<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>Just wanted to write a quick report. We did our annual 8 days on the Namekagon River last week and wow were we in for a surprise this year. After many years of average to low water levels and amazing weather, The River took us aside this year to remind us that she is always in control!</p>
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<p>We started the trip with simply "higher than normal" water levels which made hole fishing tough, and casting a bit difficult also. Unfortunately Sunday night brought about seven or eight hours of constant rain which certainly didn't help. Monday and Tuesday were nice days and we managed to work the river for a few nice fish:</p>
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Lost something real heavy that we never saw (probably a nice cat or a big smallie)</li>
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18 inch and 16 inch smallmouth</li>
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19 inch Silver Redhorse</li>
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23 inch River Redhorse</li>
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About fifteen other goldies and shortheads</li>
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<p>Tuesday also was the day the river put us in check. I was making some adjustments in my kayak when I became broadside on a real slow and wide straight away of the river. This was a completely calculated decision, I examined the river and figured it was an ideal time to do this. Well I went broadside into the one log sticking up about half a foot on the entire width of the river and it flipped me and the yak right over! Luckily with my diligant securing methods the only thing I lost was my net which was unsecured. It was a beautiful day out so it was more just a fun dip in the water than a big problem, but the fact of the matter is that had never happened to me and I was confident in my kayaking skills and I still got hosed in a millisecond. Make sure your gear is secured and always be aware of your path!</p>
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<p>Now the real whopper of this trip was Thursday morning. I know a lot of you guys are in Minnesota...well, Pine County Minnesota and Brainerd to the West were birthing gigantic severe storms Thursday morning that were tracking right into Northwestern Wisconsin. This all started for us around 6:30 am on 9/4. Holy cow - absolute craziest storm I have ever been camping in. Golf ball sized hail. Luckily the wind gusts weren't quite powerful enough where we were set up to start snapping trees, but they were extremly violent and unpleasant. We took shelter under the rain fly of an ENO hammock, which I must say took that hail like a champ...no tears. We were basically on our hands and knees under the tarp, with camp chairs held over our head and listenting for trees to snap in case we needed to take evasive action. This storm intensified greatly and went on to hammer Hayward Wisconsin as it moved east.</p>
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<p>We then sat through another two hours of very intense storms, luckily none quite as powerful as the first.</p>
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<p>Needless to say, if we would have had an option off the river or to safety we would have taken it!</p>
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<p>Later that day we arrived at McDowell Bridge landing and decided we had cheated death enough and called the trip at six days. Water levels had increased greatly with the evening and morning storms and we figured as we got closer to the confluence she was just going to get more full of water anyways. Additionally the NPS website had issued a high water alert also.</p>
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<p>The other problem though was the fishing...hole fishing became almost impossible because the usual shore spots where you would tie your boat off or wade in from were just gone. Additionaly, we like to cast for musky and bass, but you had to ask yourself if you were willing to deal with the potential consequenses of hooking up with a huge muskie on a river that was much higher, colder and faster than normal as you were paddling down it...I don't think much good could have come out of that. Imagine trying to land a giant fish with huge teeth and treble hooks while trying to control your kayak in dangerous conditions. No thanks.</p>
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<p>Anyways, it was fun as always but a whole different ball game this year in terms of weather. We gracefully bowed out and will look to do it again next year. I am hoping to do a shorter trip in the fall when the water levels drop back to somewhat normal.</p>
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<p>Moral of the story? I'm not sure, just be careful and always realize that Mother Nature doesn't care how good of a fisherman you are or how nice those simms wading boots are...diligance and a realization that shit can hit the fan fast are a must!</p>
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Yeah those storms moved through and messed stuff up pretty good. Glad you guys came out of it unscathed, and at least you have vivid memories to talk about on future trips up there.
Yeah right now the rum is up at it's spring levels. I can't get on my floating dock which is about 3 inches from the top of the poles with a pontoon and fishing boat attached.
Indeed! Will be some great story telling...we hope its the "one in ten years" kind of thing. Later Summer weather in the north midwest is usually pretty consistent, we need to kick this lingering (since last winter) cold weather/unstable pattern.
Smurph - The Rum is cleary right in the range we are...pretty amazing to have spring style water levels at this point in the year! Our dock back at the lake in NW wisconsin was nearly swamped. Now, I am not going to complain, a few years ago the ground water wasn't even full with the drought like conditions, but can't a guy ask for stability instead of extremes???
I am feeling completely robbed of my redhorse vacation right now, but still appreciative that we weren't halved by falling trees haha.
Here is my buddy with his first River (nice 23 incher!):
And here I am with the prettiest shorty I have ever caught: