Tuesday, March 30, 2010

An Early Thaw Brings the Boats to Rainy River/Lake of the Woods

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well I just wanted thank each and every person that I had the opportunity to speak with during the past two weeks while I was at the Wisconsin 2010 Sport Show in Eau Claire, and at the 2010 Minneapolis Sport Show in Minneapolis. You make it so easy for me to truly love my job, and for that I must thank you all. The only drawback of being on the road is that it was a long two weeks and it felt like I was on the road again playing hockey. I was glad to get home last night and sleep in my own bed…haha.

Today I was hoping to get out and do a little fishing, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get out there today…maybe Wednesday. As of this morning there were about 30 boats in the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay that I could see with the naked eye. I’ve heard that there are plenty of boats that have made the trek to Lighthouse Gap though and they are having a little more success in the “Big Lake”. I’ll be grilling each and everyone as to location and depths that are picking up fish and report that to you as I find it out.

As of today though, I did get the opportunity to talk with Jake “of the Woods” Magness and he was having great success yesterday, only for about a two hour stretch though, right in front of the Marina. He said that they had doubles for about 2 hours and they were very nice Walleyes, but before and after it was very slow. My personal opinion is that the Walleyes are still staging out in front of Lighthouse Gap getting ready for their yearly spawn, and as soon as the water temperature increases by a few degrees it will be “Game On” in Four Mile Bay and Rainy River. We should be getting the right weather to get us there in the next few days…I can’t wait!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” - E. M. Forester. After working the sport shows these past few weeks, I have been able to share my story with a number of people that were willing to lend a listening ear (sorry for my gift to gab…haha), and it made me realize just once again how truly lucky I am for taking a blind step and following my heart back to northern Minnesota. As I was reading through a number of quotes today I came upon the above quote, and it jumped right out at me the first time I read it. At one time I thought I had my life all planed out and I knew exactly what I wanted, but was it what God had planned for me? I don’t know if E.M. Forester was a religious person or not, but I truly believe that we all have a purpose on this earth and sometimes no matter what “WE” want, there may be another plan. As I shared my story with so many people, it really got me thinking again as to how I ended up at the Wigwam Resort and back in northern Minnesota. I’ve never claimed to be perfect and I’m positive I’ve made more mistakes in life than the normal individual, but God has lead me back home for a special purpose. Maybe to help one person, maybe to help many, time will be the tell tale on that. Since my return I’ve truly been at peace and my attitude has changed on how I look at every aspect of life, love and happiness. I hope that my story will help others live happier lives, and as each day passes, we each come closer to the life that is waiting for each and every one of us…God Bless.

ATTENTION STURGEON FISHERMAN!!!! I want to remind everyone that Sturgeon Fishing Season is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort will be hosting two separate events for Sturgeon enthusiasts this April. There are still rooms and cabins available for the Fishing Minnesota Sturgeon Excursion April 16th, 17th & 18th, and there is only a few rooms left available for the In Depth Outdoors Sturgeon Excursion April 22nd, 23rd & 24th. We will be having a fish fry each Friday (17th & 23rd) and Roast Buffet on each Saturday (18th & 24th)…everyone is welcome to participate in each event…the more the merrier. If you’ve been waiting to fish Sturgeon this is the perfect time of year to do it…there will be plenty of people to help you find out all the secrets to a successful Sturgeon fishing trip. See you all there!

Announcements…Tami and the Bachelor will be the live entertainment the weekends of April 16th & 17th and April 23rd & 24th. We have dropped all of our lodging prices to our Spring Special price of $35 per person per night till the Walleye Opener on May 15th. If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the April specials we will be offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We plan to run an April special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for May 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of April…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be mostly cloudy skies early then partly cloudy this afternoon, high 66F with winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Tonight we will have considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers after midnight, low 43F with winds SW at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow should be overcast with rain showers at times, high 56F with winds NW at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow night we should have a few showers early with mostly cloudy conditions late, low 36F with winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Thursday there should be showers possible, highs in the low 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Friday there should be a chance of showers, highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. Saturday we should have times of sun and clouds, highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. Today’s fishing report will come from our guides and some local fisherman. There have been a few big Walleyes caught buy the Baudette airport, our local Marina, Four Mile Bay and Lighthouse Gap. As of right now, I truly believe that the water temperature needs to come up 5 to 7 degrees before we really see the Walleyes start to run into the Rainy River to start their spawn. The lures of choice have been just plain 3/8 oz. and ½ oz. Jigs (Chartreuse, Pink and Orange) with frozen Shiners as bait. The water is still pretty clear…I think that should still be the case throughout the week. You will want to be fishing in 18-26 feet of water while fishing the river, 14-22 feet of water in Four Mile Bay (in the channel), and 14-22 feet in Lighthouse Gap. I should be getting more info tomorrow or Thursday and I’ll give everyone another report before I skip town on my vacation (April 2 -12). Good luck and Happy Fishing to all! Thanks for fishing with us and visiting with us at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods.

