Every Year I take a group of guys out for a multi day ice fishing trip to try and catch a few perch and just get away. The past couple years we have rented sleeper shacks on Mille Lacs but the fishing has been a little slow so this year we decided to change it up. I contacted Kim and Rick at High Banks Resort and was able to book a cabin for one night and a sleeper for the next. This would give us a nice change of pace during our trip and allow us to fish a few different areas as well. I had heard so many good things about Lake Winnibigoshish and the High Banks Resort that I was extremely excited to get everyone up there.

The trip started like many others in the past. Guys flying or driving in from all over the country, meeting up at my house and drinking up most of my booze. We would be missing one or two of the regulars this year (we missed you Ray) but a few new faces would join in the fun. After an evening full of catching up and telling lies, we awoke early to temps in the negative 25 range. The diesel engine trucks that would transport the gear and crew north were not happy about getting started in the brisk conditions but we were able to convince them and hit the road around 7am. As we headed north, the truck thermometers continued to plummet. Somewhere near Onamia we were registering 36 below. Many of us questioned the sanity of heading out in those conditions.

We reached the resort around 10:30 and were welcomed by Kim at the Office/Bar.  Several of the group ordered a drink as we checked in, went over our itinerary and plotted our attack. The fishing had been slow Kim told us but warmer weather was supposed to move in that day and hopefully the fish would respond. No one was in a huge hurry to brave the cold so we ordered a quick lunch and another drink (We don't fish that hard most of the time). Scotty was probably still a little drunk from the night before and was looking to give a few words to Mike when he turned and found himself face to face with the local conservation officer. We all laughed as he started to attempt small talk with the guy. The C.O. backed up Kim's report that fishing had been slow but we finished our lunch and headed to a day use shack to give it a try anyway.




The shack was nice and warm when we got there and was sitting in 15-18 feet of water with a scattered rock bottom. Scotty started in immediately with the two power augers we had brought along. He managed a couple holes for tip ups but within minutes neither one would run. There would be no exploring for the rest of the trip since I never thought to bring a hand auger. Two power augers and two mechanics in the group was supposed to be good enough.
Back in the shack the bite was slow. We saw plenty of fish on the camera including a nice walleye and a nice Northern. Neither of those fish had any interest in our offerings. Most of the perch were uninterested as well. We managed a few though and hoped to add to the pile the next day.



We headed back to the cabin, poured a few drinks and cleaned the fish while Bill and Fred prepared a feast of Pheasant Alfredo. If you have never tried it you should. It was fantastic. Beer, euchre and a walk over to the lodge followed dinner and from what I remember, a good time was had by all including Matt who claimed invincibility during Euchre but managed to loose more than he won. Must have been his partners fault.

The next day we awoke and headed out to the sleeper shack that would be our home for the next evening. The "High Banks Hilton" as it is known, is an 8 man sleeper with 16 holes, forced air heat and lots of room for cards and other foolishness. We were delayed a few minutes while the staff replaced the door on our lodging. Apparently the group of guys in the Hilton before us had gotten more drunk than us and accidentally ripped the door of the shack. It made for a cold night for them but Josh had it back on and the heat going strong when we finally checked in.

The fishing was even slower the second day. We managed only a couple keepers and I think everyone took at least one nap in attempt to recover from the night before. We fried up the few fish we had for dinner and decided to head into the lodge for a drink, some pool and darts. After last call we headed back to the shack and dropped a few glow jigs in hopes of landing something different. After several misses on a rattle reel I started to fish a little harder. Something was hitting our baits but not taking them and that means to me that slight changes could possibly get them hooked. A few tweaks and a little patients finally paid off as I landed my first Cisco or Tullibe.

 

We didn't land any more Ciscos but to be honest after smelling the first one, we didn't try real hard and everyone was pretty much beat anyway.

The following morning we packed up and headed into the lodge to close out our tabs. It had been a great trip even though the fishing had been off. Rick and Kim were great hosts and next year we will probably go back to see them.  We will try a little later in the season possibly and if they don't bite again, we will make sure we bring more pheasant Alfredo, cocktails and cards to ensure a good time once again.