I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to
do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot
to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't have a lot to do, I didn't
I'm going to try it.
Yeah, you can see it on your side.
One other time.
Oh, you got a bunch of new gear.
I'm going to throw it all over.
I'm going to throw it all over.
Come on.
No, you got to throw it hard on this.
Oh, it's right on the top of my front.
Right.
There you go.
There we go.
Oh, it's there.
Watch your pop-up.
Watch your pop-up.
Ooh.
Ooh.
There we go.
A softball.
You got to watch, like, you got to do it in the corner.
Try that one.
You got to hold it like this.
Just like, just like your throw on the side arm baseball.
What?
That should not have worked.
No, it should not have worked.
No, it should not have worked.
No, it should not have worked.
No, other way.
Other way. Other way.
Yeah.
How do you get that?
What are you doing?
He's bringing you wrong.
Oh, wow.
Oh, my goodness.
You're warning.
Another one.
That's left.
Oh, okay.
Oh, he just switched.
Oh, wow. That was a good one.
Yeah.
More rocks here.
You're always trying to find flat ones.
Yeah.
You want to hit that one?
Yeah, please don't hit the camera.
I cost a lot money.
Come here.
See how I'm holding it?
Yeah.
Well, some of them have very firm flat
and able to scan it very well.
You want it to roll off your finger?
Okay.
Here's a flat one.
There you go.
Probably not.
It's a little one, but it's flat.
Okay.
I got a bigger one.
See?
What are you doing?
Get on like this.
Right on your right hand.
Just throw it like a baseball.
Just throw it like a baseball.
That's not how you do it.
That's flat.
Just like a baseball.
You know what the funny part is?
Is he was doing better with practice?
How about I actually skipped a big one?
Did he really?
How about can you show them again?
Lots of practice.
He's got a couple more years of practice.
Oh, that wasn't a corner.
Here we go.
Don't let go.
You want this one?
Yeah, this one.
Just throw it however you want to.
Just throw it however you want to.
Yeah.
Yes, he skipped it.
Just throw it however you want to.
Okay.
This one's a great part.
Hold on.
The mic is in that place.
Just throw it forward.
Just throw it forward.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Yeah.
That should be all you need.
But then I'll help you set it up.
Try that one.
Oh, it's a terrible one.
Hold on.
Watch out.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Hold on.
There you go.
Oh, well.
That kind of worked.
Am I just, am I the rock feeder now?
Okay.
Oh, you're kind of getting it.
Try to email it farther.
Email it farther.
Remember just like with you cast.
There you go.
Look at that.
You got two.
I got three.
Nice job.
I mean I got three.
You got three.
Yes.
Here.
Here you go.
All right.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Throw it.
Now we got.
It's okay.
I thought we got one.
That's not a terrible thing.
That makes it really cool.
The sound.
That's how you're going.
Okay.
There you go.
Here you go.
You guys know what we got.
Are you sure?
He's doing it.
There you go.
There you go.
Oh, man.
Oh, nice.
You got really fun though.
I got this one.
Wait.
He's like...
Nice job.
The piece is gone.
Oh, this one was gone.
This one's a bigger one.
This one's a bigger one.
Hey.
Hey.
Focus.
Focus.
Now.
I'm going to turn it over.
There you go.
Throw this one into his palm.
It's going to make a really cool flunk sound, right?
Next.
I can't take one.
See where Papa can throw it.
Why?
Oh.
Should I open it right?
Good job.
I'm going to open it.
Don't you open it.
Go.
Go.
Go.
I'll give you a smaller one.
Ready?
I'm going to give you another one.
All right.
Should I have you try?
Child.
Ready?
Yeah.
I get that way farther.
Oh, thanks.
I love you too.
Oh.
Oh, jeez.
Oh.
I think you scared the fish.
I'm very wet.
You should not be showing up.
I think you scared the fish.
Oh, hey.
Watch out for the other.
I'll wash in the allergy.
Yeah, what I told you.
I think you can go knowledge.
Like, well, it kind of sounds good.
Whoa.
I think you want to go out.
Wow.
You've got to go a little further.
Is it getting a little slippery?
No.
Not yet.
We're not for the weeds, but yeah.
The weeds start right here.
Gotcha.
That's not good.
You want to go back?
No.
Oh.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.
stay away from the allergy.
Oh yeah, appreciate that.
Yeah why should rail stones over here cause then they'll be used in the water.
Find a stone?
Yeah, I found a stone
You can have where to get some stones underneath.
I've got to get one.
I'm going to go around one more time.
There's two of them. Bigger ones here.
Here.
That's a good one.
I can do it this far.
Ooh, good job.
Whoa!
What's going on?
All right.
Good job, dude.
Good job.
It's like full.
I bet you it's from my dude.
He has a watch this.
I'm watching.
Yep.
No, what they doing?
Keep going.
Feel it?
Ha ha ha ha!
What are going further with Opa?
Find some snow to throw.
Ooh, he's a tango.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
That's a big tango.
Hey, stand next to Opa Soy and Abby can take a picture.
Me.
You're ready to go around.
I'll send it to your mama.
Ready?
Yeah, yeah, I know he's cold.
All right.
Three, two, one.
Jeez.
And crackers.
Hey, you have to look at the camera.
How about mama?
How about mama?
Does hummus work?
Hummus.
Hummus.
Thank you.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
All right.
Go ahead.
You want him to come up to you again?
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
That's a big old.
Think about it.
Feel how the water gets colder and you're watching people higher?
Think about it.
Think about it.
Take it a little.
Get it colder.
And get it.
