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The flag is telling me the wind is out of the west. That’s good for fishing, but bad for me. I like the tougher conditions. If I come home without fish I have one less excuse. Wrong wind I’d say, it threw the bite off, and it’s a classic. I press my cap on tight.

Driving to the bait shop my truck is running radio repair perfect. If I hear a noise I don’t recognize, my old school bus driver told me to turn up the radio volume so I wouldn’t be bothered by the sound, thereby fixing the unknown problem. Tunes are on low.

Scotty gives me a double scoop of minnows, charges me for a single dip. He hooks me in his own way. I pay back on a sure fire can’t miss Lake Tip. I drop the boat in at the landing, one pull and the motor starts. I scan the boats interior, last night when I packed I didn’t forget anything. The pressure is mounting.

I round rice point and nobody is anchored on my honey hole. Two other boats are trolling along the mid lake drop off that I’ll try later if old faithful doesn’t produce. I tune the fish finders’ intensity and slowly drift over the hole. Dang, it’s full of fish.

I swing the boat out and come in for a final approach. The anchor hooks up and I slowly tether line out to position the boats drift over the hole. The only excuse I have left is if I would suddenly be struck by lightning. For me to get a jolt from the bolt, I’d have to be the first person ever struck by blue sky and sunshine lightning.

I get the minnow scooper after I lake wash my hands. Just a quick cold water rinse. . Maybe it’s an Irish wives tale, maybe not, but it goes like so, “the fish are wet, bait is wet, wet is where we met.” And besides, if folks can be superstitious about winds, I can be about water.

Only one thing left to do. I light my cigar. All systems are go. I drop the jig and minnow, contact with the bottom. Its almost unnoticeable, but its there. The line is just snug. It’s tense, maybe a bit tighter. I can feel the rod tip slowly being pulled and I set the hook.

Nothing to worry about, me, I new it all the time.

The trout whisperer

Karl "Trout Whisperer" Seckinger is a respected JustNorth author and outdoor adventurer. His guide service, DuNord Guide Service, and the trout waters that he fishes in the Superior National Forest, are some of the most tightly guarded secrets among Trout enthusiasts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Contact Karl at 218 - 525 - 0442 or write to him at:

DuNord Guide Service - 6999 Culbertson Road, Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616

Learn more about DuNord Guide Service in the JustNorth MarketPlace.