We Catch Fish - Shag Lake Spring 2021 Edition

Dad catches a pike. One of many.

 As noted in the inaugural post for this trip, we are foregoing conventional chronological posts in favor of group categories. Fishing is always the first priority at the lake. We caught some fish this trip. 

He also caught some blugs.

  
And a nice keeper bass.

For these trips we like to award First Fish, Biggest Fish, and Most Fish honors. The envelope please:

"First Fish" went to Harlan with this trophy. 

To be fair, First Fish Honors will usually go to the first person to cast a fly from the end of the dock. Harlan offered Dad the chance to snag this award, but he declined. 

Dad got his first fish a little later.

It was one of many blugs to follow

I took "Biggest Fish" honors with this 21" Pike

"Most Fish" caught on Shag Lake honors went to Dad with a combination of Pike, Bass, & Blugs.... 

But when we add in the trout from Escanaba and Boney Falls...

 ...Harlan wins "Most Fish"

Finally, Wendy tries her hand at Tenkara fly-fishing.

We had high hopes Wendy would finally break through on the Fishing Wall of Fame. She is the only sibling not to make the Wall because she has never actually caught a fish. Alas she was skunked again. Perhaps next year.  

Postscript: More appetizing pics of the fish highlighted in this post can be found linked HERE.

Summertime Shag Lake Sojourn

Lilies of the Lake

I generally make two trips a year to Chicago and Big Shag Lake - a spring opening and fall closing. This year Roy & Roxanne's wedding on August 17 meant moving the fall trip up into a an a summer sojourn.

Holding our nose as we drive through Green Bay

Flew into Chicago late on Thursday the 8th (really early Friday the 9th), got some sleep, packed and hit the road with Dad and Bowser. Cousins Ken and Donna followed us up a few hours later. Unfortunately their boys could not make it this trip.

This is Ken and Donna's third trip to Camp Shag, and we had a breakthrough - they made it all the way to the Lake House on a night approach without a last mile escort. They were only here for the weekend so, as per usual, were intent on cramming as much in as possible, including:

Hiking Sugarloaf Mountain...

 Fishing...

... including a notable accomplishment...


Bonfire...

... and a Fish Fry...

Ken and Donna packed a lot into 48 hours, but we'll let them speak for themselves...

"We became 3-timers to Shag Lake and the third time is a charm. Donna caught a Perch, a Pike, many Bluegills and a Bass. Sid joined us for a massive bonfire. Mike made the very best garlic and onion infused burgers this side of the Toledo War. The weather was perfect as the Noah flood lake waters receded. Thanks for a fantastic time and good luck to the next Shag guests - the Honeymooners Roy and Roxanne! - Donna & Ken 

Shag Lake Sojourn

I flew into Chicago on  September 11th. As I passed through the concourse at SFO I took note of the current art installation...

... an exhibition of antique radios. In particular the display of 40's and 50's era Bakelite radios caught my attention because...

 Self-Portrait with Bakelite Radios

 ...we have our own antique Bakelite radio on display at the Lake.

Dad, Bowser, and I drove to Big Shag Lake on the 12th. Although fall color was underway...

...we arrived to unseasonably warm weather...

 

... which allowed activities that are not often part of our fall visit.

Trying out the new walkboards.

Harlan left us a lot of food, so we were well provisioned and...

... just needed to get ourselves outfitted for some warm weather fishing.

We found the mysterious white duck of Big Shag Lake

Bowser also enjoyed the warm weather:

After about a week, the warm weather broke, our fishing luck improved, and I finally got around to catching up on social media:

 Which set us up nicely for our expected Labor Day visitors.