Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
I got an opportunity to spend 4 days at Harbor View Resort during the Walleye Opener on the Iowa Great Lakes and I wanted to share my experience with folks here. As some of you know, Harbor View is now being operated by our own Ryan Hale. Ryan is a very good host. He keeps the place clean and tidy. I got a tour of all the rooms and each unit has a kitchenette. Some units have two bedrooms. Ryan intends to keep Harbor View Resort as a family oriented resort which will be great for those with children, or if you just want to be away from the "partying crowd". Another nice feature is that Harbor View Resort offers very reasonable rates for the Okoboji area. Ryan even offers discounts in the Spring and Fall. An additional benefit at Harbor View is that Ryan is also a fishing guide on the lakes and has fished the lakes since he was a very young child. A resort guest can hire Ryan's services for a day or two, or one can sit down with Ryan and pick his brain for ideas on how and where to catch a few fish. Ryan's very willing to give a little guidiance to those who stay at the resort. He'll also make sure you have a place to park you rig if you bring your own boat along. And if you do, Emerson Bay boat ramps are just a short drive away. And there's even a bait shop and gas station on the way. Shore fishing is available as well. I took some time to check out the bay near Harbor View and small mouth bass can be caught right off the dock. There's 9-10 feet of water with scattered rock. Walleye at night is a good possibility. Additionally, one of the largest public beaches is about a 2 block walk from the resort. And I can't forget to tell you about the fire pit out back. There's nothing like sitting around the fire while visiting with friends or family. And the firewood, it's free! If you're really lucky you might catch Ryan on a night that he's pan fried some marinated pheasant. I did! For you hunters, Ryan's place would be a great place to stay in the fall. In addition to guiding on the lakes, he also is a top-notch pheasant guide (or at least his irish setter is).
Here is the link to the resort in formation and a link to Ryan Hale's Guide Service...
Harbor View Resort - West Lake Okoboji (712) 332-2708
Ryan Hale's Guide Service - Fishing Guide on Okoboji and Spirit Lake Iowa
More pictures to follow...
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
This is one of the units. It has it's own deck overlooking the lake.
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
Each unit has a propane grill and there are several picnic tables in the courtyard.
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
There's a wonderful play area for the little tykes.
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
And out back there is nothing but peace and quiet and Ryan's fire pit. It's a great place to spend time with family or spin a few fish stories.
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
Ducks4me
Member
Reged: 01/30/04
Posts: 160
Post Bucks: $1.00
Loc: N.E. Iowa
|
|
I have to say, I have only heard very good things about Ryan. Not only as a guide but as friend. I haven't had the opportunity to use Ryan's quide service or his lodge(will be changing that in 17 days), but everyone I have spoken with has been more than happy with their experiences with Ryan. And I can say this as a fact, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who is as freindly, accomidating, knowledgable as Ryan. He will make you feel like you are #1 in importance. I have spoken with Ryan many, MANY times and it wasn't hard for me to make the decision to stay at Ryan's lodge and use his guide services. You owe it to yourself to check out Hale's Guide Service and the Harbor View Resort. You'll have a great trip for a day, a couple days, a week, whatever......but you'll have a friend for life.
Ducks
|
Chuckles
Member
Reged: 02/15/03
Posts: 369
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Manchester, Iowa
|
|
Just a few more notes - perhaps more about Ryan than the resort - but if I know anything about him, he is going to have the resort in ship-shape. I wrote back and forth with him this winter as he was getting things squared away there... the fishing sounds great and I will be heading out in a few weeks to join Ryan for a few days of r & r and I will be staying at the resort. I know Ryan does things first class up-front so I know the resort is going to be fun and that after the intial trip here I am going to bring the family out later in the summer for fishing and fun! The kitchenettes will be handy to save some schillings to feed the little ones and spend more funds on bait and fishing! Chuckles
--------------------
"Inch for inch and pound for pound the gamest fish that swims..." - smallmouth bass - J. A. Henshall 1904 Book of the Black Bass
|
2jranch
Member
Reged: 04/05/03
Posts: 418
Post Bucks: $1.28
Loc: Arcadia, WI
|
|
What are the Iowa Non-resident fishing license fees? Do they offer an annual only, or a 10 day?
|
Ryan Hale
Member
Reged: 05/10/03
Posts: 1905
Post Bucks: $1.00
Loc: NW Ia
|
|
Here you go.
Non-res fees for fishing.