I'm going to get it.
I just want to get it.
You know what, I'll take you this.
That's a big one.
That's a big one.
Is that big for?
Draw it.
All right.
There.
Oh, it's a big old.
No worries.
That's a big old.
There.
Yeah.
There.
I'm going to go in the middle.
I'm going to go in the middle.
I'll go in the middle.
How's it going?
Can you say hi?
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Come here.
Thanks for coming.
Yeah, it's good.
It's good.
I'm looking at the camera.
It's not that bad.
I think you just realize you were there.
Are you quite honest?
I'm gonna go under water.
I'm gonna go under water.
Oh, it's good.
Oh my God.
We're gonna go under water.
Oh, my candy.
That's fine.
I'm good.
Said he doesn't want it.
Okay.
I want to go see if I can.
What?
I'm not staying on your knees.
Just a hole right there too.
Can you stand on your knees?
Stand on your knees.
Stand on your knees.
Okay.
Can I?
Whoa, that's cool
All right, come here. You tried. You tried. Ready?
Watch out. Watch out. Watch out. Watch out.
Watch out, this is where the this is where the allergy stops.
We're going to stay right here. Going for the mistlebeom.
We'll be in the house.
Right in the under. You gotta go under.
Oh, wow. You ever get you?
You don't have to get you.
Okay, no, we're not going to go over here, we're not going to go over here, we're not
going to go over here.
That's right, it's the only right answer.
I know, and they're my family too. I'm a packer fan though. My dad's cousins with a heat.
Yeah, and they all grew up in Chicago.
So he turns right to everybody else. Right, yeah.
I have some cousins, my grandma used to have a farm in the Val. Beautiful area, nice rolling hills.
They have holes in them for purpose, but we've covered them up for some reason.
It's a delicate balance.
No, you're safe.
That's super deep.
Can you come over here?
It's a lot to me, it's so cheap.
My technical title is Senior Political Reporter.
This is my reward for all the other work I do. For years they've been promising,
and they're like, hey Zach, one of these times when an election ends, we'll let you go shoot a fun story.
And now they're like, oh you can make me out, so we'll let you go shoot a fun story.
Yeah, but they don't tell you the elections never end, but I tell them that.
Lightly happier life.
Nothing against it, but it's just like, okay.
This, what's that?
Yeah, they put TVs in the cabin and keep talking.
Off of 29, is that how you came up with your truck?
Come up the back way through out Claire.
If you were to take Highway H, what's really wild as edu is, what's coming along?
You can just see from up there.
You want to watch this?
So you take 29 and then take H.
You take 29.
You can get off it Stanley.
Oh, okay.
I was in here where we had a storm that came through.
Smile.
And the kids were out with a good friend of mine, and he couldn't get the boat started.
And his dad and I jumped in his boat because we knew, and we could hear the storms coming.
We went out there, they were actually over on one of the banana islands, and you'll probably see them if you go with Ethan, Robin.
They're probably going to, I don't know if that's one of the islands they'll take you to, but anyway.
The bananas are fun.
We were out to the bananas, and they were looking for a rope swing.
Because Brian was a professional photographer, he was shooting.
He couldn't get the boat started while he drained the battery.
So we got out there, got the kids in, my buddy Bert's boat.
I jumped in mine.
I guess we'll start with some easy, easy stuff.
All right.
Tell me the story of how you first started coming up here.
When was that?
Well at the, what year was that?
It was that way.
Our daughter was one, Tyler was eight, so I mean that was over 30 years ago.
And like I said, it was a friend of ours had said something about this place, and we decided just to come up and try it.
So my wife had called the resort, and the resort owners at the time, she talked to the husband and he had a cabin, but it was a really tiny cabin.
So there was five of us in a tiny cabin.
It was rather comfy and cozy, but it was kind of chaotic.
But at the very beginning it was kind of like, is this really going to work out?
Well, the following year we called to see if we could get a bigger cabin, and well that's when we ended up with cabin three here.
And from that point on, it was just, we started meeting people up here that we knew, got to be good friends with.
And it was just one of those things where we would always come up at the same time every year.
So we could not only be up here, but also be with those people as well.
It was just, it was meant to be.
Did you come up looking for fishing, or was it family time, or?
It was kind of, it was mainly family time.
I mean fishing was a bonus.
I love to fish, but the kids were kind of small at the time, so it was me out the boat most of the time of myself.
But as obviously as they got older, then they were able to get out here.
But that was the bonus.
Fishing was the bonus.
So did you grow up fishing?
Yeah, kind of.
I mean my mom and my grandparents liked the fish.
Fish bullheads on the rock river over by Burnett when I was a kid.
And so we started there.
And then my stepfather was a big fisherman.
I used to fish a lot with him.
Chart fishing and all that kind of, and it just kind of evolved in that.
Then I got, then as my brothers started getting older, they started getting into musky fishing.
Well then that's kind of hooked me into musky fishing.
And it's been that way ever since.
So you came up here and did you kind of, were you looking to fill a freezer?
Or was it just more of the action out there?
Well, in some cases it was to take fish home.
Yes.
Because nothing's better than having a fish fry at home in the middle of winter.
It reminds you of the place.
I mean I would stand out in my deer hunting outfit on the grill because we would do it on
the grill.
I would take an iron skillet, fill it with oil and that's how we would cook.
So it wouldn't smell up the house.
And I would stand out there in the middle winter and cook fish.
And it's like, there's nothing like it.
It tastes, it's great.
It brings summer back.
Exactly.
That's exactly right.
So what was walleye fishing like up here when you first started?
