Minnesota Resorts Blog

    What a life, taking a vacation at a northern Minnesota resort.  The fishermen are really starting to haul in the big ones.  Most of the fish species have finished spawning.  The only fish left not are mostly the pan fish, I think they will take about another week or two to finish.  I just had a women come in and she had caught a 24 inch walleye, on her daughters little  Barbie fishing rod.  What a great story she had, that family will remember that for years.  Guests are starting to use the water trampoline, but we had to haul it in today cause a storm wrapped up the ropes that hold it down.                                                                We had a very odd two  weeks, as we had for the first time 5 cabins that all stayed for 2 weeks, for us that is a lot of 2nd weekers.  When ever our customers stay for a second week in a row, Deb Aaron and I take the guests out for a dinner and drinks.  So yes, we spent a lot of time at the restaurant this week.  It is nice to get to know guests more on a personal level.  All the meals were great, we took most of the guest to the 71 bar, just 5 miles away, this is where mostly locals go.   My Uncle and cousins are here this week. It is nice to spendsome time with relatives.  Aaron likes hanging around with his Uncle Pat.  Interesting story:  Two years ago when my cousins were here, my one cousin Pat meet  a woman at the fish cleaning house, they hit it off, and got in touch with each other after they had left.  One year later, they were married, andthis year for the steak cookout, they brought cake to celibrate their anniversary.  I should rent out my services as a match maker.  HAHA     Jim

    What a great day here at the resort. Today’s activities are: canoe trips, massages, and kids crafts.  The indoor pool was real busy yesterday because the beach area was a little windy.  This week we started the minnow races, and family bingo.   A group of guys that rented the pontoon this week, went to one of the 3 islands on our lake and they found an indention in the weeds, and decided to fish there.  In the couple hours they fished, they had caught 99 perch, they said they only kept 30% of the fish, but still a nice day of fishing.  A couple big walleye were caught yesterday, some real nice lunkers.  The bass are only about 50% spawned, I hope some warm weather will help them finish by next week.    Jim

      Check us out a  www.kohlsresort.com    The sun is shining today, and the wind has stopped, it’s going to be a great day at the resort.  All the boats were out this morning, as I think every fisherman that is here must have seen it was going to be a great day on the lake.  Little turtle has been producing lots of walleye and northern this week.  We have been getting quite a few rain days, but the whole state has been experience the same thing.  The new speed boat and lift is finally set up correctly.  We took some people out on the boat and pulled the large 4 person tube.  Within 20 minutes the tube had a rip in the seam, so we just ended the ride there.     4 years ago I had built a new cabin and ever since i have been having problems with the side of the roof that faces the late morning sun.  The shingles kept falling off.  So this week I said to the crew, rip off that side and lets re-shingle it. The project took 3 days cause each day after about 4 hours work, it started to rain.  The roof is finally fixed and we are all happy with the results.  

     Guy’s weekend was a blast.   Grandfathers bringing sons, and grandsons.  Horseshoes were clinking, baseballs were being thrown, Ping pong balls flying, and the indoor pool was splashing.  This was a weekend that historically has been full of guys and sons.  Bonding is the name of the game.  The moms stayed home and the fellas went fishing.  There was a lot of fish caught this weekend.  One group ventured out to Lake Plantagenate, they caught 95 walleyes.  Most were catch and release, but they had a great time. There are really some good area fishing lakes. Our chain is made up of 5 lakes, 3 are easy to get to, and 2 you have to pull the boat over some rocks then travel up the channel, and  there are the 2 other lakes.

     The fishing was hot and heavy this weekend.   “We were limiting out”, said one new guest.    The water was colder then usual this year, but the fishermen made the best of it.  Our fish gut freezer was full when we emptied it this week. The grounds looked good, and we did our first mowing this week.  Deb just made it with the Spring cleaning, and carpet washing, as many of the cabins filled this week.  Every one was happy, and after fishing many of the guests dipped a toe in the hot tub,  102 degrees sure feelsgood, after being in the cold breeze for most of the day.  The eagles keep buzzing the resort, I suppose looking for one of the many chipmunks that live on the resort. 

One of our guests that stay a little longer then some, is a gentleman that flies a fireman’s helicopter. He came in 3 weeks ago, and still has 3 weeks left on his stay.  This is the 3rd year for him.  He is a nice guy to have around.  Deb has finished hiringthe cleaners this week and the weirdest thing.  We have 3 sets of sisters.  2 sets have worked here for 4 years already, but now a 3rd set they are great to work with, and will probably be here for a while.       Good luck fishing!!!!    Jim

    Vacationers are having fun in the glorious northwoods.  For reservations go to out website, or call our 800 number.    More happy guests just checked out this morning, they said they lived it here.                           We have been working on the grounds again.   A little of this and that.  There is still about 1/2 the lake covered with ice and it is about 5 inches thick.  Most of it is turning black, that means it is getting ready to breakup. @ of the winter residences left this week.  There are still  4 winter residences still here.  They will leave later this month. 3 of the boats are prepped and ready for the water.  Over the Winter we ordered 5 new motors for the 14 ft Lunds, and we also ordered a new 16 1/2 ft Lund with a 30hp motor. We should get these new things next week.

   We are still feeding the deer every day, they come in like clockwork each evening. The birds are flying around like crazy. Snow geese, canadian geese, swans, and ducks everywhere.  I’ve seen a few new spider webs, so I’m sure the rest of the insects will be around real soon. 

   Aaron our son keeps asking about the deck/speed boat i’m thinking about getting.

    Morning,  Fishing opener is only 3 days away, and some of the fishermen will be here in 2 days. When I got up this morning, the ice was gone.  For days there was  1/2 of the  lake with ice, and this  ice block was floating from one shore to the other.   The ice wrecked part of our jet ski ramp.  We keep it in the lake year round so it was bound to get hit one of these years.  We will fix it later cause now is dock work.  I am calling in both my full time grounds guys, and my neighbor Eric, so the 4 of us can get a start on the lake area.  Last week we worked on 5 of the boats, and they are sitting on trailers in the parking lot ready for the water.  We finished the log siding on cabin 8 this past week, now all the cabins exteriors match.    Time for work, docks, docks, and more docks, oh yeah   6 boat lifts also.   The weather is nice but about 10 degrees below average temperature.  We are about 2 weeks behind on boat and beach work. 

Hi all, the snow is all melted. Spring is here. If you need a resort vacation give us a call.   Now the sun is starting to work on the ice. I was just out on the ice walking around, and it is still about one and a half feet thick.   We have finally got the grounds raked and cleaned up.  We tried 5 times to get the grounds finished but we could never get it finished.  We started working on some of the boats today, power wash, scrub, put the batteries in, anchors, oars, motor, new plugs, and new ropes.  The 20ft pontoon is getting all new seats, so we started riping out the old ones. And we have hit a few snags on the new bunk chairs in that pontoon.  But I think tomorrow we can figure it out.   The temp is nice to have finally have hit 50 degrees. We are getting many more birds this week. Geese, Ducks, Loons, and Pelicans.  Also the Eagles are starting to buss by the resort.  We had to replace our rug shampooer, and it will take almost 2 weeks to shampoo all the carpets.