Killarney portaging/fishing trip + new PB smallie!

[GTAbassangler]

Hey guys, been real busy ever since I've gotten back and haven't had a chance to post a thread about my trip. Anyways, to sum it up I had a great time, however it was cut short and didn't end the way I thought it was going to. My buddies dad's pocket was $155 lighter, thanks to the park warden that happened to canoe by as we were packing up.

I went with 2 of my buddies and one of their fathers.

So we left on Sunday July 6th at ~8am from Burlington and started the drive which took ~5 and a half hours or so. We registered and paid through the killarney provincial park, "George lake". We had intentions of staying until the following Thursday afternoon (10th), however we didn't make it. My buddy happened to get sick the day before we left and he wasn't doing too well. 150$ later each person, for camping/canoe rentals we found ourselves on the shore of a lake.


Launch point:

Our route we took is marked red for canoe and black for portage. All in all, it took us about 3 hours to get there. Starting on Carlyle lake and ending on Kakasie.
We stayed on the little island my red line ends at....which wasn't a official marked "campsite". There were 3 designated "campsites" along the entire lake. The larger island had one cabin on it, that housed an older gentleman we passed him a few times fishing, sitting on his dock. This was my buddy's dads 5th time doing this and every time he has stayed on this island. It had a distinct fire pit and a perfect clearing for a tent and what not.

We got to our "campsite" at around 5pm that evening, set up our tent and everything we had to do, scavenge for dead firewood and then got our lines wet.
First day my buddy caught 18 smallies, all ~1lb and under. I myself landed 9, missed a bunch nothing very big however. I was trying to get my hands on some pike...which didn't work out. My other buddy got 2 and his father got 7, this all in a matter of 3-4 hours.

I noticed they all had pretty fat bellies, however they weren't very long.

Weather was almost perfect, overcast, no wind, we found ourselves a little cove and were having a blast. We shut er down for the night.
I woke up the following morning, to a dew/fog over the mountain/hill tops and a really nice scene. I didn't have the time, however I imagine it was some time around 6:30-7am. Threw almost everything I brought, hardbait wise waiting for everyone to wake up, with no luck. There was a bit of thunder that night. Probably shut the fishing down

Later that afternoon, the sun came through and the wind picked up. Had a little friend that was messing around with us for 2 hours or so. Kept comming up the the ledge poking his head up and swim back down. Wouldn't leave us alone! Curious little bugger!
(snapping turtle)

We were having no luck, so we decided to get in our canoes and find a new spot somewhere along the lake. We could not find ANY fish. I assume it had to do with the thunder.
This little bugger was the only thing I managed to catch all day. Tiny rockbass the size of my lure. fml

All day fishing with almost no luck wasn't the most fun but you know what they say, sometimes its just nice to get out! :mrgreen:

The following day, (monday) the fishing picked up a bit. We did some early morning fishing and my buddy's dad hooked into a nice smallie with a white and black crankbait.

I was stubborn and was fishing by myself on the other side of the island and was having no luck. So I switched sides to fish with the rest of them and a few hours later I struck gold.

 

[GTAbassangler]

The thing was a chunker! We didn't bring a scale, due to the portage and room...etc
I assume it was around 5lbs if not more. I was using a strike king coffee tube, dark green color with red and green sparkles. The thing inhaled it! Hit it like a truck and went straight down. When he came up and jumped I freaked out.

It beat my previous personal best smallie I caught last fall in Tobermorry, at least I think it did.

(my previous best)

We ended up taking a hike up one of the mountains (3000ft if you call that a mountain?) to a lake/pond my buddy and his dad saw last year that they never fished. It was a INTENSE hike.
This was how most of the trail was, scaling rocks and some parts were even worse than this.

And of course, when we got there 75% of it was dried up and was a complete bust. No fish. A few hours wasted and a TON of energy.
WEHEW!

We got to get really close to a deer munching on some greens in one of the coves we were fishing in too, I thought it was pretty neat. The picture doesn't justify it, but we were really close.
He could of cared less where we were.

Still no luck on some pike though, I was trying anything and everything! Spinners, spinnerbaits, rapala minnows, etc!
So we shut er down for that day, went back and made some steaks over the fire.

I forgot to add this up there, but the first afternoon I got to see a bear and 2 cubs acrossed the channel. Not the best picture, but you can definitely make out a bear. However the 2 cubs are hiding

 

[GTAbassangler]

So when we arrived back to our "campsite" or little island for that matter, my buddy was barfing and he really wasn't doing too well. It had been raining for a few hours now, and everything was pretty much soaked through and through.

