Old Man River

I took an unforeseen bonus canoe trip down the local river again on Saturday. It was Chief Many Little Bottles' 50th Birthday and everyone has been so busy not much celebrating had gotten planned. On Friday afternoon, I struck a deal with my wonderful bride regarding parenting duties for Saturday, made some phone calls, and set up a river trip for Saturday. Chief MLB, Captain Karkov, and the Professor joined me for the float.

We met up in the morning and got my vehicle shuttled to the takeout. It was another beautiful, warm, sunny day. We floated the river, ran some rapids, and fished continuously. The river, once again, did not disappoint. We caught many smallmouth bass, a few northern pike, a couple walleyes, and a couple channel catfish. I caught four bass that were bigger than I had ever seen on the river before, and man do bass that are in current fight. There were a couple other anglers on the river, and even a big group of people camped on a grassy peninsula, but overall, the river was very quiet again. We stopped at a rocky spit near the takeout and shared a growler of Brewhouse Starfire Pale Ale-a great end to a great day in celebration of a great guy's 50th Birthday.

It started to rain just as we packed up the truck.

Nature Moment: This trip reminded my that this particular stretch of river has an unusually high population of bald eagles. They are often sitting in the trees overlooking the river, and because the river is small, narrow, and curvy, you often get very close to them before they fly off. Up close you realize how big and powerful they really are.

Rolling Down the River

Officer Friendly and I took a day trip down a local river on Monday. This trip has become an annual event sometime around the Fourth of July. In the morning, we shuttled Officer's car to the takeout point and then put the canoe in upstream. We floated down the river, casting a tiny torpedo and jigs as went. Officer caught several smallmouth bass on the surface bait. We anchored in a few deeper holes, catching several more bass. We ran a few small rapids and and pushed through some shallow riffles. We stopped for lunch at the pool beneath the biggest rapids. The best fishing was there-we caught bass as soon as we could get our line back in the water. The average size is small, but there were some decent ones mixed in. I did some experimenting with Gulp! Alive leeches versus real leeches. The Gulp! Alive did just as well as the real thing, even when just hanging below a bobber. This is the first time it has really worked well. The big issue is that it doesn't stay on the hook any better than real leeches, and the Gulp! Alive leeches are much more expensive. After eating sandwiches from Northern Waters Smokehaus, the world's greatest eatery (www.nwsmokehaus.com) we continued on our way, taking in a beautiful sunny day as we went. We caught many more bass, ran a few more rapids, and enjoyed the day. On the final hole before the takeout, I finally caught something other than a bass-a walleye and a channel catfish. Both fish came on Gulp! twister tails. On the final stretch of river it clouded over and began to rain. We re-shuttled the cars, loaded up the gear and headed home just before dusk. We covered just under six miles of river. Another very good trip.

Nature Moment: A mama merganser and her brood of ten ducklings met up with us on the first section of the river we paddled and basically followed us downriver for most of the trip. They would pass us when anchored to fish, and we would pass them when we shooting rapids or paddling through shallow sections. They kept going downstream when we reached the takeout. We also saw eagles and a hawk that had caught some type of rodent.

Walleye Wonderland

Some odd circumstances resulted in my going on a neat canoe trip June 20-24. Chief Many Little Bottles learned he couldn't go on the first part of an 11-day trip with Lt. Dan, Cpt. Karkov, and the Farmer after it had already been set up. So he recruited me to accompany him to meet them (they found an able replacement) on their route.

