moment of silence for the 20 inch box fan that still has not been recovered. All at the park go quiet as we think back to warm summer breezes and our memories of the missing fan...........

Hank then explains that All flingers are here of there own free will, they have all signed a release to the town and to the Lodge and to anyone connected to the fling. They are all called to the top of the hill where they are introduced to the town and each given there White and Red flares. The white flares are to be set off at the end of there fling to signal all is well and the red if there is trouble and need assistance. The siren sounds and people head to there viewing areas and the flingers to there shanties. The strobe light is turned on and along with a blue smoke bomb are set into the test log and after the warning horns sounds the log is fired with a full pull. The crowd cheers and the flingers watch and track the log as it shoots down the hill and across the ice. It comes to a rest a few minutes later and all you can see is the flash of the strobe. It looks to be just about were lasts years winners were in the distance contest. Way pass the three Pink Flamingoes.

First shanty to be hauled up the slope is McGurk. Hammer Hank does a good job of introducing McGurk to the crowd. He is you know the play by play man for the girls curling team and is good at filling in air time. Last years alternate McGurk was in Alert One and at the end of the day was launched with a small mishap at the end of the flings. By being in Alert One he is awarded the #1 seed in this years launch. Settling in to the sling like a rider settling on top off a bull in the bucking contest McGurk house is ready. Clouds of steam float out from under the shanty, the inspection committee know that he has some dry ice under there and has sprayed it with water to give it a special effect look and also it has something to do with some wind tunnel test he has made. The house looks like something you would see at a rocket launch. Hank announces him as a full pull! Guess McGurk did not read that this years fling was an accuracy fling not distance. The Horn sounds like what you hear at one of them downhill ski racing contests, as a matter of fact that is where we borrowed it from. One then two and on the third blast the bungee is released and the McGurk house is on it's way with a roar from the crowd. Looking like it is in the wind tunnel the shanty shoots down the slope with the smoke slipping around and disappearing in it's wake. In a blink of an eye it hits the ice and skips across the surface and in a minute it is nothing but a (Contact Us Please) on the horizon. I hear a click in Alert One and Hank telling me to get ready. Then the all clear as McGurks white flare is seen in the spotting scope. The crowd gives polite applause and goes back to there donuts and beer at the announcement.

Nytelyter rig has a few modifications done to it, at least that is what the rumor is. From the outside it does not look much different then last years shanty. Still painted in John Deer colors and now sporting a 2006 distance champ sticker. Maybe a little wider and longer. The inside of the shanty looks shorter inside. Nytelyter in his Blur snowmobile suit takes his shot of Wild Turkey from Hank and climbs in and waves out the window that he is ready. Using the four wheeler the shanty is pulled into place and the bungee slipped across the back. Checking the pull sheet a ½ pull has been requested. Hammering Hank climbs into the old dozer and pulls the bungee back to the mark and with a blast of the air horn once, twice and on the third blast the bungee is released. Nytelyters shack blasts off down the hill, the front end of the shanty is coming up off the snow and as it hits the edge of the ice the shack is completely off the ice. The sun shines off what appears to be metal runners under the shack. It is perhaps a hundred yards from the launch when a mast appears from the center of the shack and a sail unfurls. A large Pink Flamingo graces the sail. The door to the shack pops opens and Nytelyer wearing a harness steps outside of the shack. With his feet firmly on the threshold he is holding a rope to the boom and leaning back . He looks like Kevin Costner in Water World only taller and wider and heavier, guess he don't look like Costner. He begins to tilt the shack up on one runner and is making a turn towards Root Beer Island. Nytelyter using his sailing experience has the first Lake Iwanttobethere sailing shack We all watch as he makes a graceful turn and disappears behind Root Beer Island. The sun sparkles off his runner high in the air. Sitting in the Alert One shack I get another call to be ready when from behind the island we see the white flare arcing up to fall just off the point of the island. I settle back in my seat and have a second shot of Wild Turkey to settle my nerves. This rescue stuff is harder then I thought.

