King Salmon Fishing - Sturgeon Bay, WI

On Friday July 1, 2011 at 8:30am we left for Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. We stayed at the newly re-opened Leathem Smith Lodge right on Memorial Drive accross from the boating docks. Each way the trip was 343.5 miles.. We rented a 15 passenger van for all 9 of us.. The ride was.. well... it was ok but it could have been better had we had a little more room or not as much SHIT! Haha!

Friday we stopped at The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. (Leinie Lodge) for the plant tour and some free beer. They didnt allow cameras inside during the tour so no pictures.. It was hot as hot could be that day.. Miserbale really.. Especially remembering that I was still sore from surgery and my stomach was swollen not only from surgery but from the heat as well. Plus I am not a beer fan and I was on narcotics so I couldnt and wouldnt try the beer.. I gave away my tickets and ended up wandering around the shoppe.

A couple of hours after we left the tour we ended up in Wasau for some lunch... Lori was hunting for the Texas Roadhouse.. We found it to find out that they didnt open for another two hours (4pm) so we found a McDonalds and ate there.. Then it was back on the road again..

We finally got to Sturgeon Bay around 4:30pm or 5pm.. I cant really remember.. All I know is I was hungry and we needed to get our fishing licenses.. So Joe, Lynn, Goober, Stevie, Erinn and I went out to The Neighborhood Pub & Grill for dinner and then to WalMart to get our fishing licenses. The food was good there.. but the service SUCKED!! There was maybe two waitresses working and the place was packed!

Saturday morning we all went out to do some sight seeing.. and then to lunch.. Stevie found a place called Sonny's Pizzeria. Everyone crabbed about having greasy pizza right before having to go out on Lake Michigan for salmon fishing but we ended up going anyways. Goober and I ordered a large chicken alfredo pizza on a garlic parmesean thin crust. Joe, Lori and Richie didnt think it sounded very good but when our pizza got their first they divoured it and loved every bite of it. The pizza was amazing. I may have to make a trip back up there just for the pizza! But this time, it'll be Joe and I and we will either drive ourselves or fly hahaha!

After lunch was done we found a grocery store so we could make sandwiches for on the boats. We got back to the hotel and took some motion sickes pills and made sandwiches and packed coolers..

Finally it was time to head down to the boats and soak up the sun!! I was anxious and excited to go out on a working boat and a HUGE lake! On the way out to our fishing destination it was a bumpy ride. I nearly flew out of my seat even.. But it was fun!

The ride out to our destination...

Under the bride..

the bridge we just went under

Richie and Joe before the ride got bumpy

Goober

the sign said "Life jackets float, you dont"

The US Coast Guard boat

Joe on the ride out..

Goober sprayed Joe with the blue hose

Its getting bumpy!

So pretty!

Sailboats

Joe reeling in..

Goober reeling in...

The first fish in the boat..

Richie reeling in...

the second fish in the boat

Richie's big fish weighed in at 16.5 lbs

the pretty sunset

Goobers biggest weighed in at 22 pounds

Joe and I

Goober, Joe, Richie and their 9 King Salmon fish they caught