This past week I went &uot;Up North&uot; fishing for the week. My brother-in-law Ron and his wife Linda were gracious enough to let us stay at their cabin on Lake Wabedo.

I was accompanied by my wife Jean, son Brad and his son (my grandson) Dylan.

The weather was nice and the fishing was pretty good too. The first two days were hot but after that it was pleasant and threatened rain about every day but only once did we get any measurable amounts.

We caught a lot of nice crappies and some largemouth bass. I did manage to get one nice walleye.

We had enough fish to eat while there and brought some home.

Earlier in the season Dylan, who is almost 4, caught his first fish and now was time to hone his skills. He caught a lot of perch, small sunnies and rock bass off the dock. He did manage to catch a pretty nice largemouth bass when we were out in the boat. He probably likes helping Grandpa run the motor just as much as fishing.

We spent a lot of time fishing from the dock and I worked with him trying to get him to cast. At times he did well and at times not so well.

I started casting his line out for him, waiting for the fish to take the bait, then I would set the hook and hand it to him to reel in. This went on for a little while before he finally asked; &uot;Grandpa, do you like my new fishing pole my Dad got me?&uot; &uot;Yes&uot; I replied &uot;It’s really nice.&uot;

There was a short pause, and then he asked, &uot;So Grandpa, are you getting to think it’s yours?&uot;

Kids can really put things in perspective. This is where I handed the pole to him and let him fish his own way.

I have often said that there is more to vacationing up north than just catching fish. Wabedo is a beautiful, very clear lake, and it has a lot of Loons. Some with young in tow. If you’ve ever seen a mother loon with the baby perched on her back it’s a sight you will remember.

There were eagles nesting in the tall pines just across the bay from the cabin and from time to time they would circle over the lake. There were four of them. I imagine two adults with their young ones. What a beautiful sight.

One morning I was anchored a little bit down from the cabin, fishing for walleye. I heard a large splash and looked along the shore just in time to see a deer in the water walking along the shore. It was eating leaves from the overhanging branches. We sighted numerous deer that week while fishing from the boat.

We fished crappie and walleye the first part of the week. All the crappies were caught on a jig and twister. We used the Berkley Power grubs and another cheaper brand that is scented too. They both seemed to work equally well. Placing a small bobber about 2 feet above the jig and casting right up to the weed edges worked well too.

Once Dylan decided it was also fun to stay back at the cabin and entertain Grandma, Brad and I got to do a little serious muskie fishing.

We did a lot of casting and when that wore thin we would troll for a while. I like casting a bucktail, and when trolling I like the Swim Whiz or Believer.

We hadn’t seen a northern yet so I decided to try a sucker minnow with a Prescott spinner. We were going past an area with a lot of lily pads when I got a fish on. It didn’t hit real hard at first but all of a sudden it started taking drag. I told Brad we were going to need the net. It took drag for a while and then started to come in without too much of a fight.

When we got it to the boat it was only about a 1-1/2 lb. largemouth bass, but it had a 4-inch gash on one side and a large tooth hole on the other. Somebody with a lot of teeth and a big mouth had plans for dinner.

The next afternoon we decided to give that bay another try. We were trolling the opposite shore from where I had that fish on the day before. Brad was using a Mepps Muskie Killer and I was using a Wendell’s Harasser when Brad had one on.

After a few minute struggle he got it to the boat and when it saw the boat it didn’t want any part of it. It took longer to get it in the net than to get it to the boat. We didn’t have the big net but the one we had has seen a few muskies in its day. We barely got it in the net and in the boat before it spit the hook.

I guess I had forgotten how much fun a muskie tangled in a landing net could be. There is a very good reason why you shouldn’t leave your tackle box open. We both had ours shut but I could envision that disaster.

After untangling it, we measured it (41 inches), took some pictures and put it back in the water and worked it until it let us know it was time to let go of the tail and off it swam.

It was Brad’s largest fish and beyond a doubt an experience we both will cherish for years to come.

I get just as excited when one of my family catches a nice fish as I do when I catch one myself.

This was a good vacation and definitely one we will all remember.

The Longville area is a beautiful area and really is what going &uot;Up North&uot; is all about.

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Fishing report:

ALEXANDRIA

Walleye action has been pretty tough. The secret to success has been deep water, 25 to 35 feet, with live bait. Lakes such as Ida and Miltona are your best bets early and late in the day. The night bite also has been productive. Bass fishing is going well throughout the area on deep-running crankbaits. Cover a lot of water and you’ll hit fish. Crappies are suspended in 18 to 20 feet of water on the Le Homme Dieu Chain. Bluegills are active and roaming the deep weed edges of most area lakes. Muskie reports are limited with a few follows coming off Lobster Lake and Lake Miltona.

BEMIDJI

Anglers putting in their time are finding a few walleyes on Blackduck Lake and Lake Bemidji. The shallow weeds out to about 30 feet are worth checking out. Lake Plantagenet, Big Lake, and Lake Bemidji are producing muskies along the weedlines. Bass fishing is going strong on North Twin Lake, Lake Beltrami, South Twin Lake, and Grant Lake. Topwater baits have been real productive. Look to the deeper weedlines on most area lakes for crappies and bluegills. There are some nice northern pike coming off the weed edges of Midge Lake.

BOWSTRING AREA

A few walleyes are being caught near the rock piles on Bowstring Lake in 12 to 14 feet of water. Spinner rigs tipped with minnows have worked best. The weedlines of Bowstring are producing numbers of jumbo perch and plenty of northern pike.

BRAINERD/NISSWA

Walleye action has been consistent on many area lakes this week in 18 to 34 feet of water during the day and in 15 to 20 feet of water during low-light periods. Minnows and leeches have been the hot baits on most lakes. Bass and northern pare also are active in eight to 20 feet of water on most area lakes. Numbers of good-sized sunfish are coming from 12 to 24 feet of water on area lakes as well.