We packed up on Friday night, I did some more packing on Saturday, and then we left Duluth early Sunday morning. We headed up to Ely, picked up the permit (which was once again very confusing), and then hit the water. We were able to use motors on the first 11 miles of the trip, which included two portages. We actually brought two 2-horse motors, because we brought an additional one for the other guys on the way back. We got some strange looks on the portages, as we were likely the first people to portage 2 motors but only one canoe in the BWCA. It was calm, pleasant day, and we made good time to the no-motor zone line. We stashed the motors and continued paddling. The next portage was a doozy-340 rods along a rushing river. At just over a mile, I was cursing the weight of my pack, but the portage is very flat and we made it eventually. After three more portages we came to the narrow, winding lake with plenty of current areas. We set up camp on a narrows at about 3:30pm. The spot was small, but good enough for two people and the shore fishing looked good. We threw out our lines and set camp. We had dirty rice with sauteed andioulle sausage for supper. Chief finally caught a rock bass and a small walleye at dusk, but that was all the fishing we had. The mosquitoes were out pretty thick.

On Monday morning we packed up the gear and headed north and west on to the bigger part of the lake. We went through a series of narrows with current, and we caught walleyes in most of them. Most of them were eaters, but Chief did get one about 22 inches. A few bass and small pike were thrown in for good measure. We looked at a number campsites on the way and they were either occupied or not up to our standards. We finally settled on a nice one on a small island-it had everything going for it except the nearby shoreline was likely too shallow for good shorefishing. Decent tent pads, nice kitchen, open and airy (but not too exposed). After we got set up, it started raining. We waited it out for a while, but since it wasn't thundering or anything, we eventually went fishing in the rain. We caught some decent bass in a nearby current area then started trolling leeches over rockpiles surrounding our island. The eater walleyes were there, and they were hungry. We quickly caught enough for supper plus a few more. Chief fried up the walleyes perfectly as always. We had stuffing with chorizo sausage as a side dish. Delicious. The rain let up as we were eating, but then the mosquitoes came out with a vengeance that night.

Tuesday dawned cloudy, but calm and not raining. We hit the water after breakfast and started trolling the rock piles again. We picked up a few walleyes here and there, and we discovered the site of a pre-BWCA regulations resort. We could see the old dock pilings in the clear water. We then trolled around some islands, where a Nature Moment occured (see below), which forced us to find another fishing spot. We discovered a sunken island and caught several walleyes on it-including a nice 23" fish. We wandered back to camp for lunch and soon we got a radio call from Lt. Dan. We directed the other group of guys to our location. After a hearty reunion, the guys got there tents set up and we headed out fishing again. Captain K and his bow man caught several walleyes, while the rest of us caught a few. Chief MLB caught a nice smallmouth bass. The wind had whipped up, preventing our return to the mid-lake reef. We enjoyed a great supper of smoked pork loin, sauerkraut, and au gratin potatoes. We listened to the Twins lose as we swatted bugs that night.

On Wednesday, we packed up camp after breakfast and then fished our way back up the lake in the direction we had come. Chief and I fished all the current areas as we went catching quite a few walleyes. Chief had a very large fish on for a while that fought more like a walleye than a pike or bass, but it threw hook before we could see it. We really got into the walleyes in the final current area, catching them as fast as we got our baits down at one point. We set up camp near the northern most portage which goes around a large waterfall/rapids area. We fished the pool below the falls, getting a few small walleyes. It was fried walleye and pesto noodles for supper. It was the consensus of the group that we prefer bowtie noodles over spaghetti for pesto. This is due to the fact it mixes with the pesto better. The skeeters were out again that night as we heard the Twins lose yet again. Lots of laughs around the fire, though.

On Thursday we packed up and started the trip out. We did the four portages, including the 340 rodder (which was easier for me due to food consumption and smarter packing), recovered the motors, and zipped out the last 11 miles. Saw a lot of people with a lot of gear on the lake and the portages. We ate supper at a local restaurant and headed home. Another good trip. When I got home I learned my Grandma was very ill. She passed away on Saturday night. She was a good grandma. I attended services on Monday and Tuesday and now am back at work.

Nature Moment: When Chief and I attempted to troll around some islands, we were suddenly and viciously attacked by an angry sea gull. Repeated strafing runs that were at most a couple feet over our heads convinced us to head for different structure.