Year-$39.50
7 day-$30.50
3 day-$16.00
1 day-$9.00
Hope this helps.
Ryan Hale
|
ecnook
Member
Reged: 08/19/01
Posts: 5797
Post Bucks: $1.06
Loc: Prairie du Chien Wi.
|
|
Hey Ryan !!! 
I can't think a a better person to deal with and I'm sure the Hale family will try and make everyones stay as enjoyable as can be..
Good Luck Ryan !!
--------------------
Dave Koonce
BfishNTackle
St.Croix Rods
Otter Outdoors
|
Steve DeZurik
IDA Pro Staff
Reged: 06/11/01
Posts: 3540
Post Bucks: $1.00
Loc: Champlin, Mn
|
|
I hope to some day drag my family down there to try out the "Lake bite". Looks like a great place ofr us to relax, do a little fishing as well let the kids play!
Looking forward to it someday Ryan!
Way to go! 
--------------------
Steve DeZurik
In-Depth Angling Staff
www.stevedezurik.com
steve.dezurik@in-depthangling.com
|
Bill Cadwell
IDA Field Staff
Reged: 12/12/01
Posts: 15096
Post Bucks: $1.00
Loc: Rochester, Minnesota
|
|
Steve, there is also an amusement park right on Lake Okoboji. Kids will have lots of fun and so will Mom and Dad. Plus next door is Spirit Lake for fishing too. 
Thanks, Bill
--------------------
bill.cadwell@in-depthangling.com
Smitty's Marine Lake City-Alumacraft/ St. Croix Rods/
Hooked On Fishing Bait/Tackle Rochester
B-Fish-N Tackle/Smooth Moves Seats / Fin-Tech Tackle
|
Wade Kuehl
Steering Committee Member - IDA Field Staff
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 7547
Post Bucks: $1.04
Loc: Northwest Iowa
|
|
Arnolds Park is just a couple of bays over from Harbor View. It's a great place to take the family.
--------------------
Wade Kuehl - Jolly Ann Marine & Outdoors
FREE Shipping on EVERY Order!
Click on the Jolly Ann Marine Banner above to visit our website!
|
James Holst
IDA Pro Staff & Admin
Reged: 04/30/01
Posts: 13329
Post Bucks: $1.74
Loc: SE Minnesota
|
|
Ryan
What's your mailing address there at the resort? I looked on your resort website but the address listed left out the zip code. When I did a ZIP look-up with USPS I got this message:
This is a non-deliverable address. Mail sent to this address will be returned.
I'd still like to send you something. What address should I use?
--------------------
James Holst - In-Depth Outdoors TV Host
IDA Guides Guide Service
Ph. 507-271-0362
|
Ryan Hale
Member
Reged: 05/10/03
Posts: 1905
Post Bucks: $1.00
Loc: NW Ia
|
|
James,
The address for the Resort is this.
Harbor View Resort
1711 Jeppeson Rd.
West Okoboji,Ia,51351
Trust me,we get mail.Blue just sent me a nice bunch of decals.  "Your my boy Blue"
On a side note.I'll do my best to try to keep active with the site this summer.Unitl I get a laptop I might be away from the site for long periods at a time.I'm going to do my best to get home 1-2 times a week to check things out.
I have been getting on the water a bunch with lots of guide trips lately.I'll have my 3rd one in 6 days tomorrow.I'll try to put up one big report for those interested.
Take care guys,
And James I'll be checking on that double secret probation type bait this week.
Ryan Hale
|
walleye wisdom
Member
Reged: 06/15/05
Posts: 474
Post Bucks: $1.20
Loc: Cedar Falls, IA
|
|
Once again, another outstanding report from Harbor View Resort run by Ryan Hale. My father and I stayed a night at the resort Thursday, June 8th. The room was great, more than enough space, very very clean, and a great spot on the lake.
Now for the most important feature of this great resort, the fishing! Ryan pointed us towards some spots in the area that had been producing well lately, and boy was he right! Here is the very fist fish we boated on the trip, what a first fish!! 
We caught a ton of fish over the two day period we were on the lake, coming back to the resort after a long day on the water was refreshing! If you have even thought about a trip to the IGL's, staying at Harbor View Resort is a must! Thanks again Ryan for the great time, a great time my dad and I won't soon forget!
|
Previous
Index
Next
West Okoboji Iowa Lodging - Habor View Resort
Edit
Reply
Quote
Re: West Okoboji Iowa Lodging - Habor View Resort
