Private Lake — Wild Table Trip Report

The Lake gave us exactly what we look for at Wild Table: a remote piece of country, good water, good food and a few days spent with people who know why these places matter. Stacy Kuiack, Clint Goyette and Peter Zambri were joined by Kip Woodward for a few days on the lake, fishing from canoes against a backdrop of dark timber, still water and early fall grouse hunting. The fishing was excellent, with strong trout coming steadily to the net and plenty of time between fish to dig through old fly boxes, compare patterns and experiment with what the lake was giving us.

The trip was about more than fishing and hunting. We spent time exploring the surrounding forest and gathering chanterelles, bringing them straight back to camp and into the kitchen. They ended up on toasts grilled over the fire with gorgonzola—a simple camp dish built around something collected only hours earlier. That connection between the landscape and the table is at the heart of Wild Table: fish the water, walk the woods, pay attention to what's in season, and let the place determine part of the menu.

There were also the moments that don't fit neatly into an itinerary: mist and evening light filtering through the trees, glass-calm water, a fly sitting beside a reed waiting for the next rise, a grouse brought back to camp, and four friends sharing a boat and a lot of laughs. The Lake reminded us that the best trips aren't built around a single activity. They're about knowing a place well enough to experience it all—the water, the woods, the food, and the people around the fire.