Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Here Comes the Wind and the Snow to Lake of the Woods

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone has had another fantastic fall week and weekend. I didn’t think we’d get it this quick, but I think the snow might be coming to pay us a little visit today and tomorrow, up to 4 inches worth. I hope it’s not a teaser and leaves us right away, but that might be the case. The weather is supposed to be in the 40’s for the next week, which might melt that wonderful white snow. It’s that time of year and it’s supposed to get into the high 20’s each night and that should start cooling off the lake and get it ready for that first good layer of ice, which is hopefully less than a month away (my wishful thinking).

Over this past weekend we had great weather on Lake of the Woods and our guests were having an abundance amount of fun. Each and every person I talked to had a great time and caught fish. The fishing in the Rainy River is still a little bit slower than the lake, but the fish are inching their way further into the river each and every day. In the Gaps (Morris and Lighthouse) in 20 +/- feet of water the fishing has been fabulous, as I have first hand experience. Some of our guests also had some great success in 20 feet of water out from Zipple Bay.

The fishing is still great, but the cold weather is coming and I’m sure that plenty of you will have hunting on the mind for about the next month or so. Don’t forget that Lake of the Woods County has a tremendous amount of State land that can be hunted for Deer, Duck, Bear, Goose, Partridge and Sharptail Grouse, just to name a few. If you’re interested in learning more about the unbelievable hunting we experience here in Lake of the Woods County, please give the office a call and ask for Tom or myself (JP)…we’re here for you!

On Monday afternoon I was able to fish with a couple guests and let me tell you, despite the rain, the fishing was most definitely been best that I have encountered this fall. We were fishing in 21-1/2 feet of water in Morris Gap and Pink was the color of the day. In a 3 hour period we set the hook on over 50 fish, most of them were Saugers, but the bite was constant…I love it! We did catch about 15 Walleyes that were very nice, the biggest 23”. Yesterday I took the same guests partridge hunting with me and we bagged 3 and saw 6, on which was a terrible day, weather wise. I don’t think it stopped raining once yesterday and we still found the birds, it was awesome!

I have put another video together and placed it on the Wigwam Resort Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001111387527). This should get you all fired up for Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods, “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery”. For all of you that have ice fishing on Lake of the Woods you will know this to be a solid fact, as solid as the 3 to 5 feet of ice we will get this winter. I hope to see you all here at one or two points this winter. With the current fishing success I am anticipating this to be the best winter EVER on Lake of the Woods, so don’t miss out and come be our guest.

ICE FISHING REMINDER!!!!!

Ice fishing is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort is starting to fill up for December and January already. I have to make this know, because one of our longtime patrons called me this morning to make a group reservation for the 3rd weekend in December and I had to tell him that we are all sold out of cabins. Needless to say he was a tad bit bummed, and he said, “I shouldn’t have waited this long, the guys are going to be so mad”. I don’t want anyone to have to be mad at anyone, so if you’re looking to ice fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter and you want to stay at the Wigwam Resort, you might want to check on availability as soon as possible. With the great fishing we’ve had all summer; people are making reservations ice fishing before they’ve even left the resort. Many of you have been fishing here all summer and know what it’s been like day in and day out and you’re not missing your chance to fish Lake of the Woods, and stay at the best resort on the lake (Wigwam Resort), my humble opinion.

If you haven’t become a fan of the Wigwam Resort-low on Facebook, what are you waiting for? I’m posting on there daily and have found it a great way to communicate with everyone on a regular basis. I will be posting all of our weekly meal specials and drink specials on there also. Take advantage of Facebook and everything it allows you to do. We look forward to having you as our friends on Facebook. Also, we have just received a new stock of hats (seen pictured here). If you’d like to have the new Wigwam hat, and don’t think you’ll be able to get back to see us soon, just give us a call and you can purchase the Wigwam hat over the phone (800) 448-9260. We will package and mail your order promptly.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the October Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Fall Special. The Special will be as follows: $35 per person per night lodging in the lodge or cabins (restrictions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day for a full day of full service guided launch service and $65 per person per day for a half day of full service guided launch service. Also checkout the Newsletter Special we have on our website, under the Newsletter page, and don’t worry, it will be worth your while. Each lodging charge is subject to applicable federal, state and local sales tax. Applicable to new reservations only. I also wanted to tell you all about our Veterans and Armed Forces Special, which we have running 365 days a year. Wigwam Resort gives Veterans and our currently enlisted Armed Forces a 10% discount on any package plus whatever specials we are giving. We want to thank you all for your service…God Bless America!