We made it back to our camp only to be greeted by 2 park wardens canoeing by 5 minutes after we arrived. They informed us that this was not a designated campsite and we would have to move. With my buddy feeling like crap, everything soaked, we just decided to pack it in a day and a half early. The park wardens were complete pricks, the fire pit was distinct and there is no way you are telling me there has been nobody else staying on this island ever before. My buddy's dad had stayed on that exact island the other 4 times he has been up there and had no problems. So whatever they moved on, took his name and made sure we even paid and we continued packing up. We got back to the car, after one hell of a portage. We had to stop numerous times and bail out the canoe, EVEN ON LAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREST IT WAS RAINING THAT HARD. It was terrible. The trail through the forest was more like a river and literally everything was absolutely drenched. So Mr. Park warden decided to wait for us at the car and ended up giving us a 155$ ticket for "unlawfully staying on a campsite"...
So basically, we goofed up, didn't think it would be a problem and got caught. We cleaned up after ourselves 100% just like any half decent human being would. My buddy's dad was completely pissed.

He is currently trying to fight it with the park head warden, and what not. However, to no prevail...yet

So that was my few days, cut short but whatever. Was one hell of time

Fish count:

Me:11
Buddy1:23
Buddy2:9
Buddy's dad:8

All smallies, besides the one rockbass I got my hands on. ALL fish were released

Tightlines,

Matt

Ps.in 2 weeks I will be making another trip up to Tobermorry for 2 weeks this time and will for sure have another thread incoming!


Got to see a big rig rollover on the way down 69 as well, was a real eye opener to see.

 

[Christopheraaron]

A couple of things, just give up on that battle with the park first of all. Although you weren't doing any harm you were technically in the wrong. The warden really should have just told you to go to another site without fining you since you did pay and weren't clearing out a new site, but now that the ticket has been issued there's really nothing you can do.

And secondly when you see an accident on the highway where someone could have been seriously injured or killed don't say it was "neat", either respectfully comment or just don't mention it, simple as that!

Nice report though, looks like you got into some good fish up there and that new pb is a very nice catch!

 

[GTAbassangler]

The ticket has nothing to do with me, I figured that was the way it worked but i'm not really worrying about it. I was just brought along

For a "city guy" like me, you don't see things like that very often. The driver hit the loose shoulder and lost it in the ditch. He was standing on the side of the road talking to the cops. If it was anything serious it wouldn't be there.

Thanks, it sure was! Unfortunate that I didn't get my hands on any pike however,

 

[fishing89]

awesome report! I just returned from that area (went to Killbear) but due to my car being at the mechanic, I had to rely on people my age for transportation and camping goods...and well lets just say alcohol was the only thing they brought . Luckily I was able to bring my tent, tarp and chairs...me and my gf were the only ones not soaked due to the tarp haha

I left all my gear in the trunk of my car, so I didnt bring anything with me, however I dont think it would have done any good anyways. Fishing GB from shore is, well a waste of time. I saw large schools of tiny minnows at the beach, and lots of boats parked, but i dont think that many fish would be present. Still, i did hear reports of people catching steelies from the rocks in the morning....however this is based on some "reliable" internet posts haha

 

[Dozer]

Quite the trip you had

 

[GTAbassangler]

I passed the killbear sign on the way down 69, name rang a bell!

Wow...that sounds like quiet the trip! I couldn't imagine doing that!
Hey, you're on this forums that should tell you something!

Yes indeed, it was one hell of a trip

 

[salmotrutta]

The park wardens were complete pricks

Such is often the case. When dealing with them, or OPP marine, etc, good words to remember are "sorry, I was wrong" "it won't happen again", kind of like when dealing with a woman!

 

[GTAbassangler]

We knew we were in the wrong, as soon as they informed us. We left it in the shape we got there, hell we even disassembled a fire pit made out of big rocks they asked us to do....which we never made.

This was my buddy's dads 5th trip up there and had stayed on this island every time, with no strings attached. You're telling me they had no idea people were staying on it? There were trees chopped down and booze bottles on one of the ends of the island so you are telling me nobody else stays there...?

We said we were leaving and had no problem with it...being compliant as ever... and still a nice $155 ticket waiting for us after a 3 hour portage/canoe trip.... A nice way to arrive back at the car thats for sure.

We know we messed up, but really. Was for sure a crappy way to end a trip

 

[cptpronin]

Nice hog!

 

[cptpronin]

A couple of things, just give up on that battle with the park first of all. Although you weren't doing any harm you were technically in the wrong. The warden really should have just told you to go to another site without fining you since you did pay and weren't clearing out a new site, but now that the ticket has been issued there's really nothing you can do.

And secondly when you see an accident on the highway where someone could have been seriously injured or killed don't say it was "neat", either respectfully comment or just don't mention it, simple as that!

Nice report though, looks like you got into some good fish up there and that new pb is a very nice catch!

^
Agreed

But keep those big bass coming.

 

[GTAbassangler]

Thanks a lot man! I hope to have a few more of those to share with ya'll in a few weeks when I get back from Tobermorry!

I am not sure whats going on, even if they are still pursuing the ticket... Not really my business!

 

[cityhunter]

What a trip, Awesome pictures and thanks for sharing.

 

[GTAbassangler]

What a trip, Awesome pictures and thanks for sharing.

Thanks man! It was a great time at that!