The gang's all here, l-r, Tom M., Duane P., John N. Clarence T. and Jerry S.
This morning at 9:00 a.m. the temperature was 60 degrees, the wind was calm and the sky was grey and overcast with a steady rain falling. By 1:00 p.m. the rain was still falling, and had not let up a bit. We need the rain in Northern Minnesota to fill the lakes and ease the drought, and I'm happy because it will provide much needed moisture for the trees and bushes I planted a couple of days ago.
Mark from Shore Brothers stopped by at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the problem with my boat lift. Mark's son Ben was here yesterday looking at the boat lift motor and gear mechanism and determined that the clutch plate was probably wearing out. Mark concurred with his son's assessment and said he would order a new one for me. Mark said he'd come out in the next week or so to install the new clutch plate.
I received word today that some business meetings that have been discussed for the past several weeks are indeed happening during the final week of June in California. That means that I will be flying back to San Jose on Wednesday, June 24. I can't believe that in 8 days from now I'll be back in California. What a dramatic, and not altogether pleasant, thought.
I really love being at Leech Lake, and the transition back to city life is always a hard one to make. I'm not sure when I'll be back to our cabin in the Northwoods, but I'm hoping it will be around Labor Day (if not sooner). If I can swing it, I'd like to stay six or seven weeks -- from Labor Day to the third week in October.
If that indeed happens, I would be here for the great walleye fishing in September and October, as well as the Otter Tail Peninsula potluck dinner in mid-October. That's also the time I'd pull my boat out of the water. Here it is not even officially summer yet and I'm already planning the time to pull my boat out of the water. That's what going back to "civilization" does to me; it makes me plan months into the future rather than loving and experiencing the moment.
At 3:00 p.m. this afternoon I'm going to my neighbor John Newman's cabin for an early BBQ with a bunch of guys from the Peninsula. In addition to John, others who have said they'd be in attendance include Clancy (the man from whom we bought our Leech Lake house), Jerry Schiebe (the current OPA president), Tom Malay (my long-time friend, neighbor and VP of the OPA), Noel Hancock and possibly Norm Hansen (unofficial Peninsula historian and past OPA president). It should be an entertaining time with such an august assembly.
Despite the steady rain, I decided to go fishing at 2:10 p.m. this afternoon. I donned my Cabela's GORE-TEX Guidewear jacket and bib overalls, grabbed the bucket of shiners and took the boat to 9 feet of water off Second Duck Point. I caught a number of small- to medium-sized perch, but no walleye. At 3:00 p.m. I headed for shore so I could get over to Newman's for the BBQ.
When I arrived at John's cabin Jerry Schiebe, Duane Paulsen, Clancy T., and Tom Malay were already there. (Noel and Norm were no-shows). We hung out for about an hour drinking beer and sharing tall tales while John grilled up some brats and burgers. While we ate, Clancy continued to entertain us with an endless stream of stories about Otter Tail Peninsula and the characters long ago who inhabited this part of Leech Lake.
After dinner, and a little more chat, the party broke up and we all headed home. When I got home, I decided to feed my last 5 shiners to the perch and walleye. At 6:40 p.m. I went out onto the lake. The water temperature was 64.5 degrees, the air temperature was 61 degrees, the wind was slight at maybe 3-5 mph from the NE and the sky was overcast, grey and drizzly. The steady rain had stopped, but the air was still heavy with moisture and it felt like it could start raining again at any minute.
I started fishing in 9-12 feet of water off Second Duck Point, but quickly moved to directly in front of our house in 9 feet of water. At the latter location I caught a few perch and a 13" walleye. All fish went back into the lake.
Around 7:40 p.m. the last of my shiners was picked off my Bass Pro Shops XPS Walleye Angler jig, so I decided to go home. John had mentioned that he'd like to go out trolling for walleye tonight, and if he doesn't mind sitting in the rain, I'll be happy to take him out. He leaves for Mahtomedi sometime tomorrow late morning, and since I leave in a week, this may be the last time we get to fish together for months.
As I sit at my computer writing this blog entry I can look out onto Leech Lake (a wonderful sight). It's 8:20 p.m. and I just saw John Newman pull out onto the lake in his boat. I don't know if he's planning to come back to do some trolling or not. Regardless, I'm going out fishing at 9:00 p.m.
I did indeed go out fishing at 9:00 p.m. I trolled a hot steel colored #9 Minnow Rap in 8-10 feet of 64.2 degree water in The Alley. Just as the light was leaving the overcast sky, I caught two rock bass (aka Charlie Brown fish, Indiana walleye, Iowa wall-hangers).
During a slow turn out into the lake off Second Duck Point I hooked a very sturdy 15" walleye. Then on my next pass through The Alley I hooked a beefy 21 1/2" walleye. I made another pass, but caught no more fish. At 11:15 p.m. I came ashore.
I went fishing three different times today. I plan to go fishing as many times each day as possible during my remaining week here. I love being here at Leech Lake and plan to enjoy each and every moment.
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