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August 2024

 

Lake Vermillion has always been a place of predictable magic, but this past August, it threw us a curveball. The heat was something else entirely—a relentless, humid blanket that felt hotter than any summer we've known up north. We arrived with high hopes and a serious miscalculation: not enough shorts for anyone. It was a week-long lesson in making do, a shared laugh every time pulled oput pant legs arounf to get some air. 

 

But if the weather was a surprise, the fishing was pure, unadulterated joy. We hit the water, and it was as if the fish were waiting for us. We were catching them quicker than we could even get our lines fully in the water. We reeled in one after another, and while most were "throwbacks" that we carefully released back into the lake, we kept a few for a memorable shore dinner. The fun and laughter of that day—and the sheer amount of bait we went through—is something none of us will ever forget.

 

What made it truly memorable, though, was our small act of rebellion. Growing up, we were taught: never, ever fish off the side of the boat. "You won't catch a thing," our parents would declare. So, naturally, we spent a good part of the day doing just that. And wouldn't you know it, we were pulling in fish left and right. There's a certain satisfaction in proving your elders wrong—in the best, most loving way possible. We were teaching the parentals something new, one caught fish at a time.

 

Looking back, the heat and the lack of proper attire fade away, but the laughter, the camaraderie, and the simple thrill of a day spent on the water with family remains. It's a reminder that sometimes the best fishing stories aren't about the biggest catch, but about the moments you share, the rules you break, and the memories you make.