Wigwam Fisherman's Blog

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 1-27-12

2012-01-27T06:02:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 1-20-12

2012-01-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions "from the sky..." 1-15-12

2012-01-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 1-12-12

2012-01-13T06:35:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 1-6-12

2012-01-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 12-30-11

2011-12-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 12-25-11

2011-12-24T20:51:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 12-19-11

2011-12-20T04:28:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 12-15-11

2011-12-17T07:18:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 12-11-11

2011-12-12T04:20:00.000-08:00

Big Minnesota Whitetail Buck 10 Point 11-14-11 - Whitetail Deer Hunting ...

2011-11-18T13:51:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing for Walleye on Lake of the Woods 1-31-11

2011-11-09T15:08:00.000-08:00

Minnesota Ice Fishing for Suspended Walleyes on the Worlds Best Hard Wat...

2011-11-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Walleye Fishing - Fall - Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Fis...

2011-11-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Fall Minnesota Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Fishi...

2011-10-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Fall Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods and Rainy River Fishi...

2011-10-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

Marketing Director Position…Lake of the Woods Tourism

2011-10-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

Are you an outdoor enthusiast that loves to fish, hunt, snowmobile, or any of the other 100 fantastic and exhilarating things to do outdoors in Lake of the Woods County? Do you just happen to be an Marketing Guru, with a 4 year Business/Marketing degree, with at least 5 years of sales/marketing experience, with a proven track record of success? Do you have a “glass is half full” attitude, with the ability to effectively communicate and implement marketing strategies, all while using the hat of a business owner with fiscal responsibilities?

Then discover why we are a community on the rise and experience everything first hand while “living the dream” in our electrifying and majestic playground, Lake of the Woods County, Baudette, MN.

A tremendous opportunity awaits YOU in northern Minnesota, “The Walleye Capital of the World”. Make it yours today!

Salary

Incentive Bonus

Benefits

For consideration, Please e-mail your resume to…

To: info@lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Attn: Marketing Director Position…

Minnesota Fall Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video ...

2011-10-06T15:33:00.000-07:00

Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 9-9-11

2011-09-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 9-4-11

2011-09-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 8-16-11

2011-08-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

WIN 2 FREE FISHING TRIPS FOR 6 TO THE WIGWAM RESORT

2011-08-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

The next 50 Groups only that book a 3 Night 2 Day Fishing Package for 6 people ($2,068.77 tax included for winter or $2,089.99 tax included for summer), and pay a $900 deposit will be entered to win 2 FREE fishing trips for 6 people to the Wigwam Resort, one in the winter 2012 and one in the summer 2012 (midweek or weekend). That’s 2 FREE fishing trips for 1 group of 6 people to the Walleye Capital of the World! The total value of the giveaway is $4,158.76! You’ll have a 1 in 50 chance to win!

Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to fish with the Wigwam Resort and experience the best Walleye fishing in the world, on the open or hard water. If you’re on the fence about making your reservation, don’t hesitate, because only the next 50 Group reservations will qualify for this fabulous special. The winner will be picked and announced on the Wigwam Fishing Report Video after the 50 Group threshold is met.

This package does not include meals, beverages or gratuities. The original booked package for 6 must be paid in full to receive the 2 free trips. This special is only for new reservations after August 4, 2011. No other published specials can be used in conjunction with this special. For additional information, please contact one of our helpful staff members at the Wigwam at (800) 448-9260, or at wigwam@wiktel.com.

Good Luck, and we can’t wait to be your host on the Walleye Capital of the World!

http://www.wigwamresortlow.com/specials.html

Minnesota Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 7-30-11

2011-07-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 7-18-11

2011-07-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 7-11-11

2011-07-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Minnesota Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 7-1-11

2011-07-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Monster Walleye Fishing - Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 6-27-11

2011-06-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 6-19-11

2011-06-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 6-8-11

2011-06-09T06:29:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 5-31-11

2011-06-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Wood Fishing Report Video 5-24-11

2011-05-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sturgeon Fishing on Lake of the Woods - Rainy River.mov

2011-05-18T05:20:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 5-16-11

2011-05-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

Fishing Report Video for Lake of the Woods - Rainy River 4-1-11

2011-04-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods - Rainy River Fishing Report Video 3-26-11

2011-03-27T04:50:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods - Rainy River Fishing Video Report 3-22-11

2011-03-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 3-15-11

2011-03-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 3-9-11

2011-03-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Video 3-4-11

2011-03-05T20:57:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 2-27-11

2011-03-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 2-22-11

2011-02-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 2-15-11

2011-02-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 2-10-11

2011-02-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 2-5-11

2011-02-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

The Rock Rubble Starts to Produce Nice Walleyes Through the Ice on the Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery

2011-02-03T07:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I wanted to start off this edition by thanking every resort, business, vendor, and volunteer that participated in this past weekends 1^st Annual Blizzard Bash and Ice Fishing Expo on Lake of the Woods at the Wigwam Resort. The event was primarily put on to help Fishing For Knowledge, which is a non profit organization that last year took over 1,400 kids ice fishing across the great State of Minnesota, even right here in Baudette. The event raised $855 for the non-profit organization…thank you again to all that made it happen!

Yesterday morning as I pried open the front door to the house my face was meet with a brisk cold that sent a shiver down my spine, and it wasn’t even that cold out this morning, just -15 F. I know some are shaking their heads right now going, just -15 F, he’s crazy, and you know what, I am crazy, crazy for Northern Minnesota that is…I truly love it! Even thought the temperature has fluctuated up and down the past few days the fishing has still been on fire in the rock rubble just south of the Reefs.

As we move into the weekend the temps are supposed to rise into the mid 20’s to low 30’s. This will be a welcomed break from our recent cold stretch that has lasted for the past week. I just wanted to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all the parts of the country that are facing some of the worst winter storms in decades. We in Northern Minnesota are prepared and ready for the worst that Mother Nature wants to throw our way, but some of the more populated areas just don’t have that luxury and must be extra cautious. So if this is your area, please bundle up and enjoy the snow, don’t fight it.

On the fishing front, I was able to wet a line last week with a few of the guys from Frabill, MarCum, Strike Master, Northland Tackle, Hummingbird and Wilcraft while they were up for the Blizzard Bash and Ice Fishing Expo. I had to ride my sled up a little bit later in the morning than the rest of the Wigwam Crew and our guests, but when I arrived at the first house the bite was on! I had the opportunity of fishing with Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, his wife Heather, Mark Carlyle, Dennis Salmela, Brian Hartmann, Jon Marshall and James Holst. It was nothing short of awesome out there throughout the late morning and early afternoon, and that includes the fishing and the company!

The first annual Blizzard Bash and Ice Fishing Expo went off without a hitch. I wish that a few more people could have seen the tent and the way the vendors had the tent set up though. Don’t get me wrong, we had people, but as anything we put together we always want more people to see it than usually do. The first step that I took into the tent my mouth dropped and it was better than I could have ever imagined. This was most defiantly not the vendors’ first rodeo, and they made the most of everything. The fishing derby’s first place prize was taken by Garrett Ravndalen with a 37-3/4” Northern Pike, which was caught and released right in the Wigwam Bay about 150 yards northeast of the Wigwam’s main dock…congratulations and thanks for the participation!

The pink Charmers form Tom’s Tackle has still been a hot lure by my standards, and it seem that anything that has Northland Tackle printed on the lure is on fire also (Macho Minnow, Live Forage, Forage Minnow, Buckshot, etc). You can pick up all your tackle that works on Lake of the Woods from right here in Lake of the Woods County at one of our fantastic bait and tackle shops. Those places are Log Cabin, Border Bait, Outdoors Again, and Lucky Bait. Give them a call or just stop in and they’ll hook you up, pun intended!

Quote of the day…“He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander”. – Aristotle. This philosophy is no spring chicken and for all that know who Aristotle is should know that this philosophy has been taught for thousands of years. Today I have been blessed to have a group of Veterans of Foreign Wars from across the State of Minnesota, and all ten gentlemen served their country during times of conflict. During that time I could only imagine that they learned what my father (an old Leather Neck/Jar Head Marine through and through) taught me, OBEDIENCE! As I was reading through some of the quotes that appeared on the page this one jumped at me like a leaping frog. We never know when the time will come that each of us is thrown into a position where others will look to us for leadership. The question is, can you and will you be a good leader? I challenge you to follow the path that has work from the start of time, learn to obey and become a leader for the people around you…God Bless!

For everyone already looking at open water fishing, checkout our Summer Open Water Special on our Specials Page on our website at www.wigwamresortlow.com. In my personal opinion the fishing in the summer is 10 times better than the fishing in the winter, because you can move your boat. Last summer was the best fishing I’ve ever experienced on Lake of the Woods, and we look for that to be the case again this summer. With the Walleye and Sauger populations on the rise, there should be no other body of water to consider this summer! Come be our guest and experience Paradise without a Passport on Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capital of the World!

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

Wigwam Fisherman

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report Video 1-31-11

2011-02-01T05:13:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Wood Ice Fishing Report 1-26-11

2011-01-27T07:47:00.000-08:00

Suspended Walleyes on the Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery

2011-01-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

During the early 2010 -2011 Ice Fishing Season on Lake of the Woods we’ve found many suspended Walleyes deeper than we’ve ever experienced this early in the season before. Is there any rhyme or reason to it? I honestly don’t know, but as my father always used to say, “It is what it is, and we’ll have to deal with it”. So, if you’re not rocking a Lowrance, Vexilar, MarCum, or a Humming Bird sonar system, you might just be experiencing some very tough Walleye fishing, but if you’ve one of these remarkable devices, you are in for a real treat this winter on Lake of the Woods. This is one reason why we have been given this technology to use, so those elusive suspended Walleyes wouldn’t travel around without being noticed out there in our massive body of water.

There are many different sonar systems available these days, but I have personally only used Lowrance, Vexilar and MarCum. I’ve spent extensive time on all three and I cannot give you one specific favorite, which means they all served there purpose and they all did the job of finding me some beautiful Walleyes.

I started finding the suspended Walleyes on December 23,2010 while fishing with a few of the Wigwam Resort Ice Guides, Doug “The Surgeon” Hagen and Shane “Wiggles” Burk. We were out more than 12 miles from Lighthouse Gap into the heart of Lake of the Woods in 36 – 38 feet of water, “The Bowl”. The week prior, everyone was mystified with the lack of Walleyes being found in the “spots” they are usually at this time of year. So, we had to go on a Walleye finding re-con mission that spread far and wide throughout all the little nooks and crannies of our tremendous fishery. Not only were they suspended in deep water, but also around some fantastic rock structures just off the U.S./Canadian line. But once again, if you don’t have the right equipment, i.e. sonar, you wouldn’t even know they’re there.

Throughout the day on the 23^rd we continually marked fish 3 to 15 feet directly below the ice. Not all of them were Walleyes, we found a few Tulipee in the mix also, but if you didn’t reel up and check them out, you weren’t catching the Walleyes. All of the fish on the bottom were Saugers and we weren’t discriminating against any fish that day, the more the merrier. On a few occasions we set the hook and pulled the Walleyes right through the hole with maybe 3 cranks of the reel, it was an awesome experience to say the least, and one that each of you can experience first hand with us on Lake of the Woods.

On December 30, 2010 I went out with another friend to see if the rocks were holding any suspended Walleyes, just as the deep water was, and they were in deed. Once again the Saugers were on the bottom and the Walleyes were cruising through at the same levels, 3 – 15 feet underneath the ice. We typically don’t see the suspended Walleyes till at least Mid January most years, but every year is different and you have to adapt. As I was speaking with a few of the local legends around Lake of the Woods, they all said that without today’s technology we wouldn’t be able to find the suspended Walleyes and we’d all be fishing in the dark, just like the song.

In conclusion, if you don’t have the right equipment to find the fish, chances are you’ll be bumming, while you’re friends with the right equipment will be smiling. By simply embracing the technology that has been provided to each one of us, it allows each of you to make the most of every ice fishing opportunity while fishing Lake of the Woods, “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery”…God Bless and Good Luck!

Wigwam Fisherman

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Video 1-18-11

2011-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Walleyes are Snappin on Lake of the Woods

2011-01-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another addition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I want to start off by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year from the Wigwam Resort and Lake of the Woods! A quick thank you to Lynch Livestock, they just left us this morning, but they showed us a ton of respect during their stay, and for that I want to thank them a million times over. I’m sorry I’ve been absent from the blog, but the fishing report videos have consumed a ton of my time. I just recently purchased a new computer, which should help cut down on the time it takes to produce the videos. By doing this it should free me up to start writing again, I truly miss it.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to work the Iowa Sport Show in Des Moines, IA.Friday and Sunday were a little slower than I’d like to see, but on Saturday when the American Pickers from the History Channel were on the stage, the Iowa State Fairgrounds were full of life and excitement! While in Des Moines I was able to introduce Lake of the Woods to a number of very interested parties, and we look forward to showing everyone that has booked a trip for this winter and next summer our fantastic and tremendous fishery. Thanks again to Twin Rivers Media (Iowa Sportsman and Family Fish & Game Magazines) for putting on the great event, we’ll see you next year.I am very happy to announce that the Wigwam Resort Blizzard Bash/Ice Fishing Expo 2011 will be on January 29, 2011. For anyone that is interested in coming and participating, please checkout our website home page for detailed information. We currently have Strike Master, Frabill, MarCum, Wilcraft, Northland Tackle, Outdoors Again, Lucky Bait and a few others participating in the 1^st Annual Blizzard Bash/Ice Fishing Expo, which will be held right in front of the Wigwam Resort on the ice under a tent.

Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, who is arguably the most recognizable ice fishing name and face in the industry will be here demonstrating product and guest speaking. James Holst from In-Depth Outdoors will also be here participating in the same facet. The product demonstrations will commence at 10 AM and go till 5 PM. We will also be having a Tip Up Derby right in the Wigwam Bay from 12 PM – 3 PM. $5 per hole, so bring your whole family, the wife and the kids. We will be having a number of kid games and giving away door prizes throughout the day, especially to the kids. “All” the proceeds from the fishing derby will go to Fishing For Knowledge, which educates 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders from across the great State of Minnesota about ice fishing, even right here in Baudette. We will also be giving away a Frabill 2 man portable, MarCum sonar and a Strike Master auger to the winner of the “Ice Fishing Set-Up Race”. Come check out all the excitement and be a participant of an event that will hopefully be a cornerstone on Lake of the Woods and in the community for many years to come!

Special Announcement…Checkout our new video fishing reports on our website at www.wigwamresortlow.com under the Daily Fishing Report tab. Also checkout out the Specials page and find out all the hot deals that we are currently offering on Lake of the Woods.