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation this summer, at a first class fishing resort, you’ve just found it! For additional information, please call one of our knowledgeable staff members at (800) 448-9260, and start your journey to the “Walleye Capitol of the World”!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”The more a man knows, the more he forgives.” - Catherine the Great. Throughout my life, I hate to admit this, but as I always say “it is what it is”, I have not been too forgiving of a person. But within the past few years I have learned to forgive a little bit more, and I think it has a direct correlation to fact that I know more today than I knew yesterday. So, I will adamantly agree with Catherine the Great. The more you learn about things, and I don’t care what it is, it might be about how easy or how tough things are in the real world. It’s the facts of life; we generally become humble and more apt to forgiving once we’ve actually been in those similar situations. This has been my life lesson from God, and I have most definitely become a much more forgiving person as I’ve gracefully aged…haha. I hope that the next time you have the opportunity to forgive; you will step back and think about why you’re willing to do this gracious act. I hope this will open your eyes and heart to the fact that knowledge can lead the way to the awesome feeling of forgiveness…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be windy with morning rain, then a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon, high 41F with winds NW at 25 to 35 mph…there will be a 80% chance of precipitation…winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tonight we should see periods of rain and snow this evening with a few snow showers overnight, otherwise, mostly cloudy and windy, low 29F with winds NW at 25 to 35 mph…there will be a 60% chance of precipitation…winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph early. Tomorrow should be partly cloudy skies with gusty winds, high 37F with winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Tomorrow night should be mainly clear early, then a few clouds later on, low 23F with winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Friday we should have considerable cloudiness, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the upper 20s. Saturday should be partly cloudy, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the mid 20s. Sunday should be mostly sunny, highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 20s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, a few of our guests and some local talent. The fishing in the Gaps (Morris and Lighthouse) and out from Zipple Bay in 20 +/- feet of water is where the concentration of fishing is taking place. The fish are starting to congregate into “The Gaps”, and as I alluded to in the blog. We were able to get into about 50 (Walleyes and Saugers, mostly Saugers) in 3 hours in 21-1/2 feet in Morris Gap on Monday afternoon. Pink was the hot color with the overcast sky. Chartreuse and Orange are still working, but not as good as the Pink was on that particular day. The fishing in the Rainy River is still not as good as in Lake of the Woods. As we get colder weather the Walleyes will undoubtedly run into the river after the Shiners that should be running a little bit better now. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Also, Tom’s Tackle, a local tackle making company makes all the jigs and spinners that I use and you can get your own Tom’s Tackle jigs and lures at Log Cabin Bait. Use what works for us on Lake of the Woods, “Tom’s Tackle”, a local company that know what works on Lake of the Woods. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. 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 80 plus guests we had stay with us this weekend. We had such a great group with us this past weekend; everyone was so polite and well mannered. I just wanted to personally thank each of you for choosing the Wigwam Resort to be your vacation destination on Lake of the Woods, “The Walleye Capitol of the World”. I look forward to seeing each of you back this winter for the best Ice Fishing known to mankind…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods.

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

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

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

While Fishing is Still Fantastic, the Birds are on the Mind in Lake of the Woods County

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Saturday was the last time I was on the lake, don’t worry fishing is still great, but the thoughts of Partridge have had me all messed up. The past two days I’ve been hunting in the Beltrami Island State Forest and Pine Island State Forest, two places where the Partridge are being seen in great numbers this season. There were a few that crossed my path, but only a couple made the trip home with me and went into the treasure chest (the fridge). I speak about practice makes perfect and I most defiantly need to practice shooting those birds on the fly…haha. If anyone is coming up within the next few weeks, most defiantly bring your guns. Maybe you’ll have some time on the way home to swing through either of our great State Forests.

This past week and weekend we had awesome weather again, maybe a little bit heavy on the wind, but heck it’s October and we’ve had 70 degree days. This past weekend Jody and I participated in the 1st Chili Bowl Fishing Contest over at Borderview and it was a great event. There were a total 50 teams participating and 95% of them were locals…we finished 16th. This was a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate a fantastic summer of fishing on Lake of the Woods. I was able to shake hands with a multitude of new friends that I’ve been able to make over the last year and half, and that’s what makes it all worth while.

In the Chili Bowl Fishing Contest Jody and I fished the Rainy River (that’s where we had to fish, Wheelers Point to Baudette) and the fishing was ok, but not great. We caught all our fish in 18 – 20 feet of water, a majority of them Saugers. We looked for spots of calm water, those Walleyes don’t like that heavy currant. We used 1 oz and ¾ oz Chartreuse/Gold jigs to ensure we were fishing the bottom, oh and by the way, the color made all the difference. Jody started with the Chartreuse/Gold and I started with Pink/Gold (my personal all time favorite color), but after she set the hook on the fourth fish of the day I said enough, is enough…haha. Needless to say I switched over and started getting bites right away.

