Leech Lake, Muskoka

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Friday, December 18, 2020

Fraserburg Road Conditions

This is information from Larry Jacobs on Dec 18/2020:

Conditions on Fraserburg Road have become icy and treacherous.  We have been in contact with the Works Department and they are making changes to the sand / salt mix in order to improve traction when temperatures drop. 

A test is underway on country roads in the Gravenhurst area to study the impact of additives to sand mix which hopefully will result in better traction in future.  

We have also spoken to the District about the state of repair of Fraserburg Road.  A number of issues are being addressed which must be done in advance of surface improvements.  This includes new culverts, ditching and bridge repairs which have been completed over the past couple of years.  

The Works Department has promised to forward a detailed plan and I will post it once I have received it.


Sunday, November 25, 2018

Bell Tower Update


This post was the request of Larry Jacobs.

Update on Communications Tower Proposal

I spoke with the Director of Real Estate and Government Relations at Bell Mobility today.  I asked about the status of the potential application for a tower at Leech Lake.  Bell Mobility has no plans to place a tower anywhere in the service area at this time. 
And the company has no plans for the entire area through at least the end of 2020, which is as far forward as the company plans capital expenditures.
We had requested that Bell Mobility should look at a location on Hwy 118 East which would have increased their potential customer base fourfold but would negatively impact many fewer property owners.  No alternate site was researched after our summary of research and property owner comments was received by the Federal Minister.
There is exciting new technology emerging called “Air Gig” which could render towers obsolete.  This is being tested by AT&T and could be the answer for under-serviced areas.  The technology may be commercial in about two years.
Reliable internet service is available at Leech Lake through Xplornet.  With the exception of one ice storm, we have not had a service outage in more than two years after satellite upgrades.


Friday, June 01, 2018

Proposed Communications Tower

Larry Jacobs requested this article be posted. As cottagers we are positive about the tower being installed.

Alan Greenwood

Proposed Communications Tower on Leech Lake

I am writing this to rally input from the Leech Lake community regarding the Bell Canada 99.6-meter-high communications tower proposed to be built on Leech Lake.   According to Can Acre, the company acting as an agent for Bell, they have received just six comments on the proposal.  Comments from property owners is split evenly between support for better cellphone service versus opposition.  
The proposed tower would be 3-4 times the height of the forest and would be visible from most properties on Leech Lake particularly those on the west side of the lake or the east side of the point.   Personally, I am opposed to the location of the tower but Bell has a willing property owner in the Pine Lake Hunt Camp.  I believe there may be a better location off Fraserburg Road where many fewer property owners would be negatively impacted but would still provide enhanced service.  This tower is not to service Leech Lake solely.  The tower will serve a fairly wide range of properties on nearby lakes. 
My opposition centers primarily on the negative visual impact.  But there are other important considerations. 
The installation would require clearing of a fairly large area of forest close to Lakeshore Drive South.  It makes no sense to place a tower such as this in a forest.  The research into the impact of logging or similar activities on forests is clear and definitive.  The integrity of the overall forests is often compromised and susceptible to storm damage in the period immediately after clearing or logging.  We would have lost trees during last June’s storm, but the extent of damage we sustained on the south road was made much worse because the forest had been logged just months prior.  Research points clearly to changes in wind patterns through the forest, changes to drainage and root damage by machinery. 
Acidity levels on Leech Lake are currently the subject of study between the Ministry of Environment and Fleming College.  Clearing forests tends to create higher levels of acidic soil erosion into the lake exacerbating this water quality concern.
Health risks of exposure to radiation and RF waves are not completely understood but studies have found that living within 400 meters of a cell tower could be a contributing factor in increase incidents of cancer, birth defects, miscarriages and other health risks. 
CanAcre requested the Association provide time at our Annual Meeting to answer concerns about their proposal.   I have requested that Can Acre / Bell Canada set up a public meeting on the proposal which is apparently not required by the Town of Bracebridge.   The public may be welcome at a potential committee meeting on August 15th where this proposal will be discussed.  The Town has very limited input into this proposal. 
Whether you support or object to the proposed tower, please provide your input on this using the link provided in the mailing you received and the newspaper advertisement in the Examiner.   Public input will be accepted until June 9th.

