Lake Superior Beckons

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 12:09 pm Post subject:

Mike, looking forward to seeing you and meeting your wife. Hope you catch up to us. Tom, I'm not the greatest fisherman (if I'm catching fish, everyone is! lol), but I've salmon trolled out of Port Washington and Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan, and use two cheap manual downriggers, some downrigger poles, and various large lures. I might bring the stuff along, but not sure yet. It's a space issue, but if salmon are hitting pretty good in the area, might be worth it. Also, if anyone is interested I have an old "The Superior Way" book, second edition, that any of you can have (or I'll bring it down to the next St. John's River gathering for the auction.) (I just recently purchased the 4th edition...) Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 6:40 pm Post subject:

I've never been to Isle Royal before, so of course I have been doing a lot of research about the area. Seems to be a lot of rules/restrictions at this National Park, so might be worth while for anyone that has not been there before like me, to review some stuff.

First, regarding Marinas at Grand Portage. There appears to just be the one. The one small casino does not appear to have many transiet slips, if any. (I called the other day and put my name in with them, and was also told to call back when it's a bit closer. Apparently they just have slips available when a regular leaves it for a bit.) Parking of rigs shouldn't be a problem though and is $5/night. I believe the launch fee was $7.50.

Here are some important links to park information:

Boating guide: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/boating-guide.htm

Park Newspaper: https://www.nps.gov/isro/upload/ISRO_Web_Greenstone_Newspaper_2017.pdf

Quiet/noWake zones that are unmarked: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/upload/Quiet-No-Wake-2015.pdf

I'm looking forward to this adventure and seeing some C-Brat friends again. Hoping the weather is nice for us! Colby

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2017 7:44 am Post subject:

Thanks for the information Colby. I'm going to get together with Hanks friend Jeff sometime this week. He does a lot of Lake Superior fishing including Isle Royal. We will be at Hank and Pats tomorrow. See everyone soon. Tom

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2017 4:50 pm Post subject:

As the departure date for the Isle Royale Cruise approaches a few unexpected changes have occurred. Unfortunately, we have some health challenges that require attention. Fortunately, Tom and Joyce Schulke of "C-Otter" fame have stepped in to take our place. So, all things are a go with the departure still scheduled for Tuesday, August 1 from Grand Portage Marina.

If you have any questions or comments, just let us know.

Hank and Pat Clow
Meri Aura

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:32 pm Post subject:

270 miles to drive tomorrow, but I should be launching in Grand Portage around 2p. (Unless I decide to go check out the town first...) Colby

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 10:02 pm Post subject:

Tully-B and C-Otter will be departing "Camp Clow" at 7am. See you later in the PM Colby. Drive with care....Tom

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:45 am Post subject:

Safe travels to you guys too.

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:23 pm Post subject:

Sitting in Grand Portage now with C-Otter and Tully-B. Plan to head over to Isle Royle in the morning. Probably be off the grid for a while. No cell service here and I walked over to the Casino for internet. So anyone else planning to join us, if you get here later, call us on the VHF. 😉

colbysmith · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 10:48 pm Post subject:

Back home now, and still playing catch up! Those of us that did this trip had a great time. Well at least I know I had a great time. Isle Royal is a beautiful National Park. Even had a chance to spend some time with the Park Superintendent since she and her husband have the C-22 C-Green. I'd certainly love to go back there some time. Colby

R407c · Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:27 am Post subject: Lake Superior Beckons

Christy and I had a good week on our cruise around Isle Royale. We launched late afternoon from Grand Portage and headed over. First night we anchored in a small cove on Johns Island on the southeast end of the park.

Second day we circled Grace Island and docked at Windago. Hiked Huginnnin Cove and to Grace Creek overlook. The two fishing boats next two us at the Windigo Dock had caught a lot of fish and cooked up more than they could eat so the gave us a plate full of fish and another plate full of fries and it was a great dinner for us. Stayed at Windago Dock overnight.

Third day motored into McCargo Cove and met Jay on " C Green " fishing in Brady Cove. Talked a bit and then went to the end of MaGargo Cove and had lunch at the dock. Than motored through Amygdaloid Channel and docked in Chrystal Cove to walk around the old fishery buildings. Neat. Than went over and docked at Belle Isle dock and walked around the shelters, beach, and pelvillian. Motored into Duncan Bay and at the southeast end tied up to the dock and walked around the camp area. Heading out we past a group of 5 kayakers heading in. Then motored over to Passage Island and did the hike out to the light house. Really neat! Anchored overnight in the cove on Passage Island. Did a quick swim there.

