This morning we managed to get an earlier start and were up and moving around by 8:00am. The weather was cold and overcast but it didn’t look like we were in for any rain. A breakfast of pancakes was enjoyed before we embarked on another day of travel.

There was some confusion once we were on the water and looking for the portage to Lonely Lake. An obvious looking trail and landing appeared close to where the portage was indicated on the map. The odd thing about it was there was a log across the trail that looked like it had been intentionally placed there. ReelHappy and PennPaddler were at the landing and just about to start the portage but pghportager and I decided to look further south to see if that actually was the portage. We found another obvious landing and trail with no log across it so we returned to ReelHappy and PennPaddler and told them about it. Luckily we decided to use the portage pghportager and I found. I have no idea how far off into the woods we would have wandered on that first “portage” before realizing it was a red herring.

The real portage into Lonely Lake proved to be rather difficult. It initially rises up from the lake but before long it drops back down into a forested bog. The “board walk” across the bog was tricky to balance on because it’s comprised of rotten logs that were mostly just floating in the mud. Stepping off the boardwalk was not an option. I tested that out when I first reached the bog and ended up over my knees in muck. Once past the bog the portage rises into some higher and drier ground. There was one stream crossing and shortly after it spit us out on Lonely Lake.

At the end of the portage we discussed our plans for the day. We decided to fish this lake and meet up at a campsite on the north shore a little more than half way across the lake and have lunch. As soon as we were on the water on Lonely Lake we started to catch fish. I was using a silver Hot-N-Tot and pghportager was using a Shad-Rap. We trolled the north shore and ReelHappy and PennPaddler trolled along the south shore. Smallmouth bass seemed to be the most abundant fish but we also caught pike and walleye, ReelHappy even caught a sucker. The fishing was fantastic. There were probably no instances where we had gone ten minutes without one of us reeling in a fish. By the time we reached the campsite pghportager and I caught a ton of smallmouth bass and a few pike but the fish we were after was walleye. pghportager had two and I had caught one. ReelHappy and PennPaddler caught a total of five walleye. We kept enough for lunch and released the remainders. Our lunch was a gluttonous serving of fish tacos. Our fish tacos consist of refried bean, instant rice, fish cooked in taco seasoning, some hot sauce, and flour tortilla wraps. We try to do at least one meal of fish tacos on every trip we make.

After lunch we headed north to Walter Lake. The fishing seemed to turn off after lunch on Lonely Lake. The portages to Walter were short and sweet. After doing some investigation on-line we had the impression that Walter Lake was loaded with walleye. Shortly after putting in, PennPaddler landed a nice walleye. We were excited about the prospects of fishing this lake so we arranged to meet at a specific time at the next portage then split up and fished the lake. Unfortunately, perhaps because the weather cleared and it was so sunny, we didn’t do so hot fishing. The only fish I recall catching were a few bass near the portage to Elizabeth Lake.

By the time we reached Elizabeth Lake the wind had calmed down and the water was like glass. Our intention was to make camp and relax the rest of the afternoon on this lake. Slowly we made our way from the portage through a marshy area and into the main part of the lake. Spring was in the air and the birds were calling clear and crisp. The white throated sparrows were calling so intensely and overlapping that it was almost difficult to tell where or what they were coming from. It took five days but I was finally feeling completely serene.

Once we reached the main part of the lake we saw campsites to the north that looked promising. The first one we stopped at was perfect so we decided to set up camp there. The afternoon was spent exploring the forest behind camp, fishing from camp, and just relaxing. Dinner was a delicious Beef Stroganoff I believe was provided by ReelHappy and paired up with some bannock (pan cooked bread). I surely believe that meal is a keeper for future trips. The evening was spent immersed in good conversation amongst good friends. The topics were ranging from where our fishing tournament was going to be, who was going to win the fishing tournament and the highly coveted Vigoda Award, what lures each of us planned on claiming for our win, past follies, and if we were going to be the only guys sitting around the campfire at the next Bushwackers Jamboree.