by Guy Albertson

I spent last week in the BWCA. We used LaTourell’s Outfitters on Moose Lake. Bob does a phenomenal job. Normally we would paddle for two hours up Moose Lake and then head off up into Wind, Splash or Ensign. This year we decided to take a shuttle boat and then head into Splash. I felt guilty getting a lift, but not after we did it. We were setting up camp about an hour and a half after we left Latourell’s. We went to an island that we had been to once so we set up camp quickly and went fishing. Three big walleyes to start the day — everyone caught one but — yeah, me. Meal number one was walleye and beans; it was fantastic. We stayed up late playing cards and catching crawdads, having a few cocktails. Not a bad start to the trip.

The next day we caught a lot of bass and northerns. I finally got into the game with a 23-inch largemouth bass. My favorite time is about an hour before sunset. We head out with top water bait and I love the sound as the bass comes out of the water to hit the bait. Typically, I used the whopper plopper or buzz bait.

About 20 years ago, I took my dad, kids, brother-in-law and nephew in for four days and three nights and my plan was we were going to only bring potatoes, rice, and pancake mix. We would have a fish fry every night. Well, there was a 50-mile-an-hour wind and we pretty much just ate potatoes, rice, and pancakes. We did catch two small bass that I cut up and mixed in with the other stuff. My dad took shots at me for years, but I learned my lesson. After the fish fry we had jambalaya, venison with onions, mushrooms and peppers, followed up by venison tenderloins and onions. We did catch enough fish to eat every night, but it was hard to pass on the food we carried in.

I think the world-wide there are absolutely beautiful places to see and stay, but it’s hard to pass on walking out of your tent seeing the lake with beaver, loons, ducks, geese, and eagles overhead. Many people never see this beauty. I think the lakes in northern Minnesota are second to none with rocky shores and treelines.

We spent five days and four nights and then headed back in. We paddled for an hour, did one small portage and then took the 25-minute ride back to LaTourell’s. A quick shower and then off to the Boathouse in Ely to do our final meal before everyone headed out. We are an interesting group, four of us: from Cook, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Two of us in our 50s and two in our 30s. This is our fourth year doing this and it all started when I was talking to one of the younger guy’s wife who said it was his dream to go to the BWCA, but was afraid to ask me to take him. The following August was year one.

While I was up there, I was talking to another canoeist who told me that a few weeks ago some guy took a girl on their FIRST date to the Boundary Waters for three days. He then tried to shoot some rapids with her and apparently they flipped. After that they were stuck together for three days, on the way out they supposedly were not talking. Not sure what he was thinking, but really? I’m guessing no second date …

We are into August, enjoy the days while you can.