“The Great Red Lake” by Ryan Votruba

The wind rushed by our faces as we casted our weathered rods into the dark abyss of Red Lake.

The game was officially on. We were in search of Minnesota’s finest game fish: the walleye. It started off slowly as we searched the vast expanse of Red Lake. At last, fish on, the rod bent sharply and line dragged from my reel. After a strong fight, my dad put the net in the water and I could tell by the faint sound of the struggling fish that we would not be filling the live well yet.

As we released the sheephead, I collected my dollar for the first fish. The game was back on. Another bite, a fish rudely interrupts grandpa from eating chips and drinking his diet Pepsi. He sets the hook and reels in a nice keeper walleye. We rocked and rolled in the waves amongst the many other eager fishermen. For about a half hour no rods were bending or nets going in the water.

My brother states strongly, “This is a big lake. Let’s go to another spot away from all this boat traffic.”

My dad fires up the motor and we head west. The waves splash into our faces. “Let’s try it here,” my dad said.

“Why not?” said grandpa.

We were out by ourselves and now we could relax and do some serious fishing. Before you could say, “Red is dead,” the bite was on. Grandpa was busy monitoring the live well as walleye after walleye was gently placed in. “I need another minnow,” and “Where’s the net?” were common phrases in our boat. My dad calls my uncle on the walkie talkie.

“I think we found them.”

Before you knew it, my uncle and my cousins were catching fish as fast as us. All this activity didn’t go unnoticed. Many other fishermen soon ventured within casting distance of our boat. Everyone was catching fish; nets were dipping in the water everywhere. The Great Red Lake bite was on.

Over the years I have had many memories on Red Lake, from catching many walleye and huge crappies to my dad almost sinking the boat. (He always checks to see that the plug is in the boat now.) Or forgetting the net and watching a gigantic northern break my dad’s line. Red Lake is one of Minnesota’s finest lakes. It has provided me with wonderful memories that I will never forget.