the spirit of fishing

Really good report. That looked like quite a storm. The camp looks nice and so do the fish.

It certainly sounds like you're excited and I can't blame you. I'm sure all your homework will pay off and it'll be another great adventure. Can't wait to read about your trip.

Hope you do well and end up in the winners circle.

The Eagles Nest in Bancroft is kind of neat. It's not an actual nest but a lookout high over the town at the north end. It's just across the street from the Tim Hortons if I remember correctly; although the road up to it is a bit further north off highway 62 on the left(east) if you're traveling south.

FloatnFly- The only others in camp were Americans except for one single guy who I believe is retired. At the places we went fishing we didn't see another person so I don't think we ran across the guy you know. Perhaps he stays at one of the other lodges in the area.

Really enjoyed reading about your trip. Sounds like a great place to go. As Mike had said to you, it's the people that make the trip and it appears you had a good bunch of guys who all enjoyed the fish cooperating to make it even better. I'll echo what others have said that it's too bad Mike has decided to stay away from here. I understand a few rotten apples can leave a bitter taste when he's trying to share his great experiences. Just hope he realizes that the vast majority of us on here really enjoyed reading about his adventures and all that he contributed to the site.

Thanks for the nice replies. A few photos now included.

Well the time finally came. Our annual week long trip to Shining Tree Camp started May 28. A week away from our trip the long term weather showed forecasts of beautiful sunny, warm weather all week. The day before departure the forecast had changed. Now the whole week was forecasted to be of changing weather. Rain most days with the sun peaking through only occasionally. The latter forecast was closest to being correct. The majority of rain came through the night so it didnt slow us down. Our usual group of 6 was reduced to 5 due to one member preparing to get married. We had found a replacement for him, however for medical reasons the replacement had to cancel 10 days prior to our departure. An ominous sign of what was to come or a great trip missed by those who couldnt make it? Wed soon find out. We all finished the long drive early Saturday afternoon. Me alone from just outside Ottawa and the others from the Trenton, Kingston area. After unloading and putting everything where it belonged in the cabin it was time to do what we have done over the years. Everyone grabbed a rod and headed to the docks to reacquaint, rehydrate with beverage of choice and watch a slip bobber hoping to catch the first fish of the trip. The other main goal of our dock gathering was to plan our adventures for the next morning. All went well except the bobbers werent getting us any fish, strange because we always have enough action from the dock to keep us enthused. Another sign of what was to come? At any rate a plan was made for very early the next morning to a splake lake we all have enjoyed fishing very successfully previous years. We all agreed this plan would not be altered! , as previous years weve come up with plans that could and would change multiple times. We like our first real fishing of the trip to be very successful for all of us. It pumps everyone up for the days to come. It also puts fish in the freezer, very important as we plan on eating fish for more than half our meals while there. Usually we fish a combination of waters we know where and how to get fish and explore several unfamiliar waters over the week. We find its a good way not to get bored of fishing one place and provides a challenge figuring out new waters. Sunday morning we all waited for someone to get up to start the coffee and by the time the first persons kidneys couldnt hold anymore it was 6:00, already almost 2 hours behind schedule! While having coffee one of the guys decides he wants to go for walleye instead, ok me too. So three go for splake and two of us for walleye. So much for not altering the plan! A few hours later the three splake fishermen meet us at the walleye spot. They only got one small splake. This is a lake we have been able to select which fish to keep previous years .. oh, oh. The two of us fishing walleye faired better. We had 2 bass over 3 pounds and a walleye on the stringer with multiple fish released. Things are looking up. While having our brunch at the cabin our plan for the afternoon is made. Were going to attempt to get into a lake trout lake. Using fish on line I thought I could see a way to drive close to the lake and I convinced the others to give it a try. Unfortunately the trail didnt get us close enough to access the lake. As an alternative we knew of a speck lake wed never fished that was close. It had easy access, too easy we had always thought, but it seemed now was a good time to try it. We fished it for 3 hours and although the occasional fish showed on the finder, we had no action. Time to go back to the cabin and regroup. Three of us old guys decided to relax around the cabin and discus where and what we wanted to do in the coming days. The two younger men went after walleye. The two returned with smiles all around. Multiple fish caught, biggest was a 23 walleye-released along with bass and other walleye, a couple kept for a meal. Overall not a bad day considering we had a couple of setbacks. The rest of the week went much better. Only once were we not able to access a place we wanted to fish, that was because of the trail washed out prior to the launch area. Since we were unable to get to the walleye at that spot we went to another lake and had success there. We also selected some other trout lakes to explore. One each of splake, rainbows and specks. We found cooperating fish in all the new lakes. The biggest fish of the week was a 27 walleye also multiple 21-23 fish (all released), splake almost 5 pounds (released), rainbow 3.7 pounds, specks 2.9 pounds and smallmouth bass 4 pounds. All in all another great week in Shining Tree. Many thanks to our great hosts Derek and Cathy at Shining Tree Camp, we cant wait for our next visit! Pictures to come.