CASS LAKE AREA

The steep breaklines of Cass Lake are holding quite a few walleyes at the present time. Look to the area’s near O’Neils Point, Buck’s Bar, Deadman’s Bar, and North Cedar Bar. Look for plenty of bass in Allen’s Bay, Dick’s Bay, Buck Lake, and Rice Lake. The 12- to 14-foot weedlines of most area lakes are worth noting for sunfish, while muskies are chasing bucktails in and around the cabbage beds of Cass.

CROSS LAKE

Most lakes are producing bass along the established weed edges on spinnerbaits and plastics. Northern pike action has been good with most anglers trolling spinners and sucker minnows. Walleyes have moved deeper and become a little more finicky in recent days. Spinner rigs have worked best in 24 to 28 feet of water on most area lakes during low-light periods of the day. Crappies and sunfish are being found suspended over 20 to 28 feet of water.

ELY AREA

Snowbank Lake is kicking out walleyes in 12 to 25 feet of water. Look to Basswood Lake for consistent walleye action in 12 to 15 feet of water. Shagawa Lake and White Iron Lake also are worth looking at for walleyes. Burntside Lake and Snowbank Lake are worth noting for lake trout. These fish have been suspended over 75 feet of water. Smallmouth bass are very aggressive on most area lakes.

FARIBAULT

Sunfish and crappies are hitting on Shields Lake and Cedar Lake in five to 12 feet of water. Walleye action has been slow, but the weedlines of French Lake started giving up a few muskies. Bass and northern pike are hitting at a good pace on most area lakes.

GRAND RAPIDS

The main lake humps of Lake Pokegama are producing walleyes early and late in the day on crawlers. Spider Lake started giving up a few good-sized muskies this week. North Star Lake is worth checking out for nice northern pike and a few muskies. Sugar Lake is a safe bet for sunfish and crappies, and look to the weed edges of Spider Lake for numbers of crappies during the morning and evening hours.

HACKENSACK AREA

Numbers of largemouth bass in the three- to five-pound class continue to hit in the weeded areas of Pleasant Lake. Portage Lake started giving up some very nice sunfish in seven to 10 feet of water. Look to Sandburn Lake for crappies and Woman Lake is a safe bet for muskies. Several fish in the 50-inch class were caught this week on topwater baits.

HUTCHINSON

The weedlines of Ripley Lake and Lake Minnie Belle are kicking out panfish early and late in the day. Lake Manuella started giving up quite a few smallmouth bass and panfish. The main lake bars of Lake Stella and Lake Washington are giving up enough walleyes to keep things interesting in 16 feet of water.

LAKE OSAKIS

Center Bar and the top side of the Four Mile Bar are the best bets for walleyes in 21 feet of water. Leeches have worked best during the early morning and evening hours. Work the main lake bars for sunfish in nine to 15 feet of water. Town Bay is a safe bet for northern pike in 10 to 12 feet of water. Sucker minnows have produced bigger fish. Bass also are very active throughout the submerged weed areas of Osakis.

LAKE VERMILION

Limits of walleyes have been coming from 14 feet of water on live bait rigs and crawlers. The rock piles scattered throughout the lake are holding numbers of muskies and the rocky shorelines are a safe bet for numbers of bass.

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

The deeper, main lake bars still are producing walleyes. Look to Moses Bar, the Snaghole, and muskie Bar as likely areas. Spinner rigs or live bait rigs tipped with leeches seem to be working best. There’s still plenty of shallow-water action off the points in 10 to 12 feet of water. Shallow-running crankbaits or spinner rigs have turned the majority of these fish. Perch are an easy catch on the bars and in the shallower weeds with jigs and minnows. Northern pike also are active throughout the lake.

LEECH LAKE

Muskies continue to be the big story here. Numerous multiple fish days are being reported from anglers throughout the lake, with fish in the 48- to 52-inch class being most common. Many avid muskie anglers are saying this bite is as good as it’s been in years. The rock piles on the main lake around Pelican Island, West Bar, and Submarine Reef are safe bets. The weeds near Two Points in Portage Bay also are producing muskies. Bucktails have been the hot bait during the day, while topwater is the way to go at night. Walleye action is spotty at best with shallow-running crankbaits turning the majority of fish on the rock piles and main lake reefs.

MANKATO AREA

The deeper holes of the Minnesota River are kicking out catfish on cut bait. Lake Washington is a safe bet for a few good-sized sunfish and crappies. Bass continue to hit on Lake Francis and look to Lura Lake for a few walleyes in 15 to 20 feet of water.

MILLE LACS

East &045; The walleye bite has slowed just a bit from the suicidal mission they’d been on for weeks. The fishing remains better than average with consistent action coming from the deeper edges of most mud and gravel areas. Spinner rigs or live bait rigs have worked best during the day, while slip bobbers and leeches are the way to go at night. Don’t neglect the shallow rock bite at night with slip bobbers either. The north end started kicking out quite a few muskies, as did the rocks and bays on the east end of the lake. Smallmouth bass continue to hit on the rocks as well.

West &045; The daytime bite has slowed a bit recently, although there still are plenty of walleyes being caught. Those 50- to 70-fish days now are yielding 20 to 40 walleyes per outing according to many anglers, which is still consistent. The mud is still your best bet with Curley’s Flat, Seguchie Flat, and the Eight Mile providing the best action. The night bite has shown no signs of slowing up with numbers of walleyes hitting slip bobber rigs in 28 to 35 feet of water. Northern pike and muskie action is going strong in St. Alban’s Bay and Wigwam Bay. Minnows or bucktails have worked best for bigger fish. Pike Point and Brown’s Point are worth noting for smallmouth bass.