Ghost Lake - July 17, 2007
The wind was calm this morning so it was off to Ghost Lake I went.
I only went a total of two and a half miles but it took just over an hour. When I went to the island, I started drifting around to watch the fish. The fish where only around six inches long or shorter but it was fun watching them. Occasionally the would start to follow the boat as well. I did take some photos but they kind of suck so I won't insult you by posting them but I did get some photos of a couple of Loons.
Later in the day Wendy and John met me at the beach and I took John in the kayak over to the island to see the fish. He was pretty excited at that. After watching the fish for a while we went back to the beach where we spent some time swimming.
The wind was calm this morning so it was off to Ghost Lake I went.
I only went a total of two and a half miles but it took just over an hour. When I went to the island, I started drifting around to watch the fish. The fish where only around six inches long or shorter but it was fun watching them. Occasionally the would start to follow the boat as well. I did take some photos but they kind of suck so I won't insult you by posting them but I did get some photos of a couple of Loons.
Later in the day Wendy and John met me at the beach and I took John in the kayak over to the island to see the fish. He was pretty excited at that. After watching the fish for a while we went back to the beach where we spent some time swimming.
Watching the fish on Ghost Lake
Here you can see the island on Ghost lake where I would drift around watching the fish. The distance between the island and the shore is only about 30 feet or so but that would be a bit of a guess.
On this map, in the lower left corner area, you can see where I would drift around watching the fish in a area that is actually quite shallow.
In one spot, it's only foot or two deep but it's a interesting area for watching the fish.
Top
Here you can see the island on Ghost lake where I would drift around watching the fish. The distance between the island and the shore is only about 30 feet or so but that would be a bit of a guess.
On this map, in the lower left corner area, you can see where I would drift around watching the fish in a area that is actually quite shallow.
In one spot, it's only foot or two deep but it's a interesting area for watching the fish.
Top
Ghost Lake - July 19/23 2007
As you can see on this map, there is actually two trips that where tracked by the GPS. The first trip, on the right half of the map, wasn't completely tracked as the GPS died on me! Darn batteries.
The left half of the map shows my trip on July 23rd. It's hard to see on this small map but I was checking out hundreds of minnows that where swimming just below the surface. They ranged in size from about 2 inches to about 4 inches long. Each school consisted of fish of their own size.
Slowly paddling through this area, I started hearing what sounded like a single fish jumping so I slowly and quietly turned the boat around to see if I could spot the fish. What I was actually hearing was a school of these minnows breaching the surface as one. I'm not really sure exactly what they where doing but there would be a large number from each school that would come to the surface in a small area about 5 square feet which sounded like one large fish jumping.
I went over to this area to see if I could spot the fish and sure enough I found about 4 different, distinct schools. They didn't appear to spook too easily, and one school would bump my hull! Not sure what they where trying to tell me, but I didn't stay too long in the area as I was running a little low on time - I had to get back to work.
It was quite fascinating to watch the fish. It reminded me of wales swimming in circles around krill while releasing air to form bubbles. This would cause the krill to group together, and that was when the wale would come up from below and scoop up as much of them as they could.
Are the minnows doing something similar? I have no idea. But it was neat to watch.
I've gone on a few more kayak trips since this one but I either didn't take the GPS, or on a couple times, I took John with me. When I take John, we go to the island to see if we can see the larger fish (6-8 inches?). He gets pretty excited when he spots one!
On one trip out to the island, I handed him the paddle to see if he could do it. To my surprise, he actually tried his hand at paddling. Unfortunately, he was not strong enough to paddle well but he had fun trying.
Top
As you can see on this map, there is actually two trips that where tracked by the GPS. The first trip, on the right half of the map, wasn't completely tracked as the GPS died on me! Darn batteries.
The left half of the map shows my trip on July 23rd. It's hard to see on this small map but I was checking out hundreds of minnows that where swimming just below the surface. They ranged in size from about 2 inches to about 4 inches long. Each school consisted of fish of their own size.
Slowly paddling through this area, I started hearing what sounded like a single fish jumping so I slowly and quietly turned the boat around to see if I could spot the fish. What I was actually hearing was a school of these minnows breaching the surface as one. I'm not really sure exactly what they where doing but there would be a large number from each school that would come to the surface in a small area about 5 square feet which sounded like one large fish jumping.
I went over to this area to see if I could spot the fish and sure enough I found about 4 different, distinct schools. They didn't appear to spook too easily, and one school would bump my hull! Not sure what they where trying to tell me, but I didn't stay too long in the area as I was running a little low on time - I had to get back to work.
It was quite fascinating to watch the fish. It reminded me of wales swimming in circles around krill while releasing air to form bubbles. This would cause the krill to group together, and that was when the wale would come up from below and scoop up as much of them as they could.
Are the minnows doing something similar? I have no idea. But it was neat to watch.
I've gone on a few more kayak trips since this one but I either didn't take the GPS, or on a couple times, I took John with me. When I take John, we go to the island to see if we can see the larger fish (6-8 inches?). He gets pretty excited when he spots one!
On one trip out to the island, I handed him the paddle to see if he could do it. To my surprise, he actually tried his hand at paddling. Unfortunately, he was not strong enough to paddle well but he had fun trying.
Top
Gullwing Lake - September, 2007
Here you can see the path I took on the west end of Gullwing Lake. I didn't have a lot of time to go for a longer paddle as I had to get back to work soon.
As it was, I got my truck stuck on the road out of the lake.
Here you can see the path I took on the west end of Gullwing Lake. I didn't have a lot of time to go for a longer paddle as I had to get back to work soon.
As it was, I got my truck stuck on the road out of the lake.
This map shows how large the lake is. From one end to the other it's approximately 8 miles long and 2 miles wide at the widest.
It's proven quite difficult for me to get into the lake with the truck and kayak, but I finally made it in.
It was getting back out that was the hardest part.
Top
It's proven quite difficult for me to get into the lake with the truck and kayak, but I finally made it in.
It was getting back out that was the hardest part.
Top
After a 20 minute drive on one mile of really rough road, I was presented with this view of the 'boat launch' on the west end of Gullwing Lake.
When I first started out, the wind was not too bad, but the sky was overcast. On my way back to the truck, the wind really picked up making for tough paddling but I did get a nice workout.
Top
Top
A photo of the shore just a few minutes from where I put in. I wanted to capture the trees on the shore, and the reeds.
For this photo I actually changed out the sky for a nicer one.
For this photo I actually changed out the sky for a nicer one.
Gullwing Lake is about 8 miles long and 2 miles wide at the widest point. In this photo you are able to see part of the shore that is about 5.5 miles away.
Top
Top
in this box:Please make a donation if you use my copyrighted photos for your project/site.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Copyright © 1993-2010 Derek Kennedy
Best viewed with FireFox 3.5 or IE8 at 1024x768 or larger
Best viewed with FireFox 3.5 or IE8 at 1024x768 or larger
If you want to save $5.00 on your own Smugmug account
use this referral code: QWn2117U1UdpM when you sign up.
New comment: Requires approval