Contact Travis Frank

Phone: 612-382-6927
Email: travis@trophyencounters.com

To book a guided fishing trip or discuss details, please fill out the form to the right and click submit - or use the information above to reach Travis directly.


265 S Oak St
Waconia, MN
United States

612-382-6927

Travis Frank and Trophy Encounters Guide Service specializes in fully-guided fishing trips for Muskie, Walleye, Bass, Northern Pike and Panfish on Lake Minnetonka, Lake Waconia, Lake Mille Lacs and other Metro Minnesota Waters.​

Current Fishing Report

Follow Travis Frank's regular fishing report.  Muskie, Walleye, Bass, Pike and more 365 days a year across Minnesota.

What's Up With This Wind?

Travis Frank

Seriously, What the heck is going on here?  I feel like if the wind drops below 15 mph that I should consider it calm.  I am so sick of this wind that I could scream!  Mix in some incredible cold fronts, and you have yourself ingredients for dissapointment.  This may be the reason for the slower than normal start across the metro.  Regardless, I have to fish, and the weather can only hold us at bay for so long.  Friday morning I snuck out on the water before the sun got out of bed.  I've mentioned this many times in the past, but there is simply no better way to start the day than watching the sun rise over the water.  Pauly met me on the dock and we only had about 2 dozen minnows.  This proved to be a mistake, because we caught about 10 walleyes and missed just as many in only a few short minutes.  Fun, but neither one of us anticipated running out of bait so quick.  We switched to cranks and pulled a few more before we left the lake.  We returned that evening to try it again, but found 45 mph wind gusts blowing across the lake.  This made for tough boat handling, but was worth it when we found the walleyes again.  This time they were hugging the wind blown shoreline in 2 feet of water.  Cranks and jigs landed another 7 or 8 eyes.  While this may sound pretty good, I have to admit that they were all running on the short side.  Oh well, still a fun friday for Pauly and I!

Saturday I was doing maintenance on the boat and household chores, and I decided to watch the waves instead of battle them.  Sunday took us to the greatest morel mushroom hunt of my life.  I will enlighten you all with this story soon.  The fishing part comes into play later that evening when Matt Hennen and I jumped out there just as the sun was setting.  The wind was only about 15 mph, so this was a treat.  Fish number one was a very nice eye for me, and Matt soon followed with his own and larger.  The technique that we were using was new to him, so he was pretty jacked to score on a big fish.  A few big bass and the infamous "One that got away," and the sun had set on our short outing, literally!  A great way to close the weekend and an even better sight to see for the coming week.  The forecast calls for high winds through the week, but I don't care, I'm gonna be out there.  I'll get you the update as it comes in.  From the blustery shores of Lake Waconia, Keep on Livin' the Dream!