Saturday, September 14, 2024 The day started with a delivery basket of Cereal, milk, muffins and coffee from the outfitter. We loaded our gear into the car and drove up to the office to pickup our canoe, paddles and PFDs. We spent some time talking to the staff about our route and plans to fish a few lakes for Brooke Trout. They asked about what tackle we were bringing and realized we didn't have quite the right gear. What would you know it.. they just happened to have just the setup we would need for a few bucks each. I admit, I was skeptical at the time but it turned out to be the only thing the brookies would bite, so I'm glad I spend the extra few bucks.
A short drive to East Bearskin Lake had us on the water by 9:30. We traveled to Alder, Canoe then to Pine Lake. The portages into Alder and Canoe were short and easy but the portage into Pine lake was tough. The climb up and out of canoe lake was steep and I had to take quite a few breaks to catch my breath. The path down the other side is full of switchbacks and there are a few other climbs and descents along the way. While I started the portage carrying the light pack and canoe, I ended up dropping the pack about a quarter of the way and had to go back for it. Our original plan was to take the same portage on the way out and hit Crystal lake to try for some Lake Trout, but I decided right then and there, it would be even worse going back and I was not interested.
We paddled away from the portage into Pine Lake just before 1:00 and started looking for a site. Our goal site was on the south side because it was adjacent to the portage into Vale Lake, where we hoped to catch our first Brooke Trout. The first two sites on the northern side were occupied as was our goal site. As we were paddling towards our goal site, we noticed another canoe trailing us that must have come from Little Caribou. When we looked to the Northeast, we could see an empty site so we dug-in and it was a race! I thought we had a good lead and would get there before the other group, but those guys breezed right by us and made it look embarrassingly easy. As it turned out, the next three sites were also occupied and we ended up at the site right next to the portage into McFarland Lake.
As we paddled up to the site, I thought 'hey, it looks nice enough... it's on an isthmus and should have a nice breeze.' Well, as I walked up into the site, my heart dropped. I looked out onto McFarland and saw cabins and a pontoon buzzing towards our end of the lake! All of that work just to end up right back next to civilization?! We were hoping to spend 2-3 nights in the same site on Pine but we knew immediately that we would be packing up the next day and either moving north to West Pike or hoping a group would vacate one of the sites we passed that day. Thankfully, the end of the day brought us an amazing sunset and a few nice bass.