A bad day fishing is better than a good day at school....or work, as the saying really goes! Please don't send the truant officer to Brita Haapala's home, though. This shot was captured on a weekend, and the only hooky these fishing buddies were playing, was trying to hooky some fish! Good old fashioned, outdoor fun in the U.P. Just look at the expression on that face... it pretty much says it all!

Good morning to all. Just a few more weeks until I am fishing in Rice Lake.


Brad

Steve must be sleeping

Good Morning All. Steve..caught you napping ! It should be a fabulous day for fishing. Up into the high 70's. Be still my heart! Can this be summer weather? Now if we only had leaves on the trees. LOL

Ah memories. Brings back memories of younger times spent in the CC fishing McGunns creek and Brewery creek but we did not have nice rods and reels like the pictured boys, we used "Government Poles."

Nice photograph! It has me counting down the days until I'm up there to get in some serious fishing, but also has me thinking back to trout fishing on streams out back of Tapiola and other places as a kid with my Dad. http://pasty.com/pcam/album14/fishb

Goverment Poles, a soup can full of worms, your best fishin' buddy and a beautiful summer day!!! Enjoyed many of those growing up in the Keweenaw!!

I remember a few years back when we first got our cottage in Aura. We were driving through L'anse when we saw two little boys with Snoopy fishing poles. We thought they were so cute, pretending to be great fishermen! Then we saw they were carrying a stringer full of fish, so the joke was on us!

Keith,
Loved your pictures. Really brought back a lot of memories of fishing as a young girl with my Dad and also with my Uncles. Swell bunch of guys to have patience with me when I was really more interested in Barbies.

Great shot, I have many of those with my boys.

Don't forgot to take a kid fishing.

It Lasts forever.

My Dad came up last summer and hadn't been fishing
in 20 years. It was like watching a kid in a candy
store as he caught a few big pike. Was worth it
just to watch him fish and the smile on that 70
year old face.

He started me fishing and I was glad I could return
the favor.

Thinking back it's hard to believe I turn 45 today
and my oldest son just finished his first term
at Tech...

And oh yea, I take them fishing as often as I can.

Keith - Nice to know I'm not the only one stuck in Kansas! Moved down out of the LP in March (had moved out of the UP the June previous), and am now conducting Forest Inventory for the Kansas Forest Service. Sure is different here - Spring comes *early*! Leaves have been out for nearly a month, and we already need to mow the grass again.

These boys know when to enjoy a good day. Their dad learned from Uncle Bud who was the "fisherman of Isle Royale". I still enjoy my days on the lake after 33 yrs of fishing.

This time its not scarey. Good work! LOL... How cute is that picture, huh??

Hey Mel! Hope all is well and that you are enjoying life in Kansas.

Happy birthday to Bob!

Ok, I give. Whats a "Goverment Pole"?

Love this picture! I was a Tomboy big time and my Daddy always took me fishing. Its probably the only time I was ever still and quiet all at the same time! :)

Here are a few summer 2003 photos.


http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3233873&uid=432603

HEY LOW GRADE IN CALUMET I BET YOUR LOST NOW THAT THE BIG GUY IS GONE DOWN STATE FOR A FEW DAYS.

Linda, A government pole is just a small pole usually about 6 ft. long that a fisherman cuts while in the woods. The line is wound around the small end of the pole. No reel. Thats what a lot of the fishermen or women could only afford. Sure was a lot of fun catching them small brookies in the cricks, oh I mean creeks. Those were the good ole days, lots of fun.

A government pole is a stick which was cut rom the bank of the fishing hole. The line was tied on to the end and wrapped around leaving the proper length to reach the water. These poles were free hence the term "Government Pole" Prince Albert or Velvet tobacco cans were our worm containers of chice as they could be carried in ones pocket on a bicycle to the creek.

Kieth in Kansas-please tell me you release the smallmouths :)

Brad, When you going up?????????

Grandpa Wimmer woukd wade downstream in the Pigrim River with me on his back. He'd place two quarts of Bosch in strategic distances in the river, and drop me off on the bank. He'd then start on the third Bosch and fish his way up the river with me as his companion alongside on the river bank.

I enjoyed all your pictures Brita. Nice to get out before the bugs arrive.

i wuold just like to wish my dad, lauren perkola, a happy b-day today. he turns 76.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!"

The boy on the right, Matt, caught the biggest speckled trout of the day. A bunch of us shared some of the spekkies that day- yum! A few of the fish were caught with a small kid-sized pole. Nice photo, Brita!