Family Fun

We had a really enjoyable family camping trip this weekend. My wonderful bride, super kid, and the wonder dog headed north on Saturday morning and got to the campground before noon. We set up a nice looking camp with a great rain tarp and kitchen area. The girls decided to take an afternoon nap, so the wonder dog and I hit the lake for some fishing. The campground has a canoe dock, which made it easy to load the mutt into the canoe despite his hips. We fished our way down the lake and nailed nice 25" walleye on a wind-blown sunken island. None of his friends were around, and before long I got a radio call that the nap was over and the girls were ready for fun. I stashed the canoe and joined the group at camp. We did some bike riding and checked out the nearby outfitter/store. A family with 10 kids was camped across the road from us. Ages 2 to 15. They were actually pretty quiet, considering. We enjoyed happy hour while listening to the Twins win and then made pesto pasta for supper-fantastic. After super kid hit the hay we enjoyed popcorn while listening to my favorite podcast-Stuff You Missed in History Class.

On Sunday morning we made a big breakfast and then we all went for a canoe ride. The super kid enjoyed it, but I didn't get any fish to show her. We went back to camp for lunch, during which we heard a gunshot from somewhere in camp. The authorities were very soon addressing the situation at a site nearby, but there were no indications anything serious had occurred and the young people in the site were still there that afternoon. The girls took another nap that afternoon, so I got out fishing again, catching 3 decent smallmouth bass in about 2 hours of fishing. I just beat a rain shower back to camp. We enjoyed happy hour under the tarp and made hot dogs with cheesy rice for supper. My wonderful bride and super kid took a shower at the outfitter's that evening as I did the dishes and caught the Twins game on the radio.

After an uneventful night, we got up in the morning and made pancakes before packing up. It was a warm, sunny day. We did a review of all the campsites in the campground before heading out. We took the backroads to avoid the holiday traffic on the highway and rolled into town mid-afternoon. It was a very enjoyable trip.

Nature Moment: We were the lucky recipient of an inchworm hatching event in our camp. Little baby inchworms were falling out of the tree above our kitchen and actually piling up on the tarp-probably a couple hundred of them. Interesting.

No Trout for You!

It was a tough weekend of fishing May 21 to May 23. The Smoked Fish Guy, Officer Friendly, and I headed up the North Shore from town after work on Thursday, stopped for supper at the Gunflint Tavern and then went up the Trail. We camped in the lake parking lot that night.

On Friday morning we got an early start after making coffee and headed onto the lake on calm seas. I kept up in my solo canoe and we discovered our preferred campsite was occupied by Captain Karkov and his friends. We chatted for a minute and then moved onto another site, which is a decent one and it looked like it should have decent shore fishing. The biggest issue with the site is that wind can really howl through that part of the lake, trapping one in camp, particularly if you are in a solo canoe. No matter, it was a beautiful day. We set up camp and then headed out to fish. It was slow at first, and the Smoked Fish Guy and I got skunked, but Officer Friendly came through in the clutch, catching five lake trout right before supper. We enjoyed lake trout, steaks, mushrooms, and asparagus for supper. No bites from shore that evening.

On Saturday we had a big breakfast and headed out to fish on another nice day. The wind came up soon after I got on the lake, however, and I was forced to fish in the lee of several islands and caught only a couple smallish northern pike. I tried some shorefishing with a cisco with no luck and tried casting a rapala, which only resulted in a snag in a sunken tree which claimed the rapala. It was windy enough that afternoon that I couldn't safely return to camp, so I stopped at Captain Karkov's campsite and learned of the decent success they were having for both lake trout and walleyes from shore. They all were very relaxed and had custom made cedar stump drink holders. The wind calmed a bit after the visit and I fished my way back to camp, meeting up with Officer Friendly and the Smoked Fish Guy on the way and learned they had some success with lake trout, smallmouth bass, and a decent northern pike (31"). We enjoyed "Kek Burgers" for supper (lake trout bacon cheese burgers). Shorefishing resulted in three lines being sliced by a northern pike.

