A Full Service Shop

Well another turkey day in the can! Can't wait for next year! Business is still very slow. I got kind of excited today when I actually had two cars come in the drive and I went running (fast walk) over to the shop and was greeted by a local regular type customer that needed about 6 crappie minnows. I asked him if he was limited to the amount of time he had for angling given the fact that he only wanted a 1/2 dozen of the little swimmers and then he informed me that he just needed to feed his Oscar. Oh, OK. I guess I'll need to expand my price list to include half dozens. The next customer was a pleasant lady that was searching the store and finally asked if I had any waxies. I replied in the affirmative and got them for her and it was then that I asked the all too familiar question, "So are you having any luck out there?", only to be answered with, "Oh these aren't for that. My daughter has a salamander and it eats waxies." Oh, OK.
Have fun doing whatever it is you do in the great outdoors. Even if it's indoors and includes things living in aquariums.
Take care. God bless and...........Don't Forget To Feed Your Pets!

The back room is almost cleaned up so we can get ready for the ice fishing season. I'm pleased with how God is keeping it cold out there so we can have early ice. That should help with the coffers. Fresh bait arrives this afternoon as does my brother and his guest. I suppose I'll open up the shop in the morning just in case people might need something for hunting seeing as how most everyone will have the day off of work.
I'm sure there won't be much opportunity to blog tomorrow so I'd like to say now that I sincerely hope and pray that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you are able to be with as many loved ones as is possible and you cherish your time together. I know I will! Anne is home from college and Jack arrives sometime this evening. I have soooo much to be thankful for that it puts a big lump in my throat. Thank you my Lord for everything past, present and future.
God bless everyone, keep warm and.......Eat Your Buns Off!!! (figuratively speaking) :).

It was a quiet hunting opener up here although I must say that the deer I've seen in the back of pickup trucks going by have been very impressive. Personnally I haven't seen anything but that's because I only look when I walk from the shop over to the house.
Business has bacically been nonexistent but that's to be expected this time of year. The temps are cooperating though and we could very well have some ice in a couple of weeks. The sooner the better!
We here at Stone Lake Bait and Tackle have a whole lot to be thankful for this year. My brother Bill and his special friend Mar are able to be with us as well as some of the kids and that sits pretty good with me! I'm looking forward to spending time in the kitchen with Jenal making desserts. We're a good team in the kitchen. We all are blessed with good health and are certainly thankful for that.
Take care and God bless........and fish your buns off!!

I looked out the window this morning and saw Moose's ball laying in the snow. That's all it took but I think I really needed it. Today is harder than yesterday. I really miss my furry friend. Along with the other bumps in my road it's a very rough surface right now.
The gun deer opener starts tomorrow but I'm not sure if I'll go sit in the morning. I just can't get motivated for much and will be happy when these emotions settle down.
Best of luck out in the field everyone. Be sure to make your shot count and be aware of what's beyond your target.
God bless and.......hunt your buns off!

It is done.

Well it's a very sad day at the bait shop today to say the least. Our faithful companion of 10 years, Moose, was laid to rest this afternoon. I was by his side when the vet, showing some emotion herself, performed the procedure that put him out of his misery for good. I want to thank the wonderful staff at the Care Animal Clinic in Hayward, Wi. for their compassion and kind words. As well as our Lord for giving my daughter Ellen and myself the strength to do what needed to be done. I'll miss you my loyal friend. You will never be forgotten.
God bless......

Hello again. We had a very busy summer. Thanks to you all. You know who you are. There's been a lot of changes around here so admittedly the blogging has not only fallen by the wayside it fell off the earth. We're back to catch you up. I still don't have my own computer so I have to steal my wife's when she goes to work. She doesn't like it when I bring it to the bait shop and I guess I don't blame her. Sometimes it gets confused as to where it is.
We now have a new archery pro shop up and running along with the recent addition of a small selection of ammunition. After all it is hunting season and we are trying to get a piece of that action around here to help stay afloat. That's getting increasingly difficult these days what with the economy and all. But God willing we'll make it. Some customers would be nice too.
It's with a heavy heart that I say it's time for our beloved chocolate lab Mousse to be relieved of his pain and suffering. Earlier this summer he was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor behind his right front leg and it's noticeably bothering him now. My daughter Ellen and I will most likely take him to the vet on Thurs. (11/18/10) to get "the shot" and then bring him home to his final resting place out back in the corner of the field. You will be sadly missed by all my old friend. Just think of all those deer and squirrels you'll get to chase around in animal heaven.
Take care everyone.
God bless and........fish your buns off!!