88 degrees here in Houghton/Hancock, MI today!!
Yoopers go outside and get some sun!!

Happy birthday to Missy in Texas from your Auntie in Gwinn. Also a picture of the two boys fishing. Reminds me of my boys fishing when they were young.

Happy to be able to visit here each day once again.Quiting smoking was easier,then the craving's I had to check out Pasty Cam. Didn't use the patch for either.All kidding aside a patch for computer withdrawls would have come in handy.Glad to have this habit back,it's a healthy one!I realy missed you all.Thanks Russ for the notes you posted for me.I am doing fine,my Finnish blood at a good level.
How about the Smelt fishing up there? Do they still dip for them in Dollar Bay?

Hey Dave H, Correyton, TN
Glad to see you're back and up and "running"...
Smelting, hated that time of year. As kids we had to help clean them. My Dad and brother Gary would catch them, us girls had to clean them..Yuck!

Glad to have you back Dave.Glad to hear you are kicking the habit. We did yrs ago and it was rough but well worth it.

I have wondered if they still smelted by the bridge too.Sure used to be fun.there would be a bunch of us there and everyone would get a lot of smelt.If I remember right we used to make a small fire and just hang out.

They were good tho.My Mom would dip them in flour and fry them all crispy. Luckily I never had to clean them. Good ol Mom did that.Bless her!!

GREAT SHOT!!! 2 more days and,hopefully I'll have my 2 Grandsons out trying to persuade something to bite....I noticed the blackflies starting to buzz around today.Has anyone else?

wooohoo! Great shot Brita! Allan is jealous and wants to come along next time!

Has anyone done some trolling out of one of those planes that take off and land in water? I remember my dad doing that.

Bthecute1 I have a seaplane rating too....most fun you can have sitting up. Meeting till midnight and early work, so no post at all till now. Brad was "so cruel"......I will try not to make promises I have no chance of making again, as this is a tough crowd.............See ya on the 4th of July...........I will be hunkering down on the local side of the peninsula between Gay and Jacobsville.........and all parts in between............

Speaking of the 4th of July, we have noticed numerous references about the possibility of a 'Pasty' get together this summer, for Pasty Cam regulars and pasty lovers in general. Well, the folks at Mainstreet Calumet have extended a formal invitation to hold such a get-together at Agassiz Park in Calumet on the afternoon of July 4th.

If you are going to be in the Keweenaw for the Copper Country Homecoming and Old Settlers Ball, this will be one of the final events. We're planning now to have a pasty judging competition, some games and surprises, and even... FREE PASTIES to the first 400 visitors to stop by the Pasty Central pavilion in Agassiz Park. More details will be available in the coming days, but for now, be sure to mark your calender for "Pasty Fest 2004" in Calumet on the fourth of July... We promise you'll get away in plenty of time to catch the firworks up in Copper Harbor or down at South Range.

Hey INYOOP! All the smallmouths go back so they will be a bigger and better fighters the next time!

Welcome to Kansas Melissa! Forest inventory, eh? I'll bet you probably thought that was going to be pretty quick work when you first got here! :) Of course I am kidding, but it is certainly a huge adjustment when you compare the amount of forest here against what you find in the U.P. or even the L.P. Are you working on the state or federal side?

Hey Dave/Corryton and Fran/GA, did you see my yesterdays post? hee hee

I heard that GAY has the best 4th of July parade in all of the Upper Peninsula.

Are the fish safe to eat with all the toxins that were dumped in the lake and Portage Lake and Canal, by the Mining Company? I heard that some of the fish have ulcers on them. This does't sound very safe to me. :(

The Gay 4th of July parade is the second part of the Lake-Linden Hubbell parade. They just pack it all up when they are done in LL and do it again in Gay. A few more folks join in, bicycles and costumes,etc. Lots of us end up at the Gay Bar.

Cheryl-

I will pass the Birthday message on to Melissa. Thanks! We will be in the U.P. the end of June thru the 4th of July. Hope to see you !!! The baby is doing great.

Darin.

What a cute picture. Priceless!

Charlie at Pasty Central -----

Your the best!!!! Thanks for telling the "locals" the great news!!!!!! FREE Pasties!!! NICE!!! But I don't think I can take them for free... with all good work that's done!!!! MMMM sounds good!

Thanks again Charlie!!

Way to go Brita! Great pictures! Had to check out all the rest of yours too. Pretty neat.

Precious...those were the days.

Hugs to all.

A grandmother of nine just this precious.