Laker 3 - June 28, 2021

No. 3 June 28 – July 12, 2021

FREE

DISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF DEER LAKE P. 12A

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE BLAKE LAKES P. 2B

Also Included EMBRACE GOOD TIMES AT DEER LAKE WINERY WHAT’S THE SCOOP? MAKING OFF WITH MUSKELLUNGE

Sentinel Publications: Amery Free Press, Baldwin Bulletin, Burnett County Sentinel, Country Messenger & Osceola Sun

The Cargo Manifest Galley EMBRACE GOOD TIMES AT DEER LAKE WINERY

p. 3A

Riggings WHAT’S THE SCOOP?

p. 7A

DISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF DEER LAKE

p. 12A

Fishery MAKING OFF WITH MUSKELLUNGE

p. 4B

Shore Leave

p. 2B 2A

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

It’s nearly July, time to celebrate!

The Independence Day holiday is right around the corner. It’s a great time to gather with family and friends, enjoy some food and fireworks.

Inside this Laker, we have features on the Blake Lakes and Deer Lake. There’s a look at the Deer Lake Winery, a profile of the mighty musky, a story about everyone’s favorite treat, ice cream!

Happy Birthday, America! Be safe with the fireworks!

Four more Lakers before summer is done.

The publication dates are as follows:

Laker #4 Deadline: Wednesday, July 7, Delivery Date: Week of July 12 Laker #5 Deadline: Wednesday July 21, Delivery Date: Week of July 26 Laker #6 Deadline: Wednesday, Aug. 4, Delivery Date: Week of Aug. 9 Laker #7 Deadline: Wednesday, Aug. 18, Delivery Date: Week of Aug. 23

Port of Call

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE BLAKE LAKES

Celebrate at the lake

p. 10B

Fishers of Men p. 11B

Got a comment or a story idea?

Email us at polkcountylaker@ gmail.com

Enjoy the Laker, and your summer!

Tom Stangl, Publisher tstangl@theameryfreepress.com Cover photo courtesy of Deer Lake Facebook Page

SENTINEL

PU B L I C AT I O N S © 2021 The Laker is proudly published

by Sentinel Publications , carrying on from Ledger Publications

Galley

EMBRACE GOOD TIMES AT DEER LAKE WINERY

By Kelly Holm Cheryl Johnson of St. Croix Falls never envisioned herself opening a winery. As a chiropractor, she purchased a swath of farmland along Highway 8 six years ago with intentions of constructing a new office there for her practice. “[My current office] is sitting next to a junkyard, so I always wanted a different place,” Johnson said.

“We’ve [lived on Deer Lake] for almost 30 years, and we always wanted to purchase this property up here, which is 20 acres.

It wasn’t always in our minds to have a winery.”

Johnson and her husband Keith had long set their sights on the 20-acre plot of land, and had expressed interest in buying it from the previous owners, finally acquiring it from said owners’ children after their deaths.

“The guy that owned it, he lived next to us on the lake, and I think he was always going to do something with it, but he was too old to do anything, so he kind of let it go, and as a result it was in ruins,” Johnson said. “He never wanted to sell it. We’d ask him over and over and he’d always say no, and then he passed away. We asked his wife, and she always said no,

Contributed

Contributed Deer Lake Winery has embraced outdoor seating for several seasons.

and then she passed away, and then her kids went ‘yes!’”

The Johnsons cleared the property of trees, brush and rubble as they prepared for building, but the idea of a winery was fermenting inside Cheryl’s mind, as winemaking had long been a hobby of hers.

“I’ve been making wine for prob-

ably 18 years, just in our basement, and over the years so many people have said ‘you should sell this, ‘cause it’s really good’,” she said. “One day I thought, it would make more sense to have [a winery] here, and maybe attach it to my office, which was going to be the plan.”

By Memorial Day weekend,

2018, Deer Lake Winery had grown from an idea in Johnson’s brain to a reality. 20 growing acres are on the winery’s property, and Johnson also owns two back lots near her home where more vines are planted, as well as pear and apple trees. It took two years after the winery’s initial opening for it to be cleared by the federal government for Johnson to sell her own manufactured wines, but now 11

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Galley DEER LAKE WINERY | FROM 3A original varieties are for sale at 1721 US-8.

“One of them, that no one else I know makes, is a tomato wine,” Johnson said. “We grow all our tomatoes. We make tomato chili wine, which is a spicy wine. Right now we’re using that with our Bloody Marys. We can’t have vodka, so we use our tomato chili wine…

We also have tomato basil, and people buy it to drink, they buy it to cook with.”

