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Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 is official ICE OUT on Little Sand Lake.  Warmer temperatures and wind brought the lake back to life for the season.

Thank you to all the active customers who have stopped by and visited us at the Sport Shows.  A big welcome to those who have stopped by our booth at the Sport Shows and made a reservation for this season.  We can’t wait to see you at Anchor Inn Resort, the greatest Minnesota fishing resort (of course we are a little prejudice).  If you are interested in Minnesota Fishing Resorts or a Minnesota family vacation, come and check us out at a Sport Show or on our website.

Take advantage of the the winter to shop for your spring, summer or fall trips.  Think about Minnesota fishing and Minnesota hunting next season and make a reservation.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2010 FISHING CONTEST WINNERS

They will each receive a fishing combo rod and reel when they return to Anchor Inn Resort in 2011.

Dan A. – Bloomington, IL   32.5 inch Northern Pike

Gerald K. – South Barrington, IL  Crappie  1 Pound 8 oz.

Sid B. – Aledo, IL  Bluegill        1 Pound 12 oz

Matt H. – Galva, IL  Large Mouth Bass 6 pound 4 oz.

Bob H.     -  Fulton, IL  Walleye  6 Pound 12 oz.

This was a good year for fishing in the Sand Lake chain of  lakes.  The lakes experienced extremes in water levels and clarity.  In the Spring the water was very low.  Continued rains throughout the season brought water levels up (and kept the grass green). Record temperatures for October brought on several algae blooms.  Like most of the nation, we experienced unseasonable changes in the weather, warm April and October, cold May, weekly rain,  and numerous and frequent weather fronts.  Despite the frequent weather changes the fishing remained good.  The perch and pan fish fishing were exceptional this year with large numbers and sizes in the catches.

Pictures in the 2010 Guest photo album provide a good representation of the fishing season.

If you have not tried fishing in the Sand Lake chain you need to come try it out.  We believe you will find the accommodations at Anchor Inn relaxing, clean and reasonable.

The biggest catch of the week!!

Many happy guests enjoyed the remodeled Cabin 1 in 2010.

Wolf at Pete's dock

Wolf at first bend in river north of lodge

Bull Moose at first bend in the river September 2010

We had visits from the wolves on the river last winter.  Click on the images to see an enlarged view.  Thank you to Don and Martie Wilson, our neighbors, for the photos.  In September we had another visitor in the same location.  Don and Martie also caught this on camera.  It is great to have these sitings.

Spring 2011 is near.  Neighbors have reported that the Trumpeter Swans are in the Bowstring River near the infamous Anchor Inn Bridge.

This was a good year for fishing in the Sand Lake chain of  lakes.  The lakes experienced extremes in water levels and clarity.  In the Spring the water was very low.  Continued rains throughout the season brought water levels up (and kept the grass green). Record temperatures for October brought on several algae blooms.  Like most of the nation, we experienced unseasonable changes in the weather, warm April and October, cold May, weekly rain,  and numerous and frequent weather fronts.  Despite the frequent weather changes the fishing remained good.  The perch and pan fish fishing were exceptional this year with large numbers and sizes in the catches.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering implementing new limits of only five each on Sunfish, Perch and Crappie on the Sand Lake Chain.  You will have an opportunity to voice your opinion on their website www.dnr.state.mn.us during a public comment period next spring, summer and fall.  If this were enacted into the regulations it would take place in 2011.   Your opinions and comments make a great deal of difference.

The best hunting this year was the grouse.  Field and Stream has ranked the Chippewa National Forest as the Number 1 grouse hunting location in the United States.  We had several parties who were limiting out on a daily basis.  Hunting parties were from Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina as well as Minnesota.

We pride ourselves on meeting the needs of our guests.  Improvements in our facilities are ongoing to make your stay with us comfortable.

In 2008 we opened our new cabin 7 which provides four bedrooms and two bathes for large groups or small groups who wish to have ample room and modern facilities.  This unit has a large living room with a 37 inch flat screen television hooked to cable.  You also will enjoy wireless internet access.  The living room adjoins the dining and kitchen so that you can enjoy the company of your party while relaxing, eating, and cooking.  All of these areas open to a deck and view of Little Sand Lake.  Call for details or special pricing depending on availability.

We continue improvements on resort property.  Prior to opening in 2010, we remodeled Cabin 1; installing new carpeting, rebuilt the lakefront wall with new windows, and created a second bedroom from the large living room on the lakefront.

Remodeled A-Frame lakeside view

Living Room Remodel

The new fish cleaning house is complete.   You really need to plan a fishing trip to clean your catch in our deluxe facility.

Five cleaning stations in our new fish cleaning house

We hope to make improvements on the bait house and shower house in the coming year.

The bridge replacement project  has now been rescheduled for post Labor Day 2012 to allow time for tribal cultural considerations.  The preliminary reports indicated the possible existance of artifacts which might need to be removed.  Therefore, more detailed archeological digs will be conducted the summer 0f 2011.   This process will present opportunities for our guests to watch a dig. 

The wooden bridge has been a memorable location to many generations of anglers.  The new plans include a fishing platform on the north side of a concrete bridge as well as wider road  and shoulders.  This will provide a safer location for vehicles and pedestrians.   There are also plans to include curbs and a sidewalk back to the Anchor Inn drive entrance.  We are working on plans to restore the shoreline of  river to native vegetation which will be disturbed during construction.  Although road traffic will only be open from the west, the river will remain open for boaters and anglers.  If you need directions when traveling to Anchor Inn Resort or to area attractions during construction we will be glad to assist you.

Bud & Gin's 60th Wedding Anniversary

Bud and Gin made their annual trip to Florida.   They enjoyed a family reunion along with Randy in Southern Indiana with relatives from Bud’s family in September.  Grand-daughter, Sarah is pursuing her Master’s degree at Ball State University.   Grandson, Christian is a freshman at Western Illinois University.  Granddaughter, Jasmine is a junior at Rock Island High School.  Grandson, Jared, his wife Becca and daughter Leah visited us in September.  Grandson, Jason, his wife Jill along with JT, Joy, and Jenna visited in June.  JT and Joy returned in October during their school break.   Randy and Kim spent a two week vacation at the resort helping build Cheryl and Dan’s dome home and squeezing in a few days of fishing.  We were all sad when Dan lost his mother in September.

Cheryl and Dan continued to work on their dome home west of the resort.  It now has windows and a roof.   It is ready for siding and then move to interior work.

Windows installed and shingled.

Carol and Tom spent school breaks working on their home as they prepare for retirement in a couple of years.  The exterior is nearly complete with electric and drain lines roughed in.  Most of the insulation is installed.

Exterior of Tom & Carol's complete

All of the family members assisted on these projects.

Randy and Kim have begun initial planning for their future cabin in the woods.

Anchor Inn has been in the Kitterman family since 1968, forty-three years.