This season, June appears to have been the hottest month for fishing in Jasper and the area, overall. Having Red Rock Wilderness Store here as part of Northwind Lodge affords us the ability to find out what is biting and where. Plus, our Northwind Lodge guests caught the biggest fish and most species at the end of May and throughout June. When the smallmouth were on the spawning beds this season (which is usually the third week in June for as long as I can remember), our guests were catching whoppers in smallmouth bass and the largemouth were doing pretty nicely, as well.
Once we entered July, our weather turned spectacular for the most part. We had the occasional mega-downpour, but were very pleased with the nice temps and sunny days. Only one day hit 90 degrees F and everyone was griping at the horrific discomfort and terrible sweatiness it caused - for one day. I kept reminding the complainers that we had a normal winter last season which means actual temps dipping to -40 degrees F and six whole weeks of -23 to -25 degree F mornings. It became apparent to me that many among us have really short memories with everything from politics to weather. Once we made it past our 15 hour heat wave, summer fell lock-step into mid-seventies by day and mid-to-high forties by night. That went on for days on end. It was awful to be so comfortable. I do think it caused some issues with fishing as while we humans like the climate-controlled temps of northern Minnesota (at least for this year and probably never again), the fish find it less enjoyable or at least un-motivating. The barometric pressure remained high and infrequently moving for many of the days past. Fishing is always best when atmospheric pressure is changing and preferably on the rise. When it remains high all the time, while that is better than a fish depressing low, it is not as good as an inspirational rise. With the more variable weather of June, fishing was more exciting and in that lies no surprise. June generally brings about bigger fish and more activity in general. This June was no different.
As for recent activity, there have been quite a few customers coming into Red Rock (our store and the Northwind Lodge office) asking for very specific lures to catch northern pike. We have thousands of lures in the store here and whenever we don't have the exact color/design/brand in stock, we get a lot of varied remarks of great disappointment. "Well, one would think that with 25,000 lures in stock, you'd for certain have MY color/brand/model!" When I ask what they are using that specific color to catch, they invariably say "northern pike". At that point, great restraint must be put forth on my presentation that five different customers have been in today all asking for a really different specific lure "for northerns". That in itself should really easily indicate that the northerns are biting and they are biting EVERYTHING. Northern pike are like that. They can really be biting and they pretty much are biting from a reaction to the lure. How do I know that? I've personally watched LOTS of northern pike under the ice with underwater cameras. It also doesn't hurt that I fished hard for many years as a guide. For more current data, Rapala came out with their Scatter Rap which is a whole line of lures that wobble when pulled through the water, but then suddenly shoots off in an erratic motion. That erratic, occasional veering off-course makes fish take notice. That notice can result in a reaction strike. Northerns are reactive fish. Yes, there are occasional times when they do hit one color over another, but more often than not, they will hit all the lures in your tackle box and sometimes even a six inch yellow, plastic, braided rope with a treble hook attached. Fishing northern pike is the easiest of all the fish and they are very aggressive. That is why the limit for them is three. The trick is finding the big ones. There is a reason that big fish are big - they are not stupid.
Now, does that mean that northerns will hit every lure you throw out of the boat? No. Sometimes, they are simply not in the mood. The point that I am trying to make is that if you don't find your exact, trusty, confidence lure for northern pike, don't worry about it. We have about 100 others that will do quite well and on some days nothing works. Incidentally, the exact same thing can be said for worm harnesses and spinner rigs for walleye fishing. Colorado or Indiana blade - it's not going to matter that much. Spin, flash, bite. For July and August, slap on a fluorescent orange, chartreuse, or copper colored blade, hook on a worm, and throw it over the side. Troll around the cabbage weed bed edges and be on the bottom. Other colors will work as well. They are really more interested in the worm.