The fishing in Lighthouse and Morris Gaps has most definitely been better. The depth on the lake is 14 – 21 feet of water, at least that’s the word on the street. I know that some of our guests are fishing all the way around Pine Island and having great success in those depths. The Shiners are really running in the river, but it seems to me the fishing is still better in the Gaps and Lake of the Woods. Be sure to have your jigs and frozen Shiners to ensure your best chance at landing those Walleyes.

I also put together a little video with Tom and few of his Nebraskan guests this summer and I’ve put it on You Tube. Check it out if you get a chance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgLRGjcREU. Tom puts people on the fish each and every time on the lake; the proof is in the video…he’s a great teacher.

ICE FISHING REMINDER!!!!!
Ice fishing is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort is starting to fill up for December and January already. I have to make this know, because one of our longtime patrons called me this morning to make a group reservation for the 3rd weekend in December and I had to tell him that we are all sold out of cabins. Needless to say he was a tad bit bummed, and he said, “I shouldn’t have waited this long, the guys are going to be so mad”. I don’t want anyone to have to be mad at anyone, so if you’re looking to ice fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter and you want to stay at the Wigwam Resort, you might want to check on availability as soon as possible. With the great fishing we’ve had all summer; people are making reservations ice fishing before they’ve even left the resort. Many of you have been fishing here all summer and know what it’s been like day in and day out and you’re not missing your chance to fish Lake of the Woods, and stay at the best resort on the lake (Wigwam Resort), my humble opinion.

If you haven’t become a fan of the Wigwam Resort-low on Facebook, what are you waiting for? I’m posting on there daily and have found it a great way to communicate with everyone on a regular basis. I will be posting all of our weekly meal specials and drink specials on there also. Take advantage of Facebook and everything it allows you to do. We look forward to having you as our friends on Facebook. Also, we have just received a new stock of hats (seen pictured here). If you’d like to have the new Wigwam hat, and don’t think you’ll be able to get back to see us soon, just give us a call and you can purchase the Wigwam hat over the phone (800) 448-9260. We will package and mail your order promptly.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the October Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Fall Special. The Special will be as follows: $35 per person per night lodging in the lodge or cabins (restrictions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day for a full day of full service guided launch service and $65 per person per day for a half day of full service guided launch service. Also checkout the Newsletter Special we have on our website, under the Newsletter page, and don’t worry, it will be worth your while. Each lodging charge is subject to applicable federal, state and local sales tax. Applicable to new reservations only. I also wanted to tell you all about our Veterans and Armed Forces Special, which we have running 365 days a year. Wigwam Resort gives Veterans and our currently enlisted Armed Forces a 10% discount on any package plus whatever specials we are giving. We want to thank you all for your service…God Bless America!

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation this summer, at a first class fishing resort, you’ve just found it! For additional information, please call one of our knowledgeable staff members at (800) 448-9260, and start your journey to the “Walleye Capitol of the World”!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.” – Chinese Proverb. Thank you again Jody. She sends me the best quotes and knows just what to send. A few days back I had an anger moment, which is very few and far between these days. But, before I acted I talked to Jody and it was a great thing I did. She gave me some very wise advice, which I listened to diligently. I’ve come a long way from just being able to put someone into the boards and take out aggression. After thinking about the situation and taking some time to digest all the information, I handled it in a much better way and got my point across without any conflict whatsoever. I challenge everyone in your everyday life to handle your next “anger” situation with a little patients and digest all the information before reacting. From my personal experience, you will be much happier with the outcome…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should see some clouds this evening that will give way to mainly clear skies overnight, low 31F with NW winds at 15 to 25 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be partly cloudy, high 51F with winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow night we should have a few clouds from time to time, low 32F with winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday should be mainly sunny, high near 60F with SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Saturday should be sunny, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 30s. Sunday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 20s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, a few of our guests and some local talent. As I noted in the last fishing report the Shiners have started their run and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Some of our guests and many of the locals have been fishing and catching some nice Walleyes in the Rainy River from the Baudette Airport (right by the boat launch) to the mouth of the Rainy River on Wheelers Point. For everyone still wanting to fish Lake of the Woods no worries, right outside of Lighthouse Gap on the Line, just past the green buoy, and along Pine Island (18 – 22 feet of water) into Morris Gap there is a line of boats jigging away and catching plenty of Walleyes. The bite is starting to slow in 30 – 33 feet off the line and all the way to Zipple in the bowl, but we are still catching a few out there. The fish are starting to congregate into “The Gaps”. Gold/Chartreuse was the colors this weekend. Anything with Gold on it right now is what you’ll want to have on, and don’t forget your frozen Shiners. I told this story last fishing report, but I think it’s so important I’m bringing it up again. To tell you how important bait is I have a story for you. A group that stayed with us this weekend had two separate boats and one was using the frozen Shiners from Lake of the Woods and the other was using frozen Shiners from a bait shop down in the Twin Cities that were packaged in a preservation solution. The boat with the Lake of the Woods Shiners was out-catching the boat with the imported Shiners 10 to 1. As soon as they figured they needed different bait, which was provided by the other boat, they started catching them one after the other in the same spot…I must emphasize in the same spot. So that should tell you the importance of using the bait provided on Lake of the Woods. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Also, Tom’s Tackle, a local tackle making company makes all the jigs and spinners that I use and you can get your own Tom’s Tackle jigs and lures at Log Cabin Bait. Use what works for us on Lake of the Woods, “Tom’s Tackle”, a local company that know what works on Lake of the Woods. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. 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.

