The Legend of Igopogo: Lake Simcoe’s Mysterious Monster

I​​gopogo is a lake monster rumored to dwell in Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. It is also known as Kempenfelt Kelly, Beaverton Bessie, and Simcoe Kelly. It was named in imitation of the Ogopogo and also inspired by the 1952 comic book I Go Pogo.

Igopogo is described as a gray seal-like animal with a dog- or horse-like head. Its neck is long and like a stovepipe. It is 12-70 feet long with prominent eyes and a gaping mouth. It has several dorsal fins and a fish-like tail. Igopogo has been observed basking in the sun by eye-witnesses.

Reports of Igopogo date back to the 1800s. The first alleged sighting of Igopogo is credited to early settler David Soules. While washing sheep with his brother at the shore, the two saw a large creature. It left a wake in the water and trails in the mud. On July 22, 1963, Reverend Bill Williams was boating on the lake with his family. They observed a charcoal-colored animal in the water. In August 1979, a woman reported to a local newspaper. She said she had seen a big hump in the water while driving with two friends.

On July 22, 1963, Rev. Bill Williams was boating on the lake with his family when they observed a charcoal-colored animal in the water. In August 1979, a woman reported to a local newspaper that she had seen a big hump in the water. This occurred while she was driving with two friends.

In June 13, 1983, William W. Skrypetz took a sonar sounding. It allegedly showed a large animal with a long neck. Others dispute this account. They claim it could have been a school of fish read by the sonar as a single unit. In 1991, a videotape was taken of a large seal-like animal.

In 2016, while on the Shirley Solomon Show, John Kirk of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club made a claim. He said a local resident gave him a tape of Igopogo. While he did not actually show the tape, he explained the video showed something jumping out of the water. He also gave no date for when the tape was recorded.

Igopogo is speculated to be a pinniped. This speculation is based on the appearance given by sightings. It may resemble a seal or a giant otter. Even on the Shirley Soloman Show, John Kirk commented on the tape. He noted that the animal he was shown resembled a massive seal. Regardless, sightings of Igopogo haven’t been reported for years.