As of late, northerns and bass have been slamming top water lures like Zara Spooks, Chug Bugs, various poppers and Jig-N-Pigs which are pretty weedless and fun to use. The best fishing in Jasper appeared to be from 5 AM to 8 AM when the pressure seemed to increase every day for the past ten days. That was for the Kowalyshens in Cabin 7. Jim Rhoads and son Dan, and grandson Abraham did well during a wide range of daytime hours. Terry Rose, caught fish at all day times but noted that the fishing was a bit slower overall this season. I'm still holding the spectacular weather to be responsible for slow fish activity. What was inexplicable was that the bluegills disappeared for the past two weeks. Normally, this time of year, they are jumping in the boat. We'll have to see what the rest of August and September brings.
Lake trout have been hitting big jigs at 90 feet in Snowbank Lake. Catching lakers at this time of year requires a special skill set. Rainbow trout in Tofte Lake (next door to us) has been producing some nice rainbows from trolling with Salmo Hornets in Rainbow Dace pattern which is exactly like the minnows that are in Tofte. To use these little beauties, you simply troll them behind the boat about 150 to 200 feet....and the rainbows are tasty!
We'll see what this week brings. I'm hoping to sneak a little time on the water as well. For the bulk of the summer, I spent my time talking about fishing in the store for 12 hours per day, seven days a week since the first week of June which was my last trip to date.
The ax is becoming dull. I need to go sharpen it.
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Showing posts with label northern pike fishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label northern pike fishing. Show all posts
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Put in a Little Time on Jasper - Catch Some Nice Fish
The Norman family from southern Illinois are showing them how to do it again here at Northwind Lodge. Bob, Mary Sue and son Jake have been pulling out some beeyooteefull smallmouth up to 5 lbs. and largemouth up to 6 lbs. and one 5 lb. walleye so far. Northern pike have been hitting as well but nothing really huge has made its presence be known - yet. Bluegills are really active in the new, upcoming weedbeds of Jasper. Some of the best fishing for big bass has been in the shallows right in front of the river where Jasper Creek dumps into the lake. That happens to be next to our docks. Some of our guest have been pulling in really nice bass without even getting into a boat.
During this week the Normans are our only fishing group and they spent the day on Wood Lake yesterday with spectacular walleye and bass fishing. Big fish, little fish, fish who climb on rocks were hitting hard all day during the high pressure and overcast skies. It was like the perfect storm for fishing and they were biting all over the area. Having a retail store like Red Rock here lets us find out where, who, what, when, and why in fishing details for the region. Many people caught fish incorrectly believing that they only bit on leeches or worms. They were slamming artificials like crazy as well. So, you can go out and buy organic, live bait and lug it around with you, keeping it alive, or you can bring of box of undead lures and toss them over the side. When the fish are biting, you will catch the same amount of fish with either and the undead allow you to use them over and over while forgetting them in the sun. You come out ahead with the undead.
Salmo Hornets #3 in Rainbow Dace have been scoring big with walleyes and stream trout simply by trolling them on the bottom for walleyes with a rubber core sinker or 200 feet behind the boat for trout. Black and gold, F11 floating Rapalas are also getting attacked by walleyes and huge bass. Another great bass lure is the Yamamoto Senko, 5" worm rigged wacky style. (that means hooked in the middle for those of you who don't know all that tech jargon of the southern bass world). Just cast them out and let them sink to the bottom in bass country and walleyes will come in and gobble those up as well! Who knew!
