Field Journal

The Numbers Don't Lie

8.03.2014 by Harold Ball

Over the 30 plus years we have been fishing Great Bear Lake, together with a number of friends who have fished with us from time to time, we have literally caught thousands of Lake Trout...

Great Bear Lake Journal - Trophy Lodge - July 14 to 21, 2012

24.10.2012 by Harold Ball

While at times it seems to fly by, a year is actually a very long time – particularly between our fishing trips to Great Bear Lake. Anything can, and sometimes does happen that threatens to throw a wrench into our plans, but in 2012, not unlike the previous thirty plus years for many us, the fates were once again in our corner, we overcame the odds, and would soon be gathering in Edmonton on the first leg of our journey to the "Bear."

Great Bear Lake Journal - July 14 to 23, 2011

30.11.2011 by Harold Ball

While our stay at Trophy Lodge would “officially” run from the 16h to the 23rd, we were compelled by circumstances to gather in Edmonton on the 14th. This was a precursor to flying to Yellowknife on the 15th where we would then catch the Plummer’s Lodge charter to Great Bear on the 16th. Sound a bit confusing?

Pike Heaven

20.01.2011 by Harold Ball

Heading back to the lodge after yet another day of remarkable Pike fishing on the Whitefish River, my fishing partner and I decided this was not the time to turn our backs to the wind, so we spun our seats around so we could watch the splendor of Great Bear Lake unfold in front of us as our boat cut a path across the glass like surface of the water.

Mike's Esnagami Lake Lodge Adventure

14.10.2010 by Michael Brettell

This blog entry, which was written by my nephew, Michael Brettell, describes his trip to Esnagami Lake Lodge this past June. Mikes parents gave him this trip for his 13th birthday and, once he got over the initial disappointment of not getting an iPad, Mike had what he described as an “awesome” time. He out fished and out ate all of us, and even learned a couple of new jokes that he could tell his mom and sisters without getting him, or his dad into too much trouble.

Great Bear Lake - 2010

25.09.2010 by Harold Ball

And in the Beginning… it was just too long! This year’s trip started off with a bang as I walked up to the Air Canada check-in counter in Toronto in preparation to boarding my flight to Edmonton.

Plummers Great Bear Lake Lodge - July 11-18, 2009

25.08.2010 by Harold Ball

And So it Begins.... To be precise, the adventure began on July 10 when six of us gathered in Edmonton in preparation for heading off to Yellowknife and then to the main lodge on Great Bear. Together with yours truly our group consisted of Art Ross, Ken Gold, Derek Ballantyne, Rodney Harback and his nephew Kevin, which gave us a cumulative total of well over 100 years of fishing experience on Great Bear - so there could be no excuses in the event we did not catch a truckload of big fish.

Trophy Lodge - July 12 -19, 2008

29.03.2010 by Harold Ball

I have been somewhat remiss in keeping up my Great Bear Lake trip journal over the past 2 or 3 years. What follows is my attempt to get back on track, and, create a record of the various experiences and events that take place during our annual sojourn to the land of the midnight sun.

Keeping a Personal Field Journal

10.03.2010 by Harold Ball

Years ago it was common practice for explorers, adventurers and just ordinary folks to keep a personal hand written journal. For some their journals were used to compile and publish books about their experiences after returning from the field, and for others, finding the time to quielty reflect and record events as they were happening was the most effective way to leave behind a permanent record of their life experiences.