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The opening of Spring fishing is near…

Part of the annual list of chores here at Vermilion Bay Lodge in order to get things ready for the arrival of Spring fishing is to get the boats geared up for the guests on the 3 portage lakes we fish (Clearwater, Highrock, Caribou).  I usually do this in March when the snow is half melted, the ice is still good, and travel through the bush on snowmobile is easy.  This year Mother Nature had a different plan.  Now what to do?  To further complicate matters I was planning on swapping out 3 of the older Johnson motors with some much improved Yamahas.  Even though they aren’t that big, carting them across the portage trails was not sounding appealing.   Oh, did I mention the water levels are way down as well?  No creek travel this spring….

The options:  days of work, or a 7 minute flight….

I chose the latter and I even did a bit of amateur videoing from take off to landing.  To help you get your bearings as you watch this, the takeoff was from the air base just north of Vermilion Bay and as we head south to Clearwater Lake you will see Vermilion Bay (Eagle Lake) off to the left.  If you’re quick you will notice Strawberry Island and Burnt Island.  After that there will be a view of Sportsman’s Bay and Fifth and Broadway off to the right.  Culminating the trip is the view of Clearwater lake dead ahead.  With some of us getting a bit older a person might want to consider a flight on a Beaver as an alternate to the nature walk….. although I did do the trail today and I must say it is darn nice…..no bugs and pretty dry!

Here’s the link….my flight into Clearwater

Flying in the Beaver

Good luck everyone on opening day, and during the spring fishing season.

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