When I was invited to go on a fishing trip with Richard and Jeff, I was a bit apprehensive.. Not for any other reason than it had been years since I’d been seriously fishing, let alone for 7 days, even so I said yes because it was with Richard and Jeff, with whom I’d enjoyed many a birding trip.
Fast forward many months and it was time to go, What do I bring?, what’s the fishing going to be like, what will the weather, bugs and accommodation’s be like? who could tell.
We left early Saturday morning for the 9 hour drive north, a few Timmy’s and infrequent stops for a few birds and animals along the way.
Jeff and I arrived just after 5 and after stowing our gear and meeting the owners off we all went fishing, wondering what the lake would produce.
Horwood Lake is a huge lake with over 160 miles of shoreline, with structure along every shoreline. Walleye were everywhere.
I went with Richard, who is one hell of a fisherman and even though I had things I wanted to try after a few minutes I realize bottom bouncing wat the was to go. (He boated 3 fish before I even had a nibble).
This overly friendly Loon hung around the boat and we were later told he was out there looking for a handout from fisherman.
The fishing was hot and it didn’t take long for the bite to start.
It was never that warm and the bugs weren’t that bad on the water but by 9:30 the fatigue of the day began to take it toll and it was time to head back and crash.
Over the next 6 days we probably boated over 500 walleye of all sizes, from minnow size to a few in the 25″+ range, here are a few examples.
If walleye aren’t your bag, the lake has many other great and large fish.
I wasn’t very often you weren’t taking a fish off your line, just as with any lake after a cold front moved through fish froze up for an evening but we still caught a few, what a great fishery.
Having Jeff in a boat with you there’s really no need for Merlin and he even hears stuff with the motor running. On one occasion, a bird I really wanted to see was the Canada Warbler and we were trolling in a small bay, Jeff said there’s one. Now if you’ve ever birded with Jeff, if he says its there its there.
Another time we were trolling a rock wall and a Canada Goose, frantically flew over our heads with a Bald Eagle in hot pursuit and landed about 100 yards ahead of our boat. The eagle took two passes trying to strike the goose but it managed to dive our of the way and hide in the underbrush but the Eagle must have been hungry and stayed above it waiting for a large meal.
We hadn’t seen where the goose was hiding and as we drifted close the Canada flew down the lake with the eagle again in pursuit but so you all know the goose is still flying, the eagle gave up.
Jeff was doing point counts whenever he could and we joined him on a few occasions, the birds were plentiful and varied.
Many species were nesting on the lake on it many small islands.
Something new for me Goldeneye with young
We all caught many fish and sometimes we’d think it was a monster fish, wild bending rods and the competition was on….
Neil won largest stick competion
Sad to say I won the competition with a fifty foot rope attached to a home made anchor, I thought it was the mother of all Pike’s, Ha Ha.
A few random photos of the Lodge
View from the cottage
I saw this Luna Moth on top of the water and rescued it and it recovered and was back fly to shore within 30 minutes after it dried out.
On a final note all the fish seen above were live released, we kept some of the smaller fish for a walleye feed at camp.
I’m already thinking of booking for next year.
Thanks to Richard, Neil and Jeff for a great time
(Although I still think Richard was holding out on us, as to where the big fish were, Ha Ha)
BIRDQUEST2004 