Recently, a Bechtelsville man and I spent a week fishing at Taggart Bay Lodge in Northwestern Quebec, Canada. The lodge is owned and operated by Yves Bouthillette and family, who've been catering to hunters and fishermen for over 50 years. They treat each individual like family, helping in any way they can to make your stay enjoyable.

Lake Kipawa is 50 miles long, with over 1300 miles of shoreline. A huge time-saver to put you onto fish from the get-go is a very unique camp fishing guide, Tom Miller and his wife, Linda. From Oley, the Millers spend nearly 4 1/2 months per year since 1978 touring the lake with each new group, pointing out the present hottest fishing locations. Which makes each angler's chances at landing the trophy lake trout, walleye or monster pike, a real possibility. Also, frying up some tasty walleye and lake trout fillets at each weekly fish fry.

Kipawa has given up lakers to 50 pounds, with the average being three to six pounds. Some are caught in the numerous bays, mixed with walleye, but most holing to the main body of the lake.

The walleyes were caught in nearly every bay. Fish up to 11 pounds were caught, with the average being two to five pounds. Action can get fast and furious with the possibility of a monster pike stealing your walleye while you're trying to land it.

The lodge has taken pike up to 35 pounds. That's a trophy in anyone's book. The big pike for the week was a 40 1/2" - 18 1/2 pound fish, taken by a young man from Illinois.

Weather seemed to dictate success. Usually, the worse the weather, the better the bite. Taggart Bay Lodge also has remote pike, walleye and bass lakes for anglers to test their skills.

Some time in the north country is exhilarating for the soul, which any outdoorsman can relate to. The most enjoyable part of my trip was the breathtaking sunrise and sunsets, mixed with the solitude and their magnificent beauty, blended with the distant call of the loon.

I felt one step closer to heaven. What Canada has to offer will always be a part of my life.