With 3 “experienced” guys, a 40 something and 4 kids ages 14-18, it was a bit of changing of the guard. The kids really stepped up and took more responsibility for the success of the trip! Great group! It was a wet trip with rain every day except our last day, which was nice for packing. The big wildlife sighting was seeing a wolf in the rain at the top of the hill, just a 100 yards from camp. Generally good fishing, with some big Walleyes caught.
I brought my grandson Alex (16). Mark Cunningham brought his son in law Ben Flemke and grandson Max (15). Ken Strawmatt brought is son Carter (18) and daughter Kylie (14). All of the kids have made this trip before, so they were ready to take on more responsibility.
Alex was just back from a 9 day Nor’wester trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with his camp group. He and his buddies paddled 58 miles in just 7 days! They also tackled a 515 rod (8,500 feet) portage! Wow.
Monday, August 7, 2023
Unfortunately, our friend Mark Wanous could not attend after his wife Lori was hospitalized. We were grateful that Mark let us use his truck. Unfortunately, Mark’s truck blew a brake line near Two Harbors, MN. Ken, Carter and Ben tried to fix it with a piece of hose, a special epoxy held together with clamps in the parking lot of the NAPA Auto Parts store, but no luck.
We pulled out the 3 motors, camping gear and fishing stuff from Mark’s truck and packed into the other 3 trucks. We were lucky that Mark’s topper fit perfectly on Ken’s Chevy pickup. We limped Mark’s truck to the Ford dealership, who fixed it during the week.
The border crossing was unusual. Ben and Max left their passports in the glove box of Mark’s pickup. They made it through with little trouble. The other problem was that Monday August 7 was a holiday in Canada, so the Beer Store was closed. We had to buy beer at the duty-free shop at Ryden’s and pay duty at the border.
Checked into the Airlane Hotel in Thunder Bay. It used to be a pretty nice place, but it is rather run down now. We did get lucky that they upgraded our room to a suite, which became the meeting place for the pizza delivery.
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
No breakfast at the hotel, so we went to Tim Horton’s. Got bait at the Silver Minnow and we were heading North! Very little traffic. With the recent dry weather, the washouts were dry and easy to handle. We were surprised to come across two guys from Thunder Bay who were looking for minnows along the logging roads. We had a nice chat with Mark and Dave before heading to set up camp. We only had to stop for Alex and Max to remove one tree that was across the logging road.
When we reached camp, the Loons calling from the lake greeted us! After some heavy rain earlier and with dark clouds building in the west and the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance, we quickly setup camp.
After camp was setup, we put the boats into the water.
Ken cooked up some brats and corn on the cob on the grille.
Carter saved us from a snake in the outdoor toilet.
A young snowshoe hare was very interested in the corn cobs in the garbage and Max tempted it was a corn husk.
A thunderstorm rolled through, knocking out the campfire. As we were sitting under the canopies, we saw a wolf in the small clearing at the top of the hill, not 100 yards from camp! Very cool!
The 3 boys shared a tent and were laughing and giggling well into the evening.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Up early to enjoy coffee with Ken and Kylie. Bright blue sky was welcome after the rain the night before. Ken and Kylie made biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Max handled browning the pork sausage.
Alex and Carter split firewood and started a breakfast fire.
Water level was down and with weeds in the bay were thick. A bald eagle greeted us as we took off.
Mark, Ben and Max found a deep-water hump in Two Island Lake and pulled several big walleyes over 20″. Mark landed a 24″ Walleye, the biggest of the trip.
Ken, Carter and Kylie went up to Clear Jack Lake. Tough going with low water levels. Kylie jumped out of the boat to pull the boat over the two beaver dams.
Alex and I fished Slip Bobber and caught lots of small walleyes. With the wind coming out of the west, we had better luck for bigger fish on the back side of fish cleaning island.
Alex cleaned our fish on the island. It was tricky to clean fish on a slippery board in the rain.
Mark caught a big Northern (estimated to be 42″) but didn’t have a net. Fortunately, they were able to waive down Ken, who brought over a net. Max did a great job landing the big fish, but it found a hole in the net and slipped through it!
Ben and Max used their new electric chainsaw to cut up firewood. Kylie and Alex made a nice fire.
Ken and Carter made Mark’s special recipe for a crispy beer batter for fish. Carter served up the fish with a smile!
