Two years ago my group base camped on Shade and I can still visualize the portage to Grey Lake. Fortunately for us it was a dry August and the swamps were about dry. There were some logs to cross a couple wet areas and my partner for the day slipped off and went in to his knees cussing the whole time.

Every portage is a new adventure and I didn't mind the effort to get into Grey. It's a beautiful smaller lake with interesting rock to view. Absolutely, extremely , incredibly, FISHY LOOKING, but we didn't get a bite the whole time.(Lot's of fronts came through on that trip and catching fish consistently took a lot of effort). But the best thing about it is that I got to see one more hidden treasure this place holds around every bend in the trail, on the lake or river.

I've had some great trips but I believe the "BEST TRIP" will always be the next trip.

I did have an interesting experience at our camp on Shade one night. After night fishing on a calm night I returned to camp and as I beached the canoe a wild animal chase began. Up the hill behind my group a ground squirrel or something began screaming & screeching, and we could hear something larger snarling & chasing it down the hill straight towards me. I picked up a paddle "Just in case " but it was pitch dark and with no light it looked as if I was in the wrong place at the right time. The guys in camp got up from the campfire to try and see the action, and shined a tiny flashlight towards me. I was standing on the rocky shoreline and the BEAST murdered whatever it was right at my feet in the tall grass. The victim let out one last blood curdling scream as the final attack rolled around in the darkness,and as I whacked at the weeds with the paddle a couple times. Then all was quite once again, as I scampered up the hill to the security of a campfire.

I'll be doing the Prairie to Carp, to The Man Lake chain, trip this August, could anyone share some information on that area. I like bushwacking into smaller Lakes off the main lakes for the incredible fishing the smaller lakes often offer.

Tight Lines to all.......................

Posted by Dave Daniels on January 20, 2000 at 21:58