There's a saying on a bumper sticker...

"I'd rather be BOATING"

Well, since I had the boat pulled last week (it happened Tuesday), that's no longer an option and activity at "work island" started again.  I still needed to finish the house painting that began Memorial Day weekend so got the peeling paint scraped during the week and thought we'd make some progress today.  Unfortunately, I ran into some rotted trim and paneling on the north gable.

With that, I decided to replace the entire facing, bought new material and had my number 1 painter get all the material primed.

She finished priming the bare spots on the siding as well so we're ready to get after the rest of the job tomorrow.

Like I said...I'd rather be boating.

Well, this is it.  The end of another boating season.  I could milk it a bit longer, but there are a few things that need to get done around the house before the snow flies.

I arrived Friday afternoon at an early hour.  There was a ripple on the fairway and a flag snapping on the pole.

The forecast was for a weekend of wind so I rounded up the necessaries for the annual oil change.

I got that job done in a couple hours and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Saturday morning and the air is still.  Might as well get that one last fling out of my system.  So, I motored out a ways at dawn, to see if I could find some fresh fish.

There are still trollers in and around the harbor, but I have no real desire for those maturing salmon at this late date.

The sonar out here shows a little over 50 degrees on top...

and a little cooler 25 feet down so I'll be targeting the surface waters.

I deploy my one man spread of rigger, diver and half core and wait for some action.

Still nothing as the sun finds the horizon.

I notice the temperature seems to have dropped as I troll west.

How low will it go?

That's right.  36.4 degrees on the surface.  Only 4 1/2 degrees north of solid.

It was a nice morning for a little ride and I got to check that everything was back in order after the Friday evening motor service.

I eventually ran into another temperature break that held a lot of bugs and scum.  I trolled that for a few minutes without success.  Then, while clearing lines, I had a steelhead hit and had that fish on for a brief period.  Enough is enough so I called it a year and headed back to port.

Bade farewell to the Badger one last time...

as the resident swan kept watch...just as it did when I arrived in April.  Must be an omen.

Time to pack up the gear and prep this machine for it's winter nap.

Sawdust season is near.

I waited for the nicest day of the weekend to venture away from the dock...or so the weatherman said. Turns out, it wasn't the best but still fishable this morning.

It didn't take a long time to get a fish to bite.

I landed a nice 23 lb. salmon.

The sun came over the dunes and the fishing, or rather the catching stopped.

I did manage to reel in a small salmon a little later that didn't pop the downrigger release but made the speed sensor go nuts so I knew it was on a line.  A nice 5 lb. eater.

We quit early so we didn't have to contend with the lines at the cleaning station.  Entering the harbor, we passed one of the many boats on "harbor patrol".  You see almost anything and everything trolling in here this time of year.

And now that I look closely, this guy has 4 lines in the water.  That's one too many.  Never a cop around when you need one.

So back at the dock, it's time to begin getting this operation put to bed for the season as I packed up the dinghy for the trip home this week.

Kind of sad that days of summer are numbered now.  I'll be up here for a few more weeks doing maintenance and maybe wetting a line now and then.

Tomorrow we have a major wind event forecast so we'll likely pack up early and get to the Lansing quilt shop for Kathy's annual forage through their sale event.  The "excitement" never ends!

After a line of storms passed through this evening, we walked over to the park to enjoy the sunset one more time.  Kathy doesn't participate in this activity after Labor Day (the official kick off to the 9 month quilting season) so it's her last Lake Michigan sunset for a while.

We stayed there long enough to see the Badger set sail once again.

Another day in the books and weekend for the most part.

Labor Day Weekend 2013!

Well, the so called end of summer is upon us.  We got up last evening after a surprisingly easy drive across the state.  Must be the masses began the weekend early.

Kathy coaxed me out to the lake shore for a view of the Friday night sunset.  We arrived as the sun peeked below the cloud bank.

The anticipation was that the clouds would "light up" as the sun set below the horizon.

