Fireside Chillin Again

Like so many areas across the country, we are seeing an early spring. Even the 15 inches of wet heavy snow only a couple weeks ago is completely gone. The ice is off all the lakes already. I was ice fishing only a few weeks ago. We never did have thick, hard ice this year and several idiots tried to drive on to the lakes to prove it. I check nearly every day, but the fish have not yet moved into shallower water, even with temperatures in the 40’s.

The state forest campground near home was opened today. The state crew also had to move a fallen tree that had fallen across the road at the entrance. I drove in to look around with the intent of enjoying a lakeside fire since the fish haven’t begun their spring activity. There were a number of branches in the road, so I spent the next hour or so clearing the roads. There was one tree too large to move that lay across the road near the rear of the campground, but I always carry a small bow saw in the car. It took only about 10 minutes to saw the tree into three pieces.

After that, I decided to see if the campground on the Namiwag River was open. It was. There were four cars in the campground already. The steelhead are running and the Namiwag is a popular river to fish for them. I spent about ½ hour clearing those roads as well. At the north end of the camp there was a major tree across the road. It was too large to tackle with my bow saw and will require some high cutting, so the state crew will need to get that one. As I finished, I picked up three beer bottles and put them in my trunk. Thirty cents deposit. It’s nice to get paid for doing a good deed.

I returned to the first campground around 4:00 PM, just in time for All Things Considered on NPR. I drove to the north end of the campground. The campground sits on a modest bluff overlooking the eastern shore of Saga`igan Lake. I broke up a pile of branches, built a fire, and set up my folding chair. I turned on the radio and settled into my chair looking toward the lake. Two Bald Eagles serenely flew over the lake as I settled in. Nice.

Life is good.
Royal Dun