Terra and Shawn Degagne are the proud owners and operators of Bear Creek Cottages since 2012. Together, they bring fishing opportunities, fishing shows and tournaments, family vacations, family reunions, beach weddings, friendships, fishing conservation, and the beauty of Lake Nipissing together throughout the years. It all began with the purchase of a small ice fishing business (Moe's Ice Fishing) that led them to where they are today.
In the fall of 2007, the business of Fish of a Lifetime Charters & Ice Cabins was established and from there the two newly married couple purchased Idle Tyme Fishing Camp and operated it for five years offering ice fishing, guiding service, cottage rentals and boat rentals. The camp was simply not big enough to supply fishing adventures to all of their loyal ice fishing guests, spring, summer and fall guests, so when Bear Creek Cottages came on the market in the spring of 2012, they went for it! With some love, attention to detail, blood, sweat and tears that came with renovating, they underwent a lifestyle change. Shawn and Terra, two small children and their Golden Retriever, Laker, were managing a tourist camp, a guide service, 5 long term rental units that was formerly Idle Tyme Fishing Camp. The couple sold their first tourist camp in 2018 and focused their attention on Bear Creek Cottages and are going strong into their 11th year.
"The history and heritage that this resort has is awesome!. Bear Creek's legends, stories, and facts bring the past alive as some of our families have been visiting from southern Ontario since the beginning of this camp's existence in the late 40's early 50's". ~Terra
Terra is a local supply teacher and a former Outdoor Educator. Her love of the outdoors is tremendous, and she enjoys bringing her knowledge of the natural world to life for her students and camp kids. Terra is originally from Thunder Bay and has lived lake-life since childhood. She recently designed BCC Bear Wear for the gift shop that has Lake Life within the design of the clothing. Originally the shores of Lake Superior and now the shores of Lake Nipissing. Her family was into tourism from when she was young so it's not a wonder that she promotes tourism at a personal level today. She enjoys fixing up the tourist camp alongside her husband and children. Her flare for decorating and making her guests' accommodations fresh and comforting is something that she strives at. Terra also enjoys being a hockey mom, an artist, a cowgirl, a sun lover, and a hunter/fisherwoman. She has formed a marriage out of fishing and tourism. Terra and Shawn have what it takes to operate a successful tourism business that is booming.
Shawn's background is in hockey as a goal tender. He retired in 2007 after 25 years on the ice. He traded in the arena ice for the hard waters on Lake Nipissing and began an Ice Fishing business with the help of his partner, Terra. Shawn had a guide service since 2005, targeting the muskie fisherman. Hockey remains in his blood as he continues his involved in assisting with goal tender training and conditioning with athletes from the North Bay area. Shawn is also involved in the Lake Nipissing Walleye Restocking Program and team alongside the local MNR and continues his efforts in maintaining healthy walleye populations. Shawn is an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoys turkey, deer, duck, and bear hunting.
He is going into 25th year of guiding for walleye, bass, pike and musky. He provides hundreds of guests with their ice fishing adventures on Lake Nipissing each year. He also facilitates filming of fishing shows in and around Bear Creek Cottages and has hosted, Jim Saric and his crew with The Musky Hunter, Karl Kalonka and his crew with The Extreme Angler, chatted with Pete Bowman from the Fish'n Canada Show, and can be heard on the Ugly pike Pod Cast and seen on a former YouTube show called Fish 'N Fire that he co-hosted as he took pro-athletes out to fish. Shawn definitely has earned his nickname Fishawn as he can hook a fish anywhere he goes!
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