Sunday dawned cloudy and windy again. We packed up camp and ate a leisurely breakfast, then snuck through some islands on our way back to the truck. I caught a northern pike and had a lake trout-like strike, but didn't connect. We loaded the truck as we observed a group of rookies being instructed by their group leader on the basics of getting into a canoe and paddling. I was surprised that one of his basic instructions wasn't "put on your life vest" considering the rookie status, the strong wind, and the cold May water. I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore. We headed back down the Gunflint Trail and were disappointed that, once again, Huie's Taco House "Home of the Puff Taco" wasn't open for lunch. We had a pizza at Sven and Ole's instead. We rolled into home base late that afternoon.

So, another good trip, but fishing was disappointing for me again. Have I lost my touch? (Did I ever have a touch?)

Opening Weekend Blues

Opening weekend...a Minnesota holiday, a tradition that surpasses all others in the State. Opening weekend 2010. The last one I'll ever participate in?

This opening weekend started on Thursday for me. I had planned to go up on Friday morning, but a meeting on Thursday night up north got scheduled at the last minute, so I loaded up the truck and just went to my campsite after the meeting on Thursday. I ended up setting up camp on our favorite road accessible walleye shore fishing spot at 11pm in a 35 degree drizzle. It sounds worse than it was. The camping/fishing spot isn't a secret, so going up early assures me of getting the spot. Captain K and his girlfriend planned on joining me on Saturday.

So on Friday, we had the whole day to explore, just the Wonder Dog and I. It was rainy all day, but mostly just heavy drizzles. I broke out the GPS unit I had gotten for Christmas and taught myself to use it as we went. We bushwhacked to three different lakes that don't have a developed access, but the travel wasn't easy through the brush...portaging a canoe or even carrying fishing poles would be tough. The GPS unit worked great, but it turned out to be unnecessary on the way back to the truck...I discovered that the Wonder Dog actually does have a talent...he can track his own scent really well. Each time he led the way back to truck on exactly the route we took to get to the lakes. It cleared off that evening and it was a chilly night.

On Saturday, Opening Day, we got up early and drove to a designated stream trout lake. We got loaded up in the canoe and I noticed the Wonder Dog's hips were a bit sore and he barely made into the canoe on his own. He had been struggling all winter with his hips. We trolled down that lake with no bites and found the portage to the next lake over. We made the portage and this time the Wonder Dog really had a heckuva time getting into the canoe and I had trouble helping him because of the friendly people that were sharing the portage had placed their canoe in such a way that clogged the whole landing. So I moved a bit deeper at the landing and helped the dog into the canoe. It was at this time that I discovered by trusty, but well worn, rubber boots were leaking. Awesome. The water is still very cold, despite the early spring. I made one trolling pass around the entire lake and caught two decent lake trout. By the time I left the small lake there were over 10 other boats fishing the lake. Crowded by my standards. We portaged back to the other lake, and again struggle get loaded because a canoe was clogging the landing. This time we struggled enough that I was forced to come to a realization. This paddle across the lake to the truck was going to be the Wonder Dog's last canoe ride. Not of the day, but of his life. He just can't get in and out anymore. We then took a shore fishing tour of the area, catching absolutely no fish. That night back at camp, I made supper and started fishing for walleyes from shore. Three parties started down the trail from the road and turned around when they saw I was there. I expected Captain K and his date to arrive, but they didn't show. Later, another loud party came down the trail in an attempt to fish the spot. This party of two men and two small kids didn't turn around when they saw me. Their leader declared that he had fished this spot for a long time and he was fishing there that night. I said it was a small spot, my friends were on their way, but he decided to fish anyway. I said, okay then. I talked a bit with my new friends and the kids liked playing with the Wonder Dog. Captain K and his girlfriend finally showed up and they were forced to fish on the shallow, snaggy side of the point. The new friends left after a bit and we finally caught a few small walleyes on lighted bobbers after dark.