My shout out today will go to all everyone that I had the pleasure of meeting these past few weeks in Eau Claire, WI and Minneapolis, MN. Thank you for taking the time to allow me to “Gab” your ears off and spread the great word about the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods. I look forward to seeing all of you again sometime in the near future, one way or another, in our great community on Lake of the Woods.

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/

Monday, March 15, 2010

Warm Temps Could Cause an Early End to Ice Fishing Season 09-10

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well let me get right to the business at hand…I’m sure that all of you are wondering about ice conditions…here we go. The good news is, the ice thickness is holding up only in the big lake, the bad news is, we still aren’t getting those freezing temps we were supposed to get as of a couple days ago and from the present forecast, the weather doesn’t look to be changing for the next few days, tomorrow at the earliest. We are supposed to get mid teen temps this weekend, even a bit of snow, but I hope not that much. Adrian’s road and all of Four Mile Bay are closed to any traffic…I wouldn’t even drive wheelers out there. As of now it is business as usual for the week and weekend, but I will keep you updated as to any changes in the Daily Fishing Report, which is found on our website at http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. I will keep you all updated to any changes, good or bad.

Yesterday Tom, I, Kevin and Doug moved 7 ice houses down from the Reefs to 4-1/2 miles northeast of Long Point where there is better ice most importantly and more fish. After drilling and banking 4 houses we dropped lines, but didn’t have any bait, so we had to use Chubby Darters, within 15 minutes we had 6 in the house…not big fish though…we had 5 Saugers and 1 Walleye. Today “The Boys” moved the rest of the houses off the Reef to the same location. In a week we will be fishing off of Graceton Reef…I will keep you all posted to that though.

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia. Jody gave me this quote this morning, and after looking through a ton of inspirational quotes, I think this one was the best. This sticks out so much; in a perfect world I wish we all lived by this quote…I believe it would make our world a better place. I try and live by this quote day in and day out, but I find myself drifting away sometimes, and just seeing this quote brings it back to the forefront. There are people out there that actually try to help us in very subtle ways each and everyday, and I want to try my best to be that person for each and every one of you. Thanks for the Quote babe, and for helping me become a better person each and every day.

The lures that have still been working well are the “Gold Disco Ball aka “Strobe Jigs” (made by JB’s Tackle)”, “Stop Signs (Pink or White)”, “Macho Minnows (Pink/Gold, Green or White)” “Glow Pink Charmers (made by Tom’s Tackle locally in Baudette), which just happens to be my favorite lure to date” and “Chubby Darters/Rapala Rattling Jigs”. You want to be using anything that glows right now to get the best success possible…white and pink have been the best! All these items can be purchased at Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Remember that Vexilars are not required, but they help immensely when fishing off the bottom and marking suspended fish, which has been a common occurrence these days on Lake of the Woods. So, where I’m going with this one is, get a Vexilar today…you won’t be disappointed!

ATTENTION STURGEON FISHERMAN!!!! I want to remind everyone that Sturgeon Fishing Season is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort will be hosting two separate events for Sturgeon enthusiasts this April. There are still rooms and cabins available for the Fishing Minnesota Sturgeon Excursion April 16th, 17th & 18th, and there is only a few rooms left available for the In Depth Outdoors Sturgeon Excursion April 22nd, 23rd & 24th. We will be having a fish fry each Friday (17th & 23rd) and Roast Buffet on each Saturday (18th & 24th)…everyone is welcome to participate in each event…the more the merrier. If you’ve been waiting to fish Sturgeon this is the perfect time of year to do it…there will be plenty of people to help you find out all the secrets to a successful Sturgeon fishing trip. See you all there!

