A stormy canoe camping, fishing trip to Crotch Lake in Ontario

The early August 2023 forecast for Crotch Lake was sketchy ... stiff winds and the potential for three days of thunderstorms, but the campsite was booked and it was time to go and explore a new back-country experience. So, the gear was loaded into the canoe and off I went into the North Frontenac Park Lands, a hybrid "front country" and "back country" camping experience in Frontenac County in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The winds were stiff, but not as bad as forecast. The storms were powerful, but the biggest rumbles came during the overnights, meaning there was a chance to get out fishing each day. This trip combined fishing, camping and exploring a completely new region, and I was able to connect with both smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as northern pike. It included a couple of additional challenges when my camp stove was destroyed while I was making coffee on the first morning ... and my Go Pro also went out of commission. But improvisation is a crucial element of successful back country camping, and that and my trusty iPhone stood me well on this trip. If you've had similar experiences, drop me a line in the comments, I love hearing about how folks overcome problems big and small. You can also drop me a note about your own experiences in the North Frontenac Park Lands ... I am planning to return.