Dan's copilot is a town favorite here and this will be her first launch. Dan having survived last years launch and actually tied with Nytelyter for the longest fling. Grace his copilot will be with him this year. We will see if she helps balance out the shanty. Also it might be noted that Grace can't be trusted alone around ice as she has a liking for it. Grace is also our ice town rescue dog and it will be good to have her out on the ice early. Dan did have a smaller copilot last year that rode on his shoulder but we never did hear to much about him after the launch.

Dan's shanty is dragged up the hill to the sling by Grace, no need for the four wheeler. Also sporting a 2006 distance champ sticker on the door the shack reaches the launching site. Dan wearing a sliver jump suit covered in patches looks somewhat like one of them professional Bass fishermen of the 70's Even Grace has some kind of decal on her keg under her chin. Dan has also expressed an interest in fishing behind Root Beer island. Does not appear that accuracy is a goal and the three flamingoes look safe. Dan accepts his shot of Wild Turkey from Hank and Grace licks the shot glass clean. Dan and Grace enter there shack and Grace with her head out the window gives what appears to be the go ahead bark.. A ½ pull has been requested and the dozer with a black puff of smoke pulls back the bungee and sling. The horn sounds and the release is smooth as the shack glides down the hill catches some air at the ice and picks up speed moving across the ice. It to is making a gradual turn towards the island. From the Lodge Mike at the spotter scope reports that Dan and Grace can both be seen through the shack window leaning on the side of the shack. Mike also reports that there is something from behind the Island approach the shack. Grabbing my world war two navy binoculars I quickly locate the object. I can just make out Mark the mail mans old jeep dragging the brush that we use on the softball field. He appears to be pulling just in front of the shack and like a curler is drawing the shack towards the Island. Suddenly the brush breaks lose of the Jeep and swerves off toward the island. Mark and his jeep go straight and disappear from view. The shack follows the brush but is losing headway and comes to a stop just short of the island. Don't know if that was planned or not but there goes the white flare and everyone looks ok.. Dan then sets up a video camera that he got from the next towns over public access library. We can now watch as other houses approach Dan. I turn on my black and white TV in Alert one and watch as Dan focus his camera on the Lodge and the launching area.

Duckslayers has a marvelous shanty and one that received a lot of attention. It appears to have been a copy of an old ice cream three wheeler. A 6x6x6 plastic box with what appears to be the front end of a motorcycle. Mounted high on the rear is a wing or a spoiler borrowed from what appears to have been a stock car. The wheel has been replaced with a ski and the committee at inspection had to meet and approve the plastic design. The shanty was admitted with only a ½ pull being allowed. Duckslayer lobbied for a full pull but the committee stood hard on the ½ pull. Duckslayer has been pulled to the launch area and he has strapped himself in. His wife watches intently from a heated viewing spot off to the side of the slope. Doc Burriem is standing next to her and sharing some hot cocoa. Wearing a full face shield and six point harness secured to the plastic sides of the shanty with long lengths of duct tape, Duckslayer accepts his and Hanks shots of Wild Turkey and gives the thumps up signal. The sling is attached and the horn sounds. The red silk scarf that is wrapped around his neck streams out behind him as he heads down the hillside. He hits the ice and starts doing slow turns left and right like he is going down a slalom course. As he bleeds off speed he makes a turn for the Island. We can all see him on the black and white as he approaches and then passes Dan. Showing off now he makes a circle and parks it right next to Nytelyter. With a flourish he steps off and puts his kick stand down. Pops his white flare and shakes Nytelyter hand.