Other Deer Lake wines are inspired by Johnson’s heritage. A grape peach wine is named after Johnson’s grandmother, who was from Norway. After she visited her grandmother’s birthplace a few years ago, she named two other wines— Steinar and Auden— after the cousins she stayed with during the trip. A white wine was dubbed Nordlys, after the Norwegian word for the Northern Lights.

But those are not the only connections that winemaking has to Johnson’s family. Johnson’s initial foray into the craft nearly two decades ago illuminated a link between her and a distant relative.

“When I first got my clippings and first planted our grapevines 18 years ago, I got them from a patient of mine, and he was growing his own grapes and goes ‘come over, I’ll give you some clippings and you can just start your own.’ I was like, ‘okay, I’ve never done this before, but I will,’ and so I did, and they

grew,” she shared. “I only realized just before [Deer Lake Winery] opened that those vines came from a relative of mine; his name was Elmer Swenson, and he developed all of the grapes in this whole area with the University of Minnesota, so he worked with them to develop all the vines so that they could live in this climate.”

Swenson named many of his grape varieties after towns in the area, like Osceola Muscat and Prairie Star, or staples of Germanic culture, like Edelweiss and Lorelei.

Now, a year after Deer Lake Winery was certified to sell its own wine and COVID-19 originally hit, the winery looks primed to blossom into its most promising chapter yet. They host local bands every Saturday night, and every other Sunday. The whole family, including dogs, is welcome to eat there. The Johnsons intend to erect a tasting room, meaning that the winery’s current main building will become exclusively for production, and Cheryl is planning to add rhubarb strawberry to the current list of 11 original wines.

“People say… they love it because it’s small and friendly, and it seems like our whole staff is, [too],” she said. “If I could go back years ago, I would never, ever have thought myself doing something like this… it’s so different from being a chiropractor.” ■

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Contributed A total of 11 original wines will be expanded this year.

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Riggings

WHAT’S THE SCOOP? GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL ICE CREAM PARLORS

By Kelly Holm It’s a hot day— maybe you’ve been out on the lake all morning, maybe you went to see the Fourth of July parade in town. Either way, you could really go for a huge ice cream cone to cool you down. But what flavor should you choose? Here, two local ice cream parlors will offer you the scoop about the best scoops— and themselves.

Shannon Donaghue has operated Valley Sweets in St. Croix Falls for six years, where she sells candy, homemade chocolates and of course, two dozen flavors of ice cream. Opening such a business was a fairly spur-of-the-moment choice for her: she had recently vacated her position in event planning to be a stay-at-home mom when, in November 2014, her husband Mike, who worked in the

Contributed We all “scream” for ice cream in summertime.

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“We were visiting Mike’s mom, CONTINUED ON 11A

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

Riggings ICE CREAM | FROM 7A and he was eating a gummy worm,” Shannon recalled. “His mom says, ‘you like candy, why don’t you open up a candy shop?’”

Though the Donaghues had no prior experience running such an establishment, they managed to get Valley Sweets up and running within six weeks.

Shannon learned how to make chocolate from watching YouTube videos, and rented a space at 133 North Washington Street, which Valley Sweets bought 18 months later.

Valley Sweets acquires its ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe company, another family-owned enterprise based out of Madison, which boasts over 120 flavors to choose from. Among the 24 that Valley Sweets carries, the most popular ones include peanut butter cookie dough, carrot mango Italian ice, and “This Just Got Serious,” which consists of sea salt caramel ice cream with fudge ruffles.

“In the summer, we have a lemon meringue, that has a lemon curd swirled into lemon ice cream,” Shannon said.

Meanwhile, Ellie’s Ice Cream & Coffee in Amery is trying to make do with

said. “Some of our featured flavors we only get once a year, and it’s only a limited amount, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.”

Right now, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Cocoa Craze are the Cedar Crest featured flavors available at Ellie’s. 16 flavors are offered at any given time, with classics like chocolate and vanilla served alongside limited-edition flavors and sherbert or sorbet, and of course, a doggie dish for your four-legged friend. “[Ellie’s is] a gathering place, whether it’s over a 5-cent cup of coffee, or just to come in and have a junior dish or cone,” Amy Jo said. ■ Contributed An old fashioned counter and tin celing tiles add to the ambience at Ellie’s Ice Cream Parlor in Amery.

the extensive renovations on Main Street.

“With times and changes, we’ve had to roll with the punches, and obviously this year’s challenge is the road construction out front,” manager Amy Jo said.

