We started the day with an adventure, looking in woods for white throated sparrows and grouse – didn’t find any, but it is easier to bushwack with just a camera rather than a Canoe or large portage pack. We did find sign, but it is difficult to move quietly in that thick underbrush. Good news is we didn’t get lost and were soon back at camp planning the rest of the day.
I let Peter know how beautiful the Dahlgren portage is and that there could be nice walleyes below the waterfall. He portaged his canoe and tried fishing from the falls to about 100 yards down river without any fish. We took some pictures by the falls and I explored the area, climbing to the top of the falls and looking for any unique landscape or animal pics. I walked the portage back and realized I dropped my sunglasses. Walked back again, enjoying the pine trees, that area truly is beautiful, and hopefully my body allows me to return many more times, as it is quite an effort to reach Stuart Lake. Met a group coming to Stuart on the way back, and they saw my glasses and put them up in a bush. Got them and hurried back to catch up with Peter.
Peter was fishing around some islands in the Southwest corner of the lake and having luck with some nice perch. We moved over toward the island and worked our way toward the falls. We probably fished that area for 30 minutes without any success and then headed back toward camp. As we left, it appeared that a group was taking up residence on the point by the falls, as all the campsites were taken. Wanted to say something, but also thought it might be better to just leave them alone, as you never know how people will react to a confrontation. The group we saw on the island site was still there, and Peter stopped and talked to them for a while. They were three brothers from Alaska that do an annual trip up here, and after our trip Fritz Fremgen commented on my post “thanks for the visit on Stuart”, so we now know who Peter visited with.
I have always been fascinated with the island in front of our campsite, and now that I had an opportunity to explore it, I wasted my time fishing and never did set foot there. The most fascinating part is that at one time there was a campsite on the island according to Paddle Planner, which shows it as closed, but still very cool place. I did row out quickly before dark and try to catch some of the walleyes, but they still refused to cooperate and soon my attention switched to paddling around it while taking several pictures. There was an otter that kept appearing, but never allowing me time to capture an image. Another glorious day in paradise. Looking forward to traveling to Iron tomorrow.