The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1944-12-18
Michigan
Mirror
Gene Alleuan

One mystery has been solved,
thanks to q reader Of this column.
Trout fishermen, here is choice
news.
Because Raymond Dick of IRON
wood has . sister In Bangor, down
in the apple-growing region Of Van
Buren, county, and because the sis
ter sent him clipping Of the
Michigan Mirror" column in the
Bangor Advance last Oct. 10, We can
now tell you q secret.
That old blazed trail in the Por-
cupine mountain forest museum,
over which we hiked for hours one
day last October in . vain search
for Mirror lake. goes to a trout par
adise known only to a few sports
men-Lily Pad lake, full of big ma
tive brook trout-some Of them over
two pounds in size!
Wen Let Raymond Dick tell the
story:
Herbert Wood. editor, Bangor
Advance, Bangor. Mich. Dear Sir:
I have read with much interest an
article in your paper from the
Michigan Mirror about q trip to
the Porcupine Mts. This was clipped
out and sent to me by my sister
who knows Of my interest In this
region. I enjoyed the article I'M
mensely and I very much agree with
your sentiments about leaving the
Porcupine Country as it is today
wilderness with access only By
bride paths and foot trails. Open
it up with criss-cross roads and
main highways and it will soon be
just one more park, made by man,
and 1t will lose its virgin charm.
Now a word about that mystic
rious blazed trail leading to the
Southwest after leaving the old
White Pine Extension mine. That
old blazed trail leads to Lily Pad
lake which is a widening of the
Little Carp river after it leaves Mir
ror Lake. its source. II you will look
at your map Of this region you will
note that Mirror lake lies to the
Northwest of the old White Pine
Extension mine and that the Little
Carp river after it leaves the lake
flows in south westerly direction
for quite long stretch before 1t
finally makes big bend and breaks
through the range of mountains and
flows north west into Lake Superior.
Lily Pad lake lies in the stretch
OF the river that flows southwest
just before 1t makes its big bend
to the northwest. 1t Is a deep little
lake between two spurs Of the
mountains and is full Of big native
brook trout-some Of them over two
pounds In size.
"On the eastern bank close 10 the
outlet big spring comes out of the
mountains and forms fast little ice
cold brook which flows into Lily
Pad lake. And where this spring
water hits the lake there are some
big seekers Of trout lying for some
one who knows how to get them.
One rose to my bait that must have
weighed at least three pounds. But
he would not take the book.
your account OF your trip along
this plazed trail to Lily Pad lake
brings to my mind q trip that I
made into this territory about eight
years ago with my son and another
party who claimed that he knew
this trail.
I'VE left White Pine Extension
Mine about 6 o'clock In the eve
ming Of a late August day, and our
guide said We would easily make
Lily Pad lake by nightfau where
we expected to camp. We were all
carrying heavy packs and following
this old trail was no cinch as you
found out from experience.
"Nightfall found us somewhere on
the trail and We sat down and had
consultation as to whether we
had better turn back to the White
Pine extension mine, make camp
where we were. or keep on going
the best we could in the dark. While
We were talking and trying to decide
what 70 do . brilliant full moon
rose over the mountains and we
finally decided to keep on going and
try to find the lake by the line of
blskes IN the moonlight.
1T was tough going. One man
would stay by blaze and another
would 60 ahead and pick up another
and then call out and wait until the
first man came up and thus we kept
on going, never sure Of where we
were going or even II we were on
the right trail.
Finally We saw the waters OF the
lake glistening in the moonlight
thru the timber Ia . little valley
ahead Of Us. We made straight for
It and hit the lake ct the spot where
the little spring creek that / spoke
OF runs into the laks ct the foot Of