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

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Rainy River Starts to Produce the Walleyes We’ve All Been Waiting For

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. We’ve had one of the most fabulous northern Minnesota Octobers that I can ever remember, and that includes the fishing also. I’ve been able to grow close to many local Baudette people and they have taken me in with open arms. This most definitely plays a role in all the fishing knowledge and information I have gained within the last year. These people are now my family and friends. It seems as if you live in this area, you’re fishing or someone close to you is fishing and that’s what it’s all about. I moved here to do just that, and it has allowed me an opportunity to do what I’ve truly dreamed of since I was 15 years old…fish for a living and live to fish. Short of the long is that fishing in the Rainy River is great and the locals are whacking them in there everyday…come up and join us.

From here on out 60% of the people coming to Lake of the Woods will be looking to fish the Rainy River, and there in for a real treat this year. Make sure you have the Rainy River Lake Master chip so you can see where all the Walleyes will be hiding. Logic plays a role when fishing in the river, and what I mean by that is, when the river is flowing from Baudette out to Wheelers Point you would figure that with the currant we are experiencing, that swim would be a little bit tiring to the Walleyes and Shiners. What I look for is any resting spots they may have, like in the mouths of the inlets and any protected pockets and holes. If you’re rocking a gold/pink, gold/chartreuse, gold/orange, or a plain gold ¾ or 1 oz “Strobe Jig” (Log Cabin Bait) with a frozen Shiner, I would have to say you’d be well on your way to catching instead of just fishing for Walleyes in the Rainy River this next week. Now that’s some inside information for the Walleye Capitol of the World.

Yesterday Vancouver and I picked up our first Grouse of the year and it is now resting quietly in what I like to call “The Treasure Chest”, our fridge. We didn’t get out till late afternoon so there wasn’t much time, but we did find one pecking the gravel before roost. My brother has had a little bit more time to hunt south of Warroad, where he lives, and he’s had some tremendous success each and every time out. The same can go for Billy “The Sniper” Kloos who just a few days ago pick up a limit with Tom Griffin south of Baudette. The Partridge are all over the place this year and I hope that within the next few weeks I’ll have a little more time to get out and let Vancouver run around some State Land south of Graceton and Williams, MN…he sure loves those birds!

ICE FISHING REMINDER!!!!!

Ice fishing is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort is starting to fill up for December and January already. I have to make this know, because one of our longtime patrons called me this morning to make a group reservation for the 3rd weekend in December and I had to tell him that we are all sold out of cabins. Needless to say he was a tad bit bummed, and he said, “I shouldn’t have waited this long, the guys are going to be so mad”. I don’t want anyone to have to be mad at anyone, so if you’re looking to ice fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter and you want to stay at the Wigwam Resort, you might want to check on availability as soon as possible. With the great fishing we’ve had all summer; people are making reservations ice fishing before they’ve even left the resort. Many of you have been fishing here all summer and know what it’s been like day in and day out and you’re not missing your chance to fish Lake of the Woods, and stay at the best resort on the lake (Wigwam Resort), my humble opinion.

