My trip to North Dakota (or journey into Cornyland)

[Fawkinnae]

Just got back from an excellent adventure to Towner, North Dakota. My son (Wyofish) took a job on a large dairy east of Minot this spring and we finally were able to get up for a visit. And lucky for me he just bought himself a new boat.

We arrived on Thursday night and made plans to fish the area below the damn at Sacagawea - also known as the tailrace on Friday. We arrived about noon after picking up licenses and a few other things in Minot. Windy day and lots of current. I have to admit we struggled, but did manage to explore the area a bit. The area is probably better known for it's night bite but we left around dark. We caught 2 walleyes, 2 sheepheads (me) and one pike.

Saturday we decided to try a lake south and east of Towner. Even though we had good county maps and Collin had been there once before, we had a hell of a time finding it. As we got closer to the lake all of the signs that might have given us a clue where we were disappeared. But when we found it, wow what a beauty. Surrounded by bluffs on all sides, most of them wooded, this was a spectacular lake.

The landing on the other hand was a step up from 2 parallel goat paths - and a very shallow shoreline. My first thought was, there is no way this is going to work but Collin was undaunted. I backed the truck in up to the exhaust pipe and then was able to shake the boat off the trailer by accelerating back and forth... and was plenty nervous about how we were going to get the boat back on the trailer. Once we got the boat launched we managed to not concern ourselves with silly distractions like how we would reload the boat however.

We decided that crankbaits was the way to tackle this lake. Within 5 minutes we had 2 walleyes in the boat and we proceeded to catch probably 40 walleyes between us over the next 5 hours. Oh and the wind had died down from the previous day. We trolled probably half the lake. The walleyes we not big, most were 13 - 14 " with the biggest 15". We kept 7 for supper. One of the prettiest days I have ever spent on a lake.

Turns out loading the boat went smoothly. Getting out of there was just as crazy as getting there because we decided to take a different route back home and drove for a half hour before we found anything identifying any of the roads we were on.

Wildlife everywhere. We saw ducks and geese (everywhere), pheasants, coyote, badger (had burrowed into the gravel road), buffalo, fox squirrel.

Sunday we went to a different lake. Decided it wouldn't be fair to try and reenact Saturday's perfect day (but we came close). This lake was known as a pike lake and boy were they thick. Another 40 fish day, all pike from 3.5 to 5 pounds. Again mostly trolled crankbaits.

Let's just say I can't wait to get back to North Dakota and I'm mighty proud of my son for being adventurous enough to move to this amazing area.

The End (but really the beginning).

[Fawkinnae]

Oh yeah - and no pictures (duh).

[The General]

way to go.  I love fishing the Dakotas.  For me the best part is no houses on the lakes (at least the ones I fish) and the lakes are usually full of fish. 

[corny13]

Wow sounds like a great trip Fawk!  Glad to hear Collin found a boat!  You will have to come back and try icefishing in North Dakota...

[Fawkinnae]

Yup, one ranch on the lake. The rest of the lake was completely undeveloped. And yes can't wait for icefishing (got a season license).

[wildlifeminnesota]

sound like you had a lot of fun Fawkinnae 

[Lee Borgersen]

Great adventure you guys had there. That trip will be a topic of discussion for yawl's for many years to come. Nothin like walking down memory lane from time to time. Remember when?.......  To be continued ........

[Wyofish]

I can't wait to get back to the lake we fished Saturday, but I hear the tailrace is heating up too!