@HodgePodge Lodge ;)

[puckster_guy]

Hi Guys. Been back a couple of days from camp. I had my lovely lady for the first 4 days, and a couple of buddies up from work for the last four days. I finally got my wife to spend more time fishing instead of just reading and knitting while in the boat. I think she's finally getting the fish bug. She got several walleye and a large 20 pound pike. 
to go with my nice 10 pounder...
Mostly trolling we got about 10 good walleye and about 15 pike.the walleye just weren't much on the bite. However the weather was umpredictable and we had a great time with a great shore lunch of walleye. Then the aircraft wrecking crew moved in.... Gene and Ben two guys I work with. They spent a week at Kipawa lodge about 15 yrs ago and this was their first time back. We loved every minute of it. The walleye refused to cooperate at all for the first couple of days, but the pike did as usual we got about 15 the first couple of days just trolling a section of Furguson bay that I never fished before. On the third day the carpenters working on my place brought us some more ice and a pkg. of 40 worms. I took them to one of my favorite jigging spots and blew their socks off. In 3 hours we landed 55 walleye, mostly smaller ones with a few over 14 inches. Gene is an avid fisherman and has never caught so many walleye in one day nor has never seen a blue walleye before. Most of the walleyes at my end of the lake seem to be blues. Gene could never figure out why I talk so highly of the place-to him he thought it was just another fishing hole. Now he understands what were talking about. Mix in some beer, Wisers, great BBQ (charcoal only please) and some campfires they were hooked and coudn't stop talking about it all the way home. They will be back in september when I do my first annual hockey fishing long weekend party. I have a few of the guys I play hockey with coming up for about 4 days. All of 'em have never been to kip before, so this should be fun.
Camp construction is going well. the shell is finished, windows and doors are going in this week followed by insulation, bathroom, plumbing, wiring and siding. Wow a dream come true in paradise no less. I'm happier then a pig in.... Nuff said here's some pics with more on photobucket http://s1063.photobucket.com/user/puckster_guy/library/Kipawa%202014?sort=2&page=1

Genes Pike
Ben with a jigged up walleye




the loft

[600 miles north]

     The place is coming along nicely PG! That is going to be a great place to be for many years to come. Hopefully 60 years from now your great grand children will have an appreciation for the lake like we all do, and be staying right there, telling legendary tales all about PG!

     Glad to hear the fishing turned on for you! Looks like good times, thanks for sharing the progress of the camp with us

     Cheers!
     Brad

[rambler]

The cabin looks great. Every guys dream! Can't wait to see the finished product. Good Luck!

[Dog]

Joe,

the fish look great and the hodge podge looks like it's really coming along. Hopefully we can come out to visit soon see it in person.
-Nate

[johnny walleye]

looking good at your place

[T-Bone]

PG...you know you're dogging us, right? Wow...the place looks great. Before you know it you'll be done with that and all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Lucky you.

Thanks for the update and report....good stuff.

[puckster_guy]

What can I say T-Bone lol. When my last kid moved out I sold my house, got an apt. and used the equity to buy and build my place. I'm not all that crazy about living in an apt but I'll take the trade off any day. BTW your all welcome to stop in, for a weekend if you wish for aome fishing a campfire and a few ales
I not gonna run a resort but I always have room for friends. Ty all for you kind comments..... Joe

[puckster_guy]

Even Ryebak(forgive the spelling)

[jackalofnar]

Nice Fish!.  Great to see pictures of the inside of the lodge now.

Next year should be really nice!

Cheers,

Kirk

[Jay Thomas]

Hi Joe:

Lots of progress on your Hodge Podge Lodge - looks great!

A few questions just out of personal interest. It looks like the tops of your sona tubes are about 3 feet above ground level. Was that designed in to protect against possible flooding? Secondly, how do you plan on insulating your new home? And lastly, are you planning on using solar to provide power?

Looks like a great retirement plan being put into action. Congrats!

Jay

[puckster_guy]

Hi Jay...1, the sono tubes are down almost 6 feet under ground. At the back of the place it's about 3 feet off the floor. At front it's about 5 feet high.two reasons we get about 4 feet of snow every winter so the tubes will keep most of the structure above the snow(mostly) and also in case of flooding-thats not a big worry I'm almost 60 feet from shore. But you can't be too carefull. I've had friends in ONtario with serious flood damage from extremely rare events. The roof is a shiney silver steel. Also 2 reasons. Snow won't stick to it and just slide off also it will reflect a lot of sunlight and heat keeping the inside a bit cooler in summer. Besides it'll last close to 50 yrs, much longer then me. lol
2, R-20 in the walls and R-40 in the cieling and floor. I hope to heat it in winter (with a wood stove) with little effort. I can almost keep it warm with candles. as well as decent quality windows and doors will help.
3, My brother gave me a starter solar panel kit with inverter and batteries when he updated his system at his off the grid cottage. I also have a good Honda generator so between them I have a good solid system for power, I'll upgrade the solar in time as i can afford it. This place is now draining all my time and money. I can live with it for what I have is a dream come true. Talk about manifesting a reality. Retirement will be sweet!
When my kids moved out (finally lol) I sold my house and used the equity to do what I'm doing. The contractors are stopping at the vapour barrier with most of the plumbing and wiring done. At which point I'll be out of money. Next year I'll cover the walls and floors with knotty pine. The bed rooms will be a cheap panelling(also a pine finish). Thats where we are now Thank you all for your good wishes and interest, most appreciated ....Joe