Luckily, customers are eager to get back to Ellie’s after months of COVID-19 restrictions, and there are plenty of enticing flavors to create a draw. Fan favorites include Caramel

Collision, Mackinac Fudge and, especially among the elementary-school crowd, Superman: red, yellow, and blue ice cream swirled together.

“It kind of tastes like summer, it’s that fruity flavor,” Amy Jo said of the latter.

Another notable concoction is Wisconsin Campfire S’more. Inspired by the quintessential campfire treat, this flavor was created a few years ago by a New Richmond 4H

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The unique shoreline stretches 65 miles and the lake is dotted with picturesque islands and bays. Fine Dining and casual eateries abound and over 50 businesses provide a vast array of services.

team, and won the Ice Cream Flavor Creation Contest held by supplier Cedar Crest. As a grand-prize winner, Wisconsin Campfire S’more was initially intended to be a limited-edition featured flavor, but was soon promoted to permanent status as it sold so quickly.

“It was one of our Contributed fastest-selling featured Valley Sweets has 24 flavors of ice flavors ever,” Amy Jo cream.

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Port of Call

DISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF DEER LAKE

By Kelly Holm Maybe you’ve glimpsed it through the trees while driving along Highway 8 between St. Croix Falls and Balsam Lake. But have you ever gotten a close look at the water itself? Encompassing 786 acres, with a maximum depth of 46 feet, Deer Lake is a clear, beautiful body of water that is home to large populations of musky, panfish, bass, pike and walleye, not to mention a plethora of plant life. Wide varieties of ferns, grasses, flowers and trees grow along the lake.

Unfortunately, zebra mussels seem to have taken up residence here, too, the invasive mollusks having first been spotted in Deer Lake in 2020.

“Last year was the first year [that zebra mussels were spotted in Deer Lake]... they discovered them when someone was taking out their dock, they saw them on their dock,” said Renee Graves, the president of the Deer Lake Improvement Association.

“The good thing is, we aren’t seeing them all over, or multiplying all over, so hopefully our lake is not liking them.”

Contributed Among the beautiful sights at Deer Lake are wonderful sunsets.

Graves says she and her husband have not personally seen any zebra mussels in Deer Lake, and neither have other members on the Association’s board.

“How they get here, we can assume that it would be from a boat,” she said.

“We haven’t done any kind

of treatments as of yet, it’s so new and we’re just observing the spread, to see if the spread is happening… right now, it seems like it’s pretty localized, so we’re hoping they won’t survive in our lake.”

To combat invasive species such as the zebra mussel, the Associa-

tion maintains an active Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer and internship program. Boaters are met by greeters at public boat landings, and are asked questions in order to be given the all-clear to enter Deer Lake’s waters.

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questions, [like] have they been on any other lakes in the last five days, making sure their wells are empty,” Graves said.

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Port of Call DEER LAKE | FROM 12A dences around the lake, Graves says about 290 are dues-paying members of the Association, and she intends to poll at the annual meeting on July 10 how many of these residents live at Deer Lake full-time.

Graves was a seasonal resident of Polk County many years ago, and owned a cabin along the shore of Big Blake Lake. She was drawn to Deer Lake for its brilliant water quality, however, and in 2017 she left the Twin Cities south metro for a cabin along Deer Lake, where she now lives full-time.

“The water is so beautiful and clear, and great for swimming and water sports. We just love pontooning around it,” Graves said. ■

The Ropes DNR SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP TO PREVENT SPREADING INVASIVE SPECIES MADISON, Wis. – June is Invasive Species Action Month, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking Wisconsinites and visitors to take simple precautions to avoid spreading invasive, nonnative plants and animals in our woods, waters and land year-round.

Invasive species are nonnative plants, animals and diseases that cause great ecological, environmental or economic harm. Some have already been found in Wisconsin, while others pose a large risk of surviving and causing problems if they are introduced and become established here.

The state’s invasive species rule (ch. NR 40, Wis. Adm. Code) makes it illegal to possess, transport, transfer or introduce certain invasive species in Wisconsin without a permit. The regulations designate which species are Restricted or Prohibited based on factors including the degree of harm they may cause to people, the native ecology or the economy.

How You Can Help Contributed The fireworks on July 4 are wonderful seen from the lake.

To prevent the establishment and spread of invasives, the DNR offers the following tips:

• Hikers and campers should clean mud and dirt off their shoes and remove seeds and burs from their clothing before visiting other places. Taking these simple steps can prevent inadvertently moving invasive plants to new areas via seeds that may be on clothing or in the mud or dirt.

