Unique Trip Ideas

[ajb05854]

The girl I'm dating wants to take me ice fishing again this winter. Last winter we went to Mille Lacs (had no luck), and went to LOTW a few weeks later and did well. What would be a unique trip to take before mid January? We were thinking about going on one of the dog sledding/ice fishing trips in the boundary waters, but I'm open for ideas. We'd rent a sleeper house or go guided and get a cabin. She's from LA, but can handle a mid level adventure. I want to go winter camping, but that's a bit too much for her.

As far as equipment goes, I have good rods ranging from ultralight to heavy, a nils hand auger, heater, good variety of lures (got them all at thorne brothers), and will be have an ultra portable shelter and flasher by the time I go.

I live in Iowa now, but this will probably be my last time in the midwest for a while, so I want to make this trip a good one. Even Colorado isn't out of the question.

Thanks!

[leech~~]

Dog sled fishing would be very cool but you better check the pricing it's around a grand! Try giving Woody a call of Fairly-Reliable-Ice-Fishing. Long drive up there but it would be a trip you have never done before. Or give Steve Foss a call about doing some Laker fishing on Burntside. Not a lot of action but when you get one on have the drag set right!! Another very cool trip would be renting a Snow Bear up on LOW at Sportsman Lodge I think is was, but NAMASafetyDirector can help out with where to go for that. Have Fun and keep her warm!

[GrizzlyAdams]

I was going to say Woody's as well up on rainy lake. Have him guide you out and take snowmobiles. It is an absolute blast and Woody will work his but off trying to get you on fish. He is also a riot to fish with and very knowledgable. He has AWESOME rooms with a pub attached. 15 foot walking distance from the pub door to your room. The rooms are fully furnished including full kitchens, separate bedrooms and washer/dryer in every room. Give him a call you wont be disappointed.

[muskE]

1) Your GF from LA is taking YOU! If that's not unique enough I don't know what is?

2) By definition of unique, truck some ice to Florida in January and float fish on Okeechobee. There's a memory and she will be impressed at the great lengths you went for her...save your money and buy a ring.

3) If you want action (through the ice) and some adventure when you cruise on auto-pilot consider the Perch Express on Devil's Lake. It's a train ride to your ice guides. I have buddy that said it was a good time and he'd do it again and it didn't break the bank (he didn't gamble too much at the casino there either).

Good Luck

[ajb05854]

Thanks for the ideas. One question I had was regarding pike spearing. You can rent spearhouses and that's one thing we might want to do for a day. How much action do you get spearing? I know it depends on the day and that's fishing, but I'm wondering if it's the type of activity where you see no fish and then have a day where you see a bunch. Or, is it pretty steady. I really don't know anything about it.

She doesn't require a really nice place to stay. We're grad students and would rather spend some extra money doing something cool, than pay to stay in a nice place.

Last year we went to Zipple Bay and a major highlight was J and I going out on the flats and jigging for northerns. I was fishing about 30 yards away and she yelled at me that something was wrong with her line. I went over, and she had a fish on. I'm trying to guide her to keep the line tight, ect, and she kept yelling when it ran. Finally she gave me the rod and said, "I don't like northerners, they don't come up nicely like the walleye do." I got it up to the hole and gaffed it. When she saw the teeth, she ran away scared. Then she came back and started swearing when I was pulling it out because she saw how big it was. She refused to touch it and was afraid of it. But boy, was she MAD when we had to let it go. She thinks all DNRs should have a "beginning fisherman" rule when it comes to slot limits.

[Northlander]

I also would have to recomend Rainy Lake and check out Woody and his band of Merry Fishermen. They are quite the crew with years of experience. Beautiful lake with a lot of walleyes, pike and crappies. Oh and them dock carp too.

[pushbutton]

Thanks for the ideas. One question I had was regarding pike spearing. You can rent spearhouses and that's one thing we might want to do for a day.

you can actually take guided spearing trips out of woody's as well....