Dave, I went there last week of August last year with my wife, 10 year old, and sister in law and brother in law. We stayed here and loved it. http://www.clubtadoussac.com/ Chalet on a small lake owners were extremely nice. Cabin/cottage was clean, had all electric appliances, full bathroom facilities, charcoal BBQ, firepit ( free wood supplied), however bedding isn't supplied. They have an exclusive territory for trout fishing however we booked a cabin for the accommodation only package for a few nights. Location is about 10 minutes east of Tadoussac and 15 minutes west of Bergeronnes ( most whale tours go from here). I didn't do the whale tours but everyone else took a tour and liked it .I liked this spot to watch them : National Parks Cap de Bon Desir (just eastof Grand Bergeronnes) and Pointe Noir Interpretation and Observation Centre (on the west side of the Saguenay River just before the ferry); both of these are accessed right from Highway 138. As for fishing without need of license this site says it's not required: https://www.sepaq.com/pq/ssl/index.dot?language_id=1 . If I can provide any more info for you let me know.

PM sent.

There is access to the lake at the north end. Go north on Grassy Rd., it's just west of where you put in before. The lake comes right up to Grassy Rd but just before that you'll see a trail on the right that goes to the lake. I was down that trail once looking for a different lake and if your boat isn't too big I think you could launch there. We only tried fishing there once for a few hours and went in the same way you did (before we stumbled on the other trail); caught a bunch of small pike. You can look here using the fish online tool and zoom in to see the lakes layout. http://www.web2.mnr.gov.on.ca/fish_online/fishing/fishingExplorer_en.html

I just read this in the paper. New store for the Ottawa area announced. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Bass+Shops+coming+Ottawa/9160592/story.html

I've used these guys for years in Trenton and still with them now that I've moved to Rockland,On. Always great customer service. If you go to their website you can type in your phone number to see if the service would be available to you. http://www.netrover.com/ Internet service only;sorry,can't help with the phone.

I've fished out of one of these primarily on our annual fishing trip north. We primarily use them on small spec and splake lakes. They've worked well for us,the storage compartment is better than anything else I've seen in it's class and it has a few nice extras-like waterproof storage bag. The one thing I would have liked is a slightly larger cockpit .I found it somewhat difficult/uncomfortable to pull my legs up enough to make exiting easy.We're using them in Northern Ontario in May and are usually dressed warm with raingear as well-so we're a bit bulked up. For the price you can't go wrong and it comes with a decent paddle!

Years ago we caught those when we were fishing for channel cats on the Moira River.They were always a welcome catch because we'd immediately filet them and use the filets for bait.It seemed to be what the bigger channel cats liked the most! Nice catch.

I really enjoyed that. Many videos drag on after a few minutes-yours left me wanting more! Excellent job.

This may suit your needs. http://www.tumblehomelodge.ca/ The lake has almost no development on it so you get a more remote feel without being really remote and holds walleye,pike,bass and jumbo perch. Accommodations were very nice when I stayed there a few years ago.

Outstanding! I've been following your progress throughout and hoped for great end result. You've not only provided us with something extremely interesting to follow but an end product to be proud of. Enjoy it for years to come.

I spent a few days there about 11 years ago when I decided to drive around Ontario for a solo vacation. If the driving didn't eat up so much time I'd have been back. Caught good numbers of eating size fish right at Longlac.

I'll be there the same week. We've been going to this camp for the past 11 years. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Yes Bass is open year round here. The boundary between fishing zones is Highway 560; north of 560 open,south of 560 closed;Shining Tree and the lake is on the north side of the highway.

I've been going to this Camp for the last 10 years, pretty close to your drive time through Sudbury and visitors from Quebec can come in from the East. http://www.duenorth.net/shiningtreecamp/fishing.html Derek and Cathy are great hosts and you can count on them helping you out. I'll be there 26 May 2012 for a week with our regular crew and if you were there at the same time I would also be happy to help you with advice. The home Lake has Walleye,Pike,Bass(open year round) and Whitefish, all of which we've caught while sitting on shore at the Camp having a cold one , so for the less ambitious fishermen they can relax. There are also countless other lakes nearby for the same species as well as Lake,Speckle,Splake or Rainbow trout. Boats/motors for a crew your size shouldn't be a problem and they can provide boats/motor/trailers to venture to different waters. In case you needed it there is an LCBO outlet about 5 minutes away. They have the beds to accommodate your group,availability may be an issue. You can PM me if you need more info or give Derek a call they're open year round.

Congrats!!!!! I was hoping to get out this year to get another one but too many things happening when I hoped to go-so it was no go.... I'm pondering next year though... Let me guess that you more worried about losing that fish than any you've ever had on the line. It's a beauty and I'm sure you'll always remember all the details of catching it.

My thoughts were pretty much identical to what you said Terry.

Last night a good fishing friend mentioned he had been told a rumour about a 2 cycle motors being restricted to specified waters only (who knows what those might be). I'd never heard of any discussion regarding this and wondered if anyone else has. Any truth to this or just a nasty election time rumour spun out of one of the parties war rooms?