It's a sunny day here in Lake Shore, MN and this make me happy!  We need rain rather desperately but it sure does feel good to bask in the sun for a couple of days.  The gobblers are strutting, the crappies are biting and I am pecking away at the "to do" list and things are feeling pretty darn good.  I made the Mills Fleet farm turkey seminar circuit tour last week and that got me primed for the upcoming turkey season.  I got to talk with a lot of customers and employees at a few stores that I don't frequent a lot and that was pretty cool.  I was also able to walk the hill road at the Walters farm down in Lake City, MN, which has a pretty special place in my heart.  I say my first gobblers in full strut the other night here around town and now I am getting text messages and other reports of people seeing our beautiful bird out and about.  The turkey season opens up on April 18th and you can bet I will have one of the kids in position to bag one on that morning.  If you are interested in trying this sport, please talk to someone about it.  With kids here in Minnesota being able to go in and get a tag over the counter, it's a great opportunity to get your kids or the neighbor kids out into the woods to "talk turkey"!  Mills Fleet Farm is "my store", so I suggest you stop at one of the many locations throughout the upper mid west and check out the turkey regulations in your neck of the woods.  As you can hear, turkey's are at the forefront of my mind but we will throw fishing into the mix here too.  They are talking about the possibilities of moving the fishing opener up a week and I don't know why they wouldn't.  The crappies are already on the feed and so are the sun fish and perch.  These are all fair game right now and if you would like to get out with a guide, please call and book your trip today!  218-839-5598.  FYI, we did make a trip up to the rainy river in late March and had a blast.  We caught a lot of walleyes and also a couple of sturgeon.  This is something you can still get in on if you have the desire.  I have so much to talk about but I don't want to overwhelm you, so head over to Walleyedan on Facebook and "like us" and you will find more info and also chances to win gifts.  Like right now, check it out.  Out of here, WD

Hola Amigos! Mexico was awesome and I could hang out down there for an extended period of time each February without too much persuasion.  I did wet a line but didn't get too serious, it was really windy anyway so I probably would have puked if I were to have went out to sea!  It sure was nice to come back to this "Mexico like" weather here in central Minnesota.  After the inch plus of rain we received the other night, things are budding and getting green and the ice is almost out.  The 371 bay on North Long is out and the channels by Bar Harbor will soon be out too.  Crazy weather but I really like it!  Ticks are going to be nasty and I ask that you take serious caution with these little devils....Lymes disease is a killer and you do not want to deal with it.  With turkey season fast approaching I would suggest you get into your local Mills Fleet farm and pick up some Elimitick clothing, this stuff really works.  The other way to deter them is by spraying your clothing with Permethrin, I have heard this works well too.  Bottom line is that they are worse than ever and you need to be aware.  If you really don't care about turkey hunting, I'm sad for you but fishing season is upon us already!  The Rainy River is open for action and we will take you up there for some awesome walleye action if you are interested.  The walleye and sturgeon fishing up on the Rainy is "world class" and if you have the itch, give Shelley a call and we will arrange to get you up there and on the fish.  We could make a day trip or a multiple day trip, just give us the word.  The other fishing option is going to be pan fish.  Crappie fishing is going to start early (like right now) and will go strong through opening day of walleye (May 12th).  Our guides want to fish and would love to get an early start on the season.  Nick Miltamore (who will be doing a bit more guiding with us in 2012) is up on the Rainy right now and I am contemplating right now on whether or not to head that way.  I will be giving turkey seminars next week in Mason City, IA, Rochester, MN, Winona, MN and Owatonna, MN..  If you are wondering which location on which date, give me a call or send me a message on Facebook or via email.  We are very excited with the happenings in our business for this coming year and we will be sharing that with you very soon.  For now, the shrink wrap will be coming off the boat and the batteries will be getting charged.  So much going on, it feels like I am writing you a book.  Goodbye for now and make sure to stop by your local Mills Fleet Farm for all your sporting goods needs (and more)!  God bless, Walleyedan 218-839-5598  p.s.  Like us on Facebook and we will like it!   

