To

You've been muskie fishing all morning. Your back aches, your arms are sore. You're tired, cold, and stiff. As likely as not, you haven't caught any muskies, (but Zieman has). You're not yet ready to quit muskie fishing forever, although that thought has crossed your mind. However, you are ready to quit for the morning.

The island is a short boat ride away, your guide is ready. It's time for you to celebrate one of the very special ceremonies of fishermen – shore lunch.

Shore lunch is a welcome break from all that fruitless casting and reeling, but it's also much, much more. It's a time to fill your stomach, certainly, and to rest your body. But it's also a to refresh your spirits.

The food itself - nothing has ever been ever better. Fresh walleyes, expertly fried, served hot, fried potatoes and onions, baked beans, hot coffee....... first you see the food, as your guide prepares it. Then you smell it, and finally you eat it.

The fellowship, beer break –

the physical relaxation.

Purpose of shore lunch – fill your stomach, rest your body, and refresh your spirits.

I've always used it as a time for contemplation – the meaning of life.

Wilderness surrounds you, but friends do too.

You don't have to do anything, but contemplate and eat.

Loons always there,

and then the urge and excitement of going after muskies again.

I never met a man I didn't like – but find a man who doesn't respond to shore lunch, and you have to wonder.

I can think of no better way to die than this: on a pine covered island, on a canadian lake, in September, at a shore lunch. A plate full of walleyes in one hand, a beer can in the other, surrounded by loons and friends.