Portage lake, Minn.

[NimpoCub]

You know... just out'a Park Rapids.
My Grandad had a cabin near the far end of Portage (opposite the hiway) & I spent a LOTTA wonderful days there. I think he said it was 11 miles down the twisty gravel road. We caught a lot of fish, shot deer, ducks, grouse, caught snapping turtles, etc. doing 3-generation guy stuff.

I wonder if you Minnesotans have any more pix on/around Portage? Is it pretty built up now? We used to catch 4" suckers in the creek by the hiway for walleye bait. Here's pic of me catching perch & panfish out'a Grandad's "titanic". (I liked to wear his old cop hat)
portage.fishin.jpg

[WWhunter]

Logan,
That is just down the road a piece from my place. I am by Itasca State Park and if you get in the area please stop in. Easy landing on my strip for a SC.
I go by the lake everytime I have to go to town. Probably not built up too much other than houses around the lake shore. It is one of the first lakes in the area that freezes over and is the first lake you will see ice houses on.
Actually my dad lives on Island Lake, which is a couple miles as the crow flies from Portage. I can look through aerial photos and see if I have any of the lake. If not I can easily take some when I get back home in a few weeks. If you can pm me in a few weeks and remind me I'll fly over and take some.
Keith

[NimpoCub]

Thanks Keith, I'd love to see som pix. Haven't been there since the late 50's (I think). I don't know the directions, but the end farthest from the hiway is where Grandad's place was. I remember peeing in the Mississippi river where it starts in the Itasca park!
I can't fly in US airspace, because FAA says my owner maint. plane will fall out'a the air.

[badmdcnman]

Expecting to over fly that area on my way to High Banks and Ely Lake this weekend. Can check it out but could not find Portage Lake on Google Earth other than a Portage Lake over north of Leech Lake 44 miles east of Itasca. Is there another Portage Lake around Itasca Keith? Be happy to check it out for you Nimpo.

Rod................

[flybynite]

View from the East end on Google Maps.

46°57'53.11" N 95°07'10.75" W on Google Earth.

The trick is Portage Lake, Todd, MN

Wayne

[jon s. blocker]

Hey Wayne!, How's my old stomping grounds, Prior Lake, doing. Haven't been there in a long time, but used to hike around the lake with my .22 cal. Ruger, and shoot squirels. Used to be a sea plane basin, but I don't know about that nowdays. My grandfather lived on the lake and landed his J3F on the ice in the winter. His neighbors all had Cubs, Champs, 180s, and even a Sea Bee. They used to be called the Prior Lake Airforce, Jon

[badmdcnman]

Thanks Wayne, I got it. Actually just flew right down the middle of that lake on the way back from Zorbaz last saturday. Will get you some photos NimpoCub........... Rod

[flybynite]

Hey Jon

Marlene says Hi too. I'm afraid if you were a kid seen toting a .22 around Prior Lake today, you would probably end up in juvi hall. I'll take a pic of it next time in the area. There is still a seaplane landing area out there but the lake is so over run with jet skis that you would have a difficult time landing there. There is a local seaplane club that moved their operation to Surfside near KANE for that reason. Or maybe it was because the owner who let them keep the 172 there quit the club...

I was visiting a friend there a few weeks ago. He said it was so cold out that he saw a pair of jack rabbits trying to push start a cottontail.

Come on up when you get a chance.

Wayne

[aktango58]

because FAA says my owner maint. plane will fall out'a the air.

Don't take it personally. The FAA has only seen owner maint. done by a guy on a small private strip out of Jenks with a falling down insurance nightmare barn

[scout88305]

Two nice ones nimp

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roadtripmemories/2602612595/

http://www.portagelakemnlakehomes.co...al-portage.jpg

[NimpoCub]

Hey thanks Eric. those are great shots. Kinda makes me feel ill seeing all those places tho. There were only 3-4 on the whole lake last I was there. I think I was able to pick out Grandad's property.

[WWhunter]

Expecting to over fly that area on my way to High Banks and Ely Lake this weekend. Can check it out but could not find Portage Lake on Google Earth other than a Portage Lake over north of Leech Lake 44 miles east of Itasca. Is there another Portage Lake around Itasca Keith? Be happy to check it out for you Nimpo.

Rod................

Rod,
The Portage Lake that Logan is asking about butts up to Hwy 71. It is on the east side of Hwy 71 and is the first lake on the east side of the Hwy while headed north out of Park Rapids. About 1.5-2 miles north west of town. Almost directly NE of Fish Hook Lake.

Logan, we moved up in that area in the mid 70's when it was still quite unpopulated. The town goes from a couple thousand in the winter to 30 thousand in the summer! Damned tourists!! LOL

[NimpoCub]

Correction: It was FlyByNight's Google link, I went to satellite view & "flew" down to the far end & saw the ol' property. I think it's the 4th from the end with the swim float out front. Can't believe all the cabins there, but 30,000 folks haft'a be somewhere! I'd like to get back there but doubt I'll make it anymore. GranDad also had 40 acres farther out'a town (on the hiway) where he'd live in winter.

Thanks guys, good memories flashed back.

[WWhunter]

Logan,
Life is short....come back down for old time's sake. I'm sure I can find space for you to hang your hat for a few days. Might even put you to work.

[NimpoCub]

Eewww, you used that 4-letter word that ends in K!!