My version of the story:

Fished all over on Saturday (all just northwest of the Waterville/Kilkenney area), trying out a few lakes that I hadn't visited in a while with a friend who used to live in the area. Bites were slow to non-existent on the first two lakes that we fished (one had lots of locals set up in permanents, the other had just one set of old tire tracks off of the main road). By the third lake, we decided to set up for a few hours (and then return to the first lake for the evening bite if we didn't have any luck). Set a few tip ups out in 13 FOW and then set the portable up in the deepest part of the lake (around 17 FOW). We ended up staying for around 3 hours and then calling it a night. Lots of crappies on a ratso jig tipped with a wax worm in the house (all around 8 or 9 inches, ended up throwing them back).

Watching the vex, all of a sudden the screen went empty, then a big mark around 5 feet down. My buddy bounced his ratso as fast as he could as he quickly raised up to the mark - and out popped a 3 lb northern on 2 lb test (which gave his spring bobber quite the work out)!

Had one fish hit on the furthest tip up (right after we went out to check them, and jigged the suckers a bit). She came up the hole with gills flared and her mouth wide open, which made it a bit interesting to get her on the ice - but once we did, she came in at just over 7 lbs (32" tail to snout). All in all, not a bad day!

My buddy's "Pro Staff" version of the story:

Fished all over on Saturday (all just northwest of the Waterville/Kilkenney area), trying out a few lakes that I hadn't visited in a while with a friend who used to live in the area. Bites were slow to non-existent on the first two lakes that we fished (one had lots of locals set up in permanents, the other had just one set of old tire tracks off of the main road). By the third lake, we decided to set up for a few hours (and then return to the first lake for the evening bite if we didn't have any luck). Set a few tip ups out in 13 FOW and then set up our Clam Guide series portable (replaced this season with the ultra-roomy and very durable Fish Trap Nanook, see your nearest Clam Corporation authorized dealer for more deatils!)  up in the deepest part of the lake (around 17 FOW). We ended up staying for around 3 hours and then calling it a night. Lots of crappies on a Custom Jigs and Spins size 8 Ratso jig (with a glow lime tail - Custom Jigs and Spins has the hottest ice fishing bait, ice fishing jigs, ice fishing tackle and lures below the ice!) tipped with a wax worm from John's Bait and Tackle (for all of your bait, chain saw, and taxidermy needs in sourthern Minnesota, give him a call!) in the house (all around 8 or 9 inches, ended up throwing them back).

Watching the split screen on our Vexilar FL-20, all of a sudden both the bottom lock and full view sides of the screen went empty, then a big mark appeared around 5 feet down. My buddy bounced his Custom Jigs and Spins size 8 Ratso jig (a Super Soft ultra-slim Finesse Plastic body on a precision leadhead jig does the trick when no other lure can!) as fast as he could as he quickly raised up to the mark - and out popped a 3 lb northern , which gave his St. Croix Legend Elite Ice Rod with Strike Indicator quite the work out, especially considering the ulta smooth Sufix Ice Magic 2 lb test line spooled up the night before!

Had one fish hit on the furthest Frabill Pro thermal tip up (right after we went out to check them, and jigged the lively suckers from Johns Bait & Tackle a bit, letting the glow finish on the 1/3 oz Acme Little Cleo in glo glo red work its magic - the unique hump-backed shape of the spoon cause a seductive, wiggling action as the lure is drawn through the water). She came up the 8" hole (drilled by our trusty Strikemaster Lazer Mag power auger) with gills flared and her mouth wide open, which made it a bit interesting to get her on the ice - but once we did, she came in at just over 7 lbs (32" tail to snout). All in all, not a bad day!