Checking out where Grandpa went fishing

Jerry Yeskis was a long time guest here and he always wanted his grandkids to experience Viking Island. This summer Katherine, and twins, Bianca and Jacob, came with Uncle Doug and friend Tony. Oh yes, they did fish and had a good time doing that. They hung a nice walleye from a stringer from the side of the boat. They were planning on such a great shore lunch. A northern had a different idea!

Doug struggled to keep lines straight, and hooks baited.

But, Viking Island is not just about the fishing. Katherine wanted to learn how to make butter tarts and she ended up just making them all, pastry and all. Bianca and Katherine then made the ever popular whoopie pies (kind of like huge oreos, but much better) Jacob decided to help with breakfast and turned up before 7 am each morning to be my short order cook.

I tried to keep all three for the summer, but Uncle Doug would not agree!!

Ham Radio with Morse Code

Don Sommerfeld came to Viking Island with his portable Ham radio gear. Each morning he set up his radio on the deck of the Eagle's Nest Cabin and tapped away to people all over the world. He was amazed at how clear the air is up here. (Well there isn't much background noise up here!)
He talked about bringing friends up here far a week of fishing and Ham Radio.
I sure hope it happens.
Anyone else interested?

Tyler and his Grandpa

Sometimes it is so great to see guests return after many years. Chuck brought his son, Brian, when he was 8 and they returned each spring until Brian left home and entered the working world. Over those years they brought friends, sisters and mom on some trips and my kids got to know them all. They swam their way up and down Onnie Creek, fished and made their own fun on the island and around the lake.

Now Brian has a young family of his own (and some gray hair). They are back with Maggie's son, Tyler, the first grandchild, to show him Douglas Lake. I am hoping to see a whole new generation of Cavanaugh kids as the years go by

Tyler jumped onto to the dock excited about fishing and never stopped......until just before supper!

What Happened to the Game Cam

Matt and I are having fun with a Game Cam that Arthur gave Hugh for Christmas. We've seen bald eagles, turkey vultures, squirrels and crows. BUT something is messing with the cam......

Sasquatch??

Chris Terry and his Father

Lurenet.com had a father's day fishing story contest. I submitted a story about the pike my dad caught on Nighthawk Lake and it was included as one of the winners.

My father and I bonded over fishing. Growing up, it was the special thing we did together. I have a lot of great memories from the time we spent together in a boat, but the best happened just before my own son was born. (Photo: Chistopher's Dad with a big pike.)

Knowing that Grandfather/Grandson would likely be the new fishing equation, my Dad and I decided to take one last trip as father and son. We went on a fly-in out of Red Lake, Ontario, for a week in the Canadian outback. It was one last week of fishing together. The walleye fishing was pretty good, but on the second to last day we were trolling along a bluff bank when Dad moved to set the hook.

His hook set stopped dead and he thought he was hung but I could see that the rod was still pumping, and I knew the fish had to be huge. I stopped the boat and turned toward the fish. It was a massive northern pike and it took off on a solid run.

Dad froze when he saw the size of the fish. He had never seen one so big, and he literally didn’t know what to do. His reaction was to do what he had done when I was a kid; Hook a big fish and let me reel it in to “catch it.” But as an adult, the tables had finally turned. As he frantically pleaded for me to take the pole from him, I held up my hands and refused. I told him this one was all about him.

I proudly watched as my Dad, the man who had for years handed me the rod every time he hooked a fish, fought the largest fish of his life. Four hard runs and 20 minutes later I scooped up a 40-inch northern pike with the net and handed it to my dad for a picture. We worked together to revive the fish as it swam off. I was never prouder to be his son than I was in that moment.

In time for my son to be born I felt the father/son cycle had come full circle between Dad and me, and I hope that someday I’ll be able to share that feeling with my own son.

How the heck do you get a Boat into Optic?

You need to know how to fly a boat and have an approved boat rack. Then you need to be very diligent about tying it on and checking all the details. Russ Stephenson, our Beaver pilot, is just the guy for the job. He loves to fly and takes great pride in his airplane and the jobs they do together.

From Viking Island to Telescope

John Amann, Dave Martin and Roger Dieckman have come to Viking Island for years. This season, though, they decided on a change and booked Telescope Lake. Here they have the lake to themselves, they cook their own meals and decide where to fish without advice from Hugh. I can see that Telescope is well suited to their style of fishing and relaxing, and I am sure that their cooking is up to snuff.

Enid,

We really missed seeing you this year and just enjoying the time spent on the Island. Hugh told us about the pie and the three of us figured out that it was his master plan to leave the Island early so that the pie would still be there when he got back. It was really sweet of you though to think about us and it is appreciated.

After looking at the blog I see that Rhian should also be thanked as I see she is busy making the pie shells. She is a cutie for sure and has to be a real treasure to have out there with you.

We really enjoyed Telescope this year and will probably return there next year if we are all able. Again a little sad to miss you along with all the regular boys at the Island too. We sure couldn't even compare the meals and cooking with that on the island but we sure didn't starve either. No blueberry pie or even rhubarb (whew). God willing we will be back at the Island in the not so distant future though and really look forward to that as well.