• Firewood is a significant pathway for the movement of many invasive insects and pathogens such as emerald ash borer, gypsy moth and oak wilt disease. To help protect the state’s trees where you live, play or camp, use local firewood to avoid moving pests to new places.

• Anglers and boaters can help protect vulnerable areas from aquatic invasives such as quagga and zebra mussels, Eurasian water-milfoil, New Zealand mudsnails and Asian clams by cleaning recreational equipment and gear after every use. Inspect gear for dirt, mud, seeds and other debris and remove as much as possible.

• Drain all water from gear before leaving a site and wash it with 140-degree water or steam to remove invasives too small to see.

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• Gardeners can also look for and remove potential problem plants, including purple loosestrife, hairy willow herb, butterfly dock, yellow iris, nonnative phragmites (common reed), lesser celandine, water hyacinth, water lettuce and frogbit.

Invasive Species Action Month is promoted by the Wisconsin Invasive Species Council, which the Wisconsin Legislature created to assist the DNR in establishing a statewide program to control invasive species. The Council is now assessing species currently regulated and additional species that might be considered for future regulation.

Visit the DNR’s invasive species webpages to learn more ways to prevent invasive species from establishing in Wisconsin.

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FRI, JULY 9 6 PM - 8 PM Kids “Olden Day” Games (3-legged race, jump rope, volleyball, etc.) by the Gandy Dancer Rest Stop 7 PM Meat Raffle hosted by Glass Bar 7 PM First Pitch Thrown to start Ball Tournament - Contact Matt 612-3088885 8 PM - 12 AM Band Trailer on Main Street Master Mixer and KJ Ryan Hall

SAT, JULY 10 7:30 AM 5K Milk Run @ Park - Contact Jeanne 715-553-2488.

9 AM - 1 PM Book Sale @ Library - Contact Centuria Public Library 715-646-2630 9 AM - 3 PM Art, Craft & Trade Show on Main Street - Contact Jovan 715-5014460 10 AM Toilet Bowl Races West of Park Contact Jeanne 715-553-2488 12 PM - 1 PM Scavenger Hunt meets at Library 12 PM - 1 PM Bone Stock Lawn Mower Drag

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’s

Races - Polk Ave between 3rd & 4th Street - Contact Jake 715-294-0152 12 PM - ? Corn Hole Tournament - Contact Damian 715-768-3412. Registration at 11:30 am.

1 PM Woodchip Pile on Main Street. Kids come dig for prizes!

1 PM - 8 PM Medallion Hunt Clues posted every hour @ Library 1 PM - 4 PM Old Time Carnival Games by Gandy Rest Stop 2 PM 5J’s 6th Annual Power Tool Drag Race on Main Street. Registration at 1:30 pm - Contact Craig 715-497-2967 4 PM Music featuring Local Musicians at Joy Lutheran with pie and ice cream to follow 5 PM Pet Show on corner of 4th Street & Polk Avenue 5 - 8 PM Phancy Face Painting and Party Entertainment 7 PM Meat Raffle Hosted by Glass Bar 8 PM - 12 AM DJ Mike Halstrom @ McKenzie Lanes 9 PM - 1 AM Street Dance on Main Street with music by Creeping Charlie 10 PM (DARK) Fireworks

SUN, JULY 11 10 AM - 12 PM More Medallion Hunt Clues posted on the hour @ Library (unless already found)

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14A

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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10 AM Antique Tractor Show by Gandy Dancer Trail and Main Street - Contact Jeanne 715-553-2488 10 AM - 3 PM Pony Rides across from Gandy Dancer rest stop 11 AM Queen’s Tea @ Polk-Burnett 11 AM - 1 PM Pulled Pork Dinner @ Joy Lutheran 1 - 4 PM Old Time Carnival Games by Gandy Rest Stop 1 PM Bike Safety with Police Chief Eric by Gandy Dancer Rest Stop 1:30 PM Grand Parade - Grand Marshall Judy 7 Neal Jepsen. Line up at 1 pm FOLLOWING PARADE Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull, west end of Main Street 5 PM Memory Days Raffle Drawing @ Library - $300 Grand Prize

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JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021 | THE LAKER

15A

“Installing & Maintaining Sustainable Landscapes”

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16A

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

No. 3 June 28 – July 12, 2021

LAKE R

FREE

Section B

Photo courtesy of Deer Lake Facebook Page

Sentinel Publications: Amery Free Press, Baldwin Bulletin, Burnett County Sentinel, Country Messenger & Osceola Sun

Port of Call

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE BLAKE LAKES

By Kelly Holm Within the Polk County town of Georgetown, you’ll find two lakes, one larger than the other, connected by an inlet: Big Blake Lake and Little Blake Lake. With shallow depths and an abundance of plant life, these lakes are perfect for a casual afternoon out on the boat, perhaps even with some fishing thrown in: panfish, largemouth bass, musky and northern pike are all common or present here.