Quote of the Day: “Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.” - Benjamin Franklin. Once again, one of our founding fathers puts it all into perspective for us. I would have to say that I personally try to live by this quote. It has given me a great opportunity to truly do something that I love to do, all by controlling the inward disposition of my mind. Happiness is truly the way, and I hope that each and every one of you finds your own inner happiness, and let that dictate your mood…God Bless.

My shout out today will go to all the boys from Lynch Livestock…Kevin, Mitch, Shooter, Lee and crew. Thank you all for the opportunity to have you as our guests at the Wigwam Resort on the Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery, Lake of the Woods. I thourouly enjoyed talking with each and everyone of your crew. I especially appreciated the way your collective group treated our staff, always with curtusouy and respect, and that will never go overlooked. The entire staff is looking forward to your groups return next year.

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

Wigwam Fisherman

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 1-14-11

2011-01-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 1-5-11

2011-01-06T11:53:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 12-31-10

2010-12-31T16:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!

Wigwam Fisherman

P.S. - I will be back with a regular blog next week after the first of the year. Happy New Year and God Bless.

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report 12-28-10

2010-12-29T04:29:00.000-08:00

12-26-10 LOW Ice Fishing Report Video

2010-12-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

12-19-10 LOW Ice Fishing Report Video

2010-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

This past weekend of fishing wasn’t stellar by any means, but we still caught fish and it was better than last weekend. One thing I will bring up right away this morning is, if you’re fishing on your own, fish the contour lines, humps and dips out in the bowl, that’s were the fish will be traveling. If you don’t know where they’re at, get a GPS system with a Lake Master Chip for Lake of the Woods. I know that some people make it sound so easy, but you have to work for them, just like anything else. The majority of fish that were caught this weekend were in Lighthouse Gap in 26 – 30 feet of water. I did talk to a few guys that stayed at the resort that said they lined up on the US/Canadian line and drilled holes, but there was only one guy catching fish, and it was one right after the other. When that happens, don’t watch him, drill a hole and help him out, because you’ve just found the fish. It was a matter of 50 feet from the bite, to a none existent bite, and some days that’s all that it takes. The weather should be stable as we move into the Christmas holiday season, which should get the fish biting. It’s only a matter of time before they turn on, so don’t miss out when it happens. The last thing I’ll say today is, “that’s why they call it fishing, not catching”…God Bless and Merry Christmas!

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

Wigwam Fisherman

12-16-10 LOW Ice Fishing Report

2010-12-17T04:07:00.000-08:00

12-13-10 LOW Ice Fishing Report Video

2010-12-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

Special Announcement!!!! I just got off the phone with Brian Ney with Adrian’s and he has told me that Adrian’s Ice Road will be open for business on Thursday December 16th with NO Restrictions…GAME ON! The fishing wasn’t stellar today by any means, but people are catching fish and having fun! The best report came today from some guys in portables who were fishing right off the US/Canadian line in 28 feet of water. That’s pretty deep for this time of year, but that’s where they were at today. There is currently 14 inches of ice on the big body of water and we expect another COOOOOOOOOOOOLD night (-20 below), which should make us a few more inches. The following few days after tomorrow we will be expecting a little heat wave, which should keep us at least in single digits. The fishing should only get better and better as we move into the weekend. We look forward to seeing you all on Lake of the Woods very shortly…God Bless.

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

Wigwam Fisherman

12-10-10 LOW Fishing Report Video

2010-12-10T19:29:00.000-08:00

Today was a bit slower than I wanted, but we still caught fish and the color made all the difference in my mind. Troy was using a glow green Macho-Minnow and out caught me 3 to 1. I was using the same lure, but glow pink. There were about 5 occasions that I was able to have the fish follow my lure up about 5 feet on the Vexilar and then they would just slowly drift back to the bottom. It was a tad bit frustrating, but that’s fishing. The Barometric Pressure is on the rise, which isn’t the best for fishing, but we’re going to take it in stride and keep on smiling…happy thoughts people, happy thoughts.

Now that everyone knows that fishing has started up on Lake of the Woods, I will cut back the video reports to 2 -3 times a week. I love doing it and I’m thrilled about the response from the viewers…I hope it keeps everyone up on everything Lake of the Woods.

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

Wigwam Fisherman

12-9-10 LOW Fishing Report Video

2010-12-09T18:04:00.000-08:00

12-8-10 LOW Fishing Report

2010-12-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

12-7-10 LOW Ice Conditions

2010-12-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing at the Wigwam Resort

2010-12-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Get Ready Boys and Girls, Lake of the Woods, “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery” is MAKING ICE!!!!

2010-11-23T10:06:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well as many of you probably already know, Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River are making ice each and every day. The past few days we were bombarded with about 10 inches of snow and the mood is changing from deer hunting to snowmobiling and ice fishing very quickly around these here parts of northern Minnesota…Jody and I love it! These next few days will be very important as to how quickly we’re able to get out there this year and start ICE FISHING! I’ll keep everyone posted day to day as to the progress of the ice on Facebook and Twitter, so keep checking back for all the winter wonderland details.

Be sure to checkout our December 19th – 23rd Ice Fishing Special on our website homepage at www.wigwamresortlow.com. It’s only for new reservations (no exceptions), you can’t beat the deal, and I can guarantee you won’t see it again all winter, so jump on it today! For reservations, please call our helpful staff at (800) 448-9260 and get started on your trip to “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery”, Lake of the Woods.

On a more serious note, Jody’s Uncle, Steven Hanson of Baudette, lost his battle with lung cancer late last week. The funeral and burial were held yesterday, and this was a time for remembering and reflecting on the impact Steven made in so many lives. The eeriest thing for me was that after hearing so much about Steven, how much he reminded me of my father in the way he lived and died. This came from his quite yet strong demander, to his service for our great nation while serving in Vietnam in the late 60’s. It has been 4-1/2 years since I lost my father to cancer and from seeing the look in Steven’s family’s eye’s brought me back to that day and put many tears in my eyes, not just for my loss, but I truly understand what their family is going through right now. I did have the opportunity of meeting Steven, his family, and most of the other family members the week prior to his passing for an early Thanksgiving at Steven and Karen’s home. There were plenty of stories of hunting, hockey and service for our country. I feel very blessed to have met him and his entire family. Stevens’s favorite time of year was right now, Whitetail Deer hunting season, and it only seems fit that’s where his journey on this earth should end. My condolences go to Karen, Mike, Kevin and their families. May God bless you all with the gift of remembering and keeping alive all that was Steven Hansen…God Bless.

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 November 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). NOVEMBER ICE FISHING SPECIAL - If you book by November 30th for a February Mid-Week Ice Fishing Package you will get a 15% discount. That’s Sunday night – Wednesday night 15% off all Mid-Week Ice Fishing Packages. To qualify for this you must have the deposit paid by November 30th. 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 winter, 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”…”Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” - Albert Einstein. Well today’s quote comes from a very famous inventor and someone whom we would all consider to have been very successful. His success didn’t just come from his considerable scientific contributions, but also from being a man of value. After the events of this past weekend, it really got me thinking of what makes a man successful. Is it money? Is it power? Is it friends? Is it fame? Is it knowledge? I personally believe that the success of a man lies in the value of his work ethic and the amount of people that the individual has helped or influenced in a positive way through his/her life. I don’t believe it’s all about us...I think you must make it about others to become successful. I’m sure some people are going to say I’m crazy, but that’s what makes my world go round, helping others. Yesterday I went to pick up Jody at work to bring her to her uncles funeral, and I started chatting with her boss, who is helping out with the Lake of the Woods High School Hockey Team this winter. It really got me thinking about what I could give back to help others. I feel that through my years of hockey that I was blessed to learn a thing or two about the game, and I might just be able to help someone, or many, get to do the same things that I got the chance to do through my life in hockey. If one person gets the opportunity to fulfill his or her dream because of some information I might have locked away in my head that would make it all worth it. We are not greedy people, rather people that want to see others succeed and achieve their goals and aspirations. By having that outlook and being a man or women of value, I truly believe that day after day our world will become a better place for all. I challenge each of you to be men and women of value, and I bet your successes will be achieved above and beyond all that you can comprehend…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we will have on and off snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies, it will be cold with a high 16F with winds light and variable. Tonight we should have cloudy skies with late-night snow showers, low 8F with winds SE at 10 to 15 mph…there will be a 50% chance of snow. Tomorrow we should see snow showers early, with a steadier snow developing late in the day, high 26F with winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph…there will be a 90% chance of snow and about one inch of snow expected. Tomorrow night we should see snow in the evening that will transition to snow showers overnight, low around 20F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 90% chance of snow and some snow accumulation possible. Thursday we should have snow showers possible, highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits. Friday we should have considerable cloudiness with highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens. Saturday we should see a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens. Well, we won’t be ice fishing out there for at least a few more days, but keep watching because it could be as little as 7 -10 before it’s safe and I’ll keep everyone informed as to the ice conditions and the fishing as they come in. I think even as soon as this weekend I might be walking out from the Wigwam Docks and drilling a couple holes…I CAN’T WAIT! Again, I will keep you all informed as to what’s happening on “The Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery”, Lake of the Woods. You can purchase your lures and bait 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 lures 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 Jody’s Mother, Ellen, whom I just met for the first time this past weekend. She has been in Florida and hasn’t had the chance to make it back up here till just this past weekend for her brother’s funeral. I just wanted to say thank you for passing down your wonderful work ethic to your daughter. After seeing you sweep and shovel all weekend I see where she gets all of her spunk from. I’m so glad that we finally had the opportunity to meet. Jody and I both are already looking forward to your return next fall for the wedding. Thanks again and have a wonderful trip back to the warmth of Florida.

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

Wigwam Fisherman
Wigwam Resort
www.wigwamresortlow.com

As the Temperatures Cool on Lake of the Woods, the Excitement Starts to Mount for Ice Fishing

2010-11-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had a productive weekend fishing, hunting, or just working around the house. I was able to get a deer this past Thursday afternoon, which put a hug smile on my face. Jody and I, just the week earlier had run out of venison from last years deer, so there was a major need for the venison. So, our weekend consisted of skinning, chopping, cutting and canning that tender deer…YES! I’m so glad that I have Jody to help me do these things, it’s sure great to have the perfect mate…I am truly blessed.

There were a number of hunters that were able to bag a deer or two up in Lake of the Woods County this past weekend, and just as the Walleyes put smiles on faces, so do the Whitetail. Just yesterday I served breakfast to at least 10 people, whom all were just our guests that had shot a deer over the weekend. Many of these individuals were from the Twin Cities, but all there hunting and fishing is done up on Lake of the Woods and in Lake of the Woods County. As conversation goes, we started talking about the hunting and what a great season it’s been so far. Every one of them said, and I quote “there’s no place like Lake of the Woods”! Its music to my ears each and every time I am blessed to hear that phrase. I hope to hear that phrase many more times as the Worlds Best Hard Water Fishery begins to take form as the cold weather settles upon us once again. If you’re interested in deer hunting in Lake of the Woods this next week, or next year, don’t hesitate to ask Tom and I about the great hunting locations we have at our finger tips.

On a fishing front, a number of our guest and the locals are still having great success straight across from Wheelers Resort and the Public Access, by the wind sock in the Rainy River. It has also come to my attention that across from Wabanica Church and by the airport in Baudette has also been very productive hot spots. On the bright sunny days, be sure to be using some gold on your lure, and on the overcast days, be sure to be using a solid Pink Glow or Chartreuse Glow Jigs to ensure the fish can see the lures. Frozen and live Shiners have still been the ticket, but as most of you know, I prefer the frozen. The depth of preference has been 12 – 16 feet of water right on the contour breaks. The monsters Walleyes are really starting to be caught in the river rite now so don’t miss out.

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 November 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). NOVEMBER ICE FISHING SPECIAL - If you book by November 30th for a February Mid-Week Ice Fishing Package you will get a 15% discount. That’s Sunday night – Wednesday night 15% off all Mid-Week Ice Fishing Packages. To qualify for this you must have the deposit paid by November 30th. 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”…”Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” - Benjamin Franklin. The more quotes I read from Benjamin Franklin, one of our countries Founding Fathers, the more I admire and respect him. His philosophy at times was straight common sense, which I think is advice we all should adhere to, no matter what we believe. This past week Jody and I had a little dryer trouble, and thank goodness it was covered under warranty. Ten years ago I would have been upset that something like this happened, but the way the following events played out, were as if someone was trying to make a point to me. Since the passing of my father, more than 4 years ago, I have been fighting with the worry of, will that which happen to my father, happen to me. I know that’s foolish to think such thoughts, but sometimes the reality hits and we can live one of two ways. First by worrying day in and day out about something that we have no control over or second do not worry day in and day out about something that we have no control over and live our lives to the fullest. I have tried to live my life the past year and half as not worrying and living life day to day as she comes to me, facing challenges one at a time as they are presented, and let me tell you, that’s living. I believe that there are others looking out for us, no matter where they may be, for example the dryer. It turns out that the guy contracted to do the repair was an old co-worker of my fathers while he worked at Marvin Windows and Doors in Warroad. We didn’t find this out until he was about ready to leave after helping us for two days. The room he was working in for those two days had a few pictures of my father and he put two and two together. He made a special run out to our house from the Greenbush area just to help us out, and as he was leaving the house Jody tried to hand him a couple extra bucks for coming out on his day off to help. He respectfully denied the money and said that he would do anything for Curt’s (my father) family. It turns out that he may have known more about me than I know about myself…haha. He would travel with my father to different Marvin plants across the United States over a 6 year stretch, and he said he heard everything about my brother and me during that time. He said that my father was so proud of what we had accomplished, and he was honored to finally meet me. It’s been over 4 years since my father has been able to talk to me, but it looks as if he is still looking out for us. What were the chances of that happening? As soon as the gentleman left Jody and I hugged and shed a few tears. I know that this may ramble, but where I’m going with this is; we have no control over the future. I challenge each of you to live this week, month, year or the rest of your life without worrying about things you have no control over and maybe, just maybe, you’ll find yourself in a much better place…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we should have considerable cloudiness, the temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s with winds light and variable. Tonight should be mainly cloudy, low 23F with winds light and variable. Tomorrow should be cloudy, high 36F with winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night we should see cloudy skies, low near 25F with winds light and variable. Wednesday should be cloudy highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper teens. Thursday we should see considerable cloudiness, highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s. Friday we should see snow showers at times, highs in the mid 30s and lows in the upper teens. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, a few of our guests and some local talent. The Rainy River Walleye bite has pick up dramatically and I’ve heard through the grapevine that right out from Wheelers Point Resort and right by the windsock that people are doing well in 12 to 16 feet of water. Also, there have been great reports from right the Wabanica Church area and the Baudette Airport. The colors are still pretty consistent, Pink and Chartreuse has been very effective. As we get colder weather the Walleyes will undoubtedly continue to run into the river. I also heard that right outside Lighthouse and Morris Gap’s they’re still catching fish from the 14 – 20 foot range. 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 hunters we’ve had stay with us so far this hunting season. The books have shown an up tick in guests this fall and we’re heading in the right direction. I wanted to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to have you as our guests at the Wigwam Resort on beautiful Lake of the Woods “The Walleye Capitol of the World”! We hope to see you all back this winter for the Worlds Best Hard Water Fishing. Lake of the Woods…Paradise without a Passport!

