Favel Lake

Back in July, Kurt reminisced about visiting Favel Lake and said it was on his bucket list after a failed attempt a few years ago. Well, Bill, Shawn, Brian and I made it back to this lake a few weeks ago. Visions of fish which hadn't seen lures danced through our heads. Now I was tempted to post monster pike pictures for all of those lurkers out there, but let me tell you the honest story.

Water levels are very high on Eagle right now. Navigating the first part of the stream was a breeze.

Ah yes, it was a glorious day. Just think of those monstoreous pike we are going to see today! Then we came to the first beaver dam. Gord warned us about these. He said there might be more than one.

When I had asked Gord, "who was the last person back to Favel Lake", he replied "Keith Mitchell". I began to wonder if he meant Keith the fish? We cruised for a while longer. "That wasn't so bad", said Shawn.

Well, then we came to the second beaver dam. This dam had an elevation change of close to four feet. Oh yea, Gord said there might be more than one beaver dam.

After breaking through the second beaver dam, I'm thinking that Favel lake just dropped two feet in elevation. Bill says, "those beavers are going to be mighty angry. We slug on. The channel begins to dissapear and is beginning to be consumed by acres of floating bog. We push, pull, and paddle through and over narrow openings in the bog. I'm thinking, "Brian will never want to come back to VBL again". He troops on.

Can you see the lake from there boys? They reply, "I don't think so". We've gotten so far back it doesn't make sense not to continue for a chance for fishing for foolish pike.

In some places you could stand on top of the bog and it would slowly sink. In other places you went through. At one point I jumped on to a thin layer of bog and went completely through only to catch myself at the arm pits. The water was over our heads. It was like playing a game of frogger. Could it be? Is that the lake up there? Yea, but the channel is completely gone.

Is that a leech I feel crawling up my leg? Those biting flies are awful. Well, we make it to Favel lake and revel at the beauty of this lake on a nice sunny day. We are greeted by three loons who seem puzzled by our presence. Time to start trolling and casting for our sweet, sweet, reward. The lake was thick with pike.

Nothing but snakes. If there are big pike in this lake, they are smart and back under the shade in those acres and acres of floating bog. This was the bad news. The worse news was we had to go back through the "death march". Interestingly that's the term that one of Gord's competitors used to describe the 20 minute easy portage to Clearwater lake. Perchmaster....you can take this one off your bucket list. I've got the mosquito, fly, and leech bites to prove it.

I've learned new respect for the friends and family that join me on these trips. I knew there was a reason I brought them along. I also have a renewed respect for the man or fish they call Keith.This was a true adventure. Now don't get me wrong. I fished Caribou lake for the first time this spring and I plan on going back. I also plan on trying to explore a new lake on each future trip to VBL. And perhaps this trip should be the hazing event that all new VBL guests like Brian should endure? Get out of the rut and explore all that VBL has to offer!

Things you may not have seen before.........

Fish soup made by the "Russians" out of heads and fins. It looked weird but it was actually pretty good!

This pineapple-looking floating object is either a limb from a giant amphibian, or the root system of what is commonly referred to as a lily pad. Don't show this to the Russians, it's probably edible.

You won't see this too often......a swimming eagle. Perhaps having a brisk "dip" on a hot day, or just a case of not stopping before hitting the water. Either way, he / she looked a little "p-o'ed".

Nothing like the humiliation of having to dry out on a rock when you screw up! (photography by Mike B.)

Walleye Madness Week, 2010......

The 5th annual "Walleye Madness Week" was held during the week of July 24th, here at VBL. Good weather, good fishing, fine folk.......and a good time had by all! Pictured above was a mid-week shore lunch hosted by the "Dick's".

Even Susanne had a chance to get involved. Here's a nice slot sized fish (25 points) that was caught trolling a Rapala in 12 feet of water near the "Straights of Gull Isle".

The Thursday night awards night and pot luck was a highlight of the week. Bruce and Sally Rasmussen seem rather pleased with the LCBO gift pack. Finally a beer big enough for Bruce!

Connor Anderson was the youngest angler who entered a fish into the competition. Way to go!

The coveted Walleye Madness lodge trophy which has the archives of competitions past. The take home trophy was a nice hand carved walleye plaque done by Toronto artist Charles Weiss.

The husband - wife team of Dan Kornelyk (Honorary Dick) and Joan (No Dick) took 1st and 2nd place for largest walleyes released.........26 and 25 inches. Good work Joan & Dan!

Overall winner, Mary Keller (Bride of Big Dick) with 224 points, holding the official tally sheet. Mary took home a nice St. Croix rod and hand carved Chuck Weiss walleye. In second place with 175 points was Joan Korneylk. Both Mary and Joan get their names engraved on the VBL lodge trophy.........way to go ladies!

What happened to the men in the competition? Of course, the Professors, are not up to the rigorous challenge of a mid summer competition, and prefer the much easier deep water bite. Well, maybe they will muster the courage for next year!?!

Some noteworthy men did receive recognition. Merv "It's all bullshit" Anderson was awarded "Most Improved Angler" by actually catching some walleye this year! Well done Mervin!! Bad Dick Buchie was the winner of special "Shorty" pliers and a "King Rat" lure for his outstanding catch of a 9 inch perch. Congratulations on landing that lunker!


We look forward to the last week in July, 2011 for the 6th Annual Walleye Madness Week........See you there!

The McLewie WBLT Sandwich

How does that grab you? This sandwich has become a tradition for the professor and I during our trips to VBL. You have all had the lousy McFish Sandwich. You have all had the traditional BLT. Try this one:

Toasted Rye bread from the Coop

Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato

Walleye Fillet fried in panco bread cromes (very crunchy). Flour, egg, panco breadcrumbs

Tarter sauce and fried onions

Cold Beer followed by a nap

Andy

Esox Masquinongy

I think we have been looking at Gord's ars a bit too long. My apologies. Now on to something more interesting.


It's a well known fact.....thousands of musky go to bed hungry every day in Eagle lake. It's up to you to do something about it. I have a lot of respect for the musky anglers that spend hundreds of hours casting hefty lures over the cabbage and into the shadows. If you are good at it, the odds are good that you will have success. On the other hand, I also get some perverse pleasure out of accidentally catching a few of these monsters using light tackle for walleye. It happens almost every trip to VBL.



This fine fellow snacked on a small tail dancer on 8 pound test mono

Here is a little known fact: Musky's love crawler harnesses trolled behind a bottom bouncer almost as much as the walleye do. Just ask this guy:

Now, you will have to ask the professor why he is holding my fish, but to make a long story short we were trying to avoid using a net and wanted a quick release.

A week from Friday I will be making a return trip with my son Shawn, and friends Bill and Brian. It will be a multi-species week but I may spend one day targeting these fish. Maybe Gord can re-enact his sad sad tale from last year while showing me the scene of the crime?

Andy