Tales from Cabin 14

Wonderland

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

“Wonderland consists of a series of five, interconnected ponds that are fed by underground artesian springs. Each pond features deep, cool, clear water with colours that vary from deep blue to teal and azure. One of the ponds is completely ringed by trees that come right down to the waters edge. The reflections of the trees, combined with numerous deadfalls that are visible beneath the surface of the water, combine to create a hypnotising mosaic of shapes, images and colours…”

Where the Thunder Lizards Roamed

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

“It is a land frozen in time, an ancient place, shrouded in both mystery and legend. The people of Great Bear Lake – the Sahtu Dene, have lived here since the beginning of time as we would perhaps understand it, and through the generations have handed down stories of Na acho – the gigantic mammals and birds that once roamed the earth. While it is unlikely that you will encounter a T-Rex today, the lake now boasts a new generation of giants – Lake Trout…”

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Visiting an Old Friend

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

“I have fished a good many places on Great Bear Lake over the years. While they have all produced big fish at one time or another, particularly Macintosh Bay, where on one rather remarkable day four of us caught and released thirty lake trout totalling 901 pounds – including one monster that tipped the scales at sixty six and one half pounds– the place that brings back some of the fondest memories is McGill Bay…”

Uncle Harry

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

Uncle Harry was a character. Born and raised in Welland, Ontario, during his eighty five plus years, Uncle Harry was a husband, father, grandfather, musician, soldier, police officer, fisherman, friend, uncle and of course, a character. He lived each day of his life as if it might be his last, and encouraged those around him to do the same.

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My first, of what were to be many encounters with Uncle Harry, was on one of those Christmas visits every kid had to endure, as we were dragged off to visit family and friends that were only seen, or heard from during the holidays. I always dreaded those visits, and clearly remember my dad literally shoving me through the door…

Styling on the Kogluktualuk

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

After many years of planning, the stars and planets were finally in their proper alignment, and I was about to make my first trip to the legendary Tree, or Kogluktualuk River in Nunavut, to fish for what are arguably the worlds biggest Arctic Char.

5.01.2012 by Harold Ball

Esox petricus invisibilus “We were about to head over and work the weed line, when I spotted something that looked strangely out of place next to that lone stick of grass. We slowly moved over to take a look, and there was Peter, stuck in behind that one bit grass, with an expression on his face that only a mother could love. I guess you could say that Peter was not exactly the sharpest knife, or in this case Pike, in the drawer, because you got the distinct impression, he thought that he was invisible…”