Duncan Lake, 3-19-2010

Mark, Norm and I arrived at camp about 3pm. We felt lucky to get our favorite campsite. The snow was melted on the ice and the portage and was easy walking with Yaktrax. Sadie pulled her share of the load easily, which was pleasing. It was 30 degrees but felt cool because of the breeze. We could see during our travels that the ice near shore had melted during the previous week's heat wave. These areas had refroze in the recent cool down. After setting up camp we headed out to the hot spot. We fished for 2 hours with no luck. The wind continued and as soon as supper was done we headed for our tents. I read for a couple hours listening to the sounds of the winter night, that is Mark, Norm and Sadie snoring. Also as the night got colder the lake ice groaned and popped with true spookiness if you didn't know what it was. The sound was actually fascinating and beautiful.

On Saturday morning Bill arrived with his dog Maggie. They were a nice addition to our group. We followed the GPS to a hump in the middle of the lake. We fished for a couple hours and then broke for lunch. Bill had brought in some fresh apple fritters to compliment our cheese and crackers and coffee. Later we went to a spot off a distant point, it was out of the wind and much more comfortable. I had fished near Norm for a while and then moved 100 yards away to try deeper water. Ten minutes after I moved Norm reeled in a nice Lake Trout. We fished in earnest till 4pm catching nothing more. Supper was a collaborative effort. Norm provided the fish and a pasta cheese thing that was very good. Mark cooked a potato soup thing that I donated to the cause. Warm food tasted really good because it was 25 degrees with a wind. We finished off the evening with 3 rounds of cribbage. Mark and Bill won the first two and then Norm and I saved face and won the last one. Went to bed early.

In the morning we shared breakfast, conversations and good byes with Bill as he had to get back to SE Minnesota. Norm and Mark went fishing and I did camp chores and journaling. After a coffee break I went back out on the ice with them and we fished for a few more hours. Norm hauled in another Lake Trout. We enjoyed another collaborative supper. Once again norms fish and a fried potato delight. I provided an Asian spicy soup. Coop did most of the cooking.

In the morning we had a quick breakfast but I was slow. Our travels back to the parking lot were a mixture of satisfaction, excitement and wishing we could come back next weekend. We felt that we had had the last best weekend on the ice. The ice was rotting fast and we were fortunate not to have any troubles.

Mikkel, Cody and Luke fishing Snowbank and Farm Lakes March 13-15,2010

We drove across the expanse of Snowbank Lake with me leading in my Nissan and Cody and Luke following in his 3/4 Ton Silverado. We traveled easily across the icy surface. The snow had totally melted several days earlier and refroze. Mikkel rode with me and directed us to a spot he knew friends from Kenyon would be fishing. We fished there most of the day switching locations several times with no luck. It was 44 degrees, gray overcast and slightly windy. I felt that this kind of weather shuts off Lake Trout. We headed to the island campsite and put up Cody's giant outfitter tent from Cabelas. We pitched it on the ice so it wouldn't get dirty. It fit all four of us sleeping on huge cots. After fishing and supper Luke built a fire in the firepit on the island. We all gathered around and played cards for hours. It was so late I don't remember who won.

In the morning, after bacon and eggs, we headed into the BWCA to fish. It took 20 minutes walking while pulling sleds full of our gear to get to the perfect spot. Actually perfect spot number two. Our first choice was already taken, unknown by us, by friends from Kenyon. They were so far away that we couldn't tell who they were. The water was 90 feet deep there and we fished 8-10 feet off the bottom. We caught two Lake Trout and a Walleye. The Walleye we threw back. Mikkel fished shirtless as the temp had risen to around 65 degrees. We met another shirtless fisherman on our trek out to the hump. The warm temps had us worried about the safety of the ice and we all agreed to head back. When we got to camp, several of the tent stakes had come loose and part of the tent caved in. We now definitely decided to go. We knew the lake ice was safe but the ice at the boat landing may have melted too much to cross safely if we were to stay another day. The landing was wet but solid. We were relieved. We headed for some Crappie action at Farm Lake. Once there we took my truck out on the ice. I towed the ice fishing sled behind it. Again, we were relieved to cross the ice without incident. We fished for 2 1/2 hours catching two nice Crappies. At dark we headed back to my place. Mikkel cleaned and fried the fish. They were delicious. Cribbage rounded out the evening.

In the morning we headed back to Farm Lake and fished till about noon. We caught 8 Crappies while watching the morning sun rise higher in the sky. After towing the big sled off the lake with my truck we said our good byes.