For 4 years now, a group of dedicated anglers load up their gear and head into the Calabogie Highlands for 4 days of fishing in the Hills. Having met online years ago it gives us all a chance to catch up as attendees come from all over the province.
This year we had quite a variety of transportation to get us all in. I drove in Lil Red, my 1983 Yamaha Bravo. She treated me well all weekend and I likely put 65 miles on it! Quads and Sleds were the main mode of transport but one of the guys came in on a Wilcraft, quite the machine!
We stay at a local hunt camp that is situated on Centennial Lake. It is a great camp that can sleep as many as 40. This year we had 25 campers.
The lakes in the area are stocked by the OMNR and gives us the options of Lake Trout or doing a bit of travelling to the many Brook Trout lakes around. In the past I’ve mainly stuck to the Lakers but this year did some adventuring out on the other lakes.
This trip isn’t so much about the fishing, it’s alot of about catching up with friends you may only see once a year. Big Meals, Great Poker Games and Huge laughs always trump the actual fishing. Though we do spend about 10 hours a day fishing it never gets real serious on the ice.
After all, How can you get overly serious when you are fishing with vistas like these?
But we did actually get some fish! I spent a total of about 2 days fishing on the laker lake and was rewarded with two of the better lakers I’ve pulled from that lake, not giants by any means but with 3 pound test line and ultralites to match the size of the fish they sure are fun!
When I wasn’t on the Laker bite I joined a group headed off into the hills, GPS in hand we made our way 15 miles to a brook trout lake. The run alone was worth it! Marking access waypoints on my GPS for future trips will prove to be handy.
While the Brookies wouldn’t join in on the fun we started a fire and took it all in.
Every year we have a big fish contest where everyone throws in a few bucks in a winner take all pot. I provided via HT Enterprises a 2nd Place prize this year of a fine collection of ice jigs spoons. The organizer of the trip (Brian) took top place with a 23 plus inch laker! He bumped Bill our hardluck buddy in the final hour but the jigs and spoons helped ease Bill’s pain.
Brian’s great Grey!
In the end, it was a fantastic weekend in the bush. A great getaway with life long friends with simply share the passion for angling.
