Ice Out Update #4

Real progress has been made since the last update! Mother Nature has been working her magic on the snow and ice…..here’s what it looks like today…..

A rainy Monday has helped get rid of the snow but ice is still tight to shore in most places. The creek has opened up giving the ducks, geese and heron something to do.

No, we didn’t adopt a Great Dane…….those are pine cones.

Here’s a shot from yesterday with a bit more sun. VBL coming out of hibernation mode.

Sensing open water soon? Still time to get your guess in for when the ice is gone from Vermilion Bay…..send me your date! (El Gordo)

So what’s with the old camp image at the top of the page? I came across this relic while searching for another photo. I think I’ve used it in a post before but what the heck, seems new to me…..

So this must be at least 40 years old…….back in the 70’s or 80’s. Lodge is a lovely white color and much smaller. The building behind the fish house was, I believe, the ice house. For those too young to understand “back in the day” ice blocks were cut from the lake and stored in wood shavings in the ice house for summer use. The cement pad is still there. Another interesting note is the location of what is now cabin 7 & 8……..seems they were up the hill behind what is now cabin 5 & 6.

Speaking of “back in the day”…check this out.

El Gordo back in my guiding days at Lindmeier’s North Shore Lodge (Eagle Lake) with probably the laziest guest I ever had to guide. Can’t recall his name, but the only one to use a lawn chair recliner while fishing. Note my shore lunch gear in the burlap sack and the vintage Cardinal 4 reel…. I’m pretty sure the chair came on shore with him at lunch time.

Speaking of the “old days” at North Shore Lodge, and slowly getting to the purpose of this retro train of thought, here’s a recent photo of 3 amiga’s brought back together after 35+ years.

I can’t recall the year but this group was part of the waitress pool at North Shore Lodge……..Denise, Tracy & Susanne.

So as the story goes, Rick (Lindmeier) hired Susanne (from Southern Ontario, over the phone) to work that summer. Susanne then asked Rick if he might have jobs for her two friends. In the end an exciting time was had by all…..for those that know Rick, a younger, thinner and more permed version……..

Ricardo presenting a prize at likely the NSL “Musky Hunt” to Susanne……… As disturbing as this picture might be, be warned…….look no further than this should you suffer from PTSD syndrome……..

Well, I warned you. El Gordo in, what may be described as his musky prime. Note the adaptation to having no trolling motor……back trolling with your foot on the 20hp Johnson while tossing a Suick. I think I should resurrect the shorts…..probably a head turner when I coast down to the boat house this summer sporting them.

So you’ve probably realized by now that there is no purpose to this “weave” of ice photos and old half naked Gord pics…. Is there a moral to the story? Maybe how connections continue over time……..or…….. it’s good to remember we weren’t always such old bastards? In either case stay tuned for the next update, and get that fishing gear ready……things are moving quickly.

Signing off for now……“Lucky Old Bastard”