Lakers on the Big Water of the Cabonga

First laker, 2lbs

2nd Laker, 5 lbs

3rd Laker, 7 lbs

All our lakers were caught on the same lure, at different times of course, which is what we were told to use when we fished at Schroon Lake back in 2009.  It's simply a copper flasher with an orange and brown streamer (fly) tied to the end.  I got my big laker last year using this lure and after I caught my two, my dad tried it and got his big one!

Down rigging in the big water

Driving the boat, nothing beats satellite radio!

The Cabonga Dam

Shhhh, there is someone behind that tree!

Nice parking spot on Sterns Pass, give it a few days, through

Looking down Sterns Pass

My father with his catch

My catch

Lac Andou for first time in 4 years

We never even tried to go to Lac Andou with with water down 7 feet last year and since we didn't come up in 2009, the last time we fished down this was in 2008.  We did our usual, fish down from the dam down through the bay and then through the channel where we caught 3 walleye.

I got the first Walleye in the Ile Richard Channel

Walleye caught down by the submerged ski doo

The Cabonga is up!

Upon arriving at Deer Horn Lodge we were greeted with a full reservoir

It was no surprise since I had been tracking the surface levels.

None-the-less, high water means we aren't restricted to get back into those special spots

The only major improvement to the camp by the new owner is the office

is more like a store and he carriers sundries, canned food, ice cream, and soda.

18 miles on the Rock Road

If you have ever been to Deer Horn Lodge before you will know the last  18 mi (29 km) to the camp can be the most nerve racking, painstaking slowest part of the trip.  In past years it has taken us as much as 2 hours to get down the road pulling a boat.

However, on this trip we got a big surprise because the rock road is improved gravel road and up to the Barrage Barrier.  Apparently there is work being done at the dam and the workers need a smooth road to get there and it was so nice that we were able to average 35 mph!  It brought tears to our eyes.  The last two miles to Deer Horn, however, was business as usual and a slow crawl at 5 to 10 mph.

Fishing with the Boys on the Lily

Nice smallie, real fighter, came out of the water 4 or 5 times!

Elliot catches a nice pumkinseed

Time for pee

You fish and I watch

I would rather eat snacks than fish!

"Can we go home now?"

Tired of fishing antics

Coming home

Fishing with the Cousins

L to R:  Brodie; Olivia; Julia; Katie, Elliot

Olivia catches a pumpkin seed

Brodie hooks one!

So does Katie

Even Uncle Will gets lucky!

Memorial Day Weekend on Lake Lililonah

Brodie Dives the boat

Elliot enjoys the spray

Elliot's turn

Got Bait?

Elliot strikes first with a bass

Brodie is on the board

Elliot tires of fishing

Daddy's turn

fishing a spinner bait

At least I caught something

Geologic Feature across from Monkey Rock

Unless the water was way down like it was during the third week of July when I was at the Cabonga I don't think this would ever get noticed.

Now, I am no geologist but this is some influx of rock material, obviously of a differet consistency and make up then the surrounding rock.

Cabonga Water level as of 8/17/2010

Capacity: 360.88
Current: 358.11
Difference: 2.77 m
Lake Level: Still 9.09 feet down - No change!

Cabonga Water level as of 8/11/2010

Capacity: 360.88
Current: 358.11
Difference: 2.77 m
Lake Level: Still 9.09 feet down - No change!

I was looking through my pictures for past trips and I think back in 1999 or 2000 Cabonga was around this depth once.  I recall meeting this retired guy from South Carolina by the name of Lou who drove up every year and spent a couple of weeks at DHL and had a chart of the lake water depth spanning multiple years.  Of course his gripe with the low water was that it was harder to fish but from what we saw when we were there, while we got skunked a few days, when we were catching Walleyes, we were catching Walleyes!

I think Cabonga has definitely turned the corner as a Walleye fishery because Walleye fishing is getting better and better now.  Just look at all the big Walleyes being caught at DHL this past year as proof in the pudding.  I wonder if competition for forage fish is so fierce now that the Walleye populations are out pacing pike reproduction and that is why the pike fishery is in a state of decline.  While we weren't necessarily fishing for pike we were amazed at how few we caught this trip.

I might have mentioned this last week but I thought I would show you some examples of what 2 feet down would sort of look like.  Going to Stern's pass, you have to pass through this tight channel that I call the Water Falls.  In the picture below, this is in 3 feet of water.  Now imagine this section 2 feet shallower!  Yikes!

Cabonga Water level as of 8/03/2010

Capacity: 360.88
Current: 358.11
Difference: 2.77 m
Lake Level: 9.09 feet down!

Doesn't seem that DHL hasn't updated their website because on the English page they are still saying Lake Level is 5 feets down but on the french side there is bit more information:

Niveau du réservoir Cabonga = 5 pieds sous la normale et il baisse tout les jours.

Barrage Barrière ouvert!

La pêche aux doré est très bonne de la pointe aux Iroquois jusqu'au barrage.

Which translates to:

Cabonga level = 5 feet below normal and down every day.

Dam Gate open!

The walleye fishing is very good Point Iroquois to the dam

Regardless, they are almost off by half.  When I was there, it was up 2 feet then what I am reporting now which means WaWa pass is probably closed and getting to Sterns, you might want to bring a big pole.

What I would like to see is if someone could make an interactive GPS map of the lake that you could set the surface level of and thus get a feeling for what the lake is really like.

A word from Steve Hamel former owner of Deer Horn Lodge

Steve is handing over the reigns of Deer Horn Lodge on August 1st and I thought I would reprint his farewell speech so that it will be forever immortalized in the Interwebs.

There always be something inherently magical about fishing the Cabonga Reservoir.

I've spend the last 3 decades fishing all over this spectacular area, 37 original natural lakes connecting one another, so much water you couldn't fish it all in a hundred lifetimes. Over 400 KM square of water seemingly endless, the most beautifull lake in Quebec Province!

Over the years I have caught numbers of fish and big ones! Many walleyes over 10 pounds, several pikes over 25 pounds and a few lake trout monsters over 30 pounds, the fish grow big and strong in the Cabonga!

My mission at Deer Horn Lodge was to offer a great fishing destination very accessible, with good accomodations and a great service. After all those years I can honestly say ''mission accomplished''!

From every aspect, fishing is true paradise at Deer Horn Lodge, one of the last true outfitter remaining in this modern, space aged world.

It was hard to convince people on how good the place is,  but those that once experienced it returned years after years and some months after months. Most of them became good friends and I want to special thank everyone who beleived in me and my family.

After 3 decades i am leaving the place in good hands, Sebastien Hamel who is my cousin is taking over, he is a passionate and love the outdoors, especialy walleye fishing. Sebastien will keep provinding you with the best accommodations and services that you were used to. The Hamel tradition a Deer Horn Lodge will continue!

A big thank you to all of my customers & friends.

Yours in good fishing.

Steve Hamel