Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

DONNA BELLE (LILY MAE)

Originally named the LILY MAE, this boat was built at Bayfield in 1946 for E. Theodore Nies, Bayfield, by Frank Muhlke; the 40 ft. vessel was equipped with a 120 hp. Graymarine Model 6-330 gas engine. In the late 1960s the boat was owned by Soren Peterson, and operated by Reuben Gustafson.

Next acquired by Jack Erickson, the boat was re-powered with a GM 6-71 diesel; re-named DONNA BELLE, and is presently used by Jack's son Martin Erickson, one of the few remaining pound net fishermen on Lake Superior. He usually tows a smaller, open boat behind the DONNA BELLE, necessary for access to the pound nets.

For many years, the DONNA BELLE was regularly moored at the restored Hokenson Brothers Fishery in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, providing park visitors with the opportunity for a close look at one of the region's remaining fishing boats at work. This arrangement was recently discontinued, however.

Photo: DONNA BELLE at her customary mooring, the restored Hokenson Brothers Fishery, Little Sand Bay.