Ice fishing with Henry & Adam…"The Polish Connection"

The Polish Connection ice fishing team… Henry & Adam are both summertime guests of Vermilion Bay Lodge here on Eagle Lake who decided to team up for an ice fishing excursion.  Henry had the experience from last winter, where he ice fished for the first time ever!  Adam had no experience, and had never even caught a lake trout before.  Nevertheless they both came prepared with all the proper tackle, gear and clothing…..along with several cases of Polish beer (Zagloba, Lezajsk, Zywiec & Tskie), Polish sausage and Pierogi.   Also, the “jet fuel”…….. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="346" caption=""Danger""]don't drink this![/caption]

Before ice fishing……the Polish snowshoe team…

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Strapping on the boards to snowshoe the "back forty""]snowshoeing at Vermilion Bay Lodge[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Henry "pre-heart-attack" holding trees for support!"]On the snowshoe trail[/caption]

Let the ice fishing begin……will Adam catch a lake trout?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Adam's first laker.......Success!"]Adam's first laker[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Number 2...now he's starting to show off..."]Adam's second lake trout[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576" caption="Adam & Henry with a brace of trout....day one."]Ice fishing on Eagle Lake Ontario[/caption]

Things you don’t often see while ice fishing….

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="491" caption="Burton Penner and his dog sled teams"]Burton Penner's dog sled team[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="524" caption="The dog's don't seem to mind the deep snow..."]dog team on Clearwater Lake[/caption]

 More highlights of the Polish ice fishing adventure…

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Adam looking frozen....with a nice lake trout"]Deep water lake trout[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Using tube jigs for lake trout."]Lake trout on a jig[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Is this fish depressed?"]laker[/caption]

Catching pike & walleye ice fishing…

Some other species were caught ice fishing along with the trout…….including this really fat 36 inch pike: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Nice pike caught on a tip-up"]ice fishing for pike[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="655" caption="This is the rig used to catch the pike...it's hard to see the small white spinner above the hook"]Pike rig for ice fishing[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Releasing the fish for another day!"]releasing a northern pike on Eagle Lake[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Some of the best walleye action was at dusk."]Dusk on Vermilion Bay[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="429" caption="Nice color on this winter walleye."]Winter walleye[/caption]

The ice fishing conclusion…

While we did have fun and catch fish, to be honest the ice fishing bite seemed to drop off and there were some slow days.  That’s ice fishing I guess……..there’s always the great scenery! [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Ice fishing serenity"]ice fishing serenity[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Adam proves that trout come in all sizes!"]very small lake trout[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Lake trout on the ice"]laker on the ice[/caption]

How many days of ice fishing are left?

The weather forecast seems to be showing a warming trend about to hit us.  It could be the days of venturing off to far lakes to catch trout are numbered.  It may be time to concentrate on the walleye, pike, perch and whitefish fishing right here in Vermilion Bay.  Today I will head into Clearwater Lake and pull one of my portage boats back to the lodge for some repairs (while there is still plenty of snow to do so!).  Spring is on the way and with it open water fishing.  Hopefully you  all have your dates picked to be up here at the lodge when the fishing action is at it’s prime…till then we will all have to wonder what the final days of ice fishing will bring!]]>

10 thoughts on “Ice fishing with Henry & Adam…"The Polish Connection"

  1. Great job!!!! Some great pics and the little trout was cute must of have been Gord’s prize catch of the week.
    Now that spinner rig is that something someone made for you from Wisconsin?
    Looks like lot of fun was had!!!

    1. Yes, that pike rig was from the ones you gave me. I’m about out of them….a new batch would be appreciated! Particularly like the treble hook versions……. thanks in advance !

      1. So you have been having luck with those rigs!!!
        I guess I better get some together for you to bring with in May..
        See what I can do for ou Gord.

  2. Hi Gord…
    The missus and I have just completed our first week scouting out the prospects for a VBL outpost camp in Hawaii. So far we have not found anything in your price range, but will keep looking until the wine runs out–a few days at best. However, we did get the Hawaiian Fire Dancers lined-up to perform during the Sunday fishfry festivities at VBL this summer. The missus wishes to thank you for releasing that fat northern as she wants a shot at that one as well…Aloha from Kauai

  3. Absolutely excellent presentation. Until recently, that white stuff on the ground was unknown here in Southwestern Alberta. It is definitely interesting to see those winter activities from the Vermilion Bay area. Please keep up those postings

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This is a first class resort located on Vermillion Bay on Eagle Lake. The cabins are very clean and well kept. The boats are new with new motors and are in great shape. The owner will also clean your fish for you after your day on the water. Make no mistake the fishing on Eagle Lake is world class.

The Lodge is owned by Gord and Susanne Bastable who will make you feel welcome and before you know it you feel like family. They are the best of hosts. The atmosphere is low key and laid back leading to a great vacation.

This is my 19th year of enjoying the hospitality of the lodge and i can’t think of going anywhere else on Eagle Lake.

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