A family day on the ice. Fishing and a cookout.

Book Across The Bay 2010. 1k rest stop.

 

The first rest stop at 1k.

Tina, John and a friend "packing six guns".

  

The first rest stop at 1k.

   

Kellie, Scott and a friend with "cool orange leggings".

 

Scott, Kellie and Donna.

Taking the day off. Getting ready to fish tomorrow.

Many of my recent posts have talked about catching smelt and perch. Well yesterday was a slow day of fishing but Mrs. fishing partner caught this 8" smelt. So here is what a smelt looks like before they are featured in a "smelt fry".

These little guys are very aggressive for their size. Inch for inch they put up a better "fight" than perch.
As my nephew Skip puts it "if these fish grew to 2-3 lbs everyone would be fishing for them".  And they are great in a fish fry.

Two days of fishing. Sunny weather. Visitors stopping by. Some staying to fish.

 

 Yesterday started out like this. Cloudy but warm with no wind. 

By early afternoon the clouds were gone and the sun was out. I think the sun brought out Shannon and Jake. They stop by on their way to the lighthouse. Shannon works as a barista at the coffee shop and Jake works as a bartender at StageNorth. On more than one occasion my day has started with hot coffee served by Shannon and then ended with a beverage (cocktail) served by Jake. Often with ice fishing sandwiched in the middle. 

Today started out sunny and ideal for just sitting on the ice and fishing.

  

The ideal conditions brought out my favorite fishing partner. Sorry guys! Mrs. fishing partner walked out from shore and stay to fish. She did great catching perch and smelt and "mastering" the Vexilar.

  

Late afternoon brought out the brother-in-law to quote "give me a ration of &%#"...... which he did with the added benefit of teasing Mrs. fishing partner to boot.  

ICE FISHING 101

Traditional tip-up. On cold days the hole will freeze up and require more attention than the round tip-up below. This type of tip-up is the most conventional and often used by ice fishing enthusiast in this region.

  

This tip-up works great especially on cold days. It completely covers the hole and for the most part prevents freeze up. This tip-up has two additional benefits. One... it has a built in tackle box. The black area on the left is the cover for a small compartment. I find it really useful for storing the hooks (treble) on the end of the line during transportation. Which brings us to... benefit number two. This tip-up is easy to pack-up, store and transport. Note: the reflective tape on each tip-up flag. Great for night fishing. Add a flashlight and your ready to go.

Scavengers on the ice. Eagle, Ravens and Coyote.

  

The eagle was the least aggressive. It stood back and watched until the Ravens had eaten all of the bait fish I left on the ice.

  

This guy was getting more than his share of the minnows.

The Coyote was determined to find something worth eating.

Ashland-Washburn Olympic Torch Run. Sponsored by StageNorth, Washburn, WI.

 

The lighting of the torch at the starting point in Ashland. The Black Cat Coffee Shop.

  

The first leg of the torch run leaving the Black Cat.

  

U.S. Highway 2 leg. Leaving Ashland WI. Destination Washburn.

  

Torch arriving in Washburn WI.

  

Torch arriving at Washburn High School.

  

Halftime Washburn / Drummond basketball.

 

Transferring the flame to Carol "Coke" Lindsey and her mother Betty bring the bay area's version of the Olympic Torch to Stage North in Washburn Friday, honoring the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Lindsey took part in the Summer Olympics of 1984 as part of the U.S. team handball team, and also carried the Olympic torch for the Atlanta games in 1996. Lindsey said it was fitting that her mother join her for the final leg of the Ashland to Washburn torch run, because of the support she had given Lindsey in her Olympic efforts. Story by Rick Olivo Ashland Daily Press

  

Approaching StageNorth.

 Waiting crowd and StageNorth.

  

Final moments.

 

 Lighting the wick.

 

Waiting...waiting..

Let the games begin....

 

Everyone wants to join the games and hold the torch.

  

Mom (Donna) and Scott.

  

  Let the party begin......

Ashland-Washburn Olympic torch was built by Scott Griffiths for StageNorth.

