sawbill-temperance-burnt loop-who let the dogs out
by wkdoit
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
08/02/2008
Entry & Exit Point:
Sawbill Lake (EP 38)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
3
Day 5 of 6
Weds 8-6-08
I managed to get the guys going early. We were all psyched for the 230 rod portage out of Kelly which I was sure was going to be a bear. My reading of the map showed it straight up and downhill. We had been talking about it for a couple days and it was a major factor in our decision to travel on tues, splitting up the 2 long portages on this route.
As is often the case, our expectations were far greater than reality. This portage is nothing to fear. Actually, it is mostly flat and a typical bdub workout. We passed a group of 4 guys who were dawdling at the put in to burnt lake after their first carry. One of them told me they were heading for smoke lake.
We got searching for a campsite and landed on a beauty. Once again we secured a great site minutes before another party would have staked claim to it. The guys we passed on the portage cruised by and ended up with another one which didn’t look anywhere near as nice as ours. Our spot was on a point in the middle of the lake. It has good tent spots, good shade and is spacious. There was a bald eagle, an American eagle and a seagull all vying for a large amount of fish remains some slob had thrown in the water by one end of the campsite. Again it makes me wonder what is so hard about following the rules. Anyway, it proved to be quite a bird show. Throw in a couple of loons and we had a lot of sight and sound of these great symbols of the northwoods Very, very cool. I almost hate to say this here, but I will say burnt lake is now one of my favorite bdub lakes. Beautiful shorelines, islands, bays and good fishing in a nice medium sized lake. We all caught our share of the bdub allstars-wallies, smallies and northerns.
We played cards, then got ready for pan fried walleye and wild rice. Chef Nick wanted to cook the fish over the fire with the rice on the stove. I preferred cooking both on the burner, rice first. I relented. Nick got the fire started and then mother nature intervened. We got our only rain of the trip, a 15 minute shower that put out the fire, tested Nick’s accommodations and made the wood wet. There is something righteous about getting your way when you gave it away and got it back without doing anything. If you know what I’m saying.
We fished after dinner and caught more fish. Nick donated a walleye to the guys we passed on the portage. I told them to check out our campsite tomorrow because we would be gone by 9 or 10 am. Maybe we felt guilty about snagging the better spot.
I managed to get the guys going early. We were all psyched for the 230 rod portage out of Kelly which I was sure was going to be a bear. My reading of the map showed it straight up and downhill. We had been talking about it for a couple days and it was a major factor in our decision to travel on tues, splitting up the 2 long portages on this route.
As is often the case, our expectations were far greater than reality. This portage is nothing to fear. Actually, it is mostly flat and a typical bdub workout. We passed a group of 4 guys who were dawdling at the put in to burnt lake after their first carry. One of them told me they were heading for smoke lake.
We got searching for a campsite and landed on a beauty. Once again we secured a great site minutes before another party would have staked claim to it. The guys we passed on the portage cruised by and ended up with another one which didn’t look anywhere near as nice as ours. Our spot was on a point in the middle of the lake. It has good tent spots, good shade and is spacious. There was a bald eagle, an American eagle and a seagull all vying for a large amount of fish remains some slob had thrown in the water by one end of the campsite. Again it makes me wonder what is so hard about following the rules. Anyway, it proved to be quite a bird show. Throw in a couple of loons and we had a lot of sight and sound of these great symbols of the northwoods Very, very cool. I almost hate to say this here, but I will say burnt lake is now one of my favorite bdub lakes. Beautiful shorelines, islands, bays and good fishing in a nice medium sized lake. We all caught our share of the bdub allstars-wallies, smallies and northerns.
We played cards, then got ready for pan fried walleye and wild rice. Chef Nick wanted to cook the fish over the fire with the rice on the stove. I preferred cooking both on the burner, rice first. I relented. Nick got the fire started and then mother nature intervened. We got our only rain of the trip, a 15 minute shower that put out the fire, tested Nick’s accommodations and made the wood wet. There is something righteous about getting your way when you gave it away and got it back without doing anything. If you know what I’m saying.
We fished after dinner and caught more fish. Nick donated a walleye to the guys we passed on the portage. I told them to check out our campsite tomorrow because we would be gone by 9 or 10 am. Maybe we felt guilty about snagging the better spot.
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