John I

It’s the last weekend of Sept., Frank and I wanted to go to Rice Lake Saturday. The dark moon was approaching, but weather conditions were not looking good, it rained all Friday and Sat morning it was still spitting. Frank put a post and asked if anyone else wanted to join us. We met up with John I, who has only been fishing for 2 years, and I drove us up. We contacted 313 who has a great boat and offered to take all of us out.

That whole morning was overcast and appeared gloomy. I had warned Frank and John to dress for very unpleasant weather. 313 was very optimistic of our chances and knows the lake, along with his great sense of humor, we were in for a good time. With my 20 years and 313 over 20 years and fishing for most of his life, we were sure to get something.

313 had set up planer boards for Frank and himself, while John and I trolled jigs and worms. These conditions should have been favorable for walleye, but for the entire morning there was no action. Then the clouds began to break up around 1 pm, this lifted our spirits so we moved towards the thicker weed beds for some bass. After many casts and lure changes, Frank nailed one bluegill. Three hours later, as we then drifted near the shore of one of the many small islands on Rice, 313 hit a hawg. As with many LMB, once hooked this one wrapped the line around a large clump of weeds. 313 tried desperately to get it into the boat. Our first potential fish, 313 fought the fish and weeds, but this time the fish won, this time. 313 was determine that we would all get something so we drifted until about 5pm when I hit a bluegill. Finally our persistence was beginning to pay off. Then John and I started getting large hand sized bluegills and pumpkinseed along a deep channel that 313 knows. After re-baiting with a worm, I felt a thump, “This feels too big to be a panfish”, I said to John. My 5’6” ultra light with 4 lb line was bent over as the fish kept fighting and I had to adjust my drag, John got the net and I pulled out a 1 lb-ish SMB. I think we all knew that the fishing was about to go ballistic.

As the sun was just at the treetops, 313 motored us back to the beginning of the channel getting us ready for some walleye action. 313 said, “You guys set up with white grubs and a worm!” We drifted over the channel and sure enough 313 hit a walleye. He hit 2, Frank got one, then John, this was their first walleye ever. We drifted over that channel 3 times, no hits for me and I was feeling left out. Then, 313 set us on the channel for a final drift, by then the sun had disappeared, with just the glow of sunset, that’s when I hit my walleye. We trolled back to shore, but nothing hit.

That Saturday we all shared our experiences, knowledge, and passion for fishing, had a lot of laughs and caught a mess of fish. John, Frank and I had a great time with 313 who just joined the forum. Thanks to 313 for taking us all out and showing us how to get the walleye, and John for thinking ahead with sandwiches . We all agree that if it was not for this forum we all would never had met and had a very good time fishing together this day.

Hope everyone likes the pics. No pics of 313 and fish b/c he was trying for us to get the fish. What a great guy, your awesome, thanks 313. Next time we go I hope to get pics of you with "trophies"!!!

Thanks O.F.F. for making us all fishing buddies.

yeah, that was good !!! we got to repeat this somehow somewhere

and yeah, thanks to 313, he did a great job !!!