If you haven’t become a fan of the Wigwam Resort-low on Facebook, what are you waiting for? I’m posting on there daily and have found it a great way to communicate with everyone on a regular basis. I will be posting all of our weekly meal specials and drink specials on there also. Take advantage of Facebook and everything it allows you to do. We look forward to having you as our friends on Facebook. Also, we have just received a new stock of hats (seen pictured here). If you’d like to have the new Wigwam hat, and don’t think you’ll be able to get back to see us soon, just give us a call and you can purchase the Wigwam hat over the phone (800) 448-9260. We will package and mail your order promptly.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the October Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Fall Special. The Special will be as follows: $35 per person per night lodging in the lodge or cabins (restrictions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day for a full day of full service guided launch service and $65 per person per day for a half day of full service guided launch service. Also checkout the Newsletter Special we have on our website, under the Newsletter page, and don’t worry, it will be worth your while. Each lodging charge is subject to applicable federal, state and local sales tax. Applicable to new reservations only. I also wanted to tell you all about our Veterans and Armed Forces Special, which we have running 365 days a year. Wigwam Resort gives Veterans and our currently enlisted Armed Forces a 10% discount on any package plus whatever specials we are giving. We want to thank you all for your service…God Bless America!

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation this summer, at a first class fishing resort, you’ve just found it! For additional information, please call one of our knowledgeable staff members at (800) 448-9260, and start your journey to the “Walleye Capitol of the World”!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”It’s not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness”. – James M. Barrie. Jody is so wise; she always sends me the right things on the right days. Just this morning I was scoping through some inspirational quotes, but nothing was hitting me with conviction. Just as fate would have it, my phone buzzed to let me know that I had a new message. She sent me the above quote with a neat little message to go along with it. She is my inspiration and I thank her for all her love. The quote says it all, it’s no about what “you like”, but “liking what you do” that makes you happy, which could be two separate things. I don’t get to do what I like to do everyday, but I love what I do and that makes me sooooooooooooo happy. I hope this will challenge you to think about your personal happiness, and that you find the way…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be partly cloudy, high 56F with winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Tonight should be mainly clear skies, low 34F with winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow we should se sunshine and clouds mixed high 58F with winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow night we should see a few clouds, low 43F with winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Saturday should be sunny, highs in the mid 50s and lows in the low 30s. Sunday should be partly cloudy, highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s. Monday we should see times of sun and clouds, highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, a few of our guests and some local talent. As I noted in the last fishing report the Shiners have started their run and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Some of our guests and many of the locals have been fishing and catching some nice Walleyes in the Rainy River from the Baudette Airport (right by the boat launch) to the mouth of the Rainy River on Wheelers Point. For everyone still wanting to fish Lake of the Woods no worries, right outside of Lighthouse Gap on the Line, just past the green buoy, and along Pine Island (18 – 22 feet of water) into Morris Gap there is a line of boats jigging away and catching plenty of Walleyes. We are still out in 30 – 33 feet off the line and all the way to Zipple in the bowl we have still been catching fish. Anything with Gold on it right now is what you’ll want to have on, and don’t forget your frozen Shiners. I told this story last fishing report, but I think it’s so important I’m bringing it up again. To tell you how important bait is I have a story for you. A group that stayed with us this weekend had two separate boats and one was using the frozen Shiners from Lake of the Woods and the other was using frozen Shiners from a bait shop down in the Twin Cities. The boat with the Lake of the Woods Shiners was out-catching the boat with the imported Shiners 10 to 1. As soon as they figured they needed different bait, which was provided by the other boat, they started catching them one after the other in the same spot…I must emphasize in the same spot. So that should tell you the importance of using the bait provided on Lake of the Woods. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I must state this again, in my 18 years of fishing Lake of the Woods; I’ve never seen the fishing this good on such a consistent basis. Don’t wait too long to make your plans to visit us, because you never know how long it will last. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. 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 out to our entire guest list that will be staying with us this weekend…all 80 of you. Thank you for staying with us in our home while you’re fishing the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods (The Walleye Capitol of the World). This is not just our business, the resort is our home and where we spend most of our time, and I’m thrilled that we get to share it with so many new faces each and every week. I know I use the following phrase quite a bit, “Paradise without a Passport”, but it’s the truth. The beauty we experience every day is absolutely unbelievable, and we are all so lucky to be a part of it. Thanks again and we look forward to putting you all on the fish.

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

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

Monday, October 11, 2010

It Just Doesn’t Get any Better than Jigging for Walleyes on Lake of the Woods in October

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This weekend was absolutely incredible! Fishing was great from all fronts and the weather was as if, out of a fishermen’s dream. The “red sky at night, sailors delight”, as my grandfather used to tell me, held true to its word. I was able to fish all day Thursday (Terry, Darryl and Bob) and Friday morning (Jerry and Larry) with a few of my friends and it was awesome. The company was fantastic both days, but the fishing was most definitely better for us on Thursday, so much so that I was able to make a little video and put it on You Tube. Here’s the link to that video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw2VJj2KCOY. Friday morning I just couldn’t get on the Walleyes, Saugers ruled the roost. I wanted to thank both groups for giving me the opportunity to fish with them.

