I don’t know what I was thinking but I thought the 30th was Saturday not Monday. I am still thinking of getting to Gates on Saturday and was wondering if anyone else was getting there during the weekend? If not maybe I will wait till Monday. Maybe head to Mi on Saturday and camp near Grand Rapids and fish the Rough and or Flat.
Me and my posse will be arriving on Sunday afternoon and setting up camp at Canoe Harbor. I think Mato Kuwapi is also staying at Canoe Harbor with her hubby.
Joe
Brad Sherrick (Kaboom) & I will arrive on Saturday the 28th. Come early…we’ll get together & have a good time. Maybe head over to Spike’s for an Olive Burger!
Mike
We arrive in Traverse City at 6:19PM on Sat. the 28th. Pick up rental car and drive down to Grayling/Gates Au Sable River Lodge. Fly back out of Traverse noon on Tues. July 8th.
Joe
How many in the posse? Are they on the I’m Going List?
Brad
Well that settles it. I will be at Gates on Saturday midday. I mean how can I not show up early and meet my buddy Brad and maybe put a wind knot or two in some of his furled leaders as I know how much he enjoys getting them out. LOL
Not to mention the fact that I am dieing to meet JC and LF to thank them for this wonderful board that my wife claims I spend far to much time on. ( what sweetie did you say something )
FISH ON or in this case FISH IN
I’ll be setting up at Canoe Harbor on Wednesday the 25th with my other half. I have a Flygirls of Michigan event on Friday evening and all day Saturday (Wakely Lake), otherwise it’s just hanging out with the fish.
Jack Hise and I plan to skid into Gates Lodge sometime Saturday night, depending on traffic and being stopped at the border for smuggling White Cheddar Cheez-Its and Okra Pickles.
Ed
Ed I am rooming with Jack and he says he isn’t getting in till Monday. Has there been a change on arrival?
No Tim, I’ll be there Saturday! Unless Ed plans to drag me on a very long rope!
Oh my bad see you soon Jack and the rest of the bunch. This should prove to be interesting to say the least.
I am sure I will be entertaing all of you with my bad casting and my specialty of making wind Knots LOL.
Who knows I might just catch my first fly rod trout 2 would be nice.
My worker bee Bill and I will be arriving on Saturday afternoon as well. We will probably put up the pavillion then, depending on the weather, otherwise we will set it up on Sunday morning.
We will be staying at the Woodland Motel in town again, it’s waaaaay cheaper and let’s us actually stay for the whole week instead of just a few days if we stayed at Gates. If anyone doesn’t have reservations yet, you might try them. We are getting a room with 2 queen beds (actually pretty comfortable), table/chairs, couch, tv, microwave, fridge, coffeemaker, toaster (if we want one) and AC (Gates does NOT have AC) It’s really nice after a hot July day to go back to the room and cool down.
Our room rate for the whole week from Saturday to the next Sunday is only $270! You can’t beat that with a big stick. The people who run the place are really great, too.
Deb,
I plan to setup camp near the walking path to the river for easy access to the night fishing, and easier access back to the tent when it’s over. Probably pick a high site in case of rain, but not too far from the potty. :oops: Maybe we can share a meal or two if the mood strikes (I’ll bring the bread!). I’m also bringing my 15’ Coleman canoe for a few floats and at least one trip to Wakely for bass & gills.
Trying to decide if I get that front end alignment on the truck before or after the trip. The road is ALWAYS a washboard.
Anyone else staying at Canoe Harbor?
Joe
Where is Canoe Harbor in relationship to Gates? Inquiring minds want to know.
Brad
17 more long days
think I will go fish today
Canoe Harbor campground is about 3 miles give or take a bit, east of the Stephan Bridge Rd intersection on M72 (S Down River Rd) and just a short jaunt down Canoe Harbor Rd. It’s a short run by car to Wakely Lake from there. The campground is east of Wakely as well. From the campsites, it’s a nice walk down to the South Branch. From Gates Lodge add about a mile to the distances. These are all estimates in my head. I don’t know the exact distance.
Joe…I already know the site I want if it’s still there. It will be the same one we had last fall. High and dry and not far from the trail or pit. There are a couple more around it that are nice as well. The one across the way is really nice on cold mornings as it gets the morning sun yet well treed, for the latter part of the day, but it also looks like it can get a river running through it in a big down pour. I’ll have a float tube and my canoe with me. The canoe is for the rivers and the float tube is for Wakely. It’s much easier to manage where I want it to go and stays where I want it. I am thinking of getting some chains or something I can throw from the canoe as an anchor. It was too hard to fish and paddle at the same time last year and I missed a lot of good water.
See ya when you get there! I was thinking of throwing some fly fishing DVDs into the car just in case we get some ugly weather. I though we could use them up in the conference room if we get desperate. Otherwise I’ll be bringing what I think I can get away with for fly tying. Borders can be a pain.
Here is the view from behind my preferred campsite:
And this is the view of the South Branch from the landing there.
For some reason, these sites remind of Gwenn Frostic and her prints.
This is a pretty little fishy from there.
OK people stop posting pictures of the area as it is making me drool all over my laptop. 
You poor, out of control boy. I’ll give you something to drool about…
How about bread filled with cranberries, raisins and sunflower seeds?
Or maybe bread infused with Italian seasonings, garlic and onions and topped off with a 10 grain cereal mix?
Or hamburger rolls fresh from the oven, covered with toasted sesame seeds and a lovely egg wash glaze?
Those hamburger rolls are so soft and delicious that I think I’ll grab one and make a sammich with it right now. Mmmmmmmmmmm…
Some of this will be coming to the meet & greet in Grayling real soon. Better go on a fasting diet before the fish-in, and get out your fat pants for the end of the week.
Sorry, I just can’t help myself. Some days I’m good, and some days I’m not. 
Joseph the Incorrigible
Now that looks good!
NOTE TO SELF: When packing for Fish IN don’t forget fat pants…
now what did I do with that roll of paper towels?