Spent the weekend at Schlatters Lake with 292 boys, 4 of which are my own and 6 nephews. There were also 109 dads, with a ratio of 2.7 boys per dad. This was a new all-time record for numbers of dads and boys, because, I'm sure, the weather forecast was so nice. 

With plenty of sun, and temps in the 60's during the days and 40's at night, we all had a good time. In years past, there were many memorable trips with rain and cold temps.

 

The fishing was not the best from our boat, but caught a few pike and some perch. Some boats did pretty good, with catches of 30 plus perch caught on one outing. The pike size and population seems to be down, so very few legal size pike were caught. They varied in size from 10 inch "hammer handles", as we call them,  to a respectable 28 inch pike. The perch were mostly small, but a few in the 12 to 14 inch range were reported, although I did not see them.

 

This is an annual fishing/camping trip that we have been doing since I was a 12 year old boy, so this was the 36th year in a row. I have made many of them, but of course not all 36. Usually, I go out on  Friday and come home on Sunday, but we went out a day earlier this time, in order to fish and relax a little more. 

Two of my boys and I fished for a little while in Lac La Belle this evening. I was trying for some of the crappies that are supposed to be spawning right now, but had no luck. The only fish we caught was a rock bass. 

Lake Superior is warming up, and soon will be creating the "scum line" and producing steelies, coho and lake trout. Average temps in the open waters is 42 degrees, with some warmer spots at 53 to 54. Give it a week or two and we may be enjoying some good fishing!