Man it’s been a rollercoaster of a week so far. We have had unreal days and we have had some bad days also. One thing I’ve learned in the guide business, especially doing it full time in the winter, is expectation and realization are hard some days. What I mean by this is its kinda like playing hockey, you are only as good as your linemates. I get asked all the time about my scoring record in high school. How did you score 99 points on 23 games? I said easy, I had a linemate that scored 90.

Expectations are always super high and I love the excitement I see with all my clients. The realization happens when they are marking fish and not myself or dynamite will bring them up the hole. Not only does this frustrate the clients, but it’s equally as frustrating for the guide. Or if a client just struggles to catch on to what the process is also. I try to be a teacher both on the ice and on the water. Sometimes the students catch on immediately and sometimes they don’t. You have a lot more margin for error in the summer months than you do in the winter.

Winter fishing, especially right now it takes a grinder mentality. You have to watch your electronics and pay close attention to detail. Right now it seems we have had to really downsize stuff and slow everything down. Small spoons with minnow heads barely jiggled in front of the fish seem to get a few takers both perch and walleyes. As we get closer to spring these fish will slide shallower and become a lot more aggressive.

Speaking of spring I’m now taking bookings for the upcoming walleye spring spawning run on the Missouri River near Bismarck. April and May this is without question the best time to catch fish and to have a chance at a wall hanger or PB! Get ahold of me to book a trip. I have two other guides on staff ready to go do if I’m full or if you have a large group we can accommodate!