Gananoque, Ontario - Muskie Fish Statue

Go to northern NY on I-81 through Watertown. There are two identical bridges that eventually land you in Canada -- that is, if you don't have any firearms, mace, alcohol, bad jokes about back bacon or any knowledge of hockey. At least those are some of the questions you must answer to the border guards.

Head west to Gananoque about 14 miles (or 6.5 with the exchange rate). At the entrance to town you can't miss the huge concrete statue of the "1000 Islands Muskie." Gananoque is where the world's record muskie -- over 69 lbs -- was caught by H.A. "Dooley" McCarney in an area know as 40 Acre Shoals.

Gananoque is also home port of the legendary "Muskie Jake," who chartered his fishing boat to those fisher folks who wanted to battle the great finny fellows. [Ron Spooner, 04/27/2002]

[RA: Tipster Ron Spooner has been in retirement in the 1,000 Lakes region of New York State for a decade. For 25 years prior, he worked in the shadow of the World's Largest Transistor. We believe he was forced into seclusion along the Canadian borderlands after the publication of this photo in the Roadside America books. Sorry, buddy. Ron still wears the souvenir Hershey's Kiss cap like no other.]