If you’re dreaming of a cabin, but don’t want a lake that is too busy with watersports, the Blake Lakes might be interesting to check out.

Like many other lakes in Polk and Burnett counties, 37 in Polk County alone, Big Blake Lake suffers from curly leaf pondweed, an invasive species. The Blake Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District aims to combat the issue through harvesting.

“They harvest that species every year,” said Katelin Anderson, Polk County’s Information and Education Coordinator and Water Quality Specialist. “They do have other

plants that kind of cause nuisance conditions, just ‘cause of their growth, so they are able to harvest for those as well.”

Other invasive species the Protection and Rehabilitation District has identified in Big Blake Lake are the banded mystery snail and the Chinese mystery snail, two small snail species that measure between 0.5 and 2 inches long and are identified by their olivegreen-to-brown shells. Banded mystery snails have a handful of red spiral bands on their shells, while Chinese mystery snails do not. Eurasian milfoil and zebra mussels are considered a threat, as they have been found in other area lakes.

The District operates a Clean Boats, Clean Waters program to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, conducting free boat inspections at both of Big Blake Lake’s public landing sites and educating boaters about ecological threats to the lake.

Another issue that the District and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have recently tack-

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2B

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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“They’re one of our more active lakes in terms of trying to get the shoreline back to a natural state… just planting native vegetation right along the shoreline,” Anderson said. As for erosion, “[Polk County] has helped them with this in the past, I think they’re having a private consultant do it now. [We] basically [went out and did] a site visit, meeting with the landowner and talking about concerns for their property, do they notice erosion on their property… any way to kind of slow the water entry in the lake. If you have rain gutters on your roof, you can direct that rainwater to a depressional area, like a rain garden or an infiltration pit.”

Big Blake Lake is accessible by boat on its north and east sides, the latter of which is considered ideal for ice fishing. After a long day out on the water, one can enjoy an evening at Sherrards Resort, AKA Luke’s Sunny Saloon.

“The lake sets goals for what they want to focus on, and what they want to do moving forward,” Anderson said. “Their number one goal is to reduce nuisance algae and plant growth.” ■

Big Blake Lake Facebook page Boaters are able to enjoy Big Blake Lake.

Big Blake Lake She rar dD r

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Produced by the Big Blake Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District.

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

3B

Fishery

MAKING OFF WITH MUSKELLUNGE

By Kelly Holm Yep, that’s the musky’s full name. These guys have been Wisconsin’s state fish since 1955, and for good reason, too: the Badger State is the capital of the world when it comes to catching record-breaking muskies. The record for the world’s largest musky has been broken many times over in Northern Wisconsin’s waters, like the Chippewa Flowage and Hayward’s Lac Courte Oreilles.

So if you want to achieve such status and earn your place in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, what is there to know about these members of the pike family?

Here’s an overview to help you launch such prestige.

Identification Facts As adults, muskies appear grey, green and gold, and average at about 30 inches long, with more than 50 inches and 40 pounds considered trophy size. Muskies are part of the pike family, so they share a lot of characteristics with their northern pike cousins, and the two can even interbreed.

Lined up side by side, however, there are notable differences between the species.

Muskies’ forked tails are distinctly sharp and pointed, while the northern pike has a more rounded tail. And while the pike’s markings are lighter in color than their bluegreen bodies, a musky’s markings will always be darker than its

Illustration by Virgil Beck

body, and more sporadic: while a northern pike is marked with spots, muskies might have spots or bars or perhaps no pattern at all.

Both species have pores underneath their jaws, and scales on their faces, but a musky has fewer scales and more pores (6 to 9) while a pike has more scales and fewer pores (4 to 5). The offspring of the female musky and male northern pike is known as the tiger musky. They generally have dark bodies and light stripes, spotted round tails and fins, and a median amount of face scales and pores (5 to 7).

lakes in Polk being Wapogasset, Cedar and Bone lakes and the largest in Burnett being Yellow and McKenzie lakes.