Announcements…4 Wheel Drive will be the live entertainment this weekend (March 19th & 20th). It’s finally here this weekend…The Bikini Ice Fishing Team will be here on March 18, 19 & 20. For all of you that have the ability to come midweek don’t miss out on our great specials for March. We are offering a total of 15% off for midweek packages (lodging/fishing) and (lodging/fishing/meals)…these are applicable to reservations made after March 1, 2010. If you’re looking for some great ice fishing deals, checkout the current February specials we are offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We are running a March special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for March 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of March…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be cloudy, high 43F with winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight will be overcast with areas of dense fog, low 31F with winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow we will have areas of dense morning fog...partly to mostly cloudy, high 43F with winds light and variable. Tomorrow night should be partly cloudy skies, low 26F with winds light and variable. Wednesday we should have more clouds than sun, highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. Thursday we should have a few showers, highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 20s. Friday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 20s. Then the next few days it will continue to get colder, with even snow on Friday night (the 19th) and Saturday (the 20th), which should help us out for next weekend and the following week. Adrian’s has officially closed the road in Four Mile Bay, but there are other access points on the south shore of Lake of the Woods to get out to great ice and it is business as usual for us at the Wigwam until such time we determine it is no longer safe. Last night we pulled our houses off the Reefs and moved them in closer to shore to follow the fish, we are about 4-1/2 miles northeast of Long Point into 32-36 feet of water. Today’s fishing report will come from myself and our guides. Pink, White and Gold are still the magic colors on Lake of the Woods. Vexilars are not a must, but suggested…I won’t even fish if I don’t have a Vexilar these days. Tom and I started moving our ice houses from the Reef to the Long Point area yesterday, because the Reefs hadn’t preformed to expectations the past few days and we want everyone to catch fish…after we drilled the first 4 houses, we had to do a little exploratory fishing, which I wasn’t complaining about. With no bait and just Chubby Darters, we were picking them up one right after the other…I’m sure with a little bait on the lure the fish are going wild this morning. I will update the fishing report tomorrow morning to let everyone know how we did out there today. The lures showing the best success rates are the “Gold Disco Ball aka Strobe Jig by JB’s Tackle”, “Charmer Jig (Pink) by Tom’s Tackle, the Pink or White Florescent “Stop Sign”, “Macho Minnows” and “Chubby Darter/Rapala Rattling Jig” (all can be purchased at the Log Cabin Bait store approximately ¾ of a mile before the Wigwam on 172). Use anything that glows right now, whether it is pink or white. Also give the plain gold jigs/Disco aka “Strobe” balls a try. The ice thickness out there is currently 30-34 inches on the big body of water. Good luck and Happy Fishing to all! Thanks for fishing with us and visiting with us at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods.

My shout out today will go to all “The Boys” we have working the ice this season…Kevin “The Crazy Canadian” Marchuk, Doug “The Surgeon” Hagen, Shane “Wiggles” Burk, Jake “of the Woods” Magness, AJ “The Cooler” Anderson, Noah “Baby Face” Johnson, Dillon, Steve & Billie “The Sniper” Kloos. It’s been a long season and we are almost at the finish line…I don’t know where the days have gone, but it has passed us by so quickly. You guys have done a great job this season…keep it up down the home stretch and be ready for the “Off the Ice Party” in a couple weeks.

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/

Thursday, March 11, 2010

That’s Why it’s Called Fishing…

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well let me get right to the business at hand…I’m sure that all of you are wondering about ice conditions…here we go. The good news is, the ice thickness is holding up, the bad news is, we aren’t getting those freezing temps we were supposed to get as of a couple days ago and from the present forecast, the weather doesn’t look to be changing for the next few days. As of now it is business as usual for the weekend, but as I stated before, I will keep you all updated to any changes, good or bad.

Last Sunday after church, Jody and I met a few of our friends at the VFW’s Annual Fishing Derby in Baudette. The event was for a great cause…The Boy Scouts. I personally have never been involved with the group, but as a kid who was involved in Awana (something very similar), I know how beneficial funding was to put on our functions, which were always fun and most importantly educational. The air was filled with laughter and pleasant conversation, while hotdogs and constant chatter were flowing from the Derby Headquarters, always giving away prizes donated by some area businesses. It was a beautiful day…35 and sunny…not a cloud in the sky. There were 35 Northern Pike caught total for the day, and Jody and I didn’t get even one…haha. Oh well I guess that’s why they call it fishing, and not catching. We had a blast and it will most definitely be apart of our schedule next year.

