Just after Labor Day, some friends and their relatives came to visit. When they heard we only had canoes, they decided to bring their bass fishing boat. Instead of taking them to the lake that has no bass, we decided to expand our horizons.

The result of our recon mission might look paltry, but only if you don’t know what it’s like to fish in 25 MPH winds in a canoe. It’s a wonder we caught anything!

Big Trade Lake is beautiful and big enough for a boat with a motor. The wind died down once our visitors arrived.

Jim caught bass. All the guys caught fish and us gals came up empty.

The next morning Michael and I cleaned fish while Kenny and his crew went out on the lake once more. This time, his sister Becky reeled in the prize.

A 34” Northern Pike is nothing to sneeze at.

The fish was large enough to fillet out all the Y bones for which pike are infamous.

This fellow should chase tomatoes sky high next spring.

Mrs. Beasley and Boyo, smoking on the back steps after gorging on fish livers.