Vermilion Bay Lodge News Flash.....

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Last Day for Trout, 2010....or...How I Spent September 30th!

Keith Mitchell, from the "Island", was part of the excursion to tackle the lake trout before the season closed on October 1st. As we navigated the creek to the trout lake we were surprised to see the work the beavers had done on their dam. Keith stunned us that day by announcing "I have heard that the young beavers taste the best!" Was this a dark side of Keith that had not been revealed to us before? A connoisseur of beaver? We laughed the rest of the way up the creek!

Keith was very excited to catch a fish (and change the subject)! No Keith, that's not a trout.

We struggled at first trying to target a deep water bite. We could mark fish on the locator, but getting them to bite was a problem. As the water temps were still fairly warm I was not confident that the trout were going to be shallow, but when all else fails you have nothing to lose by changing tactics. We moved down the way and started casting the wind and wave swept shorelines.

Ron (Jo-anne's hubby) connects with a lake trout in the shallows using a Little Cleo spoon! This method ultimately works better for Ron, since the $5 reel he has been bragging about has only 30 feet of line on it! Regardless, I think we are on to something! Using this technique we caught many trout in the 3 to 6 foot depth range....basically right up on shore. So much for my water temperature theory. I do think the wave action was triggering these fish........

The boys after a hard day on the lake. Some good eaters to enjoy till the trout season re-opens on January 1st. By the way, Keith was right........the small (young) ones do taste better!

Dueling Banjo's at Vermilion Bay Lodge

Let it be said here that Gord has access to some lakes where it truly doesn't matter what you throw at them - Like Mikey on the Life cereal commercial, they eat anything. That was the case last year while visiting this top secret lake. Click here to see the results.

The Freeze........

What a strange season this has been. Ice out was possibly the latest on record and now we are well into November and the lake has been pretty much ice free. The above photo was from yesterday, Tuesday, November 23rd. Vermilion Bay is basically ice free except for some weed edges and the creek. What you can't see from this shot is that some of the bays (Meyers, Waldhof) are frozen (which is the normal progression of things). It has been cold and my motivation for taking the shot was that I did not think it could last much longer.

Even the bald eagles were still in their old haunts.......probably wishing their gull buddies were still keeping them company. The northern duck flocks have pretty much headed south, but there are plenty of deer carcasses to feed on!

The next day things have changed......this is Wednesday, November 24th. During the late afternoon yesterday, and overnight we have this nice hard surface which has developed. The fish population can now kick back and relax for a few weeks, snug in their water beds. Time to contemplate ice fishing...................

2011 Classic Muskie Calendar!!!

Artist (and VBL guest) Charles Weiss has once again done an outstanding job on his Classic Muskie Calendar for 2011.

With some great muskie and wildlife art this is probably one of Chuck's best!

This is a very limited production and is available at Chuck's website for a modest $20 including shipping. Check it out and order one today! http://www.charlesweissart.com/ Click on "Chuck" to contact him directly.

How to fillet a pike

Here's a nice bonus after catching lots of fish at VBL....Gord fillets your fish for you. Gord's the master when it comes to filleting pike. Watch and learn

Perch Fishing in Bottle Lake

Most people want to know...why would you drive to Ontario to fish for perch? Well if you get tired of catching walleye, trout, whitefish, pike, and musky - perch fishing in the spring offers a nice change of pace in the middle of the week. And who doesn't like jerking big perch one after another until you have a live well full of nice eaters? Mr. perch seemed to enjoy it (click here to view the video).

A new adventure sport for VBL?

Some of you will remember my post describing our "adventure" to Favel Lake across beaver dams and nearly inpenetratable bogs. While my partners complained about this "death march", it turns out some people pay for this kind of experience. On August 22, 2010 the New York Times reported on "bog-trekking" in Estonia. The following picture appeared with the caption: "Triin Ivandi, a guide, in rubber boots and bog shoes to help her keep from sinking into the Viru bog in Lahemaa National Park in Estonia". A sub caption declared, "Soggy fun: 'This is like walking on a giant sponge".
I can only tell you that without a guide and without bog shoes, this isn't much fun and is more like falling through a giant sponge. I am fully expecting Gord to be offering a couple of new services in 2011....(1)A guide wearing yellow rubber boots. (2) bog shoes. Gord, please don't try to pass off those snow shoes as bog shoes. Turns out there are bog adventures here in North America as well: Philbrick-Cricenti Bog in New Hampshire, Tannersville cranberry bog in Pennsylvania, Volog Bog in Illinois, and Burns Bog in the British Columbia.

