This and that.......

I think this is the year for snowmobiling!!!  It seems Jerry is so busy snowplowing I have a tough time nailing him down for a fishing report!!  Fish are biting but it has been slow.  One customer caught a 40 1/2 inch northern that he took pictures of and released so hoping that he will share them with us soon.  Another group were mobile and did very well.  It seems that towards Center Bar is the place they seem to be biting the best. 

The sun is shining bright today so finally it is not snowing!  So, if the fish aren't biting be sure and bring your snowmobiles along and try out some of the great trails we have in this area.  I haven't had a report from a few that were headed to the Lost River Trails yesterday but hope to shortly.  Around Christmas they rode that area and said the trails were absolutely the best and they rode from Bemidji.  Our Lodge is only a 1/2 mile from state snowmobile trails that lead to Bemidji and that area or north to the Waskish/Baudette area and also east and west from that part of the trail.  A ride to Gemmel is a popular trail ride.  For winter outdoor enthusiasts there is so much to do in this area....cross country skiing, down-hill skiing at Bueana Vista Ski Resort, snowmobiling to most anywhere, and of course, fishing!!  Since this is my last winter to have to work and make sure snow is plowed and shoveled let alone getting to work maybe I will gain back some of my appreciation for the season!!!  The mail must get through you know!!  Retirement is looking sweeter all the time!!

On another note.....we wish you all a very Happy New Year!!

Seems we are not getting off to a smooth start with a heater not working, etc but think that all got resolved.  Jerry also dropped  the wheels of the one-ton truck with snowplow on thru the ice a bit but drove himself out so could have been worse.  Do you think I should require him to wear a life jacket??? 

But most importantly....the fishing!!  It's been mostly a day bite on the walleye with a few northern thrown in. " Slow but steady" is the word from Matt.  Not a lot of perch yet and the crappies are there but not seeming to bite on anything that's been tried.  Jacqueline did catch a couple keepers of walleye last night when she and Matt went out....so there is a bite in the evening but spotty. 

There was a cancellation for this coming week end so first come first served.  All the houses will be out by this week end. 

Well, this cold weather should be adding some inches to the ice!!  It also has been snowing a little bit today and the wind makes it bitterly cold.  Soon those fish houses will be heading to the ice covered lake!  Week ends are filling up quickly so give a call!  It's just a matter of timing now....

I understand from some that live on the lake that there is a pile of ice out on the south shore area of Upper Red Lake.  With the wind that we've had it doesn't surprise me any.  The lady said they can listen to the lake all night with it's creaking and cracking.  I prefer the nice, soothing slosh of the waves on shore but guess it's the wrong season for that!!

I posted some pictures from Rob Cook of their week end with us last year on the "your photo's page".  Thanks for sharing your pictures! 

Give Jerry a call for available dates!  218-647-8673

First of all...this is Veteran's Day and I want to say thank you to all Vet's that have served our great country thru the years!  Jerry is an Army  Vet himself and Matt is a recent  Marine Veteran as well as other members of the family that have been in the Navy.  Guess we are missing the Air Force and National Guard but still a military family I guess you could say! 

Deer hunting season is in progress here.  This last week end was the opener and those at the Lodge had some success in spite of a cold, snowy, windy day on Saturday.  There doesn't seem to be as many deer around as in past years but the weather has been good up until just recently and that affects the deer movement.  They are around as my brother will attest to with the nightly visits to the garden this past summer!  Suffice it to say the deer have been fed well.  Jerry has deer plots around with turnips planted and that has proved successful.  I will post some pictures of deer plots that Jerry has done for other people (another side line of his......he has the equipment for it so if you're interested in having one put in on your land give him a call).

BIggest news for us this coming ice fishing season is that Matt will be back!!  Some of you remember him from past seasons and this was all his idea in the first place!!  It will be a big relief for Jerry since he can then keep the store open and the ice fishing going.  Last year he had to lock up the store in order to attend to the fisherman like he wanted to.  We appreciated your choosing us and wanted your trip to be the best it can be.  Can't guarantee fish but we sure try!!  Matt had enough of city living and after being gone in the Marine Corps for over four years and then in Fargo for the past year he has concluded that this is really where he wants to be to raise his family.  He is in the process of moving as I type this. 

In spite of the economy we are getting many bookings so don't wait until the last minute since they are filling up.  We also have some new pictures of all of the fish houses that we have and I will try to get them posted also. (Hope I remember how.....).  We also have pictures that were sent to us by past customers of their fish and will post them also.  The Lodge is available also if you prefer not to stay on the lake at night or want to snowmobile on the many trails in the area. 

Give Jerry a call at 218-647-8673 for rates and available dates!  We would love to have you!  And I promise to check on this site regularly.  It's been busy for me too and I personally do not...

After some major glitches with the computer I'm finally able to get back on to my own website.  Do you ever have too many passwords to remember---which password for which site to include special one's at work that need to be changed on a regular basis!!  (Or is it a sign of age....??? Nah, just memory bank overload!).

 What's with this weather?  Feels like it could snow.  Cold, gloomy, wet......YUCK!!

 We've had a taste of some walleye and they are just as good now as in the winter!  Some walleye have been caught down on the bridge of Battle River which is just a half mile north of the store.  We haven't seen the bite like we did last summer but then again we haven't tried just lately.  The limit is six on the river so if they are biting we see lots of people fishing. 