When I first started up here, it was kind of a hit or a mess.
I mean it was difficult.
You could hear people talking about it.
It wasn't anything like it is now.
It was, you were lucky.
Unless you went with a guide that knew obviously the flow is better than you did and knew where
to go, it was difficult for just the average Joe to find walleye.
You go to the spots that you would read about and so on but the chances of catching them.
And actually back in those days, there wasn't a size limit on a walleye.
People were taking fish out there were eight, ten inches long in keeping them.
So I don't know if that decimated the population but it wasn't really good for it.
And then yeah, it wasn't the greatest.
So researchers talk a lot about opportunistic fishermen.
If one species isn't there, you'll find another species.
And if you wanted to be here and walleye weren't readily available,
you're not going to turn into a die-hard walleye fisherman.
No, no, no, no.
Typically, we didn't specifically seek out walleye.
I mean, it was a bonus if you caught one.
But we were up here for the panfish to take home.
If you got a walleye, oh, awesome.
But normally it was crappies and blue gills in the spring.
And in the summertime, fishing is kind of tough.
So you take what you get.
And in the fall, well, we were typically up here in the fall if we come up for musky fishing
and that was about it. We didn't fish anything else.
So for some of the other people that were up here, was it kind of that same thing?
You know, what's just nice to be on the water?
Yes, that was pretty much.
I mean, they did fish.
Actually, our friend, Bert, he was die-hard.
He was over the top.
And it really didn't matter what he caught.
He just wanted to catch fish.
When he was younger, he used to tell stories about how he was a die-hard walleye fisherman.
But as he got older, and he's the one that taught me this place.
And for him, I wouldn't know it.
So as your kids got older, and you start putting the pool in their hand,
or are they going to come out?
Oh, absolutely.
Yeah, we started them off as young as we could.
Where we used to live, there used to be some farmers' ponds that you could fish out of.
And that's how we kind of introduced them in the fishing.
We would just drive over to the farmer's pond and just sit along the edge
and try to catch what we could catch.
And nine times out of town, we wouldn't take anything,
because God only knows what was in that pond.
But you would catch fish, and that's how they got going.
And then, yeah, when they got old enough to be in the boat and stuff like that.
Yeah, and my wife is always really good about making sure that we had things there
that if we were going to go out fishing,
that if they lost interest, that they had something else to do.
Like whether it was a coloring book, or a reading book,
or you name it, she had something to do.
And so it kind of bided the time.
Because if it's not, you know, I was a kid's attention span,
going to be if they're not catching fish, understood completely.
It's bad enough with panfish.
Could you imagine trying to take a kid while I fish?
No, no, not at all.
Not unless you go to a lake that's just completely full of walleyes.
Yeah, no.
Yeah, it's difficult.
So tell me a little bit about the evolution of coming up here and what it's meant.
Obviously, they started with little kids and then they've gone into adults
and now this is your first time with a grandchild?
Right, right.
It's just been amazing.
I mean, it's kind of like you see the generations and you try to instill in them
a sense of respect, obviously.
We've always tried to instill it in our kids, but respect for this place.
I mean, these places are going away.
You go down where we live, you go to a lake, there's houses on top of houses
and you don't go on the lake during the weekends because there's no room for you
or you go out there like as early as you possibly can in the morning and get off
the lake before the crazy's at it.
Not up here.
I mean, especially on this end of the fluids where you hardly ever see boats.
I mean, they'll come flying by or the kids will be water skiing and stuff like that.
There's no place like this.
And so the kids have really understand that, yeah, this is a unique place
and it's just amazing how they've adapted to it.
I mean, they love this place.
And whenever we have the opportunity to have them all together,
whenever we're up here, we try to make it so that they have the opportunity.
If they can come, they can be here too.
So it doesn't matter to us if we have to pay for it or not.
It doesn't matter.
The point is we're going to be here, so why don't you come?
You were talking before a little bit about some of the shift that's occurred
with the fish population that are in here.
Right.
And you've seen some of that change over the years and maybe some of the evidence
that people are talking about what's being done work.
Well, yes, absolutely.
The walleye population, it's amazing.
And a lot of it I see online, basically, the guides are really good about posting stuff
when they take guys out to fish, obviously they're promoting their business.
But in the same token, it's promoting the walleye fishing.
I mean, I would say five years ago, maybe, yeah, I would say five years ago.
It wasn't like it is now.
I mean, there are walleyes.
There were a lot of what the guys called shorts, stuff that was under the slot limit.
And so you could slowly starting to see the evolution of the fish starting to get to the point
where, I mean, yeah, you'd catch a big fish every once in a while.
But nine times out of ten, we always called them cigars.
They were little big, short ones.
Or they were just, they weren't big enough that really an average, honest fisherman wouldn't keep.
And it's just progressively gotten better.
And the slot limit seems to have made a big difference.
Like I said, I think the lake association, the people that own the resorts around here
that put all the effort into this stuff have really made a big impact on doing research
and basically seeking out experts.
How can we make this better?
I mean, because this is their livelihood.
And so at the end of the day, it's a combination of all that.
And I'm not really big into what the Department of Natural Resources has done up here.
I don't know all of the things.
But I know the changes that they've made, at least in the case of the walleye population,
in my opinion, have made a huge, have made a big impact.
And that's a good thing.
Now, my grandfather used to say everything cyclical.
Now, is this a cyclical situation?
I hope not.
Not for the sake of the fishermen that like to fish walleyes all the time.
For the sake of the guides that make good money doing it.
You know, it's like, yeah, we don't have a lot of places like this in Wisconsin.
