We came from three different states and seven different towns. Ray Thompson, Frederic, Wisc.; Donald Thompson, Oklahoma City, Ok.; Caleb Lang, Maiden Rock, Wisc.; Walter Proft, Woodbury, Minn.; Paul Proft, Owatonna, Minn.; Bob Goetz, Austin, Minn.; Bob Hanson, Beaver Lake, Minn.
This was the 37th year of our annual fishing trip to Leech Lake, Walker, Minn., staying at Ivanhoe Resort. The seven of us all arrived by car, but not all the same arrival and departure date, during the week of May 19 through May 26.
Thanks to Caleb, we enjoyed Caribou Coffee every meal and many other occasions as in most cases the temp was in the 40-60° range (Caleb has connections at the Caribou Coffee Shop in Red Wing, Minnesota, an Old Train Depot building).
Fishing was Badder Than Bad. Some of the guys never caught a walleye! Three of us each caught two keeper walleyes (I was one of the three).
Bob Goetz was told a stand-up colored jig was the hot lure to use. He bought six of them. In about three hours of fishing, reality set in that the hot lure was not so hot. He switched to a plain minnow rig and managed to catch a small Northern for the day. In cleaning the Northern, he saw something shining in it stomach. Bob now has seven stand-up jigs.
Walter Proft is the father of Paul Proft and the grandfather of Caleb Lange. Thus, we had three generations of men fishing in the same boat with the same fishing luck – “NONE.”
Donald Thompson noticed a red spot and a reddish ring on his leg (the usual sign of having been bit by a deer tick, which can cause Lyme’s Disease). A visit to the local hospital’s emergency room at 9 p.m. resulted in an oral medicine prescription. The doctor told Donald he could pick up the medication from the drug dispensing machine on his way out, and use his credit card to cover the co-pay. Yes, readers, there is now a machine that dispenses drugs!
How tough is a Dutchman? A Dutchman is tougher than a huge buck deer. Bill, of the “Dynamite Bill and Mary DeVries” husband and wife team, owners of Ivanhoe Resort, took on a deer at 50 mph while riding on his motorcycle. The buck became an instant member of Deer Heaven. Bill had some time to wonder why God didn’t want him in Heaven, as he endured three separate hospital stays including two helicopter rides. Bill is now back to his easy going self. We all agreed with Mary when she said, “Thanks, Lord.”
Upon checkout, we complained to Mary DeVries about the bad fishing. Mary smiled and handed each one of us a card that said:
North: Don’t go north.
South: Fish don’t open their mouth.
East: Fish bite the least.
West: Fish bite the best.
Sorry: You’re a three-directional fisherman.
Readers, if you want to find out how many directions you fish from, call Mary at 1-800-962-2842. Mary will charge you for all four directions at an increased rate if you mention this article.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. This is the Hanson’s 37th summer at Beaver Lake. They leave the lake in mid-October to go south — to Albert Lea — and return in April. Bob says if you enjoy his article, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of Wisdom: There is always room for God.