I was thinking of Mr. Ness today. I think it was Arnold Ness. I had heard stories about Ness from the Ely locals. He ran booze during prohibition, hung from a rope in the mines during the winter drilling holes for explosives and was known for lake trout fishing and designing and making airplane jigs. From memory a story I heard repeated is that he landed 3 lake trout on Basswood 25 pounds plus in a single day. I was living at Snowbank Lodge February 1971. Mr. Ness rented a cabin at the Lodge to fish lake trout for a week. In the evenings he told stories of prohibition, the biting cold working in the mines and his love of lake trout fishing and the Iron Range. He did verify he and his fishing partner landed 3 lake trout in the 25 lb range. I wish I had a photo of him. I am including a photo of his airplane jigs.

He did make a Trout Jig we called the Ness Dart. It had a delta wing and was fairly heavy when compared to other trout jigs>
I believe he lived in the Virginia area.

Cool story, thanks for sharing. Kind of reminds me of the ones made by Rapala. Both are heavy, lots of treble hooks and have wings to move the lure when you pull on the line.

I used to drink with ness. Damn guy was a hoot n holler! Anyways I used to make shine with his cousin tovui. Tovui’s dad used to run whiskey outta Canada during the 30’s to feed his family and his neighbors the story was told. So one opener up on basswood in 73 there’s tovui on the Canuck side of American point selling non taxable finlander shine to the Canuck wardens. I was like here we f’in go with 7 lines with homemade side plainers trolling the Canuck side reefs.
Turned out those Canuck wardens where Hungary and thirsty. Well let’s say tovui was on his 3rd day of drinking and had pickled nor-dern and booze.Those Canuck wardens and tovui fished and drank for 4 days. Idk what happened ta tovui and the wardens but I sure slipped on rig on northbay trolling hard for LT’s and catching limits of post spawn walleyes near White Island.

Now that is some good Iron Range story telling.

zika: "Now that is some good Iron Range story telling. "

I'm assuming my opinion is a minority, but I often find Wallski funny, similar to Red Green hopped up on meth.

+1 Miss Molly
from his profile he's 83 and saw a different era of fishing than most.
These old timers I appreciate as well.

The Great Outdoors: "He did make a Trout Jig we called the Ness Dart. It had a delta wing and was fairly heavy when compared to other trout jigs>
I believe he lived in the Virginia area."

I would love to see a picture of that jig. Fascinating story Zika, thanks for sharing. Arnold Ness, sounds like he was quite a character and a good fisherman too.

I passed Walkski's story on to my old friends on the Iron Range. This story is a treasure. It makes me realize the great wealth I have knowing men like this when I was young and how it changed my life really. I love booze, women, fishing and rules are for fools. All kidding aside, these tough ole iron rangers added texture, color and joy to my whole life since.

All tough old Rangers, whether actual or created, embellish events that may or may not have occurred.
I'm with Molly. This is some high-grade s**t, too. Love it.

missmolly: "

zika: "Now that is some good Iron Range story telling. "

I'm assuming my opinion is a minority, but I often find Wallski funny, similar to Red Green hopped up on meth. "

Crack don’t smoke itself and you are in the vast minority on this one. You have people asking questions on this board that they want reasonable answers to and along comes Boobberry with his ridiculous responses it has gotten old really quick .

Basspro69: "

missmolly: "

zika: "Now that is some good Iron Range story telling. "

I'm assuming my opinion is a minority, but I often find Wallski funny, similar to Red Green hopped up on meth. "

Crack don’t smoke itself and you are in the vast minority on this one. You have people asking questions on this board that they want reasonable answers to and along comes Boobberry with his ridiculous responses it has gotten old really quick ."

AMEN!

Basspro69: "

missmolly: "

zika: "Now that is some good Iron Range story telling. "

I'm assuming my opinion is a minority, but I often find Wallski funny, similar to Red Green hopped up on meth. "

Crack don’t smoke itself and you are in the vast minority on this one. You have people asking questions on this board that they want reasonable answers to and along comes Boobberry with his ridiculous responses it has gotten old really quick ."

Hmm youngster to have an attitude you should earn it instead of spraying it.

Back in 82,83, 84 there was a very early ice before thanksgiving . Good 16 inches of ice at the shanty at stinky-ditch for sure. So old man sukovichanen said load it the gear we are making a run to the gunflint. Well we make it to the birch lake ta carp portage, and hell broke underwater. I’m old and weak I’ll continue after coffee, eggs, bacon n fin vodka.

missmolly: "

zika: "Now that is some good Iron Range story telling. "

I'm assuming my opinion is a minority, but I often find Wallski funny, similar to Red Green hopped up on meth. "

+1 I doubt wallski is as old as he claims. I also would bet he is just another swampy with a little local knowledge. Any local (to the bwca) knowledge on this site is a plus in my mind. So I am ok with wallski.

Cool lures. They look a bit like Bondy Baits .

Back in the 20’s my old man got shoved down the Shute at Zenith for slave wages of 6.25 a week. He also did work out at section 30. I still have his hardhat and lantern to this day. He loved the outdoors and taught me what I know. I handed down that knowledge to my little ones. The forest service never found a deer hunting shack he built in the 30’s near basswood. It’s still there today in a cedar swamp in tact with bunks a table and oven.