Could you imagine a situation where you hear things are so good that you're like,
no, today we're going to target walleye.
We may have up here for a week, but day two or day three, like let's go walleye fish.
Let's try and find some.
Maybe, maybe I'm not that good of a walleye fisherman.
I don't really know the ins and outs as well.
I've got a couple of really good friends that have been trying to give me some ideas and stuff like that.
But for the most part, it's kind of like, depending upon the time of year we come up,
usually it's always been, this is what we're going to do.
We've never really taken that input to make the decision that, yeah,
we're just going to go fishing for walleyes.
And maybe it's a good idea to try that.
It doesn't hurt to try.
Talking a little bit about the change in the resort and what they've been pushing,
because you probably remember that a long time ago the resorts would say,
we're a walleye resort.
We're a fishing resort coming up here to fish.
And now it seems like the shift has been more to party here.
Relaxation and less on the other activities on the water.
Well, you know, and I would agree with that.
Yes, when we first started coming up here, it was like a family fishing resort.
There wasn't, actually, there was no bar.
There literally wasn't a bar.
It wasn't until the owner after we first started coming up actually put a bar in.
But it stayed calm.
I mean, yeah, the guys would go up to the bar and you could have a drink and do
this kind of stuff.
But they didn't have music.
They had jukebox and stuff like that.
And then it evolved to a different type of resort thought process where,
yeah, it's partying and bringing people in from off the floor just setting it up
so that you had something there for people who want to come,
whether it's music or whatever, drink specials.
That was what changed.
And then now it's kind of gone back to, it's kind of the people that own it now,
in my opinion, have figured out a balance.
They have music on certain days.
They bring people down here.
But yet in the same token, it's not that way, 24-7.
And I personally think that, to me, that's the best way to go.
I completely understand that at the end of the day, it's about making a dollar.
They got to keep this place going and you're going to do what you need to do.
And everybody vacations differently.
And we're quiet people.
We want things calm.
No, your wife's not here this week, but you said she's been supportive of you
fishing.
How does that go into relationships of fishing?
If one does fish and one doesn't, what's the balance there?
Well, she loves the fish.
It's just about getting the time to be able to get out to fish.
Now that we're retired and the kids are older and they're not in the house,
when we're up here, we usually pick certain days.
We'll go out for a couple hours to fish and catch fish and she loves the fish.
Actually, her present to me for my 40th birthday was buying a fishing license.
She never fished up into it.
I mean, she didn't fish like she does now.
And so that was cool.
And from that point on, we've just been doing it.
I mean, we have her own thing.
She loves the kayak.
And she could be out there all day long in the kayak.
But no, it really hasn't affected our relationship whatsoever.
But that's a word, right?
That people find...
You hear about fishing widows and the guys are always gone.
We're finding that blend.
Well, and she's very understanding.
She knows that you need time by yourself.
She needs time by herself.
You have certain hobbies.
I have certain hobbies.
They don't always have to be the same.
It would make life rather boring, in my opinion.
But yeah, I mean, she's always been supportive of all this stuff.
And 99.9% of the time, she's the one that pushes a lot of it.
You know, yeah.
She's the driving force in it all.
Let's put it that way.
So you've been out the last couple days?
Yeah.
How's it been?
It's been okay.
The bluegills are starting to come in so we can get some pan fish.
And we've got some crappies.
We haven't seen any walleyes yet.
But again, we weren't strictly fishing.
This is typically when we start fishing for these things.
If we go out earlier in the morning, yeah, you may get lucky and get a couple of walleyes,
depending upon where you're fishing on the floorage.
But for the most part, it's been good.
It's been comfortable.
Let's put it that way.
The last four or five years, the weather has just been incredibly weird up here.
I mean, in the Memorial Day weekend, it's like 90 degrees.
It's like that's unheard of.
I mean, I used to come up here with my friend Bert this week, typically.
And there were times we would literally have to have our deer hunting gear on to be out there fishing.
It was so cold.
Or we wouldn't be fishing because if the water temperature isn't a certain tap,
you're not going to be catching fish.
So when you're out there, can you tell from the first bite when it's a walleye?
To hit a little different?
Oh, yes.
Oh, absolutely.
Typically, you're fishing much deeper water for walleye.
And when you're fishing panfish, this time of year, you're usually fishing closer to shore because they're coming into spawn.
But yeah, walleye, you can definitely tell.
It's a nice, soft bite, and it just goes really slow way.
It's not one of those things where it's going to pull out of your hand.
And you've got to be kind of cognizant of, yeah, this could be what I think it is.
And then as a matter, you have to make sure that you don't lose it.
What is the balance of bringing one in?
Because my great uncle always says, don't horse it.
Exactly.
No, you've just got to make, first of all, you've got to make sure you've got it hooked.
And then the other thing is you just bring it in slowly.
I mean, it's not like a northern.
It's not like a musky where they're just going to rip the pole out of your hand.
No, not a walleye.
It hits.
You know, it's there and you just slowly bring it back to the boat.
If you could literally tear the bait out of it's mouth.
And sometimes they're soft mouth.
They're just tasting it to see if that's what they really want.
So it's just a matter of giving them time to get it.
And then you just bring it back slowly.
Is there a different feeling though, especially when you weren't expecting a walleye?
Yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yeah, when you bring it up to the boat, it's like, yeah, the first thing is you scramble for the net.
You don't bring the thing over the side of the boat without a net.
And I'm assuming you've kept enough walleye to eat.
Yes, absolutely.
Oh, yes.
It's like freshwater lobster.