Some very nice Walleyes are being caught right now up the Rainy River and that puts a gigantic smile on my bearded face. This coming weekend there will be a fishing tournament, which will be put on by a neighboring resort, Borderview Lodge. The “Chili Bowl Fishing Contest” should be a great way to bringing friends and families close together to participate in fun event that should bring some of that “locker room comminatory” to Lake of the Woods. Jody, I and Vancouver are all signed up and chomping at the bit for Saturday to get here. There are a number of other “couple” teams participating and this is what it’s truly all about, fishing with your true partner. This summer I’ve seen a number of husband-wife vacationers frequenting the Wigwam, and they always seem to be genuinely happy. Maybe a happy boat makes for a happy home? I don’t know for sure, but the facts are pointing in that direction. I don’t mean to ramble or give un wanted “couples advice”, but I have witnessed plenty of “life” first hand and as my Dad always said, “it is what it is”, and that’s the way I roll.

ICE FISHING REMINDER!!!!!

Ice fishing is right around the corner and the Wigwam Resort is starting to fill up for December and January already. I have to make this know, because one of our longtime patrons called me this morning to make a group reservation for the 3rd weekend in December and I had to tell him that we are all sold out of cabins. Needless to say he was a tad bit bummed, and he said, “I shouldn’t have waited this long, the guys are going to be so mad”. I don’t want anyone to have to be mad at anyone, so if you’re looking to ice fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter and you want to stay at the Wigwam Resort, you might want to check on availability as soon as possible. With the great fishing we’ve had all summer; people are making reservations ice fishing before they’ve even left the resort. Many of you have been fishing here all summer and know what it’s been like day in and day out and you’re not missing your chance to fish Lake of the Woods, and stay at the best resort on the lake (Wigwam Resort), my humble opinion.

If you haven’t become a fan of the Wigwam Resort-low on Facebook, what are you waiting for? I’m posting on there daily and have found it a great way to communicate with everyone on a regular basis. I will be posting all of our weekly meal specials and drink specials on there also. Take advantage of Facebook and everything it allows you to do. We look forward to having you as our friends on Facebook. Also, we have just received a new stock of hats (seen pictured here). If you’d like to have the new Wigwam hat, and don’t think you’ll be able to get back to see us soon, just give us a call and you can purchase the Wigwam hat over the phone (800) 448-9260. We will package and mail your order promptly.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the October Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Fall Special. The Special will be as follows: $35 per person per night lodging in the lodge or cabins (restrictions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day for a full day of full service guided launch service and $65 per person per day for a half day of full service guided launch service. Also checkout the Newsletter Special we have on our website, under the Newsletter page, and don’t worry, it will be worth your while. Each lodging charge is subject to applicable federal, state and local sales tax. Applicable to new reservations only. I also wanted to tell you all about our Veterans and Armed Forces Special, which we have running 365 days a year. Wigwam Resort gives Veterans and our currently enlisted Armed Forces a 10% discount on any package plus whatever specials we are giving. We want to thank you all for your service…God Bless America!