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

Wigwam Fisherman
Wigwam Resort
www.wigwamresortlow.com

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing at the Wigwam Resort

2010-11-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

The Rainy River Walleye Bite Intensifies as the Minnesota Deer Season Begins

2010-11-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had a great start to their deer hunting season. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for the deer hunting, maybe a little too nice, but I’ll take it. Last Friday I did have the opportunity to take a few of my friends fishing one last time before the buck fever sets in, so we went back to the Sister to pull some plugs. We didn’t have the same success that I had the Monday prior, but it was still fun and we caught fish. Thanks Dougie Bear and Harlan for being such great fishing partners, we’ll see you again this week and we’ll chase those deer around.

The last few days I’ve been hunting some State land and also some private land owned by a few of my friends. I am documenting my daily hunts and hopefully will have a good compilation of the footage, with a deer at the end…haha. I have yet to shoot anything, but I have shot at a deer two days ago. Just as the sun was setting I took 4 shots and it didn’t even move, it was standing about 150 yards away and it had me absolutely baffled. I made the big mistake and took it for granted that my scope was sighted in, but low and behold it wasn’t…crap. Yesterday Tom and I took it in the back and sighted it in and I was off by over 20 inches. Now it’s dialed in and I hope to see something the next time I’m out, which might be as soon as tonight. Another one of my friends has offered up his property to see if I might be able to put some venison on the table, and I hope to take full advantage of this opportunity and do just that.

On a fishing front, a number of our guest and the locals are having great success straight across from Wheelers Resort and the Public Access, by the wind sock in the Rainy River. On the bright sunny days, be sure to be using some gold on your lure, and on the overcast days, be sure to be using a solid Pink Glow or Chartreuse Glow Jigs to ensure the fish can see the lures. Frozen and live Shiners have still been the ticket, but as most of you know, I prefer the frozen. The depth of preference has been 14 – 18 feet of water right on the contour breaks. I haven’t heard of any monsters being caught, but the bite is very consistent.

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 November 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). NOVEMBER ICE FISHING SPECIAL - If you book by November 30th for a February Mid-Week Ice Fishing Package you will get a 15% discount. That’s Sunday night – Wednesday night 15% off all Mid-Week Ice Fishing Packages. To qualify for this you must have the deposit paid by November 30th. 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”…”Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.” - Doug Firebaugh. This is a life lesson that has been taught throughout all of time itself, and if we adhere to its message, the world will most definitely be better tomorrow than it is today. Each and everyday Jody and I try to do things that will make this world a better place, no matter what it is. Every time we sit down at the table, we pray for a better tomorrow for all our friends, family and even people we don’t know. We know that prayer is not the only thing that will get it done though. Every day you must DO SOMETHING that will inch you closer, like cleaning your garage, or a room, or the local park, or going across the street and helping the neighbor with something they may need help with. I think that by all of us having discipline and a commitment to bettering tomorrow, it will bring us one step closer to the things we all desire and cherish. I hope that each of you will take the time to do something every day, no matter what it is, to bring about a better tomorrow for the next generation of Americans, and heck why stop there, lets think big, THE WORLD…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today: Sun and clouds mixed, near record high temperatures, high 61F with winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight, low 46F with winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow we should have cloudy skies with a few showers later in the day, near record high temperatures, high 59F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be overcast with rain showers at times with thunder possible, low 41F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 50% chance of rain. Thursday we should have a chance of showers, highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s. Friday we should have times of sun and clouds, highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 20s. Saturday we should see a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 20s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, a few of our guests and some local talent. The Rainy River Walleye bite has started to pick up and I’ve heard through the grapevine that right out from Wheelers Point Resort and right by the windsock that people are doing well in 15 feet of water. The colors are still pretty consistent, Pink and Chartreuse has been very effective. As we get colder weather the Walleyes will undoubtedly continue to run into the river. I also heard that right outside Lighthouse and Morris Gap’s they’re still catching fish from the 14 – 20 foot range. 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. Last Monday and Friday I went up by the Three Sisters and pulled some plugs and had some awesome success. On Monday I caught nothing but big Walleyes on TDD-9 Blue/Silver/Red Rapalas. On Friday we hooked into some nice Walleyes and Northern Pike, but it wasn’t as good as Monday. So, the question must be asked about the Nine Footer and the Twenty Nine Footer. I haven’t personally fished them this fall, but if there holding at the sisters, they might just be holding there also. If anyone heads up that way, please let me know how you do. 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 the hard working employees of the Wigwam Resort. I would like to thank you personally for all your hard work this fall. Fall cleaning, while servicing customers, has gone off without a hitch this fall. In years past we just haven’t had the guest presence that we have seen this season, and everyone here has made it a great experience for all to enjoy. Thanks again to the entire Wigwam staff, we appreciate all your hard work and nothing goes overlooked.
Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman
Wigwam Resort
www.wigwamresortlow.com

Late Fall Trolling for MONSTER WALLEYE on LOW. Video shot on 11-1-10 -

2010-11-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Late Fall Trolling for MONSTER WALLEYE on LOW. Video shot on 11-1-10 -

Late Fall Lake of the Woods Walleye Bite is back after the Wind Recedes

2010-11-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I wanted to start off by throwing out a big Wigwam Thank You to the Jason Madden Group form Iowa that visited us over the weekend. This group consisted of three brothers, a grandfather, a cousin and a friend. I had the pleasure of showing them around the lake Friday and Saturday. The fishing wasn’t phenomenal, but we managed to get a few Walleye, Sauger and Perch to send home with the boys. After the windy few days we had prior to there arrival, the lake was like chocolate milk everywhere but the Gaps, so we were limited to those spots. We found most of the fish in 16-1/2 feet of water in Morris Gap. We did see a few being caught out of Lighthouse, but there was most definitely more action at Morris. Thanks again guys for being our guests and giving me the opportunity to meet all of you. We hope you had a wonderful time and we look forward to seeing you all back this winter.

On Monday afternoon at about 3 PM, I looked out the window and there was barely any wind and it was sunny and close to 60 degrees. My mind started running and I thought I better get out on the lake just one more time before the weather turns for good, it was November 1st. So, I proceeded to get the boat and head to the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods, just east of the Nine Footer, to The Three Sisters. The Three Sisters is a rocky formation that is on the edge of the big body of water, just inside of the Canadian border. Oh yeah, another great fact is it also just happens to run up on a sand bar. For many of you that read my blog, you know that I love to fish the rocks and on this fabulous November day that’s just what I was going to do.

I started pulling TD-11 & TDD-9 Rapalas (Blue/Silver/Red) along the rock shelf in about 22 feet of water. I was marking plenty of fish, but just not picking any up, so I proceeded to head in to 18 feet and see what I could pick up. This move was the smartest thing I did all day. In a two hour period I picked up a 16”, 23-1/2”, 27-1/2”, 28-1/2” and a 31” Walleye…I love it! Pulling plugs on Lake of the Woods is one of my favorite techniques and on Monday it landed me the biggest Walleye I’ve ever caught on Lake of the Woods, and I’ve been fishing here for 18 years. Needless to say I’m a little pumped!

I have people that ask me all the time about fishing in Canada, and most think that you have to stay in Canada to fish there, that is flat wrong. Many of the locals around the Baudette area purchase a RABC (Remote Area Border Crossing) Permit from the Ontario Customs and an Ontario fishing license, which allows us to fish Canadian waters of Lake of the Woods. My personal opinion is this, the big body of water holds the big fish, as many of you know, and that’s where you want to be fishing. If you’d like to fish the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods and stay with the Wigwam, please shoot me an e-mail (jp@wigwamresortlow.com) and I can help you put something together.

This was sure a day to remember, and maybe something that might get your blood pumping every time you’re getting ready to visit us on Lake of the Woods. I have put a little video together of my latest excursion which landed me the biggest Walleye of my life, by The Three Sisters on Lake of the Woods, and here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0V-rHm_BTA.

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 November 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). NOVEMBER ICE FISHING SPECIAL - If you book by November 30th for a February Mid-Week Ice Fishing Package you will get a 15% discount. That’s Sunday night – Wednesday night 15% off all Mid-Week Ice Fishing Packages. To qualify for this you must have the deposit paid by November 30th. 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 difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.” - Horace Bushnell. In today’s day and age with all the hardships you see everyday people going through I believe there is something inspirational in store for all our lives at the end of this leg in our journey. It’s hard to find someone whose life that hasn’t been affected in one shape or form by our lagging economy. Most everyone has a good outlook though, even despite the tough times, and I think that is the most important part. As we battle on a daily basis the inspiration of life needs to overflow. Where my life has been inspired is, to help others and do as much as I can to help people enjoy life. I have been blessed with a fantastic opportunity to put smiles on peoples faces each and every day, and this is what I believe I was put on this earth to do. The people I meet inspire me to be better and do better for others, so I challenge each of you to do the same. Let’s together make this world a better place for those we will eventually leave it to…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we should see plenty of sunshine, high 49F with winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy, low 34F with winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow we should have considerable clouds early, with some decrease in clouds later in the day, temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s with winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night we should have a few clouds, low 28F with winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday we should have plenty of sun, highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s. Saturday we should have times of sun and clouds, highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Sunday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the low 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, a few of our guests and some local talent. Morris Gap has had the most consistent and best fishing this fall for me and our guests. This weekend we were fishing in 16-1/2 feet of water in Morris Gap and consistently caught fish, mostly Saugers, but the Walleyes were there to be had. Lighthouse Gap closest to Pine Island in 14 – 18 feet of water also produced for some of our guests. If you’re fishing in the Rainy River I heard through the grapevine that right out from Wheelers Point Resort by the windsock that people are doing well in 15 feet of water. The colors are still pretty consistent, Pink and Chartreuse have been very effective. 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. Just a few days ago I went up by the Three Sisters and pulled some plugs and had some awesome success. I caught nothing but big Walleyes on TDD-9 Blue/Silver/Red Rapalas (here's the YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0V-rHm_BTA). So, the question must be asked about the Nine Footer and the Twenty Nine Footer. I haven’t personally fished them this fall, but if there holding at the sisters, they might just be holding there also. If anyone heads up that way, please let me know how you do. 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 the hard working employees of the Wigwam Resort. I would like to thank you personally for all your hard work this fall. Fall cleaning, while servicing customers, has gone off without a hitch this fall. In years past we just haven’t had the guest presence that we have seen this season, and everyone here has made it a great experience for all to enjoy. Thanks again to the entire Wigwam staff, we appreciate all your hard work and nothing goes overlooked.
Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day!

Wigwam Fisherman
Wigwam Resort
www.wigwamresortlow.com

Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing at the Wigwam Resort

2010-11-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Late Fall Walleye Fishing Compliments of Lake of the Woods B

2010-10-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-10-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-10-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

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

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

2010-10-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

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

The Shiners are Running, the Shiners are Running!

2010-10-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

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

Fall is in the Air and Fishing is still on the Mind on Majestic Lake of the Woods

2010-09-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and that it is continuing right into this week. This past weekend I was able to do some fishing with Cliff and Dale from the Twin Cities area, and despite the windy conditions the fishing was out of this world! Cliff (pictured) nabbed the biggest Walleye of his life while Dale boosted about catching the most…haha. I wanted to thank the duo for coming back to visit us for the second time this year and we look forward to seeing them both back again this winter. It was a pleasure fishing with you both and getting to know you guys.

The MTT Championship was held this past weekend and the field held the top 75 teams from this summers MTT circuit. Tom Briggs and Rick Amundson were the defending champions trying to repeat, but they were beat out by a little over 4 lbs and had to take home second place. Don’t feel too bad for the duo, it brought in a whapping $9000.00…Nice job guys! The 1st place award and the Skeeter WX1850 valued at a cool $35,000.00 went to Tom Geurkink and Jon Geurkink (pictured) this year with a weight of 26.82 lbs…Congratulations guys!

Fishing has still been fantastic even with a little more wind than we like to see, but it is what it is and we’re making the best of it. This past week one of my friend and co-workers, AJ Anderson just shot his first Black Bear with a bow. The best part of it was he videoed the whole thing. AJ brought me the raw video this morning, so I worked it into a little movie through my computer and voila, it is now on YouTube.com for the entire world to see. Congratulations AJ it was awesome and I look forward to helping you produce more footage in the future. Here is the link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCQMIeOmaq4.

Last week I was able to get out and also fish with the Cary Becker crew. The crew consisted of 3 gentlemen two from Nebraska and one from Colorado. While on the trip one of my friends Brian “Shrek” Hartmann was filming and we were able to get some great footage of their day. I just wanted to thank you guys and let you know that this will be on displayed in an article on the Fishing Minnesota home page at www.fishingminnesota.com. The article is called The Fall Lake of the Woods Jigging Craze. I think it should be up there either tomorrow or Thursday. Thanks again for letting us film you guys and I hope to see you all back soon. Here is the link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X06kCSyX1dk.

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. 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”…”When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” - Helen Keller. By reading through quotes each day, I am amazed as to the amount that I can directly relate to. I don’t know if it’s just the fact that I’ve lived a good life, or the fact that I’ve made so many mistakes to learn from. Whatever it is, it’s water under the bridge and I’m now living my life to the fullest. After hockey was over I focused so much on what happened and what went wrong, instead of cutting the cord and focusing my talents and abilities where they would have been most useful. Today I encourage anyone going through similar times to forget of what you’ve lost and keep your eyes sharp for the next opportunity and door to be opened. In today’s society, there is massive turnover in certain industries and sometimes people are let go from their jobs by no fault of their own. Times are tough and companies are tightening up to ensure they will be there next year. If this is you and you’re having a tough time with a layoff or a no fault termination, keep your spirits high. Your next great opportunity may be closer than you think. You must be ready to pounce on the opportunities as it presents itself. I hope this will help you remember in times of need. Keep your faith, keep providing to charity and good things will come your way…God Bless.