It's walleye is the best.
Why is that?
I don't know.
It's just a better fish.
It would taste better.
I mean, I'm partial to blue gills and crappies.
But if I get a walleye, no.
That's like I said, it's like lobster.
Great.
Did you give those to the kids or do you?
Oh, no, no.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yes.
Yes, absolutely.
Was it sure if that was like the inside tender where it now officially exists?
No, no, exactly.
No, no.
Everybody got everything we've shared for everyone.
So talk to me just a little bit more about like what it means to you to have your grandson up here.
Oh, it's just amazing.
This is his first time, right?
Yep.
Yep.
Yep.
It's third generation now.
Hopefully it will continue.
Hopefully this place will be here with all the things that are changing in our world right
now.
I just pray to God that he has the opportunity to have the opportunity that his mom and
dad have had and that we've had.
You know, it's like, I guess sometimes people don't really appreciate how much that kind
of legacy that you leave, what that really means at the end of the day.
I'm hoping that the kids will, that the grandkids will be cognizant to this place.
Because like I said, there's no other place like it, in my opinion, here at least in the
state of Wisconsin.
I mean, when you go back home and they say, oh, what'd you do?
Like, oh, do you have a special name for it?
We always call it the chip.
Yeah, we're up as a chip.
And everybody knows, people that we know know where we typically go when we're up at the
chip.
So it's like, yeah, they're very familiar with the things that we do.
And then my wife will spend weeks posting pictures on Facebook or whatever.
So everybody gets a chance to see what we're all doing.
And that's, I mean, that's one of those things that is almost universal for a lot of people
in Wisconsin.
Like to say, I went to a resort, fishing.
Yep, yep.
One cool thing about it too is then, if there's people that don't really understand or really
don't know or are interested in it, I mean, you can pass that on to them and the potential
of them getting their kids and their grandkids involved.
And I mean, it basically kind of snowballs into something.
Because we've had friends that have come up here that have never been to a resort before.
And now, granted, they're not staying here anymore.
They found other places.
But the whole point was is that they were actually able to go up to the Northwoods, find
a place to actually stay and witness this kind of stuff.
It's like, yeah, there's, in my opinion, there's nothing better.
And that's why up north means something.
Absolutely.
That's exactly what's the up north, north to highway 10 or something like that or something.
That's a debate over there.
I know.
I know.
It depends on how far you went.
The line goes north.
You know, I always said it would be so much nicer if we were only like three hours away.
But the kids always come back and make the statement that, well, if it was only three
hours away, it wouldn't be as special as it is.
It's a good boy.
Mm-hmm.
All right.
Can I get you to say and spell your name for me just so I have it correct on tape?
Sure.
My name is Randy Moss.
His last name is spelled M-A-A-S.
All right.
And can you also give me the names and spellings of...
Oh, okay.
So just we have it correct.
All right.
I won't ask you for birthdays or interviews.
No, no, no, no.
No, her name.
Her name is...
Yes.
Abby's name.
Oh, first of all, it's Tyler Moss, same spelling last name.
And that's Warner is our grandson, Warner.
W-A-R-N-E-R, Moss.
And it's Abigail.
And I'm going to mess it up.
I know him.
It's A-B-I-G-A-E-L.
Moss.
Oh, Abigail.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
We changed the week.
Yes.
The Gaelic version.
Okay.
Actually, her mom's Irish heritage.
So that's it.
No.
Don't ask birthdays.
Are you a Moss as well?
She is a Moss at this point.
Yes.
All right.
That was great.
Thank you.
Anything else you want to add?
No.
Oh, yes.
Yes.
Wall-I-Cheeks.
We don't tell people about Wall-I-Cheeks.
No.
I learned that when you were the ones doing the fish fry, the Wall-I-Cheeks went last.
And I was like, oh, you can have it.
We're good.
We're good.
Have some more.
Yes.
I forgot all about the Wall-I-Cheeks.
What are you guys going to eat?
Oh, we've got these.
I forget that one year I was up earlier and then Tyler came up later.
And I had caught a 22-inch Wall-I over in Scott Lake.
And two days later, he came up.
And the third day, he caught a 22-inch Wall-I on Scott Lake.
That's the limit that you can keep.
Because it's based off of...
Because it's the...
What do they call it?
I can't remember.
It's the slot limit.
Well, it's also...
Or the trophy one.
Well, no, no.
It's also set by the state for the tribal lands too.
Okay.
For the indigenous people up here.
So they've got the slot limit that you can...
The seceded area.
The seceded territory is called.
So that's what this slot limit is part of what they call the seceded.
So 22, I think it was the max you could keep.
Because I would never forget, I had caught the fish and I had it in the boat.
And I had texted at the time the resort owner that was here at the time,
what's the max that I can keep?
Because I was actually on the water.
Because I wasn't going to put the boat fish in the boat because that's possession.
And she texted me back.
It said 22 when I measured it.
Got it.
I was able to bring it back.
So I knew...
Did the tribe liquid array come out here?
You know, I don't know.
I've not seen them.
I don't know.
I mean, we see them on the flowage.
I mean, they've got spots where they go and stuff like that.
But as far as being on the water, I really wouldn't know.
I know they're out here.
I mean, I know that back in the 80s, that was a big deal.
That was probably wrong a little before you first.
Oh, yeah.
Way before.
Yeah.
You heard of any tent?
I mean, is that something that's still coming?
I've never heard of anything.
In my opinion, I have an opinion on how the Native Americans have been treated in this
country.
So I'm not going to get into that.
But that's not an issue that people are...
It doesn't seem to be...