That's about as good as it got.  Kind of a dud.  Oh well,  at least I got the 2 mile hike merit badge this week.

Saturday morning.

The forecast was small craft advisories due to a stiff north wind.  Here at the marina this morning, that isn't real apparent.

There is a little ripple in the fairway indicating a bit of air and the view out on the lake looks a little lumpy.

The report from the lake confirms the view and the fishing sounds so-so.  I'll attack the lake tomorrow.  We'll have to make a plan for the day prior to tonight's attack on Manistee crab legs.

Another weekend and we escape to the boat...this time with the boat owner in tow.  She is ready to unwind after a week of stress at "the paper".

A little wine and a book should help ease the pain.

Saturday morning and it's off to the point where the report is fish are still being caught.  We're set up and ready for action at dawn.

It doesn't take a long time and it's...Fish on!

Ooh...have to put a little back into this one.

And a double.  Two in the cooler!  That's 24 lbs. and 17 lbs.

My driver, navigator, net woman..."Kathy of all trades" resets the net while I get lines back in the water.

We have plenty of company on the lake this morning but it remains quite organized.  I only had to lay on the horn one time today to alert a boat with no one at the helm.  That happens from time to time when there's a lot of action at the back of a boat...everyone forgets to look forward.

A bit later, there's another bite.  This one's not so much of a load.

We put a 7 lb. coho in the box as the sun breaks the horizon.

The typical post sun rise lull occurs and after a bit we swing in toward shore to see what's there.

This could be ok.

It didn't take long and we put another nice king in the cooler.

That's 4 fish on 5 bites this morning and we decide we've had enough.  Time to point the bow south.

Motoring down the shoreline, passing Big Sable Point.

And into the harbor channel.  Another trip in the books.

Time to clean up, get some lunch and maybe take a little dinghy tour a bit later.

So, I had another plan.

It worked well enough yesterday that I thought I'd try the same plan of attack.

Up at dark thirty, and out the channel.  A bit later today, but still pitch black.

I get up near Big Sable Point and conditions look promising.  There's certainly enough bait fish in the water.

Like yesterday, I'm in the spot I think I need to be at dawn.  Another nice morning.

I'm sandwiched between a couple charter boats and have to run their course.  So instead of complaining, I seize the opportunity and give their clients a show.  Number one in the cooler!  (No action shots today either).

The sun is still trying to find the horizon as I continue a north troll.

The charter boats have moved on and...

It's a DOUBLE!

Two more in the cooler.

Time to turn around and try that spot again before the sun shows itself.

Nothing happens as the horizon gets brighter.

The sun finally appears and as usual, my success seems to flounder.

Oh well, it is another perfect day for a 2.5mph cruise.

So I'm fishing solo with the allotted three lines and manage to tangle two of them.  What the ...?   I've wandered out to over 250 feet of water (it happens in a hurry up there) and mark a few fish.  I do a few circles there and...

Fish on...twice!  Another DOUBLE!!!

OK.  Pressure time.  Land these two, and that's a limit and I'm done.

Piece of cake.  Limit cooler.

So, the lines are picked up and gear stowed.

With the sun merely at the 8am position.

There's enough fuel...

I could make that run for Mackinac Island fudge today, but point the bow south and head for the harbor via the shoreline route.

What a PERFECT lake.

I enter the channel to meet the Badger and the gauntlet of USCG, sheriff patrol, and city police.

I had to pull out of the channel as they passed.

The deputy told me later that they did that as a courtesy.  Not to me. I had to leave the channel.  Oh well, we all got to where we needed to be eventually.

Back at the marina, I hauled the catch to the cleaning station.  Biggest fish 21.5 lbs. with a couple more not far behind.  Four kings, one coho.

The deed is done.  There will be some work when I get home.

Speaking of home, time to put a wrap on this fun, close up the boat and go find my car.

Awesome three days.

Ahhhhhhh!