My last trip was very physical, dangerous and an absolute blast. Every March, Jeff Moll, Doug Cibulka, (lifelong buddies) and I camp on Chequamegon Bay on the ice at Ashland. There was no ice on that part of Lake Superior, so we moved our operation to Little bay de Noc (LBDN) which is the top end of Green Bay on Lake Michigan. As you will find out, there was never a dull moment as we did our best to catch fish and laugh a lot.
Saturday, March 9
High 35, low 20
First challenge: find ice, not open water, to begin our hike to pull our gear for a 48-hour fishing and camping trip. That goal was met on the east shore of LBDN at Vagabond Resort, a very nice place to check out and with just enough ice to start our journey. The journey, which was a combination of pulling two canoes and five Otter Sleds loaded to the hilt, would require us to use electronics, a map and common sense to find what we hoped would be fishable water over what was 7 inches of ice.
We chose the west side of Center Reef which was a solid two-mile trek and incredibly physical. Second challenge: A north wind of sustained 20 mph with gusts much stronger blew in lake-effect snow from nearby Lake Superior and it was nasty with a capital N. We each put out three tip-ups and went to work setting up two Eskimo ice shacks and rigging them with propane lights, heat and a kitchen, along with three cots which my pups Ruby and Red (who is probably pregnant) really enjoyed once we laid sleeping bags on them.
The flags were popping and there was a northern pike bite taking place with beautiful gators being caught. Just after we got the worst of our chores done one of our guys fell on the powdery, snow-covered ice and sustained a major injury that may affect his ability to run high hurdles, climb rock walls and maybe even drag deer for The Red Brush Gang.
We cooked great food, caught lots of gators but no walleye, and witnessed Mother Nature mad as heck at something as she beat the snot out of our camp and each of us when we went outside.
Sunday, March 10
High 36, low 22
We had a new dilemma as soon as we woke up this morning. Because we had drilled three holes in our kitchen shack to fish out of, and due to deep snow building against our shacks on the upwind side, our shacks/floors flooded. This meant we had to do the miserable job of moving our camp that was soon in 10 inches of water. Slippery when wet would be the best description of our task.
All day today the gators were biting well, and I was winning our gator bet with a 34.5-incher when Mr. Moll got extremely lucky and caught a 35.5. As hard as it was to act out, I was happy for him. At about 4, my buddy Doug Cibulka caught a 20-inch walleye and that made us very happy. At about 6, the wind slowed down a bit, our mood was excellent and whamo, I got a flag and caught a 22.5-inch walleye. The entire night we were believers in more walleye, but it did not happen.
The next morning we had the horrible job of breaking camp and then dragging our loads back to shore. The sun was softening the ice and nothing wanted to drag with ease, not to mention that we were done in. When we got 100 yards from shore, which was two full hours of Death Drag, it was open water for the last 30 to 80 feet. We had hip boots, chest waders, and canoes and as always made it home safe, sound and somewhat beat up.
Climate change and lifelong buddies can beat a guy up!
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