It used to be the thing like, there's no wall in it.
You know, and it seemed to be at least just from what I remember going back that far.
It seemed to be a bigger issue over in the eastern part of the state up here.
You know, when you're talking Eagle River, Rainlander, Minacua, stuff like that, that
seemed to be the bigger area.
I don't ever remember it being over here.
It may have been when the spearing started to be a real big thing.
But I don't know.
And personally, hey, this was their land first.
So why not let them do what they're going to do?
You know, as long as the rules for them are the same...
If the rules for us are the same for them, I don't have a problem with that.
What so ever.
It's when people take advantage of things, which we all have a tendency to do.
That's when things get crazy.
So I heard that that got dug out of the muck.
Yes.
Yeah, that was alive.
Yeah.
Actually, Berg, the guy that I used to come up with, he would bring that...
We had to leave it up here every year.
And then what he would do is, when we would come off the lake, instead of going up and
cleaning the fish every day, that was back in the day when you could keep...
Well, initially it was 50, then it went down to 25.
We would put them in there so that you didn't have to clean every day.
And then they would stay alive because you don't want obviously dead fish.
They don't taste good.
And for whatever reason, this last year, I forgot to grab it.
And it just stayed up here.
And somehow it stayed in the lake.
And Abby had...
Abby found it.
And so we're taking it back home.
So it's coming home with us.
Perfect.
Alright, I think we're good here.
So thank you.
You're very welcome.
For sharing your story.
Yep.
Oh, okay.
That was a good shot.
That was a good shot.
That was a good see that.
Good shot.
Did you press forward?
No.
Well, he's not hanging.
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
He's coming.
He's coming.
Nice to actually have a light.
Yeah.
Got your release.
Yeah.
Look at this boy.
Oh boy.
And she's a little young.
I don't want to do this.
She loves the most.
Look at that.
That was a good one.
You're hungry?
Really?
Are you getting hungry for supper?
Yeah.
You're getting hungry for supper?
Yeah.
You're going to have ramen?
Yeah.
You're going to have a burger?
Yeah.
You're going to have some cheese here.
You're going to have a bar.
These are the guys.
Okay.
You may have some cheese here.
My buddy Tim.
Nice.
Nice.
We're actually team leopard musky on the back of our month.
Let's see if we can get ramen noodles.
Do you want me to make them some ramen noodles?
And it's got the butter.
What do you want them to have a snack first?
No snacks.
You just ate.
There are no ramen noodles.
That's 45.
Oh, later.
Oh, no.
It's so hungry.
You just ate a bunch.
You have some cheese?
No.
You have some cheese, Karate.
You can eat it.
It's like ghosts.
What time did you want to eat?
It doesn't matter if it's inside.
It just ate something sort of.
Oh, whatever you're hungry.
All right.
Let's fire up the grill.
Oh, it's very good.
Burgers and hot dogs tonight.
Oh, man.
Oh.
Hey.
Where are you going?
Why don't you sit up here?
Why don't you just cut the water?
Over here.
Yeah.
My water perk that I need.
Yeah.
You did make a good water.
I'm friend to Dell, so I'll be the judge.
Oh, yeah.
He'll be able to tell you if you've got a good water truck or not.
Isn't this it?
The Dell's.
There's your water.
Oh, that's pretty cool.
It's pretty good slide.
I still have to make it.
So you can climb up this and you go down that way.
It's a slide of blood.
But I still have to go home.
No, no.
Okay.
Well, it's just...
No, the outside of the water...
The outside of the water perk.
That escalated rather quickly.
It isn't a blood.
No, it's not a blood.
Not a blood.
Not a blood.
Not a blood.
What are you going to add to your water perk?
Um...
Ambulance?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't know.
How are you talking about?
That's the opener.
Hey.
You're welcome to our show.
Well, I'm talking about...
No, a person that's really been big into really pushing the preservatives and really...
Their name is Cheryl Trill.
They own Trill and Resorts.
She's just been amazing, pushing all this stuff.
And, you know, Trill, everybody knows who the Trillians are that are up here.
And they've got one heck of a place to stay when you...
They're on the West side, or...
Yeah.
West side.
Well, they have a couple different places now too.
Yeah.
They have a couple different places all over the place.
But she's...
Can I help with it?
Amazing.
The more we finish this place.
The other guy in the John Dutton law, he's in a resort over here.
He's written a book.
He's written a book.
He's written a book.
He's written a book.
He did something else.
I'll tell you this.
What can you make for water is here.
Okay.
So, then you're going to make it cool.
That's the guy you've got.
He would...
Couldn't agree more.
I...
You...
He could sit...
I could sit with him for hours.
Can I...
Can I steal a page from the book?
And he does it from the aspect of...
Well, you can use this page.
You know, how his book was written as well.
Just amazing.
The stuff that this guy's got.
He's a fountain of knowledge.
Yeah.
And it's accurate now.
Oh, and it...
Yes.
And he does his research.
He spent...
I don't know how many years research in this book.
But it's just incredible.
The stuff that guy knows is just mindful.
He said, debt last.
Debt last.
Debt last.
They own Indian trails.
Indian trails.
Oh.
It's probably one of the oldest resorts on this one.
Yeah.
I think their cabins are from what?
The 30s.
Yes.
Yeah, he's been maintaining...
We're in the third cabin.
We are in the third cabin.
Keeping him up so that they stay that way.
He's real big on him when it comes to the knowledge of this place.
Yeah, it's...
It's like I said, it's just amazing how much the...
Like association.
The owners.
I've really...
Yeah.