If you’re after a record-shattering musky, a lake where the species is only listed as “present” rather than “common” or “abundant” may be your best bet: typically, trophy muskies are more likely to be captured in waters with lower musky populations. Such lakes will be deep, wide and clear, and abundant in common musky prey like ciscoes and suckers. If you just want to catch one and aren’t too concerned with size, try shallower, reedier lakes.

Where to find muskellunge

When to find muskellunge

Muskies are by no means the most common fish in Polk and Burnett counties, but are still present and abundant in a handful of lakes here, with the largest musky

Muskies usually spawn in April and May, with open season kicking off in the latter month and ending in late autumn. You’re likely to have the highest success

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If you’re on a busy lake, nighttime can be even better.

How to catch muskellunge Artificial lures that are five to ten feet in length are said to be the best for reeling in a musky, and long casts are less likely to scare away the fish, especially if the boat is drifting or motoring softly.

Bucktails are considered ideal lures. However, crankbaits and spinners are also solid bets, the former being particularly efficient for trolling.

For more information on muskellunge, check out the Wisconsin DNR. ■

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4B

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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The Ropes

‘BRIGHT DAY, BRIGHT FLY”’

By C.L. Sill Failure is my most loyal companion.

It may seem like I write about failure almost too much, but I can assure you I’m not turning up the dial for the sake of a story — I really am quite miserable at most things.

We used to watch an old timey woodworking show on PBS when I was a kid. The host made intricate furniture and other knickknacks with vintage hand tools.

Without fail, he would either screw something up or cut himself in almost every episode. It was comedy gold. The guy wasn’t putting on a show for anybody, he just really was that clumsy. Dad, Dan and I would sit on the couch on Saturday morning rolling with laughter as he bled on his 19th century inspired rocking chair. Failure is always funny, unless someone is getting seriously hurt.

I’ve always struggled to catch trout in this part of Wisconsin. Actually the state as a whole gives me the slip on a regular basis, and I’m not sure why. I’d consider myself an experienced fisherman and have been quite successful with a fly rod in other parts of the country. But for whatever reason I can’t translate that to the rivers around my house. Thus I’ve resorted to combining my fishing ventures with other activities, so I have an excuse when Erin asks if I caught anything.

“How was fishing?”

“OK” “Catch anything?”

“Eh, I wasn’t really fishing too hard, I just went so the dogs

could get some exercise.”

That’s typically not a complete lie. You’d think it would be the opposite, but there’s a direct correlation between the time since I last caught a trout and my lack of ambition to do so. Longer it’s been, lazier I get.

I headed down to the Kinni on a Friday afternoon a couple weeks ago to run the dogs and decided last minute to bring a rod along (excuse activated). I didn’t even bother to put my waders on, opting instead for my shin-high muck boots. It was one of the first warm days of the year — bright sun, no wind and no one else in the parking lot. As I walked down the trail I decided today was the day I’d quit pussyfooting around and actually fish hard.

“Bright day, bright fly,” I said.

I tied on a flashy olive streamer, figuring the water had warmed enough for the trout to be in attack mode. The muck boots limited my wading ability, but I still had plenty of fishable territory. I tiptoed my way into the river and started swinging the fly through a stretch of shallow ripples that had proven productive in the past.

I fished that run and a slower stretch downstream for about two hours with a few hits, but no fish. My lack of waders became continually more annoying as I tried to reach the undercut bank on the opposite side of the river.

I was pushing the boundaries of the muck boots, creeping out further and further into the current until the water was lapping at their tops. Slightly frustrated but impressed with my tightrope wading

abilities, I headed upstream and stopped at one last run as afternoon turned to evening.

In this spot the river makes a lazy turn to the south and cuts a deep, dark hole on the western bank. On my side there was a sharp drop off with a trough of deeper water close to the bank, followed by a very shallow sand bar further out into the river. I skirted around the trough using some shallow water just downstream and made my way to the sand bar. Standing in ankle deep water, I started casting into the hole.

No trout materialized, so I worked my way down to the end of the hole, casting where the water shallowed and sped up before entering a long rocky section of mini rapids. At the end of my second or third cast, I got what some hip fly fisherman might call “blown up.”

A swirl of water broke the surface like the jets turning on in a hot tub and I saw a golden brown slab roll over in the middle of it.

I’ll say now that the Kinnickinnic River is not known for the size of its trout. This may not mean much coming from the worst fly fisherman on the Kinni, but in half a decade I’ve never caught a fish over 12” on that river. However, I have caught some large brown trout on other rivers. Big browns have a slow, rhythmic, almost methodical headshake. They’re the exact opposite of their spastic rainbow compatriots, and the fight they put up is very recognizable.