The Sparrow club has an entry in this years fling and as you know we will allow anyone to be flung as long as they pass inspection and or are drafted. This year we had a number of newcomers to the fling and the Sparrow Cub is one of the ones who were selected. Somehow and I don't know how they thought they had been issued a challenge to the fling. When I mentioned this to Elmer he hid his face in his popcorn and mumbled something I could not understand. The shack did have some questions in passing the inspection. Some of the things were the strength of the wallpaper as reinforcement and the unsecured wall wine racks. The house also seem to be made up of a lot of paper machie We were assured that the rear wall did have a solid beam in place for launching and the placement of the sling. After having them secure there bamboo fishing rods and wine bottles they were cleared to go. The two riders declined the Wild Turkey and instead finished drinking their tea. Hard to do with it being cold out and there little fingers frozen outwards. They put in for a 1/8 pull but received a 1\4 pull later Hank said it might even had been as much as a ¾ pull as he could not adjust for the light weight and something the French guy said might have been misunderstood. Horns sounded and they were sent off down the hill, about half way down the paper machie started to peel back from the sides of the ice house and almost like wings the walls peeled back from the frame work. They hit a rut in the slope and went off course heading for the public dock. People scattered as they slid across the dock catching the guide ropes to the weather balloons. With two loud TWANGS the ropes gave way and the shanty now caught in the ropes started to rise as it bounced once after leaving the dock. With an almost graceful look they caught a slight breeze and riding the thermals began to rise above the park. The last we saw of them there were being chased by some crows. We saw no red flare so we assumed they are ok. Hank never said anything to me over the intercom.

We waited for what seem like five minutes and decide to continue the fling. Next up was Dug and another interesting ice house. This was a pretty simple looking 8x10 shack with hardwood siding, a stove pipe and one plastic window. A couple of wood runners could be seen underneath it and with the door open you could see a bunk and a fold down table and two lift out floor doors for fishing. A bolted down stove was off in one corner. The window had two matching blue checkerboard curtains. An auger stood upright secured to the side of the house. A real honest to god fishing house. Dug took his shot of Turkey and Hank patted the side of the house and eased the bungee back and gave the horn signal. The shack plowed it's way down the hill and just made the ice skipping across and slowing turning in a circle. It came to rest a hundred yards out and with the door facing the crowd Dug stepped out and waved his white flare. He then went in and reappeared with his auger, after punching a hole through the ice he return to his shack and a moment later was sitting at his hole, rod in hand.

Skinny shanty is the same as last years, just a simple house painted in Red with Lake Iwanttobethere across the side. Skinny just has Hank in the dozer nudge him and he slides down like a six year old on the bunny hill. He hits the bank and slides out across the ice. Surprisingly he goes about 50 yards and comes to a rest. Waving his arms above his head he makes his way back to shore and receives applause from the on lookers.

Elmer walking along side his shanty hikes up the hill as the four wheeler strains to pull the house up the hill to the sling. Wearing his carharts and his red plaid wool vest he goes in to check the inside of his house. Elmer has been in every fling ever held here at the lake. As a matter of fact he was one of the original Lodge members who brought the bungees back to the Lodge in the middle of that hot summer night. They stored them out in the ice house and knew that somehow they would come up with a use for them. He used to compete in the distance challenge but now he being older and wiser uses the fling to get his house out on the ice with as little effort on his part as needed. The house is filled with all of his tackle and supplies, and enough beer and cigars to last the better part of the winter. The launch sheet calls for a ¾ pull. Hank offers Elmer a shot and Elmer grabs the bottle of Turkey and chugs a long swallow. Elmer climbs in and Hank pulls the bungee back. The horn sounds and the sling is released. Like a battleship launching the shanty heads down the slope picking up speed. It hits the ice sending a sheet of ice shavings into the crowd. Elmer has a surprise to, a panel slides across the roof and a small dish appears. The door swings open and flaps in the breeze. About 250 yards out an anchor is tossed from the shanty and dragging behind the shanty it begins to slow. The anchor finally bites in and the house swings in a half circle to come to a rest. Elmer appears with a chair and his white flare. His house sits right over one of his secret brush piles that he drooped in the middle of summer. He is about fifty yards shy of the pink flamingos and is now the closest.