"They" say you start looking like your pets...........

.....very interesting...............

........very distinguished..................

..........very hairy.............

.......maybe it's true!

The Moose Hunt Trailer.......Blue Lantern Hunt Club 2010

The anticipation is building!

Gord's Moose Hunt 2010.........Movie Trailer

Once again I ventured south in search of the elusive moose, joining my brother in law John, and an eclectic group of "merry men" in pursuit of this "ghost of the forest". Stay tuned for the riveting movie by Director, and avid sportsperson, Will Lamb.

Professor and Missus Welcome a New Bundle of Joy Into the Family

Well, the dirty deed is done. I went into the marketplace and found a replacement boat. This was done strictly for medical reasons. My wife has been unhappy about the ride of my Crestliner 1650 Fish Hawk, the Nanjo Minnow, for several years now. She complained about big waves causing her neck to become tender. Plus, there were problems with wind and rain that she found disconcerting. I did my best to make her comfortable, but nothing I did proved satisfactory. Finally, I realized that the only solution was a different boat--one that was longer, wider and with a windshield. More powerful, too. I hoped to find a deal on a used WWII PT boat. But these things are hard to locate and might be difficult to dock at VBL.

What I settled on was a Crestliner 1750 Fish Hawk. This has been named Nanjo II. I believe this boat will cure my wife's medical problems. Unfotunately, it is producing much anxiety for me. I have spent decades controlling a boat with a tiller handle while fishing, socializing and entertaining. Now, I have to learn how to do all of this with a steering wheel.

It is not going well. The missus and I went for our first ride in the Nanjo II last week. Within two minutes I found a rock that saw fit to reconfigure the geometry of the prop. TWO MINUTES! I was so pissed off at myself. After many deep breaths and considerable cursing, I composed myself and remembered that I loved my wife and was grateful for the new ride.

Anyone out there looking to buy a used 1650 with a Honda 50?

Let me close by acknowledging your kind thoughts concerning my smashed fingers. Neither finger got infected from the surgical proceedure performed by Gord and both are healing nicely. The many well wishes, cards, flowers, chocolates and bottles of Canadian Whiskey are deeply appreciated.

50+ inch Muskie

So as to not give away the secret spot, I have removed all background from the pic.

Here is the beast. 50-52 inches. Ernie Hull is the proud fisherman.

It was caught and released. Thanks Gord!

Operation "Rubber Glove".........

At VBL I like to think that we are a "full service" lodge. From cleaning your fish, to removing hooks from your head, to giving you the Heimlich Maneuver......we do it all. This summer I was called on once again to perform an experimental procedure on the Professor after he foolishly slammed a car door on his fingers (well, that's the story he tells). In order to relieve the pressure and throbbing pain there was only one alternate.....get out the drill!

The Professor was pretty brave after the first finger.......actually pretty cocky would be a better description.

On to finger number two..................do I sense that the "bravado" has seeped away?

Oh, yeah................

Someone grab him.......he's about to keel over!

Is it the sight of blood........or the eerie feeling of the drill bit going in?

The pressure is relieved.........the patient lives!

The aftermath........the Professor in an orgasmic state! Another Happy Ending at Vermilion Bay Lodge!

Fall is here

I have again enjoyed watching everyone's post from their visits over the summer to VBL. My father and I visited this year in July and the walleye bite was great.

Dad caught a 50 inch Muskie while reeling in a 20 inch Pike. Gord took us to Clear Water lake and then on up to Rock lake. It was breath taking and pristine. The small mouth bass were everywhere, and Gord taught us some new techniques that even us old dogs enjoyed and are implementing back home for more success. Overall the fishing seemed to be even better than last year and we limited out just 5 days into our visit.

