Carlin Lake Association

Not too early to think summer

When the temperature outdoors hovers around zero all day, it's a little hard to remember hot days with the sun sparkling across the lake.   Here's an excuse to "think summer" on this cold winter day.

Judy Ruch informs us, on behalf of the Presque Isle Township Lakes' Committee, that the DNR grant for study of local lakes has been approved, and that one of the lakes which will be studied this summer is Carlin Lake.

Our own water quality committee did a preliminary study of plant life a couple of summers ago, and found no evidence of invasive species.   This new, official, funded study will hopefully come to the same conclusion--that our lake is still free of invasives.

The formal study will make us eligible to apply for clean-up funding any time in the future, if Carlin would ever find that invasives had been introduced.  I believe, however, that we all continue to do our best to make sure this would never, ever happen, with careful cleaning of boats and trailers brought from other bodies of water.

 

Now that's a big fish!

Last summer, we saw some pictures of big walleye and bass caught on Carlin Lake.

But, Chuck and Karen Hayes tell about a fishing trip that none of us could match, I think, a trip their son Erik and daughter-in-law Lisa took to St. Maartin this winter.

The first day, Erik caught a beautiful mahi mahi, one of their goals of the trip, and enjoyed a great dinner.   The next day, Erik was delighted to catch a 60 pound sailfish, a fish he called the "catch of a lifetime."

That wasn't the end of the trip, though.  With his guides, Erik was able to help land a 350 pound blue marlin, which took four adults to haul it in.  It sounds like something out of Old Man and the Sea to me, and bigger than I can visualize.  

Of course, fishing at Carlin Lake is great too.  I wonder if any ice fishermen have been successful yet this winter---I haven't heard any reports.

"Story of Edgar Sawtelle"

 

We should have a great discussion at our February book club discussion--Tuesday, February 2nd at Ann Swift's at 9:00 am.   And, it's a first book by a Wisconsin author, making it more interesting.

Edgar Sawtelle seems to be a book that most people love, but others haven't liked it all that much!   It definitely has been controversial, and you might want to click here for some of the differing reviews before our meeting on the 2nd.

(Had it occurred to you that the plot mirrors that of Hamlet, as some reviewers suggest?   An uncle marries his brother's widow, and begins to control everything, as young son agonizes over the situation.)

Wisconsin Lakes Association workshop

Are you going to be in the Waukesha area on February 13th?  If so, you may be interested in a workshop that day, "Changing Lakes, Changing Policy," sponsored by the the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, of which the Carlin Lake Association is a member.  The program will be held at Waukesha County Technical College and begins at 8:30 am.

Many of the sessions that day sound interesting to me, but a couple sound most pertinent to us:  one on "Changing Lake Levels," by a hydrologist from the US Geological Survey, and another on "Sustaining Healthy Fisheries in our Lakes" by a fisheries supervisor from the DNR. 

http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/events.html 

If you would like to know more, click on the link above for the complete agenda and registration information.

Happy birthday

Do you recognize this cute little guy and handsome fellow?   One hint---he spends a lot of time at Carlin Lake, and will be turning 70 years old next week on January 27th.

Richard Straus' family had a grand party for him earlier this month, before he and Sue left for a couple of months in Florida.  Dick was joined by lots of long-time friends, who enjoyed all of his favorite foods---meat loaf, hot dogs, tuna-noodle casserole, and potato salad.

 

And, here you see Dick the way we know him, the guy who knows how to have a good time!  When could he be happier, than with a grandchild and a big fish?

If you run into a funny card that might give Dick a smile, you can reach him and Sue at:

430 Palm Tree Drive, Bradenton FL 34210

Have a great day, Dick, and many happy returns!   And, thanks to Ted Straus for sharing great photos.

Friends in Portugal

Many acquaintances from "down south" think all of us up here in the woods are totally isolated, that we never get out, and that we are suffering through a cabin-fevery January! 

Well, here's evidence to the contrary---a photo of Bill and Jeanne Huemann with Jerry and Char Glashagel having fun in Portugal.  I think it's interesting that two Carlin couples had a January trip planned to nearly the same European location, Jerry and Char with their long-time friends Bev and Bob Anderson, and the Huemanns to visit their son John who's playing professional basketball there. 

They cheered all through the game at Benfica Stadium in a Lisbon suburb, as John's team, the AD Vagos, played the top team in the league.  The Vagos led the entire game, and just lost in the last 2 seconds, with John being named MVP of the game.

Jeanne and Char each report in emails that they have had great trips, and really enjoyed getting to spend time together that far from home.   Thanks for passing on these photos, Char!  (As always, click to enlarge.)

Memorial gathering this weekend

Patty Vopenka asks me to let you know that she is having a memorial for her husband Bob this weekend at the Carlin Lodge.

She invites us all to the service on Sunday noon, January 24th.  Eulogies will be begin at 12:00, and will be followed by a light reception till 3:00 pm.

I know we all have had Patty in our thoughts and are glad to know about this Up North recognition of Bob's life, too.

Nearly snowless January

When you go to Gail Speer's Presque Isle weather site, have you clicked on the link to "Presque Isle Snow Information?"   Her charts there show new snowfall received, day by day, as well as total snow presently on the ground.

http://home.centurytel.net/presque-isle-weather

And, when you go to the bottom of that page, you will see a link to "Yearly Comparison of Snow History."    I like to compare our total snowfall and our snow depths for this year with the last four years, information Gail has there in very clear graph form. 

I know we've had hardly  4" of snow since Christmas, but I didn't realize how much less snow we have had so far this winter than last year at this time.   This winter:  about 38" of new snow.   Last winter by this date:  66" of new snow. 

And, none is in the forecast for the rest of this week, either.

Maybe that means February and March will be whoppers??   We will see, but I do enjoy following Gail's snow data, and comparing to the last few year's.

Younger generation

The second generation of Carlin Lakers was also well represented at the annual holiday party, but I don't have as many photos of the the "kids" who were present as I wish I did.   

It is always fun to meet and re-meet people's kids and grandkids at this party.  They certainly add to everyone's energy and fun.

Here you see part of the Brewer family, granddaughter Kelly 16, with aunt Amy and mom Laurie.    

"Once a teacher, always a teacher" Judy Ruch spent some time with cute grandkids in the basement playroom.

 

 And, because I didn't get a good picture of newlyweds Kelly and Tom McKenna, daughter and son-in-law of Connie and Joe Weber, Connie obliged me by emailing a photo of this cute couple.

(If you left a purple and beige patchwork bag at Glashagels, I have it here.   Please let me know who to return it to, before I become too attached to it.)

January

 

These days of January, from the 15th to the 20th, are on average the coldest of the winter, John Bates tells us.  The average high is 18 degrees and the average low is minus one.

But, isn't there a tradition of a "January thaw," too?  Maybe that is what we are having toward the end of this week, with highs above freezing and lows around 20 degrees. (Prediction for Saturday is sunny and 38 degrees!) 

 For those of us who like doing things outdoors, we don't have enough snow to waste.  So, we will enjoy these warmer temps, but also don't want to see our snow base disappear.

John Bates also writes that now we have started gaining a minute of daylight nearly every morning, so the optimists among us can already start thinking spring!