Welcome to the BWCAW blog of Ely Outfitting Company and Boundary Waters Guide Service!

See our websites at ElyOutfittingCompany.com and BoundaryWatersGuideService.com.

We are a Boundary Waters canoe trip outfitter, Quetico outfitter, and guide service in Ely, Minnesota. This Boundary Waters blog shares photos, stories, humor, skills, and naturalist insights from guiding in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).

Most entries are from our founder and head guide, Jason Zabokrtsky. He is the Boundary Waters Blogger.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The No-Name Lake

Many years ago, I bushwacked into a no-name lake in the heart of the wilderness.  On my map, the lake had no depth markings, so I didn't know if enough depth existed to support fish - though it had enough surface area that I sensed it might.  And I decided to trudge in with a fishing pole to answer that question.

As I emerged from the thick underbrush to finally see the hidden waters, I looked to my right and spied a moose leisurely grazing in the shallows.  Nice surprise. 

Then I made three casts that resulted in another fine surprise. 

On the first cast I caught a monster smallmouth bass - one of the largest I'd ever landed.  On the second cast I caught a handsome and beefy northern pike.  I laughed.  "Not bad. Two for two."  On the third cast, I pulled in a walleye with shoulders like a football player.  I laughed harder.  A true three-for-three Boundary Waters trifecta! 

I'm glad that lake doesn't have a name.