 I haven't been to the lake lot on Sunny Beach.....weather just hasn't been anything to intice me venture forth.....I want warmth!!!  I can stay home and freeze! 

Need to keep a "sunny" disposition right?? 

Don't know if I've mentioned it before but Jerry added three more houses to the fleet (?) and a couple have air conditioning......on an ice fishing house???  They work in the summer to but on the shore!! 

The Lodge is available and you have several locations where you can launch your boat.  Bigger boats need to be launched on the Tamarac River in Waskish and we always have our lake lot available.  If it's too windy on Red there are other smaller lakes close by. 

That's all for now.  Think warm!  Think SUMMER!!

Haven't had much time to be checking out the website but see we still have some visitors!!  Welcome!! 

 Jerry has bought more fish houses...he says "bigger and better" so will have ten houses on the lake next year, God willing.  I guess he plans on doing this all over again!  First of all at least he has the whole summer to try and get back into shape.....pinched nerve in neck area that is causing him lots of pain and numbness in his arm.  Do you think it could be all those holes he drilled or "exercising his elbow"????  You know...it's probably a good thing he doesn't see this website....and only knows what I tell him!!!  Teehee!!  I just hope he can make the long drive to TX to see our 3 yr old grandson and his parents in a little over a week! 

 You know, this past winter was a big learning experience for us all....Thank you to all of you who put your trust in us and put up with us!!  We truly do appreciate it.  It's not all about the money (but it sure helps! ) but he truly likes to see people have a good time as well as himself.  I can honestly say I did not see Red all winter!  I am waiting for the ice to go out!!  You know you can all come see us this summer too!  Great place to unwind...sugar sand beaches for the little one's to play in, shallow water near shore (and farther out depending on water levels) so less worry.  The fish bite in the summer too!!! 

And it's not too early to start booking those special week ends that fill up so quickly!  Plans are to have the houses out after Christmas. 

After nagging him all winter to get a haircut...he promised he would at the end of Feb when the fish houses came off....on March 8th he finally had Kami cut his hair.  Now he is complaining his ears are cold!!  Granted when I first met him he had long hair....much longer than what it was this winter and he reminds me of that fact BUT...it wasn't thin and streaked with gray then!!  It was beautiful auburn wavy hair!!  Dates us doesn't it?!!! 

 He has looked at buying a few more fish houses so guess that means we will be doing this again next year, God willing.  (not sure if I agree with that statement..haha!).  He was up to JR's last night....guess he misses it some and got there in time for a fish fry.  Ever notice he has an uncanny ability to show up at chow time?  I do feed him..honestly.  Just never know when he will show up to eat at home. 

Crappies have been biting and those that have some houses out yet are renting them. 

We've had cold weather again....30 below in March is just not my idea of spring!  Ready for those warmer temperatures for sure!!

At 4:30 Sunday afternoon most of the fish houses are off the lake and all will be in short order.  We feel we've had a good season and hope that all of our customers were satisfied too.  It was a busy two months but it's back to the store for Jerry (I think!!).  I think at times he wondered if his body was going to be able to handle it all! 

As for this last week end the bite was slow and sporadic but all had some fish.  Not all caught their limits and it semed that crappies are starting to come in.  So those of you with your own portables can still try for the crappies...just no walleyes!!  I would imagine that some will still have houses to rent but we will not have houses on the lake.  And one couldn't have asked for a nicer week end weather wise.

Thank you to all for your trust in Battle River Rentals...both for the fish houses and for the Lodge.  The Lodge is available at any time....not just the ice fishing season.  We hope that you all had a good time at least if not some tasty fish to go with it all!  If there is something we can do different or better send me an email and we'll take it into consideration.  We want you to be satisfied.  Of course, we can't make the fish bite....that's up to you!! 

Thanks!!

Apologies for the site being down yesterday....you could reach it if you went thru www.battleriverrentals.com but not the 1colony.com way.  They were doing maintenance or something. 

Our Iowa fisherman left early this AM to go back home.  They have been here since Sunday night.  They came in small snowstorm; had their diesel truck not start due to minus 35 temps but I think they caught some fish!  And I hope they had a good time in spite of the extremes in weather. 

The sun is shining today and it's warming up.  About time.  Looks to be a good week end on the ice and all the fish need to do is cooperate and bite and it should be ideal for all!  (not that I'm going to go fishing!). 

The walleye bite has been slower but you could still catch your limit and then some.  Our houses will be coming off of the lake next week since walleye fishing will be closed as of midnight on Sunday.  I hope that the crappies will bite for those that venture forth for that.  It has been a whirlwind couple of months for Battle River Rentals, challenges, cold weather, drifted roads, etc but I think good too! (Of course, it wasn't me out there in whiteouts, frigid temps, nor drilling umpteen holes either!).  Jerry has met a lot of nice people (I've met a few....all nice I might add) and with the help of Dale got through the season.  So now to just get thru this last week end and I think we can call it a successful season!  I know Jerry has never ice fished so much in his life...just trying to find where the fish were at!

The Lodge will still be available for rent for those that have portables and want to day fish for crappies.  Or maybe even snowmobile rather than fish!

No post.....too cold!

 Okay, I give in....it's just staying cold!  The guys did catch their limits on walleye today tho so at least some fish are biting.  Wind chill advisery in effect.  At 10:45 PM  it is 19 below.  Jerry and Dale moved three of the houses in closer to shore (with the walleyes).