I could tell instantly this was a trophy-sized fish, one that would’ve been impressive in any river, let

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alone the Kinni. I’d endured five years of miserable failure at the hands of this abominable stream and it was finally my day — redemption.

He took off upstream for deeper water and I thought, “Do I have my camera?”

Just as the answer, “yes,” popped into my head, he changed his mind, flipped his head down stream and spit the fly out like a bad pistachio.

I couldn’t be mad. Any interaction with a fish that size is special, and even without bringing him to hand that was more action than I’d had on that river in a long time.

Plus, failure is always funny right?

I chuckled, turned to shore, walked right into the trough of knee-deep water and filled my muck boots to the brim.

Failure is always funny — in retrospect. ■

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(715) 825-4497 THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

5B

The Laker is published 7 times during the summer Week of May 24 • Week of June 14 • Week of June 28 Week of July 12 • Week of July 26 • Week of Aug. 9 • Week of Aug. 23

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6B

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

7B

The Ropes

IN THE ZONE The Tap Architecture Team Just like no two fingerprints are alike, the same could be said about cabins and the properties they rest upon. Each cabin has a unique history and story to tell. With countless family gatherings that span generations the cabin not only provides shelter but a communal space for life experiences.

Determining the condition of the cabin was discussed in our previous article “Our Cabin-Remodel or Rebuild” and is a critical step in assessing your options. However, that alone might not be the only consideration when trying to determine to remodel or rebuild.

Zoning ordinances, regulations and local building codes are an immense topic and play a vital role in almost any construction project. We can’t begin to cover all aspects of regulations one might encounter

Metro Creative Connection Zoning ordinancces must be considered before making changes to your lake property.

because each municipality has their own ordinances with a variety of limits and exceptions. However, we will try to cover key topics you will encounter relating to your remodel or rebuild project.

What zoning district the property is classified under will determine the majority of regulations one will need to conform with. Existing cabins can be considered a dwelling or possibly an accessory structure depending on what amenities they contain. Also, when the cabin was originally built might determine if it will be considered conforming or nonconforming with current regulations. Since many cabins were built prior to current rules and regulations, they could likely not be conforming to present day standards. However, they might be considered exempt or “grandfathered in” regarding some of the current regulations.

The size or area of your

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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The Ropes property (lot size) is an important feature in assessing what limits might be imposed on your property. Green space requirements are typically considered surfaces that are permeable, the ability to allow moisture through like lawns or vegetative growth. Impervious surfaces are the opposite or the inability to allow moisture through like buildings, paved areas and in some instance’s decks. The size of impervious area is typically a percentage of your total lot size area. Hence the larger the lot size the larger the buildable area. This can play a critical role in the size of your addition to the existing cabin or a new cabin. Furthermore, the number of dwellings on a lot (density requirements) can also be a directly determined by lot size.

Setbacks from the property lines are also a crucial factor in determining not only building placement but also how it might relate to site lines and other amenities your lot might offer. Typical setbacks include all four sides of your property (front, back and

sides) however lake properties also have what is call an Ordinary High-Water Mark (OHWM) setback.

These distance requirements usually are different for both the dwelling structure and the accessory structure. There might be additional types of setbacks requirements however these are foremost in most instances.

Another important regulation is the building height. This will limit the overall height of your remodel, addition, or new cabin. Also be sure to understand how the local ordinances define building height.

Different municipalities can have different methods in determining building height that can have significant impact on design.

There are additional ordinances that will factor into a remodel or new cabin project however these are a few primary topics when considering your options. A thorough zoning review during the Project Programming or Pre-Design phase can identify those options and assist in determining the best course of action to take, whether to remodel or rebuild. ■

Metro Creative Connection Some planning can make sure your cabin rennovation will go off without a hitch.

