As usual, the month of May fishing wise was very good at Beaver Lake. Lots of panfish were caught with some of the crappies bigger than normal for Beaver Lake. Also hooked were two huge bass over six pounds, with one of them caught by a young lady off a dock on the west end. Also worth noting were three walleyes measuring over 20 inches, of which two were catch and release.
The biggest fish caught in May was 10 lbs. 4 oz. This fish was not released and it provided food for a family of five. (Mom, Dad and three youngsters of the raccoon family that like carp.)
Sad to say, the raccoons got into our woodduck house and devoured all nine eggs. I thought mama woodduck would re-nest but no such luck.
Mama and papa Canadian geese are proudly showing off their five youngsters. The youngsters have gotten to be very selective as they only feed on well-manicured lawns!
Ode to Jill (cabin 65)
Jill was her name,
Mama robin was her bane,
Sitting on her nest,
Giving Jill no rest,
Now mama and babies are gone,
Leaving Jill in peace to mow lawn.
Cousin Dick Haug and his wife Marlys of Clarks Grove asked me to recognize them on their 59th wedding anniversary this June by mentioning it in this column. I replied that I would do so on their 60th. They both asked me do so “now,” as they weren’t sure about a year later. I asked them to clarify “a year later.” The unanimous answer was “we’re not sure you’ll be around next year!” (Who needs enemies when you have such honest Norwegian cousins? Uffda)
I took the HHR Chevrolet into Hanson Tire of Albert Lea for some grease, oil and a filter. On the checklist of what all was looked at were these words: “Your springs are sprung, your shocks are shot. Your tires are out of alignment. Where have you been driving?” I realized the change in driving has been due to moving to Beaver Lake, especially Highway 30 between New Richland and Ellendale. I did a slow walk finding 144 million, 268 billion, 349 thousand, 762 cracks that one must drive over between the two towns. For your information, I didn’t count the three cracks filled with road kill. Needless to say “forewarned is fair warned.”
I’m driving down the street in Dayton, Ohio. I turn onto Dogleg Road. I expect to find a golf course, but instead the road takes me to St. Paul Lutheran Church. It is Sunday morning and my “drive” takes me in the right direction. This is most certainly true.
June 17th is a great day in our life. On that day, our daughter Deb was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Happy Birthday Deb! (Number plenty-nine.)
Sunday, June 19th, is an important day in everyone’s life. Whether living or deceased, honor Dad on that day. Did you ever wonder where you would be without a Dad?
Many thanks to Paul and Paula Hanson, their kids and grandkids for helping put in our dock.
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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 36th 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.