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation this summer, at a first class fishing resort, you’ve just found it! For additional information, please call one of our knowledgeable staff members at (800) 448-9260, and start your journey to the “Walleye Capitol of the World”!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson. This week in church, Pastor Tom spoke about Ruth, a widowed Moab woman, who took shelter with the Jews after the death of her husband in biblical times. I will not preach to you, because I believe we will all be judged, but I will give you the facts. Ruth left Moab to live and take care of her mother-in-law Naomi, her deceased husband’s mother, with the Jews. For all of you who don’t know this story, it is about the character of the Ruth and her work ethic. Along with this is the fact that the Jews and the country of Moab were mortal enemies. Back in biblical days women were not treated as they are today, as everyone knows, but Ruth was given an opportunity to harvest grain to feed her and her mother-in-law and she did so with great willingness and character. God had a plan for Ruth as he does for us all, and we are tested everyday. Ruth’s character shined through and she was shown favor by God. I challenge each of you, as I do myself each and everyday, to be men and women of good character in every situation. We all face issues each day and we are all given a choice to handle it as we may. I hope this will allow you to be reminded of what good character can lead to…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight will be partly to mostly cloudy, low 51F with winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow we should see showers in the morning, and then partly cloudy in the afternoon, high 61F with winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow night we should have a mostly clear sky, low 39F with winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday should be mainly sunny, high 62F with winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Thursday should be sunny, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 40s. Friday we should have morning clouds followed by afternoon sun, highs in the low 60s and lows in the upper 30s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos and a few of our guests. As I noted in the last fishing report the Shiners have started their run and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Some of our guests and many of the locals have been fishing and catching some nice Walleyes in the Rainy River from the Baudette airport to the mouth of the Rainy River on Wheelers Point. For everyone still wanting to fish Lake of the Woods no worries, right outside of Lighthouse Gap on the Line, just past the green buoy, and along Pine Island there is a line of boats jigging away and catching plenty of Walleyes. We are still out in 30 – 33 feet off the line and all the way to Zipple in the bowl we have still been catching fish. For all of you that haven’t had the opportunity to view it, I’ve put a video on the website and You Tube that shows the proof (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw2VJj2KCOY). I was out with the Terry Randolph Group from International Falls and Cook, MN while we just hammered the Walleyes, and some nice ones at that. If you’re coming up this weekend I think it must be a must see to get your blood pumping. Anything with Gold on it right now is what you’ll want to have on, and don’t forget your frozen Shiners. To tell you how important bait is I have a story for you. A group that stayed with us this weekend had two separate boats and one was using the frozen Shiners from Lake of the Woods and the other was using frozen Shiners from a bait shop down in the Twin Cities. The boat with the Lake of the Woods Shiners was out-catching the boat with the imported Shiners 10 to 1. As soon as they figured they needed different bait, which was provided by the other boat, they started catching them one after the other in the same spot…I must emphasize in the same spot. So that should tell you the importance of using the bait provided on Lake of the Woods. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I must state this again, in my 18 years of fishing Lake of the Woods; I’ve never seen the fishing this good on such a consistent basis. Don’t wait too long to make your plans to visit us, because you never know how long it will last. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. 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 Doug “The Surgeon” Hagen and Val “Chef” Safro who presently diligently working on the ice fishing houses getting them all ready for everyone to enjoy this ice fishing season. They are working their butts off and it’s great to have a staff of quality employees. Don’t get me wrong, everyone of our employees make the Wigwam what it is today, but my good friends Doug and Val are getting the spot light today. Thanks for all the hard work and we’re lucky to have you both.

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

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

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Shiners are Running, the Shiners are Running!

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well by the title I bet most of you can guess what is happening right now on the Rainy River, the Shiners are running. Yesterday when I got back from North Dakota, I started asking around to find some good fishing information since I’ve been out of town for the last 5 days. The info was great on all fronts, in the lake and the river. There are reports of some very nice size Shiners being caught as far up on the Rainy River as Winter River Road. The Walleyes are still in Lake of the Woods in 30 – 32 feet, but their starting to make their way into Lighthouse Gap. I heard from a very reliable source that in 19 feet of water right out from the green buoy in Lighthouse Gap, the Walleyes are starting to pack up. I also got the same information from some of our guests who are staying with us this week. They all stated that there is one color that you’re going to need to constantly have, and that color is gold! I would imagine that by this weekend there will be about 100 boats sitting in Four Mile Bay trying to land those hungry Walleyes. The question is, will you it be you?

The past 5 days I’ve had the pleasure of Duck hunting in one of the most beautiful places, besides Lake of the Woods, and that place is Gackle, ND. The dimpled terrain was plush with slews, water and massive farm fields planted with and assortment of crops. The Ducks were jumping from pond to pond each morning and the bang of the 3-1/2 inch 12 gage shells were echoing across the land. There is a very wide assortment of duck species littered across the amazing landscape, it is just incredible. In one day we shot Red Heads, Teals, Mallards, Blue Bills, Spooners, Pintails and even a few Geese.

I was invited by Tom to hunt with a few of his good home town friends, in what I will now call, the Duck Capitol of the World. Each year Tom donates a free trip to help the people of Gackle during Duckfest, and this year’s 8th Annual Duckfest was incredible. Throughout the first 7 years, Tom and his friends have participated in the event, but this year he didn’t think he was going to be able to make it, so he forwent his chance to participate. Last week something fell through so Tom asked me if I wanted to go out and shoot some Ducks, and needless to say I jumped at the opportunity. I tried to take some video, but the shooting was way to fun to miss, so sorry about the footage. I went through a few boxes of shells, and each time a group came in it was more awesome than the last. Some of those little Teal are hard to hit, but I managed to bring home the “bacon” to Jody. This is a trip I will make an annual event of, for years to come. Thanks to the residents of Gackle for putting on such a fabulous event, and I look forward to seeing you all next year.

If you’re interested in attending the event next year, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with the man that puts it all together, Wigwam patron, Henry “Hank” Steinberger. I’m sure next years 9th Annual Duckfest will be even a bigger hit than this year. Thanks for all the hospitality Hank, we’ll see you this winter for ice fishing.

