Two weeks ago Brent and I left the girls with my parents so week could take a four day fishing trip up to Canada. We drove up to a small town called Minaki and then took a 20 minute ride on a float plane to Long Lake where we stayed in the only cabin on this lake. No roads, no people, no Starbucks. Just the sounds of nature, the company of my husband and absolute serenity. It was probably the most calming and relaxing trip I have ever been on.
This is a view from the float plane at one of the many lake systems in that area.
Our cabin with gazebo ran mainly on solar energy but there was also a generator if we needed it.
The view off our deck.
Another view from the deck. Seriously, it was so beautiful to me that I could have just sat and stared for hours.
Of course, our main reason for going there was to fish. There were actually three lakes for us to fish on, the other two we had to portage (hike through the forest) to where there were boats waiting for us. It's been a rainy and cold season up there this year and the third lake, Marvin, we were told was impossible to get to because of water, mud and fallen trees covering the trail. We didn't seem to hear that part though, because both of us were stuck on the info that the biggest walleye were in this little lake. So on the last day there, with thunderstorms lurking around us, we decided to get a little adventurous and see if we could make it to Marvin. Let me just say at this point that I did not have rain boots...only old tennis shoes. The warnings of mud, water and fallen trees proved true and then some. The path often disappeared from us completely and we would wander around some until one of us would pick it up again. Did I mention that there are bears wandering around up there? I must say that it was quite a rush to make our way over trees, cut our way through brush and hop over small creaks. At one point I even got in touch with my gymnastic roots and walked, balance-beam-like, on a tree that had fallen over a creek we needed to cross. There were many times that we stopped and questioned our sanity in continuing on that trek but sheer stubbornness always seemed to win out. The excitement of finally making it to Marvin Lake was deflated when we saw the boat half filled with rain water and only one small pail to bail it out, not to mention some dark, purplish, clouds also heading our way. The only thing to do was bail that water as fast as Brent (bummer, only one pail) could and call the drizzle a nice break from the heat.
What's that you say? Turn around? Head back before the rain comes and lightning strikes? Who would do a thing like that? You city folk.
With the boat bailed we head out and drop our lines as fast as possible. It's a race between us and the thunderclouds to see what strikes first...lightning or a walleye. Then I feel it...yep that's a bite...SET THE HOOK. I pull in a 19" incher and feel a sigh of relief that our insanity had rewarded us with at least one fish. We bummed around for another 10-15 minutes without bites until deciding that it was probably best to get off the lake and start making the trek back. Five minutes into our hike we lose the trail. This surprises me a bit since I had figured we could just follow our tracks back but unfortunately, this was a place where we had lost the trail on the way there and all we have to follow are our confused steps that were taken on trying to find it. Finally I spot the trail and we head off again. Five minutes later and we're right back at Marvin Lake. I start to see visions of search parties finding us half eaten by mosquitoes and eating slugs to stave off the hunger pains. Thank goodness for modern technology and Brent's wisdom in bringing his GPS with us. By the time we make it back to the start of the portage the storm has passed over us and we are drenched and muddy but with a glow of triumph on our faces for accomplishing what was said couldn't be done. Normal people might head back to the cabin and get out of the sopping wet clothes to take a nice, hot shower but us crazies felt the only appropriate next move was to stay on the lake and fish for another hour or two.
It rained every day we were there except the first day but thanks to rain gear, we still fished quite a bit. We were allowed to keep two walleye per person each day for eating...and eat it we did. Brent made the most wonderful meals while we were there and just thinking about it now makes my mouth water. He made the classic fried walleye, walleye grilled with dill, butter and onions, walleye chowder (my personal favorite) and grilled walleye smothered with cheese, onions and mushrooms. Ooooohhhh, it was so yummy.
In case you were wondering, which I'm sure you weren't, it was the fisherWOMAN that caught the most fish and the biggest. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
