During the past few weeks I have spoken with my brother-in-law Lynn Johnson, who lives in Nome, Alaska, on quite a few different occasions. His cousin, Danny Laity, of Galena, Illinois, and Lynn’s brother, Ron, from Eagan were up visiting him in the first part of September. Danny was there to moose hunt and fish and Ron was there for fishing and for the many good laughs they must have had.

Although they didn’t have an opportunity to bag a moose, the pike fishing was phenomenal. Lynn loves to fish pike and he likes eating them about as much as catching them. In Alaska most people don’t visit for the pike fishing but instead are looking for halibut or king salmon.

This leaves the pike to basically a few residents that have ties to the upper Midwest where northern pike fishing is popular. Lynn says this suits him just fine because, although he does his best to put a dent in it, the pike population will probably always be strong.

Lynn has all the necessities you need to be an avid outdoorsman in Alaska.

Two boats, two or three snow machines, a couple ATV’s and three airplanes.

He is not a guide by trade, but I’m sure he could make a fine living at it if he wanted to.

When Lynn took Dan and Ron pike fishing he was hoping it would lead to some good fishing and some filets for the freezer. I don’t think he expected what was to come. On one trip up the Kuzitrin River they were fishing out of Lynn’s boat and the back or stern of the boat was about 10 feet from shore. They started to hear rustling in the bush, which was thick and was all the way up to the river bank. Soon they could hear a bear very close to the edge and it seemed to be challenging them. Now fishing in the Alaskan wilderness means that part of the fishing gear is a gun. Lynn always has a .44 magnum with him while out in the wild. He said that when the bear kept persisting and sounded like it was moving ever closer they all moved to the front of the boat. Once the bear seemed to quiet down they pulled up the anchor and moved to a different spot. Lynn said that he thought for a moment that they were surely going to have a bear in the boat.

When Lynn described the pike fishing experience and how good it was I found it hard to imagine anything like it. Lynn said that when they got to this one area of the river they anchored and began casting, in one hour they had caught 20 pike more than 10 pounds and 10 of them were 18 pounds or larger. His brother, Ron, was holding on to the record for the week with a 24-pound pike but Dan beat him out later on with one that was almost 50-inches long and was estimated to be about a 30-pounder. Dan had some great fishing and his secret “killer bait” was nothing more than a medium-sized black and white Daredeville.

They took pictures of the fish and released all of the fish over 10 pounds.

The smaller ones were filleted and went into the cooler for Lynn to enjoy during the long winter months in Nome. Now that is some mighty fine fishing, and I’m sure it was a trip of a lifetime for Dan. Lynn said that Dan told him before he left that he really enjoyed himself, and I would be willing to bet that he was probably already making plans for a return trip on the plane ride home.

Lynn has sent me many pictures of wildlife over the years but one of the best has to be the most recent one of a musk ox. When I got it I couldn’t believe it and had to ask him how close he was to get a picture like that.

He said he got about 10 feet away before he took the picture. I am amazed that he could even get that close to a wild animal like that out in the wilderness.

Every time I look at some of the pictures or listen to Lynn tell of his latest adventure I get a good feeling. It’s a feeling I get from knowing that we still have a lot of untamed wilderness and that the state of Alaska is doing it’s part to see that it stays that way.

Until next time hunt safe, keep fish’n and, as always, take a little time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the year.

A few fishing reports from around the state:

BEMIDJI — Walleyes hitting from 6-20 feet on a jig and a minnow. Redtails working best. Muskie action spotty. Good perch reports from Cass and

Bemidji on minnows. Bluegills are scattered in deeper water. A few deer shot, and bear registration is up from last year. About 15-20 bears so far.

The biggest so far is 490 pounds.

CROSSLAKE — The walleyes on the Whitefish Chain, Pelican and most other lakes in the Crosslake area remain active. Pelican has a good biting going on red tails or night crawlers on Spinners or lindy rigs in 14 to 35 feet of water. The last few weeks of warm weather has brought water temps to their highest this year. Northern and bass action continues to take place in and along the weedline. Crank baits and plastic worms are the best choices. Crappie and panfish are being found in 1 to 4 feet of water with small jigs and waxworms. With bear and archery deer season starting we have registered two bear and two deer as of Sunday morning.

WINNIBIGOSHISH — With record warm temperatures for September the walleye fishing on Big Winnie has been different for several reasons. There have been limits coming from the deeper flats off Raven’s Point and Big and Little Musky Bars on the South. The best depths have been 13-17 feet and the crawler and rig plus spinner and minnows have been taking most of the fish. When the wind blows a jig and minnow bite happens shallow. The current water temperatures are 10-12 degrees warmer than normal and that has effected locations of walleyes around the lake. Other specie locations have also been effected by the warmer water temperatures as well. For the first time in decades there is a green algae bloom still on the surface in Big Cutfoot Lake. Northern pike can be found deep right with the walleyes and yellow perch are right out there with everything else. The crappies are just now starting to seek their fall and winter haunts and it looks like the open water fishing season will be extended a couple weeks. Start paying attention to the shoreline bite for walleyes in the next week. The terns are starting to show up and will show you where the baitfish are. It’s been an interesting year and the unknown continues.

LEECH LAKE — Fishing on Leech Lake is hot. Fire tiger No. 5 shad raps working. Try Goose Island flats. They are also doing great on Huddles Reef and Variety Reef and the good news is it is only going to get better! Can you believe this weather? It is nicer in September then August or July! Longer nights are cooling the water which turns the fish on. Muskies are also putting on the food bags with many follows and a nice release yesterday around 50 inches. Come enjoy Leech this fall!

LAKE OF THE WOODS — Lake of the Woods has been blessed with incredible weather for the past few weeks with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Because of this great weather, walleyes have been in abundance and continued in their summer pattern. Long Point and the Zippel Bay areas are the sites of great fishing whether you are water jigging with gold, glow in the dark, pink or orange jigs tipped with a minnow or trolling with shad raps silver and red or white and red. Fish are being found in depths of

25-34 feet of water. Downrigging has also proven to be productive in putting fish in the boat. Whether you’re looking for good eaters or a trophy fish, you’ll be pleased to find your limits in these waters. Water

temperature is currently 69 degrees. Looking ahead to temperatures dipping, walleyes will move into the Lighthouse Gap and Rainy River areas looking for their choice meals of shiner minnows. Keep watching for reports of the run of shiners soon to come. Lake of the Woods was the site of the Minnesota Tournament Trail Invitational this past weekend. There were 74 teams participating and champions Rick Amundson and Tom Briggs brought in a two-day weight of 45.24 pounds.