Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Part 63
• Don hits the lake looking for fish.
• Don gets into square dancing and has a dance party on the Mando.

5/10/55 Hauled 20 sacks of sawdust in Larson. Strong west wind, and a rough trip. A very necessary one, however, as our ice was catching hell.

5/12/55 I edited my slides. It was a big project. Took them to Judy’s dark room and put them on ground glass. It took hours to get them in order, but I do believe I have a representative showing. Tomorrow I face 22 parties of regular guests and my 10th year on the Mando. Also face Walter’s cooking for 5 months. It is going to be interesting to see.

5/18/55 Alarm at 4:30 a.m. and I pulled into Buck’s place at 6:00. At 8:00 we were off for Kettle Falls with equipment for buoy job. We had to replace 2 in Brule Narrows. We left them on shore and on to Kettle River where we finished at 4:30. We had planned on staying all night, but decided to run for home. Finished the 2 in narrows on way home at 8 p.m. At Buck’s by 9:00. A hot calm day - what a break!

5/19/55 I dug up along east side of house for flower bed. I can plainly see that I am approaching the age when I will enjoy puttering around the yard!

5/24/55 I finally got my trail blazed the entire route. It takes in about 3/4 of a mile of typical Rainy Lake country back of the Mando. Now I wonder if I can ever get a guest to walk over it. The Emil Johnson family moved to Brown’s corner 4 years ago. At least once a month, we have talked about seeing them. Our good intentions have put many a paving block in the streets of hell. Tonight we took 4 walleyes and got down there. The old lady is 86 and altho her old legs have about played out from carrying over 200# for probably the last 45 years, she looks well enough otherwise. Her mind is plenty sharp, filled with the woes of the world as ever. Emil enjoying poor health - talks of nothing else. I had a strong sense of satisfaction, which was clouded by a strong twinge of remorse for not doing it sooner.

5/28/55 I caught a 16# jackfish. Rainy, drizzly day. Strong NE wind. Pulled cruiser in at Smith’s point at Porters Inlet and the fun began. I had bet each member of party $1.00 that they would catch 5 W.E. alone at noon I had pocketed the $8.00! Much raillery. Home early and I almost broke up party by giving punch lines of stories.

[As I recall Dad telling about this, he said that in many of the parties on the Mando there would be someone who was constantly telling jokes. After it became apparent that the rest of the group were no longer enjoying the joke telling, he would say, as the joke teller started a story, “Oh, yes, we have heard that one.” There would invariably be a shift to another joke and he would repeat his statement about the joke having been heard. After about two or three of these, the boor would figure that he was just trying to shut him up. Dad would then bet him a dollar that he could give the punch line to any joke he started. After picking up about $5 the joke telling would come to an end. Dealing with as many people as he did, and having the kind of memory that he had, I fully believe this story.

A side light to this story is my recalling that he told of a discussion about how jokes traveled around the country as quickly as they did. He would hear the same joke from two groups in the same week, where the men came from different parts of the country and different occupations. One explanation given, which makes sense, is that the long distance operators of the day passed them along from one to another during the night shift. ]

5/30/55 Took gang to Seine River. Nothing doing in mouth of river so I moved into Cliff Lake. Made two memorable discoveries. Saw a reef that due to low water is showing. Gerry & I must have been missing it by but a few feet every time we were in that area the past two years. The second discovery just as important, we caught 4 crappies. I have heard rumors concerning this for years but this is the first time we actually caught any. A good, sober, sensible party, obviously having a good time.

6/6/55 Rosenthal’s voice beginning to grate on my sensitive ear. God pity a victim in a business deal. He knew Gilda Dahlberg when she was Goldie Kreiger - and had her pegged absolutely right. We came to town via the ruins of Dahlberg’s Red Crest which impressed them greatly.

6/7/55 Helluva lot of discussion going on as to plans for tomorrow which reminded me of a bunch of seagulls so walked out.

6/12/55 Portaged whole damned works, including 2 18 foot skiffs into Nickel Lake. A most interesting experience - but few fish.

6/13/55 Took a good fall out of Nathan after he asked me about a dozen times in past 4 days to identify song of white throated sparrow. “John, do you ask questions for information, or to cross me up?”

6/15/55 Home at 5 p.m. and off for Cranberry Bay. The first time I have fished in Minnesota in at least 4 years. We caught 10 W.E. just at dark.

6/18/55 Big day on Mando. Sent our regular party out for day and I then to Five Mile Dock to pick up my share of party of 50 American editors on tour of Canada and we were sucked in to entertain them. Weather fine so no complications. Walter & Jack turned out a masterful performance.

6/19/55 As we have known for a long time, and can verify now, a bunch of strangers are easier to entertain than men who think they know the ropes. These fellows don’t even ask what time for breakfast. They just go along.

6/20/55 There are certain men in this cross section of American life that we see so well on the Mando, who have a Midas touch. They play cards to win, which in most cases is a combination of skill and luck. The same fellows often run off with the fish prize money for the same reason. Few of their competitors are willing to give them credit for much skill.

6/21/55 This is the day I made $95.00! After dropping party off at point, I went home to work on lawn. I have been dickering with both George Erickson & George Finstad regarding a power mower. I cut the grass with a hand job (borrowed from Gilda) and decided to keep right on doing it.

6/22/55 To Fort Frances and square danced to the music and calling of Clyde Jones. It was much fun. Said Mr. Jones. “The finest people all over the country, square dance!” We agreed.

6/25/55 Off for Parry Straits and caught half way by Bob MacMurray in Beaver. He still gives me a pain where it hurts most. Fishing good - walleyes all over - “but where are the big ones?” We found out where one was when we got home and Walter showed 7# he caught near houseboat.

6/27/55 I immediately got busy on a square dance party on Mando and never hit a snag. Collins, Burrocks and Bolstads all willing. Even got a message off to Walter to prepare him. We took off from Ranier - and my guests were as excited as kids. A “minor ecstasy” to be able to show such people a good time. Beautiful sunset added to it all. Danced on deck until mosquitoes drove us in. Kept right at it inside till midnight. Walter put on a feed such as these folks had seldom seen. Dark as pitch getting away from Mando but fine going after we got started.

6/30/55 Left at 7:45 and at 8:15 got caught in heaviest storm to hit this area in my time. We got back to Mando by 10:30 but not before I gave those slickers a navigating performance they won’t forget. There were times when I hove-to by an island and rode it out when visibility was less than 100 feet. Lightening flashes finally led us in. Edgar Zelle only guest who showed lack of confidence in me - he put on a life preserver!

7/1/55 Never do I feel more like a genius than when I can successfully maneuver a 90 year old man into catching 3 bass on a flyrod. Big birthday celebration at night. Walter as usual set everything up beautifully - with Jack’s expert help. Strike of 23 days settled!

7/4/55 Plane late so Palmer in helluva stew. I am too poor to enjoy luxury of getting impatient over anything, let alone a few minutes wait. When two men get fouled up they say in unison “Sorry, old fellow, my fault!”. A husband & wife team says “Be more careful, damn it, you are spoiling my fishing!”