Fishing Report: Tonight should be partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight, low 51F with winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph....there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow we should see rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day, high 63F with winds NW at 15 to 25 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be clear, low 44F with winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Thursday should be mainly sunny, high near 60F with winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Friday should be sunny, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 40s. Saturday we should see a few showers, highs in the upper 50s and lows in the low 30s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me and Billy “The Sniper” Kloos. We’ve been anchored and jigging those frozen shiners right off the US/Canadian line in 30 – 34 feet of water. I heard some great things from some guests that went as far as the 9 Footer and they also limited out and had some great fishing by anchor and jigging around the reef. People are still catching fish in the bowl and I think within the next week we could see the shiner run start to heat up…at least I hope…haha. The 3/8 oz. Pink and Gold jig has still been slaying the Walleyes out there. One of my friends, who is also a Captain on Lake of the Woods with Borderview Resort, Mike “Foxy” Fox, gave me a little tip about adding a little crawler to the frozen shiner and it paid off for us over the weekend. The past few days I’ve still been hearing that just a frozen shiner is still slamming them also though, so don’t get too worked up if you can’t find the crawlers. Orange, chartreuse and gold, have also been working, but I’m still partial to my pink and gold. If you can’t make it to Lake of the Wood this week, make sure you’re here next week. The Shiners haven’t really started their run, but as soon as they do I’ll let you know. 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 Tom Geurkink, Jon Geurkink, Tom Briggs, Rick Amundson (pictured), Tom “Gonzo” Stay and Chris Hanson for their 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes ,respectively in that order, in the MTT Championship that was held on Lake of the Woods last Thursday and Friday. I especially want to thank Tom for donating 10% of bar proceeds on Friday night to one of the families of a fallen MTT fisherman whom lost his battle with cancer last year. It’s all about helping others when they need it…Thanks again Tom for having a big heart.

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

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

Windy Conditions Cannot Stop the Bite for the Mighty Walleye and Northern of Lake of the Woods

2010-09-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This past weekend and week has flown by and I don’t know if I’m coming or going, haha. No seriously, it has been a great time and I’ve loved every second of it. In the past 6 days I’ve fished ever single day. I just wanted to thank the Brian Skone Crew, Jody,her cousins and former classmates, Brian Hartman, and the Cary Becker Crew for giving me the pleasure of sharing the boat with them.

Yesterday with Brian “Shrek” Hartman, I was blessed with a pig of a northern, the biggest of my life. It was awesome and a day I will remember this day for the rest of my life. Thanks for all the help Shrek and I look forward to fishing and hunting with you again in a few weeks.

This past Saturday and Sunday the 12th Annual North Star Fall Walleye Classic was held and congratulations must go to Terry Wiczek and Les Morrison. They pulled in with prize money and door prizes over $4,000.00, that’s an awesome day! Total tournament information will be posted on our website. We are excited about next year all ready. There will also be a couple more changes to enhance the tournament. This is a great event and should be enjoyed by the whole family. We look forward to planning the next event and look forward to seeing you all there.

Tomorrow will start the MTT Championship on Lake of the Woods. The 75 team field is filled with the top qualifiers and this is an invite only tourney for a $35,000 top prize. I have been able to meet a great number of these competitors and they’re all great guys who love to fish. Tom is the defending champion with Rick Amundson and they are looking to repeat…I wish them the best of luck. Come see all the action and then come pick their brains for some great fishing info at the Wigwam Resort each night.

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”…”Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.” - Albert Einstein. I’ve used quotes by Mr. Albert Einstein before, but I think this one must rank as one of his most wise. Life can resemble your imagination with a passion. We are all born with an imagination and the passion to make that imagination reality. I meet people every week that do what they love to do, no matter what it is. I think I’ve got an awesome job, that’s because I love what I do. That may not have been the case a few years ago. I hadn’t ever truly harnessed my passion for what I truly imagined until a few years ago. I waited so long and wish I would have done it sooner, but it is what it is and I can’t change the past. I hope that everyone that has an imagination (everyone), use their God given passion to grab and make their imagination reality…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should see rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight, low 43F with winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 50% chance of rain. Tomorrow we should have cloudy skies early with a few showers developing later in the day, high 56F with winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be cloudy with occasional rain showers, low 44F with winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 50% chance of rain. Friday we should have a shower or two possible early with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon, high 61F with winds N at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Saturday we should have showers ending by midday, highs in the low 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Sunday we should have clouds giving way to sun, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 40s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me and Billy “The Sniper” Kloos. The past few days we’ve been spending our time over north of Zipple Bay in 29 -32 feet of water. We’ve been anchored and jigging those frozen shiners. The past few days it was orange, chartreuse and gold, today it was pink white and gold. I also heard through the grapevine that it might be good to have some crawlers with you also. I haven’t personally used them, but the info was from a great source. Yesterday I started the day off with Brian “Shrek” Hartman and we were pulling plugs in 20 feet of water out in front of Zipple Bay. The wind was up so we tried something closer to shore. Within the first ten minutes I thought I had a snag, but it was just a 41” slimmer…it was awesome!! If you can’t make it to Lake of the Wood this week, make sure you’re here next week. The Shiners haven’t started their run, but as soon as they do I’ll let you know. 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 all the guests that visited us this past weekend and week. We made many new friends this weekend and I’m glad to have met each and every one of you. Thanks for giving the Wigwam Resort the opportunity to show you around our back yard, 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

Wind, Wind, Wind, When will you leave us alone on Lake of the Woods!

2010-09-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Well form the title of this blog I’m sure you can guess it was pretty windy up here this weekend. The fishing was still stellar when you could get out to where the fish are hanging out, which is about 25 – 30 feet of water in the bowl. Billy “The Sniper” Kloos hammered the Walleyes yesterday when most, even the very experienced Lake of the Woods fishermen, struggled because of the wind. Billy was jigging all day and they hammered the Walleyes. From speaking to most everyone else, they stated they had to get closer to shore and pull plugs, with success, but not what we’re used to.

This weekend I had the pleasure of fishing with Jeff, Lisa, Nick, and Mia Olson from Andover, MN. This happy brood of Minnesotan’s gave me the pleasure of meeting them this past weekend. Saturday was windy from the start, so we started off the day in Bostic Creek. The boys wanted to get after the Northern Pike, so that’s what we did. The only thing is while we were casting for the slimmers, Jeff just happened to catch the biggest Walleye he’s ever caught in his life, 26 inches. Later that day, he just happened to catch the second biggest Walleye of his life, 25 inches…I love it when that happens.

As the day progressed, the wind increased, so we worked are way into the mighty Rainy River. We hit a couple of my favorite Northern spots for constant action and even they were a little slow. Hooper Creek showed us the most action; we caught 5 in there with many follows. The Northern Pike in this creek aren’t huge, but it can insure some head shaking action. Throughout the day we caught Walleye, Northern, and Small Mouth Bass…I hope the Olson’s had a much fun as I did. I just wanted to thank them for giving me the opportunity to take them fishing. On a side note, Nick is starting his first year of Pee-Wee hockey in Andover and I want to wish him the best of luck! These were some fun years for me and I hope they will be equally as fun for Nick.

This Saturday and Sunday the 12th Annual North Star Fall Walleye Classic will be hosted at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods. This is the biggest of the three open water tournaments that are held at the Wigwam each year, and we already have over 25 teams committed for the event. With full (50 teams) participation there will be over $25K up for grabs, in the form of prize winnings and door prizes. Each and every team will win at least a door prize guaranteed. For additional information, please checkout our website at www.wigwamresortlow.com (homepage). This will be a fun event and we’re already sold out for the weekend, we hope to see you all here!

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 August 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”…”The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. If you live in America, you know what day we just passed (9/11), and there is still pain in America and there will always be pain in America, for all Americans for years to come. I personally didn’t know anyone who lost their life during the attacks across our great country that day, but that is immaterial. Every American felt the pain, regardless of where we were at, and we all will be reminded of it as if it were a scare on our own body for the rest of our lives. Throughout the entire day on 9/11 there were replays of that day, and just by seeing a glimpse of it made me remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that tragic day 9 years ago. You will see the signs and bumper stickers around the country that say, “We will never forget”, but with the retroact in some areas, I think we have short memories, and I hope we truly never forget. The United States of America is the greatest country on the face of the earth, where we are free to make our own decisions. The question is, where do you stand during this time of challenge and controversy? I believe that we as Americans will continue to lead for future generations with hard work, good values and good old fashion American creativity. Keep positive and stand up for our rights during these times…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we will have sun and clouds mixed, high 57F with winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight should be mainly clear, low 41F with winds light and variable. Tomorrow we should have considerable cloudiness, high 57F with winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night we should have some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight, low 39F with winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Thursday should be partly cloudy, highs in the mid 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Friday we should have occasional showers possible, highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s. Saturday we should have a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the mid 50s and lows in the upper 30s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead and Billy “The Sniper” Kloos. Yesterday Tall Tale and The Sniper took a few different groups out fishing, but the windy conditions made it very difficult, and fishing was a tad bit tougher than it has been on any other day this summer. We have had very windy conditions all week, but tomorrow it should calm down for the first time in 7 days, that’s right 7 days! I’m going to try and get out there tomorrow or Thursday and see if I can pull some plugs over the rocks, but I think that your best way of finding the fish right now is with an anchor, jig and a frozen shiner. The fish are in the bowl in 26 – 30 feet of water. 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 Jeff Olson and his entire family from Andover, MN. I just wanted to thank you guys for giving the Wigwam Resort, and me, the opportunity to take you fishing this past weekend. I hope you guys had a blast, because I did. Thanks again and best wishes with Pee-Wee hockey this season Nick. I hope to see you guys back sometime this winter, or anytime next summer.

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

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

High Winds Still Not a Factor in the Search for the Mighty Walleye of Lake of the Woods

2010-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope that everyone had a fabulous Labor Day Weekend, both on and off the lake. I wanted to start off by thanking everyone that stopped by and said hello over the weekend, especially for the many on Friday and Saturday nights. The band 4 Wheel Drive rocked the Wiggy this weekend and put on two awesome shows. That is the busiest I’ve seen the bar all summer, with the exception of Beach Bash, so thank you to all and I’m glad you had such a blast!

This past weekend I had the pleasure of having an absolutely fabulous fishing experience with Mark and Hunter Reed, from Minnetrista, MN. This father-son duo had an awesome attitude all weekend long, even with the little above average wind we had on Friday morning. We took our time and wondered out north to get out of the mucky water on our way up to Knight Island. Along the way we stopped in 31’ along the US/Canadian line and picked up one with a frozen shiner and jig, but the water was still so muddy. We continued to proceed north once again because of the muddy water, and I was heeding the advice of many great Lake of the Woods fishermen and got to clean water. Once we had arrived at Knight Island Shoal, we drifted with bottom bouncers and spinners with crawlers over the rocks. I don’t know what it is about the rocks, but I’m absolutely hooked. If you’re fishing in my boat there’s a good chance that’s were we’ll be.

Fishing was great on both days, but Friday was just a tad better. There were many nice Walleyes caught on this day, but also there was the “one that got away”. Hunter, Mark’s enthusiastic and very well mannered teenager hooked into something on the rocks that initially felt like a snag, but then it started taking line. Hunter was able to fight it almost all the way to the top, but right before we could see the fish (about 3 feet away from the top) it got off. It was a bummer, but the great thing was there wasn’t much said and the spirits were still high…we’ll get ‘em next time. I wanted to thank the duo again, Mark and Hunter thanks for being such great guests. I hope that you guys had a great time and I’m glad you got to experience some of what Lake of the Woods is all about. See you both back here soon.

The temperature has really begun to drop and fall is truly now upon us and some of the best Canadian Goose hunting in America has begun in Lake of the Woods County. One of our good friends, Clayton Keister throughout the years has guided a large number of goose hunts for the Wigwam. He is requested by guests year after year and during these years, he has also guided many Duck and Goose hunters in other parts of the country. He has just created a website to show off his guide service and all of the cool locations he hunts each fall (www.prairieviewhunts.com) - I love it! Check it out if you’re interested in finding anything out about guided waterfowl hunts, heck check it out regardless. He’s provided plenty of visual aides to get your heart pumping. Clayton’s a great guide and more importantly a great person. He took me on my first ever goose hunt last fall, put me on the geese and brought them in close before calling the shots. He’s an ex-hockey player with plenty of stories to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire experience. So, if you’re thinking about waterfowl, and need a few personal lessons, let Clayton take the lead and show you the experience the way is should be.

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 August 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”…”You cannot dream yourself into a character: you must hammer and forge yourself into one.” - Henry D. Thoreau. This week I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some interesting characters and I mean that with the utmost respect. These gentlemen are men of value and they have hammered, forged, fought, bleed, and worked diligently for years to become these people. As I was reading this today it tugged on my heart strings, because for so many years I personally dreamed of the person I wanted to become, but yet I did nothing to make myself into that person. Throughout the past few years I have really been able to get back to basics and stopped the dreaming and started the hammering and forging. I’m not there yet, it’s a consistent work in progress and I’m ready for a lifetime of work, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice to become the character God wants me to be. Keep dreaming, but make a conscious effort to hammer and forge yourself into the character you dream to become…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we should have plenty of sunshine, high 67F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy skies this evening, increasing clouds with periods of showers late, low 49F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Tomorrow should be windy with occasional showers or thundershowers; high around 65F with winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be cloudy with rain likely, there also is a thundershower is possible as well, especially in the evening, low 54F with winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 70% chance of rain. Saturday we should have showers, highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 40s. Sunday should be partly cloudy, highs in the mid 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Monday we should have an occasional showers possible, highs in the mid 50s and lows in the low 40s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead and me. Yesterday Tall Tale and I took a few different groups out fishing and the fishing is still fantastic. Kevin downrigged in 33 to 35 feet of water and they were limited out by 3:00 PM. I was anchored and jigging in the same depth of water and limited out by 4:00 PM. Orange was the hot color, and I know that because one of my guests, Dan Hanson, was using an orange jig with a frozen shiner and he was catching all the fish! We were all the way across the big body of water just 4 miles south and just a tad west of Garden Island. Today Tall Tale is out there whacking them in 32 feet right off the US/Canadian line. A few of our guests were also out yesterday afternoon when the wind calmed down and they also limited out in the 32 feet in the same area that Kevin is now fishing today. This is a little weird for the area, but our guests said that when the wind came down they were catching the Walleyes one right after the other. Lake of the Woods is an amazing body of water and she always finds a way to surprise me each and every day. We still have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes all over the lake. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 Jerry Pagel from New Ulm, MN. I have had the distinguished pleasure of meeting Jerry this summer and what an awesome human being he is. There is not one negative bone in his body and he’s always got a smile on his face. While visiting us on 3 separate occasions this summer, he has brought his wife and two of his four sons. I just wanted to thank Jerry and his entire family for giving the Wigwam Resort, and myself, the opportunity to meet them all. Even though I haven’t known Jerry for to awful long, I can still call him my friend. Jerry and his wife have raised some very respectful children and I can say that Jerry and my father would have gotten along fantastically. Thanks again Jerry and we look forward to seeing you and your family back again very soon.