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein. Last week I was asked if I’m actually as happy as I seem, or is it just a mask. I was kind of taken back by the comment, because I’ve never been asked that questions before…I’m just a genuinely happy natured individual I guess. Well, where I’m going with this is, when I was reading through some of the quotes, which I read daily, this one really seemed to make an impression on the question that was asked. I have had plenty of highs and lows in my short life and I came to the conclusion a few years back that no mater what I do in life, I want to be truly happy, and I’ve been able to successfully accomplish that. So when you see me and I’ve got a smile on my face that will just mean, I’m doing what I love to do…I treat everything as a miracle. Keep your tips up, lines tight and every time you’re fishing, remember the above quote. I hope this will brighten your day and bring you happiness to your life, on and off the lake! P.S. – I think the guy that said it knew a thing or two also…Mr. Albert Einstein.

The lures that have still been working well are the “Gold Disco Ball aka “Strobe Jigs” (made by JB’s Tackle)”, “Stop Signs (Pink or White)”, “Macho Minnows (Pink, Green or White)” “Glow Pink Charmers (made by Tom’s Tackle locally in Baudette), which just happens to be my favorite lure to date” and “Chubby Darters/Rapala Rattling Jigs”. You want to be using anything that glows right now to get the best success possible…white and pink have been the best! All these items can be purchased at Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Remember that Vexilars are not required, but they help immensely when fishing off the bottom and marking suspended fish, which has been a common occurrence these days on Lake of the Woods. So, where I’m going with this one is, get a Vexilar today…you won’t be disappointed!

Announcements…Tami and the Bachelor will be the live entertainment this weekend (March 12th & 13th). Also, for all of you that have the ability to come midweek don’t miss out on our great specials for March. We are offering a total of 15% off for midweek packages (lodging/fishing) and (lodging/fishing/meals)…these are applicable to reservations made after March 1, 2010. The Bikini Ice Fishing Team will be here on March 18, 19 & 20. If you’re looking for some great ice fishing deals, checkout the current February specials we are offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We are running a March special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for March 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of March…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be overcast, high 41F with winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight we should get rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight, low 32F with winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow we should see showers early becoming less numerous later in the day, high 43F with winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be mostly cloudy skies, low 33F with winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Saturday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s. Sunday should be cloudy, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s. Monday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the upper 20s. Then the next few days it will continue to get colder, with even snow on Friday (the 19th) and Saturday (the 20th), which should help us out for next weekend. Today’s fishing report will come from me and our guides. Pink, White and Gold are still the magic colors on Lake of the Woods. Vexilars are not a must, but suggested…I won’t even fish if I don’t have a Vexilar these days. Today our houses outside of Lighthouse Gap in 16 – 24 feet of water did fairly well, some of the gentlemen that I talked to picked up 30 plus fish each, so keep that on your radar this weekend…you don’t have to go as far for good fishing. We just went back to the Reefs today for the first time in a few days and I have yet to get a report, but will post that tomorrow. People are having good success out at the end of Adrian’s Road in 32 to 36 feet of water. The road is still drivable as of today, but please call Adrian’s for the current reports. Snowmobiles are still you’re best bet as of this weekend…there is still snow on the ice. The lures showing the best success rates are the “Gold Disco Ball aka Strobe Jig by JB’s Tackle”, “Charmer Jig (Pink) by Tom’s Tackle, the Pink or White Florescent “Stop Sign”, “Macho Minnows” and “Chubby Darter/Rapala Rattling Jig” (all can be purchased at the Log Cabin Bait store approximately ¾ of a mile before the Wigwam on 172). Use anything that glows right now, whether it is pink or white. Also give the plain gold jigs/Disco aka “Strobe” balls a try. The ice thickness out there is currently 32-34 inches on the big body of water and 24-28 inches in Four Mile Bay. Adrian’s road is open for business, but with the weather, I would only bring something with 4 wheel drive, but as I indicated earlier, call Adrian’s for the up to date report. Fishing has been a tad bit slow the past few days during the mid day hours, but smoking hot from 4:15 to dark. As anyone who has fished before knows, it can’t be gang busters all the time, even if we want it to be. Don’t miss out on this great fishing that we’re having on Lake of the Woods; come visit us today at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods!