The Johnson Brothers have returned from college and have entered a rather advanced yet inexpensive house to be launched. It can still be recognized for what it once was, a VW Bug. Yellow in color the bug has been stripped of it tires and engine along with drive train and gas tank. Just the shell left and that has been converted for ice fishing. The front compartment holds there gear and the rear engine compartment now has a pony keg and cup dispenser along with a bbq. Old man Johnson named his twin sons Barley and Hops for a reason. The bug is loaded into the sling and a1/2 pull has been requested. The two young men turn down the Wild Turkey and instead chug there beers. They smash the empty cups against each others foreheads. They climb in and are secured in there shoulder straps. The only seats in the bug face away from each other. Can't really tell which end is the front. The horns sounds and they zip down the slope and hitting the ice they start to spin like a kids top. A lot of there energy seems to be wasted in spinning and they move in a slow wobble across the lake. Guess that is the reason for opposite seats as someone can see where they are going while the other can see where they have been. The Bug finally comes to a stop about two hundred and seventy five yards out front of the launch. It is still spinning in place but after another minute or so that to comes to a stop and the two brothers exit. Barley holds a white flare over head and walks in a somewhat circle. Hops makes his way to the rear and pulls out a new cup from the dispenser and fills it. Surprising they are now the closest to the three pink flamingoes frozen in the lake and are the leaders for the accuracy contest and the prize package. Guess they are learning something at college after all.

Hank is called over to meet with Doc Burriem, while he is away the cover is removed from the #10 entry and a small house painted in Robin's egg blue is revealed. It has a white door and painted window boxes with flowers. Hooked up to the four wheeler it is dragged to the sling by Chuck. Stepping out from behind the dozer Tess takes her shot of Wild Turkey and hops into the shanty. Heads turn toward the launch as word spreads through the crowd that it is Tess not Chuck who is in the #10 position. She did not want Hank in the fling because of the danger and them being newlyweds. Hank said he would take the year off but Tess was going to surprise him with her own house. Now Hank slipping and sliding up the hill and yelling at Skinny and Chuck not to launch. Tess sitting in the window of her shack puts her hand out the window and like the Queen gives a little wave of her hand and with that the Horn sounds and the twang of the bungee she is shot down the hill. With the shanty heading straight at Hank he dives to the snow as the now Blue Blur flies over his head and skips once, twice before hitting the ice and heading outwards. Hanks stands and makes a dash to the second bungee with Alert One in the sling. He hits the release as he jumps through the door. I look down at him on the floor on top of the broken door and greet him as best as I can after drinking a half a bottle of Turkey.

Well I can't say to much about Tess's ride as I did not see it. The release of the bungee on such a little shanty as Alert One set me deep into the cushions of the chair made with canned foam. It did not help that Hank was lifted from the floor and tossed in my lap. It was all that I could do to hold on to my Wild Turkey and mug. As the shack went down the hill with nothing but the back half of the shack on the slope, I guess we were on plane. I could just make out the scattering crowd. Seems the snow hill in front of the shack was higher then it was planned for. Alert One plowed through the top of the hill and we were in a white out. Hank regaining his feet was busy tossing stuff from Alert One trying to make it lighter. Lucky for me I had my seat belt duct taped on and had the Turkey secure in both hands. I did notice that as we overshot Tess she had her little blue shanty resting right next to the three pink flamingoes. Seeing this Hank calmed down and stood in the doorway watching his wife and the Lodge recede in the distance behind us. I offered Hank the Turkey and he had a few pulls from the bottle while we waited for the shack to come to a stop. Of course we were way out pass McGurk and had passed the test log also. Hank had tossed out the flares and the blankets and the ladder and the extension cord for the heater was lost way back. Not being to far gone he had let me hold on to the Turkey and the radio. Using his workman's belt tool he secured the door back on the side of Alert One and we sat and watched the sunset. Remembering the football game was on we tuned it in on the old am radio still duct taped to the ceiling. With my batteries fading I have posted this account of the fling and we hope someone will be out to bring us back in................. In the distance we can see fireworks going off near Root Beer island and the quiet sounds of Polka, Polka drifting across the frozen waters of Lake Iwanttobethere. Kind of peaceful out here. From the frozen waters of Lake Iwanttobethere and Alert One the ice town of Lake Iwanttobethere is open for business... Getting kind of cold to...