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

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

A Beautiful Morning is all that is needed for a Great Day of Fishing on Lake of the Woods

2010-08-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. The past few days have been so hot up here, but I think she’s just switched to Fall with the quickest season change in history…haha. No it’s not that bad, but it did sure cool down to a perfect temp today. This morning as I walked out the door to go to the resort there was a little nip in the air, just enough to get me thinking about grouse hunting, goose hunting and duck hunting…yes! That’s right, its right around the corner and Lake of the Woods County has it all, the fishing and the hunting. I love to hunt just as much as I love to fish, well maybe not that much, but I like it a lot.

The Beltrami Island State Forest is a hunting enthusiast’s paradise, and with a large portion of it State land it should not be a problem finding some good land to hunt. I’ve hunted the State land for the last year and a half, and there is no better hunting land in the world than what we have in Lake of the Woods County, we are so lucky. If you’re interested to do some hunting while wetting a line, please let me know and I’ll try and give you a couple helping bits of information. People switch it up all the time, one day they will hunt in morning and then fish in the afternoon, and then the next day they will fish in the morning and then hunt in the afternoon. It’s all about being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. If you’re a sportsman or sportswoman of any kind, start doing your homework on Lake of the Woods. There are so many things to do; you’ll never want to leave.

Today “The Sniper” & “Tall Tale” put on a fishing clinic that had their crew talking about the best days of fishing ever. The coolers were full with limits and both crews were able to do it before the wind really picked up at about 1:00 PM. They were off the “Road” in 30 to 33 feet of water pulling plugs. The “Road” is Graceton Road, which is about 5 miles west of the Wigwam on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. They were fishing just a bit deeper than one of my favorite Lake of the Woods reefs, North Graceton Reef. The wind has picked up this afternoon, but the Walleyes are still hanging out in the bowl. All you need to do is be able to get to them and they will be yours, 32-34 feet of water in the bowl, there still thick out there.

I also wanted to send a “BIG WIGWAM THANK YOU” to Chuck Kroll. Chuck has visited us more than any other guest this summer, 8 times. Chuck was going to make this last trip his last, but he need to end the year on a good day and he didn’t think that last day out was the one he wanted to go out on. I’m sure the next trip will redeem your last Chuck, if not; you’ll have to come back again…haha. Thank you again and we are lucky to have you as our guest. Please give Joyce a hug for me and talk to you this weekend buddy!

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 August 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 (resticions will apply with number of people in cabins) and $90 per person per day 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”…”Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” - Albert Einstein. This weekend there was a little event that was held in Washington D.C. and I don’t know if you heard about it or not, but it’s worth checking out (8/28 with Glenn Beck). The message was about Hope, Faith, and Charity, something I think we all should aspire to. For a number of years I think I found myself a man of success instead of a man of value, and within the last few years I believe I have turned that into the right direction. Today I find myself a man of value and I want to be a good person and help as many people as I possibly can. Like everything we need inspiration and a light, God has been my light for a majority of my life, but I found myself wandering and utterly unfulfilled. A few years ago I made a turn and my life has prospered from it in enormous ways. The man of value is the man I aspire to be, and hopefully this will help each of you find the inspiration to be men of value…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should have a few showers early with clear skies overnight, low 49F with winds W at 10 to 15 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow should be generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds, high 73F with winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night we should have cloudy skies early with showers later at night, low 54F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 50% chance of rain. Thursday we should see showers early then thundershowers developing later in the day, high around 60F with winds E at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 70% chance of rain. Friday we should see thundershowers, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 50s. Saturday we should have more clouds than sun, highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid 40s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead. The dynamic duo of The Sniper and Tall Tale were on the fish as usual, and today the Road (Graceton Road) was the marker. They downrigged in 30 to 33 feet of water and were limited out in 3 hours. After talking with the duo they knew the wind was going to pick up so they went out and got them early. I love those two guys; they are truly the best at what they do, and we’re lucky to have them at the Wigwam. Today was no different than most average days on Lake of the Woods. We still have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes all over the lake. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 my Mother…I know that my Mom reads this each and everyday, so HI MOM! She just left northern Minnesota to go take care of her Mom and Dad in Arizona, my Grandpa and Grandma. We love you and miss you already and look forward to you returning again very soon. Please give our best to the rest of the family, we love you all and pray for you daily.

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

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

Gusting Winds Slow the Bite, but Predicted Low Winds This Weekend Will Hopefully get us Back on Track

2010-08-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Yesterday I had the opportunity to take out Jerry and Linda Pagel from New Ulm, MN, and the morning bite was awful tough. The high winds we have received finally put a little damper on the fishing, but I want to state that we’re still catching fish. A bad day on Lake of the Woods is a fisherman’s dream on many other lakes in the US, or for that matter the world. Yesterday afternoon after the winds subsided just a tad; I went back out to the 9 footer and whacked the fish once again. The fact of the mater is, the fish are still out in great numbers in the bowl, and as long as you can get out there, you will catch the fish. If you can’t get out there, than you’ll have a tougher time catching them.

This weekend we will be having Young Country (band) proving the live entertainment. Darrell, Dave, and the crew always put on a great show for our patrons, and for that matter, everyone that enters our fantastic establishment. They will be playing from 8:30 PM till close tonight and tomorrow nights. We also will be having our Beer Butt Chicken Special tonight…for those of you that have never tried it, it is out of this world! Come pay us visit and rub elbows with some of Lake of the Woods most informed fisherman, only at the Wigwam Resort!

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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life.” - Jean Paul Richter. I thinking of myself as young, vibrant, and full of life, and this quote sure tugs at the heart strings when you really think about it. To never see a loved one again is an awful thing to deal with, but it happens, and we should always be cognoscente of that. In my short life I’ve had to personally deal with losing close friends and family members, most of the time I had the opportunity of saying goodbye, but the others, I don’t know how I left them. I know that I can’t change anything that happened in the past, but from here on out, I wish to only spread loving words to people that I meet throughout my life, because you never know what could happen. I hope this will help you reflect on your present and future relationships. Together, we can make this world a wonderful place…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be sunny to partly cloudy, warm, high 87F with winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight we should have a few clouds, low around 60F with winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow we should have a mix of clouds and sun with the chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon; high around 80F with winds N at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible, low 62F with winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Sunday we should have scattered thunderstorms, highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s. Monday we should have scattered thunderstorms, highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s. Tuesday we should have scattered thunderstorms possible, highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead and I. This week the wind was blowing pretty good out there, and fishing, for the first time this year felt the effects of the high wind. The rocks produced very well for me again yesterday afternoon, and the mud flats produced very well for the Sniper, Tall Tale, and Tom. I was drifting and pulling spinners with crawlers as bait over the 9 Footer, and also pulled some Rapalas using my lead core line, which lead to bigger fish (26-1/2” was the biggest yesterday for me in a 2 hour stretch). The Sniper, Tall Tale, and Tom drifted with spinners, dropped the downriggers out in the mud, and also dropped the anchor to do some jigging. All three of them have with each technique proved to find the fish, but it they had to work for them. I personally am not a downrigger fisherman, but the Walleyes loved the Rapalas on the riggers this week again, that’s for sure! We still have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes all over the lake. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts also. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 happy couple (Edwin and Marie Gingerich, from Gonvick, MN) that nabbed the 42”, 23 lb Northern Pike off the end of the Wigwam dock this morning, while they were getting ready to head out on a fishing trip with us. I have been diligently searching Lake of the Woods all my life for one of those big buggers to hang on my wall and low and behold, it was right under my nose…haha. Congratulations on the fantastic catch and “Welcome to Lake of the Woods”, the world’s best freshwater fishery!

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

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

Windy Weather Can’t Stop the Bite on Lake of the Woods, The Walleye Capitol of the World!

2010-08-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This past weekend we had some AWESOME weather, which was accompanied by some FANTASTIC fishing. I had the pleasure of fishing with a couple groups this weekend, the Scott St. Arnold Group on Friday. and the Mark Peterson Group on Saturday and Sunday morning. Both crews were very enjoyable and I just wanted to thank them both for choosing the Wigwam Resort as their vacation destinations this summer. We know that you can go anywhere you’d like, and we’re thankful that we have the opportunity to have you as our guests.

The next few days will be very windy on Lake of the Woods, so I’m going to try to get up to Little Oak Island tonight and fish up north tomorrow. I don’t know if the wind will allow me to do this, but I’m going to give it the old “college try”. I will post and let you know how my experience was this Wednesday when I get back to civilization…haha. I plan to fish with Scotty Olmstead, one of Tom’s really good friends from the Twin Cities area. I don’t know what I’ll be searching for, maybe the Musky’s, maybe the Smally’s, I just don’t know yet, but one things for sure, I’ll be 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 you 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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Be courteous to all, but intimate with few; and let those be well-tried before you give them your confidence.” - George Washington. WOW…I don’t remember learning this one in school. Maybe it should be taught…just my humble opinion. Our first President and one of our Founding Fathers had it right on with this one. My Father tried to instill these principles in each of our family members, and it has helped me meet people and surround myself with good quality friends throughout my life. I challenge you all to reflect on this quote and live by these words, and together let us make this world a better place…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be windy with isolated thunderstorms developing, near record high temperatures, high 88F with winds S at 20 to 30 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tonight we will have variably cloudiness with scattered thunderstorms, low 57F with winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Tomorrow should be windy with a few showers developing later in the day, high 67F with winds W at 20 to 30 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow night we should have showers in the evening becoming less numerous overnight, low 48F with winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Wednesday we should have more sun than clouds, highs in the upper 60s and lows in the mid 40s. Thursday we should have sunshine, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Friday it should be windy with sunshine, highs in the upper 80s and lows in the low 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead and I. This weekend the wind was down and we were able to fish all over the lake. The rocks produced very well for me this weekend, and the mud flats produced very well for the Sniper and Tall Tale. I was drifting and pulling spinners with crawlers as bait over North Bridges Reef and the 9 Footer. The Sniper and Tall Tale drifted with spinners, and also dropped the downriggers out in the mud. They both had their limits about an hour after dropping the riggers. I personally am not a downrigger fisherman, but the Walleyes loved the Rapalas on the riggers this weekend, that’s for sure! We still have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes all over the lake. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts also. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 all the Wigwam employees. This weekend I was approached by a number of our first time guests and they were so impressed with our staffs attitude and willingness to interact with the guests. We have a great crew working with us here at the Wigwam Resort and I want to personally thank each of them for all their hard work, and also for showing up here each and everyday with great attitudes for the guests. I know first hand that everyone has their own problems they face at home, and it is a testament to our staff that they can place personal issues on the back burner to make sure our guests have an AWESOME experience on Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capitol of the World! Thanks again to the entire Wigwam Resort Staff!

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

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

Does Life Get any Better than on Lake of the Woods? I Think Not!

2010-08-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I probably will have no bigger announcement than I have right now…Jody and I are officially engaged, and she made me the happiest man on the face of this earth when she said “yes” in the blueberry patch …thanks honey! On other, but not so momentous news, today when I woke up I was reminded that it was my birthday, and I was also reminded that I really am feeling my age…haha. Thanks to everyone that has sent me birthday and engagement wishes, it is greatly appreciated.

Yesterday was another amazing day on Lake of the Woods. The wind was down and the fish were biting once again. Kevin “Tall Tale” Olmstead took 6 of our guests up north to the eastside of Little Oak Island and needless to say, our guests were having a blast pulling in the Walleyes one right after another. Some of Tall Tale’s crew were first timers to Lake of the Woods and even first time Walleye fishermen and women, but that didn’t stop them from hammering the eyes. Tall Tale puts you on fish each and everyday, and I don’t care what the conditions are, he never comes back empty handed. If you’d like Kevin to take you fishing, just give us a call at the office (800) 448-9260 and make your reservation to the Walleye Capitol of the World!

This weekend we should be back into the 80’s and beautiful weather, so if you’re on the fence about making the drive up to Lake of the Woods, get off and get your butts up here. In my 18 years of fishing this tremendous body of water, the fishing has never been better on a consistent basis. Take advantage of our Super Summer Special and treat yourself to the best Walleye fishing in the world, on the lake know as the Walleye Capitol of the World, Lake of the Woods!

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 you 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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.” – William Thackeray. Today is my birthday, and I’m trying to reflect on what I’ve been able to accomplish this past year, through the help of God. Also, I’m trying to reflect on what I can do to become a better human being and Christian throughout this next year of my life. As I came across this quote, it really resonated with what I’m going to try to accomplish in the next year and hopefully throughout my entire life. I try to be as kind as possible and brighten the days of people, whom I know personally or am just meeting for the first time. You never know what people are going through, and everyone loves to hear words of encouragement and kindness, even me. The smallest words of kindness can make the biggest impact sometimes. I challenge everyone to “never lose a chance of saying a kind word”, and try to make our world a better place…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we will have plentiful sunshine, high 73F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight, low 54F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be cloudy early with partial sunshine expected late, high 79F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night should be partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible, low 59F with winds S at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Saturday should be mainly sunny, highs in the low 80s and lows in the upper 50s. Sunday should be windy with a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 60s. Monday we should have a few thunderstorms possible, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead, Tom Briggs and I. Yesterday morning Tall Tale took his crew to up to Little Oak Island and they whacked the crap out of the old Walleyes. Because of the high winds we had on Monday and Tuesday, Kevin didn’t think that the milk chocolate water we had down here would be producing until today or tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be taking a few people out and we’ll be starting right on the US/Canadian line and drift spinners in about 31-32 feet of water and I’ll let you know what we find. We have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes in that area for the past week. If you can’t make it out to the line, then you may have to go out to 32 feet of water about straight out from Graceton Rd and directly east of Long Point. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts also. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 Jody Hasbargen, my new fiancée. Thank you for making me so happy! I can’t wait for each and everyday of the rest of our lives together…I love you!

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

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

High Winds Cause Havoc on Lake of the Woods, in this Otherwise Perfect Fisherman’s Paradise

2010-08-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. Today as I opened the door to walk outside I was met with a great gust of wind, which sent a chill down my spine. This is the first time that I can remember this summer that the temperature has really dropped to fall type temps. I believe the weathermen/women are predicting cool temps and gusty winds for the next few days, but then we should be heating up again into the mid 70’s as we head into the weekend. Even with the fluctuation in temps, the fishing has still been better than any other lake in our great state of Minnesota, or even, if I might be so bold, the United States.