So, if you like to fish, take a few days and come up to Northwind Lodge and hit the water. But remember, to do well, you need to put in the time. It's a pretty rare occasion where you can go out in one day, hit them hard and go home. So, in my opinion, planning an overnighter will be a waste of time and money. At least try to squeeze in three nights. Check out our online internet specials! You really need to get up north and get back to wilderness. Or do you like being surrounded by a sea of people? Click Here
During this week the Normans are our only fishing group and they spent the day on Wood Lake yesterday with spectacular walleye and bass fishing. Big fish, little fish, fish who climb on rocks were hitting hard all day during the high pressure and overcast skies. It was like the perfect storm for fishing and they were biting all over the area. Having a retail store like Red Rock here lets us find out where, who, what, when, and why in fishing details for the region. Many people caught fish incorrectly believing that they only bit on leeches or worms. They were slamming artificials like crazy as well. So, you can go out and buy organic, live bait and lug it around with you, keeping it alive, or you can bring of box of undead lures and toss them over the side. When the fish are biting, you will catch the same amount of fish with either and the undead allow you to use them over and over while forgetting them in the sun. You come out ahead with the undead.
Salmo Hornets #3 in Rainbow Dace have been scoring big with walleyes and stream trout simply by trolling them on the bottom for walleyes with a rubber core sinker or 200 feet behind the boat for trout. Black and gold, F11 floating Rapalas are also getting attacked by walleyes and huge bass. Another great bass lure is the Yamamoto Senko, 5" worm rigged wacky style. (that means hooked in the middle for those of you who don't know all that tech jargon of the southern bass world). Just cast them out and let them sink to the bottom in bass country and walleyes will come in and gobble those up as well! Who knew!
So, if you like to fish, take a few days and come up to Northwind Lodge and hit the water. But remember, to do well, you need to put in the time. It's a pretty rare occasion where you can go out in one day, hit them hard and go home. So, in my opinion, planning an overnighter will be a waste of time and money. At least try to squeeze in three nights. Check out our online internet specials! You really need to get up north and get back to wilderness. Or do you like being surrounded by a sea of people? Click Here
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Another Day on Wood Lake
It was a spectacular day weather-wise and instead of cutting firewood, finishing up a siding job, working on the website which isn't working quite right, designing an ad layout in Photoshop, fixing some known areas that need some repair, cutting firewood and stacking firewood, I decided that I wanted to go fishing on Wood Lake again. I wanted to take advantage of the nice day and my dad agreed to come along with me and Delilah. We were going in search of those big perch we found last week. They were bugging me.
So, pack up and head out we did. My pack is a Kondos day-type pack and absolutely the perfect size pack for this kind of stuff. I use it all year long and it goes everywhere with me from riding in the cargo sled behind my Skidoo to sitting in the bow of our Wood Lake boats. It's been in -30 below to 90 above and covered in frozen slush and summer rain. My dad has the same pack and he loves his, as well. For the price, nobody wanted to buy them when they were on the shelf in Red Rock. Customers deemed them not to be "fancy" enough for the price when for $29 you could buy a cheap, multipocketed, multi-colored, book-style pack made in China.
Our Kondos Outdoors packs made by Dan & Vicki Kondos of Ely are bigger and far more useful than a number 2 Duluth pack and very comfortable to carry. They have a snorkel top with a draw-cord and a cord lock. You can overstuff them and still get the main flap over the top if needed. I've discovered a new use for them as well.
The portage today was really bug-laden and Delilah got really chewed upon yesterday, particularly her belly. She's a tough little dog, but those bugs really made a mess out of that soft puppy skin. In order to not make the little dog sick or devoid of more puppy blood, I stuffed her in my Kondos packsack. I pulled the drawstring closed around her neck and put the pack on my back, with her cute little dog head sticking out and looking over my shoulder as to where we were going. No bugs were going to chew her up on this trip. Once settled in the pack, Delilah seemed to think it was an acceptable way to travel and nary a peep did she make.
I trotted down to the boats and bailed one out while my dad negotiated the trail in his 82nd year. Of course there was approximately one million gallons of water in the boat. I found it amazing how boats are like insulation in your house. If it's working properly, it keeps stuff in or out without discretion. A boat that won't hold water won't float, either. I'm sure there is a paradox in here somewhere, but this boat floats really, really well.
