The hunting seasons are just around the corner and yet there are ripe berries to be picked. This has truly been a bizarre summer. I am hoping for a nice mild fall to make up for the less than desirable weather this year.
The walleye are biting just fine, but I am tired of the wind deciding where I can and cannot fish. Oh well, I guess it could be worse.
I had some friends visiting from Iowa this week who were not at all prepared for the elements they faced. Five college students from the University of Iowa—young, dumb, and full of energy.
The plan was to camp on Poplar Lake. Last year I showed them a great campsite that my friends and I have been using for years. I marked a map with some fishing hot spots and sent them packing.
A few hours later they showed up at my doorstep like five drowned mice. Cold, wet, and hungry they stood with misery in their faces. It turns out that the island is now restricted to day camping only since there is no latrine, and it was pouring down rain to boot. They had to now redesign their entire vacation.
I let them dry off at my place and sent the boys up to the End of the Trail Campground, which in my opinion is the coolest campground on the Trail. The next day we were to meet at Hungry Jack Lodge where we had rented a pontoon boat for half a day. The Iowa boys showed up an hour late because their clothes had not finished drying at Nor’Wester’s Laundry Mat.
“Why are all of your clothes wet?” I asked.
It turns out that not only were they lacking rain gear, the rain flies on the tents were missing as well. Everything was soaking wet and they spent the night in cold sleeping bags.
On day three they were going to leave. I offered my upstairs to use for a night. I understand that it is August, but one guy did not even bring any long pants! He spent a whole day wearing his “hoody” sweatshirt like pants. His legs were stretching out the seams and the hood resembled a giant diaper. It looked as ridiculous as it sounds.
Here I am, trying to give Iowans a better reputation in this neighborhood and these guys set me back years in progress! They were all returning to college at the University of Iowa and this was supposed to be the last big trip of the summer for them. It was a good idea, but you really have to be prepared for the worst up here.
I kept wondering how many people in the Boundary Waters are equally ill prepared. I am sure that it happens. A possibly wonderful trip into the woods can be a nightmare by forgetting something as simple as bug dope. I could not imagine leaving home without any rain gear.
My wife and I could not help but laugh at them, but they took it well. You can take boys out of Iowa, but you just cannot take Iowa out of the boys!
Cory Christianson, a 2000 Graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail for nine years. If you have any fishing reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@ hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315
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