Klotz Lake Fishing Camp

is north of Lake Superior on the northernmost east-west highway in Ontario. (Copy these coordinates and plug them into Google maps satellite or hybrid view to see the lake: n 49.79833333 w 085.8737333.)

Ken Dupuis, Jim Bade, and I drove two days there (only one day to drive home). The first day we took I-75 over the 50-year-old Mackinac Bridge to Sault Saint Marie where we crossed into Canada at the International Bridge. We continued to Wawa, Ontario where we spent the night in a chalet (a few stars below a resort!). Beautiful scenery, especially along the east end of Lake Superior--the lake, numerous bays, hills carved by glaciers.

The second day we went to White River, turned north through Hornepayne--the last gas station until Klotz Lake is in Hornepayne. Then west onHighway 11 about 55 miles to the camp--cabins on one side of the highway and the lake on the other.

Unpacked, loaded gear into the boat, and on the lake to fish. The lake is L-shaped, about five miles long parallel to highway 11 and two miles long on its east end perpendicular to the highway. Small islands jut above the eastern surface and a river requiring a couple portages connects it to Flint Lake to the north.

Our cabin had shower and bathroom (some cabins did not), two bedrooms, living/dining room, and kitchen. Not as rustic as I anticipated. Former Romeo JHS teacher and coach Hank Dupuis and his 12-year-old son, Nick, were in our cabin along with Al Curtis (retired colleague at SHS) and his brother Paul.

My main catches were walleyes about 16" and great northern pike between 20" and 25". Ken Dupuis and Jim Bade were my usual fishing partners, experienced fishermen who coached me to catch fish. (I am pretty good at fishing but not so hot catching!) Hank took me in his boat a couple times with Nick and gave me many fishing pointers.

We had a fish fry with our first day's catch, but after that we had non-fish meals. We wanted to take fish home; in addition Ken and Al did our shopping at Sam's Club and bought so much food for the week we were concerned it would be wasted.

A second cabin housed another group, from Almont mainly. Roger lost his motor in 15 feet of water. Scott and Hope dove to find it but the bottom was too silty to see well so a diver was hired and he located it the next day within ten minutes. We played some cards -- Texas Hold 'Em (no money) and Euchre. As everyone packed fishing gear the last night they showed me lures they brought and explaind what the different shape, color, and size were designed to catch.

Weather got very hot during afternoons but cooled off at night. On the last day I was hoping to catch a couple more walleye and have Al coach me through filleting them with his electric fillet knife, but the wind was so strong it blew us away from the good fishing holes. Not good fishing.

Our nature sitings included eagles and their nest, foxes and bears, but no moose. Returning down I-75 in the UP we saw smoke from a forest fire that at times drifted across the road.

A fun trip--fine fishing with good friends.