I'm so glad Kathleen can be here at Leech Lake to celebrate her birthday. She loves it here in the Northwoods, as do I, and there is no place better to enjoy your birthday than here at the lake.
At 10:00 a.m. the temperature is 45 degrees, the sky is cloudy and the wind is fairly strong at 15-18 mph out of the NW. I was hoping to pull my boat out of the water today, but it's a little too windy now to do that easily and safely.
Tom Malay was going to pull his boat out of the water today as well, at my boat ramp, but now we're thinking we'll do it tomorrow. The weather tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, but the forecast is for light winds at no more than 5-7 mph out of the ENE. I don't mind getting wet if I there are calm waters in which to pull my boat out of the lake.
By mid-afternoon the temperature climbed close to 50 degrees and there was a little sun peeking through the clouds. Kathleen and I took a walk through our woods then down to Paulsen's house. That's where I turned back and came home, while Kathleen started her run. She did the entire loop -- down 26th to Ottertail Peninsula Rd. to the end near Two Points onward to the Community Center and then down W. Shores Rd. back to our house. About a 6-mile trip.
When Kathleen got home she asked if we could take a boat ride. The wind had died down to about 5-8 mph from the NW, so I said sure. I got the boat off the lift and we made a leisurely trip down to The Birches. Kathleen enjoyed seeing the color of the trees from the water and the beauty of the lake in general.
I took the opportunity to put a minnow on a jig and drop it into the water. I fished for no more than 10 minutes in the 44.3 degree water and didn't get a bite. But technically, I did get some fishing in today.
When we got home I received a call from Tom Malay. He had heard from Shore Brothers -- the outfit that takes out my dock and boat lift -- and apparently they are going to have to make two separate trips out to Ottertail Peninsula, so the guy told Tom that I could leave my boat in the water until the week of October 26. So instead of pulling my boat out of the water tomorrow, I'll have an extra week to fish.
Tom is thinking he may still pull his boat out of the water, and I'd be happy to help him as we had originally planned. I also would be happy to take Tom fishing once his boat is out of the lake.
After Kathleen and I got cleaned up, I made her a shrimp pasta dinner for her birthday meal. We then retired to the living room for a fire in the fireplace and competitive game of Scrabble, of which Kathleen won.
We had another wonderful day at Leech Lake.
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