My dad arrives just as I'm floating the bailed boat and getting organized. We pile in and head out to where those those jumbo perch were last week. This time, being armed with Ugly Ducklings and ultra-fine finesse steel leaders, I figured they wouldn't have much of a chance.
Upon arrival, and dropping our lines in with Ugly Ducklings and about twenty feet of trolling, my dad caught the first jumbo perch. A few more landed in the boat and the northerns were in there marauding as well. That's fine because we both like them and my wife Annette also likes northerns. So, less perch, more northerns, made no difference. Fresh fish from our cold water in northern Minnesota is all good.
While cruising around the lake a fast as trolling about 1.5 miles per hour will take us with oars, a walleye, a nice smallmouth bass, and more northerns joined the stringer. Despite the beautiful day with white clouds in the azure blue sky I had to aim the bow back for obligations waiting at Red Rock and Northwind Lodge. Of course, apprised of our homeward intentions, the wind has to pick up from the south and make its presence be known to the guy dunking the oars. Nonetheless, despite the wind poking me with a proverbial stick, we cranked up our lines and I thumb my nose into the wind's midsection and pick up the pace of that boat.
Upon the final turn round a point, a canoe approaches, heading out into the main part of the lake. The paddling men greet us with a friendly "How's it going?" We said something about it being "fine", "nice day" and other pleasantries of paddling on a wonderful day in the boundary waters. Then, I noticed that something was not quite right with that canoe and it's paddling duo. Their canoe was an older Wenonah Champlain and they were moving at a fair pace with bentshaft paddles that have been used for a number of years. They were still in good condition, but showing wear and tear brought on by years of use and landing on rocks and rugged terrain. They were both Bending Branches paddles - BB Specials, 14 degree bentshafts.
I yelled after them, "Hey, guys! You are both holding your bentshafts backwards. You are in effect 'shoveling' water and not pushing it."
"Really?" they asked.
I said "Yup" and they turned their paddles to the correct position. We chuckled, but in fairness, I did the same thing the first time I picked up a bentshaft paddle 25 years ago. It just looks like you should be using it that way until you analyze it. Not everybody analyzes what they do, however. Given the wear on those paddles, I was certain that these guys have been holding them backwards for a long time without even the slightest analysis. But that wasn't the real surprise. They flipped their paddles around and then I noticed the relatively "unbelieveable" part. Their canoe was sitting strangely in the water as it moved by us. Holy buckets - now I'd seen everything!
"Hey, guys! One more thing." I yelled into the crosswind. "You are paddling the canoe backwards!"
"SERIOUSLY?!!!" , replied the truly surprised bow paddler from his cramped position sitting backwards in the stern seat. It HAD to be ridiculously narrow for his knees.
"Yup!" I replied. "You need to both turn around and paddle it forwards with the bow up front or you are gonna drown if it gets rough out."
By now, our opposite-traveling distance (and our amazed giggling) didn't allow for any more water-borne conversation with the backasswards canoe paddlers. It really looked weird that the bow of that canoe would be about 10 inches high with the bow paddler seated right up to it and the stern would be about 22" high and a solid six feet behind the stern paddler. It looked really strange because it really was strange. As I continued to increase the distance between us, I watched that canoe move in zig-zags and confused circles as if they no longer knew what to do with themselves in that canoe on the water. They ended up paddling in all directions of the compass and finally faded from view around the point. It was like they lost all control in realizing that literally every move they made in the past 15 minutes has been completely backwards. All they needed to do was pull up along the shore, get out and re-sit in the seats the correct direction. Instead, they literally spun out of control like a robot with a blown directional servo-thingy. We both marveled at how it is that there are not more deaths in the Boundary Waters. But our day was not yet done with the portage still to cross.
We got to shore, locked up the boat and observed a HUGE pile of camping paraphernalia next to the water sitting on the ground. It was the multicolored extravaganza of city folk going on a camping trip. There were big folding chairs with cupholders, a screen tent, overstuffed packs, fishing equipment, a big propane camp stove, and assorted other heavy gear that some enthusiast carried for 210 rods (a rod is 16.5 feet in length) over rocks, and mud, and through swarms of mosquitos.
