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.

Over The River And Through The Woods (with Bears).

 
The first trek of the year into "Lil Camp" on the Escanaba often requires a chain saw to clear winter treefall on the "road". Last year, there was so much winter storm damage that, after hacking our way in, all we had time to do was have a beer, turn around, and head back. 

This year a different story. It was an easy drive in. 

On arrival we had time to stop, relax, and mindfully reflect on that important moment in each day when one switches from coffee to beer before proceeding with the projects of the day. 

We had two goals for this excursion. 1) Fish for trout and 2) reset the trail cam / automated timed feeder. 

Fishing First: We Catch Trout

Harlan, Clover and I make it down to the river hacking through the underbrush that has overgrown the trail. 

Clover is fearless in the cold water, clambering over rocks in the riffles and swimming to keep up with us as we wade downstream. The river was high, but safe.

We each hooked a trout on the first cast. Except for Clover. She wasn't fishing.

My best day ever fishing on the Escanaba. I've caught trout here before, but they're generally few and far between. I caught more trout this day at this spot than I've caught life-to-date up to this day. We took enough brookies for a nice fry. 

Earlier Harlan texted Emily about our plans for the day. While we were on the river they arrived. Emily led Kowayne and Arthur down to find us. An impressive bit of trail bashing. I'm not sure they were confident in her directions, but she got them down and back. I think. 

Next up - Reset the Trail Cam / Feeder 

Next up, we relocate, reset, and reload the trail cam and automated feeder. It's a bigger job than one would think. Particularly the process of suspending 20 pounds of corn in the feeder eight feet off the ground. But we got it done:

 Now we wait to see what critters will stop by for a snack.

UPDATE June 5, 2021 - This Happened: 

The very next day after reloading the trail-cam and feeder, mamma bear and her cubs show up.

And the next day...

... and the day after that.

Then, four days later, Papa Bear showed up. This at 9:44: 

He checks out the situation, and at 9:49 he is snuffling among the corn on the ground...

and apparently finds it unsatisfying. Because at 9:51...

... he is sauntering back from the tree that held the cable suspending the feeder and the feeder is now on the ground. And 15 minutes later his head is in the can and eating his fill.

So it's back to the drawing board.  

Last day of the trout season

I didn't make it out to our Escanaba River property during the spring trip and today is the last day of the trout season.  In the past I've had some good luck on the last day, so decided to make the run.

Fall color and Two Heart Ale

Fall color is just underway. Despite recent rains the road was most dry, a little overgrown at the end but no problems getting in.  One of my favorite quotes about the U.P. is from Hemingway in the Green Hills of Africa...

'The best sky was in Italy or Spain and in Northern Michigan in the fall'

On a day like this, you know exactly what he was seeing.

Not much in the way of fish this outing, but it was a spectacular day on the river.

Oh yeah, my one fish...

a small brookie...

Not enough of a meal for both of us, so the fish was offered as a tribute to the King.

Simple prep... light flour breading and sauteed in olive oil with garlic and onion.

It looked pretty good. I should have caught more.

Warm Welcome at Camp

Harlan drove up the day before, and had a nice pot of chicken wild rice soup waiting for us...

...accompanied by grilled fresh caught brown trout, just hours out of the Escanaba river.

Checked out a used pontoon boat for sale on the lake.

Still dithering.

Otherwise spent Monday relaxing, waiting for Erik to arrive and watching more football with more gourmet dining... Harlan's pot roast.

 I think I will arrange for Harlan to prepare camp for our arrival in all future trips.
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