No, sitting.
My gowns are...
Did you tell him that you caught your first perch today?
What?
You caught your first perch today?
Yeah.
How big was it?
I don't know.
Can you show me with your hands?
Oh, maybe this big?
No.
Maybe this big.
That big.
It was about six inches long.
What the hell is about this big?
He's not a...
He's got the opposite of the fishing.
Yeah.
He's not the typical fisherman you have.
Did you just switch?
Whoo-hoo-hoo.
What?
Mine's way better.
Oh, thanks.
Is he out of the water though?
I think mine's pretty cool too.
Actually, yeah.
Would you mind me flipping my back baby?
Then you can make all amusement parks.
Is it amusement park?
Don't just do a paint.
I'm not going to do a paint.
I'm not going to just do a paint.
I'm not going to do a paint.
I'm not going to do a paint.
You can show them a rest with a different color.
I know.
I didn't know where to park with.
Whoa, you should bring it all out.
That's the only thing.
That's the only thing.
Yeah, I would.
I like the way you think.
Yeah, I've pushed that thing in many questionable terrains.
Oh, I can't imagine.
But you took six, seven o'clock and I'm like,
I suppose we can be done early.
If we didn't stay out until dark.
Brutal.
You were like, I love this assignment.
I love this assignment.
I love this assignment.
Yeah, you signed up first.
I did sign up first.
Yeah, yeah.
That's true.
I can't blame you.
You were to meet before.
Yeah, no, no.
I enjoy it.
It's like the first week getting used to it again.
Okay.
All the sun shines.
Yep.
Oh, you just put up all these things.
That's a tadpole thing.
I've never seen those people.
That's the first time I've ever seen those.
Don.
You're nice.
You're nice.
I bet you had to work.
But can you find a red for me?
A red?
Or a marker?
Sure.
Oh, you're going to add more red?
Okay.
Not to add it, so.
Okay.
More blood.
That is not a blood.
Oh, that's right.
Sorry.
It's not blood.
He's going to be talking about that all the time.
It's the outside of the water.
Oh, gotcha.
Okay.
It's not blood going down the water slide.
Okay.
Sounds like a plan.
Do you have a name for your water park?
I'm going to call it the Jordan water park.
The Jordan water park?
Where'd that come from?
I'm going to do it the mustache guy.
Must.
That wasn't the mustache guy.
I thought he was the beard guy.
The beard water park.
The beard water park.
How about the pumpkin pie water park?
I should call it that.
Who could water park?
No, you can't talk like that yet.
I'm going to call it the Morganzer park.
That's false.
See?
And he saw those.
You can cover this up with this.
You can cover what up with what?
I'm trying to think of his bird that he wants.
What about water up with that?
He has his palm yet.
Kingfish.
Hey.
How many loons have we seen since we've been up here?
Four.
He's a loon bag.
I think we've seen more than four.
We saw one on a nest that was hanging out.
And the papa.
Yep.
Mama and the papa?
Yeah.
Mama and the papa died.
You can't tell we don't use mom and dad.
The papa did before the mama did it.
Yeah.
Yep.
And they're pretty birds.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That is in northern section.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They're a little campground.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They live right across the street from the lawn.
Like state park.
Oh.
Okay.
Yeah.
I went and drove through all those last year looking to see for
the last year.
Yeah.
Was it your wife's ancestors?
I used to own it.
Yeah.
It was your wife's ancestors.
I used to own it.
Yeah.
It was your wife's ancestors.
I used to own it.
Yeah.
That's the street.
They're the ones that sold it to the state.
They have mountains.
They call it Duntey Mountain.
They used to be called Captain Mountain.
That's his wife's maiden.
Go for it.
Write it out.
You can do it.
Which is pretty cool.
I'll tell you.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
A.
S.
There you go.
S.
Pants.
Water.
Oh.
Sorry.
W.
Up.
Up.
Yep.
Yep.
E.
Oh.
We got an E.
There you go.
Park.
Yep.
Up.
Yep.
Up.
Yep.
Perfect.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
I like the sign.
Nice work.
Thanks for bringing in my face.
Thank you.
Is there a balloon right there?
Yep.
Yes it is.
There you go.
There you go.
There you go.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Up.
Cool.
That is a good starter.
Does that sound just calming?
I think they think you're it.
Yeah.
Because you're so sad.
Because you're so sad.
Because they don't like to buy paint on?
Oh.
Oh really.
That's aggressive.
Yeah.
This is fine.
Oh okay.
Why would you, well Rainer the water park?
I mean, well that way.
What do we say about Seligu?
What do we say about Seligu?
What do we say about Seligu?
It's good that one though, but Seligu doesn't grow.
How about Seligu?
What?
Let's not go there.
How about Seligu's?
Seligu!
I like Seligu's letters.
Wow.
Oh, yoy.
That's a big one.
Yes, it says it hands us.
How about Seligu's letters?
Get it, get it, get it.
No worries.
Get a proper education.
Yes.
Get an education.
It's orange.
Hey, I need an orange.
I need an orange marker.
We'll make sure you're nice and well rounded.
Right.
Orange hair.
Is it a Cheeto?
No.
It's a lion.
It's a lion?
Ooh, even better.
She'd have some neighbors if I could steal their hair.
Love orange hair.
They're what?
They're grilled.
The child with lions have orange hair.
Wow.
It's just the charcoal disappears.
It doesn't stay there.
Well, for burgers and hot dogs.
And I'm cooking mine on the inside.
Yeah.
You don't have to worry about that one.
Chicken thighs are a little different.
True.
I'm going to make a cat.