It's a cold, wet, gloomy day here in the upnorth. I call it the upnorth because "northwoods" is so worn out. Although it is what it is. Our mighty and loving God called grandma home early this morning so the weather seems appropriate. I'm grateful that we all had a chance last week to have some private time with her. What a nice lady. I was probably closer to her as a mother figure than any other except my own of course but I lost her in 1967. You'll be missed Dolores. Thanks for everything. I'm certain that there's a big party in heaven going on right now because Judy and grandpa have been waiting patiently.
Sold 3 minnow buckets yesterday and was thankful for that seeing as how the game fishing season has ended until May 1st. This rain is going to play havoc on the ice conditions so I feel that this season is coming to a close. Yea it just feels like a "coming to a close" kind of day. Ho hum.....
Stay dry. Tell your mom you love her, God bless and.......Fish Your Buns Off!

I just love it when people come in here and tell me that the grocery store sells bait for less while they dig through their wallets for some cash. Seems like kind of a stupid thing to say. Why aren't they standing at the check out lane down at the grocery store saying the baits more expensive at the bait shop? Hmmm. I don't mind though. At least they are here and not there.
12 days and counting until the end of game fish season '09-10. It'll probably be like a morgue around here until the ice is off. Good time to do some serious housekeeping and give the aerators a little break. We'll be shutting this operation down from the 24Th of March until the 7Th of April to do a road trip to Florida. We're looking forward to some camping and hooking up with old chums and my dear mother-in-law and to unload the remainder of our paintball equipment.
By the sound of things the crappies are starting to loosen up and get more aggressive. They're still preferring the abyss and just sit down there waiting for you to come to them, as opposed to hanging around just under the ice. Once you get there though you'll be well rewarded. Just stick a crappie minnow on that jig and send 'er down. Walleyes are deep now too. They're down to 30 feet and about a foot off the bottom. Shiners and suckers are working well as they have all season.
The Minnesota anglers are aplenty this time of year and what a welcome sight they are. I'm hearing that they can't get any shiners there now. I'm thinking it's because of the VHS disease that some areas are experiencing. We've got plenty of shiners here and those guys are liking it.
So whether you're from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois or anywhere come on up to Stone Lake and stop in and see us. Have a safe drive.
Take care, God bless and ......Fish Your Buns Off!

We're Baaack!! Finally got the hold hardware up and running again. Had to sell enough minnows to get back online here so hopefully we'll be able to do some regular posting.
Things are changing here at Stone Lake Bait and Tackle. We've closed up the paintball field (sad face) because Jack has moved to New Richmond and is persuing a career in the tatooing field. I'm pretty sure I just heard what could be described as our deceased loved ones rolling over. Anyone who knows "The Buds" though can rest assured that he's still the same great kid, tatoos or not. Anyway, the paintball field will be transformed into an archery range this summer and we'll be starting with 3-5 shooting lanes. We'll add more as the funds permit us to. We'll also be adding a 3D shooting course in the woods out back. We are really excited to add this to the offerings here along with our fleet (1) of rental boat. We'll be adding more of those too if it turns out to be popular.
We've added a clothing line called Reel Women Fish. It's mainly tee shirts and sweatshirts with some kids and baby clothing too. We want there to be something for everyone here.
It's been a good winter. Hard to believe that it's our second ice fishing season. New customers continue to find us here tucked away from the main drag. The local support and word of mouth has been great. Thanks to all!
There's only a couple of weeks left before walleye and northern season shuts down although you can still panfish all year long. Things will start to get pretty quiet and we may close for a week or so later in March. It would work out well because Jenal and I might be doing a road trip to Florida to deliver a load of stuff from the paintball operation. One of America's finest just returned from Iraq and has expressed some interest in starting up his own field and wants to buy what we don't need anymore. We're anxious to get that firmed up.
Well that should bring y'all up to date to what's happening here. Check out our new website at www.stonelakebait.com .
Take care. God bless and.......Fish Your Buns Off!