The Underwater World of Trout

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S57HY7TOvMA 
Excellent video that looks into how trout feed under water.

Also a must follow is The 2020 Season of the New Fly Fisher. Watch the trailer here and you'll be 'hooked'. New releases every week. 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk2DJldSE7hhQTU8rjNHeYw

Fly tying

Unless you happen to be in the Gulf of Mexico or warmer climates at this time of year, you might start thinking about trout fishing around now. Even though the ice will only be coming off your favourite water in a few more months if you're like me you want to get busy tying flies. On and off over the last 20-25 years, I've pulled out my vice and fly tying kit and attempted to tie (or is that tye, or even try to tie) some of the flies that myself and others have found successful over time. More than not, they end up somewhat like an anchor chord wrapped around the anchor, or a fly line around your motor prop.

However, after watching one of the clubs more 'successful' fisherman wrap thread around a hook last spring,
and then seeing a younger and less experienced angler mimic him quite expeditiously, I decided to take a hook and coloured thread to create a rather convincing wooly bugger. Although the cheering around the table was polite, I realized that following the end of summer and fall, this winter was going to be the time I mastered a few simple techniques to fly tying.

SO, here it is. January 4th, lot's of new fly's and material on my newly created fly tying bench and I've ready to create the fly of 2020!!

I must admit I've watched many fly tiers over the years, and everyone has their own favourite methods of tying. My suggestion as with everything, find what your are comfortable with and stick with it until a reasonable fly can be created. Then start to improve and perfect.






If you're a new fly tier or have Q's about where to start, what to buy first, most of this is answered on the page here by Scott Cesar. It has been my most helpful to date.  https://www.scottcesariflytying.com/

 It doesn't take a lot of small tips, and sometimes following along on social media (as I've done) can be helpful. Along with some simplistic videos, you'll enjoy fly tying a lot more, and improve greatly.

Send along your creations we'll put them up here. Here's some of my recent 'Buggers'!

See you on the lake!

Drone View - Lac Curières Courtesy Pierre Brunet.

Drone View AFGC 2019
Click link to view video

https://youtu.be/ML87cZHgUd8

Balcony/Porch Roof's Work Complete -Season update 2019

Members arriving at the lake this past spring were not surprised to find the lake still frozen as a result of a cooler than normal spring. 







DISASTER OVER THE WINTER
We were more shocked however when we pulled up to camp 2 to find the cabin balcony roof collapsed.

Both porches roofs (Cabin One old log cabin, and Cabin 2),  had collapsed from the heavy snow fall of the winter. Both had been built within the last 12 years. 

 After unpacking gear and food, the group staying in No. 2 camp (Leo and Pierre Brunet and myself) took out tools and got underway disassembling the mess left from the winter collapse. Later in the summer, Pierre returned and dismantled the second roof at number 1.

REBUILD  Plans were discussed by the executive and with input from our contractor Serge, it was decided the best course was to rebuild no 2 with manufactured trusses and no 1with the existing cedar posts.  Reusing existing steel from the two collapsed roof's saved us quite a few dollars.

Mid September Serge and his crew delivered the trusses and worked hard at constructing the various projects before hunting season. The main beam in the number 4 balcony was also replaced and new main supports put in.

SUMMER VISITS

During a visit in August the (F) glass boats were placed upside down in the parking facing the beach for winter. 
Note Oct 2: Docks still at Cabin 1 and need moving. Make sure anchors are well identified with a long rope separately attached to the chains and a suitable float.



Two trees that threatened to fall were taken down near Cabin 1. 









Garbage by the falls. 

Our predecessors of the early years of the club dumped their garbage in the woods around us.  Uncountable bottles, old oil cans, bed springs, stove pipes, fridges and stoves. We are certain you have seen it on the way to the falls. It is not something we are proud of, and should not be ignored any longer. This summer my wife and I talked about going down with some garbage bags and starting to clean up. It was something of another surprise when we found the very next day someone from the camping below us had pulled out an old rusty propane fridge and left it on the road with other debris. Whatever their intentions we decided to load as much of the crap as we could onto our trailer and Pierre Courcy brought it to the Eco-Center in L'ascension. It was the tip of the iceberg and a proper cleanup crew will be organized in the spring. Those who can help please contact me.