Good morning.  The chickadees are chowing down and I will say the crappies, sunny's and perch are too.  I could very well be wrong but being a fisherman and hunter I am always (almost) optimistic and when the game is active, I like it!  I just fed pretty well and hour or so ago too but could still eat the right thing if it showed up on the counter.  O.k., enough of that.  I was last out on the ice on Friday with the Pillager High School students and a couple of teachers.  We played some catch with the football, had a serious snowball fight, caught some sunny's (bluegills to many of you) and couple of hammer handles (tiny pike to some of you and little northerns to others).  I think the late-ice bite is going to be good and I am looking forward to some "slaps"!  Some slaps of the crappies and sunfish and maybe a lake trout or two on that bare ice!  Now that permanent houses have to be off the ice around the Brainerd area, it's Clam time!  I have a variety of Clam portable fish houses but this time of year I really like my Scout TC.  The hub-style houses are super easy to use and practical too (the Summet Thermal is awesome).  It's also that time of year to lay down on the ice and observe the underwater world with your own, God-give two eyeballs.  This is a blast, just don't get too light-headed you might not be able to get back up!  That's the tip of the day.  Hey, are you starting to think and talk turkey?  Me too, I even have a diaphragm call in my truck for those road-trips where I am solo.  Practice makes purrrfect!  I think I am a little buzzed from my Hershey bar (thanks Grandma Grenz) so I better say good bye to you and hello to the rest of my duties for the day!  Have a beauty day and give thanks to He who gave it.  WD  p.s.  If you are looking for the goods at a great price make sure you shop the store I know best..Mills Fleet Farm!

Good morning to you!  It's a fresh looking one here in the lake area, we finally got a little fresher-upper last night (about an inch of fluff snow).  But I don't think it is going to last because the forecast looks pretty warm (what's new right?).  For the 21st year in a row I fished the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake and for the 21st year in a row I have not been on the leader board.  We had 6 participants in our group and had no biters!  Fun day but a cold start that was for sure.  I hear their were 8,000 people that made the trek to Hole-in-the-Day Bay for the worlds largest ice fishing contest.  Thank you all that participated!  Had a few renters out in the fish houses this weekend and have been doing some guided trips along the way too.  Last week I had Jim and Mike out from AIS, this guys are world class fishermen and are even better now that they have been introduced to the easiest sell in the fishing world...a Vexilar!   I watched the Brainerd Warrior hockey team play Moorhead last night, very good game but the score did not show how close it could have really been.  Maybe next time Moorhead.  So, it is mid-February what does a person do here in our great state of Minnesota?  Ice fish!  There are still 12 days remaining in the walleye/northern season and then it is pan fish time!  It's also time to prepare for the wild turkey season which will open up on April 18.  I will be traveling to a number of different Mills Fleet Farm stores to do turkey seminars and look forward to visiting a couple stores that I have not stepped foot in (Rochester, MN for sure).  Well, I better sign out and get on with this hump day.  I hope you day is blessed with awesomeness!  Walleyedan  p.s.  Make sure to "like" Walleyedan on Facebook if you like us! 

Good morning to you and happy Groundhogs Day!   The mild winter continues here in central Minnesota.  It's been nice but weird.  We have good ice for the most part and with the mild temperatures it sure makes for some comfortable fishing.  We are still catching walleyes, some perch and some northerns on the northwest portion of Gull Lake.  Last weekend we had some action in the overnight houses but the action still seems to be best in the morning and evening hours.  But now with a waxing moon, maybe things will change.  My daughter Alex and 3 of her girlfriends stayed over night last weekend  and caught some walleyes.  The fish have been relating to the weed lines all season long and I think this is how things are going to finish up for the season.  Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoons and Rapala Jigging Shad Raps continue to be our baits of choice!   I think it's about time to make a move for the remainder of the season and I think I am going to work a little closer to Ernie's so our customers can stop and get a quick bite or something to drink.  The Extravaganza is fast approaching (next Saturday) and the excitement is starting to mount.  I will be busy, spending some time at the pre-party at GVL and then at Mills Fleet Farm in Baxter representing MFF and Clam Outdoors.  On Saturday it sounds like we will have some cameras around as a crew from Los Angeles will be filming a documentary on the Extravaganza.  So I guess they will get our winning fish on film, that will be cool!  I'm off to the ice this afternoon on a guided trip and then the Catco crew will be moving in tomorrow for the weekend.  We are getting some black Walleydan fleece beanies in any day so if you want to purchase one, give a holler!  Gotta fly, Walleyedan   

