I awake much later today, about 10a.m. and I believe it is my own armpit that has served as some sort of medieval alarm clock. Yes, today would definitely be a swimming day. However, as I eat my oatmeal I am quickly distracted by the presence of a large northern that has decided to sun himself in the weed bed just off our campsite. I quickly grab my rod and work a mepps spinner through the vegetation. I must have spooked him as he moves out of his cover and further down the shoreline. I follow him for another 10 minutes varying lures and retrieval speeds but there is still no sign of interest from him. I then switch over to a leech and work the channel just off the point of our campsite. My efforts result in a nice smallmouth. By this time my brother has awakened and we decide that today would be a good day to make buttermilk pancakes. By the time we are done with dishes it is close to 12 noon and once again hot. We take our parents advice and hike up to a series of ledges on the small mountain overlooking our campsite. This truly was a four star site with the spectacular views and large pines. After our hike, we quickly changed into our swimming clothes and climbed atop the large glacier boulder that was so conveniently placed right next to the canoe launch. After a quick investigation we deemed the landing area safe and both took the plunge into the dark water below. The water temperature was perfect. We spent the next hour taking turns jumping off this natural diving platform and then swam out to a series of rocks offshore. It felt great to be somewhat clean again.

By 4p.m. I deemed that it is time to go fishing again. With my brother showing more interest in taking an afternoon nap, I once again set out by myself. At this time in the day the winds are strong and my solo effort at navigating the lightly loaded canoe is meager at best. The fish finder indicates only a few fish as the wind blows me down the lake at a blistering pace. I am hoping that I will be able to paddle back against the choppy waves in my return. After drifting for 10 minutes, I decide to anchor in a bay out of the wind and work the weed-line with a yellow and red daredevil for smallies. I actually liked being alone in this environment as it gave me a chance to fish standing up stretching my back and legs, something that I had always been told never to do in a canoe. The first cast and I have one smallmouth, then another, and another. After about an hour I see that others have come to join the party. My mom, dad, and brother drift down the lake towards me. Now I have never considered my mom a fisherwoman?? (Man sounds weird), however today would prove otherwise. With her $15 rod, and an “I’ll put whatever lure on my line and cast wherever attitude,” she was ready to silence the skeptics. Sure enough that afternoon, she caught more smallmouth, walleye, and pike than anyone else. It was certainly her day. We continued to work our way around the large island east of boundary point. We would be damned if we didn’t at least lay eyes upon the large part of the lake even if we weren’t going to make it all the way down to the other end of it this trip. After my brother caught a nice northern of his own, the sun was beginning to set and it was time to head back. The island was certainly larger than we had expected, as it took close to a good half an hour of strong paddling against the wind to make it back to our campsite.

That night we enjoyed another meal of fresh walleye and northern compliments of my mom. Our late arrival back to camp resulted in us getting slaughtered by the fleet of mosquitoes that once again arrived at 9:00p.m. While seeking refuge in our tents, I made the comment, “If the voyageurs had seen us running around like idiots from the bugs they would have called us a bunch of pussies just now.” My brother quickly responded with, “%$#& the voyageurs.” There was something about his rapid delivery or glum tone that caused all of us to burst into laughter. He was right.

Later that night, we came back out and sat by the fire despite the continual presence of the reluctant little vampires. We found it impossible not to climb to the top of the boulder and gaze upon the stars and moon that had come to rise in the same exact spot as the previous night. Another great day.