Arvid's Fishing Report

Five couples, Gerry & Monica, Mike & Jean, Dave & Sandy, Clyde & Leah and Arvid & Diane spent a weekend camping and cat-fishing on the Red River in Selkirk, Manitoba. The guys did the fishing; the ladies did the important things like garage sales, shopping, lunch and card playing. The weather was good; no rain and not too hot.

Fishing was not what it should be at this time of the year and nobody had an answer as to why. The river was low with not the usual current. We fished at night, except for a while on Saturday when only one fish was caught. For the three nights fishing we caught 29 channel catfish and at least that many freshwater drum. Most of the catfish were in the 31″ to 34″ range. Three or four that were under 24″; and could have been kept, but our trip was only catch and release. The largest fish we had was 36″ and weighed 23 lbs. The drum were good size; most around 20″.

The excitement for the weekend was when the ladies were checking out the garage sales and needed a bathroom break. They stopped at McDonald’s and Monica got herself locked in the bathroom when the lock on the door handle malfunctioned. The manager removed the door vent and handed Monica tools to remove the hinge pins. The manager and a rubber mallet completed the removal of the door from the outside.  Twenty-five minutes later she and with her four companions looking on she was free…….

Clyde with a 34″ Cat

Arvid with a 34″, 17# Cat

Clyde with a Freshwater Drum

Monica with tools and door pins in hand

My uncle, Noie, and his wife, Janice, were here from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for a visit and a little fishing. We fished the river close to town on Friday during the middle of the day and caught three nice walleyes. That evening we only caught one small walleye. Saturday morning we headed for the Lake about 10:00 on a picture perfect day. On a report that fish were being caught in 20′ of water in front of the Gap we started fishing in that area. We caught a few Sauger (bonus fish) and kept five; a couple were quite nice. We then moved down Pine Island and began trolling with crawlers. We found some walleyes in 12′ to 13′ of water and had eight when we went back to the landing for a lunch break at one of the resorts. After lunch we went back out and found the walleyes had moved to shallower water. The closer we got to shore the nicer the fish. We kept eight to fill our limit; all in the 14″ to 18″ range. Janice caught a beautiful 24″ walleye that was released to be caught another day.

On Sunday, after a nice fish fry and with threatening thunderstorms, we decided to fish the river late afternoon. We caught about ten walleye and sauger and kept four; just eaters. We also caught three sturgeon; one was 44″; a big fish.

Janice and Arvid with her 24″ walleye

Five couples, the Gerry Buegler’s, Mike Larson’s, Wally Buegler’s, Walt Scribner’s and Jaranson’s spent the Memorial Day weekend camping at the Long Lake Park and Campground southwest of Bemidji. The weather was good; very warm; much like summer. A popular activity is fishing for Rainbow trout that have been stocked over the years in Long Lake, a small, deep, clear lake. People fish for the trout off the fishing dock or from boats and use every imaginable kind of bait from corn and marshmallows to worms and crank-baits. We had two boats and fished a couple of hours in the mornings and late evenings. We fished in thirty-five feet of water and caught most of the trout suspended at eight to ten feet. All together we caught 21 trout; a couple bluegills and rock bass. Most of the trout were ten to twelve inches. Mike got the prize for the largest, a sixteen inch beauty that he caught casting a small jig tipped with a piece of worm.

Swimmers enjoying the cold water of Long Lake on a warm Memorial Day

Mike with his 16″ Long Lake Rainbow Trout

Diane has outfished me again; so what’s new. We fished the river for about an hour and a half after lunch today and “WE” caught five nice walleyes. Diane caught her’s on a 10 cent rummage sale jig with a color that she thought was nice.

We fished the same area late yesterday afternoon; caught four small walleyes and, yes, Diane caught all four. About all I can say is that it takes a pretty good guide to drop the anchor so that the fish are on her side of the boat.

Diane with a Spring 15″ Walleye

Fishing continues to be good on the river with enough of the 13″ to 16″ eaters to keep most folks happy. Friday, Gerry and I fished late afternoon for a while and found out that there was a better bite a little earlier in the afternoon. We managed to catch six walleyes and a sauger plus we each caught a sturgeon. With the river current quite strong the sturgeon, even though small, put up quite a fight.

It appears that the mushroom season is over without really ever getting started. Wednesday, Willard and I took a ride into the forest, but didn’t find much. It got to be where the wildlife and willow sticks got more of our attention.

Arvid with a 35″ lake sturgeon

Two honkers on the Rapid River Trail

A typical opening weekend; cold, rainy and windy. There didn’t appear to be that many fishermen around; only a handful of boats that launched across from the house and fished the river. I didn’t fish on Saturday, but fished the river for a short time Sunday morning. Fishing was OK. In less than two hours after leaving the house I was back with a limit of nice eaters and had released two small ones. I fished the shoreline in about 15 feet of water using frozen shiners.

I have not heard how Red Lake was, but I suspect that if a person had the patience to wait in line and were willing to brave the elements that fishing would be really good.

Limit of 14″ eaters.

My friend, Terry, sent the following e-mail yesterday.

"Went to Red Lake finally on Saturday afternoon. 3 of us in my boat; poor fishing – only 1 crappie. However, the 136 walleye made it quite a trip. The slot limit there starting this coming Saturday will be 13" 17", we did not catch any under 13". The average was 17 to 18" with the biggest 21", but there were a lot at 19 to 21". Put in at the Tamarack River; caught the most in about 7′ of water, but they were everywhere, in the evening it was one after another, mostly males. It will be a zoo there this weekend."