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Lake of the Woods Needs a Freeze…I Think We Might Just Get It

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well let me get right to the business at hand…I’m sure that all of you are wondering about ice conditions…here we go. The good news is, the ice thickness is holding up, the bad news is, we are going to have at least one more day of above freezing temps. Thursday we should start seeing some cooler temps visiting us in the evenings, which should give us a couple good freezes. At least enough to keep us going through the rest of March…April is still up in the air; we are at the mercy of “Mother Nature”. I will keep posting ice conditions in each blog.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity of fishing in one of the Wigwam Ice Houses, just on the West side of Pine Island, in Lighthouse Gap, in 25 feet of water. For the first 2 hours, I didn’t even get a bite, but as the clock struck 4:45 the light went on. For the next 45 minutes I was only able to fish with one line…what a great time. Patience is truly a virtue. I won’t be going out for a few more days, but I can’t wait to get back out there already.

Today’s “Quote of the Day”..."My motto was always to keep swinging" – Hank Aaron. This quote resonates with me each and every day, whether I’m on the lake, at home, or at the resort. Everyday is new opportunity to try and do something better each and every time you do it. Yesterday I went fishing in one of the Wigwam Ice Houses, and for the first 2 hours I didn’t even get a bite, but the experience gave me the opportunity to try a few new lures. I didn’t get discouraged, but must have gone through 6 different jigs before I found the one the Walleyes were after. During the next 45 minutes I wasn’t able to fish with more than one pole…that’s why you keep “swinging” and trying new lures and techniques. Keep a positive attitude and throw a few different looks at them, and it will increase your Walleye catching abilities. Keep your tips up, lines tight and every time you’re fishing, remember the above quote. I hope this will brighten your day and bring you happiness to your life, on and off the lake!

Just a little FYI, if you’re looking to book a midweek or weekend Ice Fishing trip with us at the Wigwam Resort, you had better call and reserve your rooms/cabins today. There is very limited space available during the weekends till the end of March, book now or forever hold your peace. If you’re looking to come midweek (Sunday night – Thursday morning), which we do have more availability, please give us a call today, we are offering up to 15% off all fishing packages (only) in March (only applicable to new reservations). All the packages can be accessed on our website at http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/.

The lures that have still been working well are the “Gold Disco Ball aka “Strobe Jigs” (made by JB’s Tackle)”, “Stop Signs (Pink or White)”, “Macho Minnows (Pink, Green or White)” “Glow Pink Charmers (made by Tom’s Tackle locally in Baudette), which just happens to be my favorite lure to date” and “Chubby Darters/Rapala Rattling Jigs”. You want to be using anything that glows right now to get the best success possible…white and pink have been the best! All these items can be purchased at Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Remember that Vexilars are not required, but they help immensely when fishing off the bottom and marking suspended fish, which has been a common occurrence these days on Lake of the Woods. So, where I’m going with this one is, get a Vexilar today…you won’t be disappointed!

Announcements…Poor Boys will be the live entertainment this weekend (March 5th & 6th). Also, for all of you that have the ability to come midweek don’t miss out on our great specials for March. We are offering a total of 15% off for midweek packages (lodging/fishing) and (lodging/fishing/meals)…these are applicable to reservations made after March 1, 2010. The Bikini Ice Fishing Team will be here on March 18, 19 & 20. If you’re looking for some great ice fishing deals, checkout the current February specials we are offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We are running a March special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for March 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of March…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be cloudy with periods of light rain, high 41F with winds light and variable…there will be a 70% chance of rain. Tonight we should have rain and freezing rain this evening with freezing drizzle continuing overnight, low 29F with winds light and variable…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Tomorrow we should have cloudy skies early with a few showers developing later in the day; high near 40F with winds NE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow night we should have rain showers in the evening then a mix of rain and freezing rain overnight, low 31F with winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Thursday we should be looking at light rain and ice in the morning, highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s. Friday should be mostly Cloudy, highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 20s. Saturday we should have more clouds than sun, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the mid 20s. Today’s fishing report will come from me and our guides. Pink, White and Gold are still the magic colors on Lake of the Woods. Vexilars are not a must, but suggested…I won’t even fish if I don’t have a Vexilar these days. Today our houses outside of Lighthouse Gap in 16 – 24 feet of water are starting to pick up some better numbers, so keep that on your radar this week and weekend…you don’t have to go as far for good fishing. Because of the light rain we had this morning we decided not to head to the Reefs today, but we anticipate being back there in a few days when we get a little cooler weather at night to harden up the trail. The lures showing the best success rates are the “Gold Disco Ball aka Strobe Jig by JB’s Tackle”, “Charmer Jig (Pink) by Tom’s Tackle, the Pink or White Florescent “Stop Sign”, “Macho Minnows” and “Chubby Darter/Rapala Rattling Jig” (all can be purchased at the Log Cabin Bait store approximately ¾ of a mile before the Wigwam on 172). Use anything that glows right now, whether it is pink or white. Also give the plain gold jigs/Disco aka “Strobe” balls a try. The ice thickness out there is currently 32-34 inches on the big body of water and 24-28 inches in Four Mile Bay. Adrian’s road is open for business, but with the weather, I would only bring something with 4 wheel drive. Fishing has been a tad bit slow the past few days during the mid day hours, but smoking hot from 4:15 to dark. As anyone who has fished before knows, it can’t be gang busters all the time. I hope that the great continued bite will be back in the next few day, but I’ll keep you posted. Don’t miss out on this great fishing that we’re having on Lake of the Woods; come visit us today at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods!