If you haven’t become a fan of the Wigwam Resort-low on Facebook, what are you waiting for? I’m posting on there daily and have found it a great way to communicate with everyone on a regular basis. I will be posting all of our weekly meal specials and drink specials on there also. Take advantage of Facebook and everything it allows you to do. We look forward to having you as our friends on Facebook. Also, we have just received a new stock of hats (seen pictured here). If you’d like to have the new Wigwam hat, and don’t think you’ll be able to get back to see us soon, just give us a call and you can purchase the Wigwam hat over the phone (800) 448-9260. We will package and mail your order promptly.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the September Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Fall Special. The Special will be as follows: $35 per person per night lodging in the lodge or cabins (restrictions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day for a full day of full service guided launch service and $65 per person per day for a half day of full service guided launch service. Each lodging charge is subject to applicable federal, state and local sales tax. Applicable to new reservations only. I also wanted to tell you all about our Veterans and Armed Forces Special, which we have running 365 days a year. Wigwam Resort gives Veterans and our currently enlisted Armed Forces a 10% discount on any package plus whatever specials we are giving. We want to thank you all for your service…God Bless America!

If you’re looking for an affordable vacation this summer, at a first class fishing resort, you’ve just found it! For additional information, please call one of our knowledgeable staff members at (800) 448-9260, and start your journey to the “Walleye Capitol of the World”!

Today’s “Quote of the Day”…”If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.” - Lord Chesterfield. When I was a youngster, my father took me fishing and planted knowledge in me that no one could take away. Knowledge can count for anything you learn, but you must learn it so it is with you for the rest of your days. With the knowledge that is planted in the youth of today, they will use that knowledge for rest of their lives. My father always tried to teach me, my brother and sister new things, no matter what it was. I remember when I was 16 years old and I just received my drivers’ license, I was given the 1972 Grand Torino Sport to drive. About 2 months into driving the Torino I was in the Hardees parking lot in International Falls (where I grew up) and the starter went out on the car. I called my father from Hardees and filled him in; he said hold tight he’ll be right there. I waited for about 15 minutes before dad arrived, I was so relieved. He got out of the car and went to the passenger side and opened the door, he pulled out a NAPA box and I was about ready to get my first lesson on how to change a starter. My dad handed me the box, a wrench and a socket set, I looked at him and said, what is this for? He just grinned and said I’ll get you started and then we’ll see you for dinner. I worked on that thing through dinner plus another hour or so. When I got home, my father asked me if I learned anything today, and I said, yes, I need to get a new car…haha. He snickered and said that wasn’t going to happen, but I did learn something valuable that day that keeps helping me today. Since that time I’ve probably changed 10 starters on my vehicles, and I didn’t have to ask anyone for help. Knowledge planted when young will allow us to grow into the independent people we’ve always dream. I hope this will make you think about planting knowledge in the youth of today. They need our help to learn and by giving them knowledge could be our best investment for the future…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we should have plentiful sunshine, high 62F with winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear, low 43F with winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be mainly sunny, high 71F with winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow night we should see clear skies, low 47F with winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday should be mainly sunny, highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 40s. Saturday we could see occasional showers possible, highs in the mid 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Sunday we could see showers, highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me and Billy “The Sniper” Kloos and a few of our guests. The Shiners have started their run. I was informed from my friends over at Log Cabin Bait of that fact when I got back into town on Monday night. I just talked to a few guest this morning that also had some success in the river up by Winter River Road. I also was informed from locals and guests that the fish are still thick in Lake of the Woods in 30 – 32 feet of water off the US/Canadian line and in 19 feet of water right outside of Lighthouse Gap on the Line…just past the green buoy. I think that everyone who is coming up this weekend will have a great time fishing Rainy River or Lake of the Woods. Anything with Gold on it right now is what you’ll want to have on. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I must state this again, in my 18 years of fishing Lake of the Woods; I’ve never seen the fishing this good on such a consistent basis. Don’t wait too long to make your plans to visit us, because you never know how long it will last. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. 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 the great community of Gackle, ND. I wanted to thank them all for providing Duckfest to everyone that wishes to participate. This is a great event that provides an abundance amount of fun. I wanted to give a special “Thank You” to Hank Steinberger for allowing us to be a part of the 8th Annual Duckfest. It was a blast and I will try everything in my power to make sure that we’re a part of it next year for the 9th Annual. Just like Lake of the Woods is the Walleye Capitol of the World, Gackle, ND is the Duck Capitol of the World. Thanks again to everyone that had a hand in planning and putting on the fantastic event; it was a joy to attend!

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

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