Oh, it looks like cat ears.
Oh, okay.
Thanks.
I'm going to be surprised.
Come on up.
Look here.
Look at that.
Nice.
There's a beautiful fire here.
Yeah.
I'm trying to.
Yeah.
That's one of the drawbacks of coming up to the cabins is you got to bring all your stuff
with you.
Otherwise you go broke.
Now it all the time.
But it's part of the experience.
Oh, yeah.
It's all right.
Hi.
You're probably going to have to review this one.
Sorry.
No, that's good.
Do it around the bottom.
No, no, you wrap it around the bottom of the.
Yes.
That one right there.
Just go around that one.
Yeah, girl.
One more time.
And then bring it back over toward the bullets.
Yeah.
Just pull it up so it doesn't.
Yeah.
There you go.
You got it.
You got it.
Perfect.
Yeah.
Otherwise it'll end up in the water.
That would not be a good thing.
Especially if you're the next person that's going to tuck it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I hope you guys can get out there.
That's this time of night.
I'm sure Keith will take us out sometime.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We've just met them.
Last year was the first time we really got to know them.
We actually met them when they first bought the place and we stopped by when we were staying
in the garden and it's just see who they were.
Yeah.
And they were just awesome during the musky tournament.
Actually they're getting shirts for us this next year.
Oh, cool.
Yeah.
Because there's my brothers, our group.
And then there's a group of guys that stay and I think it's Kevin Five that are fishing
and determining the incredible difference.
Just fishing.
The water.
You put your bait in the water.
You lose it after three feet.
Here you can see it go down quite a bit.
This is more like a lake, so to speak, where that is rough.
And if you don't know your way around there, you're guaranteed to lose low end, lower end.
You and out of your motor.
Yeah.
It's not.
I mean it's amazing.
Are you used to a little chimney pot?
Yes, we have one at home.
Yeah.
I didn't want.
We had bought a cheapo.
One year to make extra varieties.
And we came from everything here.
And then we went down here.
And then we went down here.
And then we got the water.
And we went older and visited the town.
And then stuck it.
So I said.
Yeah.
Okay.
And stuff now.
It's different.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
Good job.
Yeah.
Okay.
Good job.
Okay.
Yeah.
You know, there's a lot of people out here who are sick and sick.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's good.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's so cool! Did you open where it is?
No, pop it in.
I didn't even catch any fish on that side.
Oh, that's okay.
You can catch more fish over here.
Okay.
Okay.
I would shock the work, pop it down.
Yeah, I'd catch it too.
Wow.
Look at that thing.
Don't stick your finger in the muffins.
Did you just want the pliers out of it?
Okay.
Did you do this?
Here it is.
I was trying not to get hooked by a...
Actually, I'm not sure.
Yeah.
You can get it right this way.
Yeah, I'm going to.
I know prairie dogs.
You got it?
It's just in the very front.
Do you want this little one?
Yeah, that'll do.
Oh, okay.
I just need something metal.
Yep.
Oh, geez.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Still think they should just keep the pike up there and just make like a little...
Hello, what?
My fish tank.
Northern tank.
Oh, no.
What are you doing, buddy?
Last time.
I was talking to you.
Just talking to the fish.
No.
How did you get this?
There we go.
Oh, you're biting.
That's what you're doing.
You want me to grab?
So, maybe...
Hey, you want to stand next to me?
No.
Come here.
Come here.
Let me grab my phone quick, too.
Yeah.
Okay, good job.
Just a little bit.
I don't touch it.
No.
Touch it.
It's just a little slimy.
Oh, thanks.
Are we keeping it?
Yep.
Hold on.
Yeah, yeah.
Hey, Warner, peek your head around.
Say cheese.
There you go.
Thank you.
Good job.
Did you see me sing my tongue out?
Of course you did.
You sent your tongue out.
Got it?
Can you help?
No.
I did just catch that.
Did he get back to you yet?
No.
It ain't happening.
It's all good.
The opportunity missed.
Yeah, it happens.
I suppose.
But then we wouldn't have the fish.
I mean, hey, I mean, do you guys talk too much?
That's what happens.
No, no.
I didn't talk that much.
I mean, you don't like the one you talk about.
I actually have the grill upside down.
Yeah.
No.
There's no one.
Probably just doing a smart alley.
It's just being a sassy.
It's being a sassy.
It's being a sassy.
And we're going to turn this around.
No, we're sassy pigs.
Thank you.
I love you.
I put it on the wrong way.
It is what it is.
Watch this.
Do you try and cut it off?
Amazing.
Well, you get one of the grill.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
Can I use that one now?
Yep.
On mine.
I think he bent mine.
What?
Yeah.
I think he bent yours.
He bent it.
He bent it yours?
Yep.
And eyeballs.
Fix the bill.
It's not easy to push.
Yeah.
We called them by careful.
This is really hot.
Okay.
Can you switch it from this?
Sorry.
Nope.
Yeah.
No.
No.
It's a big pan?
Yeah.
Oh.
Oh.
Okay.
It's a big pan?
Yeah.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
I want to stop.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
It is hard to take this one.
Oh god.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
Yeah.
That whole place was originally called Sandy Point Resort 2 last night.
Before we came up we actually had Callumpinima.
Actually there was a guy who was very Volice.
Yeah, the winter time out here, it's like a little city sometimes, but there's not ice.
Yeah, well, the only thing you can keep off the floor to the winter is the bluegills perching
drop.
It's that you can't keep any walls or anything, it's not open.
It's not open, it's not open, it's not open, it's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.
It's not open.