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/

Thursday, March 4, 2010

March brings so Many Options to Lake of the Woods...Fishing or Snowmobiling, or maybe both!

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had an awesome weekend, on and off the lake. I had the opportunity to get out and do some snowmobiling on Sunday and a little fishing on Wednesday, and as always, I had a blast doing both. On Sunday Jody, I and a group from the lake took a 120 mile snowmobile ride, which took us south of Baudette, then to Birchdale, then we took the Rainy River back to the lake…what an awesome ride…the weather was fantastic and the company was even better. I love being able to be with like minded people and share a common interest with them that we all have…the love for the outdoors. After the trip, Tom and I talked about guided snowmobile trips for the rest of the season and for sure next year. If anyone is interested in finding out more, please call me (Jean-Paul Tessier) at the Wigwam Resort (800) 448-9260. The only catch is that we don't rent sleds, you would have to bring your own. LETS RIDE!!!!

Two days ago, Jake “of the Woods” Magness and I rode our sleds out to the Reefs to wet a few lines in the afternoon. We didn’t get out there till about 1:30 PM and it was very quiet till at least 4:00 PM, but then it was “Game On” from then till dark! For a while there I was starting to worry, but as if a light switch were turned on, the fishing improved dramatically after 4:00 PM. The big Walleye of the day was a 29-1/2”, which was caught by Jake on a Pink/Gold Jig with a frozen Shiner as bait. I managed to catch a few slot fish that had to be deposited back into the lake…the biggest was 23”. I was fishing with an Orange Rapala Jigging Rap and a White Glow Jig with a frozen Shiner as bait…after 4 PM they both turned deadly for the fish…haha.

Today’s “Quote of the Day”. To find what you seek in the road “Lake” of life, the best proverb of all is that which says: "Leave no stone unturned." - Edward Bulwer Lytton. This quote resonated with me two days ago when I was fishing with Jake Magness. We took our sleds out on a little fishing excursion and for us to find what we were looking for, we had to drill over 30 holes, but we found it. Leave no stone unturned…how true it is. Keep your tips up, lines tight and every time you’re fishing, remember the above quote. I hope this will brighten your day and bring you happiness to your life, on and off the lake!

Just a little FYI, if you’re looking to book a midweek or weekend Ice Fishing trip with us at the Wigwam Resort, you had better call and reserve your rooms/cabins today. There is very limited space available during the weekends till the end of March, book now or forever hold your peace. If you’re looking to come midweek (Sunday night – Thursday morning), which we do have more availability, please give us a call today, we are offering up to 15% off all fishing packages (only) in March (only applicable to new reservations). All the packages can be accessed on our website at http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/.

The lures that have still been working well are the “Gold Disco Ball aka “Strobe Jigs” (made by JB’s Tackle)”, “Stop Signs (Pink or White)”, “Macho Minnows (Pink, Green or White)” “Glow Pink Charmers (made by Tom’s Tackle locally in Baudette), which just happens to be my favorite lure to date” and “Chubby Darters/Rapala Rattling Jigs”. You want to be using anything that glows right now to get the best success possible…white and pink have been the best! All these items can be purchased at Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Remember that Vexilars are not required, but they help immensely when fishing off the bottom and marking suspended fish, which has been a common occurrence these days on Lake of the Woods. So, where I’m going with this one is, get a Vexilar today…you won’t be disappointed!