Yesterday after church, Jody, I and Vancouver took the afternoon to do some more blueberry picking, and they are still out in full force. I can’t ever remember picking blueberries in early August, but you won’t here me complaining, I love the blueberries! I know I’m anticipating this a little bit, but I can’t wait for Jody to whip up some of her famous blueberry crisp, pancakes, pie, shakes, and more blueberry surprises than you can shake a stick at. I know that I’m very lucky and not everyone will get to experience what I get to experience. But you must know that there is plenty more to do up here “in God’s country” than just catch fish. If any of you ever want to know where the blueberries are, or anything, please don’t hesitate to ask, I love to help people out, regardless if it’s on the lake or not.

This past weekend I was able to get out there and do a little bit of fishing before the winds started to pick up to the point where there at right now (very gusty), and the fishing was still top shelf. That’s right guys and gals, right where grandma keeps the peanut butter, that’s some old hockey terminology for all you none hockey fans out there. I was out with Vancouver lead coring with TDD-7 & 9’s around the edges of the North Bridges Reef and was picking up some big fish. The biggest was the 28-1/2” Walleye that I have pictured here. The colors of the Walleyes have just been beautiful this year; the way they just glisten in the sun is absolutely breath taking. As I have indicated on many different occasions, Lake of the Woods is so healthy this year. With the 3 fish fly hatches we’ve had and the speculation from the DNR, which stated that this last spawn was one of the best they’ve had in a decade. The Walleye populations will be on the rise and we don’t see any end to the fantastic fishing we’ve been having, really all year long. This should make every angler salivate at the mouth, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you about booking your next fishing adventure to Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capitol of the World.

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 you 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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Of all parts of wisdom the practice is the best.” - John Tillotson. One of my favorite sayings is, practice makes perfect, and as a young adult I lived by that saying. I remember as a kid growing up in Int’l Falls, my parents didn’t have snowmobiles or ATVs, so in the winter we had the outdoor rinks, hockey sticks, and a couple ratty old hockey pucks, in the summer we had our fishing rods, that’s about it. I wanted to be a professional hockey player and a fishing guide, and practice is essential with both. Back in my hockey days, when we completed practice, I remember staying out on the ice for as long as I possibly could. We played 3 pass, pipes, juice boy, etc., I know that these examples won’t resonate with but a few of you, but it was practice, practice, and more practice. The short of the long is that I was able to become a much better hockey player, because of the fact that I practiced. The same goes with fishing, and everything else across the spectrum, practice makes perfect. Wisdom and knowledge all take actually doing the task to get better. I think it’s just common sense, the more you practice the better you’ll get, and the more comfortable you will feel in those situations. Each and every time I get the opportunity to hit the lake, I try new techniques, and then still practice the other techniques that I know, to make myself a better fisherman. I can only imagine this concept will hold constant with anything you do in life. Remember that practice makes perfect and “of all parts of wisdom the practice is the best”…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we are seeing a mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds, there will be a slight chance of a rain shower, high around 65F with winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Tonight should be partly cloudy skies, near record low temperatures, low 42F, with WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow we should have a mix of clouds and sun in the morning giving way to a few showers during the afternoon, high 71F with winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow night we should have showers early becoming less numerous late, low around 50F with winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Wednesday we should have a chance of showers, highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Thursday we should see a few clouds, highs in the low 70s and lows in the low 50s. Friday we should have a slight chance of a thunderstorm, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead, Tom Briggs and I. This morning Tall Tale and the Sniper headed out into the rollers that were crashing down on this side of the lake, because of the very gusty winds we had this morning, and I might add are still experiencing. Tall Tale’s crew made it about 30 minutes before they headed on back to the Wigwam, the Snipers crew is still sticking with it out there; I hope they are whacking the Walleyes. Where you’re fishing right now will depend on the weather. If you can get out to the US/Canadian line and drift spinners in about 31-32 feet of water, you’ll be right where the best fishing on the lake has been taking place. We have been absolutely crushing the Walleyes in that area for the past week. If you can’t make it out to the line, then you may have to go out to 32 feet of water about straight out from Graceton Rd and directly east of Long Point. When we have a south, southwest and west wind the area straight out from Graceton Rd has been a little honey hole of sorts also. We are still using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 Beau Seeger, a guest that we had stay with us last week. Beau sent me a great e-mail, which I’d like to share with everyone today.

“Hey JP,

Thanks a ton for the photo. The little guys were super impressed that the resort manager and guide who put them on the spot took their picture. The next day (Friday) we packed up to leave and decided to go out for a couple hours late morning to the spot we'd hammered fish the night before. Luckily we had time for one big hour and a half drift before the wind died down and caught some nice fish. I sank into a "log" at the end of the drift and my 7 year old, Rhett, asked me if he could reel it in. I knew it was a pig right away because there was that big exaggerated left to right and back again of a walleye that is pushing 26" or more. I handed Rhett the rod and had him put his top hand higher than normal and watched. 10 - 15 minutes later we scooped up a fat 28” walleye and Rhett was shaking from excitement and arm exhaustion. One quick photo on my crappy camera phone (see attached), a lot of high five for the little guys, and then we pumped her for about three minutes before she took off back into the depths of the mud flats. All three boys were jacked that we got a big one and we could put her back so that we can come back and do it again someday. Both cousins got a 22" eye the day before, so they were happy too and one also lost what I guessed was a 25"+ Eye but we called a Sturgeon because he really wanted one of those prehistoric monsters.

Thanks a bunch for catering to our last minute decision to come up for a couple days on a bargain deal (I'll keep watching the blog). Thanks to everyone up there that we spoke with at the Wigwam who were so nice and accommodating.

Thanks again,

Beau Seeger”

This is exactly why men, women, and children come to Lake of the Woods, and the Wigwam Resort. I hope to see you guys back here again very soon, but regardless of that, this is why we do what we do, to make sure that people have a great time, and thank you guys for giving us the opportunity to have you and your family as our guests 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

Wigwam Resort Keeps Reeling in the Walleyes on Lake of the Woods

2010-08-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I want to start off by congratulating the newlyweds that tied the knot on Pine Island this past Saturday and had their reception at the Wigwam Resort…Mr. & Mrs. Dicky Letexier. Thank you and your families for allowing us to partake in your special day. The Wigwam enjoyed the entire experience and we look forward to seeing you and many of your family members back again in the very near future…congratulations again!

Yesterday, at about 5 pm I was able to get out and do a little fishing, but with the hot temps and low wind, I had only one technique option, which was trolling the Rapalas. Tom came in off the lake yesterday, early in the afternoon and told me that he couldn’t keep the Walleyes off his hook in 31 feet right on the US/Canadian line. Well you can imagine what was going through my mind and that time, and I couldn’t wait to get out there and see for myself. But before I could try Tom’s “sure thing”, I wanted to go and try a spot that I had on my radar for the last few weeks around Burton Island, so that’s what I did. I was able to pull gold Reef Runners along the edge of a reef and it was one Walleye right after the other. It was so awesome that I didn’t get a chance to give Tom’s info a shot, but I’m sure that they will be there tomorrow…haha. If you haven’t had the opportunity of fishing Lake of the Woods this summer, you should get your butts up here as soon as possible. There is a reason Lake of the Woods is known as the “Walleye Capitol of the World”, come find out why for yourself and we’d love to show you around while you’re here.

Sunday, I had the opportunity of fishing with a father-son duo, and it was truly a wonderful experience. Both are originally New Ulm, MN, but Justin (Jerry’s son) is currently living in Los Angeles, CA while he is working in the film business. The day started off as I introduced myself to the two gentlemen on the dock and invited them into my boat for an exciting day of fishing. This was the first time in 16 years that Justin had been fishing, so it took him a couple misses to get his first Walleye, but he proved that it’s just like riding a bike, you just don’t forget it. As we drifted and pulled hammered gold spinners with crawlers as bait, we got to chatting and I got to learn a lot about Jerry and Justin. These are two very good people that I have a lot in common with. Not past jobs, but many values and our upbringing. Jerry has had a few near death experiences and as we discussed them on the boat, we both made the comment that “he’s here for a reason”. Jerry works as a driving instructor in New Ulm, MN and he loves doing it! He believes he is here to teach beginner drivers about the does and don’ts of driving…he has a great record of teaching his students the proper driving methods and is keeping his student and others safe as many new drivers hit our roads. That is a very admirable profession and I believe he truly is here for that reason. Justin works in the movie and film business in LA and he loves doing it! He has worked on Oscar Winning films, such as “Ray” (The movie about the legendary recording artist Ray Charles). He too followed his heart out to Hollywood and it’s paid off with a career he truly enjoys. I really enjoyed out time together gentlemen, and I believe we are all here for a reason, and I’m glad you guys genuinely enjoy your professions, as I do mine. Thanks for giving the Wigwam Resort and myself the opportunity to take you out in our backyard, Lake of the Woods. We look forward to seeing you both back this winter.

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 you 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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” Leon J. Suenes. I talk a lot in my blogs about happiness, and for you that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, I’m sure I’ve talked about it with you also. In one of the recent blogs I used a quote for the quote of the day that I believe goes hand and hand with the above quote (“There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.”). After having the pleasure of fishing with a couple great guys this weekend and listening to their unique stories, I once again was reminded about the importance of being happy in life, and most importantly, being willing to pay whatever price it was to achieve your dreams. I personally had a very tough decision to make a few years back and I paid a great price, by leaving many great friends, which I had made from the previous 15 years of my life to follow my dreams. Today, I am happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life, and I owe it to the fact that God gave me the strength to take a chance and followed my dreams, regardless of the price I had to pay for it. I’ve always been a dreamer and that will never end, but I now know that there are always great prices we all must pay for happiness, just know, it’s all worth it in the end. I hope each of you will find the strength to find your happiness as your lives move forward, and God is great way to find that strength…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today should be partly cloudy, warm, high 89F with winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight we should see scattered showers and thunderstorms; low near 65F with winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 40% chance of rain. Wednesday should be partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm, highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s. Thursday should be partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm, highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s. Friday we should have scattered thunderstorms possible, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead, Tom Briggs and I. Today we were fishing in two separate locations early, but ended the day in the same spot. This morning Tom and Kevin started about 5-1/2 miles west of Lighthouse Gap in 32 feet of water. Imagine drawing a straight line north of Morris Point and drawing a straight line west of Long Point...where they cross is where they were out. “The Sniper” started the day off in 31’ of water right off the US/Canadian line and absolutely crushed the fish all day. When Tom and Kevin heard Billy aka “The Sniper” on the radio telling them to get there butts over there, there was no hesitation. Tom was the first to get back to the resort and by the big grin on his face, I knew that they had a great day. Tom said that they had to slow troll, because there was little wind, but the fish were biting like crazy. They were using the hammered gold and pink/gold spinners with crawlers and leeches. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, leeches, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 Jerry and Justin Pagel, whom I had the great honor of meeting and fishing with yesterday. I enjoyed our time together in the boat and you both are great people, whom get to live great lives doing what you both truly love to do. Enjoy the time that we are all given and live your lives as happy as humanly possible. I look forward to seeing you both again soon, no matter when it is. Take care, and it again was truly an honor sharing my boat with you two…God Bless.

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

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

The Dog Days of Summer have Skipped Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capitol of the World

2010-08-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This past weekend I was off the lake and in Arizona with my brother visiting my Grandparents and extended family. As what I thought was sweltering hot weather at 98 and 105 degrees, my relatives joked that my brother and I must have brought the cold weather with us. The week before the temps were reaching 120 degrees…I’m so thankful I live in northern Minnesota! It was awesome to see family members that I haven’t seen in over 14 years. We had a tremendous reunion and some amazing fellowship during those 4 days. I just wanted to thank them all for their outstanding and generous hospitality; I think I know where I get it from now…thanks again to all.

While I was gone this past weekend and early this week, the unquestionable top notch fishing hasn’t stopped a bit on our amazing body of water, Lake of the Woods. As I returned to work yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from a guest who is coming up here next week with a large group, and he asked me, “how’s the fishing?” I had to tell him that I just returned home from a trip from out west and I honestly didn’t know. At that same moment Kevin “Tall Tale” Olmstead walked through the door with a huge smile on his face and I knew what that meant. I saw the look on Kevin’s face I had to tell our guest that Kevin just walked in and I’d ask him how to the fishing was. I immediately pulled the phone away and asked Kevin, “how was the fishing this weekend and this week?” Kevin replied with a big grin, which was slightly hidden from his huge mustache, “it was fantastic this weekend and we had our limit by 11 am this morning”. I held the phone as to make sure the gentleman on the other end was able to here it clearly. When I put it back to my ear I heard, “fantastic, we can’t wait to get there”. Just from hearing that, it put a smile on my face from ear to ear.

Today I had the opportunity of fishing with a delightful newlywed couple from Iowa, and regardless of the windy conditions we experienced, we had our limit by 12:30 this afternoon. We started the day off exactly where we finished it, about 5-1/2 miles west of Lighthouse Gap. There were a number of launches and personal boats out in our vicinity today. Our method of fishing was drifting with gold and gold/pink spinners with crawlers as our bait. The big Walleye of the day in our boat was 24 inches. We had another tremendous day out on Lake of the Woods, and once again we were blessed. Lake of the Woods has no match and is truly the Walleye Capitol of the World.

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 you 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 August Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”A good deed is never lost: he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love.” – Basil. There is no debating the facts of this quote, to me, it’s just common sense. My father’s name was Curtis, which mean courteous, and when my Mother and Father gave me that middle name, they knew exactly what they were passing on, and through life they reminded me of it on a regular basis. Just today, I was just sharing the story of my Fathers last days with a guest at the resort, and that story had to do with the amount of people that came to pay their last respects to him before he passed. My Father was well known and respected in the communities, which he called home throughout his life, and to this day, regardless of whatever I have done in my life, I am still known as Curt’s son in those areas. He was the first to give away and last to ask for it back, and he reaped friendship and gathered love from all. I hope that this will inspire you to live your life parallel to this quote and make our world a better place…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should have a stray thunderstorm is possible through the evening with partly cloudy skies, low near 55F with winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow we should have sunshine and clouds mixed with a slight chance of a rain shower, high 71F with winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night should we should have partly cloudy skies, low 47F with winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday should be mainly sunny, high around 75F with winds light and variable. Saturday we should have abundant sunshine, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 50s. Sunday we should have a slight chance of a thunderstorm, highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead, Shane “Wiggles” Burk and myself. Today we all were fishing about 5-1/2 miles west of Lighthouse Gap in 32 feet of water. Imagine drawing a straight line north of Graceton Rd and drawing a straight line west of Long Point...where they cross is where you want to be. There hasn’t been one day they haven’t come in without their limit of Walleye. In years past this used to be the dog days of summer, but for some odd reason this summer, the Walleyes haven’t stopped biting. We all were drifting with gold and pink/gold spinners and crawlers were the best bait out there today. Today I also saw some people down rigging and long lining Rapalas. I don’t know how they were doing out there, but we were catching 4 to 6 fish on each drift. When fishing in deep water (30’ – 34’) and long lining I travel about 2.25-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 the many guests that visited us during July this summer. Thanks to you we had the best July we’ve had in years, and I look forward for this trend to continue into August and beyond! Thanks again and God Bless!