I get Delilah into the pack and this time Dad is going to carry her because I have the fish in my pack. As he takes off with the dog, he runs into two women who are dressed from head to toe in screened bug suits. They looked like space aliens. One lady had stuffed into her wearable screen tent, a bright yellow and white neck cushion - the kind you see people using on an airliner to sleep - a can of bug dope, a fanny pack and a bunch of other stuff that made her suit billow out like she had a few extra pounds on her. The other woman was stuffed similarly. When both saw Delilah with her cute little head sticking out of the pack, the woods came alive with adorable-ness and female words of admiration. If we weren't both happily married for many years, that dog in a packsack could have been the perfect "chick magnet".
Continuing on up the portage, I pull ahead of my dad to get to the truck to unload so I can double back and grab his pack. Once I unload my oars and pack, back down the portage I go to grab the pack with the dog in it. Then I head back to the truck and wait for Dad who's taking a slower pace.
At the truck, I unpack Delilah and put her on a leash. Another truck pulls up with a stubby little tandem canoe and two guys hop out. One wants to know if it's busy on Wood lake. I say "yeah" because I just passed the screened-in women with their boxcar load of gear, the guy from their group who was hauling in the canoe, the two guys paddling their canoe backwards on the water while holding their paddles backwards, the four guys we saw on the point where we caught the perch, the canoes in the distance, and the camp with someone making sun tea on the northern site. So, yeah - it was busy.
The shorter guy groaned at the prospect of others being on the lake. I noticed he was dressed "Disneyland Style" for going into the bug-laden woods and I commented that he appeared "ready-to-go" with his bug-screen pantaloons on over his short pants. He hesitantly replied that he'd "heard that it was buggy on the trail". I said , "Oh", thinking to myself that if one would only wear regular long pants instead of shorts, none of this "wearing bug-screen-harem-pants like MC Hammer" would be necessary. I mentioned that the two women on the portage were all dressed up just like that as well. As, I said that, the mosquitos were swarming in the grass in which we stood, but upon hearing that he was dressed "like the women ahead of him", he quickly removed his screened-in pants, wadded them up and stuffed them somewhere. At that point, no less than 5,000 mosquitoes charged up those Disneyland shorts and made him twitch a little - well, maybe a lot. He sure as heck wasn't going to show it however. "Real men don't wear bug screen pants" was the message I got out of this. The laughter inside me wanted to come out SO badly, but I repressed it gallantly. I think I may have pulled something.
OK, YES - I was messing with him. And it worked really well - for me. Anyway, my dad arrived, we said goodbye and good luck to the two new guys and back to Northwind Lodge we went. Delilah, as per her usual self, enjoyed the ride all day long. Another day on Wood Lake has passed.
Visit Northwind Lodge's Website
Visit Red Rock Outdoors
So, pack up and head out we did. My pack is a Kondos day-type pack and absolutely the perfect size pack for this kind of stuff. I use it all year long and it goes everywhere with me from riding in the cargo sled behind my Skidoo to sitting in the bow of our Wood Lake boats. It's been in -30 below to 90 above and covered in frozen slush and summer rain. My dad has the same pack and he loves his, as well. For the price, nobody wanted to buy them when they were on the shelf in Red Rock. Customers deemed them not to be "fancy" enough for the price when for $29 you could buy a cheap, multipocketed, multi-colored, book-style pack made in China.
Our Kondos Outdoors packs made by Dan & Vicki Kondos of Ely are bigger and far more useful than a number 2 Duluth pack and very comfortable to carry. They have a snorkel top with a draw-cord and a cord lock. You can overstuff them and still get the main flap over the top if needed. I've discovered a new use for them as well.