The camp was used more this summer. Groups arriving with members used the camps in July, August and September. 

Guests Jason and Sophie and their kids 

Grammpa Robbie

Nice canoeing in August

-->

It is with sadness that we learn of the passing of one of our longest serving members, James Moore Sr. After a short illness Jim passed away in Lachute Qc this past Saturday August 24th, 2019.

This photo was taken of Jim (left), his long time friend Ken Rapley (middle) and Jim's son Jimmy Jr.

The club is forever grateful to his contributions over the years, serving the executive as director and president on more than one occasion of his 47 year membership in the AFGC (Ascension Fish & Game Club). One of his more memorable contributions was the initiation and management of the construction of Cabin 4 for the millennium celebration of our organizations founding. In 2005 the project was completed and a club dinner was held at Lac Vert (Curieres) with members attending. Jim inspired many visitors to join and/or revisit the club over the years, and attended every AGM until 2018.

His two son's Jimmy Jr., and Campbell frequented and fished the lake with their Dad from an early age, making the trip as often as possible to join Alec and John, (their cousins), friends and family. Adding to Jim's legacy this past May with Campbell produced a good fish, his last.

Predeceasing him was his wife of many years Barbara, and his partner Jean Dorken. He has now joined others including his brother Albany (2009) and his long time friend Ken Rapley (2016). Gone but never forgotten, we shall think of Jim on a warm summer night as we approach the White Rocks, Hepburn Island and other favourite spots of his and ours.

Old and new look Cabin 1

The old and new look of cabin 1. AFGC

 If one looks closely below, you may detect several individuals on the porch ....L-R . Robin Hamilton-Harding, Jon Kleivstul, Jens Wold and Robbie Noel. This photo below would have been early 90's, the porch was enlarged toward the end of the century and a new steel roof added. At the time, the main roof was rolled tar paper roofing, and the deck was a cover of corrugated fiberglass.It was necessary to shovel the roof in the winter which the club paid the guardian to do several times over the course of the winter.

Both photos courtesy of the writer Harold Gill

Propane Safety in Camp - Propane stove

There is a lot of pleasure derived in visiting Green Lake. There is significant danger as well.

The executive/admin/board of directors does it's best to ensure that the club functions safely for all members. Over the last few years your club has been replacing and updating both appliances and energy sources including propane, solar and wood.

While many sections of propane lines have been replaced, the appliances may not be all similar or familiar from season to season and year to year. We all end up in a different cabin at one time or the other, and although a fridge is a fridge and the stove a stove, it may not be the same one you turned on last year.

Fridges, cook stoves, lights (with the exception of the new cabin 3), and the heater in no 4 (small cabin) are fuelled by propane. We are slowly moving towards solar, but for the immediate future will not be replacing wood or propane for heating and cooking.

Propane tanks and the appliances they serve are both a luxury and potential danger.  Carbon monoxide poisoning or fire is the immediate and constant threat.

If you turn the gas on in the camp and smell propane, what is the reason? Don't just go about your business, check it out. It could save your life.

1 - make certain you have no unconnected devices. Stoves, fridges, or lights that are open but not lit.

2 - If you do have propane lights hissing without being lit,  shut the lights, shut the main tank, and depending on how long you have had the tank open, let the cabin air out 10 -15 minutes before attempting to light any appliance.

3 - If the smell of propane is very very strong, turn off the main tank and do not even go into the house without letting it air a good long time.

https://youtu.be/HQljsiTU4r8

4 -  Every cook stove in camp has four cooker burners and an oven. Each needs the pilot lights lit. Ask if you don't know how.

Propane is heavier than air.  It can ignite with a small static spark from your jacket. If your cabin does not have a carbon monoxide detector installed (not a smoke detector), please advise a director  immediately.

Here is a link to the above youtube video. Note, this is not an exact replicate of the stove in your cabin, but the principle is similar.

https://youtu.be/HQljsiTU4r8

Next posting : The propane fridge operation.

