2011 Eelpout Festival

The 2011 Eelpout Festival is officially in the books and once again it was a good one.  This  Eelout festival was much different than years past due to several reasons.  First, the Cass County Sheriff's department closed Walker Bay to vehicle traffic from 8AM Friday to 1:30 PM Sunday.  Second, we had 58 degree temps on Wednesday leading up to the festival which melted ALL the snow on the lake.  Third, it got very cold and windy during the festival which always poses a problem for a few "camps" on the lake.  Lastly, our Camp which became known as Camp Northern Beer had a portable bar that ended up being not so portable, but became a huge hit for the thousands out Eelpouters that stopped by to visit.

Lets back up a little.  So the Sheriffs close the accesses and mere advertising of this fact deterred quite a few people from staying on the lake. I would estimate there was roughly 1/2 of the normal people on the ice.  However, the camps that did come did not disappoint and there was fun had by all.  The closings of accesses also made the town of Walker very busy as camps popped up all over town ready to celebrate.  I don't know that there was that many less people than normal, but there was less on the ice.

Do to the conditions Camp Northern Beer set up just outside the Chase on the Lake and I thank them for their Generosity is letting me set up so close to their bar.  Camp Northern Beer also took second in the first annual Eelpout Parade, something that we are planning to win next year!  The $200 second prize money got donated right back to the Chase on the Lake via a bar tab for the folks in Camp Northern Beer for all their hard work.

For those that did not make it to Eelpout, you missed a good time.  Lake travel ended up excellent as you could drive anywhere on the lake with the snow melt.  Rumor has it the perch and walleye fishing was excellent but the Pout were hard to come by.  I am really looking forward to next year as Camp Northern Beer has plans in the works for a bigger and better set-up and if the conditions allow we will be back out there again, just like years past.

Pictured above is a shot of Camp Northern Beer before the party got started and the portable Bar we used in the parade as well as in camp.  The portable bar quickly became an Eelpout festival favorite for many.  Thanks again to everyone that stopped by the try a Northern Beer and remember, if you want to be a Legend...Drink Northern!