The portage today was really bug-laden and Delilah got really chewed upon yesterday, particularly her belly. She's a tough little dog, but those bugs really made a mess out of that soft puppy skin. In order to not make the little dog sick or devoid of more puppy blood, I stuffed her in my Kondos packsack. I pulled the drawstring closed around her neck and put the pack on my back, with her cute little dog head sticking out and looking over my shoulder as to where we were going. No bugs were going to chew her up on this trip. Once settled in the pack, Delilah seemed to think it was an acceptable way to travel and nary a peep did she make.
I trotted down to the boats and bailed one out while my dad negotiated the trail in his 82nd year. Of course there was approximately one million gallons of water in the boat. I found it amazing how boats are like insulation in your house. If it's working properly, it keeps stuff in or out without discretion. A boat that won't hold water won't float, either. I'm sure there is a paradox in here somewhere, but this boat floats really, really well.
My dad arrives just as I'm floating the bailed boat and getting organized. We pile in and head out to where those those jumbo perch were last week. This time, being armed with Ugly Ducklings and ultra-fine finesse steel leaders, I figured they wouldn't have much of a chance.
Upon arrival, and dropping our lines in with Ugly Ducklings and about twenty feet of trolling, my dad caught the first jumbo perch. A few more landed in the boat and the northerns were in there marauding as well. That's fine because we both like them and my wife Annette also likes northerns. So, less perch, more northerns, made no difference. Fresh fish from our cold water in northern Minnesota is all good.
While cruising around the lake a fast as trolling about 1.5 miles per hour will take us with oars, a walleye, a nice smallmouth bass, and more northerns joined the stringer. Despite the beautiful day with white clouds in the azure blue sky I had to aim the bow back for obligations waiting at Red Rock and Northwind Lodge. Of course, apprised of our homeward intentions, the wind has to pick up from the south and make its presence be known to the guy dunking the oars. Nonetheless, despite the wind poking me with a proverbial stick, we cranked up our lines and I thumb my nose into the wind's midsection and pick up the pace of that boat.
Upon the final turn round a point, a canoe approaches, heading out into the main part of the lake. The paddling men greet us with a friendly "How's it going?" We said something about it being "fine", "nice day" and other pleasantries of paddling on a wonderful day in the boundary waters. Then, I noticed that something was not quite right with that canoe and it's paddling duo. Their canoe was an older Wenonah Champlain and they were moving at a fair pace with bentshaft paddles that have been used for a number of years. They were still in good condition, but showing wear and tear brought on by years of use and landing on rocks and rugged terrain. They were both Bending Branches paddles - BB Specials, 14 degree bentshafts.
I yelled after them, "Hey, guys! You are both holding your bentshafts backwards. You are in effect 'shoveling' water and not pushing it."
"Really?" they asked.
I said "Yup" and they turned their paddles to the correct position. We chuckled, but in fairness, I did the same thing the first time I picked up a bentshaft paddle 25 years ago. It just looks like you should be using it that way until you analyze it. Not everybody analyzes what they do, however. Given the wear on those paddles, I was certain that these guys have been holding them backwards for a long time without even the slightest analysis. But that wasn't the real surprise. They flipped their paddles around and then I noticed the relatively "unbelieveable" part. Their canoe was sitting strangely in the water as it moved by us. Holy buckets - now I'd seen everything!
"Hey, guys! One more thing." I yelled into the crosswind. "You are paddling the canoe backwards!"
"SERIOUSLY?!!!" , replied the truly surprised bow paddler from his cramped position sitting backwards in the stern seat. It HAD to be ridiculously narrow for his knees.
"Yup!" I replied. "You need to both turn around and paddle it forwards with the bow up front or you are gonna drown if it gets rough out."