Bonjour and Hi to all

Spring is around the corner, although from the amount of snow that fell over night and is still coming down, who would know??

I've been in touch with our surveillance cleaning man, Pierre Courcy and he will once again this year be cleaning and looking after our interest. We will still need help with the docs in spring, regardless as he's never done it on his own, does not own a boat and.....it is a bit of a job for one. Let me know if you can attend the weekend before opening.

Everyone is paid, the bunks are pretty full for the spring. You can see the reservations at this link here. Thank you Kim for the outstanding job of fitting us all in.

Bookings CALENDAR 2018 AFGC

Bookmark it in your browser.

If anyone is interested, I am attending a solar presentation this April 14. It's all day and is being given by Victor Bulhoe at Auberge des Gallants in Rigaud. Victor was the provider of our solar installation on Cabin 3.  More info is here. The presentation is in french, but Q's can be asked in english and Victor will translate. He's fluent in three languages. The cost is $180 taxes inclu.

Victor Bulhoe Solar and off grid presentation April 14

Don't forget we also have a facebook page where you can post and upload pictures. Join and share.

Ascension Fish and Game Club Facebook

Looking back to 2001

What were we doing at the beginning of the millenium? For those of you who were not around 17-18 years ago, here's a few facts.

The membership was at 31 in the year 2000. Of those seven are still members and two of those seven, Jim Moore and John Gray are honorary members. John Gray joined in 1956 and Jim Moore in 1972. Both are still active participants, although John has not been to the club in several years.

At the time, there were eight members 20 or more years with the club, and seven with 10-19 years. I had joined in 1993 and had recently decided to help Ken Rapley out as secretary, a job he happily gave up within a year of me starting. John Moore took over as treasurer and his brother Alec was handed those reigns several years later as John decided that being president was more his style. Rob Noel, along with myself, Howie Glase and the others mentioned above (with the exception of Ken Rapley) are still present as members. All of us have history here, have seen many fine days on the lake and can tell you lot's of stories.

The year previous to this we had demolished and built anew the log house standing in front of the beech and know as Cabin 4. The location of this structure was on the footing of the original one room cabin know as the guardian's cabin. The gas house or tool shed, is beside it. This cabin was initially the idea of Jim Moore as a centennial project, and was constructed by Real Lanthier who was the guardian at the time.

In October of 2001, the club authorized the replacement of the tar paper roof on the old cabin 1 with a new steel roof. At the same time the front deck was extended some 4 feet, a larger roof and deck was built off the kitchen and the steel roof extended over all of this. Steel bunk beds similar to those in cabin 2 were removed and log bed frames built in their place. A mattress replacement project was started to replace mattresses in all the cabins.

We switched propane suppliers to Miller propane and at the initiative of John Moore decided to purchase propane tanks as oppose to leasing.

The club had 12 boats in 2002. 10 wooden Vercheres, one aluminum and one fiberglass. We also had a small aluminum boat at Jack Lake.

While it is interesting to note the dues in 2003 were $400 annually ($100 less than our 2018 annuals, members were also charged a per cabin reservation fee of $400 per visit. As the road was virtually non-passable without a 4x4, transportation costs in the guardian's truck along with a tip amounted to another $75-100 per trip. The club was teetering in it's financial attractiveness and many long time members were simply staying in to keep the club afloat.

Next posting we'll see how the club's fortune changed as a result of the 1996 Saguenay flooding.

New look for 2018

We are certain membership will be happily impressed and surprised with the below improvements awaiting them next spring.

Furnace No 4

Kitchen No 1

Work has been completed to increase parking facilities and improve the on site roads in September. Interior and exterior renovations were commenced in October and are almost complete in Cabins 1, 2 and 4. A new heating system was installed in cabin 4. A new bedroom ceiling was finally completed along with the front small deck replaced at cabin 2. Members will appreciate the newly renovated and installed kitchen cabinetry, cook stove and reconfigured kitchen in cabin 1. A new (used) wood heating cook stove and propane cook stove was installed in number 1 kitchen. Provision for future solar lighting was also installed with wiring in Cabins 1 and 2. A And finally, several old or original propane lines along with the gaz tanks were replaced and repositioned in cabins 1.