(20652)

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Has Alert 2 been sent out looking for Alert 1 yet? I walked over in the direction they were headed, but lost the trail with the blowing snow. I'm hoping they make it out OK. Good for Tess! Nice to see a little diversification making it into the fling. Maybe next year I'll read the rules a little better. I'm gonna get my house dragged back to where the flamingos are and stay close to the accuracy winners. Even if there's no fish, there is the town to help pass the time. A big Thanks to Bobby, and to all of the rest of the participants and helpers that made it such a great event!

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I had to go back to where Paul was! He stole, er I mean borrowed, my Capt Morgan and diet Coke! Now that I know the power of the sling it is probably good that I did not get the full pull, I may have ended up right back here at home on a full pull. We had a great weekend and I think it was enjoyed by all! I don't think that Doc and Tess were the only ones that were putting a hurt on that Hot Coco and special flavoring. It seems that most of the flavoring is gone already. Thanks one and all and again a special thanks to you Bobby for putting it all together. Always a great time every time I visit Lake Iwanttobethere! Planning stage already started to win the accuracy contest next year! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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"Maybe next year I'll read the rules a little better. I'm gonna get my house dragged back to where the flamingos are and stay close to the accuracy winners."

Ahh McGurk you missed rules #9

9) Once your house has been launched and it comes to a complete stop you will not be allowed to relocate your house for 30 days. You may rotate it up to 360 degrees. You will be a marker for the rest of the town to follow.

The fling committee will be meeting later today and I will lobby for you to be allowed to move your shanty, You are way out there in no man's land so to speak. We have to retrieve Alert One and the Test log anyway. Hank and I arrived back at the Lodge late last night. We are still trying to warm up. Lucky for us Elmer remember we were out there and came and got us with his old Bomb-a-deer. This morning the landing looks like something from a military landing or invasion. Four wheel drives scattered all over with trailer and shanties. Groups of men waving hands and talking about where to set up and the sound of augers digging holes out on the ice for the houses that have already been set up. The bungees are down and now secure, a few fellows thought they would try and pull it back with a four wheeler and launch there house. They slipped going up the hill with the bungee attached. The bungee took the four wheeler up and down the hill several times. The rider was flung into the main tent and there is not much left of the four wheeler.

Skinny is out now picking up items from Alert One that Hank tossed. Hank is having lunch with Tess and they are talking about painting the shack. At least Hank is. Later today we will award Tess the prize package for winning the fling and the first map of the town will be displayed so we can plan on the ice road and where power poles will be put in. Sunny and temps already into the low 20's a perfect day after to work on the shacks. I'll haul mine down maybe tomorrow, have to figure out where I am going to set up. Give it some time to see how people fish tonight. Want to hear how things are out by Root Beer Island. We did hear from the Sparrow Club there shack landed North of the lake on the railroad track. When they went back to get it the freight train and come through and now they can't find it. There lawyers were looking over there waver forms. I am going to lite up a cigar and enjoy some time on the deck here at the Lodge. Been a busy past few days. Hope everyone settles in down on the ice and enjoyed there rides. From Lake Iwanttobethere

(20701)

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OK I think I am confused. Someday I would love to watch this fantastic fling thing that goes on up there. I just can't figure out where it is.

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The thing is, Reefrunner, we can't really tell you where it is. Do a little reading around here, and I think you just may pick up where it's at; it's not as far as you might think.

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Nice looking sunrise this morning here at the lake. Hard water and houses spread across it. Smoke curls upward in the calm air from the shanties and already you can see a few doors standing open and activity on the ice. Landing is not quite so busy today. A lot of houses went out between the fling and yesterdays activity. Tents are down in the park and Lodge members went out yesterday afternoon and helped Hank and Skinny clean up. Orange barrels are stacked by the beach waiting to be placed for the town's ice road. Dug will be down later today with his plow to make the first pass. Tess being the winner of Sunday's contest will get the first pass made out to her shack and then it looks like the road will make the turn and head to Root Beer Island. A few more houses have followed Nyterlyter, Duckslayer and Dan out that way. Have not heard anything about fishing yet from there and hope the guys pipe in here soon. Elmer picked up some crappies off his brush pile straight out from the landing. He tried to sneak them into his cabin last night but Bud gave him away when he came home.