Fourth day motored back to Blake point and went through Merritt Lane into Tobin Harbor. Meet up with the three other C-Dorys traveling counter clockwise around Isle Royale as they were heading out to Passage Is. Further down Tobin Harbor we stopped to do the Lookout Louise hike. Great view of the northern part of the island. Back at the dock another quick swim off the dock. Than motored on to dock at Tobin Harbor docks and went over to visit the Rock Harbor area. Then back on board and motored out of Tobin, around Scoville Point and down through Rock Harbor Channel. Stopped at Mott Island but did not see Jay's " C Green " so we went on to Caribou Island and tied up at the dock for the night. Walked a small beach there. Really Nice !

Fifth day we stopped at Edison Fisheries and walked out to the light house. What a view from the top of that light house. Motored on out into the lake and next into Chippewa Harbor and into its southeast lake. Two Trawlers and a big sailboat anchored back in there. Way cool ! Then back out into the lake and motored down to Malone Bay dock. Walked up to Siskiwit Lake and visited the campground area. After another quick swim at the dock we headed over to Wright Island fishery. Docked and walked around. I liked it, wife ????. Then we motored over to the dock in south east Siskiwit Bay and tied up at the dock for the night. Hiked along the beach. Talked to a few fisherman and a bunch of backpackers. Had dinner on the dock picnic tables. Excellent .
A group of 12 or so gathered around the common fire pit in the evening and exchanged stories. Neat !

Sixth day. There was an early morning thunder storm that past through at 5:30 am just as it was getting light out. Lots of rain and only a little wind. Good lightning show. Glad to be in the boat cabin and not in a tent. Headed out just after the storm past and motored out of Siskiwit Bay. Next stopped was in Fishermans Home Cove and anchored off and had breakfast onboard. An amazing place to anchor. Then onward down the shoreline and around the southern end of Isle Royale and back up into Washing Harbor to stay the last night at the Windigo docks. Another short hike, a jump off the dock for a swim, dinner and later a hot shower at the washrooms.

Last day. Up early and head out for the two hour cruise back to Grand Portage Harbor on the mainland were we had launched from. Then the drive back home to Milwaukee, WI.

Wish we could have spend time with the C-dory group but our delayed start and the wind directions it dictaded different routes. Still, it was a good trip.

Thanks Hank and Pat for getting the trip planned. Sorry you could not make it.

colbysmith · Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 4:43 pm Post subject:

Since Mike posted his trip, I decided to post more about the rest of this for the entertainment of all reading...

We all had a great time. After leaving Grand Portage, we decided it would be best for us to go counterclockwise around the park with the current winds. We stopped in Windigo the first night, then Hay Bay the next night. Tom on C-Otter met some fishermen that gave us a large Lake Trout Filet. Tom and Lee (Tully-B) cooked that up while the wives Joyce and Jan made the rest of our feast, that we shared with a Sail Boat family we shared the dock with at Hay Bay. They had one side, and we all rafted up on the other. From there we headed to Chippewa Harbor. After a night at the Chippewa dock we headed to Rock Harbor, stopping at the Edisen Fisheries first. Really enjoyed the tour around the buildings there, then the Lighthouse which had a very nice little museum in it. Also hiked the short distance to the Wolf and Moose research facility...another very interesting place. After that we headed on into Rock Harbor. Gassed up there, but no room on the docks, so we went around to Tobin Harbor. So far we've been on docks every night. The next day, Jay Green came out, and we met up with him and his wife, Phyllis (Park Superintendent) at Passage Island. (They have the boat C-Green) They spent the night there with us on the hook. Next day we headed into Belle Isle dock. Jay dropped his wife back off at park headquarters then joined us at Belle for the night. Next day he lead us over to Crystal Cove and we checked out the little community of buildings there. He left after that, as we headed to McCargoe Cove. Got the dock there for the night. Tom had talked his way into going out with another fisherman the day before while at Belle. Some interesting guys. This one had grown up on the islands as his family were one of those involved with early day fisheries. He lives in Wyoming now, but comes back every summer to fish. Anyway, Tom went out both the night before and early the next morning, and had caught 3 trout. Those were cooked up while in McCargoe, and a dad and his son hiking managed to be in the right place at the right time, so they were invited in sharing this feast! Very happy to see some real food, as otherwise there plans were MRE's! l0l. Later that evening, some other families had a campfire and I was able to invite myself in to that. However, I made some new friends there as I popped out and shared my smore materials! The next day we headed up towards Birch Island, but with the dock taken, we anchored out in Brady Cove. Wednesday saw flat seas, and with the next day forecasted for 2-4' waves, we decided to head home.
Really enjoyed the scenery up there and wouldn't mind going back again sometime.

Mike, sorry we didn't coordinate our Isle Royal time together better. See you at the Mississippi gathering!

Colby

colbysmith · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:24 pm Post subject:

Time this right for next year, and you can sign up for a moose watch! Mr. Green

http://isleroyalewolf.org/participate/participate/exp_detls.html

http://www.isleroyalewolf.org/participate/participate/explorers.html