FISHING WITH FRANK by BARNEY MOORHOUSE
Readers may recognize Frank Kuiack from his biography – The Last Guide – penned by Ottawa writer Ron Corbett. At last count his book has sold in excess of 251,000 copies internationally as it has been translated into German, Japanese and Chinese. Not bad for a guy who has spent most of his life guiding fishermen, chasing the finny tribe. Recently Kuiack turned 74. He began guiding when he was 8.
For the past three summers Frank Kuiack has donated guided fishing trips to the Friends of Algonquin (FOA) to assist them with their cause. In August 2010 I tagged along on one such trip. FOA member Michael Pageau was the lucky winner of a two-day trip. “Actually my wife won but she doesn’t fish so she gave the prize to me,” said the clearly exuberant fisherman. In fact Pageau said that he really hadn’t been fishing since he was 14. As the prize was for two Pageau brought along his good buddy Jamie Whitehouse who grew up in New Brunswick with a love for fishing both inland freshwater and oceanside saltwater.
We met at historical Cache Lake, home to the Highland Inn (1908-1957) which was owned by the Grand Trunk Railway and catered year round to vacationers, and fishermen, who arrived on the Buffalo Flyer train. Photographs of Regatta Day show vast throngs of sunbathers, competitors and a magnificent waterfront plus the impressive Inn itself. Today, by contrast, there is a pine forest and cars jammed to the waterfront with no evidence of the site’s past glory. As an aside, Frank Kuiack cooked for the men who demolished the Inn.
Anchoring next to a dilapidated railroad trestle that used to carry as many as 36 trains a day during the mid 30s, Kuiack prepared the tackle and challenged Pageau and Whitehouse to catch a fish within 20 seconds or “they weren’t real fishermen.”
“I was impressed within the first 5 seconds,” said Pageau as he landed his first smallmouth bass, the object of their affections on this day. Whitehouse wasn’t far behind and a shore lunch collection was underway.
“I eat fish every day I fish,” boasted Kuiack. In fact he prefers fresh fish but has found that bass and walleye keep best frozen in water whereas lake trout goes soft so he cans them.
The only competition at this site was a steering wheel sized snapping turtle that liked to chew on fish tales. A well-placed paddle thrust convinced the snapper to shop elsewhere and the guys continued their quest. Kuiack was hoping they might catch the $28,000 movie camera that a film crew had lost overboard at this spot while filming a scene for the movie about Frank that is due to be out by Christmas.
As an old time guide Kuiack did it all. He baited the hooks, removed the fish and provided all of the equipment. Clients only need show up ready for all weather prepared to fish.
With 66 years of guiding experience, Kuiack had many a tale and a multitude of tips to share and he wasn’t shy about either. “I like to leave a bass on the line for a while,” he said. “Its fighting imitates a feeding frenzy and brings on the action from other fish that want in on the action.”
He spools all of his reels with Fire Line because it’s tough, flexible and lasts longer than its competitors.
The feeding frenzy trick seemed to work as the fish were full of crayfish often coughing them up as they attacked the clients’ terminal tackle.
After hitting a variety of Kuiack’s favourite fishing holes we headed in for a shore lunch. Using a 12-volt battery to power his electric Rapala knife Kuiack made short work providing filets for the pan dusted with his special herb seasoning he has perfected over many years that he sells for $30 per gallon jar. The flavourful golden filets accompanied by a side order of beans, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, bread, tea (“Always tea – always Salada”) and cookies rounded out lunch leaving everyone ready for a nap. Except Kuiack who cleaned up and prodded us back onto the water.
Kuiack has guided a number of celebrities that readers may even recognize. As he sat rolling his own Export ‘A’ he talked of guiding everyone from Bonanza except for Hoss. “Lorne Greene had a cottage on Canoe Lake.” Greene, by the way, was referred to by CBC listeners during WW2 as The Voice of Doom because he delivered the distressing news. And it was Greene who invented the reverse stopwatch that helped announcers gauge the time they had available.
For the legendary trumpeter Al Hirt Kuiack had to remove the centre thwart from his canoe to accommodate the portly gent. “He’d lie there and blow his trumpet,” said Kuiack. “Cottagers would sit outside and listen to him blow his horn.”
At $250 per day you would think that all fishermen loved to eat fish. “I’ve had some that liked to catch but not eat fish,” he said. “I’ve converted them all.”
One would think that Frank Kuiack, in 66 years of guiding, has “done it all.” However, when using his 16 foot customized canoe he always rows so he can see his clients and instruct them. “I’ve never tipped a canoe,” he boasts proving, tongue in cheek, that he hasn’t “done it all.”
At his home in Whitney I suggested that besides not tipping it appears the only thing he hasn’t done is to walk on water – and not during the winter. Promptly he popped up and retrieved a framed photograph showing him “walking on water.” Of course the viewer can’t see the submerged stone.
Back at Cache Lake, as we neared the conclusion of the day, Kuiack took us to his special place – the last stop of the day. Here he handed me a rod, told me where to fish and soon I was boating smallmouth bass. And, for once, that’s no fish story.
Full bladders motivated us to terminate the outting and to head for the dreaded vault toilet at the landing. Tip – Take an oxygen pack in with you. It was enough to gag a dead horse. And, don’t light a match!
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a year,” said Pageau and something told us he wasn’t being disappointed. With plans in place for a day of steel lining for lake trout we went our separate ways. Unfortunately, with other fish to fry, I had other commitments and couldn’t tag along.
Before meeting Frank Kuiack I thought it prudent to learn something of the man so I set off for Ashlie’s bookstore in Bancroft to buy “The Last Guide.” The young lady behind the counter told me that after reading the book she was almost tempted to go fishing.
“Almost?”
“I’m afraid of water,” she confided.
Frank Kuiack can be reached at 613.637.5251.
PHOTO -left to right – Pageau, FK, Whitehouse
2010