Larry Jacobs
President, Leech Lake Cottagers’ Association

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Snow Mobile Trail Grooming

This is an appeal from cottager Wayne Cordingley;

Hi Larry . I want to find out is if any fellow snowmobilers on Leech Lake are able and willing to spend a day clearing the trail towards Wood lake This coming Saturday Dec. 2nd at 10:00 am. It will hopefully be the last one without 2 ft of snow . Those who are interested can call me at 519-836-5904 or even better text me  at 519-400-5267

Friday, October 20, 2017

Annual LL Regatta 2017

The annual Leech Lake Regatta was held on the August long weekend. The regatta was as result of tireless work by Debbie Burton and Paulette McGuckin and their team of volunteers. A good time was had by all as is attested in the pictures below.




















Bass Derby

As submitted by Jerry Cragg:

Leech Lake Bass Derby Results

Hi Everyone!  We had a great day on the lake fishing in Leech Lakes first ever Bass Derby, September 16 2017.

There were 3 full boats and crew on the water, The Blue Minnow, The Black Knight, and The True North. It all started at 6 am with a nice mist on the lake, and the captain of the True North waiting for the crew to wake up. The Black Knight was already cruising the waters of Leech Lake, and no sign of the Blue Minnow.

Finally around 7 am we had some movement from the crew, and set out on the lake at 7.30, it was full steam ahead to our sweet spot before others arrived. At 7:45 The True North drops anchor and has the Black Knight in its sights, and started casting into the rocky shoreline. At 7:55 we could hear the familiar sound of a sewing machine running, and there was the Blue Minnow arriving around the point at full steam. It stops and drops anchor some 500 feet away from The True North, and they start casting. The True North moves its position a little bit east and starts a flurry of casts into the rocks. Within seconds, bang, fish on and now my buddy Steve has a fight going. After 3 hours, ok it was 5 minutes but to all aboard it seemed like 3 hours. Steve won this battle with one of the legends of our lake. We knew it was big, but how much did it weigh? We put her on the scale and wow 4 pounds 7 ounces. Game on! The Blue Minnow was within shouting distance to know that the bench mark was set and they had to get to work. For the next 10 hours the fishing continued off and on, lunch breaks, washroom breaks, etc. At 6 pm the horn sounded and a text message sent out that the Derby had ended. My buddy Steve was doing a little pacing around and talking about his fish, you could see in his eyes that he was wondering if his bass was big enough to hold onto first place.
While we were waiting for the other fishermen to arrive with their pictures and stories, Steve told us one of his own. Just before he was about to leave his house to come here to fish, his son talked to him first. He said dad, go up relax and to enjoy the weekend, then he handed his dad his favorite lucky lure. Well you can guess what happened. Steve cast that baby into the weeds and rocks and nailed that beautiful 4.7 pound Leech Lake Legend. To see my buddy in his late fifties act like he was a kid again, was priceless. A moment in time I will never forget. But now, was Steve going to be a legend? Will he win the first ever Leech Lake Bass Derby?

It took another hour for all to arrive at the BBQ and to review their pictures and hear the stories. (lies). The Blue Minnow thought for a moment they had beaten the 4.7 monster, but came up a little short when Laurie’s own monster came in at 4.21 pounds.
 Congratulations to Steve our Leech Lake 2017 Bass Derby Champion. Steve was presented the 2017 Bass Trophy for his entry of that huge monster 4.7 lb Bass. Laurie’s huge monster Bass came in at 4.21 lbs, good enough to win second and was awarded a gift certificate from Bass Pro. Great fishing Steve & Laurie!  Steve, aka (Shaky) no one deserved this Trophy, more than you buddy. Good job kid. But now the pressure is on! Can you both repeat against the best fishermen Leech Lake has to offer next year? Time will tell. To everyone that entered this Derby and came to the BBQ later that night, and sat around the camp fire, we thank you. Good times were had by all. We did raise a few dollars, but at the end of the day it was the fun and fellowship of neighbors enjoying each other’s company that really mattered.

To all those Leech Lake Fishermen that missed this year’s Great Bass Derby, we will be hosting it again next year. It will be Bigger and Better. Reserve your spot for next year’s Derby. It will be held on the middle Saturday of September 2018.
 See you there and good luck Steve.

Thanks Again Everyone!!!!!!

The North Road Group
 

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Canada 150 on Leech Lake

On July 1, 2017, Leech Lake Executive hosted a pancake breakfast to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday. President Larry Jacobs was Chef for a Day. A great time was had by all



Chef Larry



Monday, June 26, 2017

Loon Family 2017

Happy Days! We have a loon family on the lake this year. The photo is from Fran Gross