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

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

Great Guests, Great Fishing, and Beautiful Weather Accentuated the Wigwam Resort’s 19th Annual Beach Bash on Lake of the Woods

2010-07-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I wanted to start off by thanking everyone who blessed us with their presence this weekend at the Wigwam Resort to celebrate our 19th Annual Beach Bash. The day started off a little shaky with the weather, but by 11 AM the clouds started to dissipate and there was nothing but blue skies for as far as the eye could see. We sold 600 plus wrist bands, and that didn’t include the 150 guests we had staying with us between the lodge, cabins, RV Park and campground…we couldn’t have asked for anything more. I also wanted to thank all the volunteers, and staff for their hard work throughout the day and night. They provided great service for all the guests, and they were complimented on a regular basis…thanks again!

The Wigwam Resort’s 19th Annual Beach Bash allowed us once again to provide a little outdoor fun and activates to the guests of our resort, guests of other resorts in the area, and our local community. Tom and Nina have already started talking about the 20th Annual and what we can do to make it better next year. A large number of guest from this weekend have already booked for next years Beach Bash, which will be held on July 9th, 2011. Many of them have also already started to book their favorite launch drivers, to ensure they get with the captain of their choice. Where I’m going with this is, don’t wait to long to book for your trip during the Wigwam Resort 20th Annual Beach Bash.

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite as never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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 you 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 July Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Plenty of people miss their share of happiness. Not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it.” – William Feather. Jody clips out and puts “Quotes of the Day” in an envelope for me as she runs across them every once and while, and yesterday I started to give them a look. There were plenty of good ones, which I will use down the road, but this one in particular stuck out like a sore thumb. 5 years ago while I was working 60 hours a week and attending law school, this was me. I was going through my life not stopping for an instant to smell the roses and I missed out on so much. Today knowing what I know from personal experience and life lessons, I can honestly say that I let ambition run my life. Not that that’s bad thing, but as of today I think I would have slowed down and enjoyed the experience a little bit more. It’s easier today to look back and say that I could have done it different, but in the heat of life, we all make decisions that sometimes we regret. Today I take a little extra time out of my day to enjoy my life, my surroundings and especially all my great company as I journey through life. The message I wish to give you today is, slow down, enjoy, be thankful of what you have, and be happy for it, the rest will take care of itself…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight will be mainly clear skies, low 53F with winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be partly cloudy, high 79F with winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow night we should have partly cloudy skies early will give way to showers and a possible thunderstorm later in the night, low around 60F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Friday we should have showers and a few thunderstorms likely, high 73F with winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Saturday should be cloudy with showers and thunderstorms, highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Sunday we should have a few clouds, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead, and Shane “Wiggles”. The fish are still thick in the bowl, in 33 -34 feet of water from Lighthouse Gap to Long Point. This past weekend and week our guys have been drifting pulling hammered gold spinners with crawlers as bait and long lining and down rigging the Rapalas. There hasn’t been one day they haven’t come in without their limit of Walleye. In years past this used to be the dog days of summer, but for some odd reason this summer, the Walleyes haven’t stopped biting. We haven’t been anchoring and jigging for the past week. I’m going out fishing tomorrow for a couple hours with some repeat guests to see how we fair. I think that we’ll try and pull the spinners tomorrow morning with the light wind, and then later on we’ll pull the Rapalas…I love it! When fishing in deep water (30’ – 34’) I travel about 2.25-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Spinners, Crawlers, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, 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…I hope forever! Keep checking out the fishing report…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 my Grandpa and Grandma (Hanson and Marion Day) in Lake Havasu, AZ, whom my brother and I are going to visit this weekend. I haven’t seen them in about 15 years and their health is deteriorating quickly. I can’t wait to see you guys, and Ryan and I look forward to spending the next few days with you. See you soon and I love you Grandpa and Grandma…God Bless!

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

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

Wigwam Resort 19th Annual Beach Bash July 24, 2010, Will Rock Your Socks Off!

2010-07-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend on and off the lake. The Wigwam, as usual, was all over the fish this weekend on Lake of the Woods, and I love to see the smiles on our guests faces each and every day. This weekend was Tom’s Birthday, so Nina took him to Moon Dance and from the sounds of it; they had a great time…Happy Birthday Tom! I won’t disclose Tom’s age, but if you’re really interested in knowing, when you see him this weekend you can ask him…haha. Thanks everyone again for making this summer such a great time on Lake of the Woods, without you it wouldn’t be possible.

The Wigwam Resort’s 19th Annual Beach Bash will be held this Saturday, July 24th at the Wigwam Resort from 3 pm till close (1 am). The Wayne Renn Band will be the live entertainment all weekend long (Thursday, Friday and Saturday Nights from 8 till 1 am). Saturday the band will be outside and we anticipate it to be a rocking occasion. Wayne and the band put on great shows each and every night, and everyone that has had the pleasure of hearing them can’t wait to see them again, so here’s your opportunity to see them again or see them for the fist time. We will be having a wide range of games with 100% payback to the participants. We have planned for the first time at Beach Bash, a Pig Roast, and I can’t wait to dig in and give it a try. I’ve had the pleasure of attending a few Pig Roasts before, and if you haven’t tried it before, you won’t be disappointed…I can’t wait! We will be giving away “Walleye Fins”, which will be fried up in our “Frying Saucers”, so don’t miss out on the Fins (we only have a limited amount, so as soon as there gone, there gone), and here’s your opportunity to get one of your own Frying Saucers. We look forward to seeing you all there for the party!

On the Lake of the Woods fishing front, the fishing is still awesome, but you have to know how to catch them, it isn’t as easy as going out there and dropping the anchor and just jigging anymore. The fish are still being caught in record numbers each and everyday, which a great number them are returned to our tremendous body of water. Just this morning I had the opportunity of speaking with a guest whom we took fishing yesterday, and he just had to comment on the size and quantity of the Walleyes this July compared to years past…he is absolutely amazed. If you want to experience the amazing fishing on Lake of the Woods, just as our guests are experiencing each and everyday, give us a call at (800) 448-9260 and speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members. We want everyone to have the opportunity to experience there “Best Day of Fishing Ever”! We look forward to having you as our guest at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods, Paradise without a Passport.

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite as never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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 you 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 July Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.” - Albert Schweitzer. This past weekend Jody, I and Vancouver had the opportunity of going blueberry picking in our fabulous and majestic Beltrami Island State Forest, which is just southwest of Baudette. As we drove down the gravel roads we marveled at the beauty, which God has created for us. We picked wild blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, and even saw a few deer, grouse, black bear and numerous other wildlife creatures along the way. But, since the conception of the mobile phone and its amazing technology, many of us have become hooked to it, and we don’t lift our heads up to enjoy our surrounding beauty. Just this weekend I had the opportunity of viewing some individuals walking down the street, which were surfing or texting away without even lifting their heads…I have been guilty of this myself on a few different occasions. I’m not saying technology is bad, I utilize it more than the average individual, but I think that we all need to lift our heads sometime and step back to appreciate everything that has been given to us. I hope that will help you lift your heads and enjoy your amazing surroundings, no matter where you are…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be sunny, high 77F with winds light and variable. Tonight should be partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight, low 61F with winds light and variable…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow we should have rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon; high around 75F with winds SE at 5 to 10 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Tomorrow night should be mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms; low around 60F with winds NE at 10 to 15 mph…there will be a 60% chance of rain. Friday we should have a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Saturday (Wigwam Resort Beach Bash) we should have occasional showers possible, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Sunday should be mostly sunny, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Tom Briggs, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, and Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead. The fish are still thick in the bowl 30 -32 feet of water from Lighthouse Gap to Long Point. This past weekend and week “again” I was catching fish each and everyway possible (jigging, drifting or trolling). Once again, I have never caught so many big fish at one time in my life…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods. Frozen Shiners, Leaches, and Crawlers can be used with similar results out there right now…it just depends on what method of fishing to the bait being used. If you want to troll, or drift and pull spinners, use hammered gold, which is a Lake of the Woods sure thing. As far as the bait goes while pulling spinners you can use minnows “preferably live”, leaches, or my favorite, crawlers. When we have a good “Walleye Chop” out there, it’s still best to anchor and jig with a frozen shiner or a leech. If you plan on anchoring in the big lake, the best type of anchor to use is a spike anchor with at least 100’ of rope. 3/8 oz Jigs (Pink/Gold, Silver & Chartreuse/Green) with frozen shiners were the golden tickets this weekend and week. Every time I go out I long line Rapalas and Reef Runners with awesome success when the wind dies down and there is was no Walleye Chop. When fishing in deep water (30’ – 34’) I travel about 2.5-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Don’t forget, this weekend is the Wigwam Resorts 19th Annual Beach Bash and I hope to see you all up here, but if you can’t make it, keep checking out the fishing report…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 all the Wigwam Resort employees this week. Everyone is working hard to make sure the 19th Annual Beach Bash is its best ever. I just wanted to thank them all for their hard work and dedication to the Wigwam and all our guests. Thanks again guys and gals…take care and God Bless!

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

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

Lake of the Woods Continues to Give Angles “Their Best Days of Fishing Ever”

2010-07-15T17:46:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I hope everyone had a great weekend last week and an even better week. Over the past few days I had the pleasure of fishing with a great couple from Black River Falls, WI, Rod and Alice Nowak. Monday and Tuesday we tried to get the Northern Pike and Small Mouth Bass, but caught more Walleyes than we did the Northern and Smallies. So, on Wednesday they asked, what could we get if we actually fished for Walleyes? Well, we went out on Wednesday after the first wave of storms when through and the first 2 Walleyes were 24” and 24 1/2”. Alice and Rod made a little bet at the start of the day, and I might have to add that Alice isn’t going to be the one weeding the onion patch…haha. After the first 3 Walleyes were caught, Billy “the Sniper” Kloos got on the radio and said he was over the biggest group of fish he had seen all year, so we pulled the anchor and took a little drive to visit the Sniper. When we arrived at the location, Billy wasn’t kidding, the Walleyes were thicker than I had ever seen, and Pink/Gold 3/8 oz jigs with frozen shiners were the golden ticket. We were fishing in 31 feet of water out from Graceton Rd, and we loved it!

One of our faithful patrons has lost a son and I wanted to share this with all of you. I have tried to load a video that was sent to me, but I can't get it to work at this time, but I will keep trying and as soon as I can share it with you, I will. My Father, an ex-Marine, raised us to respect the service men and women of our country, and I will for all eternity. This present story brought a tear to my eye and reminds me of the many that are still paying the ultimate price for our freedom, home and abroad. Here’s to Jesse Nathan Davis, an American Hero!

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite as never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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 you 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 July Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time,
for that is the stuff life is made of.” - Benjamin Franklin. After reading through plenty of inspirational and motivational quotes, this one took the cake today. One of our Founding Fathers hit it right on the head when he spoke these words. I think that we all love life, so we shouldn’t squander our time. Get out and live life to the fullest of your ability and I promise you, it will make your life better. When I moved home a few years ago, I really started living my life by doing what I love to do, and today I’m in a better place. I think Benjamin Franklin was an extremely intelligent fellow, and I think that whatever it is we want to do, we need not squander our time on this beautiful earth. I hope this will inspire you to “not” squander time…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should have isolated thunderstorms early, becoming clear after midnight, low 59F with winds W at 10 to 20 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Tomorrow should be mostly sunny skies, high 78F with winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night should be clear, low near 55F with winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Saturday we should have sun and clouds mixed with a slight chance of thunderstorms during the afternoon, a few storms may be severe, high 79F with winds SE at 10 to 15 mph…there will be a 30% chance of rain. Sunday should be partly cloudy, with a chance of a thunderstorm, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the low 60s. Monday we should have times of sun and clouds, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Tom Briggs, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, and Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead. The fish are still thick in the bowl 30 -32 feet of water from Lighthouse Gap to Long Point. This past weekend and week “again” I was catching fish each and everyway possible (jigging, drifting or trolling). Once again, I have never caught so many big fish at one time in my life…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods. Frozen Shiners, Leaches, and Crawlers can be used with similar results out there right now…it just depends on what method of fishing to the bait being used. If you want to troll, or drift and pull spinners, use hammered gold, which is a Lake of the Woods sure thing. As far as the bait goes while pulling spinners you can use minnows “preferably live”, leaches, or my favorite, crawlers. When we have a good “Walleye Chop” out there, it’s still best to anchor and jig. If you plan on anchoring in the big lake, the best type of anchor to use is a spike anchor with at least 100’ of rope. 3/8 oz Jigs (Pink/Gold, Silver & Chartreuse/Green) with frozen shiners were the golden tickets this weekend and week. We also did some long lining this weekend with awesome success when the wind died down and there was no Walleye Chop. When fishing in deep water (30’ – 32’) I travel about 2.5-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I hope to see you all up here, but if you can’t make it, keep checking out the fishing report…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 Rod and Alice Nowak from Black River Falls, WI. As I stated in the beginning of the blog, we had the opportunity to fish and visit for 3 days and what a great couple they are. I wanted to personally thank them both for visiting us and giving the Wigwam Resort the opportunity to have them as our guest this week. We look forward to your return and it was truly a pleasure having the opportunity of fishing with you for those 3 days. Thanks again for everything, and Alice, remember to “set that hook”…haha. Take care and God Bless!

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

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

As the Rain Falls on Lake of the Woods, So do the Blessings of Great Fishing

2010-07-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This past weekend I had the opportunity of fishing with a few of my close family members, and the weather and fishing didn’t disappoint us, praise the Lord. On July 3rd we embarked on our fishing excursion with a few Lake of the Woods first timers, and as it has all summer long, it produced a number of fantastic Walleye for us to view, picture and even a few to feast on. I just wanted to thank all my family members that made the trip form many miles away to visit us and share with us the beauty of Lake of the Woods over the 4th of July weekend. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you all back in the very near future.

