Swimming and Fishing on Lake Lillilonah

My father brought my two nieces who are visiting from Texas for a day on the boat

We initially went up the Shepaug arm but found it too scummy

So we ventured down towards the dam and found an area devoid of weeds

and great for swimming.

I was able to position the boat in 1.5 feet of water

so you could get in and out easily

We still made use of my improvised swim ladder

Need to have some swim mocks next time

All the cousins on the raft

After lunch we moved over to an inlet and did a little fishing

Elliot hooked up first with a nice White Perch

Then Brodie took over

And Brodie also go a nice White Perch as well

Catching White Perch on Lake Lillilonah

The boys and I headed out to the Lake on July 5th for a little fishing

The wind was channeling down the valleys so we tried a spot

further up the Shepaug and the boys started catching White Perch

Brodie caught the first one

Then Elliot caught one

Although this one looked more like a hybrid bass than a perch

Then Elliot caught another

We tried our other spot out of the wind but nothing was biting

So we cruised down to the Shepaug Dam

The boys had to give me Moose Antlers

Went by the beach at George C Waldo

Checked out the new boat ramp at Rt 133

And finally went under the Rt 133 Bridge honking the horn and scaring the Barn Swallows

Our first accident in Canada, sort of.

We were driving down Highway 117 having just left the La Verendrye and coming into Grand Remous when there was a blur of brown in the corner of my eye and then a loud THUNK against the back of the truck. Looking in the side view mirror I saw a deer was now tangled up in the trailer undercarriage. 

I found a safe spot to pull off the road and assess the damage.  Later, according to my Dad's assurance adjuster this is the first claim for a Deer hitting a boat.  You see in the picture above there is in fact a dent in the bow.

The deer was big and heavy and I had to roll backwards in order to loosen it off the strut.  I threw on some gloves that I had in the car because I wasn't touching it and was able to get it off trailer. 

It took out the wheel fender and running light on the trailer.  Some Canadian guy stopped to make sure we were OK, I guess he saw it happen.  I thought he wanted the deer.

Damage to my Dad's truck

Leaving Deer Horn

Leaving Deer Horn Lodge at 5:15 this morning!

The morning sky is spectacular

We are ready and loaded

Water level has come down about a foot

Arriving and Departing comparison

Got down the infamous Rock Road in 40 minutes

Why no Deer Horn sign?

625 miles to go!

Walleye 10 lb Club

We tried White Fish Lake in the morning but didn't get a Walleye so we headed towards Iroquois Point

At first there was a little tug and then the line stopped and I thought I was snagged but when it pulled back I knew it was a fish, just not this fish.

The first approach to the boat my father and I thought it was a pike but on the second time near the boat I recognized the white edging on the fins and couldn't believe it was a Walleye and this big!  In fact, it took me 5 times to get into the net, each time it ran.  Finally we got it in! 

Weighing in at 11 lbs

Caught on 8 lb test and light bait casting rod!

I am finally in the Club!

Back to the Big Water

We fished mostly off Sterns Island on Wednesday

And caught mostly smaller sized lakers

Pike? Who catches Pike anymore on the Cabonga?

Apparently, we do now!

Went down to Burns Bay on Monday and all we caught were Pike!

Not a single Walleye!

We also had a visit from a snake.

It was either a Brownsnake or a Maritime Gartersnake

We fished in both Saint Patrick's and Mike's Bays

And all we caught were Pike

The pike, pictured above almost swallowed my Reef Runner 

and during the extraction process his jaw tore off

Look at those teeth!

Meanwhile, back at Deerhorn I took a walk out onto the other peninsula and found that the beach has been converted to a dock and there is no longer a beach by the way Cabin 4, which is directly behind me looks like a summer rental.  Cabin 3, on the peninsula, has been completely redone and all the other cabins have been upgraded Back in the day it would have been fun to stay out there but it would mean these days there would be no WiFi, and having it up here is great, and it can be a burden, too.  Still, it's great luxury.