Matt captures the fishing championship, making him the first to win back-to-back titles. He boats the first qualifier three of the six days, the most three times, and the biggest three times. He also lands the largest walleye, and nets the most walleye and bass.
Bry frequently eschews bottom bouncers in favor of castings with spinners. The different style of fishing leads to a different type of fish. He boats the largest and most pike during the week. He also nabs the first qualifier once, the biggest twice, the most once, and ties for the most on another day. The combination allows him to eke out a second place finish in the competition.
Dan's new "max-time-in-water" strategy threatens to be a game changer when it yields 4 fishing competition points on Day 1. He follows up his Day 1 points for the first and most fish, and the biggest and most (and only) whitefish with only 2 more points the rest of the trip (the biggest bass and the first fish on Day 6). The drop-off causes him to tumble from first place on Day 1 to third place after Day 6.
Tim patiently learns fishing techniques and strategies from the rest of the group. It takes him a few days to master tangle-less bottom bouncing, snag-freeing, rig-tying, and hook-setting. His newly learned skills lead to success later in the trip. He boats the largest fish on Day 4 and ties for the most on that same day.
Overall fishing results
Most Bass: 11 (Matt)Largest Bass: 18.5 inches (Dan)Most Northern: 5 (Bry)Largest Northern: 26 inches (Bry)Most Walleye: 32 (Matt)Largest Walleye: 22.5 inches (Matt)Total qualifiers boated:
Matt: 45Bry: 39Dan: 36Tim: 35Group totals:
Walleye: 119Bass: 25Northern: 10Whitefish: 1Tim, Dan, and Bry all net Ontario Angler bass on Day 2. Could this be the year Matt doesn't get a sticker for his side of the boat? No, he comes through with an award bass on Day 5 and another on Day 6.
Matt's boats his first Angler Award bass while casting by Tim's Turnaround, but he didn't catch it casting. He tucked his non-casting rod in the corner of the boat, and let the minnowed jig float on top of the water. Bry gets an assist for letting Matt know it hooked something.
Tim's quote of the trip (while motoring through heavy chop around Bass Alley), "Now I know what a bottom bouncer feels like!"
First time ever...everyone in the boat has a fish on the line at the same time!
"We always pass that island on the rights side"..."No, we always pass on the left side". Our fuzzy familiarity with Lake Windermere is getting us into trouble. Twice we tried to venture through waters we thought we knew, only to collide with submerged rocks. A little more of the skeg is missing.
Dan surveys the landscape before casting. He notes the location of Tim and Bry, and identifies a clear path for his backswing. Oops, he failed to spot the extra rods in the boat. As Dan lets loose with the cast he snaps the tip off Matt's pole.
Bry attempts to nab a massive 10 inch bass in Diversity Drive. When he tries to set the hook, the monster fish shatters his rod. Matt loans Bry one of his spare poles for the rest of the trip.
Dan attempts to outdo last year's forgotten passport performance by failing to stretch before teeing off on #1 at Oak Tree a few months earlier. The resulting ligament damage means surgery, and recovery time covers this year's trip. No stopping for golf at The Mackinaw Club on our trips up and back this time.
The teams enter the final night tied in the euchre tournament. The Tim/Dan team bests the Bry/Matt crew in both games, giving Tim and Dan the reigning euchre champs title.
Meals: Dan's steak and fries, walleye, Bry's chicken teriyaki and rice, Matt's chili (compliments of Cathy) and brats, walleye, and Tim's big breakfast (we are extremely grateful for the many pigs who sacrificed themselves for this meal).
Dan continues the "the tradition", but the 80 degree temperatures and warm lake water diminishes the event's significance.
Bry occasionally breaks into his B.J. Thomas impersonation, belting out the modified chorus "I..II…II
...I’m hooked on a feelin’, that I’ll be a reelin’, that great big pike of mine". He learns that the "feeling" lure is less effective than a spinner.
We do not see any foxes roaming the camp this year. Apparently, the bear we spotted loping across the road to the camp is keeping them away. We did watch a pair of moose swimming across the lake by Diversity Drive, a couple of bald eagles gliding overhead, and an angry beaver slapping his tail on the water to scare us off.
We were inside the game room playing doubles when Bob lets us know we may hear a loud "bang". He warns us he's going to fire his cap gun to scare away the bear loitering just outside.
No major damage to the boat, trailer, or truck this year. But, a sluggish boat motor means all passengers must move to the bow to get the boat to plane. The trailer has some electrical issues, blowing 4 fuses along the way and requiring some wiring repair in Wawa (Bry was right about running the wires OVER the hitch). The battery Matt ruined last year was successfully repolarized and worked swimmingly this year. The new trailer license plate holder works, and causes no personal injuries or damage to other vehicles.
Walleye Way did not yield the success the group enjoyed in previous years. However, we did add the following locations this year:
The QuadBeaver PlaceTim's TurnaroundGrassy KnollJig JointWalley IslandWhitefish Bay Tim
"Shatterman"
Tim fills in admirably for John, frequently remarking "The barn is calling" and "20 feet...not marking any fish." Tim earns his nickname by displaying a remarkable knack for breaking light bulbs and coffee mugs.
John's absence is deeply felt. He opts out of this year's trip in favor of the warmer weather south of the border. The decision guarantees the group will have unseasonably balmy temperatures this year. Thanks to John's aversion to cold weather fishing, the group enjoys temperatures in the 80's to start the week.
