Well it is has been a crazy busy start to the summer for our guide service with our best May and June ever for guide trips that were full of hook sets and happy clients, as well as another super successful Ultimate Fishing Camp, and some solid tournament finishes by the guys in the tournaments including a 1st place finish in the Leech Lake Walleye Tournament and a 2nd place in the Knights of Columbus tournament on Lake Bemidji.
Tips on how to clean fish
With all of that and we are not sure where the last two months have gone, but thought we would give you all a quick update on the guide team and what has all been going on.
Ultimate Fishing Camp
For the 2nd year in a row, we hosted the Ultimate Fishing Camp put on by Lund Boats and hosted at Chase on the Lake Resort. This year registration was unbelievable and we filled up the event in 4 weeks with 20 people. Needless to say when people are all signed up by March they have to anxiously await the event. On Sunday, June 25th the Pros and Participants showed up at Chase on the Lake to partake in what we feel is one of the best events of its kind in the United States.
Attendees were treated to a fish fry
The first evening was dedicated to listening to Gary Roach tell us many stories of the past and the evolution of fishing. Followed up with boat assignments for the next morning, and there was a buzz and excitement in the room for the rest of the week. The next two days would be full of hook sets, on the water seminars, Q and A, and so much more.
On Monday morning all ten boats took off with their participants and Pros in search of Leech Lake walleyes, muskies, pike, bass, and panfish.
That is one thing about this event we feel is unique, being it is multi species! We have anglers who want to learn not only how to catch walleyes, but also pike and musky, but even crappies and bluegills.
Couple nice keepers
During the morning fish, anglers were doing what was working at that time of year. Pros were were chasing Leech Lake Walleyes were pulling spinners, lindy rigging, using jigging raps, or even pulling crankbaits at times. Pike and musky Pros were casting bucktails and spoons, while bass pros had their people top water fishing, pitching jigs, and a variety of other tactics.
The afternoons were dedicated to On the Water Seminars. Each Pro’s boat is morphed into a classroom that is mobile and hands on. Each Pro had a variety of topics they covered from the use of electronics, boat control, aggressive tactics for catching walleyes, effective figure 8 techniques, power corking, trolling with crankbaits, and so much more. Each participant was able to transform the lesson and then apply it hands on doing it themselves.
Attendee with a nice Largemouth Bass
As a an educator myself I know first hand the benefits hands on learning has on people.
On Tuesday after the Fish Fry, we had Chris Meyer and Dan McGannon with Lowrance come and do a hands on classroom and on the water classroom demonstrating the effectiveness and uses of Lowrance Electronics, topping it all off with a giveaway of a brand new Lowrance Carbon 9 with Vessel View Link!
The evenings were very laid back with Q and A, a spinner tying demonstration with Ted Takasaki, raffle with some great prizes, and laughs and of course great food at the Chase. We wrapped up the event on Wednesday with fishing and some lunch, said our good byes, and that was it. Much like any vacation or event, when it comes it goes so fast! The participants left with tons of knowledge, memories, and new friends.
We want to thank all of the participants as well as the Pros
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Great smallmouth bass as it wasn't just about the walleyes
Ted Takasaki
- Perry Good
- Tony Roach
- James Lindner
- Ryan DeChaine
- Scott Glorvigen
- Toby Kvalevog
- Jeff Andersen
- Chuck Hasse
- Billy Rosner
Also a special thanks goes out to Jason Oakes and his son Will Oakes for attending and representing Lund Boats at the event, and Wade Haapajoki who was the man behind the scenes helping make the magic happen each day. Stay tuned for more details for the 2018 Event...we want to continue to make it even better!
Crappies were caught as well
Be sure to keep up to date with the website www.ultimatefishingcamp.com and the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ultimatefishingcamp/
Tournaments
One might ask, why do we fish tournaments and also guide? Well each one of us is super competitive and tournaments give us that opportunity to compete against many great anglers throughout the Midwest. As much as we would love to travel and go fish other bodies of water, we often stick close to the local circuits and fish the tournaments on Leech, Bemidji, Pokegama, etc. Here is a quick breakdown of how we have done this spring
Leech Lake Walleye Tournament Champions
Leech Lake Walleye Tournament (155 Boats)
- Jason Freed and Chuck Hasse - 1st Place Leech Lake Walleye Tournament Champions
- Jeff Andersen and Steve Olson - 13th
- Toby Kvalevog and Dean Kvalevog - 33rd place
- Aaron Murphy and Pete Miscovich - 43rd place
Knights of Columbus Tournament (100 Boats)
- Aaron Murphy - 2nd Place
AIM Weekend Walleye Series Day 1 (100 Boats)
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Second place at the KC tournament
Jeff and Kristine Andersen - 14th place
- Tim Hanske and Nick Militimore - 16th place
- Jason Freed and Perry Good - 43rd
AIM Weekend Walleye Series Day 2 (100 Boats)
- Jason Freed and Perry Good - 13th Place
- Tim Hanske and Nick Militmore - 29th place
- Jeff and Gavin Andersen (Jeff’s son) - 73rd -
But who cares Gavin who is 8 years old fished his first tournament!! How awesome is that?!?!
Other tournaments coming up
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Professional Lund fisherman Ted with a happy attendee with his great Leech Lake walleye
GRAHA Walleye Shootout on Pokegama on June 15th
- Fishing to End Hunger Tournament - Oct. 7th
Well that is about it! Between tourneys, guiding, events like the Ultimate Fishing Camp, and finding time to spend with our families we are all trying to catch our breath for the stretch run this summer before fall arrives. We want to thank all of our supporters, sponsors, and guide clients!
The LOA Guide Team
