Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Friday, October 31, 2008

Mantrap

At Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865. Halfway through Act III, Scene 2, the character Asa Trenchard (the title role), played that night by Harry Hawk, utters a line considered one of the play's funniest:
"Don't know the manners of good society, eh? Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, old gal—you sockdologizing old man-trap..." Fortunately, beautiful Mantrap lake in Northern Minnesota has no connection to the sad event that happened in Fords theatre that day. Instead, the name derives from the fact that a boater may be easily trapped (lost) in the myriad channels and bays of this large lake. I have been fishing there each fall since I retired. The first few years I went tenting, with my buddy Muffy, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Then more recently in the camper with Mrs. Troutbirder and our good friends Gary and Rosie. A nearby German restaurant is an evening treat.







The campground has forty very nice wooded campsights (no electricity though), and two concrete ramps. It was first recommended to me by son Tony, who had worked at the Boy Scout camp at nearby Battle Axe lake.




The ladies, not always interested in the fishing end of things, seemed to enjoy just "cruising" the lake.





Every twist and turn in the lake brought a new and beautiful vista.









I must say the fishing was great from the beginning. The lake is noted for huge muskies and northern pike.


























This past year the fishing wasn't as great as usual. That's why the old saw goes "they call it fishing not catching."
Still you can tell from a certain smile that Troutbirder had a great time anyway.










































11 comments:

  1. That's a one happy Troutbirder for sure!

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  2. Yes, you can tell Troutbirder is having a great time. Who wouldn't be?

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  3. Great Pictures, and yes, Troutbirder does look very happy in that picture.

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  4. It always nice to crusing on a boat with the hopes of meeting some nice fish!

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  5. I used to go Pike fishing near an atomic plant where they discharged warm water that attracted bait.-Camping-now you're talking-I can't wait to go again.-Nice pictures Troutbirder!.

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  6. What a wonderful time you all had! What fish!! And what a smile! :-) Thanks for sharing. It looks like a great place to spend some time.

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  7. Those are SOME fish! I'd be grinning too!

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  8. Oh, it looks like a wonderful trip. There's nothing like camping and fishing this time of year.

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  9. Well, I know you are going to be ready to shoot me...but I have given you another award. You so deserve this one. I know you don't like do the award thing, so just come retrieve it and post it on your sidebar.

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  10. what beautiful pictures...
    I personally love fishing...we'd go in my dad's boat..sometimes near that atomic plant that larry wrote about if it is the one I know..we caught and ate the best fluke there...

    We can't eat too many fresh water fish around here...our lakes are ruined.

    My son caught some striped bass off the shore in Rhode Island this summer- my only problem is we were camping and...those fish feed more than one family; no frige on hand..so we ate fish morning noon and nite until it was gone...

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  11. Great post and beautiful photo's. What a wonderful time you had!!
    Take care

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