Click to View the Full Thread

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Reports :: Trip Report - Polly, Malberg, and a long day trip to Fishdance
 
Author Message Text
Jaywalker
07/17/2021 12:21PM
  
I very much enjoyed the read and photos. I paddled out through those lakes just the day before you entered, and it really seems like some of those portage landings are already lower than when I was there. Glad you were able to get enough fish to get by; I think you did better than some folks I talked to.
 
Freeleo1
07/21/2021 12:13PM
  
I get it. We try to hang the bags, but more times than not I can almost touch the bag from the ground. We carry extra weight to keep most of the smelly stuff in a plastic container with a gasket. Mostly to keep the mice out and it would probably give us a little to time to harass a bear. We haven't had a bear in camp either that I know of anyway.


First I've heard of powdered tempura coating. We'll have to try that out. I wondered how you did that.

 
pcallies
07/16/2021 01:16PM
  
New Trip Report posted by pcallies

Trip Name: Polly, Malberg, and a long day trip to Fishdance.

Entry Point: 37

Click Here to View Trip Report
 
Freeleo1
07/19/2021 08:44AM
  
It sounds like a nice trip. I'm jealous of the cooler weather you got. We only got the 1st full day of it. I'm wondering though. It seems like we've only caught walleye in relatively shallow water. Is that not normal? They seemed to be mostly in the area where logs from the shore have accumulated and about 10 or 20 yards from shore, so it's fairly shallow. Also, mostly early or late unless we could find an area shaded by a nearby cliff. Anther question. It looks like the area has a lot of new growth
Did you use bear barrels or were you able to find trees to hang. I'm about ready to invest in a bear barrel after all the time we spent trying to get a decent bear line in a tree.
 
Porkeater
07/16/2021 04:42PM
  
Nice report. Thanks for sharing.


I think I get it, but could you post the recipe for the sweet & sour northern?
 
cyclones30
07/16/2021 07:31PM
  
Thanks for sharing! I've been at a few of those campsites.


No pictures of the new solo?
 
straighthairedcurly
08/01/2021 12:54AM
  
Thanks for a great report. I was just through that area a few days before you. That northwest portage out of Malberg has a low water landing to avoid the mud. The path is hard to spot but goes through the grassy area to the right of the mud as you get to the Kawishiwi end and takes you around the corner.
 
pcallies
07/20/2021 03:10PM
  
Porkeater: I think I get it, but could you post the recipe for the sweet & sour northern?"


Ingredients: One yellow onion, one red bell pepper, Minute Rice, Campbell's Skillet Sensations Sweet and Sour packet, instant tempura mix (it's a powder that comes in a bag and requires only water).


1) Cut fish (walleye or northern) into approximately 2-inch squares.
2) Mix up the tempura batter from the mix in a small pot and set aside.
3) Slice a red bell pepper and a yellow onion into strips. Sauté in pan with a little oil. When done to desired tenderness, add a little of the sweet and sour sauce from the Campbell's Skillet Sensations packet and set to side of fire to keep it warm.
3) Cook appropriate serving of Minute Rice and set to side of fire to keep it warm.
4) Heat oil in frying pan or pot. I usually heat about 1/2" in my 12" cast aluminum pan.
5) Throw 10 chunks (or the number that can fit in your frying pan without touching) of the fish into the tempura batter. Working quickly, remove chunks of fish from the batter one at a time and drop into the oil, being careful that the pieces don't touch. Fry fish until done, turning once to ensure browning on both sides. Remove onto paper towel when. Repeat until all fish chunks have been cooked.
6) Serve up the rice, veggies, and fish. Add more sweet and sour sauce to taste.
 
pcallies
07/20/2021 02:59PM
  
Freeleo1: "It seems like we've only caught walleye in relatively shallow water. Is that not normal? "
Yes, I think that's normal, but not on sunny days in the middle of the afternoon. (I'm too lazy to rise at 4:30 for dawn fishing or go out for dusk fishing at 9:00 which is the requirement in June and July.) I hear stories of people catching walleyes hanging out at 15-25 feet in the middle of summer, but I've never caught them. I actually tried it this trip when the depth finder showed fish at 15 feet.


Freeleo1: "Anther question. It looks like the area has a lot of new growth
Did you use bear barrels or were you able to find trees to hang. I'm about ready to invest in a bear barrel after all the time we spent trying to get a decent bear line in a tree."
I've been going to the BWCA and Quetico for 23 years. I've never hung a pack and I've never had a bear in camp. I suppose that's part luck (seems like a lot of luck given the number of trips) and part keeping a clean camp. That being said, all areas north of Polly's south shore were untouched by the Pagami fire so I assume trees for hanging packs are plentiful -- I just don't ever look for them.