Laird Lake Revisited

Hearing a report of Laird Lake freshly stocked with Rainbow trout proved too much to resist so we headed up. Yesterday saw a catch of ten beauties, nine average size and one lunker coming in at 19". It was exciting. Aside from the extreme water dog population (orange bellied salamanders) feasting on our worms it was a great day of catching. I personally thought it was the same darn water dogs coming back each time playing with us. They have no teeth and suck onto the worm. Pretty funny at first then just really annoying. Dinner was delicious pan fried trout. I learned how to pick them up and eat them right off the bones. Marshmallows roasted in the campfire for desert. All in all a great time except for the intellectually challenged guy who arrived late in the evening to fish, making noise and encroaching on our campsite, disturbing our serenity when there were other perfectly usable access points on the lake. Some people. . . at times I am embarrassed to be part of the human race. Fish bones and garbage were left behind by some other inconsiderate people. Bullet holes spattered the metal door of the pit toilet and graffiti paints the wall. So sad when people can't control their destructive impulses. Even with the human stain the beauty of the place shined through. The impressive Elk River laid out like a miniature Rouge River winding through the mountains. Wild blooming dogwood trees, azaleas and rhodies spotted the forest and fairy like wild iris in white, blues and yellows appeared as we traveled up the road. We had thunder and some rain that fell softly on the water. A variety of birds provided a melody. Frogs, buzzing insects and a cool breeze played along to the tune.