A recent fishing trip brought three generations of Iolans together as part of a multiple day journey in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Although Devils Lake derives its name from the Minnewaukan phrase “Bad Spirit Water” the Bauer family seemed in high spirits throughout the trip.
“I’d get up at 5 and be ready by 5:30 a.m. I’d cook breakfast, and not just coffee and doughnuts,” said Don Bauer, a retired farmer. “We’d have scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage and bacon. We were out there from 7 a.m. and we’ll fish until noon.”
In a group composed of Bauer, his sons, grandsons and even the boyfriend of his granddaughter, the men took three boats out to the lake. With its water coming from a melted glacier, the lake hosts several sport fishing species including walleyes, perch, northern pike and white bass. Although limited in the number of fish they could keep each day, with their large group Bauer said fish fries filled their evenings as they spent time together under the night skies unblemished from light pollution.
“It was a good time, but unusual too. You get so scattered,” Bauer said. “It was so much fun. These guides fish every day and it’s relatively inexpensive. We left on a Friday and we were back home the following Wednesday evening. We split the cost of transportation and spent one night in Fargo.”
By the time they split the bill, including guides and boats, Bauer estimated the trip cost the group about $100 per person. Bauer said the cost was worth it because of the unique landscape Devils Lake offers due to its vast, unbroken surface area.
“It’s so big and flat, if it really gets windy it will run white caps out there,” Bauer said. “It’s all self-contained and runs about 300,000 acres. Sometimes we’d head in a little early if it got too rough, but most of the time it was nice.”
Although still riding a high from weeks on the water of a glacial lake, Bauer said what he will relish most is the time with his family. With sons spread across the United States, it’s not easy getting everyone together but after their trip to Devils Lake they hope to make their get-togethers an annual event.
“When the rest of the grandsons heard about it, they said ‘Man, we want to go,’” Bauer said. “Now, I have to schedule it. I’m pretty much retired, well, tired anyway. Most of them can get three or four days off.”