The hot oil made for a fire visible from space!
The skies cleared and the stars were incredible!
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Wind kicked up overnight from the North and it became much colder.
Ken fried up some thick bacon and Ben made pancakes. Real maple syrup was a treat!
Dental hygiene is still important in the bush!
With the cold, windy, wet weather, we abandoned plans for a canoe trip to Lost Lake. We were off to find more walleyes!
We tried the deep water hump that Mark found the day before, but no luck. We found fish around the two islands, with Alex catching the first 5 fish!
Alex cleaned one of our fish and one of Mark’s before heading North on a longer boat ride.
In the rain, we tried Muskeg Point and my old favorite shoreline near the old camp. Alex was on fire with a lime green Mepps spinner being the hot lure.
Carter was also having great success with his Mepps Silver Spinner #3. Ken told him to cast into a specific spot and Carter caught a 33″ Northern on his first cast, but without a net, his Dad reached down and grabbed the big fish to get it into the boat. The fish took a big bite out of Ken’s thumb and finger. Carter caught a 22″ Walleye and Kylie landed a nice 19″.
Alex leaned how to make a “Happy Jack” with the jaw spreader. This 25″ Northern was the biggest fish Alex had ever caught.
Carter broke a rod on a 14″ walleye! Mark landed a 33″ Northern. Given the cold front, we had pretty good fishing.
Ken and Carter cut up a lot of firewood. Blackened fish tacos with dirty rice for dinner were a big hit!
Friday, August 11, 2023
Woke up to a steady rain – no reason to be in a hurry to get out of the tent. The kids made a delicious French toast breakfast on Mark’s new Blackstone grill. Alex set a new record for eating 18 pieces of French toast!
Mark and Kylie stayed back rather than fishing in the cold rain. They had a nice conversation.
Ken and Carter had a tough time pulling up their boat into Clear Jack Lake, but it was worth it, they had tremendous fishing, both big walleyes and northerns.
Ben and Max followed us up to North to the Wind Swept Point, good fishing but small. We had better luck with bigger fish at Weber Point and Slip Bobber. Max cleaned fish on the island.
We headed back to pull out the boats. Tough work, but the kids proved to be strong and up to the task.
Despite the wet weather, it was great to spend the week with my grandson Alex!
Ken and the kids made pork steaks with spicy creamy potatoes for dinner. No fire with the all-day rain.
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Up early – no rain! With dark clouds in the South, we packed up our wet gear as quickly as we could. Kids made fried egg sandwiches – very tasty. Two old friends could relax and watch the kids clean up camp before we left.
We were packed on the road at noon. No major problems on the way out. Little traffic on the highway. When we got to Thunder Bay, a guy drove past telling me that I had a flat tire on the trailer. We stopped on the side of the freeway, which was a bit unnerving with semi-trucks racing past. Max showed off his strength by breaking the rusted lug nuts on the flat and on the spare tire. Ken had a handy jack in the back of the truck. Max crawled under the trailer to position the jack. Ben changed the tire, and we were back on the road.
Back to the hotel for a shower, a beer and pizza before heading to bed. The kids walked to a nearby convenience store to see some of the local “flavor”.
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Breakfast at McDonalds took a lot longer than expected. Ben and Max got back into the USA without their passports, even with a grumpy customs agent. Gassed up at Ryden’s. Lake Superior was smooth. Traffic on a Sunday on the North Shore was slow as expected, especially in Two Harbors. Fortunately, the dealer repaired the Wanous truck so the 6 people heading for Owatonna did not have to squeeze into just two pickup trucks. Alex and I said goodbye and thanked everyone for a fun trip.
My truck started to overheat along US Highway 53 near Spooner WI. Alex and I had lunch at Subway to let the engine cool down. We found the problem quickly – the cap to the coolant reservoir was missing. Can’t imagine how something would rattle loose during our trip into the bush! A gallon of antifreeze and a little duct tape and we were back on the road home.
1,150 miles door to door. Flipped 230,000 miles on the big blue truck – it just keeps going strong.
From the very start of the trip when Mark Wanous couldn’t go and then when the brake line went out on this truck, Ken wondered if it was a test or if was an omen. In the end it was the first of several tests that this great group could overcome and even enjoy. Fun trip with family and great friends!
Steve Pelton 