Remembering the Giant "Ed Walden" Muskie wood muskie 2003

During the Spring of 2003 I was contacted by Gord Bastable and invited to refurbish a Giant Wood Muskie Carving. He had found me at my old website natureartists.com and he was confident I could carve and paint muskies. This carving was originally created by Bill Sitter of the Chicago Illinois USA.

The carving didn't meet Gords exacting standards for perfection.

This carving was replica of a Giant Muskie caught in October1940 by American Ed Walden while fishing in Vermilion Bay section of Eagle Lake. It was caught on a spinning blade "Muskill" lure.

The overwhelming record length of 59 inches, girth 31 inches and weight o 61 pounds 9 ounces!

He requested that I travel to North Western Ontario and re-carve the fins and completely repaint the markings. As a reward for my efforts I could stay at a cabin for a week and when not working on the wood fish take a moment to enjoy Eagle Lake.His letter of invitation reads."Would be happy to have you and Diane come up the last week of August 2003. I hope to take you out in the cedar-strip boat myself  for a little musky fishing. The wood musky looks forward to a new tail & paint job!"

I had read about Gord Bastable and Eagle Lake during the 1990's in Ontario Out of Doors magazine. It was a chance of a lifetime!

                                                       Cutting and carving a muskie tail

                           Sanding and re-shaping with rasps, saws and sandpaper.

 Carefully mixing acrylic paint and trying to match the colour of and Eagle Lake Muskie Pattern.

                                          Clearcoat  brushed on the finished carving.

Gord Bastable Photography

A small celebration  of an exotic shrimp ring and cocktails were presented when the Giant Musky was placed on diplay.
 Perhaps there swims in EagleLake  a fish equal in size or larger than Ed Walden's Giant Muskie ?

Planning and designing Vermilion Bay Lodge's Electric Beaver Logo

Celebrating 5 years of the Electric Beaver.

Looking back at the startof the blog  and it's symbol

of all things interesting at Vermilion Bay Lodge and the environment.

             Chuck Weiss' alternate designs for Vermilion Bay Lodge's ELECTRIC BEAVER

Planning was filled  with several alternates designs which included 
lightning bolt held by a relaxed beaver sitting in a wooden chair.

                               Combining a cartoon beaver caught in the tail with a fishing lure.

                                      Dazzling with a shock and leaving out the word beaver.

                                         Inspired   Woodland  First Nation design
                                                                                                                                              

Accepted design:Computer mouse cord in a circle surrounding the realistic beaver chewing in a tree branch.

Muskie/ Walleye Madness Week Trophies have arrived

 Showing the lettering on the background board of the carvings. Fish carved by Charles Weiss.

Every Year some one is lucky to win the exciting contests! Who will the winners be this year???