‘Twas an early morning in May when four excellent open water fishermen headed for Leech Lake by Walker, Minn. It was the kind of late spring day with sunshine and warm temperatures, the kind of day when it’s great to be alive.
We arrived at our destination by 3 p.m. Plenty of time to get organized, eat the evening meal and go fishing till about 10 p.m. for the hog walleyes. After buying our minnows and putting the two boats in the water, we checked into the Blue Water Lodge. Amy, the Great One, was waiting for us to arrive. Amy has the ability to make you feel like you’re a VIP. She assigned us Cabin #5 on the southwest side of Walker Bay, overlooking Leech Lake.
Cabin #5 has a loft with a bedroom, two queen beds, a flat screen TV that can be seen while laying in bed, a full bath, a ceiling fan, log furniture – just beautiful.
On the lower level, Cabin #5 has a bedroom with one queen bed, a flat screen TV that can be seen while laying in bed, stacked washer and dryer plus shower in the bathroom, a ceiling fan, log furniture – just beautiful.
On the main level is a full kitchen with a dishwasher, gas fireplace, ceiling fan, hide-a-bed, big windows with two sliding glass doors onto a deck overlooking a shallow water bay, log furniture – just beautiful.
We fixed our usual first-night steak dinner with all the trimmings including Moose Tracks ice cream. The big meal “done us in” so we decided not to go fishing. We played cribbage instead.
Bad mistake.
Saturday morning was a light rain that continued all day, so we played cribbage and visited the Amusement Center in Walker – better known as Northern Lights Casino.
Bad mistake.
Sunday morning was a light rain that continued all day. We held our own Sunday morning church service after breakfast in Cabin #5. We had a place setting at the breakfast table in honor of the fishermen now deceased who were part of the AAL Fishing Team, which was formed 38 years ago. We played cribbage and revisited the Amusement Center in Walker.
Bad mistake.
Monday and Tuesday were the worst weather-wise, as it rained and was very, very foggy. We decided to play cribbage plus visit the Entertainment Center in Walker.
Bad Mistake.
Wednesday morning was more of the same – five mornings in a row of rain and not fishing. We decided, no more mistakes of not fishing, so we went fishing after lunch. We did catch a few as the rain quit.
Thursday we were up early and fishing, as it was a beautiful day of no rain, very little wind, and besides it was our last day. We all caught fish. (I caught a 27-inch eight-pound walleye.)
Summary:
1. We managed to catch about 10 walleyes, 20 jumbo perch, five big crappies and one Northern – not too good for a week, but yet not too bad for the amount of time actually spent fishing.
2. We contributed to the cause at the Amusement Center.
3. Paul got a 28-point hand in cribbage (29 is a perfect hand).
Ray Thompson, Frederick, Wisc., Bob Goetz, Austin, Minn., Paul Proft, Owatonna, Minn., and Bob Hanson, Albert Lea, Minn. were the four excellent fishermen who thought they would fish only under ideal conditions. They now know better!
I should mention that Amy charges according to how busy they are. They weren’t full, so we got a pretty good rate. The facility is very nice. Amy can be reached at 218-536-0385.
Kenny Toft, BLIF, A Time to Be Born 06-09-1926, A Time to Die 05-25-2103. Thanks for the years of conversations. “BLIF” is a True Definition of what you were (Beaver Lake Important Farmer).
———
Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. 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. Bob says if you enjoy his column, 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.