Favel Lake

Back in July, Kurt reminisced about visiting Favel Lake and said it was on his bucket list after a failed attempt a few years ago. Well, Bill, Shawn, Brian and I made it back to this lake a few weeks ago. Visions of fish which hadn’t seen lures danced through our heads. Now I was tempted to post monster pike pictures for all of those lurkers out there, but let me tell you the honest story.

Water levels are very high on Eagle right now. Navigating the first part of the stream was a breeze.
Ah yes, it was a glorious day. Just think of those monstoreous pike we are going to see today! Then we came to the first beaver dam. Gord warned us about these. He said there might be more than one.


When I had asked Gord, “who was the last person back to Favel Lake”, he replied “Keith Mitchell”. I began to wonder if he meant Keith the fish? We cruised for a while longer. “That wasn’t so bad”, said Shawn.

Well, then we came to the second beaver dam. This dam had an elevation change of close to four feet. Oh yea, Gord said there might be more than one beaver dam.

 

After breaking through the second beaver dam, I’m thinking that Favel lake just dropped two feet in elevation. Bill says, “those beavers are going to be mighty angry. We slug on. The channel begins to dissapear and is beginning to be consumed by acres of floating bog. We push, pull, and paddle through and over narrow openings in the bog. I’m thinking, “Brian will never want to come back to VBL again”. He troops on.

Can you see the lake from there boys? They reply, “I don’t think so”. We’ve gotten so far back it doesn’t make sense not to continue for a chance for fishing for foolish pike.

 

 

 

 

 

In some places you could stand on top of the bog and it would slowly sink. In other places you went through. At one point I jumped on to a thin layer of bog and went completely through only to catch myself at the arm pits. The water was over our heads. It was like playing a game of frogger. Could it be? Is that the lake up there? Yea, but the channel is completely gone.

Is that a leech I feel crawling up my leg? Those biting flies are awful. Well, we make it to Favel lake and revel at the beauty of this lake on a nice sunny day. We are greeted by three loons who seem puzzled by our presence. Time to start trolling and casting for our sweet, sweet, reward. The lake was thick with pike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing but snakes. If there are big pike in this lake, they are smart and back under the shade in those acres and acres of floating bog. This was the bad news. The worse news was we had to go back through the “death march”. Interestingly that’s the term that one of Gord’s competitors used to describe the 20 minute easy portage to Clearwater lake. Perchmaster….you can take this one off your bucket list. I’ve got the mosquito, fly, and leech bites to prove it.

I’ve learned new respect for the friends and family that join me on these trips. I knew there was a reason I brought them along. I also have a renewed respect for the man or fish they call Keith.This was a true adventure. Now don’t get me wrong. I fished Caribou lake for the first time this spring and I plan on going back. I also plan on trying to explore a new lake on each future trip to VBL. And perhaps this trip should be the hazing event that all new VBL guests like Brian should endure? Get out of the rut and explore all that VBL has to offer!

6 thoughts on “Favel Lake”

  1. Professor
    Reply

    Hi Andy…What you described was right out of Bogart/Hepburn in the African Queen. Did everyone in your party make it back to VBL?

  2. Perchmaster
    Reply

    Hey Andy
    First off GREAT post I loved it. I had at least one heart attack while reading it and I am sore and tired after looking at the pics.
    Andy you got one thing right this trip is now off my bucket list. I know Mike use to go up there all the time in spring but then again he had that little boat and motor, he use to tell us about how he did not catch a darn thing up there.
    Good thing you did not bring the Professor on this trip cause he might still be up on the lake waiting for the float plane, as I and Mark would be.
    Like I told you we tried to do it but was way to much work.
    Now for coming back over those dams Gord could have hooked you up with a guide that would have gave you the ride of your life.
    GREAT POST Andy!!!!!

  4. Andy
    Reply

    Gord….please do not read the following.

    Perchmaster,

    Let's just say we tried to apply the lessons learned from your guide on Bottle Bay. It worked amazingly well on the first dam. On the second one however, we almost killed Bill who went flying to the front of the boat and is likely still wearing a few bruises. Coming to theaters in 2011….Kill Bill III

  6. Gord
    Reply

    Bill is getting too old and frail to be abused in such a manner. So too are my boats!

    Dramatic story Andy. If only you had tied into some of the big walleye that live in that lake! Maybe Keith can give you tips on the "real" way into Favell.

    Proof that VBL guests are not afraid to do a little work to catch no fish!

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