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!