The lady of the house (lodge) was out for the week and Gord was out of control in the Gin room every night. He was always bushy tailed and bright eyed in the morning though. Well, except for the morning that he realized that he forgot to put water back in the minnow tank and had a hundred dead minnows in the morning. :-) He blamed it on the drain pipe falling down, but we all know it was the whiskey.

Mike was busy building a traditional log cabin style building down by the entrance to the lodge. It would be nice to see some finished pictures of that.

MNR even visited this summer, but I'll let Gord explain that one.

I'm posting some pics of of our trip, and will eventually get around to posting more as it gets cooler this fall and the bite stops.

I'll put in a shameless plug for my new brew blog at http://letshomebrew.blogspot.com/
Since the fishing in Kansas sucks I have rededicated my time to perfecting the art of brewing beer at home. I'll take some to VBL when I visit again next year.

Clearwater Lake......late Fall.....

A week ago I ventured back into Clearwater Lake to visit the lake trout and whitefish. These two Rapala ice fishing lures were big producers.

They even work on the whitefish..............

Big Bob from Virden, Manitoba caught his very first laker on this trip. Come on Bob, smile!!

The other half of the family managed to tie into one of those deep water pike. What the heck are they doing in 70 feet of water!? Eating trout and whitefish of course.

Estimated 38 inches, 14 pounds, this young lad was pretty happy! The fish took off like a rocket when released. Now check out this video I made with my new Pentax Optio W90 camera.......pretty cool!

Gord & Keith's Somewhat Excellent Goose Adventure...

Keith Mitchell (from the island) and I decided it would be interesting to try goose hunting. Although we technically have the wrong type of decoys, they are set up in a location where we are told "hundreds" of geese have been landing each day. Boy, we can hardly wait!

First off Keith decides to field strip his gun and remove some extraneous parts he has discovered. Now we are ready to shoot! Is that a goose I hear?

Oh oh........what's with this long faced critter?

The decoys seem to be having the wrong affect. It is time to pull up stakes and move onto "plan B".......location number 2.

This is much better. Keith craftily disguises himself as a bail of hay. Keith, are you there....where are you?

Perfect. Hardly a horse in sight! Will the geese show up?

Success! We each bag a bird and Bell is happy to retrieve them. Her expression seems to be saying "It's about time!".

The "Great Grey Hunter" and sidekick striking a pose. The dog is really the only one that knows what to do in this photo.

As the sun sets on Keith and Bell, I reflect on an interesting day, and wonder why my back will no longer straighten up.............stay tuned for "Keith & Gord's sharptail grouse adventure".

Muskie Madness Week, 2010......

Seven muskies were caught during the 2010 Muskie Madness Week here at VBL........unfortunately none were of the caliber pictured above!

Midweek we all took a break from the high winds and took shelter at the Bayview Hotel for the annual shuffleboard tourney........

Dan (Honourary Dick) Kornelyck, and Bob (Chicago Dick) Kaufman, with a combined total shuffleboard experience of 156 years, shake hands before duelling it out.....

Tension runs high when it comes down to a fraction of an inch..........

Seems plaid is back in fashion........or is it?

A smiling Ken Zipzow is crowned the 2010 "champeen", kicking the butts of Gord B. and "Good Dick" Miller. Tracy from the Bayview steadies Ken, in what must have been an emotional moment for the tall Minnesotan...........

Sweeping ahead to the wind up dinner and awards night, Norm takes the prize for the smallest muskie caught.......16 inches of muscle and teeth! Norm walks off proudly with his VBL coffee mug and burlap sack.

Henry and Phil battled it out for the northern division and tied at a solid 38 inches...

Phil was back up again to the deafening applause of an appreciative crowd.....3rd place in the muskie tourney. What's that........another lure for his extensive collection?

Big time trout fisher Marty McVicor scores big with a second place finish and a lovely VBL t-shirt and Dominatrix lure.

The grand prize winner, holding the original hand carved Chuck Weiss muskie trophy, is none other than the "Garlic Ring Man"......also known as Hugh Ferry. A dark horse contender, he surprised even the grizzled old muskie dudes with his perseverance and good luck! Congratulations Hugh.............and to all who participated in the "Madness"!