Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Layover Day. Strong Storms hit us all night, one tree fell in camp close enough to scare us but no damage.

Made some biscuits and gravy then headed out to fish/explore. It started nice but the wind picked up a little making canoing and fishing a lot more work than we liked. We caught some walleyes, small northerns, and smallys all mornging just trolling around structure and islands. My Wife had a large fish she battled for about 10 minutes then lost it near the boat--never did get to see what it was.
John caught is first smally ever I think. One of many for the trip.

Stopped for lunch on a small island. Snickers and salami/cheese wrap hit the spot. We decided to head back with the wind picking up. We came by the Big Island campsite in McKenzie Bay and one of the fat guys was skinning dipping--no care for us being near by--just kept hangign out naked on the rocks for all to see. I warned my wife, but we traveled so slow heading into a strong head wind that she forgot one time and looked up....The next thing I hear form Sara is, "Oh God NO---my eyes, my eyes...they'll never be the same." "I need to scratch out my eyes." A little dramatic but pretty funny in the moment--and she was more discrete than the dipper--I don' think he heard. Later Sara told me she looked up just as the guy was bending over.....Lots of Therapy later---I think she has fully recovered :)

Once we survived the the naked guy bending over we stopped in front of camp for some water. We filled up the water jug and started to work back to camp. John and Angie were just getting back to the landing. It was like it happened in slow motion since I was too far away to help. Angie tried to get out of the canoe a little early and then the wind pushed the canoe further form shore. She tried to get back in but instead fell in and pulled the canoe over. My brother, who is one of the most helpful guys in the world half stood up and reach for her (big mistake)----as she pulled on the canoe falling--the canoe leaned to the left so John compensated leaning to the right. The problem was when John leaned to the right Angie let go of the canoe and canoe tipped over to the right with the extra momentum it threw John out and dumped.

John grabbed the canoe and pulled it to shore but in the process he managed to hook himself on one of his Rapala's hanging from the pole wedged in the canoe. While they wrestled with the canoe and hooks (Barbless helped) Sara and I collected their paddles, hats, water bottles etc... They only lost John's tackle box. I had to remove the hooks from JOhn as Angie didn't know what to do. So poor John Just hung onto that canoe with one hand so it didn't pull on the hooks and onto the rocks with the other until I could come and help.

Everyone was a little shaken up after that ( the naked guy and the canoe tipping) so we dried off, bandaged Johns arm, and relaxed. Later on we swam a little. When it quieted down John and I went back out and fished. We kept a couple of small walleye for Dinner and made some Blackened walleye with risotto. It was good but the consensus was not as good as the fried walleye we had the night before.
John played in the fire a little more.

Then did a little fishing before bed.