We are only 2 1/2 months away from flowing waters, new fishing stories and beautiful sunrise's & sunset's.  Newsletters from June to October are my favorite as we will guarantee everyone's trip will be reported in the monthly newsletter. To give you an idea of what Wilderness Journey trips are a like: they begin when we pick up your group up at our Burntside Lake cabin between 4:30 and 5:00 am.  We’ll drive about 1 hour drive to the entry point all the while clients talking about how little they sleep because of all of the excitement.  I, as your guide, will fill you in on the history of the area.  Before you know it we will be at the entry point. The first day is always the toughest because no one really knows what exactly to do.  but with our experienced guides and proper instructions you will be on your way to a trip filled with memories. By the second day it will be much easier and by the end of the trip everyone will be experienced travelers. Each night everyone will tell of their daily stories and please everyone bring a camera…you will need it!!!

Permits!  Boundary Water Permits are first come- first serve.... and only a limited number of people are allowed in each entry point.  So if you are considering a trip, contact us ASAP so that we can discuss trip options.  

Our annual “Wilderness Journey Rendezvous” will be coming up on May1st at Island Lake Recreation, in Brighton, MI.  Here we will have a simulated campsite along with all equipment and canoes, so everyone can see that we use only the best equipment. We will also provide food and beverages for everyone. We would like all of our past and new clients to come along so we all can exchange stories.  Actually, anyone who might be interested in a future trip is welcome also.

Please check out the story below!

TRADESHOWS

The Quiet Water symposium is coming up on March 7th.  For those of you who are really into canoeing and kayaking this is the show for you. There will be many seminars on canoeing and kayaking.  At the end of March, between the 18th and the 21st , we will be at the Grand Rapids Ultimate Fishing show.  This will be our final show of the season. To be honest the whole season can be great but June is a prime month…so if you really want to slam the fish, you must contact us soon! Remember, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area allows a limited number of people into the park at a time and each entry point only gives out so many permits. It is on a first come, first serve basis.

We like to meet our new clients face to face and catch up with past clients. Meet us there:

The Quiet Water Symposium (Lansing) March 7, 2010

Ultimate Fishing Show in (Grand Rapids) March 18- 21, 2010

I have been on only 4 solo trips in my career.  The first was going to be a 3 day trip just to get the feel of the solo experience.  It turned out to be a 4 day trip because I was wind bound for three of the days.  I couldn’t leave camp because of the 50 MPH winds. It was then that I realized the importance of a book.  I did however hone my fire building skills. For those of you who don’t know, it is a tradition to leave firewood for the next group that comes to the campsite. I had so much time on my hands that I left a wood pile 4 feet wide and 2 ½ feet high with a variety of wood from tiny tinder to 8” split logs.  I even covered the wood with birch bark that I had gathered around camp.  I covered the wood pile to keep it dry. Then I wrote a note on a piece of birch bark asking that the next group to be kind enough to do the same. When the 4th day came, I woke and all was silent.  I peeked out of the tent and all was still. I hurried and had camp down in record time.  I was back at the entry point within 5 hours. After that I told myself that I would never go solo again…I am a people person after all.

I thought I’d give it a second try. I planned for a 3 day trip.  Once arriving to camp, the rain came pouring down. Because I was going to be alone, I thought “why bring a tarp?” Another lesson learned: Always bring a tarp.

That trip lasted 23 hours.

I tried it again.  The third solo was much better.  I was more prepared: I had my book and a tarp. Of course, I didn’t need either.  The weather was beautiful, the fishing was great and the wildlife was plentiful!  This trip was so enjoyable that I would’ve stayed longer if I didn’t have a group going out a few days later. I ended up staying for 4 days.

My forth solo was the first week of August 2009.  It was phenomenal!  The weather was great, the fishing was spectacular and it was a 5 day trip that turned into an 8 day trip. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t catch at least 30 to 50 fish and I had 4 Northerns  that were at least 40+ inches.  I lost all but one.

There were many stories on this trip but I’ll end this trip report with one story. I have caught many big Northerns but I just couldn’t get past that 40” mark.  It was the last evening of my trip and I decided to go over to my Walleye hole to catch one for my final meal.  Since I had a 1 1/2 mile paddle I decided to troll a J-11 Fire tiger (my favorite). As I paddled, my rod bent like so many times before so I didn’t give it much thought.  I was thinking it was just another fish but while reeling in the fish I realized that this was something special and my heart started to race.  I started to get the canoe ready…it was then that I thought to myself that I was going walleye fishing.  I didn’t have a net or another person to help me.  When the fish came under the boat and refused to show herself, it was then I knew that this was a biggin!  After a few minutes I brought her off the bottom and saw this massive head.   I don’t know what I was thinking but in all the excitement I thought I had the hands the size of a giant and when I went down and grabbed that fish by the head it made my hands look like a child’s hand.  In one quick swipe it turned its head and grabbed my index finger and shredded it like a meat grinder.

While fighting and reeling in the northern the blood from my finger was splattering up the front of my shirt and face and after a few attempts I was able to grab her under the gill plate and while towing her to the shoreline in my left hand and paddling with my one right hand I made it to within 20 ft of shore but with the all boulders I couldn’t get any closer to the shoreline. So I jumped out into 3 ½ ft of water, slipped on a submerged boulder and damaged my left knee.

I unhooked the 40 inch Monster and took a photo and started to revive her, while doing so, I looked down the shoreline.  I saw an Eagle minding his own business.  He was flying along the shoreline and then he saw us… he made a quick turn and landed on a tree like it had done many times before. As I was reviving the northern, which took a good 10 minutes, the Eagle sat there hoping that the northern wouldn’t make it. After a few more minutes the northern jumped from my grasp and swam to the depth of the lake. The Eagle took off and while in the middle of the wilderness, up to my waist in the river with my finger and knee bleeding profusely, I screamed out in a guttural Neanderthal YESSSSSS!

There are quite a few times in the Boundary Waters that I have had great experiences but this was certainly one of them.

One Wounded Knee, one index finger with 17 holes and soaks and wet…one would ask if it was worth it, all I could say is “Hell yes!!”

Wildlife

The otter is perfectly suited for an aquatic life. Long and sleek, it has short legs, webbed feet, and a long tapered tail. The fur is a rich brown, moderately short, and very dense.

Otters live near streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, principally in northern Minnesota, though some are found in the southeast along the Mississippi River. Their aquatic diet includes crayfish, fish, and amphibians.

Otters are tireless travelers. In a single week they may range as far as 25 miles. They are playful, often wrestling or spending hours sliding down muddy or snow-packed stream banks.

An adult otter is surprisingly large. It may measure five and one-half feet in length and weigh up to 30 pounds, though 15 to 19 pounds is average. Females give birth to one to five young in spring after a ten-month gestation period. The cubs will remain with the parents through the first winter, but separate the next spring.

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Ramsey Dowgiallo