 

I could not believe what I saw....

Serge (our contractor) completed the deck at #2 on Monday, with the help of Rod Armstrong. The cedar used was cut, sawn and transported up to the club by our own members.

He has completed the insulation and new Luan ceiling, run LED wiring for the future and run new propane lines as well. He will be installing molding on all Luan joints. He will also install the eaves trough section so that water doesn't drip.

In cabin 1 the old stove was removed and the much newer propane stove brought in. It will be installed in the NE corner of the kitchen where the pot rack is because it works better in that configuration. (Both stoves don't fit between the back door and window wall space.)

Serge will install the wood cookstove where the range was, and will run double walled chimney right to the insulated chimney in the attic. 

There is an unbelievable amount of mouse shit in the kitchen attic, which he will attempt to clean up before installing the bubble wrap and running new propane lines. As we speak today October 20th, he is on his way to Miller Propane in Tremblant to pick up the necessary propane fittings to hook up the replacement space heater in Cabin 4, (same acquired by Pierre Brunet), and new propane lines as necessary in Cabins 1 and 2.

The cabinets, counter top, polypropylene pipe, sink and faucet are there and ready to be installed by Serge.

The 5 fibreglass boats are now off the lake and in the main parking lot. Tony blocked, split and stacked more than a cord of firewood on the deck. 

Stan wipper snipped the entire property and blew away most the leaves between the Club and the Zec office!

The pump was removed and the cold and hot water lines and tank have been drained at cabin 3.

We have taken out of scope the LED wiring in 1 and reduced the cost of chimney materials by $ 300 so overall, we should be able to pay for everything we wanted. If we can afford it Serge will install the pine exterior of basement wall where the basement doors are and replace the inside of the broken window with cedar and Luan to match the rest of the interior.

The excavation and work on the new parking areas at cabin 3 and 1 (behind the boathouse) was done in September. This work was huge and will be the last of big expenditures the current club executive will undertake. 

 As of the writing of this blog we have an AGM coming up.  Potential dates will be confirmed for Dec 2 or 9. It will be a breakfast meeting, to be held at 10am in the same location as last year at Stephanie's Bar & Grill, 1686 Highway 34, Hawkesbury, Ontario. You will be notified by email. 

The new Cabin 3 is two years old, and has been christened by most of us. I thank every member for their contributions big and small. Without your help in providing materials, research and guidance and the financial help we needed, this project would never have gotten off the ground. A great team, a great club to belong to. 

All told we are excited for 2018.

Happy Canada Day

July 1, and our camp is celebrating on it's own this weekend as there are no reservations. Regardless here is a current update.

Front deck facing west

View from the north side 'new'parking area.

Last Sunday Stan Roy and I spent a couple of hours enjoying the camp, the rain and the bugs. (Maybe why no one is willing to risk there blood yet)? We managed to get quite a few projects completed and had the opportunity to sit with Claude Gratton and his wife Dianne to discuss the new cabin. (Which is coming along nicely btw). The two remaining 'Verchere' boats that were in the lake have now been stored. Users of the southern wall lockers will have to move JK's boat out slightly to access the doors. A thorough weed wacking and tree trimming was done of the compound from one end to the other. The boat house was tidied up, four empty propane tanks were loaded into the trailer and brought down to Gratton's house for filling. An old BBQ along with other metal junk was removed for the dump. 


We are thinking that we might just have room to put in some double mattresses on the lower bunks of at least one bed in each of the two rooms of Cabin 3. A custom size of 50 x 80inches mind you, but larger than the 39 inch standard single. And longer.

South side view of cabin and entry to 'basement' storage

We are also thinking that the access door to the storage area under the cabin will fit at minimum three f-glass boats. It will be widened to accommodate entering a boat trailer.

Wiring for solar lighting will be installed Monday-Tuesday next week, walls and ceilings are going in after, then this will be painted. (Any volunteers to help yet? Come on guys!!) The interior wainscoting will be installed by the contractor. Following this an epoxy paint will be applied to the flooring. From there we will build the bunks, install the propane, the stove and kitchen, and put our feet up. Not too fast, we still need volunteers to paint!

