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Put em on Ice entry

Scott Ganrud of Cloquet, MN landed this 28-1/2-inch walleye on Lake of the Woods over New Year’s weekend.

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From Our Readers
I went up to Lake of the Woods over New Years weekend with my friend Al Foth from Monticello, MN. We have been going to Walsh's Baystore Camp on Oak Island for several years. While the fishing is usually good, big fish seldom bite. This 28-1/2" walleye is my largest walleye ever and was quickly released after the picture was taken. I caught this fish on a 1/4 oz. Chartreuse Gem N Eye, with the largest fathead minnow I could find in the bucket under a bobber. The fish hit just like many other that day, by slowly taking the bobber under, and since I was fishing 8" off the bottom, it was not far to go to sit on the bottom. I reeled up the slack, felt a little tug and then just raised my rod up, just like I have been doing all day, but this time, the tug was heavier and it bent my ice rod much more than other fish. I immediately dropped to my knees and pointed my rod to the hole and started to bring the fish up from the 19 feet of water we were in. I did not want to bring it up too fast, as I knew I would not be keeping this fish, as their air bladder would pop up in its throat. As the fish came into plain view, I could see it covering the two holes I was fishing in, but now I had to direct this large fish up the hole I was fishing in, harder than you would think, but as soon as the head of the fish broke the water, I reached down and grabbed it and lifted it up. A quick measurement and picture and back down the hole it went. This was the first day of a 3 day ice fishing adventure and it sure was a great way to start 2009.
Scott Ganrud, Cloquet, MN