Fishing at Camp Bongopix

There's a feeling of anticipation as the car comes to a stop. You're greeted by Mike and Andrea. They have big smiles on their faces. You unpack your gear and open the door to your cabin. There's an old TV with an Nintendo 64 and a VHS player in the living room. And there's a record player with all of your favourite albums. Outside, the water's just a stone's throw away. It's hard to not feel a stab of jealousy. Some people get to live here all of the time. The town of Whitney is a wonderfully anonymous place.

The water temperature is around 74 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the summer. You submerge your feet and feel refreshed as you sit on the dock and sharpen your hooks. Galeairy Lake is relatively large and it's quite deep in the middle. But it's also home to a number of shallow bays. Use naturally coloured baits. The water is somewhat turbid in a few places but otherwise is relatively clear. When you paddle out of Camp Bongopix the wind is in your face.

An annoying population of rock bass is well-established in the lake. But there's also an abundance of 1-2 pound largemouth and smallmouth bass. In the summer, you can catch them any number of ways. A drop-shot rig can be used successfully at any time, deep or shallow. Wacky rigged plastic worms are another staple, and you might also try fishing with a shaky head. In the evening, when the water's still, tie on a black and white popper and watch the bass explode on it.

If you're blessed by the very elder gods, you're rewarded with the lake's most cherished prize: the golden-brown, toothy walleye. These fish feed actively as night approaches. Don't be afraid to use aggressive presentations in eight to ten feet of water. A jerkbait fished relatively quickly will entice this tasty predator and if you're lucky you will be able to share your triumph over the picky eater and the bounty that is its flesh with those who truly love you.

But if you're alone, you reflect upon and maybe even forget the sadness of your wasted time and energy - the sadness of betraying the people and places that matter most. When you catch a fish you no longer question your abilities and when you're distracted by waves and clouds and rays of dying light you forget about those who doubted you. As the sun disappears behind the trees the sky turns pink and purple and you look around and you're happy that you're alone. Camp Bongopix is a magical place.

To make a reservation at Camp Bongopix, click here. Follow Camp Bongopix on Instagram and Twitter.

Greg Cholkan is a lawyer, fisherman and Hemingway impersonator. He works in Huntsville and Haliburton with Barriston LLP and his practice focuses on real estate, wills and estates, and business matters. Follow him on Twitter: @gregcholkan

Share this post