Rainy Lake '09

On Thursday we left for Rainy Lake with the weather forcast not looking good. It rained on and off most of the way up to International Falls, but by the time we were ready to go onto the lake the sky began clearing. We cruised out past the Brule Narrows with only a few sprinkles to annoy us. Only to be looking for a campsite for the better part of 3 hours and 40 miles. We had to camp in a site under construction and set up our tent on a turtleback rock. On Friday we went fishing in the morning and got into a good school of fish. From 9 to 12 we caught most of our weekend fish. Friday afternoon we went looking for a legitimate campsite and were lucky enough to see someone leaving the campsite that we've been at for the last 3 years.

By 3 Pm that Friday afternoon we were home at last and set up. Friday night the monsoon moved in, the rain was so hard it broke one of the tent poles and almost collapsed the tent. At 2 in the morning I'm running around in ankle deep water trying to keep the tent form crashing down on us. I managed but one side of the tent was hanging only inches from my nose for the rest of the night. With all the rain and high winds Saturday was not a good fishing day and when we tried to get out we got pounded. If you look below you will see what Saturday was good for.

Anyway the trip was OK but could have been better. No fishing trip is ever a total bust. A good time was had by all with good company, and a couple of good dogs. There will be other trips this year and I hope you will look forward to their descriptions of the mayhem we enounter.

Hope you can get out an make some memories of your own,

Steelheader

On Friday I had the hot hand landing 3 of the first 5 fish caught. This one was about 20" and had to be released.

Whiskey attached each fish caught and brought into the boat. Most of the time she just barked allot but at times she tried to bite and lick the fish.

Ken caught some fish on what I call his Deli rig a leech and a crawler combo on a lindy rig. Zach called it the garage sale special!

Friday was our big day for fishing. Here I'm holding up a 26" walleye. It doesn't get any beter than this!

On Friday we moved to the campsite of our choice after an evening in a bootleg campsite on a rock. We put up this awning just in time to protect most of our equipment for that evening torrential rains.

Ken holds up a nice 23" walleye he caught on friday. Great fish and great trip. Thanks!!

It was a lazy afternoon on Saturday and after being beaten up by the high winds on the lake we relaxed around the fire. Some relaxed more than others. I think I'd like to promote the Ken and Zach action figures. You wind them up and they fall asleep!!