Hank is still working on getting used to Tess's house and her painted flowers. Chuck and Skinny along with Tess did a good job of building the house and keeping it a secret from Hank. They were out there fishing in it last night. I see Tess was at Vicki's picking up bait this morning. Tess received everything in the gift basket from the 20,000 reader that went unclaimed plus the package for being the accuracy winner this year.

A plowed road to her shack. Conies here at the Lodge a can yam, 99 yards of fishing line, a camouflage bobber, A Grouse call and a quart of 30-40 oil. a 12 pack of Mindy and Mandy's Root beer. Two bottles of Lake Iwanttobethere Maple Syrup. A punch card good for six doz. Live minnows from the Masterbaiters Shop. A coupon from Earl's General Store for hand warmers, a buy one get one flung free from Del's Pizza and Sub shop. A free flue shot from Doc Burriem and a assortment of small chocolate from our very own chocolate maker. A new calendar here from the Lake Iwanttobethere Bank and a also a desk calendar and pencil set from Reed the Realtor. Besides the gift basket she also receives more conies, a doz. free minnows a day from the Masterbaiters shop. Free removal of her shack come spring. Free mounting of one fish from our local fish mounter and a coupon book for an assortment of meals and drinks from area businessmen. Also one ham from Ma and Pa's a pretty good package this year.

Well I am going to head down to the ice and do some scouting, see where the fish are and where I should haul my shack to. O By the way McGurk your shack was given the ok and was hauled back in by Elmer and his Bomb-a-Deer yesterday. They parked it just down from Tess near the Johnson brothers. It might be a little noisy down there with them college kids but still better then being where you were. Alert One and the test log are back in storage.

On another note I would like to say hello to everyone who came out to the fling and are here reading about us. Reef Runner if you can find the Lodge then I am sure someone can get you set up on the ice. From Lake Iwanttobethere (20758)

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From Lake Iwanttobethere (20701)


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From Lake Iwanttobethere (250758)


Man, that Fling sure did bring in the readers. Impressive! We passed the quarter mil mark without even realizing it, glad we could help.

couple of cigars pulled up from the initial fling spot, and am glad to be allowed to move to the point. I may have a thing or two to teach the Johnson's; as is said "with experience comes wisdom." And man, have I had some experiences, as I'm sure do the others around the flamingos.

Looking to get into some crappies, so hopefully they will cooperate. I'm a big fan of "catch and release, into the grease" when it come to panfish. I'll have to do a little portable work around Elmer's crib that he has successfully found. Nothing marks a good fishing spot like a perma-house on top of it.

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From Lake Iwanttobethere (250758)


Man, that Fling sure did bring in the readers. Impressive!

Er Ahh Buff the cat was assisting me in writting this morning. The error has been corrected and Buff has been sent to his room to work on his 10 key adding machine skills... BB

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Two weeks out from Christmas and things are looking good here at the lake. Ice town is filling in nicely. Most of the locals have their houses set up and even a few of the out of town fishermen have taken time off to get there houses set up on the ice. Come this weekend even more houses will come in. I put mine out last night and I am just down from Elmer a little. Sitting just off his brush pile, but I think I'll do just fine there. Not really a bad place on the lake to put a house. Frank the plow driver has been out the last few days pushing back banks along the roads. Another sunny day here with temps in the teens. If this could last for the next several months I know a lot of people that would be happy. A lot of snow in the woods and the four wheelers and snowmobiles are all busy riding and a few hunters still out chasing birds. The small resorts and little bars around the lake are all happy. Everyone is getting some bonus business here before Christmas. Looks like a good end of the year for everyone.