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715-825-3550 • 800-657-4754 THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

9B

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10B

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THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

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715-472-2939

Visit our Facebook page and our website for daily updates on special pricing and more!

www.luckgolfcourse.com

Jeneç’s Main Dish 219 S Main St. Luck, WI 54853 715-472-2378 Open M-F 7a-3p Sat 6a-3p Sun 6a-2p

Casting Lines BALSAM LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

CEDAR LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

Annual meeting Saturday, July 17, 10 AM at Half Moon Lake Beach

Annual meeting Saturday, July 17, 8:30 AM at Unity Schools Performing Arts Center

Annual meeting Saturday, August 7, 9 AM at Star Prairie Town Hall

HORSESHOE LAKE/PUBLIC INLAND LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

BIG ROUND LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT Board meeting Thursday, July 15, 8 PM on Webex Annual meeting Saturday, August 14, 9AM at Brow Tine Restaurant

BIG WOOD LAKE ASSOCIATION Flare display Saturday, July 3, 9:30 PM Flotilla & Boat Decorating Contest Sunday, July 4, 2 PM behind Jacobson Island Fall membership meeting Saturday, August 28, 8:15 AM at Luther Point

BIRCH ISLAND LAKE ASSOCIATION Fall meeting Saturday, September 4, 9 AM Location TBD

BLAKE LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT Boat Parade Sunday, July 4, 4 PM at Sherrard’s Resort/Luke’s Sunny Saloon Annual meeting Saturday, August 21, 9 AM at Georgetown Lutheran Church

CHURCH PINE/ROUND/ BIG LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

Boat Parade Sunday, July 4, 2 PM at old swimming beach

Boat Parade Sunday, July 4, 12 PM at LOVELESS LAKE ASSOCIATION Church Pine Lake Annual meeting Saturday, August 28, 8:30 Boat Parade Sunday, July 4, 12 PM at Loveless Lake Landing AM at West Immanuel Lutheran Church Annual picnic Saturday, August 14, 1 PM at Loveless Lake Landing DEER LAKE IMPROVEMENT

ASSOCIATION Fireworks Friday, July 2, 10 PM at Hungerford Point Light Up The Lake Saturday, July 3, 10 PM at Hungerford Point Music On The Lake Sunday, July 4, 7 PM at Hungerford Point Pontoon Party Friday, July 9, 6 PM at Hungerford Point Annual meeting Saturday, July 10, 9 AM Virtual (more info to come on website)

HALF MOON LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT

PIPE & NORTH PIPE LAKE PROTECTION & REHABILITATION DISTRICT Commission meeting Saturday, August 7, 9 AM Location TBD Annual meeting Saturday, September 4, 9 AM Location TBD

WHITE ASH LAKE DISTRICT Annual meeting Saturday, July 17, Time TBD, White Ash Lake District Building

Boat Parade Sunday, July 4, 2 PM at Breezy Bay Fireworks Sunday, July 4, Dusk at public beach

Fishers of Men East Balsam Baptist Church Sunday Worship 9:00 A.M. Join us in person or online at www.eastbalsam.org

Faith Lutheran Church Sunday Worship 9:30 am

Pastor Diane Norstad 715-485-3800 County Road I and Mill Street, Balsam Lake

A hearty Welcome - Come as you are!

Georgetown Lutheran Church Sunday Services 10:30 am

715-857-5580 887 190th Ave., Co. Rd. G

East of Milltown & Balsam Lake Pastor Diane House • Fully Accessible www.georgetownlutheran.net

Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook live @Georgetown Lutheran Church, Balsam Lake Communion First,Third and Fifth Sunday of the Month

715-857-5411 contact@eastbalsam.org

1816 - 108th St./Co. Rd. I Balsam Lake, WI

Fully Accessible

Come & Worship With Us

Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church 507 Main Street Balsam Lake (715) 405-2245

Saturday Mass 6:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass 8:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Catholic Church 1050 Keller Ave. N. Amery (715) 268-7717

Saturday Mass 4:00 p.m.

Sunday Mass 10:30 a.m.

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021

11B

TREE & MULCH SALE

& GARDEN CENTER

Tree Sale 12’ River Birch Clumps 10’-12’ Autumn Blaze Sugar Maple 6’-7’ Black Hills Spruce

We Will Customize Your Outdoor Living Space Patio Installations & Fire Pits Regaining Walls Terrace Steps Outdoor Living Improvements Soothing Water Features Lighted Pathways Paver Walkways

Additional Services Include 4-Season Maintenance Shoreline Rip-Rap & Restoration Hydro-Seeding Trees and Shrubs Bulk Landscape Supplies Rain Gardens

Milltown VFW 200th Avenue

Hwy. #46

Give us a call or send us an email for more information & a free quote 715-554-0618 • info@lakesidelandscaping.com

LakeSide Landscaping Balsam Lake

12B

LANDSCAPE SERVICES Greg 715-554-0618 Nick 715-554-1278 Chad 715-554-2895 Located 3 Miles north of Balsam Lake, east of the VFW on 200th Avenue just off Hwy. #46

THE LAKER | JUNE 28 – JULY 12, 2021