Snow!  We just got blasted by about 2 inches of powder, not sure if we can handle it.  It sure does brighten things up a little around here and hopefully there will be more to come.  I just dropped the kids off at the shuttle and noticed the game was on the move this a.m., should have been fishing!  Looks like some deer made it through the season (I counted about 10).  Maybe they are concerned that their nuts (and other snacks) are going to get covered up!  The winter has been mild by Minnesota standards and the forecast is calling for some awesome weather for the middle of this week, come up and fish.  I will admit this has been pretty easy to take but as for the economic impact, it's not the greatest.  We are still getting people out on the ice but it's pretty easy to see that people are not venturing far from home so far this winter.  The ice conditions are improving big time and now with some snow, we might just kick some but with what is left of the winter of 2012.  We have about 16 inches of ice for those of you wondering about the upcoming Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.  The event has been rescheduled for February 11th and we should be in good shape for that day!  Tickets can be purchased at Mills Fleet Farm and of course while you are in there pick up  your Clam portable fish house, Ice Armor goods and all you other outdoor goods.  I slept out in the fish house Saturday night with my son and it was enjoyable.  We caught a handful of walleyes but Mac missed a big one on the rattle reel...twice!!  He's learning and I had to learn patience once again (especially after having to untangle the pile of line).  Have you seen the new Polaris Ranger?  This baby is something else and the tracks will more than likely be going on this week!  Check them out at the Power Lodge on highway 371 north (just north of Baxter).  O.k., that is the scoop for now.  If you want to know more, call, email, Facebook or Twitter or You Tube us!  I must go now, Walleyedan 218-839-5598   

Good morning and happy birthday Perry Bunting!  I hope you are all doing better than I am, the crud (head/chest/ache) hit me pretty hard last Friday and I am still feeling the affects.  I did fish on Sunday evening with a friend because it was one of those evenings that was hard to pass up.  The fishing was good for the short amount of time we were out and the moon was awesome!  We have still been catching walleyes on Gull Lake but once again it's an evening thing.  A Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoon tipped with a minnow head has been our favorite as of late but the Jigging Shad Rap is rigged and ready too.  We are still working the edges of our favorite Gull Lake structure and it always seems to be best when you can be the first one to drill on a "spot".  The ice conditions are holding up just fine and today will be the last warm day for a while.  I truly believe that we will have enough ice for the Extravaganza (January 21st) to be held on Gull Lake.  The forecast looks promising and I guess we will just have to see what Sheriff Dahl measures up over on Hole-in-the-Day Bay as he will be one of the people that "make the call".  There are still some areas of concern but not near the site of the big contest.  I will continue posting reports here and also on our Facebook Page, so keep in touch and we will try to clue you in.  As many of you know, Mills Fleet Farm is "my store" and I will plan on being at the Baxter store most of the day on Friday before the contest.  Please stop in and pick up your supplies and say hello.  I almost forgot, turkey applications are due by January 13th!  Apply today for one of the most fun hunts on earth and check out the new zones!  I feel like there is more to talk about but I feel like crud and that is about all I have in me right now.  Walleyedan p.s.  The new Polaris Ranger crew cab is a beast and is an awesome ice fishing machine!  For guided ice fishing trips call us today at 218-839-5598         

Hello and happy new year to you and you and you!!!  What an awesome sunrise over Gull Lake this a.m.!  The questions of the year so far are regarding the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.  I honestly believe we will be in good shape for the the big day (January 21, 2012).  I will be on the lake a little later today to give an accurate, up to date ice report but if I were to guess I would say we are at 12 inches.  The next few days are going to be nice and above freezing for daytime highs but then it will back down again and we should be good to go.  The fishing has been pretty steady and I think with the waxing moon, we should have a great weekend on the ice.  I have been doing a fair amount of ice trips and it's been fun.  We also have a new work machine that is absolutely a dream, it's a Polaris Ranger crew cab.  Head over to our Waleyedan Facebook page and you will see a photo of it pulling our ice house.  It's perfect, my Clam Scout TC fits perfectly in the back and there are even rod holders to keep those Jigging Shad Raps from tangling up!  I will be putting this machine to use a lot now that we have good ice in the hood!  Warning!!!  I did not mention that there are some iffy spots on the lakes.  In fact, there has been open water out in front of Sandy Beach Resort on Gull Lake and it sounds like the same is true for Mille Lacs and parts of the Whitefish Chain.  It's very advisable to go with someone that has a clue on the conditions.  For now, I must go but feel free to call, email, text or Facebook us for the latest fishing report and conditions.  Bye for now, Walleyedan 218-839-5598