With all the rain we’ve had in the past few months the water level of Lake of the Woods has risen up about 3 feet, which brings it right to where it should have been on opener. As I was in church on Sunday morning I had to confess to the pastor that it was I that was praying for all the rain after I clipped a rock in Canada early in May. He asked me to please stop praying, because we have enough now…haha. Even with the quickly rising water levels and the sub par conditions, because of some mucky water, the Walleye bite has never been better. I hope that many of you will have the opportunity to experience what we are experiencing on a daily basis up here right now. There is still plenty of summer left to enjoy, and if you haven’t had the time to sneak up here, “just make it happen”. The fishing has never been better on a day in and day out basis in my 18 years on Lake of the Woods, the Walleye Capitol of the World!

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite as never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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 you 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 July Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. This is very straight forward and it does work. When I moved back to northern Minnesota to live my life I made a pact with myself to be happy, no matter what. Since the move I’ve had some ups and downs as any person will have through life, but I have kept my promise to myself of living happy and it has paid off. I hope more people will take the “happiness challenge” and see first hand what it can do for their lives…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Tonight we should have some passing clouds, low 57F, with winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow should be generally sunny, high near 75F with winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow night should be partly cloudy, low 56F with winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Friday should be partly cloudy, high 78F with winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Saturday should be partly cloudy, highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Sunday we should have a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 60s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by myself, Tom Briggs, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, and Kevin "Tall Tale" Olmstead. The fish are still in the same depths just maybe a tad bit west. For example, picture Morris Point and head straight north to 30 – 34 feet and that’s where you’ll find the fish. The boats are out there, so you don’t have to worry about exact areas, just hunker in and fish away. People are also catching fish out in from Zipple Bay in 30 – 32 feet of water also when the wind doesn’t allow them to get out of Lighthouse Gap…the theme is the fish are deep. This past weekend “again” I was catching fish each and everyway possible (jigging, drifting or trolling). Once again, I have never caught so many big fish at one time in my life…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods. Frozen Shiners, Leaches, and Crawlers can be used with similar results out there right now…it just depends on what method of fishing to the bait being used. If you want to troll, or drift and pull spinners, use hammered gold, which is a Lake of the Woods sure thing. As far as the bait goes while pulling spinners you can use minnows “preferably live”, leaches, or my favorite, crawlers. When we have a good “Walleye Chop” out there, it’s still best to anchor and jig. If you plan on anchoring in the big lake, the best type of anchor to use is a spike anchor with at least 100’ of rope. 3/8 oz Jigs (Pink/Gold, Silver & Chartreuse/Green) with frozen shiners were the golden tickets this weekend and week. We also did some long lining this weekend with awesome success when the wind died down and there was no Walleye Chop. When fishing in deep water (30’ – 34’) I travel about 2.5-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. Purple/White and Gold were the magic color while pulling plugs a few days ago in Canada with Jody and her Father. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. By the end of the day Jody’s Dad (Wes), who had never long lined before, asked me if he could have the Gold Reef Runner he was using…I think he’s hooked! You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I hope to see you all up here, but if you can’t make it, keep checking out the fishing report…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 Bob and Wendy Barutt from Melrose, MN. They were visiting us this week and fishing with Kevin “Tall Tale” Olmstead when Wendy hooked into a beautiful 30 ½” Walleye on July 5, 2010, which will now go on their wall at home. I know from talking to you both that Bob wanted to take a little credit for the catch, but Wendy this one is all yours. Thanks for giving the Wigwam Resort the opportunity to have you as our guests over our countries Independence Day. Congratulations on this awesome catch and I hope you guys had a great time and we look forward to seeing you back this winter or even sooner!

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

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

Lake of the Woods is the Worlds Best Freshwater Fishery, “The Proof is in the Lake”

2010-06-30T15:39:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. I want to start off today by thanking everyone that has given the Wigwam Resort the opportunity to have you as our guests this summer. We are constantly improving the resort from your input to make sure your next visit is even more enjoyable than the last. So, please let us know what we can do “within reason…haha” to improve your visits to the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods .

This weekend I will have the opportunity to take four of my family members fishing, and I’m so pumped and excited. These four have never fished Lake of the Woods before, and I look forward to showing them our breath taking backyard and World Class Walleye Fishing. I have been bragging Lake of the Woods up to all my friends and family so long and now it’s “go time” and I can’t wait! Now all I have to do is put them on the fish…anyone have any ideas??? Haha just kidding…I think I’ve got a few spots we can give a try .

Yesterday I had the opportunity of fishing with a long time Lake of the Woods angler, Mr. John Heckelsmiller of Ceder Rapids, IA. Tuesday’s are typically my day off, so John invited me to go fishing with him on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods. Needless to say there was no hesitation in my answer and I welcomed it with open arms. John and I fished the entire day pulling Rapalas and casting, we were in search of Musky, Small Mouth Bass and Walleyes, and we found them all! This excursion was strictly catch and release, and as we caught, we couldn’t believe how healthy and plump all the fish looked, especially the Walleyes. The day started off a little slow, but John put us on the fish and a majority of them came from pulling our Rapalas along the shore lines over the rocks in 8 to 15 feet of water. I do want to warn people out there, if you’re not an experienced fisherman this may get a little frustrating because of snags, but just like practice, the more you do it, the better you will become, and I’m sure you’ll learn to love it just as much as I have! As I was bouncing off the rocks and my lure hooked into a fish, it was as if I was a little kid again fishing for the first time…it was so awesome! The Canadian side of Lake of the Woods reminded me so much of my up bringing on Rainy Lake, it was as if I was thrown back in time. The endless islands and wildlife kept me constantly energized throughout the day. The excitement of hooking into my first Musky and seeing it was so exhilarating, I now know why people get hooked on Musky for life! I am now and forevermore a Musky fisherman! I just wanted to give John a shout out and a HUGE “Thank You”…I can’t wait till next time!

The fishing this summer on fabulous Lake of the Woods has been, pardon the pun, OFF THE HOOK, and Walleye head shakers seem to have no end in site. This weekend I had the pleasure of fishing with a few different guests; most of them were first timers to Lake of the Woods and the Wigwam Resort. Before the end of their trips, they were already planning their next excursion to Lake of the Woods and putting together the invite list. My question to you is; who are you going to invite for your next trip to Lake of the Woods? I look forward to seeing each of you again and your new guests ;).

This past Saturday the Wigwam Resort hosted the Summer North Star Classic Walleye Tournament on Lake of the Woods, and Todd Hagen and Jamie Lisell put on another clinic. These Roseau natives have fished the North Star Classics (Spring, Summer and Fall) for a few years now and have placed well each and every time. I wanted to congratulate Todd and Jamie, and thank the rest of the competitors for competing in the fun summer event. If you’re interested in finding out more about the North Star Classics, please checkout our website at www.wigwamresortlow.com, or call me at the office at (800) 448-9260. The Fall Classic is typically the largest of the 3 and will take place this September 18th and 19th, which just happens to be the weekend before the MTT Championship on Lake of the Woods. This should bring in a great field of anglers for an exciting tournament!

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite has never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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 you 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 June Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says: "Leave no stone unturned." - Edward Bulwer Lytton. As I was reading through a number of quotes this morning, this one seemed to exemplify my recent chase for the Mighty Musky of Lake of the Woods. I’ve talked to a number of very experienced Musky fishermen on Lake of the Woods and they have given me an abundance of great information, but each had this to say, “You don’t know where there going to be, so fish everything”. If that isn’t the same as “leave no stone unturned” I don’t know what is. I believe we all could live our lives this way and it might just make for a better way of life…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today will be mostly sunny, high 72F winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight will be partly to mostly cloudy, low 61F with winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow we should see partly cloudy skies with gusty winds, is will be warm, high 86F with winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Tomorrow night should be partly cloudy, low 68F with winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Friday there should be a slight chance of a thunderstorm, highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Saturday we should see scattered thunderstorms, highs in the mid 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Sunday should be partly cloudy with a stray thunderstorm, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by myself, Tom Briggs, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, and Kevin “Tall Tale“ Olmstead. The fish are still in the same depths just maybe a tad bit west. For example, picture Morris Point and head straight north to 32 – 34 feet and that’s where you’ll find the fish. The boats are out there, so you don’t have to worry about exact areas, just hunker in and fish away. This past weekend I was catching fish each and everyway possible (jigging, drifting or trolling). Once again, I have never caught so many big fish at one time in my life…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods. Frozen Shiners, Leaches, and Crawlers can be used with similar results out there right now…it just depends on what method of fishing to the bait being used. If you want to troll, or drift and pull spinners, use hammered gold, which is a Lake of the Woods sure thing. As far as the bait goes while pulling spinners you can use minnows “preferably live”, leaches, or my favorite, crawlers. When we have a good “Walleye Chop” out there, it’s still best to anchor and jig. If you plan on anchoring in the big lake, the best type of anchor to use is a spike anchor with at least 100’ of rope. 3/8 oz Jigs (Pink/Gold, Silver & Chartreuse/Green) with frozen shiners were the golden tickets this weekend and week. We also did some long lining this weekend with awesome success when the wind died down and there was no Walleye Chop. When fishing in deep water (30’ – 34’) I travel about 2.5-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. Purple and White was the magic color while pulling plugs yesterday in Canada. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, and Rapalas from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I hope to see you all up here, but if you can’t make it, keep checking out the fishing report…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 TriTec of Minnesota, Inc. Group from the Virginia, MN area. They were introduced to the Wigwam Resort by one of the Wigwam’s longtime patrons, Mr. Dan Berg. Thank you Mitch for giving us the opportunity have you as our guests. We look forward to your return in September and getting you hooked on some ice fishing. Thanks again guys, it was a blast and I hope you had as much fun as it looked like you had…take care.

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

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

Lake of the Woods was a Magnet for Many Anglers on Fathers Day Weekend, and it Did Not Disappoint Once Again

2010-06-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning to all!

Welcome to another edition of the Wigwam Fisherman’s Blog. This past Sunday (Fathers Day) I had the opportunity of taking my Mother fishing for the first time since she arrived back from taking care of my Grandparents in Arizona…it was fantastic. Once again, Lake of the Woods mustered up the gumption to show us an awesome experience, and deliver us our limit of Walleye and Sauger. Early on in the afternoon as the shad was delicately being blocked by my canopy, which was the best purchase I have made this yea, my Mother made the comment that we were catching a number of bigger slot fish that had to be thrown back and she was concerned that we wouldn’t be able to keep any fish. I told her that’s not a bad thing to be complaining about, and stay pacient…haha. Needless to say, the “keeper fish” started to come in at great numbers and my Mother was even the recipient of a majority of the fish . The evening concluded as I showed my Mother the garden and deck, she was happy to see me so happy, and isn’t that what it’s all about…love you Mom.

As many of you probably know, Lake of the Woods is on fire right now. The Walleye bite as never been better on a consistent basis. Lake of the Woods is spoiling people each and everyday, so if you’re on the fence about taking that trip to God’s Country, tip off that fence and head up north to “The Walleye Capitol of the World”…you won’t be disappointed. The tantalizing effect of setting the hook never gets old, I for one can attest to that. Remember, the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods is Paradise without the Passport…come be our guest.

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. For example, we are coming up on the North Star Summer Walleye Classic Tournament at the Wigwam Resort on June 26, 2010. I have posted a special discount on lodge rooms for all the participating teams…$20 per person, per night. 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.

Announcements…If you’re looking for some great fishing and lodging deals, check out the June Specials we will be offering on our website www.wigwamresortlow.com. We are running a Super Summer Special for the balance of the summer, until September 1st. Tom would like to celebrate his 12th year of ownership, and help more people experience Lake of the Woods, by offering $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our lodge every day (midweek & weekend). We would also like to offer $25.00 per person, per night lodging in our cabins, midweek only (Sunday night – Wednesday night) some restrictions will apply to minimum numbers of guest per cabin. 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”…”Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne. Wow, how true it is, how true it is. Fathers Day’s weekend really got me thinking about my Father and some of the tough position he faced throughout his life, and how he did it with a smile. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that there were a few tears shed along the way, but we didn’t see them. Towards his last few days, it was so prevalent. I see his smile each and everyday and it gives me strength to also have courage as I face any and all challenges. I hope this will help you find the courage to battle the obstacles you face in your life…God Bless.

Daily Fishing Report: Today we should have sunshine and clouds mixed high 76F with winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight night we should have a mostly clear sky, low 53F with winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Thursday we should have a mix of sun and clouds, highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Friday there will be a few thunderstorms possible, highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Saturday there will be a few thunderstorms possible, highs in the mid 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Today’s fishing report will be provided by myself, Tom Briggs, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, and Kevin “Tall Tale“ Olmstead. The fish are still in the same depths just maybe a tad bit west. For example, picture Morris Point and head straight north to 32 – 34 feet and that’s where you’ll find the fish. The boats are out there, so you don’t have to worry about exact areas, just hunker in and fish away. This weekend I was catching fish each and everyway possible (jigging, drifting or trolling). Once again, I have never caught so many big fish at one time in my life…Lake of the Woods baby, Lake of the Woods. Frozen Shiners and Chubs can be used with similar results out there right now, but I still prefer the frozen Shiners. A “Walleye Chop” helps considerably, but with a light wind, we’ve still been having success. The best method has been anchoring and jigging, so if you plan on anchoring in the big lake, the best type of anchor to use is a spike anchor with at least 100’ of rope. 3/8 oz Jigs (Pink/Gold, Silver & Chartreuse/Green) with frozen shiners were the golden tickets this weekend and week. We also did some long lining this weekend with awesome success when the wind died down and there was no Walleye Chop. I travel about 2.5-2.75 MPH and let out about 125-150 feet of line with TD-11 Rapalas and Reef Runners. This is one of my favorite ways to fish for “Big Walleye” on Lake of the Woods. Be sure to be hanging on, because when they hit you better be ready for a good fight. You can purchase your Jigs and Frozen Shiners from the same place that I get them from, Log Cabin Bait, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. I hope to see you all up here, but if you can’t make it, keep checking out the fishing report…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 Garvin Group from south of the border, Minnesota border that is…haha. The friendly fellows from Iowa paid us a visit this weekend to Lake of the Woods to chase the prevalent Walleye. Kevin “Tall Tale” Olmstead put them on the fish from start to finish. Kevin had the crew mesmerized with the fishing, but most importantly the “Tall Tales”. I just wanted to thank you guys for being such great guests this weekend. I hope that the fishing and hospitality will make Lake of the Woods a seasonal vacation destination for you guys. Take care and we hope to see you guys back soon.

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

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