Week 17 Wrap-Up!

Good morning RSL family! It’s a beautiful day to be in God’s country. Anglers are out searching for the most monstrous and microish (new word) fish this morning. We also have some guys up looking for grouse. I’ll update you on that in next weeks blog.

The weather has been good and the lake is dropping fast as we haven’t really had any measurable rain since early August. Getting to a point now that I’m hoping for rain and it wasn’t too long ago that I was hoping for no rain. Go figure. Camp is full so I’m sure guests prefer not to wear rain gear.

Walleyes remain in 25 to 30 feet of water. We have had guys catching them on the weed edges in 10 foot also, but usually by accident as their looking for Perch and Pike. I took Tia and Gerald out to the Sandbar Sunday evening and Gerald boated a beautiful 29-inch Walleye. There was a tad bit of smack talk towards his better half and she took it in stride as she whipped him Monday. I gotta say we tried to stretch it to the 30-inch mark but alas we failed. Photograph and released healthy. With the water temps cooling into the low 60’s and some areas upper 50’s releasing those bigger fish is much easier on them. The sandbar is such a great way to finish the day running out and dropping a line in the water even if for only an hour and a half.

Good morning RSL Family! We held our Monster/Micro Fish Tournament Monday and here are the results! Tia Marr caught 2 26-inch Walleyes! Great Job Tia! Dan Brasel came in with a whopper of an 8-inch Smallmouth Bass. He released it back in the lake actually. James Smith caught a 22-inch Northern Pike. Congratulations Everyone!

Karen’s brother made his first trip up to RSL. He brought his wife, daughter, and her husband. I believe their daughter Meredith is a natural as I witnessed her boating fish after fish on the sandbar while the other four basically watched. She did allow everyone to catch some, but her pole was on fire that evening! We had a great time during their visit.

The season is waning, and I’ve got to take advantage of the big ball in the sky so with that “Tight Lines Everyone”!

Photos: fish@rockyshorelodge.com

Week 16 Wrap-Up!

It’s another beautiful day at Rocky Shore Lodge! We are working on three weeks of sunny skies, little rain, and excellent temps! This week is shaping up to be a wash, rinse, and repeat type of week. With week 16 in the rear-view window and half of Week 17 gone I realized I better start typing. Bill and JR were guiding Sunday and took their guests over to Cedar for some walleye fishing, and it looks like the lake was starting to turn over. Fish are transitioning into deeper water now, and Bill and JR disagree on whether it will be a late fall or not. The jury is still out.

The fishing has been good in the morning and evenings for walleye. Afternoons have been spent doing shore lunches and relaxing with the big ball in the sky our guests have been taking advantage of relaxing. Thursday half the camp went to Graham and Laura’s Whiskey Jack and enjoyed dinner while I weaseled my way into the Birks dinner plans, but in my defense, I politely refused at least two times before I gave in. Let’s just say lots of stories and maybe a touch of hydrating/de-hydrating took place. We really appreciate everyone for making us feel welcome, and hopefully we can reciprocate that same feeling when you come up to RSL!

Walleyes are being caught in 25 to 30 feet of water, and the best part of September fishing is most of the time your almost within shouting distance of the lodge. We had Mike and Chris (former owners) up with their good friends, and they enjoyed multiple shore lunches. I admit I appropriated some of their lunch a few times but it appeared they had plenty anyway. The sandbar is the traditional gathering place for all the lodges and watching poles bending never gets old. The banter back and forth out there in the evening is definitely worth it as well. This is the time of year Steve and I can sneak out with guests for an hour or so and fish on the sandbar. Mike and Chris always told us September fishing on the sandbar was what they looked forward to the most because they too would sneak out with guests and fish the last hour or so. Might as well not stop a good thing.

Similar to Julie boating a 46-inch Musky with a jig and minnow in week 14, Len was out and boated a 47-inch Musky on 8lb mono fishing for walleye with a jig and minnow. It was a beautiful fish! Nice job Len!

Monster/Micro Fish Monday tournament results! Dean Reiter (multiple winner) caught a 5.5-inch Small mouth Bass off the dock while relaxing. Christian Birks boated, photo, and released a 22-inch Walleye, and Al Bonifield (not shocking) caught a 29-inch Northern Pike to win yet another weekly prize. We’re running the contest throughout the remainder of the season so if you’re coming up be ready for the tournament. Great job winners!

Cabin 6 is back open and other than getting some cleaning up and digging a trench for a French drain system around the cabin our big project is coming to a successful conclusion. A big shout out for all the advice from friends, family and guests for their great suggestions on how to make a permanent fix to one of the nicest cabins we have! For some reason my Navy computer/electronics background didn’t prepare me for a lot of the projects we do up here haha. Learning something new everyday is a great practice I’ve been told. I have to agree. Now if I can figure out how to turn the clock back so my body is as young as my mind thinks it is! If anyone knows how to do that feel free to let me know!

So much left to do and the days are getting shorter before our season ends! With that being typed until next week “Tight Lines Everyone”!

Photos: fish@rockyshorelodge.com

Week 15 Wrap-Up!

Good afternoon RSL family. Week 15 was over 5 days ago, and I’m finally getting the week on paper. The weather was absolutely beautiful albeit windier than usual. Temperatures were steady in the 60s, 70s, and a day where it made it to 80ish. We missed almost all the rain that was forecast and believe it or not the lake is 13 inches above the low water mark of last year. I’d say we’re in decent shape but it’s starting to head the wrong direction which no one would have said that just a few short months ago.

Walleye fishing has remained excellent with some beautiful walleyes being caught. Water temps moved cooler by about 4 degrees this past week and we are in the 60s now which is fairly typical. It won’t be long now with the longer nights and cooler weather that the lake will be dropping quickly temperature wise. This should move the walleyes in their fall and winter spots quickly. The sandbar has been great for the evening bite!

Northern pike fishing has remained steady and Al has been catching his fill as he really loves to hunt for the toothy critters after he catches his dinner.

Monster/Micro Fish Monday tournament results! The last Monday Night cookout was a great success, and the anglers were out chasing big fish and of course little ones! Bringing in a 24-inch Walleye won Mike Kaster the trophy as the wind was a little stiff giving our anglers an additional challenge to face. Some of the places on the lake were hard to stay on location but if you could some nice walleyes were boated! Bethany Steindel boated the smallest Micro fish with a Bass under 5-inches. 4.75 to be exact! And last but not least, Al Bonifield (repeat winner this year) boated and released a very respectable 34-inch Northern Pike! The contest will continue through the year as we close out the cookouts so until next week, Congratulations to all our winners this week!

Our cabin project is moving along and the weather has allowed us to not skip a beat thank goodness. This weeks blog is a short one folks. Week 16 here we come!

Photos: fish@rockyshorelodge.com