Beginner Canoe Camping & Fishing Trip | Lessons & First-Time Adventures

An Early Summer Canoe Camping Trip in Michigan

There’s something about early summer in Michigan that pulls you outside.

Cold mornings. Calm water. Long days that seem to stretch forever.

This canoe camping and fishing trip had everything we love, time on the water, mornings at camp, and meals cooked outside.

It was only my second time ever in a canoe. Miya’s very first time in a canoe and my first time ever out on the big lake.

And somehow, all of that made the adventure feel even bigger.

Because when you’re new to something, you notice everything.

Canoeing for Beginners (With two Dogs)

If you’ve ever thought about trying a canoe camping trip especially with a dog (or two) you don’t have to have it all figured out.

We definitely didn’t.

Every movement felt intentional. Every shift in weight mattered. Learning how to balance, paddle, and stay steady while fishing was something I was figuring out in real time.

And Miya?

She was experiencing all of it for the first time too.

Entering the canoe.
Learning from Ollie, taking in the sounds,the reflections, the rhythm.

At first, she wasn’t sure what to think.

But slowly, she settled in.

She found her footing.
She relaxed.
She even took a nap.

And watching that shift happen, watching her experience something completely new and build her confidence, that’s something we won't forget.

Fishing on the Big Lake from a Canoe for the First Time

Fishing from a canoe on a big lake is a completely different experience.

There’s a level of awareness that comes with it you’re paying attention to the wind, the water, your positioning, and every movement you make.

But there’s also something incredibly immersive about it.

We could see everything beneath us.

Watching fish move along the ridge under the canoe in that clear water was exhilarating. It felt like we were right there with them part of the same environment instead of just looking into it.

And then there was the view.

Getting out on the water like that gave us a completely different vantage point of the sand dunes one you just don’t get from land.

Michigan is such a beautiful state.

And when you see it from that perspective… it sticks with you forever.

A Sunrise Moment I’ll Never Forget

There are moments out there that feel different.

Quieter. Deeper. Almost hard to explain.

This was one of them.

Loons will often come over and fish with you once you bring a fish up. And that morning, one lingered near us as we were out on the water.

I’ve always considered a loon to be my spirit animal.

And watching it stay close moving with us, existing in the same space felt like more than just a wildlife encounter.

The loon dove. In that crystal clear water, we watched it dive beneath the bow of the boat.

For a moment, everything stood still.

It’s hard to describe what that felt like being that connected to the moment, to the water, to the wildlife around us.

Spiritual is the only word that comes close.

Our Go-To Camp Breakfast Skillet

The best breakfast skillet, maybe the best breakfast ever.

Ingredients

1 lb. breakfast sausage
1 lb. yellow potatoes, quartered
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
4 large eggs
Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp. butter
1 jar mild chunky salsa

Toppings
1 avocado, sliced
Sour cream
Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Utensils
Skillet
Plate
Knife

Directions
Cook the sausage: Brown the breakfast sausage in a skillet and set aside.
Prep the vegetables: Quarter the potatoes and dice the green pepper and onion. Set aside.
Cook the potatoes: In the same skillet, cook the potatoes until browned and tender. Remove and set aside.
Combine everything: Add butter to the pan, then return the cooked sausage. Add onions, peppers and salsa. Stir and cook until the mixture is bubbling. Add the cooked potatoes and gently fold everything together until well combined.
Fry the eggs: In a separate pan, fry the eggs to your desired doneness.

Assemble
Place cooked eggs on top of potato, sausage mixture.
Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over the hot skillet mixture and let it melt. 
Garnish with avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and season to taste.

Camp Recipe Note:
Cast iron works best but you can use any skillet type.
Leftover friendly this dish gains flavor the longer the ingredients marry.
Serve with tortilla chips or tortilla shells.

The Sneaky Sunburn of 50-Degree Weather

You wouldn’t expect to get sunburned in 50-degree weather.

But between the reflection off the water and being exposed all day while canoeing and fishing, our faces and necks got absolutely roasted.

We came back looking like we had spent a week somewhere tropical instead of on a chilly early summer trip.

Lesson learned:

Sunscreen isn’t just for hot days - especially when you’re on the water.

Watch the Full Canoe, Camping & Fishing Adventure

If you want to see how this entire trip unfolded—from first-time canoe fishing to that unforgettable loon moment—you can watch the full episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArK1hXgEJao

This is where we share every mile, meal, and moment.

Thank You for Being Here

It’s the small, unexpected, meaningful moments that shape who we’re becoming out there.

And we’re so grateful we get to share them with you.