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.

The biggest Lake Trout (La Truite Grise) of the 2014 Trip

My Dad caught this 8 lb Laker on the west side of Stern's Island

Sunday on the Big Water

At the big water we trolled for Lake Trout all day

It was pretty slow but with the occasional fish and satellite radio it makes it pretty relaxing

Never seen so many boats in one place on the Cabonga

This guys was pretty rude by trolling near us the whole time

Can you get any closer?

Funny thing happening here.  There are clouds all around the this body of water but not over it.  I wonder if it has something to do with the sun reflecting off the water creates some sort of warm air inversion which keeps the clouds away?

I had a few hits and eventually caught a laker but my father caught this 8 pounder

Kind of ironic but I camped on that island 32 years ago with the YMCA on my first visit to the Cabonga. Who would have known that I would continue coming up for so many years afterwards?

Motoring home

Trolling

Feet Wet!

Got in the water around 11 AM and headed up 3 Mile Bay

Then over to 5 Mile Bay where I lost a nice Walleye at the boat

Then we headed over to 7 Mile Bay

And all we caught were little Walleyes

After fishing, tied up the boat and had dinner

Walked around the camp.
Our cabin is on that peninsula! 

The Drive to Deer Horn Lodge, Day 2 - Getting there!

Crossing into the Parc du La Verendrye

Turn off at 379 KM on Trans Canadian Highway 117

25 MPH on the Rock Road?

UFB!

Smooth as butter, with a little gravel mixed in!

Holy High Water!

I haven't seen the Cabonga this high in years!

Time to celebrate!