(Haggart Lake, Bulging Lake, Unnamed Lake, Unnamed Lake, Unnamed Lake, Unnamed Lake, Adventure Lake, Unnamed Lake, Haven Lake) We woke up to clear skies with just a hint of storm clouds in the horizon. The wind was putting a little ripple in the water as we departed from the camp and continued our journey. Paddling north out of Haggart Lake led us through another narrow stretch of twists and turns for about four miles. We took our time and enjoyed the scenery of heavily forested hillsides that had not seen a fire for a long time. We fished the whole way of course. We managed to catch a few pike and lake trout on our way. We could hear and sometimes see float planes overhead bringing others to some secluded lake. We kind of expected to see some other people soon by all this plane activity but never did.

The rapids that separated Haggart Lake from Bulging Lake had to be portaged. It was a short portage but much safer than the alternative of overturning a canoe. Bulging Lake is a wide open lake that was rolling with waves when we got onto it. We dropped some lines and concentrated on keeping the canoes pointed in the right direction as we lumbered through the waves. As we headed east we could see a pair of eagles high in the trees on the south shore watch us as we passed by.

As we rounded a point to the south, about halfway across the lake, we had the chance to look at the maps and pick out the cove we were headed for. The other canoes passed by and we found that Chad was the only one having luck with the fish. The blue shad-rap strikes again!. By the time we reached the cove, Chad had landed and released several lake trout.

After paddling across two large lakes and making the portage into the first unnamed lake of the day, we were beat. This lake was protected from the wind so we had a chance to relax. We pulled the canoes together, filtered some water, snacked on some gorp, and made our plans for the day. We were going to take our time across the next few unnamed lakes and fish for pike or whatever we could catch, before having lunch. Then we would attempt to make it to Adventure Lake and fish for lake trout or Haven Lake and fish for walleye.

Each canoe departed in its own direction to explore this small lake and pepper any structure in the water with lures. Chet and I headed north on the lake to get away from the others and fish some unexplored waters. We were creeping between two islands in a shallow channel when I noticed something moving behind the trees on one of the islands. At first I wasn’t sure I had seen something but then it moved again ever so slightly. I alerted Chet that we were being watched. Through the trees we could make out the silhouette of a large animal with antlers. I slowly put the paddle down and started fumbling for my camera. I managed to get a few shots of this mystery animal that was watching us through the trees. We soon realized that this was most likely not a moose and probably a caribou. We had no expectations of seeing one after our outfitter told us he had never seen one. But here we were and here it was watching each other unsure of what the other was going to do. When this dawned on us we thought to get the attention of the others. We looked to the south and could see them in the distance. I gave a whistle but they didn’t notice. I slowly raised my paddle and waved it in the air hoping they would notice but no such luck. They soon passed out of view behind another island. The animal started to move back into the brush so we gave up on the guys and tried to get a clear view of what it was we were looking at. As we quietly paddled around the northern point of the island we got that view. It was a bull caribou that was moving into a clearing at the edge of the island. We sat there watching it and took a couple pictures as it watched us. It did not seem overly concerned of our presence and went about browsing on the moss and lichen at it’s feet. It eventually moved back into the brush and out of our sight so we decided to go find the others.

   In a hurried pace we glided the canoe back to were we last saw the others. We turned the corner of the island and could see them to the north fishing so we paddled to them. At first they seemed concerned at our pace heading for them until we said, “Caribou”, at which point they promptly put their rods away and followed. We circled around the island and headed to the point we last saw the caribou. We slowed and told the others what had happened. Then the group set off to circle the island to see if we could spot it. Chet and I completely circled the island and stopped where we had last seen it. There in the brush we could see the tops of its antlers moving in the brush. It must have just laid down where we had last seen it. We signaled to Chad and Mike to come over and they did. We could not see much from where we were and started to move closer to the island when it stood up and looked at us. We could then see the silhouette of Greg and Brian on a hilltop on the island over where the caribou was. They had gotten onto the island on the south end and hiked across it to see if they could find it. The caribou noticed them and started to spook. It headed to the west end of the island and dropped into the lake and swam to another larger island. We moved the canoes into view of the swimming beast and managed to get a couple more pictures before it ambled onto shore of the island, stopped to see if we would follow, and then disappeared into the thick forest.

   After that, we decided that we had caused the caribou enough stress and decided to leave it alone on its new island. Instead, we headed on to the next unnamed lake, and then over to another unnamed lake before stopping to have lunch. We unloaded our gear and got lunch started. As we stood there we noticed a small hole in a tree about the size of an orange. Every time someone would go near the hole an angry, nasal hiss would come from the hole. We tried to shine a light in the hole to see what was making the noise but none of us really wanted what ever mean little weasel was in it, to come out and scold us for harassing it. After finishing lunch we watched a storm come in from north. We donned our raingear and stashed the rest of our equipment under the canoes before the storm hit. The downpour was heavy at time along with strong gusts of wind. We took cover back in the forest away from the point till the rain would lighten up. Then we would try to decide if that was the end of the storm, before another downpour would hit us. After a while we started to fidgety and decided to make a break for it when the thunder and rain stopped. We managed to get to the next portage before the last wave of the storm hit. We passed the time by fishing a small, pike filled stream that paralleled the portage.

After the rain had subsided the sky turned blue and we began out travel again. Hurrying across this unnamed lake, we portaged to Adventure Lake and decided we wanted walleye for dinner so we would fish this lake for a short time before heading over to Haven Lake. We spent about and hour circling around Adventure Lake and managed to pick up a few lakers but we let them go in hopes of catching walleye later on. Chet and I decided to move on in hopes the others would not be far behind. As we reached the portage out of adventure we could see the others heading in our direction. We quickly made the portage into another narrow, north/south stretching lake that was following some thick pine lowland. Chet and I quietly, yet quickly, made little work of the lake before finding the portage to Haven Lake. The others had caught up to us and were right at our backs as we made the portage.

On the portage to Haven Lake the landscape turned from dense pine forest full of thick mats of moss to more burn area. The portage was easy to follow besides the occasional downed mass of trees. We could see the lake so even if we were not on the trail, the walk was easy. The portage crews had apparently not been to this area yet. We eventually managed to reach Haven Lake and put our canoes into the dark waters. While the others were putting their canoes in the water I was making my second cast when I hooked a walleye. I didn’t get it in the boat but I was feeling positive about the fishing in this lake. When we passed the first island Chet caught a pike and was letting it go while I was casting at the shore and hooked another walleye. This time it went in the boat. Now I was in no hurry, I wanted to catch some fish. Chad and Mike appeared to be stopping to fish as Greg and Brian went to check out the campsite. Chet and I drifted past a point on the lake while I rigged up a jig-head and put on a leech. The fish were definitely down below us but were running on the small side. I could drop the leech and jig one or two times before I could feel the weight of a fish on the line. Many I missed, some were weeds, many went back in the water, but Chet and I managed to boat another one or two keeper walleye before we decided to head in to camp. Chad and Mike were not far behind.

The campsite was mainly a clearing on top of a steep cliff that overlooked the lake to the south. We could see a smattering of burnt out areas and areas that appeared un-touched. The campsite was pleasantly untouched by the fire. The forest was soft and mossy and full of potential firewood. After we found a couple sites to put up the tents and got camp in order we went back to fishing from shore with lindy rigs or floating jig-heads. We spent the majority of the evening sitting on the rocks catching pike and walleye while starting to talk smack about our upcoming fishing tournament we had planned for Wrist Lake. We cleaned the fish and returned to camp to make dinner before going to bed.