Unarguably the nicest view

A big thanks to Jim Cameron who has been active with Rod Armstrong in the purchase and sawing of cedar logs for the two decks and interior trim and aforementioned wainscoting. A pile of money has been saved in the process.

With some luck Stan says we are 99.9% on for the middle of August. Happy Canada Day all!

PS...I like the view!

Report on the New Cabin

Cabin 3 construction has been coming along nicely. With the careful supervision of Rod Armstrong our contractor Serge Beaupre. Below you can see some of the progress.

The repair of the road from the gate to number 3 to have access for delivery of materials was immediately necessary.  At the time this was done we installed drainage pipes and created new parking to accommodate the increased use of members own vehicules. A four car parking was built in front of cabin 4, along with a revamped access road and parking for the new cabin at 3.

You may view all the progress in a link to the album by clik-ing below

https://plus.google.com/photos/106407721084422796836/albums/6160843337589266129?authkey=CKCn0c_i2qXtbA

MAY 2014-MAY 2015

A little more than a year has passed since an accidental fire took out Cabin 3, the last cabin to the north on our compound here at Green Lake.

2 days and a year past the date of the fire (May 18, 2014) the footings were poured, and the new cabin structure is officially started.




I have purposely omitted posting photos of the aftermath of the fire last spring until now. It was quite shocking to all, and as a club we needed to put that incident behind us. It is as important now, as then, that we reflect on this incident in a thoughtful manner, and take preventive steps to avoid anything similar in the future. The club is doing it's best to make the cabins as safe from accidents as possible and will continue our efforts in this area. Along with other camp safety, it is up to all to maintain an awareness surrounding fire. BBQ, propane lighting, open fires, wood stove and chimney safety, carbon monoxide poisoning. There are many dangers for members and their guests. Be thoughtful. Be safe.

Footings poured at Cabin 3

The excerpt that follows is an update from Rod Armstrong, who along with the help of many, many others has been instrumental in planning, supervising, and carrying out the job of building a our new cabin Cabin 3.

" The project begin Thursday May 21st with the pouring of all footings required for the foundation. The floor should be on by this Friday or next Monday.  Floor joists, roof trusses and the roof tin will be delivered tomorrow (Thursday)! Anyone intending to be at the Club on any weekdays should make sure their vehicles are not left blocking any of our access driveways.

Weather permitting, we should have the new cabin closed in two weeks from today. Please do not bring any additional donations of stuff until that time, without checking with me.

New guest and member parking

A new parking lot was created opposite cabin 4 this past week that will easily park at least 4  vehicles.

View from site of Cabin 3

 The road was improved from that parking lot area to all cabins.  Ditching was done on the mountain side of the road at 4, 1, and 3, and  3 culverts were installed to drain existing wet areas. The road behind cabin 3 will be widened and the parking area on the far side will be completed this week.

The Vermont castings airtight installation was completed in cabin 1 on last week, and it heated both the cabin and kitchen on Saturday through Monday night. (The safety chimney had been installed the previous fall and completed last weekend).

Boats are launched with one Verchere still in the boathouse. (Tether your boats against wind and wave damage).

Two softwood logs for stringers for # 1 dock walkway, have been cut and skidded to the boat launch where they are floating in the water tied to shore.

Howard Glase cut several more dead saplings on the hill behind cabin 3.  All brush will be buried by the shovel by today.

The massive, dangerous, dead yellow birch behind cabin 3 was to be dropped by Alain Rodier today and left in the bush.

350 sq. Ft of 5/4" cedar decking was milled at Jim Cameron's and delivered by myself (Rod) & Stan Roy.  A new table and chairs was delivered by the Moores (A and J), and stored in the boathouse, and some metal and other junk was also taken to the garbage by the Moore group.

 Fishing was very good with about  100 hooked and mostly released by the 17 anglers, including some nice 2 lb and one at 3 lbs. "

(Previously anglers staying in cabin 2 had landed 40 and 50 fish on each of the two weekends.)

//\\ Groups are reminded to collect 10$ per head and remit to the treasurer for cleaning purposes.//\\