Hope you have a great year out there and meet lots of new guests as well as greet the old ones like us.

Stay safe and well,

John

Fish with the Vikings your style

We are Lucky to have great Pilots

Russ likes his Dehaviland Beaver, EZW. He would fly all day everyday if only Craig would send him on more missions. Anyone need a flight....

Tim has graduated this season from the Red Cessna 180 (BYA) to the better performing Blue Cessna 180 (HVD). Yesterday he flew into camp with the Cessna 185 (HXA). He tells me that Craig is training him on the Beaver (GMB).

One Proud Gramma

This is my granddaughter, Rhian Abby Nault.

Oh, I SO need a Cook!

Moose on Douglas Lake

More pictures from Andy Chramowicz.

This time of year, we often see cows with their calves, but this young cow appears to be alone. Two weeks ago, Matt heard a calf calling for its mother just at dusk. He called and the calf came right out to the shore. Then he heard a cow call and Matt left the area, hoping that the two found each other even in the dark.

Eagles of Viking Island

Thank you Andy Chramowicz

Another Day of Adventure for Mike and Crew

At Viking Island, we have lots of portages with boats, motors and gas ready to go. There are also plenty of lakes just one more lake over. Maybe a group will get there each season, sometimes 2 groups. Things won't be perfect when you head out to thefarthest reaches. All that is guaranteed is that it will be an adventure and each trip will have its own surprises.

Well, you may need to carry a motor.
Oh, the handle could be broken off the motor that is there. How did that happen??









Or the kill switch needs to be jerry rigged...... don't tell Hugh!

And you may be surprised at what you catch!

Here's to a good old fashioned Adventure.
Fish with the Vikings your way.

Some Guys like an Adventure

Mike Martin, Kyle Nolan, Bill Buc and Jack Ahler come prepared to travel. The lake, farthest away and toughest to get to, is where they head. Rain, shine, wind or hail, they are off to a different lake.

Of course, there are rewards.

Eagle on the Nest

Back in the 1970's and early 1980's, it was rare to see a bald eagle in this region....except for Douglas Lake and west to the Manitoba border and down to Ear Falls. This small part of Northwestern Ontario had a constant but not large population of eagles. They somehow escaped the DDT problem that left their egg shells too thin. Now that DDT is no longer used, they are back in nice numbers all across the north and always a delight to see. (Unless you are a seagull)

Thank you Andy Chramowicz for these great pictures.

Trials of the Junior Pilot

Tim Kachur is our Junior Pilot even though it is his second year of flying with us. His main job is to shoulder all the blame for whatever.

"Where is the tool box? It's been missing for a week."
"Oh, here it is, sitting in the rain at Domain."
" TIM!!!" (might have been Russ)

Our Facebook Page

If you are interested in what's happening at Viking Island or the Outposts, please go to this page and "like" the page. Maybe you have some pictures you could add to the page.
Thank you
Viking Island and Outposts Facebook Page

A Viking Island Storm

The weather is part of any fishing trip and it is a treat when supper is just over and we can watch a storm from the comfort of the lodge.

Good friends, good fishing, good times

Jimmy Ogg came in 1987 with his Dad and here he is with Stephanie (Craig's daughter) and Gwyneth (Hugh's daughter) Oh back in the day..... it seems like yesterday.

Jimmy convinced his Dad to make another trip this way and five of them came including grandson, Sean. No group could be more enthusiastic about fishing than these guys. Lake trout fishing rocked. Northern fishing rocked. Walleye jigged rocked. Even my cooking was fantastic!

Jim Ogg returns after 24 years

Jim Ogg brought his son fishing in 1987 with Herb Pozdro and Joe Petykowski. This year he brought his son, grandson, son-in-law and good friend......What a great group! Very entertaining at the dinner table..... On the first day, Sean threw his rod and reel in the lake on a cast. Mike gets way excited about northern fishing. Poppa tries to get everyone up and at it early in the morning. Brian adds his humorous take on the day. Jim, the instigator of the trip, gets guys going and travelling aboard to different lakes.

On May 30, they headed out for Caribou Lake with Tom Robertson. When they returned late for supper, it was hilarious to meet them at the dock. Sean jumped out before the boat hit the shore and began telling fish stories. Mike yelled, "Caribou freaking rocks!" They found the northern and the lake trout with Len Thompson spoons. (Mike had read Hugh's fishing advice and bought enough for everyone.) The weather was cold and windy but Mike was ready to camp out there and forget supper. They even saw a woodland caribou and calf swim from an island in Caribou and a huge bear lumber along the shoreline. I hope he didn't find the calf.


















They found 3 of these unusual lighter colored lake trout. Usually all the fish I see are those dark dark fish. All these fish and the northerns were all returned to the lake immediately...making me very happy.

If you ever get bored fishing after years on the lake, just invite someone new. They will remind you how awesome a good day of fishing really is.