Destination:  Caribou Lake

One of the great aspects of fishing Eagle Lake out of Vermilion Bay Lodge is the option to take a back-woods adventure and walk the portage trails back to several other lakes.  Caribou Lake is the furthest away, and takes the most effort, but the fishing and seclusion make it worth it.  I needed to get back there and set up the boat for the summer.   Keith Mitchell volunteered to accompany me………little did he know!

Of course many lodge guests have “done” the creek up to Clearwater Lake…104 curves of log filled obstructions.  This first part of the journey is best taken slow and steady, yet some part of me rebels at the notion of taking my time when such interesting things await.  My first mistake!

On reflection, perhaps a slower pace would be advisable.  Ending up on the only two rocks on shore after hitting a submerged log can only be described as “humbling”….and it was going so well till that point.

Will we ever reach Caribou Lake?

Well, it may have been embarrassing, but shove it back in and carry on.  No harm done and a lesson learned.  Not sure why but I seem to need this lesson dealt out to me every couple of years.

We’ll just start the motor and…..what the @#$ !!  No tools, we are up the Clearwater Creek with two paddles!

Paddling against the current is less than fruitful.  Fortunately the Evergreen Lodge boat that we were so smug to pass earlier caught up to us and offered to give me a lift to the boats I have on Clearwater Lake.  In a case like this it is good to have a “plan B”.  “Stay with the boat Keith, I’ll come back to get you”.

I do return and while towing the boat to my ramp on Clearwater Lake Keith drags a line with some results!  This may be a good omen.

Onward to Caribou Lake…

Over the next portage trail to McGregor and what’s this?  An airplane would certainly speed up our trip, but I file away the fleeting thought of taking it for a spin…..I’m not feeling that lucky today!

Some wolf poop on the trail to Caribou Lake.  We hope the evident “hair” diet is animal and not someone we know!  I feel secure in the knowledge that I am faster than Keith…..he will be the first to fall!

Finally, we have reached our destination, Caribou Lake.  The 6hp Johnson runs great and all is well.  The only minor issue is that a bear has chewed on one of the spare gas cans and released the contents….still plenty in the other cans.  Why do they enjoy chewing on plastic, that is the question…

A selection of Rapala Skitter Prop lures seems to be the ticket for catching bass this day.  The action seems to indicate that the bass have yet to get into the spawning mode….likely due to the cooling water temps.  It bodes well for Dustin who will be fishing the next week.

While it wasn’t a banner day, we did manage to catch more than 3 dozen bass, plus a few northern pike thrown in for good measure.  All catch and release back in this remote lake.   I’m happy to report that the trip home was uneventful.  We were even able to pick up a few eater walleyes along the way back for a fish dinner that night.

While it didn’t start out so great the day ended up being pretty good all round.  I’m sure we will have stories to recall about that fateful trip back to Caribou Lake during the opening week of 2011……..