By now, our opposite-traveling distance (and our amazed giggling) didn't allow for any more water-borne conversation with the backasswards canoe paddlers. It really looked weird that the bow of that canoe would be about 10 inches high with the bow paddler seated right up to it and the stern would be about 22" high and a solid six feet behind the stern paddler. It looked really strange because it really was strange. As I continued to increase the distance between us, I watched that canoe move in zig-zags and confused circles as if they no longer knew what to do with themselves in that canoe on the water. They ended up paddling in all directions of the compass and finally faded from view around the point. It was like they lost all control in realizing that literally every move they made in the past 15 minutes has been completely backwards. All they needed to do was pull up along the shore, get out and re-sit in the seats the correct direction. Instead, they literally spun out of control like a robot with a blown directional servo-thingy. We both marveled at how it is that there are not more deaths in the Boundary Waters. But our day was not yet done with the portage still to cross.
We got to shore, locked up the boat and observed a HUGE pile of camping paraphernalia next to the water sitting on the ground. It was the multicolored extravaganza of city folk going on a camping trip. There were big folding chairs with cupholders, a screen tent, overstuffed packs, fishing equipment, a big propane camp stove, and assorted other heavy gear that some enthusiast carried for 210 rods (a rod is 16.5 feet in length) over rocks, and mud, and through swarms of mosquitos.
I get Delilah into the pack and this time Dad is going to carry her because I have the fish in my pack. As he takes off with the dog, he runs into two women who are dressed from head to toe in screened bug suits. They looked like space aliens. One lady had stuffed into her wearable screen tent, a bright yellow and white neck cushion - the kind you see people using on an airliner to sleep - a can of bug dope, a fanny pack and a bunch of other stuff that made her suit billow out like she had a few extra pounds on her. The other woman was stuffed similarly. When both saw Delilah with her cute little head sticking out of the pack, the woods came alive with adorable-ness and female words of admiration. If we weren't both happily married for many years, that dog in a packsack could have been the perfect "chick magnet".
Continuing on up the portage, I pull ahead of my dad to get to the truck to unload so I can double back and grab his pack. Once I unload my oars and pack, back down the portage I go to grab the pack with the dog in it. Then I head back to the truck and wait for Dad who's taking a slower pace.
At the truck, I unpack Delilah and put her on a leash. Another truck pulls up with a stubby little tandem canoe and two guys hop out. One wants to know if it's busy on Wood lake. I say "yeah" because I just passed the screened-in women with their boxcar load of gear, the guy from their group who was hauling in the canoe, the two guys paddling their canoe backwards on the water while holding their paddles backwards, the four guys we saw on the point where we caught the perch, the canoes in the distance, and the camp with someone making sun tea on the northern site. So, yeah - it was busy.
The shorter guy groaned at the prospect of others being on the lake. I noticed he was dressed "Disneyland Style" for going into the bug-laden woods and I commented that he appeared "ready-to-go" with his bug-screen pantaloons on over his short pants. He hesitantly replied that he'd "heard that it was buggy on the trail". I said , "Oh", thinking to myself that if one would only wear regular long pants instead of shorts, none of this "wearing bug-screen-harem-pants like MC Hammer" would be necessary. I mentioned that the two women on the portage were all dressed up just like that as well. As, I said that, the mosquitos were swarming in the grass in which we stood, but upon hearing that he was dressed "like the women ahead of him", he quickly removed his screened-in pants, wadded them up and stuffed them somewhere. At that point, no less than 5,000 mosquitoes charged up those Disneyland shorts and made him twitch a little - well, maybe a lot. He sure as heck wasn't going to show it however. "Real men don't wear bug screen pants" was the message I got out of this. The laughter inside me wanted to come out SO badly, but I repressed it gallantly. I think I may have pulled something.
OK, YES - I was messing with him. And it worked really well - for me. Anyway, my dad arrived, we said goodbye and good luck to the two new guys and back to Northwind Lodge we went. Delilah, as per her usual self, enjoyed the ride all day long. Another day on Wood Lake has passed.
Visit Northwind Lodge's Website
Visit Red Rock Outdoors
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