Sunday dawned bright and warm. I took down camp and headed out on another shore fishing tour. Nearly every one of my good spots had other people on them. I only fished two more spots and caught one lonely splake. It was then I said..."Why to do I go up north to fish on Opening Weekend?" A week after opener there is less people and the fishing is usually better. So that is my declaration...I won't go fishing on opener again. Well, maybe I will, but not until Sunday and then stay into the week for a bit. I made it back to Duluth mid afternoon and got unpacked.

The next trip is set for this weekend, Thursday night to Sunday, lake trout fishing with the Smoked Fish Guy and Officer Friendly. That will be the last camping trip until late June.

Nature Moment: As I paddled across the lake going back to the truck on Saturday, we were suddenly surrounded by a navy of otters. They bobbed up and down in the water and hissed and chirped at us, warning us off their territory. It is always fun to watch otters in the water, so sleek and smooth swimmers.

Spring? Fishing

My lovely bride and precious child went to the Cities for the weekend, so I decided to go camping up north. I managed to convince Officer Friendly and the Wonder Dog to join me. The forecast kept getting worse all week and when we hit the road after work on Friday, the snow was accumulating. We drove out of the snow at about Two Harbors and when we got to the secret drive to campsite on Random Rock Lake at about 7pm, it was just windy and cold. We set up a tarp and Officer Friendly set up her tent. As we ate smokehaus sandwiches for supper the snow began again in earnest. It accumulated to an inch or two, enough to collapse the tarp. We sat in the truck cab after that. We had hoped to listen to the Twins, but they were rained out. The Wonder Dog and I slept in the bed of the truck. His hips are bad enough now that I have to help him into the truck.

We woke up on Saturday to a cold wind but partly sunny skies. The snow was already melting. We took our time getting the canoe loaded up and eating breakfast, hoping that it would warm up a bit. We finally bit the bullet and hit the water. Once we got behind some points, it wasn't too cold. Wasn't warm, though. We initially fished where a small river flows into the lake, hoping the crappies would be stacked up in the current. They weren't. Nothing was in the current. We paddled further upstream, but our path was blocked by a big beaver dam. We turned around and fished some shallow bays. No fish. We then tried deeper water near an island. No crappies, but we did get two hammer handle pike. We tried some more points and bays and only had a couple sad little perch take the bait. We gave up about 4pm and went back to camp. It was nicer there out of the wind. We played catch with a football and then had Italian sausages for supper. Delicious. The temps dropped quickly, so we listened to the Twins in the cab of the truck.

Woke up on Sunday to frozen water bottles. It was chilly, but clear skies ensured it would be warming quickly. We packed up camp and hit the road. First we fished a non-designated lake that is stocked with brown trout. No bites. Next we fished two different streams for brook trout. One creek chub was our only bite. We then tried one more small stream for brook trout. It paid off-we caught several native brook trout. They are absolutely gorgeous fish. Officer Friendly caught one that was about 12 inches long, which is a really nice one for native brook trout in streams. After a bit we noticed that black flies (gnats) were hatching in the river right as we fished. We also noticed the fish were feeding on them. Finally we noticed the fish were so busy eating flies, they didn't want our worms any more. So we headed home, arriving without incident.

Nature Moment: Just after we left camp, Officer Friendly noticed a large bird sitting on a tree next to the road. It turned out to be a Goshawk, which are really cool birds that hunt in thick forests, expertly making tight maneuvers around the trees as they chase prey. Since they like the thick woods, we don't see them very often. This one hung out next the road for a while, so we got a rare good look at it.

Next weekend is walleye and lake trout opener, so I'll be heading up north again, this time fishing with Captain Karkov and his girlfriend.