Additional photos of other legs of the run available through StageNorth. 

Double digits. Driving on the ice. No ice fishing.

 

Chequamegon Bay Lighthouse

  

We are standing just NW of the lighthouse over the shipping channel. The water depth below us is ~ 30 feet.

  

This  winter will probably be the last opportunity we will have to have this picture taken. If things go according to the current plan the Oredock will be torn down starting this spring.

  

We are standing NW of the Oredock. The water depth below our feet is probably 30 feet.

  

Ok, here is the explanation of the title "double digits". We have lived here since 1978... 31 years and I had to prove there was 24 + inches of ice below our feet...... before my wife finally drove on Chequamegon Bay. 31 and 24 double digits.

  

Here she comes off the bay after her first solo spin out on the ice.

  

Driving up onto the "landing". Finally ashore.

P.S. for those keeping count I did fish yesterday. Slow but caught smelt and perch. Had fresh fish with K & S for supper.

Some work and lots of fun. Three days and three lakes.

Don't worry the work was minimal. I spent a few hours helping my nephew with a remolding project he is working on.

Here is what work looks like when you are retired. I arrived a day late. I worked for 2 hours maybe. At that point I think I was getting in the way. The boss (Skip) told me to go fishing.

I did, go fishing that is. Caught a few small perch and a nice walleye. Great sunny day on the ice.

Skip worked until five. I quit fishing at five. We cleaned up and went out to supper. Two burgers, 3 beers and two cocktails later we headed back to the house. Watched a movie. Slept 8 hours.

I got up and had breakfast then packed the car and headed out for Marengo Lake WI.  I'm sure I spent more time this weekend packing and unpacking the car than I did "working".

Skip stayed and worked until 3:00.  Cleaned up then headed home for Super Bowl Sunday.

I arrived at Marengo Lake at 11:30 for a day of outdoor winter activity. Snowshoeing,  cross county skiing, campfire, great food and friends.  Oh and of course ice fishing. Thanks Carol and Brian for a great winter party.

Some of the snowshoeing participants.  

 

The guy on the left needs more equipment before hitting the trails.

 

My favorite snowshoeing bunny.

Fishing was slow but Ed, EJ and I gave it our best. Lots of holes were drilled.. thanks EJ. Lots of tip ups were set, picked up moved and reset.  And yes some fish were caught. Crappie (2) and perch (5-6) good job Ed.  Rick didn't miss much.

Ice fishing Marengo Lake.

Before all you ice fishermen start planning a trip to Marengo Lake the catch for the day was 2 crappie and 5 or 6 four inch perch in six hours (18 man hours) of fishing.  Stay home!

No kidding four inch perch. Nice catch EJ.

Everyone was on the road for home by 5:00. We stopped for a little Super Bowl watching with family. My sister made the traditional Super Bowl food in our family. English muffins topped with a finely ground spread of spam, cheese and onions. Put on cookie sheet then broiled in the oven. An invention of my dad who loved to cook. I like the ones that are "burned" around the edges.

I left for home early. Unpacked the car put all of the fishing gear in the house and all of the tools in the shop.

Today is cleanup day. I'm going to straighten out the mess that gets made when I spend three days fishing , traveling and yes working.

 Oh and Donna and my sister went quilting while I was working.

Hey Skip the fish again measured > 17 inches........gloating while I can.

No I don't fish everyday...but I did fish today.

Fished with family and friend. Slow going at second/first landing East of the breakwall. Moved to West side of the breakwall. Fishing still slow but productive. Caught perch, smelt, nice coho and...... some "pay back is hell".  More on that when the pay back arrives.....AND it will.

For now here is some of the catch.  Coho and perch.

Quick trip to the Twins Cities to pickup Kellie and Scott. I didn't fish on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Down on Tuesday. Had a nice supper with Nick, Aliina and the twins.  Burgers at  a neighborhood bar. That has great burgers.

Back to the hotel early.  Cocktails in the hotel lounge.

Picked up the travelers at 9:30 A.M. at the airport. Straight back to Northern Wisconsin.