The road trip rolled into Ely on Sunday night.  We finished dinner at the Chocolate Moose just in time to get on Farm Lake with Bill Forsberg from Timber Trail Lodge and Jim Riley from Links Wild Safaris.   The heavy storms had moved on from the area and the clouds parted to set the scene for an evening of chasing walleyes.  The action wasn’t furious, but ten small walleyes were caught and released.   We thanked Mother Nature for giving us a chance to get on the water and headed in as the sun dipped out of sight.

Monday started with breakfast in town before heading to Veterans on the Lake Resort on Fall Lake.   The story behind this resort goes back over 30 years to a time when bulldozers prepared to demolish two neighboring resorts.  A decision was made to save them, combine them and turn them into a resort specifically for Veterans and the handicapped.  Rates were lowered and facilities for handicapped were created.  If you’re looking for a good cause to help out that involves veterans, handicapped and the outdoors, THIS is a great one.  Listen for an upcoming episode of Minnesota Sporting Journal Radio to learn more as we had the chance to sit down and talk to Chairman Neil Olson and Vice-Chairman Dick Zahn.

Monday evening finished with another new experience for me:  Bass fishing from a kayak!  I’d fished out of canoes my whole life, but never out of a kayak.  I found that it maneuvered more easily, was faster and overall and easier experience.   What I haven’t had to do yet is carry one by myself.  I’m not sure it’d be as easy as flipping a canoe onto my shoulders.

This trip so far has been a great one as I’ve traveled all across the state.  It’s not over yet, so keep an eye out for more pictures as the Minnesota Sporting Journal continues it’s Summer Tour Part 1.

Here are more pictures from Timber Trail Lodge, Veterans on the Lake Resort and from time on the lakes!