Announcements…Poor Boys will be the live entertainment this weekend (March 5th & 6th). Also, for all of you that have the ability to come midweek don’t miss out on our great specials for March. We are offering a total of 15% off for midweek packages (lodging/fishing) and (lodging/fishing/meals)…these are applicable to reservations made after March 1, 2010. The Bikini Ice Fishing Team will be here on March 18, 19 & 20. If you’re looking for some great ice fishing deals, checkout the current February specials we are offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We are running a March special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for March 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of March…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today we will have cloudy skies early, and then partly cloudy this afternoon, high 39F with winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight, low 21F with winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be cloudy skies, high around 40F with winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night we will have considerable cloudiness, low 26F with winds light and variable. Saturday will be cloudy, highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 20s. Sunday we should have clouds giving way to sun, highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 20s. Monday should be partly cloudy, highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 20s. Today’s fishing report will come from me and our guides. Pink, White and Gold are still the magic colors on Lake of the Woods. Vexilars are not a must, but suggested…I won’t even fish if I don’t have a Vexilar these days. Today our houses are outside of Lighthouse Gap in 16 – 24 feet of water are starting to pick up some better numbers, so keep that on your radar this week and weekend…you don’t have to go as far for good fishing. We are also still catching beautiful fish (BIG WALLEYES) up on the Reefs in 24 - 32 feet. We have still been doing very well in our houses, which are only accessible by fishing with the Wigwam Resort (Trucks can’t drive to them)…they are located 2 miles off of Pine Island outside of Lighthouse Gap and up off the Reefs (21 miles north). The lures showing the best success rates are the “Gold Disco Ball aka Strobe Jig by JB’s Tackle”, “Charmer Jig (Pink) by Tom’s Tackle, the Pink or White Florescent “Stop Sign”, “Macho Minnows” and “Chubby Darter/Rapala Rattling Jig” (all can be purchased at the Log Cabin Bait store approximately ¾ of a mile before the Wigwam on 172). Use anything that glows right now, whether it is pink or white. Also give the plain gold jigs/Disco aka “Strobe” balls a try. The ice thickness out there is currently 32-34 inches. Adrian’s road is open for business…trucks are going out everyday. But again, just a little reminder, if you want to fish by the Wigwam’s houses, you have to come with us. The only types of transportation that will get you out to our houses are track vehicles and snowmobiles…no trucks. We are currently fishing the “Reefs”, but there are limited spots available each day, so book your spot today. Don’t miss out on this great fishing that we’re having on Lake of the Woods; come visit us today at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods!

My shout out today will have to go to all the “Wigwam Ladies”, whom we just happened to take fishing on Wednesday. These are the gals that make sure your stay with us is an awesome experience, each and every time. I wanted to thank them all for a doing such a great job each and everyday they bless us with there presence. Take care and thanks again for all you do…it is never overlooked and always greatly appreciated!

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Trophy Walleyes Keep On Coming at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope that everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend, whether you were on the lake or not. The Wigwam Resort had another great week and weekend, and I just wanted to start this edition off with a “BIG WIGWAM THANK YOU” to everyone that visited us during that stretch. Whether you were staying with us in a lodge or cabin, fishing with us, dinning with us, visiting the bar for a few beverages, or just coming in to say hi and get fishing reports…we couldn’t make this happen without each of you…thanks again.

Well the “Trophy Walleyes” haven’t stopped making there daily appearances in our ice houses, which puts a smile on my face and I’m pretty sure anyone else who is lucky enough to hook into one of them…haha. The quantities of fish that are being caught have been down from years past, but that doesn’t mean there not there, they are there just not biting as much, which means a little more work. Just to clarify this also, Lake of the Woods is on a whole other level than any other lake in the world, so when I say the quantities are down, I mean they are down to 50 to 60 fish caught a day in stead of 60 to 80 on average. There is still no better freshwater fishing in the world in my opinion. The quality of Walleyes being caught are up here is off the charts though, just in the past two weeks our guests have been able to bring in 15 Walleyes over 28 inches and 6 over 30 inches (those are some NICE Walleyes). Oh by the way, that doesn’t even count the monsters line breakers that have gotten away, which happens about once or twice every day. So, if you’re looking to put a monster Walleye, Northern Pike, Musky or Perch on the wall, your best bet is Lake of the Woods, hands down in my opinion. I hope to see you all up here…Best of Luck!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish” – John Quincy Adams. Every fisherman/women that I know must be able to relate to this quote. I know that it’s tough sometimes to keep the spirits up when you’re not bringing the fish in one right after the other, but just as the quote states, “patience and perseverance have a magical effect”, and I think it starts with a great attitude. I am a “glass is always half full” kind of guy and this quote resonates with me. Keep your tips up, lines tight and every time you’re fishing, remember the above quote. I hope this will brighten your day and bring you happiness to your life, on and off the lake!

