The Trip North, Hawks Win Stanley Cup

The long-awaited trip to The North.  Everyone up by 7:00 and out to the boats by 7:45.  Patsy yells across from her cabin that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last night defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 6 of the Finals. [When we left Joe's,  Tampa Bay and Chicago were tied 2-2 in the series with the Lightning heading back home for game 5.  Yesterday, we learned (from Matt T's call home) that the Hawks won game in Tampa Bay to take a 3-2 lead heading back home to the United Center). Today, we learned that they won the cup in 6 games and at home.  Can't wait to watch the replays of games 5 and 6.]

Weather is blue sky and cool temp - around 50 degrees.  Matt T opts to stay back, so the 3 man boat with Bill and Daniel aboard becomes a speed cruiser. Boat #2 (Joe and Rob) is clearly faster than boat #3 (Mike and Andy), so everyone arrives at a different time at the entrance to the destination bay.  Bill and Daniel graciously wait to start fishing - and once all boats are fishing, it is a free-for-all.  Joe rates it as "top 5" of all trips to The North.  Although no new trip records are broken, everyone catches multiple walleyes over 20". Andy estimates that over 100 fish were caught between 8:45 and 11:30.  A few walleyes caught at the creek, but mainly in the first bay.  Only late were walleyes being caught in the sub-17" range.  Most everything at the beginning were very nice fish.  Shore lunch is amazing as always. A bit tricky to get the fire started due to increased wind. Trip back is directly into the wind all the way.

Back at the cabin, Balderdash and Wizard are played to complete the evening.