Here at the cabin the battle of the Christmas tree has started. The wife took it apron herself to cut a tree down and it is up and decorated in the front room of the cabin. During the past few nights the two little boys, our cats Buff and Smokey will remove the balls from the tree and redecorate the cabin with them. The wife gets up in the morning and gathering balls and decorations from around the cabin redecorates the tree. We went through this last year. I thought she would wait a little longer to put up the tree this year but all the snow has put her in good spirits I guess. Used to be we just had to watch where we put stuff on the lower levels of the tree for the grand kids but the cats climb the tree and nothing is safe.

Spending time in the wood shop. Making the two grandsons a toy box that will double as a fishing boat for them. Of course it will not be sea worthy but with some imagination they will be able to dump all of there toys out and play inside of it. The youngest daughter was complaining that she didn't get a toy box / boat when she was little. Guess I'll have to build her something to.. Might be a little old for a toy box at twenty though. Garage is empty with the ice house moved out of the way. Quiet over at Elmers as he has pretty much moved into his shack. Pepper has been down there the last few days, she spends more time with Elmer then she does here at home. Ever since they shared the groundhog hunt this summer they have bonded. Barney has been down at the shack already, had to pop in a third hole so he has something to look at. He spends the late afternoon watching my two floats and trying to watch his own hole all at the same time. Settling in to a grove here. Getting things done around the cabin in the morning then a trip to the Lodge for odds and ends. At the shanty for the evening bite then back to the Lodge for a nightcap and to catch up on things. Can't think of a much better way to spend the winter. Of course we have Christmas coming and the Lodge Christmas party will be on Saturday the 22nd this year which also happens to be the first official day of winter. The Lodges tree has several presents under it already and it looks like the sprit is catching on even at the Lodge.

The fishing board already has a few one pound crappies on it and a four pound eye. Was a story going around of a big northern that was almost up through the hole and then lost out off Root Beer Island. Those guys out there have been quiet so far and not much of any reports coming from that end of the town. I was out on Elmers Bomb-a-deer and did notice a trail from Nytelyters shack going in the direction of Mindy and Mandy's place but I am not one to spread rumors, I leave that to Elmer. Snow is all packed down around Dan's place of course with them big paws of Grace that is to be expected. Well time to run some errands for the mises so I can make it to the shack by dinner time. Bang on the door if you see the lights on and the smoke coming out the pipe. From Lake Iwanttobethere (20809)

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Did not want to say much cuz I figured that Paul, McGurk, Dan and Grace would move into our humble abode and being only the size of an ice cream truck there would not be much room. We, young-son and I, have been getting a LOT of NICE crappies out there! Have kept a few for a meal but most are back there ready to be caught another day. Glad that I ended up where I did as there is lots of nice structure there and lots of nice fish. Have also caught some nice eyes but they have all gone back! I think that there will be no need to move the house at the end of the location freeze!

There still seems to be a faint smell of burnt paint in the house from the new paint that we had put on the ski's. Wish that I could find that 20 inch box fan and let it air the house out a bit. It is getting better though as time goes on. If we get everything set up we may need to install a fire extinguisher in the house for the fling next year. Who would have thought that metal on ice could get that hot? Maybe I should look for some titanium skates for the rig next year!

Finally got all of that dang hot chocolate drank up! Well there was not that much left. Funny though, there was more coco left than there was Bailey’s! Things that make a fella go Hmmmm. Bobby, it was good to get a good schooling on the cribbage board the other night. I will have to hone those skills before we play again! I do N Joy playing though and with good friends and a good cigar the outcome of the game does not seem that important. Much like when I go hunting with my son, if we get some ducks that is good if not we still have quality time out there!

I was at the lodge the other day and there was a dilemma. Seems that thee guys had checked into a room and Chuck had checked them in and charged them $30.00 for the room which would of course be $10.00 each.. Well Elmer got wind of that and told him no, that should only be $25.00 so he gave Chuck 5 ones and told him to go give it to the guys. Chuck not being able to divide 3 into 5 figured that he would stick $2.00 in his pocket and give them each a dollar back. Well, now they have each paid $9.00 for the room. Chuck has two dollars and I started thinking, 3 X 9=27. Chuck has two so that would make $29.00 all told. Well where the heck did that other dollar go? confused.gif Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
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