EDITORIAL PAGE Good results but no trophy

All’s well that ends well certainly includes the 3rd Annual International Fish Derby and Geological Seminar, hosted by Richard Nemis of Central Crude fame at his lodge on Lake Kabenung in the Mishibishu area of Ontario. But it started out on a rather embarrassing note at Toronto’s busy airport for an early morning flight to Sault Ste Marie. Are you carrying a knife, security asked? Denying emphatically, I was ordered to open the metal case in which I was carrying my fishing rod. I was flabbergasted when out dropped a large, unsheathed hunting knife I had put in last fall and completely forgotten. Needless to say, they took a very dim view of their discovery and seemed ready to march me off in handcuffs to whatever place they take would-be highjackers. I was last on the plane, sans knife, just minutes before takeoff.

Aboard was the Queenston Mining team of Hugh Harbinson and John Arnold, avid fishermen who were going to drive leisurely the 200 miles to Wawa, Ont., trying some of the fine- looking streams that cross the highway. But to our chagrin, we found other parties had been just ahead of us.

But hopes soared on reaching the camp, for over the fireplace was a beautiful mounting of last year’s winner, a prize 7 1/2-lb. speckled trout caught by neophyte angler Ben Schmitt from Park Hill, Ky. “Any questions?” he asked with a minimum of modesty, proffering advice to all.

This year saw four trophies — biggest specked trout, lake trout, pickerel and heaviest fish. And participants put up $40 for a $1,000 pool.

I was lucky to get Abe Abolins as a partner. He is vice-president of exploration for a group of junior companies in the fold of longtime friend Noble Harbinson (Landmark, Dominion Explorers, and Noble Mines & Oils, among others.) Abolins is a geologist who knows that area like a book (mining and fishing). For starters, we elected to go out on Lake Superior “for a big one,” deep fishing with down-riggers on a charter out of Michipicoten Harbor. We did quite well, but not good enough.

A second boat had the same idea. Via radio phone, they told us they had a 9-pounder and headed over to show us. However, our guide had seen their boat (Nemis and Schmitt aboard) duck out of a cove where commercial fishermen lived. Actually, they went to buy smoked whitefish and herring for hors d’oeuvres that night, picking up the largest fish they could buy.

Like the fishing, cuisine was of the first order, with Chef Chris Armstrong of Domco Food Services from Toronto brought in for the job. First night featured 30 live lobsters, broiled on a gold-painted barbecue made in Flin Flon, Man., from heavy gasoline drums presented to Nemis by guest Gordon Cyr, general manager of Midwest Drilling. It was big enough to cook the corn-on-the-cob and steaks, too. Fresh salmon steaks featured the second night’s repast.

Precious little geology was discussed at the so-called seminar, but after dinner talk did turn quickly to Central Crude’s Moss Lake venture and, of course, the approaching production decision for its key nearby Eagle River project.

Vividly recalling previous years, I chose to sleep on the veranda at the guest house, snuggled in sleeping bag with head and ears covered with toque for which I was ridiculed. But a prudent decision it was, for had there been a prize for the loudest snorer, it would unquestionably go to a diamond driller from Winnipeg, Man., who slept inside.

The derby winners? Top honors went to Gold Fields’ Drift Cameron who landed a 13 1/2-lb. lake trout. This won him two trophies and half the pot. (Caroline Griffin, a geologist and lawyer from that firm’s Denver office, also caught several dandies.) Runner-up for weight was a 10-lb. rainbow trout. A 2 3/4-lb. pickerel copped that trophy for Landmark treasurer Murray Butler while Nemis’ 2-lb. brook trout assured that trophy will stay in his lodge for at least another year.