Just a little FYI, if you’re looking to book a weekend Ice Fishing trip with us at the Wigwam Resort, you had better call and reserve your rooms/cabins today. There is very limited space available during the weekends till the end of March, book now or forever hold your peace. If you’re looking to come midweek (Sunday night – Thursday morning), which we do have more availability, please give us a call today, we are offering up to 15% off all fishing packages (only) in March (only applicable to new reservations). All the packages can be accessed on our website at http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/.

The lures that have still been working well are the “Gold Disco Ball aka “Strobe Jigs” (made by JB’s Tackle)”, “Stop Signs (Pink or White)”, “Macho Minnows (Pink, Green or White)” “Glow Pink Charmers (made by Tom’s Tackle locally in Baudette), which just happens to be my favorite lure to date” and “Chubby Darters/Rapala Rattling Jigs”. You want to be using anything that glows right now to get the best success possible…white and pink have been the best! All these items can be purchased at Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Remember that Vexilars are not required, but they help immensely when fishing off the bottom and marking suspended fish, which has been a common occurrence these days on Lake of the Woods. So, where I’m going with this one is, get a Vexilar today…you won’t be disappointed!

Announcements…Poor Boys will be the live entertainment this weekend (March 5th & 6th). Also, for all of you that have the ability to come midweek don’t miss out on our great specials for March. We are offering a total of 15% off for midweek packages (lodging/fishing) and (lodging/fishing/meals)…these are applicable to reservations made after March 1, 2010. The Bikini Ice Fishing Team will be here on March 18, 19 & 20. If you’re looking for some great ice fishing deals, checkout the current February specials we are offering on our website http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/. We are running a March special that will give you a discount on packages purchased for March 2010. The specials will only last through the rest of March…you can’t beat them!

Daily Fishing Report: Today we will have a mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon, high 33F with winds light and variable. Tonight should be partly to mostly cloudy, low near 10F with winds light and variable. Tomorrow we should see intervals of clouds and sunshine, high 32F with winds light and variable. Tomorrow night we should have mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight, low 14F with winds light and variable. Wednesday we should have a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low teens. Thursday should be sunny, highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid teens. Friday we should see times of sun and clouds, highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 20s. Today’s fishing report will come from me and our guides, and will be no different than my last report, besides the weather. Pink and White are still the magic colors on Lake of the Woods. Vexilars are not a must, but suggested…I won’t even fish if I don’t have a Vexilar these days. Today our houses outside of Lighthouse Gap in 20 – 24 feet of water are starting to pick up some better numbers, so keep that on your radar this week and weekend…you don’t have to go as far for good fishing. We are also still catching beautiful fish (BIG WALLEYES) up on the Reefs in 24 - 32 feet. We have still been doing very well in our houses, which are only accessible by fishing with the Wigwam Resort (Trucks can’t drive to them)…they are located 2 miles off of Pine Island outside of Lighthouse Gap and up off the Reefs (21 miles north). The lures showing the best success rates are the “Gold Disco Ball aka Strobe Jig by JB’s Tackle”, “Charmer Jig (Pink) by Tom’s Tackle), the Pink or White Florescent “Stop Sign”, “Macho Minnows” and “Chubby Darter/Rapala Rattling Jig” (all can be purchased at the Log Cabin Bait store approximately ¾ of a mile before the Wigwam on 172). Use anything that glows right now, whether it is pink or white. Also give the plain gold jigs/Disco aka “Strobe” balls a try. The ice thickness out there is currently 32-34 inches. Adrian’s road is open for business…trucks are going out everyday. But again, just a little reminder, if you want to fish by the Wigwam’s houses, you have to come with us. The only types of transportation that will get you out to our houses are track vehicles and snowmobiles…no trucks. We are currently fishing the “Reefs”, but there are limited spots available each day, so book your spot today. Don’t miss out on this great fishing that we’re having on Lake of the Woods; come visit us today at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods!

My shout out today will go to Critter Nagurski and his Bachelor Party Crew from International Falls (my hometown), which just visited us this past weekend. Thanks for being such great guests and making this weekend such a great one guys! Critter, I wish you only happiness as you take this next step in your life. May the road you travel be filled with many great memories…congratulations again!

Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman aka Jean-Paul Tessier
Wigwam Resort
http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/