Wisconsin River canoe trip

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Hello friends, I am guessing that it was probably exactly 40 years ago that two high school buddies and I paddled our canoes from near Wisconsin Dells to Lake Wisconsin near Lodi. Over the years I have done that trip about 15 times. This week I paddled from just south of the Dells to Hookers Resort, which is about six river miles above Lake Wisconsin. Naturally I had my pups Ruby and Red along for this three-day journey.

Friday, Aug. 4 High 86, Low 54

So, I have a confession. A while back I was driving through Eagle River and my kayak paddle fell out the back of my truck and before I could get it, it was run over. Today I would find out that duct tape will not fix it. I am in hog heaven as are the pups. I have been in an extremely busy type of lifestyle all summer and a good fix to save the soul and body from overload is a canoe trip.

The first thing I noticed today is that the river is faster and narrower. This is due to the drought. All three days I would trail a crankbait behind me and hope to catch a meal. I had forgotten a shrimp hot dish that was part of my plan so fresh fish was kind of a need, instead of a want. Good luck came my way when I saw a muddy but very nice-looking bait casting rod and reel that someone had lost. It was stuck in a fallen tree. The current was scary bad, but I got my new toy out and it even had a top water bait on it. I was pulling a blue chrome Husky Jerk and missed my only hit of the day and then lost the lure. Later I built a camp on about a 50-acre sandbar that not that long ago was under water. Now it is loaded with deer and turkey tracks.

One of my goals on this trip was to sleep on the sand from inside of my tent. With two bundles of gold laying as close to me as I would allow, I did just that.

Saturday, Aug. 5 High 82, Low 57

Before I forget, I have to say this. If you do not know this fact, explore the river from the Dells to Lake Wisconsin. The northern section is frequently so shallow that most people stay away from it with boats. I was out here for exactly 22 hours before I saw another person.

Today, as soon as I started paddling, I put my crankbait out hoping to catch my supper. Instead of a fish I got a snag. I was in such hard current that not only did I lose crankbait number two, I lost all of my line. This left me with the rig I found in the tree yesterday, but it had one problem and that is that the only way it would release line is if I completely opened up the drag. Over the next two hours I lost two more baits. An expensive bummer. So I put one on that my stepson Travis Dushek made and within five minutes I was fighting a 20-plus inch smallmouth bass that, after several jumps, got away. Long story short, by dark I caught five smallies, a sauger and a walleye on a broken reel and one of the smallies made for a delicious supper.

Let me tell you about my 15-month-old pup Red. A year ago, when Michelle passed away, Red, her mom Ruby and me all went into a tailspin of depression. I could not get Red to swim or fetch a ball and I simply did not care. These days Red has no fear. No matter how strong the current is, she has to be in the water, and she loves to play fetch.

I felt if I did not push it she would work out and this fall we will find out with ducks.

Anyways, I have used all my space. The last 24 hours of this adventure was spectacular, just like the first 30. I am glad I do not have enough money in my retirement to retire cuz I am having too much fun to give up this way of life!

Sunset